George Romero disses 'The Walking Dead'

[AcesandEights]

The only "Soap Opera" items in 'The Walking Dead' for me was the ridiculously extended Shane/Lori/Rick thing, which was really running out of steam. But, this was in the comic, so we can't really bemoan the producers for that angle. Bemoan them for the angle, no. But it was their choice to really string it out as long as they did. I think it was the right decision for them to play it up and take some time to build it out as a major event, but it went on a bit long and at times was handled poorly in a ham-handed fashion somewhat symptomatic, as you say, of Soap Opera fare. Maggie and Glen is the same. I somewhat disagree, they don't seem quite as clunky or overwrought. Human touchstones would be important to characters, so ignoring the interpersonal seems like a bad take. Though I do admit, some of the stuff with Glenn questioning himself & their relationship at various points in the past has been good, while at other times seemed ill conceived and unnecessary. Human frailty and faults are nice to see, but no one wants to see Glenn constantly questioning the basis and direction of their relationship and his ability and worthiness of it. We get it, she's super-hot and you're a former pizza delivery boy, but it's the end of the world and that seems to have loosened Maggie up a bit--you got this one in the bag, Son! Also, the whole nonsense with the Gov and Andrea. Serious roll eyes there. Yeah, I don't mind the direction they initially went in, but they over-committed Andrea emotionally and underplayed the brains her character should have displayed in the situation. Conflicted feelings and being torn over matters, like Andrea was, is fine but it gets pulled and teased out to unnecessary and fairly unbelievable lengths. I understand why some people attach the "soap opera" moniker to the show, but I also think it's somewhat unfairly applied as well. Agreed.

[Trin]

"Where is Sophia?" was the TWD equivalent of "Who shot JR?" I was hooked on a soap opera for a while at a time when I was out of work and I think TWD has a lot of the same feel as soap operas. Which is not necessarily negative. TWD is engrossing. It has several storylines running side-by-side to give some variety to the plot and character development. The only real negative soap opera-ish tendency in TWD is that they drag things out too long to maximize the amount of drama they get out of each big reveal. Where TWD differs from a soap opera is that they have a wealth of smaller (one or two episode) storylines. Plus the show is not acting like it's planning to run for a dozen seasons so they do try to wrap things up in a season or two max.

[blind2d]

Not sure if you can call it a soap when no one has an evil twin, or goes into a coma. Or found the REAL will in the summer home, yadda gabba. But sure, we've had drama, it's an AMC show for cryin' out loud, but damn if the zombies aren't consistently great! Romero... I dunno where he went wrong... I love him, of course, but.... *shrugs* Meh. I'll still watch the show. Not gonna buy any "swag" though. That's what kids say nowadays, right? (I'm 24 now... old man)

[ProfessorChaos]

Not sure if you can call it a soap when no one has an evil twin, or goes into a coma. dude....rick is in a coma in the pilot...while shane is off impregnating lori.

[Neil]

dude....rick is in a coma in the pilot...while shane is off impregnating lori. And remember the shower scene where Shane returned after having been killed?

[MinionZombie]

And remember the shower scene where Shane returned after having been killed?

[blind2d]

Oh god... Oh god, you're right! Oh, what about amnesia? Someone's gotta get amnesia.

[JonOfTheShred]

"No, Michonne. Let the Governor go...he's just looking for a place to store his fish tank."

[Mike70]

Oh god... Oh god, you're right! Oh, what about amnesia? Someone's gotta get amnesia. then they have to find out that they were a priest before developing amnesia and that their new wife is actually their half-sister from her father's 4th marriage.

[MoonSylver]

then they have to find out that they were a priest before developing amnesia and that their new wife is actually their half-sister from her father's 4th marriage. Sure you're not drifting into Greek Tragedy there?