Genre: Sci-Fi | Horror | Thriller

Air Date/Time: November 20th at 9/8c

Network: AMC

Director: David Boyd

Writer: Angela Kang

Summary: AMC’s critically acclaimed original series, The Walking Dead, is back with its much anticipated second season. When we last left the The Walking Dead, the characters were in the midst of a high-intensity struggle to survive, fleeing the CDC as it burst into flames. In Season 2, they are still on the move, facing more threats and obstacles than ever.

Based on one of the most successful and popular comic books of all time, written by Robert Kirkman, AMC‘s The Walking Dead captures the ongoing human drama following a zombie apocalypse. The series follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Teachers, Strike Back), who are traveling in search of a safe and secure home. However, instead of the zombies, it is the living who remain that truly become the walking dead. Jon Bernthal (The Pacific, The Ghost Writer) plays Shane Walsh, Rick’s sheriff’s department partner before the apocalypse, and Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break), is Rick’s wife, Lori Grimes. Additional cast include: Laurie Holden, Steven Yeun, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey DeMunn, Chandler Riggs, IronE Singleton and Melissa McBride.

This week’s title is quite unusually apt, not an obscure one-off reference like they often are. This episode is all about the secrets. Before I get any further, however, let me warn you that this is another mostly-quiet, albeit intense, episode. If you are expecting otherwise, as I was, you will be disappointed.  A second watch without the expectation of monumental group action allowed me to enjoy this episode for what it is. The action isn’t big, but the themes are.

It’s about secrets and choices, hope and realism. It’s about civilized behavior and irresponsible behavior, and how much those definitions have changed in the new horrific world. In this episode, the youngest are the smartest and the bravest, and the oldest, in spite of their wisdom, still cling to some old notions that just are not appropriate any more.

As well done as all those themes were, however, I miss the movement of the first season. This is episode six. Last season, episode six was the finale. I miss that pace. If it doesn’t pick up soon, I may have to resort to actually relaxing in front of the TV while I watch, instead of sitting on the edge of my seat. Not the worst fate in the world, with performances as rich as we are getting from these actors. I’m hoping we’ll be getting more from the minor characters soon, but all the main cast, as well as the writers, production, and post, were on their A games as usual. Except for the end, which felt like neither a conclusion nor a cliffhanger, but just… stopped. Weird.

Not what I was hoping for, but absolutely quality television nevertheless. This is still one of three or four series that are appointment TV for me.

I give The Walking Dead, Season 2 Episode 6 “Secrets” Four Out of Five Stars.