Had heard nothing but great things about 'The Walking Dead' from friends and IMDb reviewers. It took a while to get round to watching, both from being busy and also not being sure whether it would be my cup of tea. Finally getting round to it a few years ago and slowly working my way through it, having had a very long to watch and review list, 'The Walking Dead' turned out to be very much my cup of tea and as good as the hype made it out to be, have found it extremely addictive.
All the previous episodes of Season 2 were very good to great, but the season once again has a high point in its season finale "Beside the Dying Fire". And a strong reminder of how Seasons 1-5 of 'The Walking Dead' to me were absolutely brilliant and seeing the show in its full glory days (Season 6 was uneven, Season 7 was a huge disappointment and am still debating whether to watch Season 8). It is as emotional, complex and as tense as one would expect , at the same time it has adrenaline and guts.
It still shocks me at how an intelligent, well-made (so much so that it is easy to mistake it for a film) show about zombies could be made when so many films have tried and failed abysmally to do so.
"Beside the Dying Fire" is one of the tightest, most exciting and most emotionally investable episodes of Season 2 for me and one of all of the above for the show in general. Appropriate for it being a season finale. One of the season's best and a show high-point.
Like all the episodes of the show, "Beside the Dying Fire" is incredibly well made in the production values, with gritty and audacious production design, photography of almost cinematic quality, effects that look good, have soul and are not overused or abused and pretty frightening make-up that make the zombies even more terrifying. The music is haunting and affecting, having presence but never being too intrusive.
The writing generally is intelligent and thought-provoking, with lots of tension and emotional resonance and already showing signs of character complexity and multiple layer storytelling. The more eventful scenes, in one of the show's most eventful episodes, are thrilling and terrifying as well as uncompromising.
Appreciated the ever strong and still progressing story and character building, with some great development for Andrea. The human drama is balanced well with the action, which the episode wastes no time in getting to. Also that the pace is never dull or rushed. There is a lot of tension and the ending is harrowing in the most gut-wrenching of senses.
Everything is tautly paced without rushing through the more important parts and emotionally complex. The world building is stunningly immersive and effective. Direction is smart and atmospheric while the show throughout has been strongly acted. Andrew Lincoln, Laurie Holden and Scott Wilson are particularly good.
In summary, this is how to do a season finale. 10/10 Bethany Cox
All the previous episodes of Season 2 were very good to great, but the season once again has a high point in its season finale "Beside the Dying Fire". And a strong reminder of how Seasons 1-5 of 'The Walking Dead' to me were absolutely brilliant and seeing the show in its full glory days (Season 6 was uneven, Season 7 was a huge disappointment and am still debating whether to watch Season 8). It is as emotional, complex and as tense as one would expect , at the same time it has adrenaline and guts.
It still shocks me at how an intelligent, well-made (so much so that it is easy to mistake it for a film) show about zombies could be made when so many films have tried and failed abysmally to do so.
"Beside the Dying Fire" is one of the tightest, most exciting and most emotionally investable episodes of Season 2 for me and one of all of the above for the show in general. Appropriate for it being a season finale. One of the season's best and a show high-point.
Like all the episodes of the show, "Beside the Dying Fire" is incredibly well made in the production values, with gritty and audacious production design, photography of almost cinematic quality, effects that look good, have soul and are not overused or abused and pretty frightening make-up that make the zombies even more terrifying. The music is haunting and affecting, having presence but never being too intrusive.
The writing generally is intelligent and thought-provoking, with lots of tension and emotional resonance and already showing signs of character complexity and multiple layer storytelling. The more eventful scenes, in one of the show's most eventful episodes, are thrilling and terrifying as well as uncompromising.
Appreciated the ever strong and still progressing story and character building, with some great development for Andrea. The human drama is balanced well with the action, which the episode wastes no time in getting to. Also that the pace is never dull or rushed. There is a lot of tension and the ending is harrowing in the most gut-wrenching of senses.
Everything is tautly paced without rushing through the more important parts and emotionally complex. The world building is stunningly immersive and effective. Direction is smart and atmospheric while the show throughout has been strongly acted. Andrew Lincoln, Laurie Holden and Scott Wilson are particularly good.
In summary, this is how to do a season finale. 10/10 Bethany Cox