Music of The Walking Dead

[Morto Vivente]

I was wondering what you guys thought about the music on TWD. If there were any pieces you particularly liked, closing episode songs you would
change or music you think would suit the show ?

I thought the song selections for Season 3 weren't as strong as Season 2 with the exception of Motorhead during Merle's last stand.
Generally I've liked the musical scores by Bear McCready throughout the whole show and IMO they compliment the visuals very well. Thoughts anyone ?

I liked these episode closers.

The Regulator by Clutch Se02x08 (Nebraska) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV3tx-qODsc)

Civilian by Wye Oak Se02x09 (18 Miles Out) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrMh4TZA4uE)

The Hand by Bear McCready Se01x03 (Tell it to the Frogs) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do5TgLYJl6A)

[MinionZombie]

I love the music done by Bear McCreary on the show - some excellent stuff ... my most favourite piece is in 1x01 when they intercut between Morgan trying to shoot his undead wife and Rick tracking down Bicycle Girl to put her out of her misery ("The Mercy of the Living"). The piece that rounded out season 3 was also a superb bit of work too, but there's so many excellent pieces of music throughout.

I love the tracks they choose for the Comic-Con trailers - they're 3-for-3 on that front so far. They always get just the right track to take the lead and bring those trailers home. The first one was "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by The Walker Brothers, the second was "Civilian" by Wye Oak (also used in "18 Miles Out" to excellent effect), and the third was "Black" by Kari Kimmel.

Also, as used at the end of "Guts" (1x02), "I'm A Man" by Black Strobe was a great choice as Glenn whoops and hollers in joy as he rides out of Atlanta in that muscle car. :D

One piece of music I didn't like was at the end of 3x14 when they do the final reveal to close out the episode - I don't think the track fit the tone at all and would have gone for something entirely different, or preferably, an orchestral piece by McCreary.

I would very much like it if they would release an official soundtrack CD crammed-full of cues from the show. The music is so good, and yet you can only find samples online (I'd gladly buy such a CD if it was put out there).

[JonOfTheShred]

I think they should hire me. ;) :elol:

In all honesty, I feel like the music falls flat most of the time. It's not engaging enough - it's not prominent at all. There's no memorable themes or melodies that repeat, not enough dark tense atmosphere. In fact, I'd say the music is the biggest letdown of the series. Bear is just too understated - with a few exceptions.

I really like the Governors theme. (Even if I released the same exact freaking song a week earlier :p Seriously, I nearly shit my pants when the Governors theme played on the TV show, when Rick and co. first infiltrate Woodbury.) The pulsing synth hit harkens back to Goblins score for the scene in Dawn of the Dead in the apartment basement.

I also rather like the "Morgans Wife" theme that repeats throughout the series every now and again. We got it with Loris ghost, Morgans zombified wife, and then they played it when Glenn was getting a wedding ring for Maggie - that was a brilliant touch. It really left me uncertain on the couples future - that music usually signified tragedy, so it just left me feeling uneasy for it to repeat again out-of-context. Definitely very foreboding.

Some of Bears best work was in the Season 3 finale. The FIRST montage, with Carl looking at the badge...that song was awesome. One of the only songs that really stood out in the show. The second montage song of the episode? The A-Team Lite when Rick, Michonne and Daryl decided to bring the fight back to their enemies? Not so much. That song felt unfinished and underwhelming. Needed more bulkiness to it and a more climatic crescendo. It just kind of fizzles out. Really amateur, in fact.

I don't really care for the theme song. Very similar to Game of Thrones, in fact - both theme songs have a very repetitive motif that fails to be melodically pleasing. These motifs just border on being catchy, but fall short. John Williams and Basil Poledouris never had such problems. ;) I like the IDEA of fading into Walking Deads theme different every week, that is brilliant actually! But usually it is executed in such a hackneyed fashion it makes me cringe.

I don't mind the Beth singing parts, even if they are sometimes a little drawn out. But usually when they drop straight up songs into an episode, it doesn't work as well as, say, Kurt Sutters cheesy music montages in Sons of Anarchy. The only one that really stayed with me was the acoustic folky number that plays at the end of Clear. That worked perfectly.

Merle listening to Motorhead was the best music moment on the show, in all honesty. Then cranking what I believe was Sammy Hagar? When he drove the car into the assault?

Another thing I would like to mention, is just the sound-design for atmospheric moments. There should be creepy, other-worldly sound effects playing when we see zombies. I'm not saying all-out 80s cheesy, but we SHOULD definitely get more callbacks to the 80s horror soundtracks, drenched in synthesizers and whatnot. I say this because Bear doesn't seem to really pull that much magic out of the more bland "Orchestra" tone of his soundtrack. If you're gonna make orchestral music for a series, you need to have an amazing knack for melody. It just sounds like all of Bears music runs together...there's no CHARACTER or PERSONALITY to his different themes (beyond the few I mentioned.) If you don't take the orchestra and really run with it, you just end up making music that sounds like any other Basic Cable drama. And that's exactly what most of the music on Walking Dead sounds like to me. The show deserves a more distinct musical direction than "String quartet, piano without dynamics, RINSE. REPEAT." Where are the french horns? The tubas? The woodwinds and REALLY LOW BRASS for creepiness? The synthesizers for creepy atmospheres and soundscapes? The Walking Dead needs a more visionary and innovative composer to take over or at least to help Bear out, because Bears music really leaves a LOT to be desired. Easily the worst part of the show. Again, not necessarily BAD by any means, just extremely BLAND and underwhelming.

Last note, the ACOUSTIC GUITAR THEY KEEP SHOWING. SOMEONE SHOW KNOW HOW TO F*CKING PLAY THAT! I would much prefer a solemn, almost Johnny Cash like character playing doom-laden hymns and singing in a dark, foreboding baritone than I would another Beth singing moment. That would be badass to open an episode, if handled correctly.

[facestabber]

I love the opening theme. I just have a vivid memory of the anticipation for 01-01 and to finally see zombies on a tv series and this is the song that is attached to that for me.

I think the music throughout has been pretty good. I have no composition or music theory background but I like what I like. As mentioned above the Gov's theme is definitely a tone setter and tension builder.

[JonOfTheShred]

Just to reference an idea I had stated above....

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That's the closest I could find. Something even darker would be awesome. Then, maybe they stumble upon a new survivor that plays the keytar and we could get a cheesy romp for comedic effect like this scene.... ;)

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Also, this sparks to mind...

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...in terms of atmosphere. The vocals are kind of too 'nasally' to portray the kind of dark atmosphere that would be epic for Walking Dead.

[Morto Vivente]

I think they should hire me. ;) :elol: Last note, the ACOUSTIC GUITAR THEY KEEP SHOWING. SOMEONE SHOW KNOW HOW TO FUCKING PLAY THAT! I would much prefer a solemn, almost Johnny Cash like character playing doom-laden hymns and singing in a dark, foreboding baritone than I would another Beth singing moment. That would be badass to open an episode, if handled correctly.

I'm with you there. It would be great to have a foreboding but simple arrangement of guitar and vocal to open the episode, and give some sort of subtle portent of what's to come. Handled tastefully of course, as you suggested, we don't want "troubadour of the dead".

I would also like to hear some new additions to the soundscape, though I think brass would be a tough one to pull off. Maybe if it was used sparingly for discordant effects. As lead instruments in the main score it would be a challenge IMO as TWD has a rural Georgian setting. I think strings work really well due to the setting, somehow brass seems to suggest a more urban feel. But what do I know, I only hit things. Maybe an atonal hammered dulcimer if it hasn't been used already, and if so, more of it. Great for those creepy unsettling moments.

I agree with MZ about the track at the end of 3x14 (Prey), I'd replace it with a suitable section from The Shadow of Love by The Damned or Nick Cave. The existing track is a bit generic for the emotional timbre of the sequence.

I'll probably get panned for this one, but I wouldn't mind a spot of Slayer minus the "vocals" to accompany Rick and Co during a zombie massacre. Integral to the plot of course. ;)

IMO the producers of the show don't want the music to take too much limelight as a matter of style, which is okay by me because I don't watch the show for the music. But sometimes IMO a good musical accompaniment can knock a scene right out of the park. I don't know if anybody else saw it, but at the conclusion to an episode of the Sopranos they used I'm not like Everybody Else by The Kinks, to great effect. It easily doubled the emotional impact of the scene, but I don't think it's a method that will be, or ever has been used on TWD, as far as I recall ? Actually that's crap. I'd say the end of Nebraska qualifies; fat Tony lying in what I think is his own still warm.... well you know.

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I love the music done by Bear McCreary on the show - some excellent stuff ... my most favourite piece is in 1x01 when they intercut between Morgan trying to shoot his undead wife and Rick tracking down Bicycle Girl to put her out of her misery ("The Mercy of the Living"). The piece that rounded out season 3 was also a superb bit of work too, but there's so many excellent pieces of music throughout.

I love the tracks they choose for the Comic-Con trailers - they're 3-for-3 on that front so far. They always get just the right track to take the lead and bring those trailers home. The first one was "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by The Walker Brothers, the second was "Civilian" by Wye Oak (also used in "18 Miles Out" to excellent effect), and the third was "Black" by Kari Kimmel.

Also, as used at the end of "Guts" (1x02), "I'm A Man" by Black Strobe was a great choice as Glenn whoops and hollers in joy as he rides out of Atlanta in that muscle car. :D

One piece of music I didn't like was at the end of 3x14 when they do the final reveal to close out the episode - I don't think the track fit the tone at all and would have gone for something entirely different, or preferably, an orchestral piece by McCreary.

I would very much like it if they would release an official soundtrack CD crammed-full of cues from the show. The music is so good, and yet you can only find samples online (I'd gladly buy such a CD if it was put out there).


I'd forgotten about the Morgan's wife/Bicycle Girl theme, it's very effective in both scenes. It's definitely one of McCreary's standout pieces. I hadn't heard the the Comic-Con tracks before with the exception of "Civilian". I'm not so keen on "Black" by Kari Kimmel but I can see why they used it.

The use of "Civilian" in 18 miles out is spectacular IMO, it really conveys the isolation that Shane's experiencing. Placed up against the lone walker in the field who hasn't changed direction since the first time we see him; it's very poignant. :D

I'm surprised there isn't any official CD available for the music on the show, considering the amount of merchandise out there.Could it be because the show doesn't have a lot of original music in it and therefore there isn't enough of it to justify a release ?

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I love the opening theme. I just have a vivid memory of the anticipation for 01-01 and to finally see zombies on a tv series and this is the song that is attached to that for me.

I think the music throughout has been pretty good. I have no composition or music theory background but I like what I like. As mentioned above the Gov's theme is definitely a tone setter and tension builder.

Yeah, the swirly effect of the opening theme really suggests, "FUCK.... it's the Zombie Apocalypse. Run...AAAAARGH !!!!"

[MinionZombie]

They must have plenty of music for a full CD from 3 season's worth now. Come on AMC - you're so ready to stick out anything with TWD on it, why not a ruddy good soundtrack CD of McCreary's score?

"The Mercy of the Living" has come back a few times as a theme for Rick and his family throughout the show, particularly in season 3, which is a nice thematic call back. :)

Count me in as another one who loves the opening theme. It was interesting to see a featurette (on the 3-Disc SE of Season 1, IIRC) on the making of the themetune, and apparently it's really quite hard to play for the string section because it's so frenetic. I'm not in the slightest bit musical, so it brought a new level of appreciation of it for me. :cool:

[JonOfTheShred]

I would also like to hear some new additions to the soundscape, though I think brass would be a tough one to pull off. Maybe if it was used sparingly for discordant effects. As lead instruments in the main score it would be a challenge IMO as TWD has a rural Georgian setting. I think strings work really well due to the setting, somehow brass seems to suggest a more urban feel. But what do I know, I only hit things. Maybe an atonal hammered dulcimer if it hasn't been used already, and if so, more of it. Great for those creepy unsettling moments.


Just having strings makes the orchestra so unfinished. Woodwinds and brass would really make the soundtrack more dynamic. Brass can be more 'urban' or more 'warrior' esque, like Game of Thrones type stuff, but it can be used in varying fashions to create a zombie atmosphere.

Hell, maybe the occasional harpsichord, harp, and church organ would really spruce the soundtrack up.

Skip to 16:40
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Also, was just thinking about the acoustic guitar...the person wouldn't even NEED to sing. An instrumental track would go way better. Hell, if there were TWO guitarists? Having one playing a dark, moody rhythm and the other soulfully wailing leads? Kinda like the intro in this track: https://soundcloud.com/jonoftheshred/societaldecay
Or maybe when they hit the road again, stumbling upon a dusty piano while foraging for supplies in a house, and they realize they're slowly being surrounded. So one person just starts playing these ridiculous, moving piano melodies while everyone else gets ready to take down some Walkers.

[bassman]

I like the general music, but i'm more interested in Bear's score. If you go to his site, he explains each week's score and why he did what he did. Really good stuff.

[Morto Vivente]

I would very much like it if they would release an official soundtrack CD crammed-full of cues from the show. The music is so good, and yet you can only find samples online (I'd gladly buy such a CD if it was put out there).

I wasn't sure if you were reffering solely to the scores by McCreary, but a soundtrack CD has been compiled, finally. Only problem is there's no original music on it, even the title theme has been remixed, WTF. It seems
a bit odd.

http://blogs.amctv.com/the-walking-dead/2013/02/soundtrack-pre-order.php

[MinionZombie]

I wasn't sure if you were reffering solely to the scores by McCreary, but a soundtrack CD has been compiled, finally. Only problem is there's no original music on it, even the title theme has been remixed, WTF. It seems
a bit odd.

http://blogs.amctv.com/the-walking-dead/2013/02/soundtrack-pre-order.php

Yeah I was speaking about a Bear McCreary soundtrack CD featuring the score to the show. It's very strange AMC haven't bothered - they've slapped TWD's logo on damn-near everything, but a kick ass soundtrack CD featuring the excellent score? No, that one goes right over their head. :rolleyes:

The CD they are releasing looks underwhelming, personally. AMC - gimme the score damn it.

*grumble grumble grumble*

[AcesandEights]

I just wish the show would keep it to instrumental work. I can't stand that faux country croon angst shit they tried peddling this season.

Just keep it voice-free.

[Morto Vivente]

Also, was just thinking about the acoustic guitar...the person wouldn't even NEED to sing. An instrumental track would go way better. Hell, if there were TWO guitarists? Having one playing a dark, moody rhythm and the other soulfully wailing leads? Kinda like the intro in this track: https://soundcloud.com/jonoftheshred/societaldecay
Or maybe when they hit the road again, stumbling upon a dusty piano while foraging for supplies in a house, and they realize they're slowly being surrounded. So one person just starts playing these ridiculous, moving piano melodies while everyone else gets ready to take down some Walkers.

I liked the Morricone-sque metal. :thumbsup: I can see what you're getting at with using less obvious instrumentation and fusing genres, but I still feel that brass would be out of place (IMO). It seems to bold a statement, a là Night on the Bare Mountain. Although it's hard to be sure without having some idea of the emotional tempo/beats of a scene. I've probably watched The Empire Strikes Back and LotR too many times to have a clear unbiased idea.

The dual guitars is a cool idea IMO, and yes definitely better without a vocal line.

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I just wish the show would keep it to instrumental work. I can't stand that faux country croon angst shit they tried peddling this season.

Just keep it voice-free.

I didn't go for the sing-a-long with Beth stuff at all. IMO it's tricky to find pre-existing music that blends with film, if there's a vocal it only makes it harder.

[bassman]

I just wish the show would keep it to instrumental work. I can't stand that faux country croon angst shit they tried peddling this season.

Just keep it voice-free.

Agreed. It worked wonderfully in the trailer, but I would prefer more of McCreary's instrumental score over the promotional music. I definitely don't want anymore of Beth's singing. :p

McCreary has always said that he prefers music in small doses, and he has a valid point that works well, but I feel like the producers(or someone else) injects other music into the show for monetary reasons. They keep pushing "TWD Soundtrack" on Talking Dead, so that gives you an idea of where their heads are at. "$"

I want it to go back to the basics. MAYBE a completed song here and there(maybe twice a season), but generally silence with a touch of McCreary.

BTW, I love his synthetic pulse for The Governor's theme. Good stuff.

[AcesandEights]

I feel like the producers(or someone else) injects other music into the show for monetary reasons. They keep pushing "TWD Soundtrack" on Talking Dead, so that gives you an idea of where their heads are at. "$"

Yup! Couldn't agree more on that count.

[Morto Vivente]

The CD they are releasing looks underwhelming, personally. AMC - gimme the score damn it.

*grumble grumble grumble*

I'm not positive but I think they're packaging the CD with the Season 3 boxset. BIG WHOOP !
Who picked that track list anyway......Glen Mazzara ? ;)

[bassman]

I'm not positive but I think they're packaging the CD with the Season 3 boxset. BIG WHOOP !
Who picked that track list anyway......Glen Mazzara ? ;)

Although Mazzara has left, he wasn't stupid. As I said before, I imagine this "TWD Soundtrack" is just a marketing ploy by AMC. They're sitting on a gold mine and they're gonna exploit it in any way possible...

[MinionZombie]

Aye, The Governor pulse theme was really cool ... very nifty ... I also dug the dark piano twist on it at the start of 3x16. It had the air of inevitability to it. Creepy...

The right piece of music-music can work well (e.g. Civilian by Wye Oak in "18 Miles Out" fits the bill perfectly, and I thought "The Regulator" by Clutch fit in quite nicely - mainly for the bassline, or whatever you music-y type folks call it - which was in "Nebraska") - but yeah, too much music would be a bad thing - but I don't think TWD has ever overdone the music. Most action scenes just focus on sound effects as it should be ... the music is for tone and emotion and establishing a certain mood at the right time. :)

I'm gonna defend Emily Kinney - she's got a lovely voice and I really liked her two A Cappella pieces. It would make sense, in the horrific world of a zombie apocalypse, that you'd need a bit of a sing-song from a fair-haired farmer's daughter to ease the tension a smidge. It's a good counterpoint to the main score. I don't get why some folks out there, and evidently here too, come down on her for it.

Another piece of music that I really liked was in 1x05 - it was a cue from the score to "Sunshine" - and it fit wonderfully (as they drive away from the camp, up until poor old Andy can't take it anymore and gets them to pull over and leave him against the tree). Oh and as the CDC is about to be incinerated, there's another soundtrack cue, sourced from Rabbit Proof Fence, called "Running to the Rain", and again that worked very well indeed.

I wasn't fond of the song at the end of 1x01 ... I didn't like the sound of it. I'd have preferred something a bit darker, or a little edgier, so yeah ... wasn't that keen on that track. On the other hand, as I said earlier, "I'm A Man" by Black Strobe in 1x02 was a nice addition - it sounded exactly as cool and rockin' as Glenn would have felt in that moment hoofing the muscle car around an abandoned highway. :D

[bassman]

I've got no real problem with Beth's singing, it just seemed overused this season. How many times did we hear it? Two? Three times? Just the once was good enough. It started to feel like a crutch.

As for Wang Chung at the end of 101, I loved it. Sure, it's more upbeat than expected but the lyrics perfectly match the end of the episode(movie). I feel like it wouldn't have so much of a punch if they went with a darker orchestral score. If it were the end of a real movie, then sure. But it was designed to lead into a much larger story, so the inclusion of that song gave it a big "F*CK YEAH!" at the end. The beginning of Rick's story has been completed(wonderfully), but now you're going to see the rest of his journey. "Welcome to my only world....". It's perfect.

[Morto Vivente]

I really liked the placement of "The Regulator" to close Nebraska (as I said at the start of the thread). How about this as a cue, Dave saying "Nobody's shooting anybody", and then .......GUNSHOT (the sound of Rick's Python). The whole sequence is probably my favorite of season 2. The look on Hershel's face after Rick shoots both Dave and Tony is priceless.



Although Mazzara has left, he wasn't stupid. As I said before, I imagine this "TWD Soundtrack" is just a marketing ploy by AMC. They're sitting on a gold mine and they're gonna exploit it in any way possible...

I agree with you bassman, I was joking. Just goes to show that emoticons aren't full-proof.

[ProfessorChaos]

As for Wang Chung at the end of 101, I loved it. Sure, it's more upbeat than expected but the lyrics perfectly match the end of the episode(movie). I feel like it wouldn't have so much of a punch if they went with a darker orchestral score. If it were the end of a real movie, then sure. But it was designed to lead into a much larger story, so the inclusion of that song gave it a big "F*CK YEAH!" at the end. The beginning of Rick's story has been completed(wonderfully), but now you're going to see the rest of his journey. "Welcome to my only world....". It's perfect.

yeah, what he said. i also liked the dylan song at the end of season one, the closing song from the nebraska episode, and i sorta like the civilian song used at the end of 18 miles out. i really don't want a whole lot of music (songs by artists, that is, not the score by mccreary) included in the show, as i feel most of the time it just feels out of place.

as for the amc-pimped TWD soundtrack, no thanks. however, an amc show that uses amazing music in a brilliant way would be breaking bad. i can't even tell you how many awesome songs/artists that show has introduced me to..and they also use some good and more well-known jams as well. i almost jumped out of my seat when they used crystal blue persuasion by tommy james and the shondells on the the "gliding over all" episode.

[MinionZombie]

As I recall, they had Beth sing twice - once in each half of the season. I wouldn't say that was a "crutch" at all, particularly as it's only a passing moment, I don't see what it would be holding up, or how it would be holding anything up ... it's just a nice moment to mix up the tone a touch. :)

The song at the end of 1x01, yeah the lyrics might fit, but I just didn't really dig the sound of the music ... I see what you're saying, but I think there could have been a better song out there to fit into that moment that would strike a balance between our views.

On "Breaking Bad" - there was a really good track called "If I Had A Heart" by Fever Ray that was used brilliantly in, IIRC, season 4 when Jesse's in a state of depression.

[bassman]

however, an amc show that uses amazing music in a brilliant way would be breaking bad. i can't even tell you how many awesome songs/artists that show has introduced me to..and they also use some good and more well-known jams as well. i almost jumped out of my seat when they used crystal blue persuasion by tommy james and the shondells on the the "gliding over all" episode.

Agreed. BB has had some amazing music. Hell....everything about BB has been amazing. I can't wait for the inevitable full series box set in the next year or so....

[facestabber]

Minion zombie......"Another piece of music that I really liked was in 1x05 - it was a cue from the score to "Sunshine" - and it fit wonderfully (as they drive away from the camp, up until poor old Andy can't take it anymore and gets them to pull over and leave him against the tree). Oh and as the CDC is about to be incinerated, there's another soundtrack cue, sourced from Rabbit Proof Fence, called "Running to the Rain", and again that worked very well indeed."

Andy? Jim. Just messing. In all serious I'm going to miss the back and forth after each episode.

[MinionZombie]

Minion zombie......"Another piece of music that I really liked was in 1x05 - it was a cue from the score to "Sunshine" - and it fit wonderfully (as they drive away from the camp, up until poor old Andy can't take it anymore and gets them to pull over and leave him against the tree). Oh and as the CDC is about to be incinerated, there's another soundtrack cue, sourced from Rabbit Proof Fence, called "Running to the Rain", and again that worked very well indeed."

Andy? Jim. Just messing. In all serious I'm going to miss the back and forth after each episode.

Damnit, you're quite right ... I knew something was off in my head when I wrote that, but I was too lazy to check. Yes - JIM - not Andy. :D

The season may be over, but we've got months of rumours and tidbits of information and trailers and Q&A sessions to examine in finite detail ahead of us. :thumbsup:

[Morto Vivente]

Nothing to do with the music, but in the spirit of tidbits, rumours and speculation what do you all think about the theories in the link below ?
My own take on the Governor example is that he was hiding who he truly is to the Woodburians until he eventually massacred them.

http://walkingdeadpictures.tumblr.com/post/47615320668/the-walking-dead-hidden-messages-in-opening-credits

[MinionZombie]

Nothing to do with the music, but in the spirit of tidbits, rumours and speculation what do you all think about the theories in the link below ?
My own take on the Governor example is that he was hiding who he truly is to the Woodburians until he eventually massacred them.

http://walkingdeadpictures.tumblr.com/post/47615320668/the-walking-dead-hidden-messages-in-opening-credits

I think a lot of those are simple images to do with the characters - e.g. Rick's badge, Glenn's watch (that used to be Hershel's etc), but the odd one is a fair reading (such as the two arrows for Norman Reedus' credit).

However, the two bullets theory - the one who carked it in the finale (just in case someone's reading this who hasn't yet seen the finale ... weirdos :p), that decision wasn't made when this credit sequence was made, so...

They missed something, I believe, with the Chandler Riggs shot - yeah yeah, stay in the house, or whatever - but I'm pretty sure that's the building that Daryl searched during his season two hunt for the missing Sophia. Also, the Cherokee Rose flower is in the shot - so it's the loss of a fellow child, and a loss of innocence.

I don't think the meanings are quite as deep as the writer believes, there is meaning there, but it's not profound ... and some of their suggestions are a stretch, or don't match up with production chronology (they were still writing - and filming - season 3 when the credits sequence was created in time for 3x01), and others are images that might be something you can read into in hindsight, but I don't think they actually mean anything necessarily (i.e. just some spooky shots of abandoned houses to match the overall tone of the credits sequence).

The sequence though, is definitely about taking stock of where they're at, who they are, and certain symbolic possessions that also carry further meaning (e.g. the watch and the notion of time).

[Morto Vivente]

The sequence though, is definitely about taking stock of where they're at, who they are, and certain symbolic possessions that also carry further meaning (e.g. the watch and the notion of time).

Yeah, I'd forgotten about Dale's philosophizing (around the campfire in season 1) concerning how people relate to time, and then in the following season Hershel gives a watch to Glenn. Considering that they're practically father and son in law there's an obvious theme there.

I take your point about "reading too much into" some of the title sequence imagery after the fact. As you said the title sequence pre-dates some of the directions that the season took after re-writes etc. I wonder if Merle's death was decided in the initial draft of the season or if it just developed that way ? The Chandler Riggs section of the title sequence that you nailed, and how Carl's arc concludes in season 3 definitely echoed one another (IMO). Interesting stuff ! :)