[TV] The Walking Dead

Hailey Knight · Nov 5, 2014

Rewatched the season 4 episode where Beth got taken. No one took the warnings down; they heard them clang and the walkers went right through. So, new theory:

Plenty of time has passed since the "Clear" episode of season 3; I wonder if the stash was Morgan's, and that's how he was able to start tracking them, to Terminus and beyond.

ScytheRexx · Nov 5, 2014

Zero Esc said:
Rewatched the season 4 episode where Beth got taken. No one took the warnings down; they heard them clang and the walkers went right through. So, new theory:

Plenty of time has passed since the "Clear" episode of season 3; I wonder if the stash was Morgan's, and that's how he was able to start tracking them, to Terminus and beyond.

Hummm guess my memory was fuzzy. Still seems obvious to me that someone herded the zombies into them though, too much foreshadowing with the fact it was pristine, and that dog showing up. I find it hard to believe it was a random herd.

Hailey Knight · Nov 10, 2014

Well ... that happened.

I think Eugene's dead. Hopefully Abraham isn't going to kill himself now.

drawn_inward · Nov 11, 2014

That episode was sooooo boring.

I don't give a flip about Abraham's back story, nor was I surprised that mullet-face was a fake. I do care about Maggie and Glen, but the rest are just walker-fodder, IMO.

Hailey Knight · Nov 11, 2014

I feel like Abraham was married to a Laurie.

Gryfter · Nov 11, 2014

Zero Esc said:
I feel like Abraham was married to a Laurie.

IronBrig4 · Nov 12, 2014

From what the actor said on Talking Dead, and from the comic books, Abraham had an even more tragic backstory.

When the outbreak first occurred, Abraham and his family grouped up with some neighbors. When Abraham and a few others went on a supply run, the remaining men raped his wife, his daughter, and some other women. When Abraham got back, he ripped the rapists apart. He scared his family so badly that they ran away. He found his wife and son had been devoured, but his daughter had become a zombie and he shot her in the face.

checkeredhat · Nov 12, 2014

This is definitely the best season so far, but that was easily the worst episode of this season thus far.

AshburnerX · Nov 12, 2014

checkeredhat said:
This is definitely the best season so far, but that was easily the worst episode of this season thus far.

Which, ironically, followed one of the best. And it was a BETH episode.

Hailey Knight · Nov 13, 2014

AshburnerX said:
Which, ironically, followed one of the best. And it was a BETH episode.

Last season had an amazing Beth episode ... granted, it was also a Daryl episode.

I'm not calling this best season yet because last season's last 10 or 11 episodes were incredible, but considering how this one's going, it could continue the show's trend of getting better every season. I can't think of another show that's done that for five damn seasons.

checkeredhat · Nov 13, 2014

Just to be clear I meant it is the best so far as in so far up to this point in the season. Not that I am ready to proclaim it the overall best. That would be foolish as we aren't even halfway through. There's still plenty of time to screw it all up

Ravenpoe · Nov 13, 2014

Zero Esc said:
Last season had an amazing Beth episode ... granted, it was also a Daryl episode.

I'm not calling this best season yet because last season's last 10 or 11 episodes were incredible, but considering how this one's going, it could continue the show's trend of getting better every season. I can't think of another show that's done that for five damn seasons.

Breaking Bad

checkeredhat · Nov 13, 2014

Ravenpoe said:
Breaking Bad

I was going to say Breaking Bad but hinestly I did feel like the second season was a bit of a dip from the first.

Which actually mirrors Walking Dead's arc

and now that I think about it, Hell on Wheels weakest season was also the second.

Is this an AMC thing?

Hailey Knight · Nov 13, 2014

I don't think it dipped for either Walking Dead or Breaking Bad, just that there were more episodes and more time to draw out what was happening, while the first season had to be a dense six episodes to get a next season for certain. I can see why Walking Dead season 2 would've been frustrating to watch, but I marathoned it over two days, and have also marathoned the other seasons since, and it was fine.

Breaking Bad season 2 really built a lot of stuff and while not quite at "must see next episode immediately" territory that season 3 and 4 are, it's still strong. I'd say Raven's right, but I'll withhold definite judgment until I get to watch season 2 again. My wife just started season 1, her first viewing.

Hailey Knight · Nov 17, 2014

IronBrig4 · Nov 18, 2014

Zero Esc said:
Breaking Bad season 2 really built a lot of stuff and while not quite at "must see next episode immediately" territory that season 3 and 4 are, it's still strong. I'd say Raven's right, but I'll withhold definite judgment until I get to watch season 2 again. My wife just started season 1, her first viewing.

In the comics, Carol is a little unhinged and suicidal, and gets worse throughout their stay at the prison until she offs herself. I like what the show has done with her.

Adam · Nov 18, 2014

I think Carol (TV) is turning into the popular character that Andrea was in the comics, which totally works for me.

ThatNickGuy · Nov 18, 2014

I'm actually two episodes behinds (last week's and this past Sunday's). And...I'm not really in any rush to catch up. That "meh" feeling I had from last season is starting to return.

Hailey Knight · Nov 24, 2014

Last week's episode was great.

This one was frustrating. Frequent bouncing between four locations, and then five once Glenn's group divided tasks, made it a hard sit, but also everyone kept doing the wrong things. I'm sure it'll come together for next week's mid-season finale/cliffhanger, but still.

AshburnerX · Nov 24, 2014

Zero Esc said:
Last week's episode was great.

This one was frustrating. Frequent bouncing between four locations, and then five once Glenn's group divided tasks, made it a hard sit, but also everyone kept doing the wrong things. I'm sure it'll come together for next week's mid-season finale/cliffhanger, but still.

It's the old problem of splitting up the party: the DM can't focus the story until they get back together.

Reverent-one · Nov 24, 2014

I enjoyed the episode, good set up for the finale.

I knew they couldn't trust that cop, he's Hydra.

IronBrig4 · Nov 25, 2014

AshburnerX said:
It's the old problem of splitting up the party: the DM can't focus the story until they get back together.

That's when the DM orders a pizza so all the players can physically gather around the dining table again.

Steve · Nov 26, 2014

Zero Esc said:
I don't think it dipped for either Walking Dead or Breaking Bad, just that there were more episodes and more time to draw out what was happening, while the first season had to be a dense six episodes to get a next season for certain. I can see why Walking Dead season 2 would've been frustrating to watch, but I marathoned it over two days, and have also marathoned the other seasons since, and it was fine.

Breaking Bad season 2 really built a lot of stuff and while not quite at "must see next episode immediately" territory that season 3 and 4 are, it's still strong. I'd say Raven's right, but I'll withhold definite judgment until I get to watch season 2 again. My wife just started season 1, her first viewing.

If I remember correctly AMC didn't give The Walking Dead a big budget for season 2. For some reason they still doubted its popularity. So with a limited budget they did the best they could and shoot with limited locations.

Regarding the dips in episodes I've noticed that after a really strong episode (or brutal one) there will be a slow show. It's almost letting the viewers catch their breaths and helps lower the bar a bit for the next few episodes. There comes a point where they can't top each episode so throw a slow one or two in there (like the Governor's two story arc from last season) then have an insane arc afterwards.

Hailey Knight · Nov 26, 2014

Steve said:
If I remember correctly AMC didn't give The Walking Dead a big budget for season 2. For some reason they still doubted its popularity. So with a limited budget they did the best they could and shoot with limited locations.

Regarding the dips in episodes I've noticed that after a really strong episode (or brutal one) there will be a slow show. It's almost letting the viewers catch their breaths and helps lower the bar a bit for the next few episodes. There comes a point where they can't top each episode so throw a slow one or two in there (like the Governor's two story arc from last season) then have an insane arc afterwards.

While telling a long story like this must come in waves, i.e. can't just keeping amping it up, that doesn't really explain the dips in quality. For example, the two-episode Governor arc were both slow episodes, but they were fantastic episodes. But then you'll get a slow episode where it doesn't feel like much has happened, or worse, it was a let-down.

But I still feel overall each season has gotten better. Each one has its loser episodes, but the quality stuff, both the slow episodes and the high intensity ones, more than make up for it.

Ravenpoe · Nov 30, 2014

Well... I didn't see that coming.

Gryfter · Dec 1, 2014

Ravenpoe said:
Well... I didn't see that coming.

While I didn't see the method coming, I knew the minute Michonne told Maggie that Beth was alive that she was going to be dead before they were reunited. Because.... the Walking Dead.

Ravenpoe · Dec 1, 2014

Gryfter said:
While I didn't see the method coming, I knew the minute Michonne told Maggie that Beth was alive that she was going to be dead before they were reunited. Because.... the Walking Dead.

I expected Maggie's reaction to hearing Beth's alive to be "Who's Beth?"

ScytheRexx · Dec 1, 2014

Really, the name of the episode kind of gave it away for me.

Gryfter · Dec 1, 2014

Ravenpoe said:
I expected Maggie's reaction to hearing Beth's alive to be "Who's Beth?"

Beth would still be alive if that had been her reaction. Yup, that's right Maggie..... you killed Beth.

Hailey Knight · Dec 1, 2014

Well, I didn't see it coming, so the rest of the episode was dreadful.

Curious what'll happen now.

I kind of thought the second half of the season was going to be a dug-in war in Atlanta a la season 3, but they've nipped Terminus in the bud, and now the hospital.

AshburnerX · Dec 1, 2014

Well we all know where the next chapter ends...

Morgan found the map to DC, so it's obvious he'll meet up with the others there at some point... unless they want to use him for the spin-off series they are making.[/spoilers]

drawn_inward · Dec 9, 2014

That was a red-shirt way to go. What a pointless character. I guess they all can't be Mischone/Carol. Hershel's death had an impact, but Beth has been so boring that I don't even care. I have to applaud the creators in not making her a martyr or sacrificial hero. She was dumb and died in a dumb way. Unless I missed something. They were all walking out of there; unless Dawn was going to pull a stunt, but we'll never know.

AshburnerX · Dec 9, 2014

drawn_inward said:
That was a red-shirt way to go. What a pointless character. I guess they all can't be Mischone/Carol. Hershel's death had an impact, but Beth has been so boring that I don't even care. I have to applaud the creators in not making her a martyr or sacrificial hero. She was dumb and died in a dumb way. Unless I missed something. They were all walking out of there; unless Dawn was going to pull a stunt, but we'll never know.

Dawn would have had her people kill them all just to keep control. That was the entire point... as reasonable as she seemed and as much as she owed Beth, she was still so scared of losing everything that she was willing to let her officers rape and abuse the patients and then kill the girl who just saved her life to prove a point. Once Beth realized that Dawn was never going to honor a deal, she was going to kill her because she knew her people wouldn't stop her. And if Beth had been faster, everyone would have walked away.

And honestly? Beth's been the break-out character this season. None of the idiot ball shit that Darryl or Carol had.

drawn_inward · Dec 9, 2014

AshburnerX said:
Dawn would have had her people kill them all just to keep control. That was the entire point... as reasonable as she seemed and as much as she owed Beth, she was still so scared of losing everything that she was willing to let her officers rape and abuse the patients and then kill the girl who just saved her life to prove a point. Once Beth realized that Dawn was never going to honor a deal, she was going to kill her because she knew her people wouldn't stop her. And if Beth had been faster, everyone would have walked away.

And honestly? Beth's been the break-out character this season. None of the idiot ball shit that Darryl or Carol had.

She didn't have an impact on me. I don't expect everyone to be a badass. That's not what I mean. I am not sure that her arc was all that compelling. I just never really cared for her character I guess.

As for the situation with Dawn, Beth could have easily gotten her whole group killed. It was impulsive and reckless, IMO. Dawn's group didn't have her back so I don't think they would have followed her play.

Hailey Knight · Dec 9, 2014

drawn_inward said:
She didn't have an impact on me. I don't expect everyone to be a badass. That's not what I mean. I am not sure that her arc was all that compelling. I just never really cared for her character I guess.

As for the situation with Dawn, Beth could have easily gotten her whole group killed. It was impulsive and reckless, IMO. Dawn's group didn't have her back so I don't think they would have followed her play.

Correct, but only Dawn's group knew they knew wouldn't have Dawn's back. Rick's group didn't know, Beth didn't know, even Dawn didn't know.

Beth impressed me this season, but from talking with people at work, I realize I'm in the minority there. It still sucks that she's dead; I feel awful for Daryl and Maggie.