“The Walking Dead” on AMC
Reviewed by Ana Mezic
The third season of AMC’s record-breaking zombie television show premiered with over 10.9 million viewers, to become the most watched basic cable drama telecast in history.
The show’s allure stems from its drama and horror, with a new season premiering shortly before Halloween each year. However, its mass appeal and ability to pull in a diverse set of viewers is attributed to the incredible screenplay, character development and cliffhangers at the end of each episode.
Season three begins several months after season two left off, with main character Lori Grimes in the last few weeks of her post-apocalyptic pregnancy. The characters struggle to find shelter so she can deliver without fear of being swarmed by vicious decaying bodies.
The characters, led by self-appointed group leader, Rick Grimes, find an abandoned prison, which presents itself as a sanctuary for a more permanent residence. The group attempts to ‘clean out’ the place by partaking in an epic zombie hunt through a maze of prison cells generally resulting in viewers’ sporadic breathing and heart palpitations.
They clear out the prison cell only to find they are not alone: inmates who have been locked in the facility for months watch the group amputate a wounded member’s leg in shock, still unaware of the dead-men-walking outside.
The best development of the new season has been a notable leap in the already impressive script and delivery. Grimes’ son, 13-year-old Carl Grimes, finally begins to take on serious responsibility, toting a gun and weathered expression, both of which were passed on from his father. The show does an excellent job in portraying family, romantic and friendly relationships and how they naturally change and strengthen over time.
In season three, the group of survivors has already had almost a year of fighting side-by-side, resulting in a united force unlike any other and by now, the speed and efficiency with which they function is the only thing keeping them alive.
Some dark humor appears in the first two episodes of the new season introducing a new African American, katana-slinging character, Michonne, who has no last name, but leads around two armless pack-mule zombies whom she refers to as her pets.
Overall, the new season does not disappoint. But honestly, no one in their right mind would expect it to anyway.
Rating: 5 out of 5
“666 Park Avenue” on ABC
Reviewed by Madison Paglia
Dancing between scary and seductive makes “666 Park Avenue” a consistently intriguing television show.
When the young couple Henry (Dave Annable) and Jane (Rachael Taylor) are hired as property managers who move into the Drake, an upscale apartment building in Manhattan. They are under the impression that their dreams are coming true but are unaware that they have entered the haunted and manipulative world of the Drake, which is tantamount to making a deal with the devil.
ABC’s new series is only three episodes along and the mystery behind The Drake and its owner Gavin is undeniably alluring. Overall, the episodes are mystical and captivating while hinting on vital pieces of information that give insight to the dynamics of the characters and plot.
Clearly, there is much more going on with the evasive tenants of the Drake than meets the eye. It is particularly interesting to see how every meticulously planned detail and person in the plot work together, while Nona (Samantha Logan) shows kleptomaniac tendencies and the ability to foresee certain events, remains unresolved.
It is difficult to not like the characters as the casting department did a good job choosing attractive actors as far as the couples go. Jane and Henry are a kind and likeable couple who are burdened with the looming horror the Drake has in store.
It makes sense that Jane’s architectural background leads into her desire to figure out the history of the Drake. But this correlation makes her the typical scary movie character that loves to wonder off alone into dark, haunted rooms where all bad situations typically unfold. Although this is expected of Jane, it grinds an edge to every episode and drives viewers back again and again.
Rating: 5 out of 5
“The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XXIII” on FOX
Reviewed by Emma Hjortman
On Oct. 25, 1990, the makers of The Simpsons established a new kind of episode that would become a tradition for all Simpson’s lovers: the Halloween special, “Treehouse of Horror.”
Treehouse of Horror XXIII aired on FOX Oct. 7. As usual, it contained more violence and social criticism than a normal episode. The Mayans blame the end of the world on Obama, and both “Paranormal Activity” and “Back to the Future” are parodied.
The episode is divided in to three smaller stories, “The Greatest Story Ever Holed,” “UNnormal Activity” and “Bart and Homer’s Excellent Adventure.”
A black hole appears in Springfield and just like in The Simpsons Movie, when Homer is the one that causes that the whole town is being trapped inside a bowl of glass, Homer destroys the town by opening his own business, “The Magic Craphole Waste Removal.” The hole grows bigger as it is fed and suddenly, all of Springfield gets sucked in and transported to a parallel universe.
In the parody of popular movie, “Paranormal Activity,” The Simpsons’ house is being haunted and Homer catches it on tape. Honestly, this show is funnier when they use their own ideas and the same applies on the “Back to the Future” parody.
It’s fun to look at, but only because it is a tradition so strong. Halloween wouldn’t be the same without it.
Rating: 4 out of 5
