The Walking Dead is a phenomenon.This pilot has it all suspense,supreme acting,amazing imagery,frights and sheer tension and is the beginning of a show that has lasted so far close to five years and who's fan-base has grown and grown and turned a series about zombies into a global mega-hit with a outstanding cast of actors and a group of characters that we care dearly for,no show ever has given us such a set of people to root for like this and it ain't scared to kill them off.
Sheriff Rick Grimes(a magnificent Andrew Lincoln) wakes from a coma(after a gunfight goes wrong)to find the world in a apocalypse scenario and sees the dead have returned to life and are known as Walkers(Zombies). He meets father and son Morgan and Duane Jones(Lennie James and Adrian Kali Turner)who informs him of what has happened to the world and why its not a good idea to get bit by a walker. Rick after resting decides to venture out to try and find his wife and son but as he races off on a horse he comes across a huge group of walkers,is his life over or will somebody lend a hand.
This show had a massive build up with previews and trailers mainly because of the huge fan-base with the comic book its based on so I was really looking forward to it but was wary it could never touch classic films like 28 Days Later(plus 28 Weeks Later)and Romero films but I was blown away by how awesome it was and knew from just one episode that this was something special and it has grown with each season and I put on the same level already as those classic movies(apart from 28 Days Later as that is my favourite zombie/apocalypse to date).
Andrew Lincoln was already well liked for me from stunning British series Afterlife and I knew he was a sublime actor but his Rick is fabulous he really is with a accent inch perfect that you would never think he was British born.We follow him from his awakening into a world so changed to before his shootout(which we see in a flashback)and feel his pain at thinking he has lost everything and pray with him in hoping his wife and son are out there and escaped this dreadful existence.He is a fast learner of this world he now lives in and its one of the strongest opening performances in any show and though nowadays there are plenty of other characters this is Rick's story and everything especially early on is centred on him and already his leadership qualities are there,a phenomenal lead actor,one of the best.
Of the few moments we meet other actors they make their mark like fellow British actor Lennie James who excels as Morgan a tough father both in how he is and how he speaks and glad he returned later down the line and he along with Norman Reedus(Daryl from later on the series)share the strongest friendship with Rick. His son Duane played by Turner does whatever he is told but shares a strong bond with his father and the story of his mother will break your heart and is a focal point of this first episode. Series regulars Shane(Jon Bernthal),Rick's wife Lori(Sarah Wayne Callies),son Carl(Chandler Riggs) and friends to be Dale(Jeffrey DeMunn)and Glenn,voice only(Steven Yeun)have brief scenes to introduce their selves especially Shane who we see in some great flashbacks with Rick and though he turns volatile as the show goes on Bernthal is a epic talent and one of the strongest characters in WD history and here is a character who wants to lead the group(if in a different way to Rick).They all get to shine as the series goes on,its a supreme cast.
As for a story and action this first episode is gripping and though future instalments have more omg moments this is stuffed full of tension filled scenes which begins with Rick coming across a zombiefied girl before scenes with Rick and Shane pre walker world,Rick awakening to a deserted hospital(and a creepy 'don't open dead inside' door)before going out 28 Days Later style to a abandoned world,seeing bicycle girl before meeting Morgan and Duane who tell him of the world now including the heartbreaking story of his wife,now a walker until finally Rick heads off on his horse and stumbles upon a massive group of walkers. Meanwhile Shane and Laurie are a sort of couple who hideaway with Carl,Dale and others and these scenes though slower are great as we know there are other top characters besides Rick.
The imagery is incredible with streets empty,cars tipped over and buildings crumbling and the emptiness will give you chills but you just know somewhere walkers are there like the 'don't open dead inside' which Rick discovers early on,this is unbeatable version of a apocalypse and to see the world so quiet and abandoned will chill you.
The walkers or zombies are very well done and the best I have seen to date with so many and different verities to them including bicycle girl,Morgans wife and the little girl.The sheer number of them is staggering too and the use of many extras makes it more realistic to look at.
A wonderful start to a realistic,superb acted,action packed and gripping phenomenon with a brilliant leading actor and character who's journey begins here,we are approaching season six lets hope for many more to come.
Sheriff Rick Grimes(a magnificent Andrew Lincoln) wakes from a coma(after a gunfight goes wrong)to find the world in a apocalypse scenario and sees the dead have returned to life and are known as Walkers(Zombies). He meets father and son Morgan and Duane Jones(Lennie James and Adrian Kali Turner)who informs him of what has happened to the world and why its not a good idea to get bit by a walker. Rick after resting decides to venture out to try and find his wife and son but as he races off on a horse he comes across a huge group of walkers,is his life over or will somebody lend a hand.
This show had a massive build up with previews and trailers mainly because of the huge fan-base with the comic book its based on so I was really looking forward to it but was wary it could never touch classic films like 28 Days Later(plus 28 Weeks Later)and Romero films but I was blown away by how awesome it was and knew from just one episode that this was something special and it has grown with each season and I put on the same level already as those classic movies(apart from 28 Days Later as that is my favourite zombie/apocalypse to date).
Andrew Lincoln was already well liked for me from stunning British series Afterlife and I knew he was a sublime actor but his Rick is fabulous he really is with a accent inch perfect that you would never think he was British born.We follow him from his awakening into a world so changed to before his shootout(which we see in a flashback)and feel his pain at thinking he has lost everything and pray with him in hoping his wife and son are out there and escaped this dreadful existence.He is a fast learner of this world he now lives in and its one of the strongest opening performances in any show and though nowadays there are plenty of other characters this is Rick's story and everything especially early on is centred on him and already his leadership qualities are there,a phenomenal lead actor,one of the best.
Of the few moments we meet other actors they make their mark like fellow British actor Lennie James who excels as Morgan a tough father both in how he is and how he speaks and glad he returned later down the line and he along with Norman Reedus(Daryl from later on the series)share the strongest friendship with Rick. His son Duane played by Turner does whatever he is told but shares a strong bond with his father and the story of his mother will break your heart and is a focal point of this first episode. Series regulars Shane(Jon Bernthal),Rick's wife Lori(Sarah Wayne Callies),son Carl(Chandler Riggs) and friends to be Dale(Jeffrey DeMunn)and Glenn,voice only(Steven Yeun)have brief scenes to introduce their selves especially Shane who we see in some great flashbacks with Rick and though he turns volatile as the show goes on Bernthal is a epic talent and one of the strongest characters in WD history and here is a character who wants to lead the group(if in a different way to Rick).They all get to shine as the series goes on,its a supreme cast.
As for a story and action this first episode is gripping and though future instalments have more omg moments this is stuffed full of tension filled scenes which begins with Rick coming across a zombiefied girl before scenes with Rick and Shane pre walker world,Rick awakening to a deserted hospital(and a creepy 'don't open dead inside' door)before going out 28 Days Later style to a abandoned world,seeing bicycle girl before meeting Morgan and Duane who tell him of the world now including the heartbreaking story of his wife,now a walker until finally Rick heads off on his horse and stumbles upon a massive group of walkers. Meanwhile Shane and Laurie are a sort of couple who hideaway with Carl,Dale and others and these scenes though slower are great as we know there are other top characters besides Rick.
The imagery is incredible with streets empty,cars tipped over and buildings crumbling and the emptiness will give you chills but you just know somewhere walkers are there like the 'don't open dead inside' which Rick discovers early on,this is unbeatable version of a apocalypse and to see the world so quiet and abandoned will chill you.
The walkers or zombies are very well done and the best I have seen to date with so many and different verities to them including bicycle girl,Morgans wife and the little girl.The sheer number of them is staggering too and the use of many extras makes it more realistic to look at.
A wonderful start to a realistic,superb acted,action packed and gripping phenomenon with a brilliant leading actor and character who's journey begins here,we are approaching season six lets hope for many more to come.