Written Analysis

Written Analysis

            The walking dead is a current running television show that is based off a popular comic series. This show has a remarkable cult like following and is currently in its sixth season. The story behind the shows is life after a zombie apocalypse.  “A survivalist story at its core, the series explores how the living are changed by the overwhelming realization that those who survive can be far more dangerous than the mindless walkers roaming the earth.” (thewalkingdead.com). There are numerous myths and icons that swirl about within the series from the American success story of the lead character Rick Grimes, to the iconic hero Daryl Dixon.

            The storyline starts with lead character Rick Grimes awaking from a coma weeks after the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. He finds himself in an unfamiliar world with nothing but his survivalist wits. This is the beginning of the American Success story theory. He and his new survivalist friends not only have to battle the zombies, now known as walkers, but they have to fight to keep the human race alive and flourishing. They are starting with nothing and rebuilding society literally from the ground up. Each week of the series brings new challenges and hardships, and plenty of walker battles.

            One of the survivalist friends Rick encounters is the zombie slaying hero, Daryl Dixon. Daryl is an icon all in himself. He is the untamed bad boy that cannot be messed with. He doesn’t want to be connected and tied down to the group. He wants to do his own thing and prove he can survive by his own wits, his own way. He is the epitome of what most people want to be, wild and carefree. His character has become one of the most stand out and beloved characters in a television show, ever. His fan base has catch phrases like “if Daryl dies we riot!”(Wigler, pg1). The love for this character has even brought about a spin off show for the actor who portrays him, on the same channel that airs the walking dead. They say this show is set to air to appease fans who may potentially be upset if and when the original character is killed off of the walking dead.

            The popularity of the walking dead seems to grow with each passing season. The storylines become more engaging, the characters more endearing, and the violence more graphic. The American success story continues to grow with each episode as the characters grow and rebuild. The icons evolve and become more in number. From the love of Daryl to the struggle Rick and the rest go through, more and more viewers turn in to witness the slaughter and successes. To me, this is a show that will be talked about for years to come, a pop culture icon on all on its own if nothing more for than what it stands for.

                            

           

References

 The story. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.thewalkingdead.com/tv/the-story-tv/

           Wigler, J. (2015). Could the walking dead survive without Daryl Dixon.     

            Retrieved from http://www.mtv.com/news/2371170/walking-dead-can-daryl-dixon-die/

            Image-http://cinapse.co/2015/08/25/walking-dead-season-5-new-blu/