The Walking Dead is straight up one of the most frustrating shows on television, and has been since at least Season 2. It’s alright when you spree-watch it after the release, but watching it episode-by-episode is like an excruciating exercise in self-flagellation and self-denial. It’s like joining the seminary, but its a TV show. Honestly, I’m shocked people are still putting themselves through it.
Apparently, the series has gone a bridge too far on the season 7 premiere. It’s known for its brutal violence, but apparently there is a threshold for violence fans will not put up with. Basically, instead of the regular flesh-chomping, zombie-axing violence, the show had Jeffrey Dean Morgan beat a couple of series favourite characters to death with a razor-wire-wrapped baseball bat. As you do.
You’d think after everything else that’s gone on in this programme they could cop it. But nope. Fans: not overly keen.
We know parents’ groups can be a bit of a drag, but they’ve really arced up about this one – after the bat-bashing, the Parents Television Council is demanding an entirely new classification level for television in the United States. Currently, it doesn’t go beyond TV-MA. PTC President Tim Winter said the ep “set a new threshold for basic cable [violence]” and was one of the most graphically violent things seen in a television show.
“This brutally explicit show is a powerful demonstration of why families should have greater control over the TV networks they purchase from their cable and satellite providers.” Man, you’re just makin’ me wanna watch it. Now that’s it’s all rebellious like.
It’s worth remembering that Rick shoots a little zombie kid in the head in the very first episode of the show ever. That did happen. Though I will concede that a vicious razor-wire baseball bat double murder is a step or two above.
Photo: Walking Dead.
