I think you're really overstating the case for Walking Dead being bad, here. Everyone I know watches it, it's a huge hit. I would agree that it isn't as good as the first season, but it's still better than most shows. I'll be watching when it come back.
This is all completely anecdotal but the general consensus of the many people I know who watch it is that season 3 was mostly terrible, and allowing the Governor to survive the finale was a huge mistake (because the dragging out of that story, which has long ago worn out its welcome in the tv version of it, is a bad idea).
Having said all of that, of the people I know who really follow the show on the creative/biz side are happy that the former show-runner was canned and replaced with Scott Gimple who wrote a lot of the best episodes.
Personally I'm taking a wait and see approach with the next season. If things aren't solidly turned around by the middle of the next season, I'm going to quit watching. I don't want to make the same mistake I did with Lost where I was so convinced they would fix the problems that presented themselves in later seasons that I stuck with it to the bitter end.
I agree, but I would agreed with you at the end of Season 1.
The whole show one bad cry away from being a zombie chick flick. The writing and scenes are just bad, unrealistic(if that quality means anything here, which I feel it does) and just so stupidly emotional.
Ugh, don't people want anything makes them think anymore, this whole mass market shit is catered for those with not so much critical thinking ability. Maybe I'm lacking some emotional intelligence, but wasting my attention on petty and shallow relationships and trying to delay the plot from continuing was acceptable during the Dragonball Z days but not now.
Take an amazing show like Burn Notice and apply that methodology to creating action, drama or what have you. If you look at the plot over the 8 seasons, you will notice for sure that the story cannot really top the first few seasons, but it doesn't matter. The execution of the show is what really matters, and a certain level sophistication, acting and chemistry is important.
These shows lack any direction or purpose and that's important.
I just finished watching my DVR'd copies last week. It would have been a spoiler for me. Nowadays you can't expect for people to watch something even within the few weeks surrounding the original airing. I'm sure that makes it hell for ratings companies.
It would have been nice for a little * spoiler alert *.
No worries - it's not that big of a deal. But I think you're right that leaving that character alive at the end of the finale seems messy. I assume that they'll keep playing out the Governor as an enemy for a while. Or maybe he'll just come back in after a season or two hiatus... hopefully that.
I'll still be coming back, but I agree with OP. I think Frank Darabont leaving has led to a dip in quality. Many people complained the pace was too slow in season 2, but it what that "slow pace" that really helped deepened the character development, and emotional impact of certain scenes.
