The Clash: Will you return for more Walking Dead?

A scene from The Walking Dead.

Opinion

As The Walking Dead heads on season hiatus, we wonder how many of you will be back for more next year? Or has the zombie apocalypse jumped the shark?

Chris Schulz says:

I love zombies - but I hate The Walking Dead. Liking this TV show is akin to being in a bad relationship: you don't know why, but you keep going back for more no matter how badly you're treated.

Don't get me wrong - every time a zombie stomach is sliced open and guts spill to the pavement, I squeal with delight. Every time Michonne lops off a head, I heart her just a little bit more. And I'm fascinated by Rick's growing morality crisis - and his beard. You have to agree, his greying face fuzz rules.

There have been some great set-pieces in the show's fifth season: Daryl poking his fingers into a zombie's eye sockets, ripping its head off and using it as a bowling ball springs to mind, as does the scout zombies stuck inside sleeping bags like giant, malnourished slugs. In Monday's mid-season finale, I grinned with glee as Michonne took on a pack of hungry church zombies with relish, removing two heads at a time. She's amazing.

But here's the problem: there just aren't enough zombie thrills, spills and chills. The show's pace is like a turtle getting zapped occasionally by a Taser. Getting to the good stuff means wading through a flood of boring characters, terrible dialogue, ridiculous missions and stuff I. Just. Don't. Care. About.

I stuck with The Walking Dead through its interminable season two, when they squatted on a farm and had incredibly boring conversations about fences while Glenn made out with the farmer's daughter. I was there for season three when they moved into a prison and grew tomatoes. And I even made it through season four when the Governor turned out to be about as menacing Beth armed with a pair of toenail scissors. And I've kept watching through this season as it cannibalised itself. But I'm rapidly losing patience. If I'm to keep watching, here are my demands: Keep Rick's survivors on the road and on the run; include more zombie guts; bring in some decent bad guys; and kill off Carol - quickly. Oh, and include Michonne in every scene. There just can't be enough of her.

Patricia Greig says:

The Walking Dead is a representation of a post-apocalyptic society. There are hunters and gatherers, but there are also unlikely leaders, turning social norms upside down. The leading females are warriors and protectors just as much as the leading males. Each has their own demons chasing them, probably quicker than the hungry dead people lurking around every corner. Rick is a standout character in this sense, providing a conscience to this new world and providing insight to moral dilemmas.

The characters are written to be engaged with. Identifying with a character and comparing yourself to them and their reactions to life-threatening situations is crucial to enjoyment of the storylines. Would you slash someone to bits with a sword like Michonne? Or would you develop Daryl's bow hunting skills and hone those head shots? I recommend you figure these details out before you encounter an apocalypse of any nature.

In terms of visual entertainment, the zombies of The Walking Dead are a progressively disintegrating art. Skin and guts drip off rotting bones, and the flies have really started to set in on some corpses. Once, the sun got so hot the zombies melted and got stuck to a road as little pools of body parts. The squelch of walker guts as flesh is ripped open is a sound that comes with my highest recommendations. At the end of the day, a couple of episodes of watching Rick and his crew dodge cannibals, crazy cops and one-armed psychos will teach a viewer more about survival than Bear Grylls ever will. And they'll teach you to do it with guts when the zombie apocalypse actually happens.

• Are you still committed to the zombie cause or are you switching off The Walking Dead for good? Join the conversation on our Facebook page.

- TimeOut