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calhounharrison
Reviews
Fear the Walking Dead (2015)
What a waste
Fear the Walking Dead was on pace to becoming a fantastic show. Season 3 rivaled the main show in so many ways such as emotion, character performances, action, and scope. However, at the peak of the show's performance we were given season 4. Season 4 was given the job with unnecessarily rebooting the entire show in order to cross over Morgan from The Walking Dead to Fear the Walking Dead. This decision flash forwards the show in order to catch up with the Walking Dead. It seems that the producers forgot the main reason for the show's the existence. The whole point was to show the modern world slowly decaying and how society became what it is in the world of Rick Grimes. It was a completely different tone that set it self apart from the main show, in a good way. Season 3 really showed that this show can become something different and expand The Walking Dead Universe. What a waste!
The decision to pointlessly crossover Morgan was a terrible decision. Morgan had an effective exit from the Walking Dead but would have been more suited for his own show or his own movie. Fear was even set on the other side of the country, so there was no need for Morgan to cross over to Fear in the first place. Then the decision to replace Morgan with Madison as the series lead was the second major mistake. Lennie James gives so much to the character of Morgan but his character was not ready to become the lead. Madison's arc from season 3 set her up as the perfect lead for Fear, but the decision to kill her off in season 4 puts the show's direction, setting, and narrative at stake. Even though the show runners made a big decision to make season 4 different they ended up not giving the show any direction, by the second half of the season. The show was not able to use 16 episodes and is now it is just a filler until the next season of the Walking dead comes on.
The writing is also to blame. Show runners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg have shown that they are not able to write effective seasons with actual pay off and write well developed characters. By the end of season 5, which turned out to be even worse than season 4, all of the characters introduced in seasons 4 and 5 had already fully developed and had nothing to do such as John Dorie and June. The only one with an interesting story is Morgan, who is about to exit from the show. The remaining characters from the show, Alycia, Strand, Luciana, and Daniel have somehow given nothing to do and are oddly always out of place. This is shame because each were given great character arcs moving forward after season 3. The dialogue since season 4 is repulsive and characters poorly reiterate lines that have been repeated throughout both shows. One thing that made both shows unique was the drama and dialogue between each characters. Fear the Walking Dead has none of that anymore. Even the villains are weak. Since season 4 we have seen the weakest villains in all of television, the vultures and garbage lady from season 4 for example. If this was the walking dead these villains would have been dead after two episodes. Characters are also making horrible decisions and why, because they have to pad conflict into 16 pointless episodes. Why would anyone want to be in an apocalypse with these people they always putting the group into danger. Morgan and Alycia are being forced to do stupid things for no reason, mainly to kill a Walker in a unique way. If the actors were not wanting to stay on the show then they should have ended Fear and introduce the remaining characters to The Walking Dead. This is not quality television this is corporate greed trying to milk a beloved franchise.
The effects are even worse. The studio has not given the show a budget anymore. The effects in season 5 are laughable and would be seen on Mystery Science Theater for their comedic value. The beer ballon in 5x06 is the perfect example. How is this quality television? This show has had multiple opportunities, even after season 4, to correct their mistakes but the show runners can't seem to take a hint. Not even season 6 can save the show. The best course of action is to just end it. Cross the characters over to the Walking Dead or just fire the show runners. Balls in your court AMC.
The Walking Dead: Better Angels (2012)
Best episode in television history
I always ask myself what makes a great episode. An amazing episode should have drama, tension, great writing, amazing direction, and tremendous acting. The first time I watched The Walking Dead season 2x12 I was not sure what to expect. I knew it was setting up the finale, being the penultimate episode but I did not expect it to overshadow the finale. Better Angels follows the aftermath of Dale's death. With the group fully moved in with the Greene's Lori knows she can start over with Rick. However, before she can start over she must make amends with Shane. Lori knows she made a mistake but understands and appreciates Shane's love for her and Carl. Shane is refuses to admit it was a mistake and will not let Lori go. Shane leads Rick out into the woods to kill Shane before Rick gets the upper hand. Many characters have come and gone on The Walking Dead but none have been more beautifully executed than Shane. Many would expect this to come from the finale being how big Shane's arc has been in Season 2, but the show was gaining too much momentum to delay this moment any longer. Every character had a moment to shine this episode but Andrew Lincoln and Jon Bernthal steal the show giving the best performances of their careers. In the last 10 minutes Glenn Mazzara constructs a beautiful script that ends with two life long friends at each other's throats. Additional credit goes to Guy Ferland's brilliant direction. The tension in the open field, in the middle of the night, provides a dramatic yet terrifying backdrop to the drama. Even in the last moments of Rick and Carl unaware of the massive herd towards the farm, shows that the life they once knew is gone and our charcters will never be the same. The humanity that Andrew and Jon brought to the climatic scene convinces the audience that the life their characters fought so hard to have is just a dream in a nightmare of the a world. Even after seven years this episode still shows Hollywood grade A performances that I would rank over any show in television history.