| While the producers
have stated the series will focus more and more on
Rick, we get a glimpse at the man's conflict with
his decision to stay alive and how the merciful
decision may have been suicide after all. His
discussion with a Jesus Christ statue shows he's in
need of some verification that their choice was a
wise one and perhaps they'll get their wishes. All
the while we see the individual characters uncoil
throughout the premiere as Shane Walsh is forced to
witness his secret affair with Lori be reduced to an
irrelevant issue as his feelings for her are
dismissed in favor of Rick, while Dale is given more
of a charge where he feels he must protect the now
suicidal Andrea who chose death initially. Now with
staring death in the face, they all have to decide
where their future lies in this wasteland and how
they can separate without spelling doom for the
others. Which is what will ultimately be their doom
as seeking independence will mean a painful death,
in the end. The production is still as amazing as
ever with the episode primarily centered on the
group's traveling in to a main road that leaves them
stranded before a blockade of abandoned and deserted
cars that could very well be littered with the
walking dead or maybe the hope they require.
The episode draws out
the tension wonderfully as the source for their one
break where they're able to find water, gas, and
supplies comes to an end once they're confronted
with a creeping massive herd of walkers who litter
the highways forcing the group to hide under cars
waiting for the tides to clear. One of the major
surprises of the premiere is the fate of T-Dog as
he's confronted with Daryl Dixon who manages to save
his life in the process of hiding from the dead, an
issue I hope the writers confront. T-Dog is of
course the primary reason for Daryl's brother being
stranded on a roof in the middle of the city, so
it's a shocker to see Daryl go to such lengths to
defend and save him. One of the real highlights of
the episode of the blossoming character of Daryl
Dixon. Not originally featured in the comics, he's
an individual who has managed to come in to his own
as an essential part of this band of survivors and
Norman Reedus has this character in his grasp
portraying him as an anti-hero who hold contempt for
these people, but is never afraid to step up and
help when someone needs it. "What Lies Ahead" is
equal in quality with "Days Gone Bye" is an
unrelenting premiere that ends on a cliffhanger that
many will not see coming and really puts Rick's plea
for a miracle to the test. I anxiously await the
developments for season two of "The Walking Dead." |
