The Walking Dead Season 6 Discussion

[Akiraprise]

But it does make a difference. If we had seen Glenn get his head bashed, and they cut to the others group reactions, we hear their anguished cries, if we saw Rick silently vow vengeance, it would resonate with the audience as we wonder over the break how the hell they're going to get out of this mess. I would be probably be sad right now, instead of indifferent, as I've watched this show from the very beginning and like Glenn. You don't want an indifferent audience you want one with a vested interest. They had their moment to shock us, move us so to speak, and they squandered it. Sure we'll care about who it is next fall when they reveal it but we'll have had 6 months to kind of prepare. Instead of "OH MY GOD!" the reaction will be "Aw, that's too bad."

 

[sojourner]

To use your example of TFA, had the movie ended with

Spoiler: TFA ending

Rey leaving for Luke's planet, but never showing him, that would have been a letdown. She finds Luke, thus giving the story a resolution while also providing a cliffhanger for what happens next.

Spoiler: about the end of TFA

I actually thought the movie should have ended with Rey flying off in the Falcon. It would have resonated well with the end of ESB.

 

[Silvercrest]

But it does make a difference. If we had seen Glenn get his head bashed, and they cut to the others group reactions, we hear their anguished cries, if we saw Rick silently vow vengeance, it would resonate with the audience as we wonder over the break how the hell they're going to get out of this mess.

We saw that before at Terminus. "They're screwing with the wrong people." A great moment that promised great things. And then it was totally subverted next season when they were totally helpless after all and Carol had to rescue them. I don't mind seeing something different this time.

How is it that the Saviors were able to pinpoint their movements so exactly? Cutting off all the roads is one thing. But Negan wasn't fooled for one second by the ruse with the RV. He knew exactly where they left the road on foot and knew exactly where they'd come out of the woods on the other side — to the extent that he had a fleet of vehicles, trailers, cargo containers, floodlights, etc. waiting for them. A bit convenient, what?

 

[davejames]

But it does make a difference. If we had seen Glenn get his head bashed, and they cut to the others group reactions, we hear their anguished cries, if we saw Rick silently vow vengeance, it would resonate with the audience as we wonder over the break how the hell they're going to get out of this mess. I would be probably be sad right now, instead of indifferent, as I've watched this show from the very beginning and like Glenn. You don't want an indifferent audience you want one with a vested interest. They had their moment to shock us, move us so to speak, and they squandered it. Sure we'll care about who it is next fall when they reveal it but we'll have had 6 months to kind of prepare. Instead of "OH MY GOD!" the reaction will be "Aw, that's too bad."

Well maybe the death doesn't resonate as much as it could just yet, but the finale still made it very clear how completely and royally screwed Rick and his people are right now, and that Negan is a huge and major threat to them. And that to me is what the finale really needed to get across-- not just that one person or another in the group died at the end.

I'm not sure how one could be totally indifferent about the situation they're in right now. Especially when you see the incredible fear and desperation in the eyes of someone as normally badass as Rick.

 

[Chekov's Phaser]

Spoiler: about the end of TFA

I actually thought the movie should have ended with Rey flying off in the Falcon. It would have resonated well with the end of ESB.

Spoiler: TFA ending

I see what you mean, but it would be a letdown for an entire movie to be about finding someone and they are never once seen in the movie. Like I said at least there is some sort of resolution.

 

[Arrrrgggh]

How is it that the Saviors were able to pinpoint their movements so exactly? Cutting off all the roads is one thing. But Negan wasn't fooled for one second by the ruse with the RV. He knew exactly where they left the road on foot and knew exactly where they'd come out of the woods on the other side — to the extent that he had a fleet of vehicles, trailers, cargo containers, floodlights, etc. waiting for them. A bit convenient, what?

Hilltop's leader is totally brave and willing to stand up to Negan. At no point whatsoever was he shown to be a cowering sleazebag with undertones of being the kind of person to sell someone out to save his own skin. So I truly and sincerely doubt it would have anything to do with him.

I do believe it's also been shown that the Saviors were completely ignorant about Alexandria and at no point had eyes on it. They certainly didn't recognize Carol came from there, or that the car she was driving was identical to the ones parked outside the wall. I also doubt Negan would be the kind of guy to ramp that up significantly after learning of how many of his men had been killed by a relatively new player in town.

And to top it off, they didn't even bother to show us in that same episode that they use a pack-like hunting style when chasing people down, shepherding them exactly where they want them to go. Totally a new tactic for them, that.

So yeah, totally convenient.

 

[TRON JA307020]

But it does make a difference. If we had seen Glenn get his head bashed, and they cut to the others group reactions, we hear their anguished cries, if we saw Rick silently vow vengeance, it would resonate with the audience as we wonder over the break how the hell they're going to get out of this mess. I would be probably be sad right now, instead of indifferent, as I've watched this show from the very beginning and like Glenn. You don't want an indifferent audience you want one with a vested interest. They had their moment to shock us, move us so to speak, and they squandered it. Sure we'll care about who it is next fall when they reveal it but we'll have had 6 months to kind of prepare. Instead of "OH MY GOD!" the reaction will be "Aw, that's too bad."

Agreed. I think they wanted to wait to get a feel for who the audience would accept for them to kill. At this point I believe that they are going to kill Eugene or Abraham basically two characters I don't care about. The only thing I like about the episode was that Rick was finally taken down several pegs and all his speeches about "together we can do anything" was just so much naïve bullcrap. Hes become a murdering ass for the last season and a half and he is finally getting his comeuppance. This situation will either make him a better person or it will make him even worse.

 

[sojourner]

They certainly didn't recognize Carol came from there, or that the car she was driving was identical to the ones parked outside the wall.

Wait, what!?!?! The saviors she runs into with the truck mention in dialog, "hey, isn't that one of them cars from outside that compound we've been watching?". So they certainly were aware of Alexandria and knew right off that Carol came from there.

 

[Arrrrgggh]

NO WAY!? REALLY?!?!

 

[shapeshifter]

How is it that the Saviors were able to pinpoint their movements so exactly? Cutting off all the roads is one thing. But Negan wasn't fooled for one second by the ruse with the RV. He knew exactly where they left the road on foot and knew exactly where they'd come out of the woods on the other side — to the extent that he had a fleet of vehicles, trailers, cargo containers, floodlights, etc. waiting for them. A bit convenient, what?

Very true. A Savior must have been behind every tree in the forest. I was willing to give all that a pass though, until it hit me - Ricks group has been living in this area for a while now while Negan has had such a huge group living right under their noses, with so little or no contact until now? It don't add up. Same goes for the Hilltop group too, for that matter.

I am coming to the realization the fresh feeling of this show I've enjoyed for so long is turning stale, the party is ending. There are only so many many new situations they can find themselves in and the show has already used them all up. What they do manage to think up is becoming bottom of the barrel stuff.

All that said, some dramatic moments still manage to show up though, so I am holding out hope surprises are on the horizon. That is if FtWD doesn't further dilute the water.

 

[sojourner]

NO WAY!? REALLY?!?!

Really!

Oh, wait, I see. You were trying for sarcasm with that previous post. Keep working on it. You'll get there.

 

[Garak]

The ending was a total cop out, but I have to say Jeffery Dean Morgan as Negan was absolutely thrilling and pleasure to watch - I am very excited about him being in the show. He absolutely nailed it.

 

[Akiraprise]

Agreed. I think they wanted to wait to get a feel for who the audience would accept for them to kill.

I thought this too. It almost felt like they were unsure of who to kill off, but promised this would happen, so did not show it. Buys them some time. I also wouldn't be surprised if the network execs are meddling a bit more now than when the show 1st came out now that TWD is this massive phenomenon. For example killing Darryl might make the most sense from a creative standpoint but he is so popular the network might be saying no.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Im calling the "Lucille" death right now. It will be Eugene. I examined the ground that was in front of the person that was getting their head bashed in and then rewound the video to where the entire group was sitting and the ground in front of the person that had barely any leaves in front was Eugene. The pov of the person getting his head bashed in didn't have many leaves in front of him so I believe it is Eugene. I figure Negan wont kill the women so they are all out. I think that Glenn is out because of the stupid dumpster incident. Carl and Rick are definitely safe as is Darry. That leaves Arron, Abraham and Eugene. So yeah its Eugene.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

It's amazing how much vitriol the cliffhanger has raised in various online forums. That aside, the episode did a good job of building the sense of dread and being over their head as the Saviors boxed them in.

I had to laugh that it turns out the mustached guy who reminded me of Trevor from GTA V actually was. He did a pretty good job as Negan's lieutenant or whatever.

 

[Garak]

Eugene'e the easy choice because they really telegraphed that something might happen to him, with the growing as a person, the fond farewell when he takes the RV and him giving Rick the "recipe" for bullets. He isn't really needed after he does that.

 

[hux]

I avoided this thread to avoid spoilers. Needn't have bothered. As predicted, we got the dreaded cliffhanger. Had I read the thread, what would have been spoiled? Literally nothing. More filler.

This Negan shit is already boring me quite frankly. You know it's gonna be one of the nobody characters who gets killed. The only interesting things in this episode happened with Morgan. His relationship with Carol, his killing (because yes... sometimes you have to) and most interestingly of all, those guys they met with the horses. I'm guessing they're Kingdom. I'm also guessing they will be Rick's best hope next season.

In retrospect, how dickish was it of Jesus to send Rick's group after this massive army? Thanks pal.

Has anyone seen those trailers where Rick goes to Atlanta and another guy goes to Rome. What's that about?

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I knew going into this episode they weren't going to show who died. I agree that the only reason they didn't show the death of a main character is AMC is scared shitless about losing viewers and ad revenue (seriously, just how many ads CAN you cram in one "90 minute" episode? I feel like I spend 3/4s of the time fast forwarding my DVR). So, if they had either killed Glenn or Daryl or Carol, they're stuck with that decision and face the wrath of the viewers.

By doing the lame ass cliffhanger ending, AMC will go to committee and figure out who they can kill without losing viewers and that sweet ad revenue (probably between Eugene, Rosita, Aaron, and Alexandrian Whose Name I Can't Remember That Was Banging Carol) and when Season 7 starts, they'll be the person that gets whacked. My money is on either Rosita or AWNICRTWBC.

I did enjoy Jeffrey Dean Morgan's brief appearance as Negan and hope they bring Trevor Phillips back as a regular next season.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Well maybe the death doesn't resonate as much as it could just yet, but the finale still made it very clear how completely and royally screwed Rick and his people are right now, and that Negan is a huge and major threat to them. And that to me is what the finale really needed to get across-- not just that one person or another in the group died at the end.

I still believe not showing the victim--or at least being clear about who was the victim--strings this along. For example, in "Too Far Gone," it would have been a cheat if The Governor raised the sword to strike Hershel, but it instantly cuts to reactions, the battle starts, and the mid season finale ends without really going back to see Hershel's fate. We only learn about it months later when 4 returned with "After," when Michonne finds Hershel's head. The build up to the Governor's act would be there, but the full horror of his being "Too Far Gone" would have been lost. The full effect of threat needed to be all there, not sometime (or for the audience, months) later.

I'm not sure how one could be totally indifferent about the situation they're in right now. Especially when you see the incredible fear and desperation in the eyes of someone as normally badass as Rick.

Which makes me wonder about the writers giving Rick inconsistent behavior; he was in just as much danger--if not more when he, Daryl, Glenn and Bob were on their knees in front of the Terminus slaughter trough, yet Rick still made confident threats after the gruesome bludgeoning / throat slashing of Sam and two others.

Why have different, fearful behavior now--before Negan even lifted a hand? Was it to convince the audience that the year long build up to the arrival of Negan was "bigger than ever" as an adversary? Before he even introduced Lucille?

The only thing I like about the episode was that Rick was finally taken down several pegs and all his speeches about "together we can do anything" was just so much naïve bullcrap. Hes become a murdering ass for the last season and a half and he is finally getting his comeuppance. This situation will either make him a better person or it will make him even worse.

I've said as much all along; one cannot march across the earth killing under the morally questionable notion of "self defense or "survival," and not expect blowback from an equally immoral population of survivalists or vengeful individuals, such as teen-aged Ron.

 

[Servo]

Eugene'e the easy choice because they really telegraphed that something might happen to him, with the growing as a person, the fond farewell when he takes the RV and him giving Rick the "recipe" for bullets. He isn't really needed after he does that.

But then they've also been telegraphing Glenn and Maggie pretty heavily for most of the season. Same with Abe and Sasha's blossoming relationship recently - I was half expecting a sniper bullet to take one of them out as soon as they'd finished their "could you do that?" conversation.