What is there to say about “The Walking Dead”
that hasn’t already been said. This cultural television phenomenon arrived with
the successful revival of the zombie horror film, though it has outlasted the
peak popularity of its cinematic counterpart. The post-apocalyptic television
show has becomes something much more than just the usual horror trope,
elevating the genre to something deeply profound and emotionally resonate. Not
only is this series far better than nearly every zombie film in recent years,
it is easily one of the best shows on television.
Season four’s
choice to focus on the effects of a contagious illness rather than zombies or
intruding humans was somewhat of a letdown after the sheer velocity of the
action in season three, but the brilliance in the show comes from its ability
to change. Storylines shift, locations move, and beloved characters can die
without a moment’s notice. This is devastating at times, but there is no greater
testament to how impressively constructed this series is than the impact the
loss of a favorite character has on its audience. “The Walking Dead” has an
extremely loyal fanbase, but it never feels as though they are being pandered
to or appeased. This is a show with something to say, and it carries out its
message with conviction, regardless of how upset it may make some people.
Season Five
picks up the cliffhanger from the end of season four, with most of the group
captured and trapped in a train car, awaiting an unknown fate. The one thing
this season does better than any other is show the decline in all of
civilization, with examples in the variety of brutal ways that human life is
used in the apocalyptic wasteland. This begins with the group that has them
trapped like animals, and their plans to treat their fellow humans like cattle.
The opening five minutes of season five may be the most exciting and visceral
moments of entertainment I have seen in years, on television or cinema screen.
Although the
group always manages to survive, it is not always without loss. The obvious
losses are the deaths of the purest in the group, but there is a far greater
sacrifice in the loss of their innocence. The longer that they are out in the
world, the more ugliness this tight-knit group comes across, and they are
hardened in their need to survive. We come to a point in season five where it
becomes about the morality of the world, and more importantly, of the
characters. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is at the center of this, carrying the
weight of his group’s survival on his shoulders until becoming something of a
monster out of necessity. With the return of a character from earlier seasons,
it should be interesting to see how this progresses in the new season, starting
October 11th.
With the loyalty
of its fans, each release of “The Walking Dead” comes with plenty of extras.
The entire fifth season is included on four discs, though there is a fifth
containing just deleted scenes and featurettes. These extras include several
generic making-of featurettes, along with more focused ones that deal with
specific characters only. Also included are “Day in the Life” featurettes for
two of the latest additions to the cast, Michael Cudlitz and Josh McDermitt. There
are also audio commentaries for just under half of the episodes, with a variety
of contributors ranging from the technical aspects of the show to the actors.
One of the featurettes also nicely sums up past events, for those who need a
refresher. Also included is a digital HD copy of the fifth season.
Entertainment Value:
10/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 10/10
Historical
Significance: 9.5/10
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