After a very impressive first season of The Walking Dead, AMC's new hit show returns for a second season to remind us that during the zombie apocalypse you should be more concerned with the living then the dead. There be spoilers ahead, so read on with caution. Dead men may tell no tales, but the undead sure make a fun story.
STORY: The first episode started with something we haven't seen sense the first episode of season 1. A herd of walkers taking a walk though the highway that our protaganists just so happen to be stopping at. During this, Carol's daughter Sophia decides to get aggro and take a run into the nearby woods. (In the MMO world, we call this "Training." Training as in the one that goes "Chochoo", not the one that Goku seems to do every season of DB.) Two walkers give chase as Rick peruses opening up Season 2 with a little panic. This sets up what I call "Season 2 Part 1: Hershel's Farm & Finding Sophia Arc." The story slows down a little after the first few episodes. We get a few wow factor's from Shane and a great part with Daryl being completely delusional. Moving onto the 3 month gap "Rick & Shane's Relationship Issues Arc", the story blossoms out as Rick's relationship with Shane starts to turn from best friends to rival's for Lori's heart. Unfortunately, neither of them seem to realize that Lori is a bitch and the show would probably be better off if they worked together and ignored Lori. Despite the slow slump near the end of the mid-season the story picks up nicely giving us a season I was ready to watch again as soon as it was over.
4.5/5
DIRECTION: I've always stood by the idea of following the original story perfectly, but I find myself saying the opposite with The Walking Dead.
They took the basics of the comic and used new twists and turns to toss off the readers of the comic. Some character have lived longer then there comic counterpart, and some have died quicker. Like I stated earlier, usually I'm the guy that can tell you what they changed from the book/novel/manga to the movie/series and why they should of kept it. This, like the Death Note movies, is a great exception. You never know who's going to be bit next, shot accidentally, or have sexual intercourse. Even introducing characters that are not from the comic have been benefiting the show. (Google Dixon Chicks, and you'll see why.)
5/5
CHARACTERS: Character development has come along way from season one. Rick is starting to change to suit this new world. Characters such as Shane and Carol are seeking deeper in a darkness while newly introduced characters such as Hershel and Maggie are making the story even sweeter. One of my favorite developments in this season character wise is Shane. We did not get to see him this far into the comics. Rick's best friend also is the mirror image of Rick himself. Where Rick is holding onto his humanity, Shane believes that the time to be humane is over. The only thing this season suffers from is the "red shirts." People who where introduced early in the season who you knew would be dead by the end. I guess everyone needs a little fodder, but let's hope the impact of their deaths lasts intro season 3. Even if it's only a little.
4.5/5
AUDIO: The music is nothing short of perfect to the tone of this series. It's nothing I'd run out and buy in a CD form, but still fits the series extremely well.
5/5
VISUAL: Even though there was less money to be spent per episode, Season 2's special effect department was on the ball here. All of the walkers looked like they would walk right though the TV. Some of the CG blood from head shots looked a little to CG, but then again I've never seen anyone take a bullet to the head in real life to compare. Know a few people who I woulden't mind practicing on. j/k
5/5
OVERALL: This season was a thrill ride. If they can keep things interesting as they have been, season 3 will be nothing short of eye-popping, jaw-dropping, underpants-accidenting excitement. From the moment the credits rolled and a commercial came on for "The Talking Dead," I popped right over to Amazon.com to preorder season 2 on DVD.
4.8/5
SPOILERS AHOY!!!!!!!
BEST MOMENTS:
Best Line: "I can't profess to understand God's plan, but when Christ promised a
resurrection of the dead, I just thought he had something a little
different in mind."
Best Scene: Shane & Rick Finally Settle Things. The moon setting while they stand on the hill. Fantastic!
Best Surprise: A Wild Michonne Appears! Could not of asked for a better way to introduce a new character.
WORST MOMENTS:
Worst Line: "Where's Carl?" Carl became the kid who never listens this season. Whenever he's told to stay put, he sneaks away. I blame his mom. :D
Worst Scene: Lori's Car Accident. Seriously? You could not look at the map BEFORE you started driving?
Worst Surprise: "What the hell do you mean, February?!" 6 episodes. 6 episodes after waiting almost a year. We where promised 12 season 2 episodes, and we eventually got it after the 3 month gap between the mid-season finale. Way to keep me wanting.
End of Spoilers!!