MovieChat Forums > Fear the Walking Dead (2015) Discussion > Kirkman's mindset?

Kirkman's mindset?

posted 8 years ago by donata713
39 replies | jump to latest

Is it possible that Kirkman is just having the show play out as badly as it is to show that real life society as a whole really are becoming the walking dead? I really am starting to believe so with the way this series has played out so far. I mean, it has just gotten worse and worse with each and every episode. Obviously this show is just thriving on the coattails of the original series but I'm thinking Kirkman is doing it on purpose at this point just to laugh in the face of television viewers knowing that they will continue to watch anything related to the walking dead universe.

So I ask any of the imdb posters here who watch FtWD, if someone interviewed Kirkman and honestly answered this was indeed his mindset, would you continue to watch FtWD knowing as much?

[–] The_Mob_Has_Spoken 8 years ago

Who is Kirkland?

"I like simple pleasures like butter in my ass and lollipops in my mouth." - Floyd Gondolli

[–] donata713 8 years ago

My mistake, Kirkman. Let me edit my original post.

[–] The_Mob_Has_Spoken 8 years ago

Okay, well KIRKMAN is a hack who is striking while the iron is hot and making as much money as he can off this zombie fad before it fizzles. Because George Romero he ain't and I suspect he knows it.

"I like simple pleasures like butter in my ass and lollipops in my mouth." - Floyd Gondolli

[–] donata713 8 years ago

So have you been watching this show with regularity Mob, and if you have been, would you continue to do so after the fact if what I stated in my original post turned out to be the case?

[–] The_Mob_Has_Spoken 8 years ago

I have been watching and I respectfully disagree with your premise. While none of these zombie shows are that great, they are far from the worst thing on TV.

"I like simple pleasures like butter in my ass and lollipops in my mouth." - Floyd Gondolli

[–] donata713 8 years ago

Agree that there are probably many a more shows on television worse than this, the writing the way it has currently played out to date leaves a lot to be desired. The main reason I bring it up though is because I am under the impression with the budget being as much as they are probably working with here with this series, you would think there wouldn't be as many examples of $hi# playing out the way it has on this series.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] sandifay62 8 years ago

Based on every interview I've seen and read by him, and the way he is in DVD extras, he's not a visionary. He's a dorky guy that loves the zombie genre on the basic level. I don't think he's claiming in any way to be a genius.

He just struck gold with his comic books, I ecstatic that people wanted to develop it into a series, and simply want to see how far they can go with it. He's not a great writer or producer and doesn't pretend he is.

I suspect the same about the people that make the show. They're average to below average people that are doing their best. An average person's best is never going to be great.

I don't get angry at him or the people that make the show for not being better at it. Like a dog with a lazy eye and a limp, I just pat them on the head and let them do what they do. Not every dog can be Lassie. Lol

[–] donata713 8 years ago

I hear what you are saying sandifay but at some point you have to believe that when someone doesn't care about the quality of the product they are putting out, as I believe has become the case with FtWD, that there has to be a reason for it. In this case, it may be budget but I'm not chalking it up as that because they indicated that was the main motive the series as a whole only stayed in L.A. the original two episodes or so, to keep the cost of the budget down.

Many a critical people here on the imdb boards always state the actors are horrible and I've always attributed this being due to terrible directing, not the actors themselves as many have stated these same actors have played wonderful characters on other series.

Thus my reason for stating my original question and the two responses received, neither have answered it.

[–] USAFMXOfficer_2015 8 years ago

What drives me insane about FTWD and to a certain extend TWD is the complete lack of discussion, planning, etc, about the future i.e. zombie apocalypse. FTWD consists of mind-numbing scene upon scene of people walking into a room, looking at someone else, them looking back at the first person, then mind numbing dialog like "how are you doing?". Then mind numbing discussions about family members, previous family problems, etc etc etc. No discussion nor planning nor looking at what provisions they have nor looking at maps nor how to get food, weapons, water, etc. No discussions about where to go, or to try and find others, etc etc etc. This is a goddamn soap opera set in a zombie apocalypse. If you want to read a damn good sci fi book about an apocalypse, it is an older book, read "Day of the Triffids". The characters in that book, while not a zombie apocalypse, face the end of the world (I wont give it away) and immediately spend a lot of time making plans, to get food, water, seeds (more important than gold), shelter, etc, to carry on and keep going.

[–] xystophoros 8 years ago

In every Kirkman interview I've seen, he comes across as completely unenthusiastic, a guy who's just mailing it in, cashing in on every opportunity while he can, and collecting a paycheck.

His original comic book -- and regular TWD -- is just the same plot over and over again with no variation:

1) Group finds a place of refuge, characters say they could build a life there.

2) Group encounters another group that is hostile and led by a charismatic bad guy.

3) 10 episodes of filler leading up to an inevitable confrontation.

4) Rote penultimate episode followed by season finale in which Rick's group goes to war with Evil Group, and someone dies.

In the past few seasons the deaths have always been redshirts. Last season it was no one, with the stupid first-person camera gimmick hiding the death from the audience.

And of course every group has a Boss Character -- The Governor, Dawn, Gareth, Big Bad Wolf, Negan, etc. Minibosses, like the leader of the biker gang that Daryl temporarily joins, are sprinkled throughout.

[–] Bullish_Captain 8 years ago

His original comic book -- and regular TWD -- is just the same plot over and over again with no variation:

1) Group finds a place of refuge, characters say they could build a life there.

2) Group encounters another group that is hostile and led by a charismatic bad guy.

3) 10 episodes of filler leading up to an inevitable confrontation.

4) Rote penultimate episode followed by season finale in which Rick's group goes to war with Evil Group, and someone dies.

In the past few seasons the deaths have always been redshirts. Last season it was no one, with the stupid first-person camera gimmick hiding the death from the audience.

And of course every group has a Boss Character -- The Governor, Dawn, Gareth, Big Bad Wolf, Negan, etc. Minibosses, like the leader of the biker gang that Daryl temporarily joins, are sprinkled throughout.

What a load of crap. Come up with something new.
I'd sure like to know how your 4 point outline fits in seasons 1, 2, 5, 6.

When did Daryl join a biker gang? lol

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[–] The_Mob_Has_Spoken 8 years ago

When did Daryl join a biker gang? lol

I think homeboy was referring to the "Claimers."

"I like simple pleasures like butter in my ass and lollipops in my mouth." - Floyd Gondolli

[–] Bullish_Captain 8 years ago

Since when is this Kirkman's? He co-wrote just 2 episodes out of 19 so far. He doesn't direct. He's not the show runner. 

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27 days until the Dead rise

[–] donata713 8 years ago

From my understanding, Kirkman has much more collaborative input on FtWD because he was one of the main co-creators behind it. He started FtWD because basically he has nothing to do with TWD other than being the (comic book) inspiration behind it.

[–] Bullish_Captain 8 years ago

He started FtWD because basically he has nothing to do with TWD other than being the (comic book) inspiration behind it.

He wrote for 7 episodes.

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27 days until the Dead rise

[–] donata713 8 years ago

I didn't look up the specifics to see exactly what his title was for TWD but I meant in that he had much more creative input as to how he envisioned FtWD playing out that he ever would have with TWD. He mentioned as much one time in an interview prior to FtWD initial season began.

[–] BigBabyDirtFace 8 years ago

Since when is this Kirkman's?

OMG, could you be a bigger fanboy? Going from thread to thread defending this crap and then in the end just denying that it's Kirkman altogether? Pick a strategy already, huh?

Pro Tip: Don't report my posts unless it will get me a time out. I'm pretty careful with what I say.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] fugazzi49 8 years ago

I have seen enough Kirkman interviews to say that I don't believe that he's some kind of subtle visionary who is using the series to ironically comment on and spoof the audience. He's an averagely talented guy who wrote some comics that took off. Within them he followed standard tropes of the genre. He's not some kind of Antonioni or Fellini.

[–] CharlotteGoldenblatt 8 years ago

I doubt that. Because Kirkman is an arrogant SOB who thinks he is a genius so why would he purposely produce, slap his name on an awful product, just so he can get a kick out of it? Im aware money is a huge moving factor for him but I truly believe he thinks he is genuinely brilliant and wants to create a name for himself. Reputation is important in Hollywood.

Edit: Ha! I guess Im the only one who thinks he's arrogant!I mean he may have started out modest with TWD comics but once it took off, I think he's now more conceited than ever.

[–] fugazzi49 8 years ago

Yes, that's exactly it. Kirkman by chance tapped into something that was much, much bigger than anybody thought. But basically it was coincidental. Now it's gone to his head.

[–] sandifay62 8 years ago

But the point I was making is he's as creatively limited as the writers and directors of these shows. No matter how highly they may view themselves, they really are doing their best and their best is far from great.

So you get two popular, traditional, cliched, zombie shows with average to below average drama added. Also lots of mistakes and poor storytelling choices.

People need to stop expecting so much from these specific people. They've shown you what they can and can't do for many seasons. I enjoy their efforts, but I know it's not great TV.

[–] Bullish_Captain 8 years ago

So you get two popular, traditional, cliched, zombie shows with average to below average drama added

What other zombie shows were there before The Walking Dead?

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[–] sandifay62 8 years ago

What other zombie shows were there before The Walking Dead?

The Dead Set. but I'm talking about zombie stories in general. The shows are like a lot of traditional zombie movies and stories out there. That's what happens in genres.

[–] ScottLovesIsrael 8 years ago

No, I think he and the other FWD writers set out to tell the story of how a group of survivors turns out to be villains. Like if we followed TWD from Negan's point of view at the start.