Something to bear in mind: TV critics watch a lot of television, way more than any normal or healthy human being should; and the overwhelming majority of what they watch is absolute unredeemable trash, because we’re in a period where (for a lot of reasons) that’s what the industry is producing. So when something comes along that is a solid B show verging on a B-plus (which is what I’d rate it), their perceptions are a little skewed, and their reaction should be mentally adjusted to compensate.
Please tell me they’re called “Zomedies.” And Warm Bodies was one too (and pretty decent putting aside a few silly plot points).
They aren’t, but Warm Bodies did get marketed as a Zom-Com, so there’s that.
Could not agree more.
MiM
That was a good episode. Maybe a little on the nose with the letter’s “my purpose was to save another”, but very effecting episode overall.
I’m not in presently in Boston, but I did live there for 5 years a bit over 20 years ago. So I’d almost expect it to look like how I remembered in in the show!
So for me, it is a bit distracting seeing a “Boston” that doesn’t look anything like Boston, especially when compared to films like Good Will Hunting, The Town, The Departed, or even scenes in Free Guy that are actually filmed in and around Boston.
Particularly the opening of tonight’s episode that takes place “10 miles west of Boston”. Boston isn’t a small isolated city nestled in the middle of the Canadian Rockies. Heading down the Mass Pike for ten miles takes you through towns like Newton, Waltham, or Framingham that all run into each other and are packed with all sorts of buildings and structures that aren’t going to disappear in 20 years.
A minor complaint, but still distracting.
I don’t love devoting an extra long episodes to characters not really in the plot, I think 5-12 minutes would have been plenty.
Think the beginning of UP!
I enjoyed the episode. Very tender story about two people in love despite people burning alive earlier in these episode. I got a sandwich at Arby’s today just because of the trailer.
Just curious: was this story, the story of Bill and Frank, also as big in the game? For side characters, doesn’t seem like it would have been.
I was afraid the show would basically be a non-stop obstacle course since it’s based on a game so I was pleased with this slow episode. I like dystopian fiction that is more about how people deal with their unique circumstances. This was a beautiful little episode showcasing that. If tonight’s episode had been more of the get-past-the-monsters thing, I was probably going to give up on it. Now I’ll keep watching.
In the game, no. We meet only Bill, and we learn about Frank as backstory. This is a very smart thing for the show to pick up and expand on. Hopefully they do more of this.
…yeah, this episode turned me around on the show.
Just a request, could we spoiler box any comparisons to the game? Some might still want tp play it after watching the show, and who knows where it might diverge. Also, sometimes they might move around when events happen, so you don’t want to say “Well in the game X happened here” only to have that happen a few episodes later.
The third episode (the one with Bill and Frank) was one of the best episodes of TV I have ever seen. Some shows have episodes that play as mini movies and are just self contained greatness (Blink in Doctor Who is another example) and this was one of them. Really really well done.
Very nice use of “Long Long Time,” first to begin Bill and Frank’s relationship and then to close out their story. Not sure I buy so many big, tough guys of that age digging Linda Ronstadt music that much, but I’m willing to suspend my disbelief.
Oh, I don’t know. It’s a pretty moving song.
I watched the episode and was determined to not allow my emotions to be shamelessly manipulated. I lost that little bet with myself at the close of the episode. A small tear or two was wiped away.
I’m another that this episode rescued me from doing better things with my early Sunday evenings. I’ll keep watching.
It seems like the episode would make for a bit of a strange side mission in a videogame.
Oh, I agree, but I wasn’t necessarily familiar with it before last night, and I’m about five/six years younger than his character is supposed to be. Joel (the character) is supposed to be in his early 50s, which means he was born just after this song came out. Now, it’s possible he was listening to Linda Ronstadt’s beautiful ballads in his teens, but he’d more likely be familiar with the music of Madonna, Whitney Houston, Sinead O’Connor, Pat Benatar, Celine Dion, etc.
I’m being a bit pedantic, I know, and I’m not letting it get in the way of an otherwise beautiful episode. But in the moment last night, I just found it a bit surprising that a guy around my age would’ve recognized a Linda Ronstadt song that came out before he was born so quickly. I recognized it from earlier in the episode, but outside of that context, I wouldn’t have.
And this was definitely the episode that has me looking forward to Sunday nights again.
Some of my favorite moments from Nick Offerman in Parks and Rec were when his tough facade would break down–for instance, in the last season, when he admits that the reason he asked Leslie to lunch (which she spaced on) was that he missed everyone and wanted to ask for a job. He brought that energy here, and it worked.
That episode was about the last thing I expected to get from a zombie show, but it was one of the best hours of anything I’ve seen in a while.
It’s clear I’m bringing my age bias into it. I always forget you’re a whippersnapper. 
I do remember the song from my youth. They played it to death and I considered it schlocky then – but it still drew a reluctant tear.
Re Joel’s familiarity with the song, I can easily envision a situation where he or others stumbled onto a collection of “oldies,” and it thus became music they listened to because it was what was available. Plus I’m continually surprised at how many youngsters in your age group listen avidly to the music of the 60s and 70s. So that little speed bump didn’t even slow me down.
Glad you enjoyed the episode too – we’ll be comparing more notes upcoming, I expect!
He recognized it from being friends with Bill for the past decade.