The Walking Dead - Review

I can remember when I first started watching The Walking Dead. It arrived amidst a huge fanfare and many predicted that it would have the same effect on zombies as True Blood had on vampires. While The Walking Dead remains the only good zombie series on the telly (and few would claim that zombies are 'sexier' because of it) it is also one of the best things on the telly. I've reviewed The Walking Dead a number of times on this blog and I've always sung its praises because it is genuinely one of my favourite shows. It's true 'event' television at its very best and with record breaking numbers of viewers tuning in for the Season 5 premiere, I'm obviously not the only one who feels that way!

Slaughter of the 'cattle' at Terminus!

The season 5 premiere picked up just moments after the season 4 finale finished, with our main core of survivors trapped by the terminites (the people at terminus, see what I did there?) in a train carriage. The signs leading up to Terminus and said that it was a 'sanctuary for all! You arrive, you survive!'. Fans of the comic books upon which the series is based knew that there was obviously something not quite right about the folks at Terminus and I did have some inkling that they were probably bad people. I, much like the majority of geekdom, was proved right as Rick, Daryl, Bob and Glen were hog tied over a metal trough in a scene straight out of Hostel! The Walking Dead has never been a show that has shied away from showing some pretty gross scenes but even I found myself cringing at the sight of the 'torture porn' that seemed to be unfolding on screen. I also thought that Glen was a goner! The early trailers had all pointed to Glen being whacked over the head by a baseball bat wielding thug and he dodged THAT bullet a number of times. This The Walking Dead at it's very best, cranking up the tension to unbearable levels. What made it worse was that our main group of characters had to watch as three non-characters were slaughtered brutally in front of their eyes like cattle

Of course, we knew that all would turn out well for our survivors, didn't we? They managed to escape courtesy of a new kick-ass version of Carol. She has had the most extreme character arc from all of our main characters, surely. From domestic abuse victim in the first season to a female version of Rambo is quite an extreme change. Of course, it's been a complex change but also quite a welcome one. This is a world in which good people die, as said by a 'terminate' offed by Tyreese in typically brutal fashion! Carol has had to change in order for her own survival and, as it turned out, the survival of her fellow survivors.

Another character that's had an extreme character arc is Rick Grimes, de facto leader of our main band of survivors. Of course, he's a character that's been really put through the wringer and he's come out of it as a man without boundaries. When he tore the throat out of the leader of 'the claimers' in the

Rick Grimes, de facto leader.

season 4 finale, that was the start of a new Rick, a Rick that will do whatever it takes to survive and god have mercy on those who threaten him, his son or his 'family'! He knows (his experience with The Governor being a major lesson) that his world isn't only in danger from walkers. They are only an inconvenience with the real threat coming from the living! In his role as Rick, Andrew Lincoln is a revelation and the fact that he's English only makes me smile.

One of The Walking Dead's strengths is how it deals with issues we can relate to, issues of family. I've always said that the show is more than about the zombies, it's a show about the little glimmers of hope that appear when all faith is lost. It's about family, about the family you're born into and about the family you create as you live your life. It's about survival against the odds and about how people change, about how situations cause those changes and the effects those changes have on the ones you love. At its absolute core, The Walking Dead is a beautiful show.

Morgans back!

Another strength that The Walking Dead possesses is the element of surprise. How the writers manage to keep their secrets I'll never know yet at the end of the episode, in the shows first ever post credits scene, we got a glimpse of one of the shows true icons, Morgan. He's a much welcome return

to the show, despite only appearing twice before. As a character, he's undergone a transformation

akin to that of Carol or Rick. From father in mourning, unable to kill his zombified wife in his first episode to insane hermit in his second episode to the man on a mission he appears now. It will be interesting to see whether this is another fleeting appearance by Morgan or whether he's here to stay this time!

RATING

As a stand alone episode, the premiere stands amongst the shows best. It's got tension, guts and gore, action and emotion. It's also got the return of Morgan which earns it a star on its own. It will certainly be interesting where the show goes from here and hopefully it'll maintain the standard set by the premiere. 5/5

Gotham: First Look!!!

In 1997 Batman and Robin came to cinemas and for many, that film sounded the death knell for Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego, at least as far as live action was concerned. It took Christopher Nolan, nearly a decade later, to resurrect the series with his reboot trilogy which took Batman back to his very dark beginnings. As far as films go, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight rises set the tone for a darker, edgier superhero that has changed the way that comic books are adapted for the silver screen. The revived Superman series wouldn't have happened were it not for Christopher Nolans Batman in my opinion. His vision didn't only shape the way comics are adapted for the big screen, it also shaped the way they are adapted for television. The recent Arrow series as well as The Flash are great examples of this. Gone are the cartoon villains and surreal plots to be replaced by characters that could have a place in our own world. It's evident that Gotham is heavily influenced by these ideas right from the off!

The young Cat-Woman

     From the outside you may be forgiven for thinking that Gotham is a Batman origin story, that it's about how a young Bruce Wayne became The Dark Knight. The truth is that it's about much more than that. The basic storyline revolves around Detective James Gordon (played magnificently by Gary Oldman in the Nolan films) now a rookie cop with a desire to clean up Gotham City. He's hindered on all sides by the likes of the mayor, his fellow cops and some familiar names within the Batman mythology and thats what this series is really about, the bad guys. Comic book geeks will revel in the multiple easter eggs dotted about regarding some of Gotham City's best known villains. In the first episode alone I caught references to The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, The Riddler and Cat-Woman although I'm sure that a second viewing will reveal more.

Poison Ivy maybe?

     The casting directors have done a great job with their casting of some truly iconic characters. Ben McKenzie is a great choice for the 'lead' of James Gordon. He kind of makes the role his own although it's evident that he's been inspired by Gary Oldmans portrayal of the character. Robin Lloyd Taylor tackles Oswald Cobblepot and he is inspired casting. In the show, no secret is made of the fact that his character will one day become The Penguin with multiple references and he's an extremely watchable character because of this. He dominates the screen whenever he appears with a disturbingly beautiful performance!

The Penguin in action!

James Gordon wants to 'clean up' Gotham

     The feel of Gotham is spot on with a film noir kind of feel to it. Despite the fact that it's set in modern day it has a seventies kind of look to it and it's influences are pretty clear. This is more Nolan than Burton, more Arrow than The New Adventures of Superman. This is not a series that pulls its punches as is shown early on with the grisly murder of Bruce Wayne's parents! It's a series that has huge potential going forward and is a must for your Sky Planner this autumn. Whether you're well versed in the Batman universe or completely new to the character I'm sure that Gotham will appeal to you.

Rating

Oh, a very easy 5/5. Even though it's early days this series is more than capable of spawning multiple series's. With a great cast and a treasure trove of iconic villains at it's disposal, Gotham has a very bright future ahead of it.

The Walking Dead - Season 4 Finale - My View

SPOILER ALERT

*** The following article may spoil certain events shown in the season 4 finale of The Walking Dead. Please only continue reading if you are okay with this.

     The Walking Dead is a funny show. It's a show that when it's at the top of it's game, when it's really reaching it's potential, it is truly superb television. The trouble is that this quite often acts against it because the episodes that don't quite reach this potential seem all the more poorer. It's a shame that it's perhaps become a victim of it's own success because nearly every episode is great television when you take them on their own merits. Take a recent episode for example, the Beth/Daryl centric episode 'Still'. This episode is a superb episode that deals with how two characters, who couldn't be more different, form a relationship and bond.

Daryl and Beth in 'Still'

Daryl is the ex drug dealer, the strong, silent type who wouldn't look out of place in a spaghetti western. Beth is the sweet and innocent farmers daughter who's never had a drink before. In the normal world, these two characters would never interact but here, in the harsh reality of a zombie apocalypse they are forced to survive together and interact. Taken as a stand alone episode, 'Still' is a fascinating character dissection, an outstanding hour of television. Taken as a part of The Walking Dead though and it appears poor and boring which is a real shame.

     The Walking Dead quite often lives and dies by it's finales. Who can forget the explosion at the C.D.C. that brought to an  end season one, or the herd attack at Hershels Farm in the unbelievable season two finale. Last years finale fell a little short in my opinion and disappointed me. It didn't leave me wanting more which is what a good finale should do. The Season four finale ticked alot of boxes in my opinion. It gave us action, shocks and questions and the next seven months are going to be tough.

     Now, onto the dissection of The Walking Dead Season Four finale. The episode kicked off with the familiar face of Hershel. Seeing him again was a welcome sight as we saw events in the prison prior to the season four premier. From the idyllic sanctuary of the prison we cut to a bloodied and obviously shook up Rick Grimes on a deserted road before the opening titles kicked in. The flashbacks to the prison were great throughout the episode. They were scenes of safety and calm and punctuated the present day scenes as Rick, Carl and Michone survived in the wild on their way to Terminus. Far from being a backstory as to how Rick became a farmer, they were a contrast. They showed Rick as the man he used to be, as the man he probably could be again. They contrasted perfectly with the present day scenes of Rick as a man of desperation, as a man who would do anything to protect his family. 

Rick following the incident with
The Claimers

     We saw the type of man Rick now was when Joe and his gang of 'claimers' caught up with him on the road. Joe held a gun to Ricks head as Daryl (who'd joined the claimers in an earlier episode), pleaded with Joe. Joe was having none of it though and his men began to beat Daryl to death. That wasn't all though as Michone and Carl both faced rape as Rick was forced to look on, Joes gun to his temple. This was perhaps one of the most upsetting scenes ever featured on the show and I did wonder how far the potential rapes would go. Thankfully they didn't go too far though as Rick reacted. In a scene taken straight from issue 57 of the comic books, Rick tore Joes throat out with his teeth. The shock from the claimers meant that Daryl and Michone both got the upper hand on their attackers while Rick stabbed to death Carls potential rapist after saying chillingly 'He's mine!'. This was the scene in which Rick changed, possibly forever. The world is no longer safe, there are no longer any rules. It's survival of the fittest and Rick now knows that. 

     Ricks character arc has perhaps been the most complex in the show. He's developed in so many different ways from the man who woke up alone in hospital. He's lost so much, flirted with insanity and nearly been consumed by grief. It's a testament to Andrew Lincolns supreme acting skills that he has given this character such believability in the most unbelievable of circumstances. 

Rick and Carl meet Gareth at Terminus

     The journey to Terminus has dominated this second half of season four as our different bands of characters have made their way there. The internet has been rife with rumours as to what Terminus was or is and what kind of dangers lurked there for our characters. One of the main rumours has been that Terminus is in fact a colony of cannibals and that the signs and directions are a way of getting a food source. In the penultimate episode we were treated to a sneak preview of Terminus as Glenn, Maggie, Abraham, etc walked though unguarded doors to a scene of sanctuary as a mysterious lady called Mary cooked on a BBQ. This episode, Rick, Daryl, Michone and Carl arrived and they went through the 'backdoor', having grown suspicious of places that offered sanctuary after Woodbury and The Governor. They were met by their leader Gareth before being offered a plate by Mary at the BBQ. It was then that Rick spotted Hershel's pocket watch (the one he gave to Glenn) sticked out of one of the Terminians (that's what I'm calling them!) pocket. Then a chase ensued and Rick, Daryl, Michone and Carl ended up captive in a train carriage along with Glenn and company. 

     Ever since that first episode we've been told that The Walking Dead isn't about the zombies. It's a series more about the living than the dead. The human element has been responisible for the majority of dangers faced by our core characters, whether it's the prisoners in the prison, the governor or more recently Joes gang. The zombies are a side show, something to throw in every now and again. The walking Dead is a character driven show, a profile of human survival in a world gone crazy. It's about the relationships formed when the question of survival is on the line, when death is around every corner. Ultimately it's about a world where the fittest survive and as Rick realised, where only those prepared to go to the extremes will win out.

How I Met Your Mother - Series Finale- My View

***SPOILER ALERT***

***The following article may spoil certain events shown during the finale of How I Met Your Mother. Please only continue reading if you are ok with this!***

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





 I felt it about halfway through, that feeling of dread, that this series finale would disappoint. In the end it didn't so much as disappoint, more gave me a huge slap in the face, a slap worthy of the slap bet itself! I'll be honest, I was a relative newcomer to How I Met Your Mother, only getting into the show about three years ago. In that time though I have watched it from it's beginning and I grew to love the characters in much the same way I loved Joey, Phoebe, Rachel, et al. Friends was similar to HIMYM in many ways. The need to be included in a group, the quest for love in the big apple, the interactions we all face in our search for the one and how fate can prove unbeatable in the end. I guess that I considered HIMYM to be the direct replacement for Friends and there were even times when Ted's tale of how he met the mother of his children matched the heady heights that Friends reached during it's own ten year run. Friends did something better though, something not that many shows achieve despite it seemingly appearing to be the easiest thing in the world. When all's said and done the writers of Friends gave the fans what they wanted. They gave Chandler and Monica a family and a house in the suburbs, they gave Rachel and Ross a future together, they gave the characters a good send off that avoided looking too much to the past. I so wish that I could say the same thing about HIMYM, I wish it more than anything. Maybe the show became a victim of it's own mythology, I don't know. One thing I do know though is that not many true fans would have wanted Ted to end up with Robin!

     I'll back up a bit as I attempt to dissect an episode that spanned twenty five years! The episode started with a flashback to 2005 with the group in Maclarens soon after they'd met Robin. It was a great nod to the past as Lily pleaded with Marshall, Ted and Barney to let Robin join their group. Maclarens is to HIMYM what Central Perc was to friends. It was a central part of the show, a place where (as Marshall laments to a random drinker) 'so many great things have happened!'. From that opening scene we move forward to 2014 and Robin and Barney's wedding day. Ted spots the bass player in the wedding band, she spots him, their eyes meet and........ we get our first fan pleaser. HIMYM has been about many things. It's been about love, interaction, hope, friendship, etc. One thing that has played a huge part has been the running joke. From the slap bet to the bro code, the running joke has played a huge part in the show and for many that has been it's big appeal. In the first episode of the show we were introduced to the 'Haaavvveee you met....' joke when Barney introduced Ted to Robin. Here we got a little nod to that when Barney attempted to persuade Ted to meet The Mother....

BARNEY-It's time to play a little game I like to call Haavvee you.....
TED - Barney I...
BARNEY - No! No! You are not getting out of Have You Met Ted! There's a girl that you have to meet. She is perfect for you and haass she met you? No she haass not. Think of all the sex you're going to haavvee.

     As I said, this was the first attempt at fan pleasing and it was well used. It almost acted as a direct comparison to that first episode. From there we kept going back and forth from present day to events in the future leading up to Ted telling the story to his kids. It was interesting to see how the characters moved on beyond the present day setting of the story. We saw Marshall and Lilly continue in their happy marriage and have three children. Marshall got his judgeship (or Judge-Fudge) then later on his Supreme Judge-ship (or Fudge-Supreme, which instantly trended on Twitter!). Lily and Marshall have been the guiding light for Ted throughout the series. In their marriage, they had what Ted desired most in the world. He wanted the wedding, the wife, the kids. The constant nature of Lily and Marshall provided Ted with the hope he perhaps needed that there was true love out there and that when you found it, it could be beautiful. For every Lily and Marshall though there's a Barney Stenson and I was a tad bummed out when he reverted back to his old ways. It was sad to see this man in his forties pursuing the perfect month (thirty one girls in thirty one days). Barney has been the provider of many of the shows quotable lines and jokes over the years and I can understand the writers feeling like they had to revisit some of his best. It was a shame that they did it in this way though. Don't get me wrong, I loved his Playbook and his never ending bro-code. His endless pursuit of women has provided HIMYM with some of it's biggest laughs over the years. It just seemed like a backward step to take him back to his old self. The last three or four seasons have seen a huge change in Barney. He grew and evolved with the show and it seemed like all of that was for nothing in the finale.

     Through the flash-forwards we learned that Barney and Robin got divorced after only three years of marriage. This was the moment when I knew where the finale was headed. It set up the opportunity for Ted and Robin to get together in the future. All that was remaining was The Mother and she was cruelly killed off in the final few minutes as Ted began his closing sentences of his nine year story to his kids.

Ted marries The Mother

TED - Lily wasn't wrong. It was at times a long and difficult road, but I'm glad it was long and difficult because if I hadn't gone through hell to get there, the lesson might not have been as clear. You see kids, right from the moment I met your mom I knew. I have to love this woman as much as I can for as long as I can and I can never stop loving her, not even for a second. I carried that lesson with me through every stupid fight we ever had, every 5am Christmas morning, every sleepy Sunday afternoon. Through every speed bump, every pang of jealousy or boredom or uncertainty that came our way, I carried that lesson with me. And I carried it with me when she got sick. Even then, in what can only be described as the worst of times, all I could do was thank god, thank every god there is or ever was or ever will be and the whole universe and anyone else I can possibly thank. I saw that beautiful girl on that train platform and that I had the guts to stand up, walk over to her, tap her on the shoulder, open my mouth and speak.

The Mother on her deathbed?

     For me, the show should've ended at that point. Ted had met the mother, we'd been given a hint as to her eventual death but this woman had been the only woman that Ted had ever really loved. Unfortunately that wasn't the end of the show though and it turned out that this whole story hadn't been about Ted and how he'd met the mother of his children, it'd been about how in love with Robin he'd always been. There had been hints to The Mother's fate dotted throughout the series and that was fine. It was still upsetting that she'd passed away but still, it fit in with the foreshadowing, etc. I just felt that for Robin and Ted to end up together, well it just didn't fit. It's as though the writers thought that's what the fans wanted so that's what they gave us.

Ted arrives at Robins complete
with blue horn.

The 'evil aunt' Robin greets
Ted.

     Robin and Ted have had their ups and downs and it's always been clear that Ted has always held a torch for her. For me though that wasn't love, not the love Ted described when talking about The Mother. It was an unobtainable love, a love that was quite clearly never meant to be. To suddenly put them back together kind of throws the whole show off kilter. It's makes Ted less of the person he grew to be as he finally met The Mother. It makes Robin appear as the evil aunt, taking the place of the dead mother. Sure, the kids gave Ted their blessing but the story was always directed at us, the viewer. It was as though Ted was telling the story to us and so The Mother became our mother. To think of Robin taking her place is kind of upsetting.

Ted meets The Mother!

     Taking the series as a whole I have hugely enjoyed it. It's been an epic story of one mans struggle to find the love of his life and the interactions and friendships he experience whilst trying to achieve that. The show was never just about Ted though. It was the love story between Marshall and Lily, the need for Robin to succeed and fit in, the growth of Barney. It was about hope, hope that our one and only is out there somewhere, on a train platform in the pouring rain. It was about the need to love and to be loved by those we care about the most. I just wish that it had really been about how Ted had met The Mother!