The Walking Dead (Frank Darabont, 2010-): A Post Apocalyptic Craze

The walking Dead has been with us for a while now, through comics AND tv, in this case we are obviously talking about the TV series, as it has become vastly popular and The Walking Dead has attracted the most 18- to 49-year-old viewers of any cable or broadcast television series, which demographically, is very impressive. The show has inspired fans greatly and it has even had a spin off series. The Walking Dead TV series could be considered as one of the most successful shows in the 21st century.

You have to be very mentally prepared for this show. The only way that I can put it is that it will BREAK YOU. mentally, physically, maybe even spiritually. A typical series seems to go like this: Captivating episodes which makes the audience feel like everything is content; a piercing disequilibrium that stirs drama between characters or groups; and then a tragic death of a character that we love dearly to our hearts. So boom, you're crying over a fictional character because they got their stomach ripped open and eaten by walkers. There has been countless (and I mean countless) times where I have ended a series balling my eyes out, messaging my friend asking why the world is such a cruel place. Nick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is the essential protagonist of the show, we see the world through his perspective in the first couple of episodes, but then it spreads and flourishes, so we get to know the other characters more, and gain a connection. This is where Darabont is smart. Sure he is following the comics' narrative to an extend, but the way he portrays the characters is a lot more emotive than intended, which means that the audience pay more attention to the characterisation, thus making an emotional attachment.

The attachment to the characters grows stronger as the show grows more intense, which is how the audience are more captivated. Essentially the whole show is purely for the characterisation and their own stories. The audience learn their perspectives of the post apocalyptic world, which creates more diverse opinions and subsequently creates more of an emotional impact when a character passes (aka has their brain blown out or gets ripped to shreds by a 'walker'). Yes Darabont uses the comics as the guidelines of the show, but the visuals; non-diegetic sound; colour palette and cinematography aids to the show more than the comics could for the audience, thus creating a more vocal response. Another thing to definitely notice is how the colour palette changes in correlation to the episode, as a more negative episode will elicit darker colours such as greys and browns, yet the more light hearted/wholesome episodes have more of an array of warm colours, such as yellow, green and orange. The colours are fantastic signifiers for this, but you can never go wrong with the audience's "gut feeling".

This is a show you ought to be dedicated to, as it truly grips the audience for every second that it is run. However, as I reiterate, you need to be aware of how traumatising the show can make you, with the death of very loved characters. Would I say it is the best show on earth? Not necessarily. But would I say that it is a great show for individuals who thrive off of a post apocalyptic world; characterisation at its finest and have a love for symbolism? for sure.

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