AMC’s “The Walking Dead”, continues to garner high ratings. First it was broken in October 2011 with the season 2 premiere of the show. Clocking in 7.3 million viewers. In February, the show did it again, raising the bar to 8.1 million viewers for the mid-season premiere, the highest in cable history. Well, it was up until the season finale last Bloody Sunday. Again it has shattered its own basic-cable ratings for a second time this season. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show brought in 9 million viewers. A zombie show that draws in mindless zombies that infect and create more mindless zombies. Go figure.
As I take out my leather journal that contains the secrets of the future; dyed the color of police telephone box blue; I would like to issue a warning to any who have not watched AMC’s “The Walking Dead”, especially the season two finale.
Spoilers: You have been warned.
A herd is formed by the appearance of a helicopter. One moved towards it with purpose. others followed. Then they kept walking a straight line, not knowing who was following whom. It was like watching so many hipsters going towards the Apple store for their new iPad 3.
Now that Shane is dead, the invisible force field that protected the farm and all that dwell on it has weakened. I think it was powered by the undiscovered fission produced by high school drama. Nature of course abhors a vacuum, so an zombie herd immediately appears to fill the void that Shane’s homicidal tendencies has left behind. Could the season finale actually be about surviving a real zombie threat? Sweet Jeebus! This is one episode of “The Walking Dead” I did not see coming for once.
In true zombie genre fashion, everyone flips out and makes moves that are questionable to survival. It’s as if this is everyone’s first exposure to real zombies and has put them into shock.
Rick somehow gets flanked by zombies that were originally far behind him. Rick and Carl then run into a barn, thus getting Carl and himself boxed inside. Rick then lets zombies into the barn. Instead of running, casually walks to the ladder almost within arm’s reach of being killed. Carl then sets zombies on fire with kerosene, while he and Carl wait in the protective comfort of wood and hay shelter. They set the fire on the ground, so how could it possibly spread further?
Then there’s the rest of the group, who are unable to form coherent strategies without their genius leader Rick; or the sound of someone flipping out.
Team Humans first plan: Waste ammo and gas, driving around the farm in circles and shooting the walkers. The idea is to get the attention of the dead and lead them off the farm. Instead, let’s everyone drive, sow chaos and do donuts in the grass.
Team Humans second plan: Attempt to evacuate fifteen minutes after the walkers are first spotted.
Hershel does his best to stay as long as possible. He needs to have the farm. It’s his legacy, plus it’s always good to own land.
Lori can’t seem to keep a track of her child. So she holds up the evacuation to look for him some more. In fact, no one keeps an eye on Carl. It’s not as if they’re engaged in work all the time. Why can’t anyone keep an eye on the kid? Here’s an idea. How about give the kid a mentor, who passes on skills that he can later use to survive? When the kid learns all that he can, he’s released from that mentor and on to the next babysitter. If you want off babysitting duty, make the kid demonstrate a new skill with competence. Sorted!
Team Humans third plan: Drive away and hope for the best. There is no set meeting place or technology to help them communicate. The plague you see has somehow taken out all walkie-talkies and CB radios.
Team Zombies plan: Find live flesh and eat them. It’s worked out rather well. I hope they win.
Oh, and some supporting cast get eaten. Really, let’s stop the RV and park right outside a burning barn surrounded by zombies. Oh mister red shirt. I hardly knew your name.
Once the immediate threat are over, it’s time to sink back into drama. To save time, let’s just list them off.
Lori is mad at Rick for killing Shane in self defence.
– Yet Lori was also the one to tell Rick that Shane was a threat.
– She also went out of her way to explain to Shane that she is thankful for all the things he’s done to protect her and Carl thus far.
– Lori also goes out of her way to tell Shane that she doesn’t know who the father is of the unborn child within her, again giving Shane false hope.
Carol wants to be feel safe. To do this, she needles Rick with her nagging, while attempting to get Daryl to turn on Rick. You know, because he’s the leader they deserve, not the one that they need. In the awesome Batman sort of way.
Carl begins to cry knowing that his dad has killed Shane, even though he’s responsible for indirectly killing Dale. Stupid kid.
Rick lays out how their new situation will work, which is:
1. Everyone shuts up.
2. Everyone does as he says.
Everyone appears upset at this outburst and are shocked, as if they were oblivious to their own idiocy which causes it. It’s almost as if you can hear the gears of mutiny turning.
Instantly the force field is back up and no more real zombie threats are to be had.
While other plots may have appeared within the season finale; such as the television series first introduction to the sword-wielding heroine, Michonne, played by Danai Gurira. The best part of the finale is the finale shot. A backdrop of the prison, which in the gloom of the pale moon light, looks like Castle Hogwarts. If we’re lucky, maybe Snape will replace Shane.
