If I had known the world was ending, I would’ve brought better books — A look back and forward at The Walking Dead

To me, the best zombie movies aren’t the splatter fests of gore and violence with goofy characters and tongue in cheek antics. Good zombie movies show us how messed up we are, they make us question our station in society… and our society’s station in the world. They show us gore and violence and all that cool stuff too… but there’s always an undercurrent of social commentary and thoughtfulness.
― Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye 

While not shocking, the news that Season 11 would be the final season of The Walking Dead is met with many emotions. Okay, it felt a little like Carol told us to look at the flowers. Many of us have been there since the first season, and while we might not be as steadfast as we used to be and knew it was inevitable, knowing that the show will be done is a bitter pill to swallow. It was in the first two seasons, that the fandom of The Walking Dead pulled in so many people from around the globe together each week to see how many times Lori could lose Carl, Shane could be an ass, Daryl would make us swoon, and we fell in love (and hate) with so many characters.  Friends now, but then strangers I would never meet save for the show. The Walking Dead created a community. 

I've kicked the front seat from the back while yelling for candy, toured Coney Island, went for a boat ride, gave back to the community, and sat with a stupid grim on my face through two season premiers with the cast with those of you I've met because of this show.

We've laughed, cried, called out songs together before they were played, and were loyal pre and post show to discussions and reviews.

And while many of us have been very critical about decisions on the show throughout the seasons, there are moments we never forget. We can name those unforgettable episodes, we mourned the tragic loss of characters, and we enjoyed Spaghetti Tuesday every Wednesday. When new characters arrived, we were critical because we were loyal to our original surviving members of our TWD family. Let's admit it, those first few seasons were an emotional roller coaster. We survived on live tweeting and were beyond elated when cast members would join in our friendly banter. We watched character arcs that didn't match the comic. We watched season finales that left us scratching our heads. 

After the Season 10 finale on October 4th, we'll have a very long Season 11. And remember, we also jumped in time. So there could be many gaps to fill, am I right? We can only imagine where the final shows will take us ... we only advise that you don't f#@k this up show runners and writers. We're your loyal advisors if needed. We appreciate your opening credit teasers and ample Easter eggs.

And where does this go from here? There are the spin offs, Fear the Walking Dead and the yet to be titled Carol and Daryl hour. Rick might have his own movie. There will be absolutely nothing like those first seasons of the show, the Comic Cons and other conventions. And then the action figures and countless adventures I took them on. That's what I will miss the most. The fandom of TWD.

To the cast from Season 1 through Season 11 ... thank you. We know and appreciate your time and dedication to your craft, and appreciate the time you take for appearances and for charity events. You've allowed us to feel like we've been part of something special. We look forward to seeing you continue in other roles and artistic and creative endeavors. 

And since this is a music blog, how about some of the memorable songs performed or played during the last ten seasons? While most of the show's music is created by Bear McCreary or Global Stage Orchestra, there have been some popular and memorable song moments ... and some that we just can't seem to get out of our heads. Special thanks to TV Insider and Tune Find for this treasure trove of song info! All songs are hyperlinked - so check them out and re-live some of your favorite Walking Dead moments.

Running - Delta Spirit 

 

The Regulator – Clutch (Nebraska) 

Sniff N Tears - Driver's Seat

 

Civilian - Wye Oak

 

Oats in the Water – Ben Howard 

 

Serpents - Sharon Von Etten  

 

Space Junk - Wang Chung  (this song appears when Rick is in the tank in Atlanta and in his final episode)

 

Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine No More – Walker Brothers  

 

Tomorrow is a Long Time – Bob Dylan 

 

Running to the Rain – Peter Gabriel 

 

I See a Darkness – Johnny Cash 

 

 

Easy Street – Collapsible Hearts Club 

 

Hold On – Tom Waits 

 

Lead Me Home – Jamie N Commons 

 

Fast and Loose – Motorhead 

 

Precious Memories – Stanley Brothers 

 

Be Good – Emily Kinney 

 

The Troubles – U2

 

It’s Nobody’s Fault But Mine – Blind Willie Johnson 

 

Far Away – Gov't Mule 

 

Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright – Bob Dylan 

 

Care of Cell 44 – The Zombies 

 

When the Wild Wind Blows – Iron Maiden (Eugene)

 

 

When I was a kid I asked my grandpa once if he ever killed any Germans in the war. He wouldn't answer. He said that was grown-up stuff, so so I asked if the Germans ever tried to kill him. But he got real quiet. He said he was dead the minute he stepped into enemy territory. Every day he woke up and told himself, "Rest in peace. Now get up and go to war." And then after a few years of pretending he was dead he made it out alive. That's the trick of it, I think. We do what we need to do and then we get to live. But no matter what we find in DC, I know we'll be okay. Because this is how we survive. 

We tell ourselves that we are the walking dead. 

 

— Rick Grimes, Season 5: Them —

Drowning Man

 Five seasons ago the world met Daryl Dixon. A character not in the comic series, The Walking Dead. While he auditioned for the role of Merle, Norman Reedus won over the writers and created Merle a brother named Daryl. In season one, we met an angry redneck who hated just about everything. We didn’t “know” Daryl. As the seasons progressed, we got to know Daryl just as Daryl was beginning to know himself.

Now, most of us figured he was just as much of a jerk as his racist brother. Why on earth would anyone be upset that an ass like Merle was missing? But when you think about it, that ass was all Daryl had. It was the only type of family he understood. Enter Rick Grimes.

 

Rick was patient with Daryl. Even when Daryl went off and pouted in a tent on the Greene Family Farm in Season two, Rick let Daryl be Daryl. As a sheriff in King County Georgia, I’m sure Rick ran across a lot of Daryl Dixons. But just like a beaten down dog, with respect comes respect.  As Daryl saw that law enforcement and people in general were not bad; that a nice gesture was not a trap; a mistake didn’t get you a beating, he began to join the group. Rick could be seen as the father figure to Daryl in the earlier seasons, but now they could be considered brothers.

When Andrea accidentally shot Daryl, around the same time millions of hearts were broken with the episode Cherokee Rose (Season 2, Episode 4), we see a once beaten down Carol try to thank Daryl for his kindness. A kiss that looked as painful as any switch Mr. Dixon used on them, Daryl looked so uncomfortably painful at any gesture of kindness,  probably because it seems that once Daryl has something nice, it’s taken away.

While Daryl’s father and brother were abusive, we only know that his mother died tragically in a fire set by her own cigarettes. We don’t know if she cared for Daryl, but we’re pretty sure she was beaten as well. We saw Daryl open up emotionally with Carol, holding her back when Sofia was lost.

 

We do know that Daryl does not like quitters. We see him comment negatively anytime they come across someone who gave up and committed suicide. This brings us to Daryl’s relationship with Beth Greene. Beth was a weakling when he met her. She was looking for that easy way out when all hell was beginning to break lost on the farm. A 180 from Daryl Beth was sheltered and the world was too harsh, sad, and hard for her.  But like Daryl, Beth had to change to survive. The prison was her training. When it was just Beth and Daryl after the prison falls (Season 5, Episode 4, Still), Beth knows she won’t get a sympathetic ear from Daryl. She even says to him I know you look at me and see another dead girl.  But Beth fought and even got Daryl to talk a little - get a little angry. He opened up to Beth and that forged a bond that he's never probably had.

But why do we love Daryl Dixon? It is our empathy and sympathy for those tragic characters. Think back about how you felt about John Bender (Judd Nelson) in The Breakfast Club.

Maybe it’s the desire to find something good in someone bad. The tragic character’s flaws are usually caused by some awful experience and deep down inside there is a gifted, caring individual that can be freed from the bonds of their past abuse.

This is why we love Daryl Dixon. We’ve seen him suffer, watched him heal, but damn, Sofia and Beth make us feel even more  sorry for this guy to seem to take two steps forward and is pushed ten steps back.

When Norman Reedus posted the instagram of the U2 song, Drowning Man, I knew someone was going to die. The lyrics, just by reading them could bring a person to tears. But the background of the song makes Norman’s choice even more beautifully poetic. When War was recorded, U2 was at a cross roads – The Edge, Larry, and Bono were all very religious, Adam Clayton, not so much. The reference to a drowning man is Adam’s faith and Bono and the boys trying to save him. Is Dayl Dixon at his crossroads, drowning in the question of why he allows himself to care so deeply for anyone.  

 

Drowning Man

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
For I have promised
Oh, to be with you tonight
And for the time that will come

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
And I understand
These winds and tides
This change of times
Won't drag you away
Hold on, and hold on tightly
Hold on, and don't let go
Of my love

The storms will pass (the storm will pass)
It won't be long now (it won't be long now)
His love will last
His love will last...forever

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
Give you what I hold dear

Hold on, hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
Rise up, rise up
With wings like eagles
You run, you run
You run and not grow weary

(take my hand, take my hand)
Hold on, and hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
To this love...last forever
To this love...last forever

Take my hand