Seriable Parallels: The Walking Dead – Rick Grimes Levels-Up

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Parallels are thematic techniques or devices that repeat or recur in stories. Often they reappear throughout the course of a series’ run, but they can also be found in singular episodes. Such parallels may be visual items or important phrases said by characters. They can also be applied through camera shots and other creative styling. Parallels of this nature may be intentional on the part of the creators, but they can also be guided by the human subconscious yearning for meaning which becomes reflected in the story elements.

The most effective parallels resonate with the audience on some level – the create satisfying connections in our minds or cause us to think about their purpose. Seriable Parallels is a new column which identifies and examines the meaning behind parallels and recurring themes in our favorite serialized and mythology TV shows.

Below the jump we take a look at a Seriable Parallel from The Walking Dead‘s season premiere. An episode which saw our Hero character, Rick Grimes, ‘level-up’ in order to survive certain death.

The Walking Dead premiere episode – “Days Gone By” represented the beginning of the central character’s journey of survival, love and family. These first steps into this new post-apocalyptic world overrun with zombies and ruled by fear are represented by two iconic shots in the episode.

Seriable Parallel 1

Here we see the final image of Rick Grimes before the apocalypse. Lying on the ground after receiving a bullet to the chest, Rick struggles to cling on to life as the camera slowly rises to create a spirit-eye view shot in the mould of ‘Lost’ and others before. The image represents the fragility of life and the beginning of Rick’s transition – not death, but a kind of death, in the form of the nightmare that he’s about to wake up to – as the screen fades to white.

Seriable Parallel 2

The parallel kicks in right at the end of the episode to bookend Rick’s initial transition. Now Rick is inside a tank, symbolising his internal encroachment and need to protect himself against the flesh-eating mayhem that is trying to rob him of his humanity. Rick has been forced inside his own walls, the tank literally and figuratively representing his armour and his ability to adapt, to level-up.

As the camera gently rises, the connection to the earlier sequence of his ‘near death’ begins to resonate. The meaning of rebirth, transition and adaptability begin to take hold as the scale of Rick’s challenge is illustrated by the throng of ‘walkers’.

Notice how both sequences highlight Rick’s battle to stay alive and make him look incredibly small in the process. Both also feature threats to his way of life – best bud Shane, who as we found out is having an affair with Rick’s wife (a bullet to the heart in every sense), and the zombie walkers, who would very much like to be acquainted with Rick’s flesh.

Finally, to complete the major thematics that make this parallel so effective – whereas the first sequence fades to white, the second sequence fades to black. It may be the apocalypse, but it is governed by balance.

Seriable Parallel Overview

• Show: The Walking Dead
• Episode(s): 1.01 Days Gone By
• Character: Rick Grimes
• Technique: Bird-eye view camera shot
• Parallel Meaning: Finding internal strength to survive dramatic changes to way of life.
• Other themes: Rebirth, transition, survival,
• Parallel Power: C-

Did you notice any other interesting aspects to this parallel or elsewhere throughout the episode? Feel free to share any thoughts here.

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Tagged as: adaptability, rebirth, rick grimes, seriable parallels, The Walking Dead, transition