The Dying: Lost, Fringe, and The Walking Dead
Note: The following post contains spoilers. If you haven't seen The Walking Dead's 12/1/13 episode you might not want to read this post. Then again, you just might want to skip the show and read the post, it's more entertaining,.
I liked Lost. Hell, I loved Lost, but only for a while. After that first season I grew suspicious of the twists and turns. They didn't come across as well-conceived, clever course changes, but rather something thrown into the show for dramatic effect. Change for the sake of change, neither foreshadowed, nor thoughtful; the type of thing for which editors reject books.
In contrast, Fringe, which was another J.J. Abrams project, had a story to tell, told it, and then got the hell out of Dodge. Certainly the show wasn't perfect, some episodes felt rushed, with forty minutes of setup and eight minutes of resolution, and others were needlessly gross. Nevertheless, the series was more satisfying that its predecessor and running mate, Lost.
The Walking Dead brings the contrast of these two series to mind. As I wrote in an earlier post, I began reading Walking Dead several years ago. Unlike many, I loved the TV show. Sure, it deviated from the graphic novels, but I thought of that as a strength rather than a flaw. The TV show was well acted, cleverly written, edgy, and at times even scary. Unfortunately, I've recently seen that edginess erode into thoughtless gore, and the clever writing into, “what unforeshadowed twist can we throw out this week?”
This week’s episode took the cake. The battle at the prison was little more than a rehash of the chaotic fight for Hershel’s farm. In fact, this season’s entire Governor story line was just a rework of a tired character and plot. And then, then… they HAD to kill Hershel. What earthly good did that do? It took a show lousy with darkness and killed off the only contrasting character. Sorry, I just really liked Hershel.
Bottom line, The Walking Dead smells a lot like Lost. Not, as was the case with Fringe, a show with a story to tell, but rather an hour of witless surprises and endless gore. Perhaps this satisfies some, at least in the short term, but I believe it will soon signal The Walking Dead’s demise. I hope not. I enjoy bashing it.
I liked Lost. Hell, I loved Lost, but only for a while. After that first season I grew suspicious of the twists and turns. They didn't come across as well-conceived, clever course changes, but rather something thrown into the show for dramatic effect. Change for the sake of change, neither foreshadowed, nor thoughtful; the type of thing for which editors reject books.
In contrast, Fringe, which was another J.J. Abrams project, had a story to tell, told it, and then got the hell out of Dodge. Certainly the show wasn't perfect, some episodes felt rushed, with forty minutes of setup and eight minutes of resolution, and others were needlessly gross. Nevertheless, the series was more satisfying that its predecessor and running mate, Lost.
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| Kate, because...well, because she's pretty. |
The Walking Dead brings the contrast of these two series to mind. As I wrote in an earlier post, I began reading Walking Dead several years ago. Unlike many, I loved the TV show. Sure, it deviated from the graphic novels, but I thought of that as a strength rather than a flaw. The TV show was well acted, cleverly written, edgy, and at times even scary. Unfortunately, I've recently seen that edginess erode into thoughtless gore, and the clever writing into, “what unforeshadowed twist can we throw out this week?”
This week’s episode took the cake. The battle at the prison was little more than a rehash of the chaotic fight for Hershel’s farm. In fact, this season’s entire Governor story line was just a rework of a tired character and plot. And then, then… they HAD to kill Hershel. What earthly good did that do? It took a show lousy with darkness and killed off the only contrasting character. Sorry, I just really liked Hershel.
Bottom line, The Walking Dead smells a lot like Lost. Not, as was the case with Fringe, a show with a story to tell, but rather an hour of witless surprises and endless gore. Perhaps this satisfies some, at least in the short term, but I believe it will soon signal The Walking Dead’s demise. I hope not. I enjoy bashing it.
Comments
Characters like Hershel and Judith were endearing but unlikely to survive for long. Knowing that the kindhearted and vulnerable could be saved and protected in the harsh world of the Walking Dead was comforting. But this show isn't meant to make us feel comfortable.
I don't believe WD has jumped the shark just yet. Give it another half-season.