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‘The Walking Dead’ – Season 8 - Sundays on AMC
- Thread starter RatskyWatsky
- Start date
OP
OP
I'm of two minds about it - on one hand it was nice misdirection for them to bring back a character from a previous season, making the audience think he was going to be around for awhile (because why bring him back just to kill him off), only to immediately kill him off. It was a legit surprise. But on the other hand, it was a waste of a potentially interesting new character, one who had a history with some of the original characters (tenuous as it might've been).
The cast is already way too big so I'm leaning towards liking it.
Fixed!
A friend of mine and I dropped TWD after the season 7 premier. Having read the graphic novel I was looking forward to seeing how they would handle Negan on the show. But then things just sort of became "meh" for us and we decided it wasn't worth it. He'd never seen The Sopranos so we dig into my bluray boxset instead.
So my question is, have things improved? Worth it to go back and do an entire run through of season 7?
So my question is, have things improved? Worth it to go back and do an entire run through of season 7?
These character arcs where "who's gone to the dark side this season?" Are really tiring.
They been doing this shit since Shane arc in S2.
Oh I'm a psycho now. Oh wait now it's next season now I've found buddha. Etc.
Tara the geeky girl who had her girlfriend killed last season. I'm sorry but whatever attitude she's trying to sell I'm not buying it.
What is the count on Daryls dark side arc he must of had 5 by now same with Morgan.
How many of the Saviours have been massacred at this point, they seem to have a non stop supply of red shirts that have got this far and still can't shoot for shit.
Oh look, The King has been humbled, no one saw that coming. Hey I'm no military tactician but maybe don't approach an unscouted five story building with command over the surrounding area as a big group out in the open in the day light.
Seems insane to me. If they start the next episode with some kind of saving private Ryan style shell shock scene where the king is watching his men get ripped up by .50cals I will no longer watch the show anymore.
They been doing this shit since Shane arc in S2.
Oh I'm a psycho now. Oh wait now it's next season now I've found buddha. Etc.
Tara the geeky girl who had her girlfriend killed last season. I'm sorry but whatever attitude she's trying to sell I'm not buying it.
What is the count on Daryls dark side arc he must of had 5 by now same with Morgan.
How many of the Saviours have been massacred at this point, they seem to have a non stop supply of red shirts that have got this far and still can't shoot for shit.
Oh look, The King has been humbled, no one saw that coming. Hey I'm no military tactician but maybe don't approach an unscouted five story building with command over the surrounding area as a big group out in the open in the day light.
Seems insane to me. If they start the next episode with some kind of saving private Ryan style shell shock scene where the king is watching his men get ripped up by .50cals I will no longer watch the show anymore.
OP
OP
Comic spoilers
The tiger dies during this arc in the comics. Cue a flurry of budget complaints when it happens on the show.
I don't think I care about this show, let me explain.
Because it seems like it's not going to end, the stakes seem less pivotal than the manner that the show presents them. Because of this, I'm less invested in the show. It appears as though the show is recycling the same issues into cliff hangars over and over. I'll reserve harsh judgement at this time, but I'll add that I think I might drop the show. I said this before though, I said this before the season started. Then I watched to see if Negan had got captured yet. What I realized is that I won't really care about the Walking Dead until it's over. There's something about the Walking Dead not having an ending that makes it uninteresting.
Because it seems like it's not going to end, the stakes seem less pivotal than the manner that the show presents them. Because of this, I'm less invested in the show. It appears as though the show is recycling the same issues into cliff hangars over and over. I'll reserve harsh judgement at this time, but I'll add that I think I might drop the show. I said this before though, I said this before the season started. Then I watched to see if Negan had got captured yet. What I realized is that I won't really care about the Walking Dead until it's over. There's something about the Walking Dead not having an ending that makes it uninteresting.
Another week, another episode that feels like it only barely, slowly, languidly advances the plot.
I do give them props for bringing back Morales only to kill him off immediately. That was a fun bit of misdirection amidst a sea of theme-browbeating and poorly shot shootouts.
I feel like the only joy in this show is seeing how long they are going to let that weasely motherfucker Gregory get away with his bullshit. I can't believe they've had Gabriel and Negan stuck in a cliffhanger for 2 episodes straight. This war is no fun without Negan around......he needs to be back on the show ASAP.
I do give them props for bringing back Morales only to kill him off immediately. That was a fun bit of misdirection amidst a sea of theme-browbeating and poorly shot shootouts.
I feel like the only joy in this show is seeing how long they are going to let that weasely motherfucker Gregory get away with his bullshit. I can't believe they've had Gabriel and Negan stuck in a cliffhanger for 2 episodes straight. This war is no fun without Negan around......he needs to be back on the show ASAP.
I feel like the TV show has actually done a much better job of justifying and thematically supporting Rick's decision than the comic ever did. They've clearly been setting this up for years now, whereas in the comic it felt like it was out of nowhere. At the same time, they've undermined that whole plotline by having Rick vow to kill Negan at least 3 times now. There is going to be an uproar if that doesn't happen.
Why is it with the Walking Dead people feel they have to explain why they don't care? It's not even a discussion starter it's just complaining.
Anyway this whole "we're the same" bullshit that multiple characters are peddling is ridiculous. No Rick's group does not force people into slavery, doesn't kill innocent people, etc. It's such bullshit people are even entertaining the idea. This is war. People die. They are the enemy. That's it. If you are a savior you die it is that simple there is no gray area.
To be fair, I think it was clear that this show was going to lack meaningful resolution as soon as we realized Eugene didn't have any cure. There isn't going to be any end to the zombie plague.....no rebuilding of society. Any ending is going to be ambivalent and nebulous in its nature. Until then it's just going to be a show about people surviving in harsh conditions.
For what it's worth, the writer of the comic book has said that he has finally determined what the ending will be, though he doesn't know how long it will take to get there. I think we're clearly approaching a Game of Thrones scenario where the show is going to end before the source material. I hope that they let the show end on the same note that the comic book eventually will.
I don't think that it's exclusive to this show, I'll say though that I think explaining why you don't care may be somewhat relevant if you were engaged in the show before. Just to present a comparison or to explain a catalyst for a falling out of viewership.
The Alexandrians are really not that much different than the Saviors, and the show has gone out of its way to detail that.
The Saviors stole all the guns from Alexandria.......then the Alexendrians steal all the guns from Oceanside. They flip the bird to Oceansider as they leave, just as the Saviors flip the bird to them as they depart in the S7 finale.
Remember when Rick & Company first massacred the Saviors at the satellite station and discovered a bunch of gruesome polaroids of their victims? Well guess who's now taking gruesome polaroids of victims in the most recent episode? Rick.
While it's not exactly subtle or elegant, the writers are basically telegraphing the idea that the moral line that differentiates the two groups is pretty thin.
Context what is it? The saviors took their guns because they're subjugating people and forcing them into slavery. Rick and Co took those guns to fight a war and they plan to come back to Oceanside. I see the parallels you're trying to make but I absolutely do not buy it. The satellite station was not an evil act or a vile act. The saviors were the enemy and that was the most efficient way to kill them. Should they have marched 10 paces on both sides and shot each other with muskets? Come on now.
They left Oceanside defenseless just to serve their own ends. Not exactly the same as what the Saviors did, but still selfish, brutish, and short-sighted. Oceansiders were completely forced into giving up their guns, rather than convinced it would be for the greater good. Some huge portion of Oceanside's guns are now lost to the Garbage People, since Rick was so eager to enter into an alliance that he never bothered to asses how trustworthy his allies were.
The Alexandrians are not morally equivalent to the Saviors, but the show makes a good argument that they could become that way. At some point Rick has to look at his group's behavior and decide whether or not they are on a slippery slope.
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But misdirections are only good if they'res a decent payoff. This just sucked. They literally brought him back to be a fucking grimacing Negan goon and killed him like 3 minutes later. Not to mention the horrendous acting. I mean.. what even happened to this scene? It looked ilke someone off screen was twisting his arm the entire time
Of all ways to bring back Morales.. I mean they could have done a million things to call back to the way things were years ago, in the first season of TWD. Even if the entire plan was to kill him in the process. They missed a huge emotional payoff.
They brought that old character back to establish Daryls seriousness in not giving a fuck about life anymore. Followed by that other guy later.
It's super telegraphed yet somehow under-delivered. I'd imagine either Morgan or Daryl or the emo Tara are going to pay the price for their callousness at some point.
The seasons tend to run moral arcs that literally only live per season / halfseason. The whole narrative is about gaining or not having an honour code.
I'm telling yall Daryl / Tara / Morgan. One of them will die or be punished. It's Shane all over again.
I reckon Rick kills one of them as punishment.
It's super telegraphed yet somehow under-delivered. I'd imagine either Morgan or Daryl or the emo Tara are going to pay the price for their callousness at some point.
The seasons tend to run moral arcs that literally only live per season / halfseason. The whole narrative is about gaining or not having an honour code.
I'm telling yall Daryl / Tara / Morgan. One of them will die or be punished. It's Shane all over again.
I reckon Rick kills one of them as punishment.
I think the point of the polaroids is to demotivate Negan that Rick took down his entire operation, not because they're some sick trophies he's going to hang on his compound wall and possibly jerk-off to.
The difference between Negan and Rick is Rick is doing what he has to (or thinks he has to) to survive. Negan kills people (and physically and mentally tortures them) for fun and to maintain his position as ruler. How many wives/sex slaves does Negan have vs Rick?
I agree with everything you are saying, its becoming repetitive and predictable. I really love the Walking Dead but after getting into and recently finishing Season 3 of FTWD I think it has become the better show
He was in one episode last season and that was the Tara centric episode where she found the all woman settlement.
Show is getting really boring now.
Seems like there's always a "we can't kill them too" character. It's Morgan, now it's not Morgan, now it's Jesus, etc etc.
Seems like there's always a "we can't kill them too" character. It's Morgan, now it's not Morgan, now it's Jesus, etc etc.
They really don't get that viewers don't care about senseless shoot-outs between random people? It's been what, three episodes of this nonsense?
Even the character interactions aren't interesting anymore. Was there big turnover on the writing staff this season or something?
Even the character interactions aren't interesting anymore. Was there big turnover on the writing staff this season or something?
Apparently it was zoomed out cause it wasn't the actor. Shooting schedule is all over the place, so that scene was filmed before his death.
They wrote him off for 24: Legacy. I believe they did that rather than kill the character in case they wanted to bring him back if Legacy didn't work out. I wouldn't doubt seeing him appear later in the season.
The filler episodes and occasional pacing issues aside, I still very much enjoy the show because it is largely character driven and has regulated the zombies to the background.
Also, I love Negan and my sincerest hope is that they take his character to a similar place as they take him in the comics, though I have no literal idea if that's the plan.
Also, I love Negan and my sincerest hope is that they take his character to a similar place as they take him in the comics, though I have no literal idea if that's the plan.
He is, but that's literally the point of his character. He's playing a role that helps to motivate and drive his followers forward.
outside of a few saviours being over the top assholes there arent any dofferences between Rick and his guys and them. Rick has killed tons of people in cold blood. took over alexandria stole the guns from the girl group killed all those savoirs last season etc... and now they are killing tons of people. yeah its war but that doesnt really make good TV or his group sympathetic.
its just two groups of selfish assholes that are willing to murder and steal whatever they want to keep their group safe. Rick is really no different than Negan outside of not being an over the top villian. add in that this arc is really just a worse rehash of the superior governor arc.
comics peaked with the Prison arc and so did the show. its not going to get better just like comics. at least Kirkman has said he will end the comics. AMC needs to wrap up walking dead.
and final point it also stretches your suspension of dibelief that there can be all these groups of dozens to hundreds of people survivng and killing zombies left and right yet somehow the military and government collapsed? i mean Neagn and Tara and Aaron can become bad asd zombie killers and leaders but career military and politicians somehow all lost to these slow moving zombies that a teenage carl can kill at ease.
thats my problem with it. the only reason why Negan is worse is because the show wrote him as an over the top cartoony villian.
like why do people even put up with his BS? he doesnt seem to be some super strong or smart guy. he doesnt even seem that charsmatic like a hitler or something.
both rick and negan will murder whoever gets in their way. negan and then saviors are just written as jerks so we hate them.
This show always does this...they kill off someone forgettable or on the periphery and try and turn it into the biggest deal ever yet the characters who would have that impact have the most ridiculous plot armor.
Ezekiel is in full cheese mode. Guy seems like a good actor but my god did that character work better in the comic.
The transition to live action is a trainwreck most of the time.
This whole "LOOK EVERYONE, WE'RE SMILING" thing is just weird and awkward as hell
The transition to live action is a trainwreck most of the time.
This whole "LOOK EVERYONE, WE'RE SMILING" thing is just weird and awkward as hell
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He's absurd. He's this super charismatic thespian who calls himself a king and has a fucking tiger. I have no idea how every single one of his followers isn't like,"What the fuck is going on? What are we DOING?"
I feel like I'm winding down on how many times I can sit through these characters going through the same crises of conscience ad nauseam. Jesus fighting Morgan over a prisoner was pretty much the same thing we saw a few seasons back with Morgan fighting Carol. Before that, it was Tyreese sparing the Terminus guy. These characters keep making the same idiotic choices over and over, and it never ends well for them. Can't believe I'm saying this but in just a few episodes, Jesus has become more annoying than Glenn ever was. While at the same time, I'm finally starting to dig Tara's character.
Too little/too late on the Aaron/Eric stuff. It was utterly predictable, and had no emotional wallop because they gave their relationship barely any meaningful screen time since the group got to Alexandria. In particular, Aaron becoming an important member of the group while Eric wouldn't appear for entire half-seasons at a time. And it's not that there's too many characters, it's that the show wastes so much of its running time on things that do nothing to forward the plot, and as a result I can't bring myself to care about the bulk of the cast. Sure, a wide-scale purge of a lot of the minor characters during the war would go a long way, but strictly as a means of helping a writing staff that just doesn't know what to do with them all.
Too little/too late on the Aaron/Eric stuff. It was utterly predictable, and had no emotional wallop because they gave their relationship barely any meaningful screen time since the group got to Alexandria. In particular, Aaron becoming an important member of the group while Eric wouldn't appear for entire half-seasons at a time. And it's not that there's too many characters, it's that the show wastes so much of its running time on things that do nothing to forward the plot, and as a result I can't bring myself to care about the bulk of the cast. Sure, a wide-scale purge of a lot of the minor characters during the war would go a long way, but strictly as a means of helping a writing staff that just doesn't know what to do with them all.
People put up with him because they are assholes themselves. He and his captains live in relative luxury. Rick still goes on patrol and scavenges for his group. Negan takes, Rick provides. Yeah they will both kill someone in their way but it actually bothers Rick. I don't remember Rick ever burning someones face with a hot iron or bashing in a random persons skull to teach them a lesson.
The lower ranks are kept in line with fear and his captains are all sadists like him who enjoy fucking with people.
Thats my problem. From what we have seen the only reason that the Saviors are bad guys is because they are sadists. If they weren't such aholes when dealing with other groups they would be Rick and his group.
And Rick didn't do things as bad as Negan, which is why I call him an over the top cartooney villain, but they have done some bad things. Killed those cannibal guys in cold blood. Stole the guns from the girl group that were left almost defensless. Made a deal with hilltop to go and murder all those saviors at the outpost to get supplies and if I remember correctly they were contemplating just using force against hilltop anyways.
As the seasons have gone by I find I am having less sympathy for our main group. I don't know maybe thats the point the writers want to get across and want to blur the lines, but that doesn't make an interesting show where you don't have a protagonist you want to root against the antagonist. Negan is just doing what he needs to do to keep his people safe, just he does it with a tinge of villainy because if the writers didn't do that then we wouldn't be forced to cheer for Rick. And last episode they killed like 50 people or something. I get its a war but I am not feeling any sympathy for any of these murderes.
At this point in the show, there's just far too many characters. We get an episode with a select few then have to wait weeks to find out what happened with them and by that point I think most people either forget or stop caring about certain character arcs. This format would probably work on Netflix but it's a disaster I think when we only get 1 episode a week.
The characters should drive the show, not the other way around. It's like they have so many characters that they forget the personalities they've built into them and have them make ridiculous decisions no real person or at least the character they've established would make. Jesus's "We don't kill!" shtick got tired and old when Morgan did it but it's even dumber now. Maggie's reluctant "Okay let them in" is the dumbest, most uncharacteristic of her plot point I've seen yet and that's saying a lot. They try to rationalize it by having her say "We've got families and kids here" but then quickly waste it with her borderline apathy with the end result. Every viewer knows having them there is going to bite them in the ass later, and when it does are we supposed to be shocked?!!
Sorry for the wall of text, this show just frustrates me lol.
The characters should drive the show, not the other way around. It's like they have so many characters that they forget the personalities they've built into them and have them make ridiculous decisions no real person or at least the character they've established would make. Jesus's "We don't kill!" shtick got tired and old when Morgan did it but it's even dumber now. Maggie's reluctant "Okay let them in" is the dumbest, most uncharacteristic of her plot point I've seen yet and that's saying a lot. They try to rationalize it by having her say "We've got families and kids here" but then quickly waste it with her borderline apathy with the end result. Every viewer knows having them there is going to bite them in the ass later, and when it does are we supposed to be shocked?!!
Sorry for the wall of text, this show just frustrates me lol.
I'm pretty sure those were cars from Rick's group leaving the Savior's outpost.
Daryl... lol heartless and ruthless that episode. But he's a favorite. If the writers want us to slowly become disgusted with Daryl... it won't work.
Congrats you just summed up the biggest problem with TWD. This is it
I dont even remember the guy who came back.
Watching this shower has become a chore.
They should really wrap it up.
Watching this shower has become a chore.
They should really wrap it up.
What kills me about the show is it seems there is this thought that the characters carry more weight then they actually do. Eric is a prime example. He's been around for a few seasons, but we had zero emotional attachment to him, because we never gave a reason to.
It seems the show runners just expect us to care about every character, which is condenscending to the audience. Same happened with Glenn's death fakeout. We all knew it was bullshit, but the showrunners still acted like it was the greatest thing ever filmed.
It seems the show runners just expect us to care about every character, which is condenscending to the audience. Same happened with Glenn's death fakeout. We all knew it was bullshit, but the showrunners still acted like it was the greatest thing ever filmed.