- The comic it is based on is phenomenal and writer/creator Robert Kirkman is one of the best comic writers out there write now.
- AMC has been knocking it out of the park with their original programming... Breaking Bad, Mad Men and Rubicon are all critically and fan acclaimed, and receive both high ratings and are showered with awards.
- Frank Darabont is made to direct creepy ass shit like this. Not really straight horror, more like compelling drama with a supernatural twist. Check out The Green Mile & The Mist for proof of this. He does drama better than TNT, and if you add a freaky twist to it... well, then it just makes him a better choice.
- It premiered on Halloween night, and on a Sunday. If Halloween would have fell on a Friday or Saturday, than no one would have watched this show (at least that night... Tivo anyone?) But a Sunday, which is when the show will air anyway... the stars aligned for this one.
- They are keeping the blood and gore... god, is there a lot of blood and gore. Many people thought AMC was gonna cut down on the blood & guts and raise the drama factor. Check out this clip for proof that while there will be tons of dramatic moments, this show will be true to the source material:
Well guess what... it worked!!! AMC got 5.3 million viewers for the 10 pm premiere, and picked up another 2.8 million in the 11:30 pm replay that immediately followed. That accounts for 8.1 million viewers on Sunday night alone, and that's not factoring in DVR/Tivo stats which come out later. This is the highest viewership ever on AMC. This show did all it could ever have been expected to do and more. Congrats to Kirkman, Darabont, the cast & crew, and everyone over at AMC. I hope the show lives up to the lofty heights that the pilot has reached, and since its already been picked up for a full (12 episodes) Season 2 run chances are it will pan out. What were your thoughts on The Walking Dead premiere... did you like it or hate it? Tell us in the comments section below. We want to hear your comments!!!
