Research and Analyse a specific genre of TV show

Horror

Typical examples of Horror:

• The Walking Dead
• Fear The Walking Dead
• Supernatural
• American Horror Story
• Penny Dreadful
• The X Files
• Bates Motel
• True Blood
• Game Of Thrones

The Walking Dead - This show has gained popularity in the world of post-apocalyptic horror. The show focusses on a sheriff called Rick Grimes and how he leads his group in a world taken over by walkers.

Format
This show is scheduled to be broadcasted in series which are split in half, fans are able to watch the first half of the show in late august and then are forced to wait until february for the remaining episodes. Due to the shows nature, it is shown later in the night to ensure that people who are young and/or don't like zombies will be able to miss it. During the first half of a series, a problem will occur or be shown will occur in that particular series, usually at the end of the first half of the series the problem will be at its worst and then the audience are forced to wait between 4-6 months to find out what happened to their favourite characters.

Appeals
In terms of uses & gratifications, this show would be used as a form of entertainment, as it allows the audience to fall into a sense of 'escapism', it would also prove to be a conversation topic, due to the shows rising popularity, it can be used for social interaction.
According to the basic appeals, this show would appeal to the need to escape, as it allows the audience to imagine themselves in a position of a apocalyptic world, without the actual danger being present.

Target Audience
The stereotypical audience member for this specific show would be men or people in the age range of 16-24. They would watch shows similar to this, such as Game of Thrones and would also play video games. However, this isn't the case as there is numerous types of audience members due to the variety of people who enjoy watching apocalyptic/horror shows. I think it would be difficult to categorise the audience member due to the variety in people watching.

Opening Sequence

Straight away from the music used the audience is made aware of the tone of the show, the music seems to be quite sinister and fast pace, which shows the audience that the show will also have the same features. The editing is also fast paced and works with the music to add suspense to what will come in the episode.
The visuals with each actors name is an object which represents their character, for example, 'Norman Reedus' is shown with a leather vest with wings whilst looking through the wheel of a motorbike, this is essential as in most series he wears that leather vest and is known as the character with the motorbike.
Andrew Lincoln is shown first as he is the character who plays the 'leader' of the group, it also shows various weapons, including his sheriff pistol, which connotes that his character is quite violent and is willing to fight for 'his' group.

Setting
The settings vary for this show in particular, as it is set in a post-apocalyptic world, the characters are unable to stay safe in one place for a long period of time. The first few seasons were set in a forest, as the group had no safe place where they could stay.

 Most horror series tend to be shot in a city/town that is essential to the story, for example Game of Thrones is set in towns that are named in the books which the show was created from. Much like this, The Walking dead choose locations where it will help the stories develop in the ways they want.

After the forest, the group move on to various places before they find the prison, this is the place they stay for around a season and a half, as it was seen to be a safe and protected place for the group to live in. Throughout all of the series, the group still end up back in the forest, as they learn that no place is really safe and it is best to keep moving.


Technical Codes
In most horror series, the editing always seems to be fast paced, as it keeps the audience expecting something to happen at any moment. Close up shows are used quite often so the audience is able to connect with the character and are able to feel the emotions that the character is trying to portray. Also, wide shots are frequently used, as it allows the audience to see things in the background that the character may not be able to see, which would create suspense as the audience would feel they know something that the characters need to know.
Generally in this type of show, non-diegetic sound, especially music is used to create suspense for something about to happen, such as a walker appearing and attempting to kill a character.

Characters & Representations

• 'The leader'
• The strong silent 
• The protector
• The risk-taker
• The mastermind

In shows like The Walking Dead, the characters are generally male, as they are seen as the stronger sex, they are more likely to survive longer in an apocalypse. The character of the leader, played as Rick Grimes, is the person who takes control of the whole group and it usually at fault if something were to go wrong. The strong silent type is played as the character Daryl Dixon, who has an abusive past making him not trust or talk to most people, his character is there to protect the leader and other group members when in need and is usually the leaders best friend. Usually character types such as the mastermind are the 'villains' of the story, characters such as The Governor/Negan in The Walking Dead are shown to have power over people, and their own group is scared of them. Whereas Rick only has power over 'his' group due to the choices he has made in the past which have helped them.

The one asian character in the show was represented as a nerd/geek for the first few series, and was only interested in cars, he then changed to one of the strongest characters in the group.  The women of the group are usually shown to be protected by the other group members and are shown to be the weakest emotionally when in danger.

Narrative

Todorov's theory is able to be applied to The Walking dead, as the series initially begins and everyone is happy and safe, then close to the middle something will go wrong and the group will work to put it back to the way it is, and sometimes it will return to equilibrium, and other times a new equilibrium will be formed in its place. 

Enigma codes are placed all throughout the series as this is the only way it can keep its audience, the audience will have enigma codes which will bring them to watch again after the break. These enigma codes also work as a way of social interaction, as the audience will feel obliged to talk about what happened in the episode. 

This show in particular values the aspect of safety and control, safety as that is the only thing they are unable to control. They value control as it is the only thing that has the ability to keep people fighting together as they believe the 'leader' has authority over them.