Thursday, February 7, 2013

Rick Grimes is the paladin in hell only instead of a sword, he's got a colt python baby

The Walking Dead will be aired by AMC in black and white. I talk
about this below. Not only is it a tribute to the comic book by
Robert Kirkman, but it is also an homage to George A. Romero who
essentially invented the genre with a black and white zombie film
called "Night of the Living Dead."
In a kind of chilling delivery, Carl tells his dad in one of the many season 3 promos for the episode "Suicide Kings" (which airs this Sunday), "I think you should stop being leader." Why is it chilling? Because it shows just how much Rick Grimes has lost it, and it's maybe a turning point in the sense that his own son thinks someone else could do better. But the question is: who could lead better than Rick? I know I'd trust him with my life.

For me, there's only one other person that might be suited to leadership in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse and that's Michonne. We also have yet to see if Tyrese (who was introduced prior to the show going on hiatus last fall) will prove to be the kind of life injection that's needed for Rick to be able to be the force for good that he truly is in a world awash with evil.
Have you read The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor yet? My post on it is HERE. I want to warn you, that I want to talk about a major spoiler that's in the book that's probably still true of the television show.

>>>SPOILER ALERT<<<

Philip is not the guy you think he is. His zombie daughter "Penny" that Michonne killed was in fact his niece. The guy pretending to be Philip is actually Philip's brother. The real Philip is dead (he went crazy) and in order to survive, the brother took on Philip's personality and kind of "became" his dead brother. Is that f*cked up or what?

Anyway, in the trailer for "Suicide Kings," it's pretty much stated that Philip has lost his mind. Well, unfortunately, "The Governor" lost his mind quite a while ago when he adopted zombie Penny as his own spawn. Michonne killing Penny disintegrated whatever sanity that remained (if you can even call it that). Basically, I don't think the Governor has any reason to live and is going to be absolutely consumed with hatred and revenge. It's not much of a stretch to say the worst kind of villain is someone who has nothing to lose.

As bad as the first half of the season was (and let's face it, a kid shot his own mother so it was pretty bad), I think from this point on, it's going to be filled with nail-biting scenes and all things grotesque. I really feel bad for Rick at times. It reminds me of a drawing I once saw done by a Dungeons and Dragons artist called "A Paladin in Hell." I don't know the story behind this drawing, but you know that the knight in shiny armor is outnumbered. And it can't end well.
Rick is totally this paladin in shiny armor besieged by evil on all sides. That's basically the
world of The Walking Dead
This old black and white picture also reminds me to tell you that AMC is retrofitting all of the episodes of "The Walking Dead" into black and white to honor the black and white comic book and zombie craze inventor George A. Romero. They will begin airing them starting with the pilot on February 14th (yes AMC is showing Robert Kirkman some love). Will you be watching "The Walking Dead" in black and white? How do you think it will affect the horror?

And for you gun enthusiasts, here's an infographic that tells you all you'd want to know about Rick Grimes' gun courtesy of my new friend, Anthony Welsch, at the Lucky Gunner. Check out Lucky Gunner if you want to see more :).

Are you excited to see "Suicide Kings" this Sunday? Have a great Thursday :)

35 comments:

  1. Gosh, I still haven't watched ANY of this show. I do have some ready to watch though. Just waiting for the right moment when I can do a marathon, I guess. :)

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  2. OMY you have no idea how excited I am to see "Suicide Kings!" Squee!!!!!!!1

    or maybe you do. :P

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  3. Ah, I remember that D&D picture well! I love Walking Dead and can't wait to see how it goes. I'm so glad Rick's wife bought it, because she was the one character I couldn't stand.

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  4. Classic D&D drawing. Brings back the memories...

    mood

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  5. My wife read the book. I'll have to get her to read your review and see if she agrees.

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  6. Don't think I can get Suicide Kings here in Mexico, but I have seen Night of the Living Dead...one the scariest movies. "Morgan! Come out!" Still creeps me out.

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  7. Tell me the truth, d'you have nightmares all the time?

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  8. My husband and son are going to be thrilled about a new episode. My son is caught up in the comics, so he's less surprised about the story lines than my husband.

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  9. I am so completely stokes for this half season. I'm most curious to see if how my predictions turn out this time. :)

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  10. This show sounds like "Survivor" with zombies.

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  11. I didn't read The Rise of the Governor but did watch the anime you recommended - High School of the Dead. Good show though it seemed to lose focus after an amazing start. Shows like this always struggle if they are afraid to kill off major characters and that is what has set The Walking Dead apart. No one is safe on that show (except Rick and Carl).

    That put me on a hunt to find more decent anime and someone recommended Elfein Lied. Really good series though I always laughed at the long pauses on the overly jiggly breasts or the POV shots from behind the females that leaves little to the imagination. Anime is definitely from a culture not afraid of cartoon sexuality.

    Can't wait until Sunday. There's so many storylines I can't wait to see develop.

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  12. Wait, what? They're putting Tyrese in the show? Fuck.

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  13. Aha, and now I know what I've been missing. We send you Downton Abbey, you send us American Idol. This seems like more fun.

    This comment was recorded in front of a dead studio audience....

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  14. I just don't get the whole zombie craze. But then again, I'm squeamish, so it's not like I was going to get into this anyway.

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  15. I'm a little surprised Grimes carries a revolver. Hardly anyone in law enforcement carries those anymore. I thought they all went to semi-automatics. And, yes, I carried a .357 SMITH & Wesson when I was a deputy many, many years ago. :P

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  16. Heard of suicide kings but havent seen it...im so out of the loop

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  17. *sighs* I still haven't seen it. One of these days I'm going to live in a place where I can get unlimited high speed internet and cable. :D

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  18. I'm lost. LOL! But enjoyed reading it. I don't watch TV so I'm completely unhip to these things. But I do remember Night of the Living Dead. ;)

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  19. The hero in my novel uses a gun very much inspired by the Colt Python.

    That paladin artwork is incredible! That giant bug thing with the human hands freaks me out.

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  20. The title of this post may be the best ever.

    I wonder how we'll kill zombies once that gun control laws have passed...just a thought. :)

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  21. @Emily: 1) the Colt Python is not an assault weapon 2) the zombie apocalypse takes place after government and most of the world's population has died.

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  22. That gun graphic is awesome. Looking forward to the second half of season 3.

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  23. So I guess you're a big "Walking Dead" fan. I'm a huge horror fan, which includes zombie movies. However, I while I loved the first season of "Walking Dead," I got tired of the melodrama between the characters. I had a similar problem with "True Blood," it started out well, but then introduced too many characters with too many unbelievable subplots plus ... can ya say, overacting much?? But at least I should be happy that there are so many horror shows on, like The Gates, American Horror Story, Teen Wolf, Vampire Diaries, Being Human and Secret Circle (even if I don't like most of them).

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  24. ^LOL, Lexa - always looking on the bright (dark?) side of life. ;-)

    I'm not as fussed about The Walking Dead in black and white as I am just about it returning on Sunday.

    If Rick isn't leading the peeps (a thought which saddens me but maybe the poor guy should get a break, huh?), I think Daryl would do a good job...and I think Carol would do a good job balancing him out. (OK, fine; I'm hoping they'll hook up. What can I say, I'm a romantic!) (Oh yeah, I suppose Daryl has to survive the Governor before he can hook up with Carol. But I bet he's a good little multi-tasker.)

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  25. I'm such a nerd I'm looking forward to Downton Abbey this Sunday.

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  26. I can't watch the zombies, but I do listen to the show. Nightmares won't allow me to watch the gore.

    This year I'm not sure I can take the stress! :)

    But if you're going to summarize, I'll be back to read about it!

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  27. Quit teasing me; you know how anxious I am for this to start again.

    I got my channels back on from the cable company, but it cost me. Damned extortionists.

    ........dhole

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  28. I am late to the party with Walking Dead. Watching the rest of the marathon this weekend :)
    CD Coffelt prowls at Spirit Called

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  29. Call me late to the party! I started watching the Walking Dead marathon last weekend. My DVR is set for tomorrow!
    CD Coffelt prowls at Spirit Called

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  30. Can't wait to watch it although I can't watch until tomorrow. I hate the governor... he gives the creeps but I don't see Rick as a good guy either. I don't see anyone else as a leader either. No one's "leading" they're all just flopping about. Cheers!

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  31. My husband and son watched it last night. My husband thought it was a good episode, but someone on FB commented that she thought it jumped the shark.

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  32. Even though I'm on my hiatus, I decided to sweep through your last couple of months' worth of posts for any THE WALKING DEAD related ones. I know this one is from a while ago, but I always enjoy reading your speculations and thoughts, Michael. I vote Daryl as leader. :)

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  33. Ha!

    And there I was wondering if you liked the Walking Dead...

    Methinks now that I probably heard of the show originally from one of your posts!!!

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  34. The little shiny guy vanquishes evil in the plains of hell. All the beasts die. Do not mess with the D&D Guide!

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