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I might be alone on this but.... and also my two problems with FTWD

posted 8 years ago by Polizzi19
9 replies | jump to latest

The show has really picked up this second half of season 2 and for the first time since it started, it had me excited for each weeks episode. I know there's always going to haters out there, and the show will never compare to the original Walking Dead, but if you a fan of TWD than there's really no reason to not be a fan of FTWD. Its defiantly better than 95% of the other garbage shows on TV nowadays. Don't know why everyone gets so upset over the little things that go wrong. Not every show can be The Sopranos or Breaking Bad (as close to perfect as you will get IMO ).

My only problems are Madison, who I thought her acting was better in season 1 and has gotten weaker as the show has been progressing. (example would be when Travis beat those two fools that killed Chris to death, which was AWESOME, and you just hear her consistently saying, not yelling, "Travis" and "Stop" in the most monotone voice ever ) It was annoying as hell, and not believable. But I do think she has the potential to bounce back. Shes not like Lori in TWD who was just an unlikable character from season one on.

Second problem... Strand. The dude could have been AWESOME ! and I really see no way to fix his character. And no it has nothing to do with making him gay. He came off in season one as the bad ass man with a master, manipulative plan and even though things didn't go as planned, he seemed to become less likable and a much weaker character. Even his way with words has become weaker than it originally was. We know he's back for season 3 even though he stayed at the hotel, but is that really something that many people care about??? If you told me we would only gt a few episodes of him after he was initially introduced, I would have cared and been pissed. Just feel his character is a ton of wasted potential, and I don't see any way, at least for me, to redeem it and make him someone worth getting invested in.He's like Tyreese. He had his moments, but his scens and death never really impacted the show or the viewers.

In a nutshell, I really enjoy the show. Love Travis's and Nick's character and love looking at Alicia lol. From the start I thought its cool how it's giving us a whole different look at the world of the TWD from the beginning. But mainly the last 3 episodes of season 2 is where the show really kicked into gear. Hoping it keeps getting better. The haters of the show will never disappear , but the show has more viewers than most shows, so if your not a fan, just don't watch bc I believe its sticking around at least 6 seasons .

[–] hnt_dnl 8 years ago

I'm in total agreement about Madison. She was much better in Season 1. Sorry, but I lump Nick into the Madison category as well. I think he was a lot better character in Season 1 and I think the acting of him is about as bad as it is for Madison, maybe not quite as bad but pretty close. I'm somewhat puzzled why Nick is so popular. I guess because he's good with kids and is a rebel or something, but I find him to be an awfully written, acted character. The Colonia plot starring Nick was the absolute pits, worst part of Season 2.

With Strand, I think it's going to be difficult for the writers to continue to write for him since the mystery is gone. He's not an enigma anymore. Plus, his way of talking has got to be difficult to pen on a regular basis. Do the writers really think Strand is going to be able to talk his way out of the Travis-Alicia incident and actually convince the hoteliers are going to buy his BS? Especially given that the Bride's Mom stabbed him and I'm pretty sure now they will be back on her side, not his, with his group turning on all of them and killing 2 of their own.

[–] Polizzi19 8 years ago

You know, once you mention it I gotta side with you and take back on what I said about Nick. I like the character of Nick, possibly due to similarities, such as someone in recovery, can never figure out where he's going in life etc. But looking back on it, his story line after leaving his family was pretty bad. prob the worst out of the Madison and Strand at the hotel, Travis and Chris, and him and the Colonia. You could probably skip right through it and two episodes later still know whats going on there lol ..Travis is the one character I think everyone will end up siding with. Hes bad ass and I think Chris is just the beginning of him turning into a Rick type character, because there is no way he would survive in the current Walking dead world (Negan, Rick, Daryl etc). trying to always do the right thing. I think he is gonna go into complete bad ass mode and its going to great to see./

[–] stephenbacurin-705-695069 8 years ago

I think I'm OK with Kim Dickens's acting. Maybe her character needs to be in different situations that'll show more of her range as an actress and flesh her our more. In season one, she spent time consoling family members and Tobias and then was pretty stoic while killing the principal. In season two, she still consoles family and is still stoic while finishing the Dan Diego bros. The second half of season two brought Cliff Curtis's range due to the storyline with Travis and Chris. Maybe Madison, a leader/guidance couselor, will find herself vulnerable in S3.

Yes, we need more of Strand. His introduction is too legit in season one. An actor like Domingo and character like Strand shouldn't be wasted. It's unfortunate he is rendered impotent after losing his boat which gave him leverage and after getting ding dong stabbed.

[–] Polizzi19 8 years ago

I defiantly think Kim Dickens is a great actress and her character was better earlier in season one and most of 2 ,but has dropped off. However it has the potential and more than likely will show more of her range. I rarely get annoyed and feel like a hypocrite for picking up on the little things and getting bent out of shape but if you go back and watch the scene where Travis beats the two to death, her acting is so unbelievable that its almost tough to watch. I almost think it might not be her fault. Just didn't seem like something that everyone in an editing room would not pick up on. Im as far from an expert as there is and no fil student, so in honesty, what the hell do I really know ?? But the first thing I honestly thought of when the part was airing ,(assuming like most you've watched the show) was a scene in Season 2 of The Sopranos. Theres a scene where Tony and Carmella fight with Janice over her remarks about Meadow trashing Tonys mother's house. Carmella (Edie Falco) was sick the day of filming and you can just tell how off the scene was because her voice, look, almost everything was different than any other scene she did throughout the series. Not saying Kim Dickens was sick, or anything was different. But it just really seemed out of place how nonchalant and monotone she was when just saying "Travis" and "Stop" constantly. Maybe it could have worked if she was being sarcastic, but that didnt seem like the case. Not smashing the glass earlier was unbelievable enough, but her reaction made an awesome scene really tough to watch.

As for Strand. I really don't see how you redeem this guy.. I could have cared less when he got stabbed. Would have cared earlier int he show. He might have too much of a range for it to go anywhere

[–] stephenbacurin-705-695069 8 years ago

Being sick probably hurt Edie Falco's performance in that Soprano's scene, but acting while sick may have help Cliff Curtis's performance when he arrived at the hotel and filled Madison in on what happened to Chris. It sounded like he had a bad cold. His stuffed up nose made me believe he was walking alone in the elements.

[–] stephenbacurin-705-695069 8 years ago

Haha. I probably would have cared more about Strand early on too like when he had hypothermia in the ocean. It was so not dramatic when he got stabbed. It was so random and a little funny. Goes back to when Coleman Domingo said Strand would probably die stepping on a rusty nail. Let's hope he doesn't die. He has great, funny lines and Coleman Domingo has the voice to pull them off:

"Children are the very definition of dead weight."

"That's unfortunate."

"I'm a seducer of people."

"This is my goddamn boat."

On Nick's heroine addiction: "That's the gold standard. Don't sell yourself short."

[–] stephenbacurin-705-695069 8 years ago

I misspelled heroin as heroine.

[–] Polizzi19 8 years ago

haha yeah they are defiantly two different words spelled similar with two complete different meanings lol

[–] Jeorj Euler 8 years ago

I can't really explain why FTWD isn't as interesting as TWD. At first, I thought it was because it deals with the beginning of the crisis, with a lot of detail on a boring family of which a junkie is a member, and to some extent that is true, since things started getting interesting nearer the end of the first season, but still not quite as "good" as TWD or, say, the journey of Rick Grimes. Maybe it's because FTWD lacks the Night of the Living Dead vibe (or that of Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead).