By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Contributor
Not surprisingly, the gripping horror-drama series “The
Walking Dead” has become one of the most-watched shows on cable. Its weekly
chronicling of zombie apocalypse survivors’ activities continues to win new
viewers from across the globe.
Currently on its second season, “The Walking Dead” was
developed for TV by former showrunner Frank Darabont, who recently exited and
was replaced by writer Glen Mazzara. Robert Kirkman, who created and continues
to pen the source comic book, is still heavily involved with the show as
executive producer and writer, helping conjure up a familiar yet altogether
unpredictable reality.
The previous season ended with the uneasy group of survivors
leaving the destroyed Center for Disease Control facility. Season two starts
with the convoy stopping behind a lane filled with abandoned vehicles; the
survivors soon cross paths with a horde of zombies, which separates Sophia
(Madison Lintz) from the group. Former cop Rick Grimes (Andrew
Lincoln) and the others look for her, but after Grimes’ son
Carl (Chandler Riggs) is injured in a hunting accident, they end up in the farm
of elderly veterinarian Hershel (Scott Wilson).
Pairings and concepts from the seminal comics nicely make it
to the show. There’s tension between Rick, his wife, Lori (Sarah Wayne
Callies), and her former lover Shane (Jon Bernthal). Also translating well is
the developing relationship between Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Hershel’s daughter
Maggie (Lauren Cohan).
The once-grieving Andrea (Laurie Holden from “X-Files”) is
evolving into a confident, competent markswoman. The farm is a sanctuary that’s
familiar to readers of the comic book, but some things turn out differently.
Characters that didn’t debut in the comics help contribute
to the series’ unpredictability. Some that appeared regularly in the monthly
title undergo new traumas or are killed off, reminding viewers that most of
these survivors aren’t safe.
Still intriguing with its adept handling of human behavior
within an apocalyptic setting, “The Walking Dead” regularly delivers the scares
as well with swarms of aptly horrific and deftly choreographed undead. And the
conflicts will escalate; it was recently announced that the Governor, an
important character from the comics, will be played by Brit actor David
Morrissey in season three.
“The Walking Dead” airs Sundays, 8 p.m. on Fox.
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