All Things:AMC television

Just to kick more dirt on "Fear the Walking Dead"....


never mind that it was boring, never mind that it was painfully cliche, never mind that the characters were unlikeable.....


It was just stupid.

Like... really really stupid.

Nothing any of the characters did made any kind of sense UNLESS you knew what the show was setting up.

The perfect example.... WHY would they stop the truck at the mouth of that tunnel? Then when leaving why not simply pull out of the tunnel, turn around and then re-enter?

BECAUSE then they couldn't have the scene in the tunnel that was telegraphed to you the INSTANT the nonsensical decision to stop the truck RIGHT AT THE MOUTH of the tunnel occurred.

That's how stupid this show was. You could literally ask yourself "would any human behave like that? No.... therefore they must be setting up something stupid" and you would be right EVERY. TIME.

JD.... I SHAN'T be watching this show again but I feel fully justified in complaining about how idiotic it was. I gave up on regular The Walking Dead after a few seasons because I just generally am tired of post-apocalyptic zombie worlds where nothing happens but at least when The Walking Dead started it was somewhat compelling.

This wasn't bad... it was stupid.

So so stupid.
 
Quite-r.

And I think folks remember the first season a little too fondly when it comes to TWD. Yes, Darabont guaranteed it started out of the gate fairly quickly, but it was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.

You want to quit early, that's fine. I just don't get the indignation. I will keep watching, because I like Cliff Curtis and I just think it's premature to judge something after one episode. UNLESS it really isn't your cup of tea. Which it sounds like you are experiencing. In which case you probably weren't going to like it regardless. It's just a little 'hipster' to be carrying on with such sturm und drang that most of the people here are brandishing. Like all the people that blasted, and made a sport out of blasting True Detective season 2.
 
jerseydevil said:
Quite-r.

And I think folks remember the first season a little too fondly when it comes to TWD. Yes, Darabont guaranteed it started out of the gate fairly quickly, but it was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.

You want to quit early, that's fine. I just don't get the indignation. I will keep watching, because I like Cliff Curtis and I just think it's premature to judge something after one episode. UNLESS it really isn't your cup of tea. Which it sounds like you are experiencing. In which case you probably weren't going to like it regardless. It's just a little 'hipster' to be carrying on with such sturm und drang that most of the people here are brandishing. Like all the people that blasted, and made a sport out of blasting True Detective season 2.
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I hear what you're saying....

BUT...

1. You're an eternal optimist for those things that you're a fanboy of
2. It really was that insultingly stupid and boring and you haven't seen it yet so neener neener boo boo
 
Dr. Naysay said:
I hear what you're saying....

BUT...

1. You're an eternal optimist for those things that you're a fanboy of
2. It really was that insultingly stupid and boring and you haven't seen it yet so neener neener boo boo
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The above IS true, but I gots no horse in this one brother. I have been a steady and vocal complainer about The Walking Dead tv/comic, and Kirkman's horrible writing. I guess I just can't understand. WAS IT THAT JAWDROPPINgLY and MALICIOUSLY bad that people sound personally affronted by a damned zombie show?
 
I am surprised as hell that I have not yet read an internet review that was titled simply F_CK the Walking Dead. THAT'S the kind of disproportionate rage I am reading into these reviews.
 
jerseydevil said:
Ugh...sooooo much complaining about FTWD. Why don't you either wait a couple of episodes, or just not watch. Did you expect anything more? I have yet to watch, but you guys are complaining about the pace. Wellllllllllllllll, maybe you blame AMC, who requested/suggested the 90 minute running time in order to sell more commercials. In fact, if you expected anything FROM A SHOW THAT IS CLEARLY MORE CONCERNED WITH GIVING AMC YEAR LONG WD NUMBERS...well, that's on you. Pilots tend to suck in general, with shows course correcting eventually. But, lets be clear, the motivations behind this show are suspect. Let's table this discussion till the show finishes it's initial run. If it manages to eventually be anything other than a blatant cash in, well then we will have something to talk about.
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I fully plan to watch the whole thing, but that is what I got from the first episode. Another thing I was intending to do was write something similar to what you wrote because I knew the Movie Poopshoot crowd would be doing what they do no matter how good it was, but it just really was not good. I like a slow build, but it has to build to something better than trite family drama clich?s and recycled 'trapped in the tunnel' / 'chest to chest fight over gun in between them' non-suspense.

My hope, and this would be just so awesome that I feel bad for guessing it and ruining it if it happens, but my deep hope is that these terrible characters are just a setup for a scene in the last (or maybe even third or fourth) episode where the whole family gets cornered and torn apart. You want to up the ante and surprise people in 2015? Kill the ENTIRE main cast. Roll yet-to-be-introduced supporting characters.
 
KingsFan1985 said:
In general Fear the Walking Dead felt like something that was produced for a major network like CBS or ABC instead of being something that we have come to expect from AMC. Literally, it's pretty obvious this show is being made for Ma and Pa Kettle who think watching this more easy to digest form of the Walking Dead along with the Big Bang Theory will make them hip like their kids. The whole notion that this is the beginning of the zombie apocalypse is clearly an excuse to tone down the violence and pump up the melodrama for those people who eat up the garbage that is served on CBS.
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200% your first point. That is exactly what it was, a big-three network show. FOX and CW would have more edge. Also, FOX would air it on Friday and cancel it after five episodes (but still air 13). CW would have a dreamy zombie with a six-pack that a human girl falls in love with.

Completely disagree with the other point. Generic older viewer who rarely wanders past 11 on their TV dial is never going to watch a zombie show. AMC wanted a show that would get everyone who watched the original show but be different so that critics would not call them unoriginal and greedy, and maybe more drama oriented to get more acclaim. I read in the paper that they went out of their way to hire people who did not work on the original show. What they got was none of the actual excitement in the original show.

The main guy was 10 times better a year ago on FOX summer burn-off Gang Related, which was no Shield but still 10 times better than Walking Dead: LA.

Walking Dead: LA is a generic name that is 10 times better than the actual name of the show.
 
jerseydevil said:
The above IS true, but I gots no horse in this one brother. I have been a steady and vocal complainer about The Walking Dead tv/comic, and Kirkman's horrible writing. I guess I just can't understand. WAS IT THAT JAWDROPPINgLY and MALICIOUSLY bad that people sound personally affronted by a damned zombie show?
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I felt like my intelligence was being insulted, so for me the answer is yes. If it was a network show that would be expected, but we all hoped for much more from this.

KingInTheWest said:
I fully plan to watch the whole thing, but that is what I got from the first episode. Another thing I was intending to do was write something similar to what you wrote because I knew the Movie Poopshoot crowd would be doing what they do no matter how good it was, but it just really was not good. I like a slow build, but it has to build to something better than trite family drama clich?s and recycled 'trapped in the tunnel' / 'chest to chest fight over gun in between them' non-suspense.

My hope, and this would be just so awesome that I feel bad for guessing it and ruining it if it happens, but my deep hope is that these terrible characters are just a setup for a scene in the last (or maybe even third or fourth) episode where the whole family gets cornered and torn apart. You want to up the ante and surprise people in 2015? Kill the ENTIRE main cast. Roll yet-to-be-introduced supporting characters.
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I thought the mom was a goner in the tunnel, and I would have cheered that. I was disappointed that she didn't get ripped to shreds. I'm not sure if that speaks more to my current mental status or to the fact that they gave us zero reason to care about any of these characters. Unless we're supposed to root for the zombies, they got it very wrong. I would welcome your idea of killing them all, but it would have to be sooner than later to reel me back in.
 
I love the idea of killing all the mains off but AMC won't do this. They are looking for the next golden goose.

And the junkie - who had the best storyline of all characters - could this guy be any more wooden??!!

But I am going to watch because the idea of "zombie holocaust in the city" intrigues me but I remember who is writing and airing ...
 
Ok, so I watched FTWD finally. And yeah. It was not good. There were some seeds planted that could bloom, but SO FAR, all it does is make the inconsistent parent show look better. But...and maybe I have the benefit of experiencing the extreme backlash before viewing it, it wasn't any worse than most of the stuff on tv. Thinly sketched characters doing stupid things and reciting obvious plot advancing dialogue all wrapped in a package that really isn't very enticing. I thought the subplot with the junkie son had potential, but the weird detour with the 'drug dealer', and the ominous overtones that there may be some connection between the drugs he was peddling(government conspiracy????) and the 'disease' was troubling. I will watch again, and hope they can sort it out...but, the daughter needs to be killed asap. I am so sick of bitchy teens on these shows. And it would be interesting to see the dynamic with the Mother and her son if the 'good' kid dies. All-in-all, yeah...not good. But you guys have to seriously lighten up.
 
Hell on Wheels: The Complete Fourth Season
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/21488/hell_wheels_s4.html

I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with 'Hell On Wheels' these last few years. On one hand it's an incredibly well-executed show that brings the Western back to television in fine fashion, but on the other hand there is this part of me that hates how this show will likely see a true finale finish while 'Dead Wood' ended unfinished. In spite of my personal gripes about how a show goes out, 'Hell On Wheels' is a hell of a great bit of entertainment. Four seasons on and Anson Mount's Cullen, Colm Meany's Doc, Kasha Kropinski's Ruth, Phil Burke's Mickey, Christopher Heyerdahl's The Swede and Robin McLeavy's Eva have carved this show into a slick machine that runs on two rails. It makes the presence of newcomers like MacKenzie Porter, Jake Weber, and especially Gregg Henry all the more exciting and the exit of certain characters all the more tragic. This is a show that is ultimately about losses and gains. For every bit of progress, something is lost in the process. As the railroad moves forward, the endeavor of will and engineering may prove to be a Pyrrhic victory for those struggling to build it.
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Man, this week's episode was solid as usual...can't help thinking that this show will be more fondly remembered after some time passes. It's one of the more consistently great shows despite a constantly rotating perspective and cast.
 
jerseydevil said:
Ok, so I watched FTWD finally. And yeah. It was not good. There were some seeds planted that could bloom, but SO FAR, all it does is make the inconsistent parent show look better. But...and maybe I have the benefit of experiencing the extreme backlash before viewing it, it wasn't any worse than most of the stuff on tv.
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I don't think anyone said it was worst than most of the stuff on TV, it was just bad for the standard we have come to expect from AMC. Even though TWD is inconsistent, it's still better than most of the stuff you find on network television or basic cable. Not saying TWD is high art by means, but it's kind of like if I want to Milan Italy to catch a opera and was instead suckered into watching an Italian stage play version of Wicked.

I felt I got suckered into watching a pilot that was intended for Network tv.
 
My beef with FTWD:

The first walker you see was a hot chick. Shallow? Sure! But even with the blood and the walker eyes I could tell she was hot. And I thought "What a waste!" They should have used this actress as a regular, or at least kill her off after a few episodes!"

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Now it could be a had a one or three drinks while watching but I thought it didn't suck. Everything said about not WD quality or AMC standards? I agree. But this may be a slow burner. And the thought this is "network TV" stuff? That I disagree with. There is no way any of the big three would air this. Recall that Southland (best cop show EVER) was cancelled after one season on NBC and then TNT picked it up. This was WAY better then anything the major networks would have aired.

Now like JD I went in with low expectations because I heard all the fanboy backlash. But I did not dislike it.

Like I said "slow burner". And I second JD's sentiment: "lighten up"
 
‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Season 2 Character to Be Revealed in AMC Special
http://collider.com/fear-the-walking-dead-season-2-character-to-be-revealed-in-amc-special/

AMC announced today that they are taking a unique route to introduce a major addition to the Fear the Walking Dead Season 2 cast. According to EW, The channel will be premiering a half-hour special, set on a flight where walkers suddenly break out, during an episode of The Walking Dead, where commercial breaks would usually be. The standalone special will also debut online. One of the survivors of the mid-air attack, which is reminiscent of one of the few memorable sequences in the largely bland World War Z, will become a series regular on Fear the Walking Dead, when it returns for its 15-episode-long Season 2.
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Interesting...if not terribly confusing. But it's all about the synergy ain't it?
 
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