Spoilers The Walking Dead Season 10

[RJDiogenes]

Again, not sure I agree with that assessment. The white-hot rage in reaction to the murder of the mother and her child seems perfectly consistent with a changed Negan.

Yes, but it seemed to me that the moment of change was when he tasted blood again after so long. That walk off afterwards, with the jacket and bat and swagger, looked like "Classic Negan." Of course, I could be wrong....

As for the "indulgent violence" that was entirely against Walkers

By that I meant when he pulped the kid.

According to Talking Dead, it was an insurance policy with things going tits up at Hilltop, she was preparing for a complete collapse.

Hmm. Okay.

This is the first time we know Magna committed murder before the apocalypse, though it was revealed last year she'd been doing time in maximum security prison when Michonne recognized one of her tattoos as a prison tattoo representing hard time. Since Yumiko was her lawyer, she likely knew Magna was accused of murder, but based on her reaction to Magna's confession in this episode, Yumiko didn't believe Magna was actually guilty until now.

Okay, that's what I thought.

Funnily enough, Talking Dead did survey the audience their opinion as to whether they thought Magna was justified to steal the supplies. I think the "No" side won, but it was actually a very close poll, with the "Yes" side almost winning at one point.

That's a little disturbing.

 

[Shell1993]

It is amazing that the best thread about Walking Dead, is on a Star Trek site

 

[The Wormhole]

It is amazing that the best thread about Walking Dead, is on a Star Trek site

I remember back when BSG was on the air, Trek BBS topped the Google results for BSG forum. Indeed, as a result of that, Ron Moore ended up lurking here, or so he claimed in one of his podcasts.

 

[137th Gebirg]

I do know that Aaron Douglas (Tyrol) lurked around a number of the forums from time to time.

IIRC, he was really good to the fans and very down-to-earth.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

That's a little disturbing.

Yes it is. It says that some audience members are divorced from basic morality to the point where stealing from the needy is not a bad thing. I'm wondering if those who supported Magna did so strictly because of the character, and would have voted against theft if it was someone else stealing from Magna...

 

[137th Gebirg]

Personally I dislike the Magna character (and most of this season’s newcomers, if I’m honest), so I’m not interested in generally defending any of her actions. However, she clearly sees a bad situation arising and getting worse. We can comfortably act as a meta-audience and know that “it will all get better” due to plot armor, but the characters don’t know that, nor should they act like they do.

Further, as mentioned before, the old rules of civilization don’t apply here, despite the best efforts of the benevolent dictators in charge of the towns to provide safe zones for the citizenry. We really shouldn’t project our own rules of advanced civilization on the people of this world. They are all on the razor’s edge of total anarchy; the only rules that truly apply to the majority of them are pure survival instinct. I hate defending Magna’s actions, but they are, unfortunately, 100% understandable at their core.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Alpha, having lost her daughter to the people who live in houses, now wants to send in her stepdaughter as an undercover spy.

When did Alpha find the time to marry Gamma's father?

 

[The Wormhole]

When did Alpha find the time to marry Gamma's father?

That'll be the next flashback story

 

[RJDiogenes]

Yes it is. It says that some audience members are divorced from basic morality to the point where stealing from the needy is not a bad thing. I'm wondering if those who supported Magna did so strictly because of the character, and would have voted against theft if it was someone else stealing from Magna...

I wouldn't be surprised.

When did Alpha find the time to marry Gamma's father?

It's all in her mind, like everything else she does.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I'm confused by the whole horde thing, those dozen or so walkers Carol and Daryl were stalking wouldn't account for a hill of beans would it? I seriously doubt the Whisperers could do shit if Carol had taken out Alpha and presumably Beta a couple episodes back. Seems to me if they had followed that with an out-and-out raid on the Whisperers it would've been done. Am I missing anything here?

That said, dropping Negan into the Whisperers and letting him run loose has been a lot of fun.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

The Walking Dead
Season 10 - Episode 6 - "Bonds"

Daryl / Carol: Its getting to the point where Carol's vengeful obsessions--and kidnapping--are going to spell disaster for the communities--or worse, her relationship with her best friend. Its difficult to see anything to bring her back from this edge she's planted her feet on.

Some fans are upset that she's essentially given up any romantic notions about Daryl by questioning his relationship with Connie (and Daryl himself might have been put off by Carol giving her blessing), but as Carl pointed out, its been years. Daryl needs to just say something, no matter where his feelings are taking him/

Negan / The Whisperers: Once again, JDM is the centerpiece of the episode. Alpha clearly has her plans for Negan once he's outlived his usefulness to her, but she did fall under his spell to a degree--the old, manipulative ways never lost their power.

Rosita: About the disease--Rosita does not show the signs of a simple flu case. During season 4, the "flu" that ran through the prison was pretty lethal, but it was believed it had its origins in the pigs. Outside of something as generally rare like that, the communities--after years of scavenging medical supplies--should have several ways of handling basic "bugs." Rather sickening that Dante (the other doctor) has sexual designs on Rosita, ignoring her relationship with Gabriel.

Siddiq: Losing more of himself with each new episode, as we will see in the next episode.

Eugene: What is wrong with this man? He hears a mystery woman, and the moment she "opens up" to him, he loses all sense of security protocols. That will definitely come back to haunt him.

I guess it was nice that Rosita missed her friend...and that's fine, just as long as Eugene does not dive into fantasyland again.

NOTES: Gamma has to the be the voice Eugene was speaking to, and given Alpha trying to ramp up her ultimate strike, having Gamma become a mole at this time makes sense.

GRADE: A.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^ I hadn't thought of Gamma but that makes a whole lot of sense

 

[theenglish]

Eugene and Rosita's storyline. I liked when it started, particularly with the comparisons to extreme fatigue being similar to being drunk. As someone who has grappled with insomnia in my day, I can confirm the accuracy of that statement. Mind you, I'm not sure I buy that it wasn't until now that Eugene realized he never really had a chance with Rosita. I mean, I guess I can buy he was always holding onto faint hope that something might develop somewhere down the line, but to hear Rosita say as much through "drunken/tired honesty" shouldn't really be the crippling blow it is to him.

I think that Eugene's feelings and hopes are relatable to many of us. I remember being in love with a female friend back in college and my feelings for her led me to spurn other possibilities. I would love to see Eugene's story be a great anti-Incel message and hope that he renews his friendship with Rosita. I love the parts of this series that are not seen in the comics so we don't really know where the writers are going.

 

[theenglish]

So yes, intellectually I can understand that Rosita needed to draw a line in the sand. Personally, I hope Eugene can find it in him to cut all ties. Starting over can be twice as difficult if you try to do it from within somebody's friend zone.

I have no idea how old you are, but as someone approaching 50 who "cut ties" in my 20s in those types of situations, I can say that 10 to 20 years on (especially with social media) I grew to regret doing that--I could have actually been friends with two women today if I hadn't--and my life is less for having been rash back then.

 

[The Wormhole]

Well, Negan and the Whisperers, or more specifically Negan and Beta was damn hilarious. Everything, starting with Beta turning Negan's blindfold into a gag, then Negan trying to insinuate Alpha and Beta have a sexual relationship ("you a Beta with benefits? You slip her some omega on the side?"), the montage of Beta constantly one-upping Negan, and Beta's attempt to kill Negan which Negan survives and manages to impress Alpha. Even if this storyline does end the same way it did in the comics, they're presenting it in a fresh and entertaining way all the same.

I had assumed watching the episode the mysterious illness sweeping Alexandria was a result of Gamma spilling Walker guts into the lake that feeds into Alexandria last week, though on Talking Dead they're speculating that maybe Siddiq is unconsciously behind it during his PTSD blackouts. If he is indeed under some sort of post-hypnotic control of the Whisperers that would be an interesting way to have him be their pawn but not responsible, and therefore not having to face any real repercussions. Then again, I've seen a lot of online speculation that Dante might be a Whisperer spy, and certainly that could explain why he's allowing the disease to spread without alerting Siddiq. The real interesting thing about this storyline is there is no clear direction this has to go, it could easily be anything at the moment.

I do wonder if Rosita could be leaving. What with her seeming to patch things up with Eugene, and the fact she's at the moment the only main character afflicted with the disease, not to mention if she does die it would really screw Siddiq up, not to mention the effect it would have on Gabriel. It would suck to lose her, but if she did go, I can see it creating a lot of potential character drama to carry the rest of the season.

Gamma has to the be the voice Eugene was speaking to, and given Alpha trying to ramp up her ultimate strike, having Gamma become a mole at this time makes sense.

Damn, I had not considered that at all. It would certainly be an interesting twist, it allows Gamma to infiltrate the communities without the risk of being identified. Not to mention, it's certainly unexpected among those of us in the audience who would think this is setting up the exact storyline it did in the comics.

That said, there is one thing I picked up on which I doubt is a coincidence and could suggest another direction for this storyline.

Spoiler: franchise's future

The woman on the radio says she's from Pennsylvania, which according to Robert Kirkman, is where the Rick movie is supposed to take place.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Personally I find Dante very creepy at best, if not all-out repulsive at worst. There's something about him that is throwing up some serious red flags in my head. He follows very similar patterns that grade-A top-shelf bullshit peddlers have followed whom I have had the displeasure of knowing over the years. If I ran into someone like that today, I would immediately isolate myself from him - nothing but trouble and a 5-alarm drama factory - narcissists who love the attention they manufacture for themselves.

I was wanting the whole episode to be Negan vs. Beta, at all levels, both physical and psychological. What we got there was truly excellent and glad it didn't wrap up too early with the inevitable confrontation. Beta clearly feels threatened by him and is trying to deflect it by declaring him a "threat to the group". Alpha obviously sees this and will be deciding whether or not Negan may be qualified to be a "new" Beta. Negan's playing them all and it's absolutely beautiful!

 

[The Wormhole]

Dante's one of those characters, if I knew him in real life I would probably loathe and despise him, but as a character on a TV show I absolutely dig him just because he brings an element of entertainment to the show. And whatever flaws the character might have, I can't deny his scenes are entertaining, so I'm fine with him because of that.

Mind you, it certainly seems this show will be going back to its trope of killing its doctors. Either Siddiq's episodes come to a tragic head, or Dante either pisses off the wrong person and pays the price. Or he really is a Whisperer spy.

 

[Admiral2]

I have no idea how old you are, but as someone approaching 50 who "cut ties" in my 20s in those types of situations, I can say that 10 to 20 years on (especially with social media) I grew to regret doing that--I could have actually been friends with two women today if I hadn't--and my life is less for having been rash back then.

Well then, you should be happy that this past episode it looks like Eugene is on the road to completely ignoring my advice.

Meanwhile, I'm actually fifty and my regrets are because I rook the exact opposite route, and instead of lasting friendships I don't even hear from them on facebook. I have nothing to show for either the romantic or platonic pursuit. That's why I said what I said.

The most lasting friendships I've had with women are ones that started out as friendships, where there was no romantic interest in either direction. I'll take those over a "Can't we just be friends?" situation any day.

 

[RJDiogenes]

So Negan has indeed joined the Whisperers. He seems to have charmed Alpha, but not Beta. I love how Beta took off his blindfold and used it as a gag. But Beta misunderestimated Negan's badassery, and he survived the Whisperer Hazing Ritual. What next?

Meanwhile, a plague is plaguing Alexandria, presumably as a result of the Whisperer's poisoning the well with Zombie guts. I hope Rosita doesn't die, but they haven't been making very good use of her lately, which is not a good sign. I'm also getting a kick out of Dante's political incorrectness, so I hope he doesn't turn out to be a Whisperer mole or a leftover Savior or something.

Also meanwhile, Euguene has made a friend by bouncing his waves off the ionosphere, and she is located quite a ways to the North. Is she with the black helicopter people? :unsure:

Still meanwhile, the Carol and Daryl Roadshow is on the prowl for the Whisperer Horde so they can possibly destroy it and take away Alpha's power. Or was Carol planning to take another shot at Alpha? Or was she planning to take a Whisperer hostage? She seemed kind of more prepared for that than she should have been. If Alpha figures out what happened to her missing guardian, she might-- well, her plans to destroy everyone are already in full swing, so what difference does it make?

 

[137th Gebirg]

The thing about ionospheric skipping (“shooting DX-skip” in the radio world) is that, the lower the frequency (radio), the farther the skip, versus, say, microwaves, which operate at a much higher frequency. I used to do this on a single side-band CB radio many years ago. The first skip (starting from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) usually landed me in Manatoba, Canada. This was roughly about 1,905 miles. The radio wasn’t powerful enough to do a second skip, but when conditions were right (sunset, during or after a rainstorm and pointing the car in a westerly direction) I do recall hearing a powerful signal speaking, I think, maybe Chinese once, but transmitting that far without a linear amplifier was impossible (also illegal by FCC rules). That would probably be 3 or 4 skips. After doing several tests with SSB, I was able to get ground transmissions to go, at best, as far as 17 miles with a reasonable LOS.

So, the only thing I heard in the conversation was Strasburg, PA (did I miss another location?). That’s about 123 miles from Alexandria. Way too close for a single skip. Eugene does have a more powerful rig than I did with a linear (the vented box that was starting to fry) and can probably travel farther distances, but there’s still a big difference between ground and skip transmissions. To sound distant and still be close, all one needs to do is be situated near a hill or other large obstruction to be in the signal’s “shadow”. LOS goes out the window and the transmission can sound really far away. My vote is that it’s Gamma, just barely inside radio range, making it sound like she’s far away, acquiring intel through Eugene the idiot, who should obviously know better (because you can’t really tell whether something is a hundred miles away or a thousand on the radio) but is instead throwing all OpSec out the window.