‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ Episode 1 Review - A Rough Start

The original The Walking Dead series contains eleven seasons, which naturally means not everyone will be able to retain all of its events. We not only forget about certain scenes but our emotional connection with the characters gets severed when we return to them after a long gap. Of course, there are always exceptions, though The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live unfortunately suffers from this common problem. For its part, it thankfully gives us a recap regarding the main points one needs to keep in mind while watching these new events. But this information only works like a bullet point, as it never really establishes any connection between the viewer and the on-screen characters.

The one thing that continues to be good about this franchise is the performance. As Rick Grimes, Andrew Lincoln effectively displays the pain of a man who has been separated from his family for a long time. Near the beginning of Episode 1, he tries to commit suicide. His droopy eyes, gloomy face serve as a contrast between this new Rick and the one we see in scenes where he talks with Michonne (Danai Gurira) on a bench. These flashbacks (or call them dream sequences) show a happy Rick who has soft features. Put the two faces side by side, and you will realize how far this character has traveled.

But the way these Michonne scenes are inserted feels very clunky, very haphazard. As a result, all the warmth and romance leak away from the frame. You might have seen these characters before, yet while watching this first episode, you feel like you are watching strangers in a sad situation. To make matters worse, the dialogues sound too self-serious. You can notice the strain of wanting to hit the audience with a sense of melancholic pain. Some of the lines are repetitious. For instance, we are constantly reminded that Rick tried to escape four times. A character, in different ways, talks about his new professional position. A secret meeting about A's and B's is summed up through Rick's voice-over. Sometimes, you thank these repetitions because the actual dialogues go over your head. You struggle to pay attention to them.

If the sight of a suicidal Rick indicates emotional suffering, the visual of Rick cutting his own hand suggests physical suffering. This man is really dejected. Still, the breakneck pace creates a distance between us and the characters. You respond to the show only during unexpected moments, like when a girl suddenly appears out of nowhere or a man is blown into pieces inside a helicopter. The last shot should have made you gasp, but it simply looks "dead" despite sincere efforts from the actors. I hope the upcoming episodes turn out to be better. 

Final Score - [5/10]