AMC’s "The Walking Dead" And British Star Andrew Lincoln
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The Walking Dead (AMC)
The show's zombie idea stems from a seemingly standard cliché found in many films such as Danny Boyle’s "28 Days Later," but is executed in such an entertaining way that it's anything but banal.
In doing so it proved that zombies are back in vogue, becoming the new vampires.
"The Walking Dead" follows Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who has awoken to a zombie filled world while recovering in a hospital from a gun shot wound.
Rick battles the zombies, or "the walkers," to reunite with his family, friends and other survivors, and sets out for Atlanta (some of whom have survived, but it does pose the question of why they left him behind in the first place).
"The Walking Dead" is based on the graphic novel by the same name, written by Robert Kirkman.
The series has a strong comic book fan base. In 2010 "The Walking Dead" won the Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series at the San Diego Comic Convention.
Lincoln believes the popularity of his character stems from his universality.
"I love the fact that Grimes is an everyman, that he's not this impenetrable superhero, that he's flawed and his marriage isn't in a particularly good state," said Lincoln. "He commits more to his work than his marriage, and he's not by any stretch of the imagination a great cop. He's just an ordinary guy."
Although Lincoln plays an American police officer, he found fame first in the UK. He is known for his role as Simon Casey in Channel 4′s "Teachers" (2003), an entertaining British sitcom about teachers and their daily lives.
The next few episodes of "The Walking Dead" will keep viewers hooked, as Rick Grimes finds other survivors that leads to the formation of a group dynamic.
"In Episode 3, it becomes this fascinating rebuilding of society. It’s about who takes control, who becomes the leaders. Is it led by power? Is it led by guile? Is it led by maternal instincts? It’s how do we start again when nothing’s left. It’s almost like going back to the Stone Age. It keeps evolving," said Lincoln.
The reviews so far have been favorable, with Metacritic audiences giving the show a strong 85 percent rating.
*(last paragraph corrected from Rotten Tomatoes to Metacritic)
