After recovering from the battle wounds of season seven we’re back with the Alexandrians, the Kingdom and the Hilltop as they begin the final showdown against Negan and the Saviors. With the war just starting, we asked you to review the first episode of season eight. Here’s what you said.
‘I worry a little about red-eyed-Rick-and-the-stained-glass’
4 out of 5 from Jack, 42, Bucks
Same old shit – in a a good way. Grim apocalyptic zombie dread, shot through with thin veins of hope and dark humour. I find the show really rewarding as it usually sticks with me for days afterwards. They are usually thoughtfully structured and well shot. I like the palette too as nothing else works in quite the same colour scheme as the ‘Dead. However the gunfight was stupid. I kept waiting for some genius reason why they shot the windows not the people. I worry a little about red-eyed-Rick-and-the-stained-glass bits though. These seem like a flash forward to something awful having happened, and the Vaseline-lensed shots of the future are just a fantasy.
‘Why didn’t someone just shoot Negan?’
3 out of 5 from Caitlin, 26, Reading
I nearly gave up after the aimlessness of season seven. I feel like this episode was a step back in the right direction, but there are still infuriating moments. After all this planning and bringing Alexandria and the Kingdom together, why didn’t someone just shoot Negan when he showed himself and did his usual speech? Why is Maggie still not looking remotely pregnant even though Judith is clearly older? I appreciated the attempt to show more stories at once and hope it continues. I’m also interested to see what happens with Eugene being part of the Saviors. Maybe that radio he built last season will come in handy?
‘The narrative has become one-dimensional’
2 out of 5 from Johnny, 43, Spain
Now a very dull story concept with a wordy screenplay that depends upon an awkward blend of frontier spirit and American myth-making, with a revival of Christian cultural messianism. This all adds up to a surprisingly one-dimensional narrative of community survivalism in a rudimentary simulation of a settler society that has long worn thin. Certainly, the last season called for a grand finale but more glaring is the essential inutility of the zombies now and, arguably, the apocalypse scenario itself. The series is carried uniquely by a charismatic villain, while fans’ emphasis must surely now have shifted to the spin-off series Fear the Walking Dead.
‘Shane wouldn’t have messed about with Negan if he was still around’
2 out of 5 from Ryan, 30, Lake District
I recently watched the earlier seasons and it’s depressing how different it is these days. It used to be about survival and always looking over your shoulder. These days they live in a better town than I do. Very disappointed with the start to season eight. I’ll power through and keep watching and I’m confident it will pick up, but big changes are needed to get it back to its best. Also, if they actually wanted Negan dead, why didn’t they just shoot him as soon as he walked out of the building, instead of having a casual chat about how they want him dead? Shane wouldn’t be messing about if he was still around, he would have got the job done.
‘A partial return to form in that it featured zombies and some action’
3 out of 5 from Andy, 49, Manchester
After the previous season this was last-chance saloon for me. I’m still not keen on the whole Kingdom/Ezekiel/scrapyard fringe lady/forest women tribal thing but this was a partial return to form in that it featured zombies and some action. I still think Negan is over the top but hey! Jeffrey Dean Morgan is enjoying himself so much you can’t complain. Still infinitely better than Fear The Walking Dead which is no longer spoken of in these parts.
