Why are we obsessed with the Walking Dead?

Who would have imagined that a zombie TV show would be the highest rated basic cable show of all time?  I am truly obsessed with this show.  Generally I stay away from really scary movies and TV shows, but lately I find myself really involved in the Walking Dead.  Maybe it has something to do with it being filmed in Atlanta. But there is so much more than that.  I want Rick, Daryl and all of their clan to survive.  I think the shows writers and crew have masterfully taken our heroes through a true-ish landscape of the a zombie apocalypse.  If you look back- the clothes used to be cleaner, the humans were less automatic in their killing of the zombies.  It is interesting how the zombies are now side effects and the real terror comes from the human to human interactions.  I wish that Andrea's vision would come to fruition.  The humans should bond together to fend off the true enemy- the zombies.  Unfortunately- human nature is not to trust one another and therefore we have the Governor vs. everyone else! 

I loved the episode where Rick, Michonne and Carl went back to Rick's hometown and found Morgan in a crazed state.  I found it so sad, yet realistic.  If someone loses their child and they are all alone- wouldn't you expect them to go a little crazy?  I mean Tom Hanks had Wilson- right?  Also the key element in that episode was the hitchhiker.  It signaled a true turn in thinking -survival of fittest.

I think the appeal of The Walking Dead is that it encourages the imagination to conjure up -what would I do in this situation?  It is obviously a fictional show, yet most of the fans like to come up with ideas where the  show will go next week.  We all love Maggie and Glen.  Everyone seemed to really hate Lori. We mourned a certain brother we all loved to hate when he left the show.

Personally I can't wait until next October.  That is the secret to a really successful television show.  I was also hooked on Lost.  That was my other favorite show. I think the Dead needs to focus a little more on the character development.  I guess so many of the cast come and go before there is time for developing their characters. I hope there is a positive end for Carl- he seems to be heading for the dark side.  on the other hand- maybe there is some humanity in Michonne!