The Walking Dead

[calsnowskier]

I thought the episode was pretty good, personally. The whistling, fucking Trevor, the being led through a maze, I thought it worked pretty well. Negan was executed great (save for the lack of "fucks"). I was ready, and then THAT. GOD DAMMIT that ticks me off.

It's honestly probably some contractual bullshit where they couldn't decide who they wanted to kill yet, so this buys them some time to decide. FUCK.

It's also probably a way for people to keep the conversation going through the off-season. Which is fucking stupid because it's already one of the biggest shows on TV and they don't need to do that. FUCK!

I'll still watch next season. Damn it.

And that's the rub. This is why shows eventually jump sharks. They understand that some fans are all-in, no matter what, so they don't have to deliver, story-wise any more. Once they feel that level of comfort, they start playing games instead. They fake out major deaths (Glenn and Daryll) or have cliffhangers that do not resolve (Rick in the RV with the herd coming). They don't worry about providing a solid end to the story, because "I'll still watch next season. Damn it."

I am right there with you. But the sharks are swirling, and Daryll is wearing the waterskies.


I make this post fully acknowledging that this back 8 was amazing. But Gimple has done some things this season that I have a hard time forgiving (Glenn, Daryll, Rick in the RV, Richone, the finale cliffhanger). And I totally fear that Lucile will be kissing Aaron. That would be a HUGE "Fucking fuckity fuck you" to the audience if that is how he goes. It HAS to be Abe, Glenn, Rick, Carl, Daryll or Michone, and it will not be Rick, Carl or Michone, and I doubt it will be Daryll since they just teased his death last week.

 

[SFGRTB]

I get people being pissed off by the cliff hanger, but not one mention of how those of you that read the comics and already knew who was playing negan thought he did in that role. Did that scene live up to your expectation outside of the repeat blood spatter and (predictable) cliff hanger?

We all knew Daryl was still alive as he even said he'd be ok as he shot him last week and I'm sure everyone thought the'd leave us hanging on who was going to get beat to death.

Still, it was a fairly well acted scene IMO. Even the look on Rick's face.

People will be speculating over who got killed the entire off season. It's lame, but it works. Formulaic for sure and yet anyone who has watched it this far isn't going to tune out because of it next year.

I thought Jeffery Dean Morgan did a fantastic job, and like I said besides the lack of "fucks" said by Negan (obviously wasn't expecting any), it was about all I asked for. He nailed it.

Rick popped a molly in the RV, I'm sure of it.

The last part is what pisses me off. They don't need to do that shit because most people will come back regardless. They had the most emotional, biggest turning point in the comics, played it up about as best you can over the last half season, and totally swung and missed (heh) on the execution. Give us a friggin real ending please.

 

[calsnowskier]

I get people being pissed off by the cliff hanger, but not one mention of how those of you that read the comics and already knew who was playing negan thought he did in that role. Did that scene live up to your expectation outside of the repeat blood spatter and (predictable) cliff hanger?

We all knew Daryl was still alive as he even said he'd be ok as he shot him last week and I'm sure everyone thought the'd leave us hanging on who was going to get beat to death.

Still, it was a fairly well acted scene IMO. Even the look on Rick's face.

People will be speculating over who got killed the entire off season. It's lame, but it works. Formulaic for sure and yet anyone who has watched it this far isn't going to tune out because of it next year.

This is one of the reasons, I think, that people are pissed. It WAS a good scene, and Morgan did a very job keeping Negans personality, given the obvious restrictions that were put on him (fucking sensors).

Instead of everyone talking about the great scene, the great acting, the emotional loss experienced by the dead character, they are bitching about the cheap rating ploy. And the fact that they have NOT been paying off with their cliffhangers if late (Glenn, Daryll, Rick in the RV), I don't think they are being given the benefit of the doubt they probably deserve.

 

[SFGRTB]

And that's the rub. This is why shows eventually jump sharks. They understand that some fans are all-in, no matter what, so they don't have to deliver, story-wise any more. Once they feel that level of comfort, they start playing games instead. They fake out major deaths (Glenn and Daryll) or have cliffhangers that do not resolve (Rick in the RV with the herd coming). They don't worry about providing a solid end to the story, because "I'll still watch next season. Damn it."

I am right there with you. But the sharks are swirling, and Daryll is wearing the waterskies.


I make this post fully acknowledging that this back 8 was amazing. But Gimple has done some things this season that I have a hard time forgiving (Glenn, Daryll, Rick in the RV, Richone, the finale cliffhanger). And I totally fear that Lucile will be kissing Aaron. That would be a HUGE "Fucking fuckity fuck you" to the audience if that is how he goes. It HAS to be Abe, Glenn, Rick, Carl, Daryll or Michone, and it will not be Rick, Carl or Michone, and I doubt it will be Daryll since they just teased his death last week.

Here's where we need an "agree" button, because I don't like it.

I feel like it has to be Aaron at this point, or Sasha (does anyone REALLY care about Sasha?). They wouldn't kill a core character over the offseason off camera, right? I think the plot armor is still real.

I think they just made next season a whole hell of a lot harder for themselves. IDK how they will pull off next season's opener, but they better damn well do it.

 

[calsnowskier]

Here's where we need an "agree" button, because I don't like it.

I feel like it has to be Aaron at this point, or Sasha (does anyone REALLY care about Sasha?). They wouldn't kill a core character over the offseason off camera, right? I think the plot armor is still real.

I think they just made next season a whole hell of a lot harder for themselves. IDK how they will pull off next season's opener, but they better damn well do it.

And they better actually show the blow. They showed the Polaroids at the satellite station. And the look in the eyes of the person who got it the comics was too important. And what that person says...

Gimple promised they will deliver in S7E1, but I am not sure I trust him. At least they acknowledged the backlash on TTD. Gotta respect them for that, at least.

 

[SFGRTB]

Convenient there were "technical difficulties" during the live call in question during TD

 

[calsnowskier]

Convenient there were "technical difficulties" during the live call in question during TD

Didn't even think about that. Interesting.

 

[SFGRTB]

LMAO!

 

[SFGRTB]

Just watched the scene again. It was a great sequence, no doubt, until the questionable end.

If they can somehow avoid leaks (HA!) and they go with a cold open starting with whoever's feet and slowly pan up the body, with only the screams and tears of the others that you can hear, finally getting to the head and actually show the damage, I could forgive them. Doubtful, though one can hope.

 

[gkekoa]

It can't be a total nobody. Honestly, if it is...they fucked up. They lost an iconic point in the show/comic.

While I think it is Abraham, the more I think about it, it has to be Glenn. Abraham just doesn't bring the right level emotion.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Great episode in a great season.

They ruined the ending though. I don't mind a cliff-hanger but this is supposed to be a big deal and they removed the ability to emotionally invest in it for a cheap continuation. We'll all know who it was before the start of next season. They did the show and it's viewers a disservice.

Still a great season and a great episode. LOVE JDM as Neegan.

 

[Psych-Ward]

Great episode.....

I think Aaron got the dance with Lucille!!!!

 

[Payton]

If its a major character, I'll go with Glenn... They already tested the waters with his death, but I have to say (And I don't think I'm alone here) that his character has become pretty much irrelevant at this point and I can see a HUGE revenge factor if they manage to get Maggie to the doctor, she has the baby, etc...

It seems this show plays so loose with the comics that the only thing we really know is that certain villains will exist and certain iconic moments will happen. The filler and the who-does-it-happen-to's don't seem to be congruent at all.... Which is a good thing. I could never peek at the spoilers otherwise.

 

[Chef99]

ah, okay... Bad audio... LOL!!

Haha, don't be jinxin' my little Taco Belle Rosita!

 

[Chef99]

@WizardHawk gets props for being the first to bring up JDM's portrayal of Negan. Think I'm gonna be in the minority here, but I didn't particularly care for it.

Seemed to me like he was reading the lines directly from the comics minus the personality. I liked him in Watchmen, so I hope he gets better. I just don't see the Negan "charisma" yet.

@SFGRTB - I like Sasha! Or maybe I just wanna nail her, I dunno...

 

[Chef99]

Btw, I thought it was a pretty good episode overall. I enjoyed the Carol/Morgan/Kingdom storyline and am intrigued by it. Gonna be fun to see where they're going with it.

Ending sucked, but most of us knew it was coming.

I really dislike Gimple. What a smug and condescending dude.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Ending sucked, but most of us knew it was coming.

Last commercial break ended with about 10 minutes left and I thought, alright, here we go! As Negan's speech hit the 5 minute mark, I started growing concerned and was shifting glances at the clock. He started the enei-meini shit with a minute or so to go and I just thought, "you goddamn mother fuckers."

For a few seasons now I've caught myself wanting to change the channel during some episodes and generally wondering why I watch this show. I liked this season for the most part, but all this reliance on trickery and anticipation and cliffhangers and what not -- particularly this ending -- just piss me off.

Fuck those guys.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I actually expected Rick to be more angry than broken. He's been through all this shit, killed all these people, and now he's crying?

I don't know. I think his demeanor went from angry/confident to broken pretty evenly through the episode. From the first time the RV was stopped, the roadblocks grew increasingly impressive/frightening, and as they did, Rick realized with each stop how much more fucked they were than he thought. That whole "everything's good, we'll get you there" speech he gave to Maggie seemed horribly acted, and I think that was on purpose. He knew they were fucked.

By the last stop, I think it was pretty clear to him that the survivors, with their numbers and resources, could likely steamroll an attack-ready Alexandria, let alone the small group he was with.

 

[Chef99]

Last commercial break ended with about 10 minutes left and I thought, alright, here we go! As Negan's speech hit the 5 minute mark, I started growing concerned and was shifting glances at the clock. He started the enei-meini shit with a minute or so to go and I just thought, "you goddamn mother fuckers."

For a few seasons now I've caught myself wanting to change the channel during some episodes and generally wondering why I watch this show. I liked this season for the most part, but all this reliance on trickery and anticipation and cliffhangers and what not -- particularly this ending -- just piss me off.

Fuck those guys.

Yeah. Really pissed me off when Gimple and Kirkman started defending the "cliffhanger" ending on Talking Dead and saying they were doing if in the best interests of the fans.

You want a "WOW!" - watercooler talk kinda ending that'll keep 'em coming back for more next season? End the finale with the kill.

This ain't rocket science.

 

[Payton]

Yeah, I don't really see the necessity for a "cliffhanger" here... I think a, "Holy hell, (insert character name here) just got clobbered over the left field fence and Rick has been reduced to a crying, terrified, suddenly sackless leader... So now what? They scamper on home with their tails between their legs and tell the rest of Alexandria that they are Negan's bitches now?" ...

I mean that DOES actually work as a "cliffhanger", ya know? The wondering what the hell they are going to do now thing...