The Walking Dead Season One Review

The Walking Dead Season 1 Review

Overall Rating: 5 / 5

I remember when the walking dead came out I was still in denial about my zombie obsession. See, zombies are my biggest fear. Still. I watched The Night of the Living Dead when I was a kid and still have nightmares. I hadn't yet realized that I watched zombie movies like they were documentaries and I was studying to survive in a post zombie-apocalypse world. I caught on in about Season 3 and never looked back. My main gripe about TWD is that the first season only has 6 episodes, but they are so well done that I can't complain too much. Many shows and movies taken from comic books can be watered down. While I haven't had a chance yet to read the comics, I've read endless reviews about how this is not the case with TWD. Apparently, they drew inspiration and storylines from the comic, but don't tone it down for TV or bore the comic reading audience with the same old. They bring new twists and drama every week.

If you've seen 28 Days Later, you're familiar with the concept of the hero being transported into a world of horror via a coma. Rick is our main character and a Sheriff's Deputy who has been in a coma due to a gun fight before the zombie plague hit. He wakes to an empty hospital and a parking lot full of dead bodies. His first and foremost aim is to find his wife, Lori, and son, Carl, who have abandoned the house and town like everyone else. Rick meets Morgan and Duane, two survivors who save his ass and catch him up on everything that's been happening. Morgan lost his wife to the infection and hasn't been able to muster himself and his son yet, but they'll be heading to Atlanta soon.

Before the broadcasts stopped, Atlanta was touted as a safe haven with a military presence and the CDC that was working on a cure. Rick says his goodbyes and makes his way into town only to find that Atlanta was overrun and has long since been abandoned. He would not have made it out alive were it not from a little help and faith from Glenn, the one person from a group of scavengers willing to stick his neck out. He guides him to safety and into a group that will be his main focus for the rest of the season. Because Rick stirred up the walkers (zombies) in the city, they are now all tapped in a department store. With a lot of ingenuity, luck, and balls, Rick and Glenn manage to save (almost) everyone and make it back to camp. Merle, an aggressive jackass Redneck, was cuffed to a pipe on the roof and could not be saved.

Once back at the camp, Rick finds not only his wife and son, but also his best friend and police partner. It's a touching moment, but very filled with tension. His partner, Shane, took it upon himself to protect Lori and Carl after the outbreak when he could not save Rick, or so he thought. He has since started a relationship with Lori who thought her husband was dead. Oops. Between tension in the group from people going crazy, people being assholes, zombies, and the typical stress of an apocalypse, the group has a lot to deal with. They eventually decide to try for the CDC to see if there is any headway on a cure and protection.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started watching TWD, but I can guarantee you it wasn't this. The Walking Dead is everything I ever wanted in a zombie movie and never get enough of. Hail TWD casting directors, because the actors are spot on. Spot on. The acting itself is impeccable and both the dialogue and reactions are painfully realistic down to the panic and poor decisions made in fear. Zombie movies have to fill two real criteria to be labeled good in my book. Number One: They have to be smart and realistic with the people and storyline. TWD nails it. These are people doing the best they can in the worst situation, but with feeling and deeply thought out characters. Number Two: The zombies have to be kick-ass. I can't believe the production value TV shows get nowadays, but this looks like a big-budget movie in every episode. The walkers are gruesome and believable and terrifying.

Where to Watch

You can buy The Walking Dead: Season 1 from Amazon. It is also available streaming from Netflix.

Favorite Walkers of Season 1

Don't Steal My Bike Walker

MARTA Walker

Organ Donor Wayne

Deer Stalker Walker

List of Dead

Jacqui and Jenner hold hands up to the countdown.

Amy
Jim
Ed
Jacqui
Dr. Jenner
Various others from the camp

List of Unknown Fates

I really hope G made it.

Merle

Morales family

Vatos

Survivors

Grimes Family
Shane
Dale
Andrea
Glenn
T-Dog
Daryl
Carol & Sofia

Zombie inconsistencies

There are a few inconsistencies in Season One, mostly in the first two episodes. All shows mess up their continuity in the first season, so it's forgivable. Still here are the big ones that I noticed. In episode two, you have zombies that are starting to figure out how to climb. There was a zombie with the rock trying to smash the glass of the department store the scavenging team was in. In the pilot, Morgan's wife trying to open the door by twisting the knob. Not huge things, and generally not repeated.

Favorite Walking Dead Season One Scenes & Quotes

Granny saves the day.

Glenn to Rick: "Hey you, dumbass." S1.E1

Glenn when faced with a huge climb "On the bright side, it'll be the fall that kills us. I'm a glass half full kind of guy" S1.E2

Rick to Glenn"Back at the tank, why'd you stick your neck out for me?"
"Call it foolish, naive hope that if I'm ever that far up shit creek, somebody might do the same for me. Guess I'm an even bigger dumbass than you." S1.E2

Glenn talking about Wayne, the walker they split open to disguise their smell. "One more thing, he was an organ donor." S1.E2

Merle to Andrea"What say you get me out of these cuffs. We go off somewhere and bump some uglies - we're gonna die anyways."
Andrea "I'd rather." S1.E2

Daryl yelling at walker "Son of a bitch, that's my deer!" S1.E3

Daryl to Dale "What do you know about it grandpa? Take your stupid hat and go back to "on golden pond"" S1.E3.

Shane to Rick "Could you just tell me why, why would you risk your life for a douchbag like Merle Dixon."
Daryl to Shane "Choose your words more carefully."
Shane "Oh I did. Douchbag's what I meant." S1.E3