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In the eight years that it’s aired, The Walking Dead has averaged approximately 11 million viewers a week, and regularly hits 16 and 17 million—numbers unheard of for a cable show. Even more surprising is the fact that these are numbers for a show about . . . zombies. So why is it such a massive and unlikely success?
In Guts, the Wall Street Journal’s resident “Walking Dead” columnist Paul Vigna dissects every aspect of The Walking Dead—exploring the show’s roots, genre, particular brand of storytelling, and cultural phenomenon and legacy. He deconstructs favorite episodes and characters to reveal how a show about death teaches us so much about life; he looks at the zombie genre itself, to discover what makes it different from the vampire, werewolf, and Frankenstein genres; he ponders why people have found in zombies a mirror for their own fears; and demonstrates how all of these elements are integral to the show’s success. Vigna analyzes the show’s fandom, which runs far and deep—from average Twitter followers to NFL stars, at conventions and zombie races, even at Universal Studios, where there’s a Walking Dead ride.
The first in-depth appreciation of The Walking Dead, Guts is a comprehensive and exhilarating look deep into the most exciting show on television.