If the 'Walking Dead' didn't feel like a cheap 'Lost' rip-off to some fans, it does now after Sunday's terrible sixth episode season finale. TS-19 was possibly the worst thing that could have happened to a series that started off so strong and had so much potential. Maybe because the show was picked up for a second season, the now-unemployed writers felt that they could've slacked off and didn't need to fill it with doom and looming death. There was no spoiler, no cliffhanger, no preview of what to expect. We all knew the Walking Dead's Rick-Shane-Lori (Lost's Jack-Sawyer-Kate) were going to make it even before season one ended, because at this point, the love triangle between the three characters is the only interesting relationship thats going to help season two. So they needed to survive. Yawn.
The beginning sequence was cool enough. It was a great five minute flashback to "The Great Panic" that got me excited again about the series. There was action, zombies, gunfire, panic and all that good stuff that made the first episode so gripping. Sadly, those five minutes were pretty much the peak of the episode before it spiraled downwards. It was reminiscent of a 'Lost' flashback, just done very poorly. So should we be expecting 'Lost'-like flashbacks to the past in order to fill in gaps? Or possibly future flash-forwards? In the scene, we saw Shane trying to save Rick's life from the zombie attacks in the hospital. It gave us some sympathy for Shane. He's not really a bad guy --aside from that whole sleeping with his best friend's wife and trying to rape her thing. My gripe is that the flashback scene seemed so out of place though, as if it was placed in as an after thought or an easy fix to remind viewers of Shane's humanity before he later goes on to his almost-rape scene.
The middle of the episode was mediocre at best. Too much time was spent on the characters in their CDC living quarters taking long hot showers, rambling on about how crappy their situation is and drinking. The whole underground CDC operation even felt too much 'Lost' hatch-like, even down to the lone Dr. Jenner (aka Lost's Desmond) living there trying to hold down the fort. And frankly, Dr. Jenner was really annoying. He didn't have the same charm that Desmond had. I could not find one redeeming quality about the doctor, even with his little sob story at the end. Made worse was the rip-off doomsday clock counting down to zero threatening death and explosion. Anyone reminded of the same doomsday clock in 'Lost' that threatened the same explosive and dire consequences? The only difference was the 'Walking Dead' writers blew up the CDC/hatch in the sixth episode instead of dragging it out.
(On the left, the Walking Dead crew are bathed in white light as the CDC doors open. On the right...same thing, except it's on Lost)
The ending of the season finale was lame. The CDC blew up and now it's back to the first stage again as everyone piles into their cars and campers and pull away. The dialogue was weak and didn't even support many instances of the episode. Throughout 55 minutes of the episode, we are repeatedly told how dire the situation was, how the infection had gone global and how there was no cure in sight for the zombies. This nice set-up would have been the perfect opportunity to make some social commentary about how the survivors were actually the 'walking dead' --not the zombies--or maybe having the group acknowledge that. The writers kinda alluded to that with Andrea and Jacqui wanting to stay behind while the building self-destructs but the dialogue wasn't strong enough to send this message across. Rather, the message that came across was: Getting blown up is better than getting chomped on.
One good thing about the season finale at least:
TS-19 sets up the possibility for a very good season two that will hopefully deviate plotline away from Lost. With a brand new writing cast and a clean slate (no more of this terrible CDC storyline), the series has a good chance of reigniting the same passion and suspense that brought it so much critical acclaim in the first place. As long as it doesn't try to rip-off anymore themes from 'Lost,' J.J. Abrams can sit still for a bit.
Comments (1)