5. The Walking Dead
Where to begin with The Walking Dead? It looked like the show was in danger of falling into narrative stasis when they holed themselves up in the prison, hidden from all outside threats. The only way they could present any jeopardy was to do what they eventually did – allow the threat to enter the hideout, and it all began with that killer flu. Between the flu that would kill almost all of the non-speaking characters and the brief return of the Governer, the first half of season 4 of The Walking Dead was positively action packed. It’s not really a show you can binge-watch without suffering from fatigue, I find, but in weekly installments it’s a truly thrilling piece of television.
The zombies don’t seem to cause problems for the crew anymore, which detracts from the show a lot. There’s no danger surrounding the walkers, which in a show called The Walking Dead, is a problem. I know the show can just as easily refer to the survivors as the walkers, but this is a show about zombies. It could be a ploy to lull us into a false sense of security to further ram home the catastrophe of the second half of season 4, or it could just be how the show is now. I suppose time will tell.
Many people complain that Rick Grimes, the main character, is the least compelling on the show. And they’re right. Where season 4 has really come into its own is that it’s given many other characters a real chance to shine – Daryl’s burgeoning friendship with the formerly mouse-like Carol, both now trusted and responsible members of the group, for instance – making for a better viewing experience. It’s a really fun watch, and much deeper than a lot of people seem to give it credit for. If only Rick wasn’t so damned boring. Still, great TV!