If there was anything in this series that was going to be labeled as a huge departure from the Walking Dead books, this episode would be it. The CDC, in case you were wondering, was barely mentioned in the books, never mind actually visited and, presumably, entered. My first reaction to seeing the man behind the CDC doors was that it felt a lot like seeing Desmond in the hatch for the first time on Lost. I also thought it sucked to have them bring up the science and mystery behind why there are Walkers with the CDC so soon. However, I do believe I understand why the decision was made to go this route.
For those not patient enough or interested in reading the Walking Dead books, I imagine there’s a burning desire to know what the hell happened to have zombies roam the planet. How long was Rick out? What caused the outbreak? How much of the planet is infected? These are questions still unanswered in the books, and I, for one, never felt that need to know. In fact, I’m not sure I care if I ever know. If TV viewers had to endure the same kind of mystery, perhaps the show would lose people — I’m not sure. It stands to reason that the show is going to address these questions right now, and very possibly bring our familiar band of survivors back on the road and following the books once again as though the CDC visit never happened.
I imagine that note to Morgan about going to CDC was to clue us in that the group is going to get a visit from someone soon, and I’m betting it’s not going to be Morgan. More than likely, it’s going to be Merle, though I doubt that will be much of a surprise to anyone. I do hope we don’t somehow see Jim stumble around again, because that would just be cheap and wrong. They left his body on a deserted road, where he will no doubt become zombified. Should we see a band of Walkers later and somehow Jim is among them, that would definitely be a “OH COME ON!” moment for me.
My favorite moment of the episode was when Amy came back, Andrea having to deal the final blow to end her. It was an emotional scene that was one of those moments where I wondered if there really might be a little something left of the person in there once they’re a Walker. Was there any sort of recognition there, when Amy saw Andrea, or did she just see food, plain and simple? Is there anything in there? It’s something that has come up before, with Morgan, and we’ll likely see from time to time in the future. Is this something curable? Once someone’s dead, and they come back, is there a way to make that undead person … a person again?
How have you felt so far about the book and TV show differences? Are you bummed that the CDC has been brought in already, or are you OK with there being two stories to tell here?
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Nov 28, 2010 @ 23:26 EST5EDT
To be honest the show bored me already so this development couldn’t have come early enough for me. To have the “she came back” scene this week was something I expected last week already. I mean up until now things have developed as they usually do on zombie shows haven’t they? Long, intimate talks between two protagonists – and one of them is infected. Buried. Returns. Is killed by that other person he/she bonded with. I think that’s what makes Shaun of the Dead so great – not killing the Zombie friend at the end and just chaining him up as a pet :-)
Anyway, what really bums me out is that the Resident Evil series seems to have ruined me for Zombie stuff. Those movies are so so bad because you know she’ll return in some way (ok I have to admit that’s what happens on the “Alien” franchise as well and I am still one of those who think that Alien: Resurrection wasn’t a bad movie).
So this change was good IMHO. The question remains: WHY a second season? It seems the show could end with a very good, short run after six episodes and that next year they won’t have anything more to tell. “28 weeks later” barely had something new to tell but ended with a great scene in Paris with “the Man who walked around the world” infected (see how I avoided a spoiler there? I’m so full of myself I know…). I really wonder how the big screen adaptation of “World War Z” is going to turn out. I think changes from books to movies are necessary. They have to be faster paced and I don’t think anything more than six episodes can work because it all gets repetitive if you can’t change sceneries quickly (like “World War Z” was able to with the chosen format). Basically I think the only way the second season could be still fresh is if they start with a whole new group of people and maybe only in the last episode let them connect with the others – like “Lost” did with the tailies.
. . . . .
I’m still loving this series.
Yes … someone who has seen too many zombie flicks is getting his kicks with this group of Atlanta hicks.
There’s something about Daryl and his quick-tempered, hot-headed, it-makes-sense attitude that keeps things hopping at times. You want to turn your nose up at him, for the sake of how he projects himself if not for being the brother of Merle, but I’m tickled there’s something there I like about him.
The CDC reveal didn’t bother me. Yes, I see the “Lost” connection and it does seem a bit corny, but it’s a small nod and glitch in a so-far-so-good season of originality on television.
I’m having a problem, however, with all the blood and guts. And it’s not the blood and guts, per se, I’m really having the problem with: It’s the blatant handling of the dead (and undead) that’s at issue. With all the spray and contact and splurts of body matter and ooze and fluids, more people – if not all of them – should be getting diseased in a heartbeat. Everyone should be feeling some symptoms of what Jim has been experiencing, don’t you think? That was laid out very clearly in the second episode When Rick and Glenn got “painted” with undead unmentionables. “Don’t touch anything!” Remember?
Let’s see what the wrap up holds and we’ll move on from there …
I’m still liking the show and I don’t think the CDC visit will really turn the show into LOST. Its probably going to just be a one episode deal or two with next week ending with a cliffhanger. Like you said, we find out the scope of the zombie outbreak and move on. Who knows what they move onto, but its a character drama much like Mad Men. There is no major endgame like LOST and I don’t want one with this.
The door opening the end however I think would of been much more thrilling if we never saw the guy from The Truman Show beforehand. All of his scenes could of been used in the finale episode instead as an opening sequence. But since they used them last night we kind of know why he is opening the door. He needs samples! The cliffhanger would of been more effective if I couldn’t guess that and had no idea who or what was waiting for the group beyond the light.