The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Warning: graphic photographs follow.

Following up on the McFarlane Toys limited edition sets for 'The Walking Dead' that date back to season two, Anchor Bay has released a special, if not pricey, release for the series' fifth season. Arriving several months after the standalone season five release, this set contains a gruesomely detailed plastic recreation from the show and special digipack packaging for the five-disc set. Outside of the packaging and statue, the set is identical to the previous season five release.

The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a full video review, please click through the season five link above.

The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For a full audio review, please click through the season five link above.

The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This special collector's edition of The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season arrives in a sturdy outer cardboard box with the prize collectible featured prominently on the front, both sides, and the top. The back features a glimpse at the Blu-ray packaging and offers a synopsis and a listing of special features, along with the usual specification info box. This outer box measures approximately 12" long, 8" high, and 8" deep. Opening the box, from the top, reveals the Blu-ray case housed in a styrofoam support structure. Much like the third and fourth season box sets, the discs come housed in a thick digipack casing that features unique cover art. Discs one and two share one-third of the interior, discs three and four the middle, and disc five sits pretty by itself on the righthand tri-fold. The middle-pack panel repeats much of the information found on the back of the outer box while the righthand panel contains disc-by-disc episode listings and special features.

As for the big prize, it's impressive, if not a bit smaller than one would think given the oversized box. It's firmly secured in styrofoam, reinforced with tape on its two longest sides. It feels sturdy enough. It'll stand up to regular handling, but don't throw it around. The top slides to the rear to reveal housing for the digipack Blu-ray packaging (or as a hideaway for other little goodies), a perfect fit with just enough room to reach in with a fingertip and lift it out. The model's front features the words "Season 5" and "AMC The Walking Dead." Sides and the back are accented to match the top, which is a litter of trash and gore that's easily McFarlane's most impressive Walking Dead Blu-ray model yet. It's gruesomely detailed. Entrails, blood, bone, muscle, and other gory bits are richly detailed, textured, and colored. There's both the full-body model and, to the side, a severed head with a still-attached spinal column. The surrounding black surface is littered with little touches, like weeds and bent cans.

There are no unique on-disc supplements. See the above-linked review for the Blu-ray extras featured in this set. A UV digital copy voucher is also included with purchase.

The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Anchor Bay and McFarlane Toys have hit another home run with a Walking Dead special edition. The model is detailed and attractively so (gore hounds will love it, but more traditional folks will be turned off). It's a bit small; much of the outer box houses protective styrofoam rather than the model. It's also a bit pricey, coming in at a full $100 over the standalone season five (at time of publication; prices, of course, are subject to change). That's just too much for a digibook and a piece of plastic. At a moderate premium over the standalone, maybe $30 or even $40, then yes, it's something casual fans and collectors will want, but well north of $100 the set is only for the most ardent and deep-pocketed fans. It would be nice if Anchor Bay and McFarlane Toys went back and released a similar limited edition for season one to complete the set.