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The Walking Dead: Season 4
AMC
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Here are some of the best horror shows from 2013 that I've seen.
THE WALKING DEAD
amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead
I was a fan of the comic book series, so naturally I love the television show. Even if you've read all the comics (as I have), it's still a very different universe. There are the same characters and situations, but sometime they remix it up for the show. In particular, the fantastic mid-season finale with the Governor! Things happened in the comics that unfolds in the show, but it happened to different characters, etc. The mid-season finale was great, but a lot of fans thought that was the ending that was due to them last season (which admittedly was a huge disappointment).
Soundtrack: the theme and background soundtrack is still by Bear McCreary, who handled a ton of sci-fi/heroes shows from Battlestar Galatica (2003), Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, etc., but starting in Season 3, who started hearing more pop/contemporary songs in the show.
The cross-over promotion was with Republic Records, who provided exclusive songs for download after the show aired (similar to how Fox's "Glee" work, where you can buy the songs showcased in the show).
Also, worth noting, is that actress Emily Kinney (who plays Beth Greene), released an EP called Blue Toothbrush in 2011. She's been seen on the show singing some Tom Waits cover and that traditional Irish song "The Parting Glass", a cappella style. The latter can be heard on Walking Dead AMC Original Soundtrack - Vol 1 with actress Lauren Cohan (Maggie Greene).
Emily Kinney's new 2013 EP is called Expired Love, which you can find on her website and iTunes.
Looking forward to the second half of The Walking Dead next year. Since I've read the comics, I'm expecting some sort of "on the road" mission. There were already leaked characters (like Abraham Ford) announced, so I am hoping to Eugene Porter as well.
amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead
I was a fan of the comic book series, so naturally I love the television show. Even if you've read all the comics (as I have), it's still a very different universe. There are the same characters and situations, but sometime they remix it up for the show. In particular, the fantastic mid-season finale with the Governor! Things happened in the comics that unfolds in the show, but it happened to different characters, etc. The mid-season finale was great, but a lot of fans thought that was the ending that was due to them last season (which admittedly was a huge disappointment).
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Walking Dead AMC Original Soundtrack - Vol 1
Republic Records
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The cross-over promotion was with Republic Records, who provided exclusive songs for download after the show aired (similar to how Fox's "Glee" work, where you can buy the songs showcased in the show).
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Expired Love
Emily Kinney
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Emily Kinney's new 2013 EP is called Expired Love, which you can find on her website and iTunes.
Looking forward to the second half of The Walking Dead next year. Since I've read the comics, I'm expecting some sort of "on the road" mission. There were already leaked characters (like Abraham Ford) announced, so I am hoping to Eugene Porter as well.
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The Returned
Canal+
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THE RETURNED
canalplus.fr
The Returned, originally French title Les Revenants, was described as "The Walking Dead with Brains". This is clearly an inaccurate description, despite the clever zombie/brains analogy. The Returned is nothing like the Walking Dead. It's slower paced, it's not gory, it's more mysterious, and, yes, it's smarter. The show isn't a traditional horror show, but it does deal with people returning from the dead in this town.
The show originally aired last year (2012) in France and selected countries, but it finally debut in the U.S. via the Sundance Channel last Halloween. I didn't have that cable channel, but thankfully they made the shows available for download on iTunes and Amazon.
I saw the entire first season in one sitting (yes, that's a total of eight hours), and absolutely had no issues with reading subtitles. Unfortunately, I've read that Hollywood wants to remake the show for the U.S. audience (who apparently does not like foreign/subtitled shows).
Also, there is a Season 2 of the Returned in 2014. I think it will go downhill from here, simply because, really where do they go from the ending to Season 1? Are there more stories to tell?
Soundtrack: This is the best part, the entire soundtrack was created by instrumental Scottish band Mogwai. They are more shoegazy or mathrock, but for the soundtrack, which was released February 25th, 2013, Mogwai created a totally creepy atmospheric soundtrack. I think The Returned music is really good, because it often compliment the scene, but not overpowering it.
Mogwai is doing a massive tour in support of Les Revenants, so expect the band to hit America in April and May of 2014.
U.S. Tour dates:
canalplus.fr
The Returned, originally French title Les Revenants, was described as "The Walking Dead with Brains". This is clearly an inaccurate description, despite the clever zombie/brains analogy. The Returned is nothing like the Walking Dead. It's slower paced, it's not gory, it's more mysterious, and, yes, it's smarter. The show isn't a traditional horror show, but it does deal with people returning from the dead in this town.
The show originally aired last year (2012) in France and selected countries, but it finally debut in the U.S. via the Sundance Channel last Halloween. I didn't have that cable channel, but thankfully they made the shows available for download on iTunes and Amazon.
I saw the entire first season in one sitting (yes, that's a total of eight hours), and absolutely had no issues with reading subtitles. Unfortunately, I've read that Hollywood wants to remake the show for the U.S. audience (who apparently does not like foreign/subtitled shows).
Also, there is a Season 2 of the Returned in 2014. I think it will go downhill from here, simply because, really where do they go from the ending to Season 1? Are there more stories to tell?
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Les Revenants
Rock Action
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Mogwai is doing a massive tour in support of Les Revenants, so expect the band to hit America in April and May of 2014.
U.S. Tour dates:
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04/22/14 El Paso, TX Tricky Falls
04/23/14 Dallas, TX Granada Theater 04/24/14 Austin, TX Emo's 04/25/14 Houston, TX Fitzgerald's 04/26/14 Baton Rouge, LA Varsity Theatre 04/27/14 New Orleans, LA The Civic Theatre 04/29/14 Miami, FL Grand Central 04/30/14 Tampa, FL The Ritz Ybor 05/01/14 Orlando, FL The Beacham 05/02/14 Atlanta, GA Center Stage Theater 05/03/14 Nashville, TN Exit / In 05/06/14 Charlotte, NC Amos' SouthEnd 05/07/14 Washington, DC 9:30 Club |
05/08/14 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
05/09/14 New York, NY Terminal 5 05/10/14 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston 05/11/14 Montreal, QC Metropolis 05/13/14 Toronto, ON The Danforth Music Hall 05/14/14 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues 05/15/14 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall 05/16/14 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre 05/17/14 Des Moines, IA Wooly's 05/18/14 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue 05/20/14 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre 05/21/14 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot 05/24/14 Portland, OR Roseland Theater |
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American Horror Story
FX
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AMERICAN HORROR STORY
fxnetworks.com/ahs
American Horror Story is one of the show that has its ups and downs for me. The 'haunted house' story of the first season started out great. Then as it started to wind to its conclusion, I sort of fell out of love with it. The same thing happened with Asylum, I initially got into it, but as the series got to the end, I sort of lost interest. I believe it's because AMC has this funky winter break thing, where shows disappear for almost a month!
The same thing is happening with Coven, the third season. I'm loving Coven. I love all the witches, and really looking forward to the story every week. It's currently on break right now and will wrap up in January 2014.
Soundtrack: Like all the previous title sequence, they were composed by sound designer Cesar Davila-Irizarry and musician Charlie Clouser, and it sounds like something Trent Reznor would approve. It's not a likeable song, and I'll confess to being afraid of it.
For season 3, I'm loving the "Lala" song by James S. Levine, which are often used throughout the show and its closing credits.
Also, the funniest thing is that witch Misty Day is a massive Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac fan, because, according to Day, Stevie Nicks is a White Witch. So whenever you saw the Nicks-inspired 70s look of Day on screen, you always hear her anthem song, "Rhiannon." I actually own the Anniversary double disc release of Rumours, and I think "Rhiannon" is best track on the album.
'Rumours' has it that Stevie Nicks will appear in a few upcoming episode of Coven. According to an interview with Nicks on Rolling Stone, published December 3rd, she will appear as herself "in early next year in American Horror Story: Coven, the third season of the horror anthology created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (who also collaborated on Glee and Nip/Tuck)."
She rings like a bell through the night and wouldn't you love to love her?
fxnetworks.com/ahs
American Horror Story is one of the show that has its ups and downs for me. The 'haunted house' story of the first season started out great. Then as it started to wind to its conclusion, I sort of fell out of love with it. The same thing happened with Asylum, I initially got into it, but as the series got to the end, I sort of lost interest. I believe it's because AMC has this funky winter break thing, where shows disappear for almost a month!
The same thing is happening with Coven, the third season. I'm loving Coven. I love all the witches, and really looking forward to the story every week. It's currently on break right now and will wrap up in January 2014.
Soundtrack: Like all the previous title sequence, they were composed by sound designer Cesar Davila-Irizarry and musician Charlie Clouser, and it sounds like something Trent Reznor would approve. It's not a likeable song, and I'll confess to being afraid of it.
For season 3, I'm loving the "Lala" song by James S. Levine, which are often used throughout the show and its closing credits.
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Rumours
Warner Bros
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'Rumours' has it that Stevie Nicks will appear in a few upcoming episode of Coven. According to an interview with Nicks on Rolling Stone, published December 3rd, she will appear as herself "in early next year in American Horror Story: Coven, the third season of the horror anthology created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (who also collaborated on Glee and Nip/Tuck)."
She rings like a bell through the night and wouldn't you love to love her?
WORST HORROR TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2013
Now, here are the most disappointing/terrible horror shows of 2013:
Supernatural: This show is breaking my heart because I love the first season. I wish they would go back to just being hunters, fighting "evil of the week" show. In the past few years (I watch them in chunks via DVD and Bluray), the show has lost its way. There's too much angels and demons. There's too much reoccurring characters, it should just be focused on the two brothers. This ninth season for 2013, there are some funny episodes, but the whole angels/demons thing is getting really old.
The Vampire Diaries: Have never seen this vampire show. Have no need to check it out. It looks like Twilight.
Dracula: I really tried to get into this show. I just don't like it. The writing is boring. Don't like any of the characters, and I don't like the actor that plays Dracula.
True Blood: To be punny, True Blood is getting long in the tooth. I've never liked the series, I've blamed it on their southern accents, but there's more to it - maybe the writing? Anyway, I know that it will end next year, so I will just go with the motion and watch it until their final finale.
Grimm: I saw the first season and tried to stay with it for season two. I can't take the show seriously, it's not scary and I have little interest in it now.
Sleepy Hollow: Again, like Grimm, this is a show that I just cannot take it too seriously (despite the fact that the characters are "serious"). It just comes off as goofy. I will stick with this show until the finale and see how it unfolds.
Hannibal: I like the cat/mouse game, but really, how far can they take this series? I don't like the idea of rooting for an evil character (Hannibal), so once the good guy was out of the picture, I had no interest in following the series. Everyone loves this series, so maybe I will give it another chance for Season 2.
Dexter: Okay, I love season 1-3. This final season 8 was absolutely the worst. It was such, such, such a disappointing ending that it neglect all good things about Dexter. Absolutely a terrible season to end on.
Bates Motel: Have not watched this. Saw the pilot, had no desire to continue the adventures of a psychopath.
Now, here are the most disappointing/terrible horror shows of 2013:
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Supernatural
The CW
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The Vampire Diaries: Have never seen this vampire show. Have no need to check it out. It looks like Twilight.
Dracula: I really tried to get into this show. I just don't like it. The writing is boring. Don't like any of the characters, and I don't like the actor that plays Dracula.
True Blood: To be punny, True Blood is getting long in the tooth. I've never liked the series, I've blamed it on their southern accents, but there's more to it - maybe the writing? Anyway, I know that it will end next year, so I will just go with the motion and watch it until their final finale.
Grimm: I saw the first season and tried to stay with it for season two. I can't take the show seriously, it's not scary and I have little interest in it now.
Sleepy Hollow: Again, like Grimm, this is a show that I just cannot take it too seriously (despite the fact that the characters are "serious"). It just comes off as goofy. I will stick with this show until the finale and see how it unfolds.
Hannibal: I like the cat/mouse game, but really, how far can they take this series? I don't like the idea of rooting for an evil character (Hannibal), so once the good guy was out of the picture, I had no interest in following the series. Everyone loves this series, so maybe I will give it another chance for Season 2.
Dexter: Okay, I love season 1-3. This final season 8 was absolutely the worst. It was such, such, such a disappointing ending that it neglect all good things about Dexter. Absolutely a terrible season to end on.
Bates Motel: Have not watched this. Saw the pilot, had no desire to continue the adventures of a psychopath.
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Pretty much agreed with everything you've said. The Walking Dead has to be one of the best shows in years.
I really enjoyed The Returned too. It'll be interesting to see what they do with the soundtrack in season two. It plays such a big part in creating the atmosphere. Definitely one of my favourite albums of the year, great for the early morning/late night commuting - fellow passengers/possible returned.
I struggled to make it through the first episode of Dracula and then swore a blood oath never to watch it again. I liked the idea behind Hannibal. I watched the final series of Dexter because Sarah (I refuse to call her Hannah) returned. The last scene was about the only thing that worked for me. Spoiler: contains a good beard.
I missed the first series of Grimm, but got it on offer via Google Play, it is watchable but not compelling. The true horror is Google Play! I don't know who purchases non-downloadable, stream-only stuff - at the same price as blu ray.
Vampire Diaries is truly the most horrific television programme ever produced. The thought of it makes me want to gouge my eyes out to ensure I never catch a glimpse of it again. Teenage angst vampires.
Posted by: thedharmablues | 12/27/2013 at 04:17 AM