Why is “The Walking Dead” so popular?

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” follows the lives of a group of post-apocalyptic survivors doing their best to survive the onslaught of both human and “undead” threats.  The show has more than doubled its ratings since its first season.  The show averages about 10 million viewers an episode.  The season finale of the third season will air this Sunday.  Fans are clamoring to guess how the current storyline will result.  So why exactly is this show so popular?

I must admit that I am a fan of the show.  I think it is one of the best shows on television.  The writing is entirely original and inventive (I should mention the show is based on a comic book series of the same name).  I admire a writer who isn’t afraid to kill off a main character.  And boy have they done that in this series.  These are only some of the many reasons I watch the show.

An aspect that I think plays a role in all the hype is the mere fact that this “zombie apocalypse” could theoretically occur.  Although the origins of the virus and how it spread hasn’t been revealed, it is not absurd to think that a deadly virus could affect a large mass of people in a short period of time.  Is it likely to happen?  Probably not (at least I hope not).  But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

Some people like the show because of the gore and suspenseful situations.  I most like the show because of the writing.  I was surprised at how quickly I would become addicted to watching the show.  I found myself asking one day, what I would do in this terrible situation?  I don’t know if I can say I would have survived as long as these people have.

The show isn’t perfect.  I many times wonder how the group has miraculously found an unlimited source of fuel for their vehicles.  Again the excellent writing makes up for this minor hiccup.  Vampires were all the hype for the past 5 years (thanks to the “Twilight” novels and the HBO series “True Blood”).  Now it seems likes zombies have overtaken their glory.

Do you watch the show?

Why do you think it is so popular?

***These are my theories of what may happen during the season finale.  I do not read spoilers (if they even exist).  These are purely my theories.  Let me know what you think.

I think Milton, Herschel, the Governor and Martinez are likely to be killed.  I’ve been thinking for a while that Karl (or is it Carl) never shot his dead mother in the head, but rather locked her in a room.  I think Rick will see his dead wife as a “walker” (zombie).  I thought it was suspect that when Rick went to see Lori’s body there weren’t any remains left.  Yes, there was a fat “walker” nearby, but these zombies never eat the entire body.

I think Milton will save Andrea and will thus be redeemed in this episode.  Remember he owes her for saving his life earlier this season.  I think it would be unrealistic if no one from the main group dies.  Therefore, I think Herschel might die.  I see him sacrificing himself to save his daughters.

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