ENTERTAINMENT: Straying from the comic book series, the writers of The Walking Dead are creating their own story.
By Miguel Toner, Staff Writer
With the premiere of season five of The Walking Dead, die-hard fans cannot help but notice some major differences between the show and the comic books. Although the writers did not change the storyline drastically, some of these small alterations give the show the meat that we all know and love.
One of the best and most notable differences is the addition of the formidable Daryl Dixon, a grumpy but lovable anti-hero that anyone can gravitate to. While he is absent from the comic books, he plays a huge part in the television series. Always present with his crossbow and motorcycle, no one is surprised when fans say, “If Daryl dies, we riot.”
Another pivotal change was in making the once-timid Carol a wicked risk taker. In the comic books, she is a feisty (and somewhat raunchy) kind of girl, but in the show she is a cold-blooded wasteland survivor taking down enemy fortresses, equipped with only a sniper rifle and some fireworks. If fans are looking for cold-blooded characters who deal out all the blood and gore, then they should look no further than Carol.
One less-recognized change is the way in which the writers chose to portray the character Tyreese. In the comics, he is prone to extreme mood swings—one so bad that he killed his daughter’s boyfriend. In the show, he exhibits mood swings not nearly as severe as the comics portray them to be. From a bipolar ex-NFL star to a baby-carrying lovebug, Tyreese is definitely becoming a much more complex and relatable character.
With the show progressing and more of the story and characters being altered, die-hard fans are left to wonder what will remain sacred and what will be changed. Personally, as much as I loved the comics, the gritty reboot of the story is a breath of fresh air.