What Forbes calls “the most in-demand show in the world,” “The Walking Dead” Season 11 features Norman Reedus (The Boondock Saints franchise, Triple 9, Blade II) and Melissa McBride (The Reconstruction of William Zero, TV’s “Dawson’s Creek”) on a risky mission while the rest of the group contacts the Commonwealth, a seemingly civilized community with a dark secret lurking just beneath the surface.
In the epic final season of “The Walking Dead,” Daryl and Maggie embark on a risky mission with Negan to root out the shadowy Reapers while Eugene and Ezekiel make contact with the sprawling Commonwealth. To secure aid for Alexandria – their goal – they must assimilate…a tough ask for people who’ve seen no end of deceit, betrayal, and loss. Stunned by the Commonwealth’s resources, the group slowly adjusts to their new home, but they can’t ignore what lurks beneath its seemingly civilized surface. Soon, threats abound, loyalties are tested, and shocking fates await. But the fight for the future, threatened by an ever-growing population of walkers, means the walking dead will live on….
For thoughts on The Walking Dead The Complete Eleventh Season, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
The Walking Dead The Complete Eleventh Season arrives on Blu-Ray with a pretty strong AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The series retains its drab and gritty look which this presentation captures very well with a filmic appearance. While not completely absent, there are no egregious instances of aliasing or compression artifacts on display here. Black levels cannot quite reach true black, but they give way to a solid amount of detail in shadows. Highlights do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation.
The detail squeezed out of this transfer is very good with so many subtle details within the environments easily identifiable. Skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast with minute facets standing out. The color palette presents a bit on the pale side, but there are numerous instances of the greens from nature popping off the screen. Both the practical special effects and the CGI blend well without breaking the illusion of the scene. The high definition presentation sends the series off on a high note.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with an active Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track that fleshes out this world really well. The environmental elements come alive from the side and rear channels to make it feel like you are being fully immersed. This is a series that utilizes the sounds of nature and other forces in a really pleasing manner. These ambient sounds are precisely placed in the rear channels. Kinetic sequences are given a mighty power in the mix with a forceful showing in the low end.
A standout aspect of this series has always been the music from Bear McCreary. His work perfectly sets the tone for the story, and it creates a distinct sound that draws you further into the show. Dialogue largely comes through crisp and clear without being stepped on by the score or any sound effects, outside of a few moments where it struggles to overcome the chaos of the situation. The audio presentation serves the show really well.
Special Features
- Deleted Scenes: There are two unused scenes totaling a minute-and-a-half included here. That’s it.
Final Thoughts
The Walking Dead has been an incredible touchstone in popular culture for over a decade as it has reigned supreme as one of television’s most watched shows while falling from the absolute zenith of its popularity some seasons back. The journey has been a rollercoaster of both emotion and overall quality. This final season brings the story to an end on an overall positive note while losing a bit of impact from the knowledge that some stories are being continued in spinoff form. The hunger to keep this franchise expanding has been a bit of an albatross, but judged as its own thing the season is very entertaining and serves as a decent conclusion. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation but a very disappointing amount of supplemental features. Fans of the series should be happy to finish out their collection. Recommended
The Walking Dead The Complete Eleventh 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.