Episode 2 of AMC's "The Walking Dead" is called GUTS; and rightly so. For any of those worried that the show would not live up to the gory images on display in the comic it's time to relax. At a few points during last night's episode I found myself shaking my head in disbelief at what I was seeing. Not that it's a bad thing mind you! It just goes to show that AMC has no fear in pushing the envelope on this one. This episode still takes it's time but adds in a little more suspense, new character introductions and a whole lot of blood and guts. Rick escapes his tank with the help of a group of survivors on a supply run. Here we are introduced to fan favorite characters like Glenn and Andrea. We also meet a few new characters created for the show which leads me to believe we'll also be getting a higher body count in the near future. The show is not afraid to go in different directions than the comic but it makes changes that only add to the drama and tension. A big difference would be the relationship between Rick's wife, Lori, and his partner, Shane. In the comic their affair was a once and done deal, but not in the show. It seems that Lori is doing her best to put the "death" of her husband aside and make a new life with Shane. Anyone who has read the comic will know how much of an impact the eventual outcome of the relationship has on Rick and Lori and the group as a whole.
After the second episode it's clear to see that while each installment uses the comic as an outline, it's not feeling the need to directly adapt each issue for the screen. By focusing on character and tension and adding a splash or two of gore, AMC has shown that "The Walking Dead" is a show with plenty of intestinal fortitude. What say you?