The Walking Dead: Why I went back to the beginning of the zombie phenomenon

Never seen The Walking Dead? Nor had our zombie newbie — so we took him right back to the beginning, while another Binge Club fan checked out the new season.

BINGE Clubber BLAKE CURRAN had never got into The Walking Dead, so as the hotly-awaited Season 10C drops, he is checking out the original series; while Club colleague CHRISTIE GRAHAM — a diehard Deadhead — reviews the first of the six new episodes.

MEETING THE UNDEAD

By Blake Curran

With the imminent release of The Walking Dead’s latest episodes, I thought it might be high time to go back to where it all began and give this beloved zombie-drama a go. See what all the fuss is about. I love all things horror (call me dark‘n’twisted, baby), so I figured this is entirely up my alley.

Of course, I’d heard of the show, but for some reason or other it had simply passed me by — okay, it was only one reason, truth be told: I didn’t have Foxtel when it was originally airing. Now, thanks to BINGE, hours of post-apocalyptic fun are only a couple of clicks away!

Who needs jump scares with this lot approaching, slowly but steadily?

I felt like a bit of a zombie after work, so it was the perfect time to settle down, put my feet up, and tune in. I was immediately captivated: the opening scene is one of eerie silence, and the fact that I just knew a zombie would jump out and scare the living daylights out of me made it all the more terrifying that, in fact, there wasn’t a jump-scare at all.

*Spoiler Alert (for a show that originally aired over ten years ago…)*

The first zombie we see is a little girl, complete with rotting flesh hanging from her jaw, who is then promptly shot dead by Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Grimes (played by the rather dashing Andrew Lincoln). This immediately sets the tone: this isn’t a show that will pander to delicate sensibilities. In this bleak world, no one is safe — not even an innocent young girl — and the characters will have to put their own needs first in order to survive.

*End Spoiler Alert*

Rick Grimes (in his cop gear) and fellow survivors back in the early days.

What I liked most about this first episode was that it sets up the world and characters in a lean, fast-paced way, where no scene or scrap of dialogue is wasted. This is enhanced by the decision to have our main character in a coma while the zombie apocalypse begins, and we’re just as in the dark as he is about its cause. We’ve all seen the movies and conspiracy theories about the possible triggers for a zombie apocalypse, so I thought this was a smart move to skip all the faff, throw us right into the action, and catch us up later. It works.

I was also impressed by the lack of jump-scares in the episode. I imagine it would have been a very strong impulse (and very easy) to lean heavily on using these to keep the audience engaged, but I think the possibility of having them drove the tension up exponentially and ultimately created a much more frightening atmosphere.

Hey, wanna know what happens down the track? Our reviewer Blake is set to find out what befalls Rick and Maggie in later seasons.

Throw a bunch of characters into a world where their main motive is simply to survive, and you already have a simmering stew of suspense and heightened emotions, where raw nerves are rife and allegiances shift constantly — what more could you want from a TV show?

For all my delay in jumping aboard the Walking Dead wagon, consider me a ticket-waving passenger now! I’ll eagerly be watching more zombified drama, and by my calculations I’ve got until next year before the final season airs, but that shouldn’t be a problem for a Binger like me!

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BACK TO LIFE

By Christie Graham

Upon hearing late last year that TWD wouldn’t return until March 2021, I realised this was my chance to power through the entire series and, luckily, I managed to catch up just in time!

While the thought of leaving fans mid-season on at least 3 different cliffhangers is Game-of-Thrones-level unbearable, thankfully we pick up right where we left off 5 MONTHS AGO.

Complete with her ridiculously bad southern accent, badass Maggie has (FINALLY) returned with Herschel Jr. Despite the immediate tension as Maggie spots Negan, I’m excited to see how they’ll coexist as she keeps her cards close during their ominous reunion.

Pleased to meet you (again) ... Lauren Cohan as Maggie.

Upon seeing Hilltop in ruins we can all hear Negan’s trademark “well shit” ringing in our ears as the troop head to good ol’ Alexandria.

Carol’s character development just keeps on giving after the warpath of carelessness she was on earlier this season. No more “WHAT ARE YOU DOING CAROL!?”s for us as she admirably takes ownership for her actions. Cue the audience’s huge sigh of relief.

The skills of the ever-so talented makeup departments shine through as we’re plunged right into frenzied zombie killing — with Maggie biting off more than she can chew right off the bat (bad Negan pun, sorry).

Carol’s cool ... Melissa McBride’s character, pictured with Norman Reedus as Daryl, is on a roll in Season 10C.

New characters and intriguing, yet-to-be-explored storylines emerge — such as Elijah’s past and the arrival of a band of pyromaniac “reapers”.

In all honesty, I feel exhausted for the group. Can we have just one season without running into a fanatic cult of mercenaries? This episode has a very gameplay-feel to it, complete with side quests and intense boss music.

After an elaborate and dangerous game of Hide and Seek, these efficient cameo-enthusiasts leave us with only one clue: “Pope marked you”. Well, we have one hell of a Father Gabriel ourselves so we’ll see where this goes!

Zombie virus ... no, it’s Norman Reedus and Covid-masked crew behind the scenes.

As soon as the screen went blank I thought “no, this can’t be it” but it is. No Michonne. No Eugene. No Oceanside. But, I’ll admit, I appreciate slowing things down to a speed the characters themselves are experiencing everything. We now have a chance to experience sweet little details like Herschel Jr. wearing Glenn’s hat and learn Maggie’s backstory — establishing a solid ½ season ahead!

But now we’ll all have to wait to binge this binge-worthy series as episodes are drip-fed weekly. Stay tuned for more!

Join the club ... here’s Negan. Not everyone likes him.

Blake and Christie are original members of The Binge Club.

The Walking Dead series 10C launches March 1 on BINGE. The six episodes will act as a bridge between the rest of Season 10 and what will be the final series, Season 11. Stream all seasons of the hit show on BINGE and Foxtel.

It’s Dead good, he reckons ... Binge Club reviewer Blake Curran. Find him on Instagram @blakes_reviews