# The Walking Dead - How come nobody talks about how bad the acting is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489 "2012-03-11T20:55:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jmichaelm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/da6949/32.png) [@jmichaelm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmichaelm)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/81 "2012-04-09T17:33:39Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I am totally hooked on this show in spite of the amateurish acting… I really enjoy watching this show, much the way I really enjoy watching Gilligan’s Island. It’s a brain-off thing. Sadly, most people have terrible artistic taste. They really don’t know good or bad acting when they see it, so they don’t realize the acting on this show is terrible. WD acting is primarily of the “mugging” variety. The actors attempt to convey emotion by making a face. Since they repeatedly attempt to convey the same simple emotions they repeatedly pull the same faces. Take a look at the first Harry Potter film and you will see what I mean by “mugging” as a substitute for acting. There are two actors I’ve seen who do a little better than average (for the show): Norman Reedus and Scott Wilson. Interestingly both were introduced as one-dimensional characters who have had to cope change. Daryl began as the outsider redneck who could never be a part of the group. Yet slowly he has gained acceptance and even social status because of his capable and dependable character. Seeing Reedus portray the personal struggle while never falling out of character has been impressive. Still he has yet to be tested in any substiantial acting situation - a few minutes of hallucinations with his lost brother gave him little room to expound on his characterization. Hershel has had to question the underpinnings of his morality as he realizes the danger he caused by holding on to the walkers he knew in life. Wilson did a fine job of portraying that transition, however he is now undermined by writers who seem happy to say “life crisis over, on with the show”. Here’s hoping the off-season includes a lot of acting coaching for the leads. They really need to work harder as the writers are beginning to struggle to find decent material. ---
**Author:** ![Kitkat\_Hunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8baadc/32.png) [@Kitkat\_Hunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitkat_Hunny)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/82 "2012-04-18T12:27:56Z")
I honestly do not beleive that this show is in any way shape or form bad. It’s gripping yes the acting here or there is to be desired, but how many TV Series, or movies have you said WOW everyone in that film acts superbly. At the end of the day, think you could do any better? As for make-up, sets etc and one persons comment about not having any risk on a farm, this was the whole point of that series. The reason no one focused on the Walkers was due to the fact Carl was shot, I hate to say it but Rick is the main focus of the TV Series, so whatever point of the story you are in regarding anyone around Rick its going to revolve around his son! Would you not do the same. There are a million things I would have done a lot different being in that situation (but its never going to happen because its not real) but you cant really call out an entire TV series (yes TV Series, with smaller budgets than most) for some bad acting here or there. The fact that some of you refuse to turn over even when you have said you dont like it, proves there is something keeping you drawn to it. Thats the beauty of great writing! I actually found series 1 rather dull compared to 2, the finale for the second season IMO outweighs the entire first series. I cannot wait for series 3. Best TV out there in a long time as well as Game of Thrones! And I could say a bad thing or two about that, but its still effing EPIC! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/83 "2012-04-18T13:06:56Z")
> [@Kitkat\_Hunny](#): > > I cannot wait for series 3. Best TV out there in a long time It’s a nice show, but Dude, it’s a comic book. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/84 "2012-04-18T13:38:36Z")
As a lot of us have said repeatedly, we love the show - that doesn’t stop us from criticizing it. Hell, that’s half the fun with this show. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/85 "2012-04-18T14:11:19Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It’s a nice show, **but Dude, it’s a comic book**. 🙂 Woah, I’ll cry foul there. There’s loads of crap comics, but it’s still just a medium and can’t be so neatly equated with poor content or lowered expectations. To be fair, I don’t like or watch this show. I quit early in season two, and I quit the comics too. I think both had great promise, but the execution wasn’t for me. ---
**Author:** ![alexandre\_o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bbce88/32.png) [@alexandre\_o](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandre_o)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/86 "2013-05-21T16:16:56Z")
I had stopped watching the show after the barn walker discovery as it got just oo silly. the aspect tha tbothers me is the realism: how would real people actually react when the world as they know it world “ends”? I know its just a show but here are my problems: 1. Psychological trauma after witnessing such horror and atrocities has too little an impact on the characters’ emotional state (especially the children). Exceptio is Dale who’s just constantly looks freaked out. 2. Walkers are not very agile, often drag their feet and grunt loudly. How is it that the characters keep getting surprised by them or that the walkers “creep up” on them? 3. Never any dialogue on possible impact outside the US - the entire globe is affected all at once? 4. why persist on going inland when maybe taking a boat to an offshore location (small island) would probably work to be safe. (unless there are also “swimmers”) 5. I just want to kick Carl’s ass everytime I see him 6. Rick’s wife really ought to eat more 7. The African-American fellow has not lost any weight since the beginning of the show There’s my rant ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/87 "2013-05-21T21:49:02Z")
> [@](#): > > How come nobody talks about how bad the acting is? Because it’s not bad. Not any worse than any other show, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/88 "2013-05-21T22:27:51Z")
> [@alexandre\_o](#): > > I had stopped watching the show after the barn walker discovery as it got just [too] silly. Well, by that criteria, I can’t honesty suggest you watch the episodes after this. > [@](#): > > 1. The African-American fellow has not lost any weight since the beginning of the show He started training. He’s a whole new man, now. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/89 "2013-05-21T22:32:24Z")
> [@alexandre\_o](#): > > 1. The African-American fellow has not lost any weight since the beginning of the show Which one? A couple of them lost a\* lot \*of weight. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/90 "2013-06-18T21:34:54Z")
It always amuses me when non-actors and non-directors think they know what bad acting is. I’ve worked in film production for many years and nothing about any of the performances in Walking Dead stands out as sub-par. Do you not think that maybe the director or the producer or executive producer would have said something and made adjustments? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/91 "2013-06-18T21:57:22Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > It always amuses me when non-actors and non-directors think they know what bad acting is. Perhaps we should let the producers and directors write critical reviews. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/92 "2013-06-18T22:11:29Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > It always amuses me when non-actors and non-directors think they know what bad acting is. I’ve worked in film production for many years and nothing about any of the performances in Walking Dead stands out as sub-par. Do you not think that maybe the director or the producer or executive producer would have said something and made adjustments? So by this reasoning, no cases of sub-par acting have ever gone uncorrected. Yeah, your logic is perfect. mmm ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/93 "2013-06-18T22:14:08Z")
At this level of production critics can certainly pick out the performances that are exemplary. But also at this level the bad actors aren’t going to make it through all the way to the screen. Considering casting and callbacks and rehearsals and production, bad acting is weeded out. Sure, laymen can tell that Uncle Fred is butchering Shakespeare at the neighborhood theatre. But beyond that, the subtleties are lost on them. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/94 "2013-06-18T22:20:26Z")
It can be likened to cinematography. When was the last time you thought to yourself “ooh that’s terrible composition”? At the higher levels, expert directors of photography ensure that the image is always perfect. It’s a given. The director doesn’t have to worry if the image looks right. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/95 "2013-06-18T22:21:21Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > But beyond that, the subtleties are lost on them. The Bard added off color jokes for the groundlings. I am reminded of one of Wagner’s directors, who, when told that enlarging the stage at the Festival House would necessitate removing some seating, responded, “What does it matter if we have fifty less schwinehunden in the place?” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/96 "2013-06-18T22:22:32Z")
That refers to the script, not performance. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/97 "2013-06-18T22:22:57Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Do you not think that maybe the director or the producer or executive producer would have said something and made adjustments? Not as long as they are making money. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/98 "2013-06-18T22:25:06Z")
Better performances, more money. I really don’t think that WD is incredibly popular despite bad acting. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/99 "2013-06-18T22:38:42Z")
The actor who plays Rick seems a bit over the top sometimes. I think the blood and gore makes the ratings, rather than the talent of the actors. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489/100 "2013-06-18T23:29:28Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I don’t know what it is about this show; I’m not going to argue with any of the criticisms of it, and I contribute plenty of my own, but I’m still fascinated with it and really miss it when the season’s over. I wish it was better in a lot of ways, too, but I guess it’s good enough to keep me glued to the tv set (and coming here to discuss it/bitch about it 🙂 ). yeah it used to be my guilty pleasure due to the bad acting and plot holes but I still love it. Something about Zombies and end of the world is just fascinating. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-how-come-nobody-talks-about-how-bad-the-acting-is/615489.md?page=6)