Since its debut on AMC in 2010, The Walking Dead has continued to entertain even some of the weaker seasons have managed to be better than most shows out there. With the show going into its ninth season in it’s the perfect time to revisit the previous season and now Lionsgate Home Entertainment is bringing it home with The Walking Dead: The Complete Eighth Season.
If you have never seen the series for some strange reason the show follows Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes leads a group of survivors in a world overrun by the walking dead. This season together with the Hilltop and the Kingdom, Rick and the Alexandrians bring “All Out War” to Negan and his forces. The Saviors are larger, better equipped, and ruthless, but Rick and the unified communities are fighting for the promise of a brighter future. I loved this series when it started but the last couple of seasons have been really hit and miss with me, but this one really felt like they got it back on track.
As with every season there are major losses and this season it no different. There is one episode that completely focuses on a big death and while some seemed to not like it I actually really dug the episode and thought they gave a good send off to the character. The action is amped up to some bigger levels at times here as the battle against Negan not only comes to a head, but explodes into a barrage of bullets, bodies and blood leading into a great ending that sets up a possible new path for the next season. If there was any complaint if comes more in some of the lighting to the darker episodes. There are a couple of great moments that you can hardly see due to it being shot too dark for a nighttime sequence and while I am sure it was meant to be a nuance to add to the affect it ended up making it less enjoyable.
These last two seasons have kind of sucked me right back into the show after being on the fence to give it up. The news of some more major characters leaving the show next season are both a bummer and exciting to see what new directions they will be taking it. Until then you can always revisit the eighth season before season nine kicks off in October. This collection includes all 16 episodes of the season as well as bonus content including three audio commentaries, three featurettes exclusive, as well as six extended episodes not seen in the original broadcast.
Join the fight for survival when The Walking Dead: The Complete Eighth Season hits Blu-ray and DVD on August 21st from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.
Review by Bobby Blakey - Bobby reviews way more movies on his own website than the genre-specific ones I post here. Check out Bobby's awesome website and his live show he co-hosts with his wife, Drusilla, at Hollywood Matrimony.
