2. Characters & Relationships Are Much Better/Tolerable
Did you know that dialogue between Rick and Lori doesn't have to be awful, even after he knows that she cheated on him with Shane? Would you believe that Andrea and Dale of all people were actually a romantic couple for a long time? Would you believe that Lori Grimes is actually, a sympathetic and competent character who keeps track of where her son in a zombie apocalypse world? Regardless of these improvements, all the characters in the Walking Dead comic are flawed some more than others but all their actions and behaviors were explored properly with realistic ramifications ensuing from these decisions. One of the television series' major flaws is that the characters who are annoying REALLY stand out and makes for poor chemistry between the rest of an ensemble cast. I don't know if it's the actor's fault in how they portray the character or the screenwriters' fault for trying to create foils to other characters but ended up writing them as obnoxious. Whatever it is that causes the irritating personalities of these characters, whether it be forced love affairs or lacking common sense, it plays a large part in frustrating an audience and proving the comic's superiority. I could spend all day writing about how insufferable the TV Lori Grimes was, and how once she was killed off her annoying personality was transferred to Andrea. I could talk about how Rick's inner struggle in choosing to be dictator, cop, or farmer has become more drawn out than it should have been. I could even mention the parade of characters who weren't lucky enough to have their characters developed and instead amounted to nothing more than zombie chow. Remember the impact characters like T-Dog, Hershel's farm crew and the prison inmates had on the show? No? That's because they were about as memorable as that time you watched a snail move. Surprisingly, the television show proved that original characters to the show aren't a bad thing by introducing the likes of the Dixon brothers, Merle and Daryl. Originally one dimensional red-neck racists, Daryl's character growth has made him a fan favorite and the return and character arc of Merle was one of the best parts of Season 3. However, even fan-favorite characters cannot carry an entire show filled with frustrating protagonists. To the show's credit, it did begin to introduce characters who were actually from the comic like Tyreese, Michonne and The Governor, which in turn increased the quality of the show. However, even a great character like The Governor has faltered in the show in the comics he is much, much, more despicable and irredeemable while on the television show even though they played the seasonal-villain-shtick straight when he first appeared, and he's since gone though an unoriginal failed redemption storyline before biting the dust. This doesn't happen on the page the extent Kirkman will go to to have the antagonistic characters demonstrate their viciousness will make any zombie herd on the show look like a herd of puppies.