Just over a decade ago, the idea of a “zombie show” being one of the most popular shows on television was a strange thought, but upon its debut The Walking Dead proved just how ravenous audiences were for this brand of storytelling. It was not just the zombie killing and horrific deaths that drew people in, though; the only way for a show like this to survive is to get you invested in the human characters. From the opening scene of Rick Grimes navigating this world newly devolved into chaos, you became invested in his journey and those that made up his group. For the past ten years, we have learned that while zombies are no picnic, they often pale in comparison to the baser tendencies of humanity pushed to the brink. There have been some triumphs and more tragic losses than we can even count, and where it stands only a select few count themselves among the initial batch of characters we started following. The tenth season of the show is the first full season without Rick, and presents some new signs of life on the way to its supposed final eleventh season.
This latest season picks up months after the events of the ninth season which introduced The Whisperers as the big current threat. The loathsome leader Alpha (Samantha Morton, Minority Report) and her right-hand man Beta (Ryan Hurst, Sons of Anarchy) really struck a blow to our heroes in the Kingdom and solidified themselves as one of the most ruthless adversaries yet. Much of this season concerns both the psychological fallout of what they have done, and the continued threat they continue to pose both in their personal actions and their ability to wield hordes of the undead like a weapon. An early standout episode of the season is one in which we learn how Alpha evolved from a normal well-adjusted person trying to survive the zombie apocalypse to the unhinged leader of a terrifying clan. Morton is a bit over-the-top, but she imbues the character with a lunacy that really works at the end of the day. She is complemented well by Beta, who likewise gets more fleshed out this season as his relationship with Alpha gets more complicated.
One of the other standout characters is the former chief villain of the show, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Supernatural). His evolution from black-hearted psychopath to member of the community that he once tortured has been a rocky one, but never less than fascinating. Morgan turns in his best performance of the series yet in his origin episode that takes a closer look at Lucille. There is a nice balance for the remainder of the season between finding new facets to characters we have known for a long time, and learning more about others who have been relegated to the background up until this point. One of the biggest sticking points of this season is the dynamic between Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus), which ebbs and flows thanks to some emotional choices that are made. Like any season of The Walking Dead, there are plenty of losses throughout this expanded 22-episode season, some that break your heart and some that will make you cheer. It never quite reaches the depths of earlier seasons, but it is the strongest it has been in some time.
The one area where this series continues to struggle is in the pacing of the season. The season plays much better when you can watch the episodes back to back here on Blu-Ray, but when you do get invested in a certain storyline there is a good chance you might not return to it for another three or four episodes. This is especially true of the six episodes that were added in the midst of waiting for the COVID-delayed “finale” that aired as its own thing months apart from the episodes before and after it. The original finale is really quite thrilling and leaves you riveted at the conclusion, but it lands differently now that it is followed by six more episodes that are mostly good but nothing exceptional. There are some key character episodes in here, but the season ends more on a whimper than a bang heading into the final season. The powers that be are obviously wanting to get the most out of this series that they can, and as a fan you want that – if they can make it great. This season can safely stand shoulder to shoulder with many of the better seasons, but the age of the show is apparent and we need to guide this ship to a satisfying conclusion.
Video Quality
The Walking Dead The Complete Tenth Season arrives on Blu-Ray with a lovely AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This is a series with a very drab, gritty look to reflect the world of the story, and this presentation reflects that beautifully with a filmic appearance. The levels of detail this presentation is able to eek out is very pleasing, as all of the subtle details within the environments are easily identifiable. One thing that will be readily apparent is that skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast. There are thankfully no egregious instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable here. The color palette runs a bit on the pale side, but there are plenty of instances of the greens from nature popping off the screen. Black levels are a touch lighter than true black, but they give way to a nice amount of detail in shadows. The bright whites do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation. The special effects from the practical to the CGI blend seamlessly with one another. The Blu-Ray is quite stunning as it brings this series to life in a gorgeous manner.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with an incredibly active Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track that creates a truly enveloping world. Dialogue mostly comes through crisp and clear without being stepped on by the powerful score or any sound effects, outside of a few moments where it struggles to overcome the roar of motorcycles. Kinetic sequences are given the appropriate power in the mix with a forceful showing in the low end. Ambient sounds are also precisely placed in the rear channels. There are environmental elements that come from the side channels to make it feel like you are being enveloped. This is a series that utilizes the sounds of nature in a really pleasing manner. Special consideration should be paid to the series music from Bear McCreary. His work perfectly sets the tone for the story, and it creates a nicely enveloping sound that draws you further into the show. The audio presentation here is fantastic on all levels.
Special Features
- Audio Commentaries
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- Lines We Cross: Showrunner/Exec Producer/Writer Angela Kang and Actress Melissa McBride.
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- Squeeze: David Leslie Johnson, Melissa McBride, and Norman Reedus.
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- Walk With Us: Special Effects Supervisor Aaron McLane and “Ezekiel” Khary Payton.
- In Memoriam: A 14-minute featurette in which the cast and crew reflect back upon the lives lost this season and the impact that the characters had on the show. There are some really interesting tidbits that fans will love to hear.
Final Thoughts
The Walking Dead continues its march to the end with a pretty exciting transitional season that rises out of the ashes of some key departures. As with any season, there are some episodes where the series feels like it is spinning its wheels, but for the most part it keeps up its momentum while deepening the backstory of characters we love and even introducing some interesting new players. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and a few good supplemental features. Fans of the series should purchase with confidence. Recommended
The Walking Dead The Complete Tenth Season is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
