The Walkers are back in Season 2 of The Walking Dead and last night was its debut on AMC. For those of us who do not get AMC we still got to partake thanks to streaming services like Itunes and in my case the ZUNE service on Xbox. Season 2 is highly anticipated by many including myself and sees the mini-series expanded from 6 episodes to 13 which means that we will get even more drama, terror and ‘walker’ excitement this Halloween.
In the opener of Walking Dead Season 2 titled ‘What Lies Ahead’ we meet up with Rick Grimes, his wife Laurie his son and the rest of the survivors including Rick’s fellow police officer and best friend Shane. The survivors find themselves heading down a highway littered with the dead and abandoned cars as they attempt to find their way to safety after escaping the CDC at the end of Season 1 of The Walking Dead. They carry with them the baggage of nearly dieing in the first episode as well as the ill timed romance between Shane and Rick’s wife. Daryl on the other hand seems to have turned over a new leaf and has gone from outside to valued contributor showing that things are looking to really shake up in Season 2.
The title for Episode 1 was well chosen since the emphasis on the first episode is very much on laying the ground work for what’s to come in the second season. We are not introduced to any new characters or key areas but we do start to see a lot more of the inner turmoil that was brewing at the end of season 1. Key members of the survivors are now questioning Rick’s leadership and asking if they would be better off without him. Adding to the troubles one of the key characters is shot and seriously injured and another is lost in a Walker infested forest with no hope in sight. What Lie’s Ahead is a great question one thing is certain and that is that nothing is certain. Trouble lays ahead for Rick and his family and his rag tag group of survivors and survival may or may not include them working together.
Once again the show focuses heavily on the human element but thanks to some seriously over the top violence also offers enough gore to keep the diehard zombie fans entranced. If there is one thing I have always said it is that gore for the sake of gore in movies or television is pointless. AMC’s Walking Dead Season 2 definitely amps up the gore and the violence in the second season but it is all done within context so although at times it is very gruesome it is justified and within the profile of the story. All of which is why The Walking Dead is one of the best shows on television.
I for one really enjoyed Walking Dead Season 2’s premiere episode and although at times it felt a bit slow I can only wait with anticipation to see what Episode 2 brings which I am very confident includes Hershells farm.
