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A decade ago, The Walking Dead It was not a simple television program, it was a cultural phenomenon from which it was impossible to escape. Precision-engineered, powerful performances and prosthetics, early TWD rose above regular zombie fare upon its 2010 premiere: That Pilot It remains impeccable even today. In its first seasons, the AMC series transcended its genre and presented a gripping story of post-apocalyptic survival by immersing itself in terrifyingly real human emotions. He also successfully brought the comic’s stories and character dynamics to life with different twists. Unfortunately, the show lost sight of those things as it progressed.
Similar to “walkers” in its essence, TWD It eventually became an empty, messy, unrecognizable shell. She remained merciless until 2022, when she concluded after 11 seasons. That wasn’t nearly the end. The franchise continued with spin-offs ranging from understandable (Fear the living dead) until raising the eyebrows (The world beyond) to drastic (Tales of the living dead). And he got worse. There were egregious errors derivatives for Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus)), Maggie Rhee (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The so-called series finale is meaningless if the audience does not have free time to enjoy the beloved original characters. (Give us a chance to miss you, TWD!)
The transparent and useless gimmick expands further with the franchise’s latest six-part chapter. those who live (KEY), which will premiere on February 25. The program is a last-ditch effort to breathe new life into a universe that survives on a ventilator. It’s extreme nostalgia bait because it centers on Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), aka the man who started it all. KEY catches up with Rick later disappeared in a helicopter at the beginning of TWD season nine (in 2018, for those keeping track). His wife, Michonne (a sensational Danai Gurira), split from the group in season 10 to hunt him after discovering he was alive.
An electric Rick and Michonne, or “Richonne,” as fans call them, reunion is a lofty goal. But it’s not enough to save anything TWD He wants to be in the current scene. The same story could have had, and would have had, a huge impact years ago, when KEY was conceived as three films to conclude Rick’s arc (Side note: announcing this plan after Lincoln’s departure violated the emotional value of his departure). Production delays caused by the pandemic led to a limited series. But after all this time, the new series (four of the six episodes were watched for this review) is a cry for help to stay relevant.
Don’t get us wrong, Lincoln and Gurira are still surprisingly heartbreaking to watch. They are magnificent actors with an undeniable understanding of their characters, and together they are intoxicating to watch. But is that enough? No. It’s also frustrating that Rick and Michonne’s no-holds-barred reconciliation doesn’t happen until the end of the show. KEY in some ways it is necessarily dedicated to developing the last years of Rick’s life with the Civic Republic Army. The organization appeared sporadically in TWDHis various offerings, but now there is a boring view of his evil machinations.
Here, Rick is distraught and resigned to his fate after multiple failed attempts to return to his family. His binding is a dream vision of his wife in a non-apocalyptic world. Meanwhile, Michonne goes through her own arduous adventure to reach her husband, losing friends along the way, only to finally encounter a Rick she doesn’t quite recognize. He is rising through the ranks of CRM; She desperately wants to take him back to her children. Will they clash or team up? Beneath layers of exposition and forced plot twists lies a core of potential for “Epic love story” Lincoln and Gurira teased at recent TCA panel.
An all-encompassing fourth episode delves into the nitty-gritty of Rick and Michonne’s relationship. Filmed as an independent film, it has hints of the film it could have been. (Kudos to Gurira for writing the submission.) It is the singular strength of the series, but the preparation drags on and nothing TWD He hasn’t done it before. If the same tricks are used for spin-off number six (!), why bother? those who live It carelessly speeds through deaths, months, and events, making it hard to care. The show features supporting characters played by people like Lost’s Terry O’Quinn and LuciferIt’s Lesley-Ann Brandt. Don’t bother investing in your result because the program does not worry about them either. O’Quinn in particular is wasted in a meandering, broadly villainous role.
KEY does not add anything inventive to TWD alignment and is weak when it comes to reinventing the wheel. The only lesson we must learn is that, as profitable As difficult as it may be, sometimes letting go is the right response. Not everything good lasts forever. Look, this writer got shamelessly drunk. The Walking Dead for a long time because it was incredibly compelling. It’s hard to pinpoint when the fall began: Glenn’s (Steven Yeun) beating, Negan’s arrival, or Rick’s departure? Perhaps it was when zombies became an afterthought, let alone a credible threat. In KEYAlso, walkers don’t add to the excitement. So TWD It may have garnered huge viewing figures and fanbase in the early 2010s, but it has long outstayed its welcome.
this endless Abyss is worth questioning in light of AMC’s other refreshing but overlooked originals (The horror, Stop and light fire, dark winds, Kevin can fuck himself, This is going to hurtand Interview with the Vampire it occurs to me). How has the cable network (and us, as an audience) conspired to keep The Walking Dead Do I live in the year 2024? By now every last ounce of creativity has been squeezed out of you. Despite Lincoln and Gurira’s genuine efforts and sensual chemistry, those who live It has to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Please let’s put The Walking Dead of your misery now.
The Walking Dead: Those Who Live premieres on AMC on February 25
This story originally appeared in The AV Club.