The Walking Dead’s second season aired in 2011 on AMC. (same year Skyrim came out) It received positive reviews from critics, fans and viewers alike. The eleventh season will end the series. Before I see the grand finale, I wanna share my thoughts on Season 2.
This review contains no SPOILERS. Feel free to read my non-spoiler article. There will be plot points from Season 1. Tread careful
Positive & Negative Qualities
Positive: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Melissa McBride, Chandler Riggs, Laurie Holden, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, IronE Singleton & Jeffrey DeMunn reprise their roles. They all did an excellent job for their respective performances.
Newcomers to the series such as Lauren Cohan, Emily Kinney & Scott Wilson all did a solid job for their respective performances.
Frank Darabont developed the series and served as an executive producer. Sadly, he’s only involved in the first half of Season 2 due to scheduling conflicts. Glen Mazzara (The Shield) filled in his position.
Practical Effects were heavily involved to create kill scenes.
Season 2 focuses on The Survivors searching for Sophia. They take refuge at a barn occupied by Herschel. Tensions rise between Rick & Shane.
Robert Kirkman also served as an executive producer.
Bear McCreary (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, God of War 2018, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) orchestrated the soundtrack.
Season 1 Recap
- Rick wakes up from a coma. He learns the world becomes a zombie wasteland. He meets a survivor named, Morgan. The latter teaches him how to kill a walker by killing it in the head. Rick reunites with Lori, Carl & Shane. He gains allies including Glenn, Daryl, Dale, T-Dog, Andrea & Carol.
- The Survivors stay at the CDC. It doesn’t last long until the last scientist blows up the place forcing our heroes to escape. Prior to the explosion, the scientist whispers a secret to Rick.
- Carol’s husband dies from walkers.
- Daryl’s brother Merle went AWOL.
Primary Themes are Survival, Loss, Paranoia, Terror Teamwork & Family. Each one is handled maturely.
Episode 20 is my favorite episode of Season 2.
Negative: Cinematography can be shaky at times.
Episode 7 – What Lies Ahead
On a Highway, The Survivors, search for supplies. They hide from walkers. Meanwhile, they search for Sophia.
T-Dog unintentionally injures himself.
Last scene made me gasp.
Episode 8 – Bloodletting
A flashback with Shane talking to Laurie on his pal Rick recovering at a hospital.
Rick arrives at Herschel’s place. Carl’s given medical attention by the latter. Rick gives his son a blood transfusion until the five shards of a bullet are extracted.
Shane & Otis look for medical equipment to save Carl.
Episode 9 – Save the Last One
With time running out, Shane & Otis fight their way through zombies.
Herschel stitches T-Dog’s arm.
A shocking twist involving one character.
Episode 10 – Cherokee Rose
The Survivors attempt to pull a zombie out of a well to prevent it from contaminating water.
Glenn & Maggie head to a local pharmacy to obtain resources. They also have a heartwarming moment.
Carl recovers from surgery.
Lori has a shocking discovery.
Episode 11 – Chupacabra
Daryl accidentally falls off a hill. He struggles to head back to the barn with an arrow on his back.
Michael Rooker makes a cameo appearance as Daryl’s brother Merle.
Episode 12 – Secrets
The Survivors partake in target practice.
Shane & Andrea enter an abandon house if there’s any trace of Sophia’s whereabouts.
Episode 13 – Pretty Much Dead Already
The Survivors go Wild Bunch on walkers.
Shane goes bananas.
A Plot Twist changes everything.
Episode 14 – Nebraska
The Survivors deal with the aftermath of a mercy kill.
Herschel drowns his sorrows at a bar. Suddenly… two people drop by.
Somebody passes out.
One person has a car accident.
Episode 15 – Triggerfinger
Rick, Glenn & Herschel encounter armed men.
Rick confesses to Lori about last night.
Episode 17 – 18 Miles Out
Rick & Shane have a dispute over Randall.
Randall reveals a secret linked to one of the survivors.
Episode 18 – Judge, Jury, Executioner
Right: The Survivors decide Randall’s fate.
My favorite quote is… “Don’t talk think.”
Herschel shares a story to Glenn.
Somebody is put down like “Old Yeller.”
Wrong: Carl acts like a moron trying to shoot a walker. He loses something valuable.
Episode 19 – Better Angels
Rick has a conversation with Carl.
Shane crosses a huge line.
Rick’s forced to put an end to an ongoing conflict.
Episode 20 – Beside the Dying Fire
Again, Episode 20 is my favorite from Season 2.
The Survivors battle a horde of walkers.
Without giving anything away, a few characters meet their ends.
Andrea encounters a stranger.
The final shot sets up Season 3.
The Final Verdict: A-
The Walking Dead’s second season is another near-perfect sixteen-part story arc. If you’re eager to see the final season, rewatch all previous seasons.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 