The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang says network censors are more concerned with language than violence. Based on Robert Kirkman’s graphic novels of the same name, The Walking Dead—which has spawned two spinoffs—follows a group of survivors fighting to survive in a zombie apocalypse. Throughout its 11 year run on AMC, the series’ graphic depiction of violence has shocked some viewers to the point of demanding it be toned down. For example, Negan’s (Jeffery Dean Morgan) brutal murder of Glenn (Steven Yeun) in the season 7 premiere even prompted some to file complaints with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to no avail.
The show recently premiered its 11th season which will adapt the final issues of the comics as the survivors encounter the Commonwealth, an advanced, large network of communities housing thousands. On top of that tensions are high between Negan and Glenn’s widow, Maggie (Lauren Cohan) as they attempt to rebuild Alexandria. Especially after the former said he won’t allow Maggie to put him down like a dog “like Glenn was,” proving words can hurt more than a zombie bite (or a baseball bat to the head?).
Digital Spy spoke with Kang about The Walking Dead and they asked her about limitations place on the show by AMC. She explained that there’s certainly a “freedom to go dark” but that they try to handle it tastefully for different territories while finding a between too far and not far enough. Kang also revealed that AMC is more concerned with making sure the language is appropriate than depictions of violence. Read what she had to say below:
“The network, they’re very supportive. We’ve not really had much of that. I think it’s more like, there are sort of strict rules about language in the United States. We’re a little more prudish about language than violence, if that tells you anything…So they tend to be like, ‘You have too many curse words. Can you cut a little bit?’. But we’re pretty good at self-regulating as needed.”
Like most shows on network television, The Walking Dead has played it pretty safe with the use of the “F-bomb.” Its 4th season ended with Rick Grimes saying “they’re screwing with the wrong people,” which was altered from the iconic line from the comic, “they’re f—king with the wrong people.” Similarly, Negan overindulges in that expletive on the page but has barely been given the opportunity on screen. Of course, the internet is populated with alternative versions of scenes where characters do indeed say the word but The Walking Dead didn’t actually broadcast an F-bomb until season 8. Admittedly, allowing grotesque violence while fearing a word is a bit ridiculous.
For the most part, The Walking Dead’s violence is consistent with the source material it adapts and is often exaggerated for emphasis as is the case with language. Despite Rick’s departure and straying even further away from the comics, the series didn’t go the more family-friendly route. As television continues to evolve in its struggle to compete with streaming—platforms that couldn’t care less about language—things will certainly change. Basic cable channels like SyFy have already liberated themselves from censors in this way. Regardless, The Walking Dead theatrical films centered on Andrew Lincoln’s Rick will no doubt be R-rated are and throw caution to the wind when it comes to language.
Source: Digital Spy
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