The Walking Dead season 2 Episode 7: Pretty Much Dead Already
The Walking Dead season 2 Episode 7: Pretty Much Dead Already
“But the world out there isn't what you saw on TV, it is much, much worse and it changes you. Either into one of them or into something a lot less than the person you were.”.
“Is this about you and the Asian boy?”
“No… His name is Glenn. He saved my life yesterday, and one of the people you think are sick tried to kill me. How's that for dramatic? Things aren't what you think they are, they aren't.”
-The Walking Dead season 2, Episode 7
That all seems rather heady when it comes to The Walking Dead. Though, when taken in context it's not that far off the mark. In more ways than one The Walking Dead situates itself as a pivot point in popular culture. The point where the naivety of our youth begins to transform into adulthood. Subsequently adding grit and reality, to the dwindling hopes and dreams of childhood. It is somewhat shocking I know as the show is so culturally synonymous with popularity, but this chronicle of a zombie infested post-apocalypse was a shock to the system when it first aired over 15 years ago.
Perhaps it was the show's use of practical effects or the show's willingness to be gritty and "real" when so many other shows at the time were focused on escapism. My guess is that both of these factors were at play in regards to The Walking Dead’s success on TV. Though what really fascinates me is the fact that, at its core, The Walking Dead is not about zombies or the apocalypse or even the people caught in its wake. The show is about us, all of us. We are The Walking Dead.
Sometimes a cultural monolith is a monolith for a reason. In terms of The Walking Dead's cultural impact, this is no more evident than in episode 7 of its second season, entitled Pretty Much Dead Already. This episode profoundly conveys a very simple thematic fact in relation to the show's main premise. That fact is, we all are zombies. We all have the capacity to become The Walking Dead, it's just a matter of time. The show does not mince words here either, we begin to realize that death is not the dividing line between human and zombie. In truth, there is no line. The capacity for evil is in all of us, undead or not. The themes and character nuances present in this pivotal episode are no surprise to those who are fans of the series. Though what struck me on this rewatch was how precisely this episode predicted, in 2011 the state of visual storytelling more than 15 years on from that point. It seems as if nihilism is almost a self evident state in narrative these days.
Yet, what separates The Walking Dead from its many followers is that the show is striving towards hope. For sure, it may be far out in the distance or even unattainable in this world. However, hope still remains a worthwhile pursuit, because hope grants meaning in a world filled with sorrow and suffering and sacrifice. With The Walking Dead's second season, showrunner Glen Mazzara and his team unwittingly defined a generation. Offering us a glimpse at the real tragedy of humanity. The reality that we may have been the undead all along. We are our own worst enemy. Though the heartbeat of hope still calls us to be better. Life is worth living, all we need to do is realize that we are far more than just The Walking Dead,
Rated TV-MA for blood, gore, violence and sexual situations ( As of the middle of season 3, the sexual content doesn't exceed the confines of a PG-13 rating. Only the gore and violence are equivalent to an R rating.)
I found the second season of The Walking Dead to be visually captivating, thought-provoking and thematically resident. I hope in some way you do too.
The Walking Dead the complete series is available to stream on Netflix with a subscription. It is also available to purchase on any other digital video streaming service. It is available physically on DVD and Blu-ray disc.
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