Spoilers Walking Dead Season 8 discussion and spoilers.
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The Walking Dead - Season 8 fall finale--
"How It's Gotta Be"
Teased as the game changing event in series history (by some click baiting sources), featuring some equally game changing death, the mid season finale has arrived. Did it live up to hype? Expectations?
Watching this live, all of the Carl "hope" talk in the pre credits sequence certainly convinced viewers he was going to die in this episode. series needed to avoid since all of the Glenn/baseball bat teasing in S5 & 6.
Michonne kissing Judith earned a big "awwww" from viewers, and some fear either might die...
Natania (Oceanside's leader) killed? That was a surprise.
Carl is more of a leader in his exchange with Negan than Rick has been in several seasons. Of course, if he dies, that's the point of Carl being the ultimate example of lost potential.
Eugene....tired of his half crisis of conscience. Now that Dwight has been exposed as the traitor, what would motivate him to go straight? It could not be deaths, since Glenn, Abraham and Sasha's deaths only convinced him to flip to the "winning" side. Even after helping Father Gabriel and Dr. Carson, he's still a coward.
So Maggie is adopting the Savior's murderous ways. The rift between the heroes grows.
Carl mortally wounded was the biggest risk/move with a major character in recent TV history. That was a ballsy move that no one would have predicted over the last 8 years. From an emotional standpoint, nothing matches it--not Hershel, Dale, Andrea, Beth, Glenn, Tyreese or anyone else. Rarely do you see a character so much a part of the foundation of a series killed off.
On Talking Dead, actress Yvette Nichole Brown was right: Carl was probably bitten when confronting Negan, so in a very clever/brave move, he offered himself for execution, knowing he was dying anyway.
One can only wonder how Enid will deal with this. Further, now that Rick is losing a son, I wonder if he will bond with Morgan, now that they're in the same place.
"How It's Gotta Be"
Teased as the game changing event in series history (by some click baiting sources), featuring some equally game changing death, the mid season finale has arrived. Did it live up to hype? Expectations?
Watching this live, all of the Carl "hope" talk in the pre credits sequence certainly convinced viewers he was going to die in this episode. series needed to avoid since all of the Glenn/baseball bat teasing in S5 & 6.
Michonne kissing Judith earned a big "awwww" from viewers, and some fear either might die...
Natania (Oceanside's leader) killed? That was a surprise.
Carl is more of a leader in his exchange with Negan than Rick has been in several seasons. Of course, if he dies, that's the point of Carl being the ultimate example of lost potential.
Eugene....tired of his half crisis of conscience. Now that Dwight has been exposed as the traitor, what would motivate him to go straight? It could not be deaths, since Glenn, Abraham and Sasha's deaths only convinced him to flip to the "winning" side. Even after helping Father Gabriel and Dr. Carson, he's still a coward.
So Maggie is adopting the Savior's murderous ways. The rift between the heroes grows.
Carl mortally wounded was the biggest risk/move with a major character in recent TV history. That was a ballsy move that no one would have predicted over the last 8 years. From an emotional standpoint, nothing matches it--not Hershel, Dale, Andrea, Beth, Glenn, Tyreese or anyone else. Rarely do you see a character so much a part of the foundation of a series killed off.
On Talking Dead, actress Yvette Nichole Brown was right: Carl was probably bitten when confronting Negan, so in a very clever/brave move, he offered himself for execution, knowing he was dying anyway.
One can only wonder how Enid will deal with this. Further, now that Rick is losing a son, I wonder if he will bond with Morgan, now that they're in the same place.
During the build up to tonight, hearing set rumors and then reading into the filmmaking direction of this episode I saw it coming, particularly after Carl's offer of sacrifice. But very well played. A also, nice use of your box, Maggie. (Wait, that came out wrong.)
I'd say the show runner hype of this episode wasn't OTT, it really does have an impact. And now we know who dies to motivate Rick in a different direction when we see him crying in a flash-forward in the first episode this season.
I'd say the show runner hype of this episode wasn't OTT, it really does have an impact. And now we know who dies to motivate Rick in a different direction when we see him crying in a flash-forward in the first episode this season.
Rick landed a few punches, finally. Surprise, Negan bleeds just like everyone else.
So, do you see Maggie becoming not only the main leader of the heroes, but a hybrid of her methods and the Negan way?
I briefly thought Michonne or Judith might go, but Carl's death might provide plot armor for them--at least for the rest of this season.
I like that Negan just sits in the dark for hours waiting for Rick to come home.
"He he he this is gonna be awesome!"
"When he comes, I'm gonna go Boo!, he he he"
"Any minute now."
"..."
"Any minute now."
"He he he this is gonna be awesome!"
"When he comes, I'm gonna go Boo!, he he he"
"Any minute now."
"..."
"Any minute now."
Holy fuck. This show has sooooo lost my interest. Oh no, Carl was bitten. Zzzzzzzzzzz...... They've spent far too long with the Saviors plot. Previous enemies have lasted a season before they moved on to something else. This one seems too dragged out, with really only two possible resolutions: (1) the Saviors are killed (on to next season), or (2) the Saviors win (end of the show).
The logistics of all the events going down just didn’t make much sense to me. I guess storywise they wanted Negan to escape and be formidable and are going to make that happen no matter what. They should’ve ended the episode with the garbage people dancing naked around a bonfire.
The weird thing is I’ve been watching since the beginning and I just didn’t feel anything when Carl’s bitemark was revealed. Anyone else feel that way? It’s like I recognized it was a significant moment but it didn’t move me at all.
The weird thing is I’ve been watching since the beginning and I just didn’t feel anything when Carl’s bitemark was revealed. Anyone else feel that way? It’s like I recognized it was a significant moment but it didn’t move me at all.
Chandler Riggs (Carl) has been on the show since the second episode, for him he's literally spent half his life working on this show and with these people. He's a major character, a driving character for Rick and this event is a radical departure from the comics. (Likely due to real-life things getting in the way like Riggs likely wanting to pursue a college education.) Has the show spent a bit much time with Negan and The Saviors? Perhaps, I didn't much care for most of the interaction between Simon and The Hilltop Group, but even though I saw it coming the ending did shock and move me.)
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The only other significant villain arc--the Governor--lasted a season and a half, so the Saviors (minus the little biker encounter) are now matching that length of time on TWD, so it's not unprecedented.
Thought Carl had been bitten before too, so not shocked that that's what they ended up going with. It'll be a shake up, though, and another difference from the source material. We'll see if they off him in the return episode, or drag it out a couple first.
Pacing in this show is really brutal, though. Getting to the point where if you watch the premiere and finale, you see pretty much everything. They save it for the two 'events', and just toss filler out there in between. And even then, it's 55 minutes of filler and then the last 5 where they advance the plot. Still watching, but it's getting boring/predictable. "do nothing all season, threaten someone with death in the finale, kill in premiere, angst for the season, threaten someone with death in finale". Need to tighten things up a bit. This season was just extended pew-pew, but almost literally could have sewn the premiere and finale together without missing much of the plot.
Pacing in this show is really brutal, though. Getting to the point where if you watch the premiere and finale, you see pretty much everything. They save it for the two 'events', and just toss filler out there in between. And even then, it's 55 minutes of filler and then the last 5 where they advance the plot. Still watching, but it's getting boring/predictable. "do nothing all season, threaten someone with death in the finale, kill in premiere, angst for the season, threaten someone with death in finale". Need to tighten things up a bit. This season was just extended pew-pew, but almost literally could have sewn the premiere and finale together without missing much of the plot.
What I don't get was that one silly shot Rick took on Negan with the butt of the bat. He's wanted to kill him since the beginning. One strong hit with the wired-up business end would have ended it. Instead, Rick tags him with the handle - INTENTIONALLY - and Negan recovers quickly enough to put him out the front window. WTF?!?
Love Maggie's resolve. FINALLY someone seems to be acting like they know what's required to get the job done. I guess I must be a really bad person or something - I've always believed that people who act dishonorably do not deserve to be treated honorably in return. Fuck the high road six ways to Sunday. The Saviors have proven to be a vicious blight and danger to everyone in the region and should be exterminated with great intent and resolve. Rick talks a good game, but in the end he always pulls back. You have the "conscience" characters constantly whispering in everyone's ear, like Jesus, Carl, Morgan (initially), Hershel, etc., to rise above, but seriously, what's it gotten them but more strife and being interpreted as weak by the more aggressive groups out there. Great nations are born in blood. Get the job done at all costs - worry about how history will remember the intent after the last bullet is fired and you can confidently beat your swords into plowshares for the final time.
The show has never been consistent about things like this. A few weeks ago, during the "workers revolt", it seemed like there were 7 Saviors and 200 workers trapped at the Sanctuary. But when the plot demands it, dozens of Saviors can materialize out of nowhere to join the battle, unless they are arming the workers, which would be really stupid.
Also, how could anyone ever trust Eugene again? I can't see any of the Alexandrians welcoming him back home with open arms once the war is over.
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Yep, last night made Eugene irredeemable, IMO. Despite his brief spasm of righteousness by setting Gabriel and the Doc free, even he pretty much admitted that doesn't erase what he's done otherwise.
I'm sure someone might want to try to give him a pardon, but if Dwight and Simon both basically confirmed it was all him who got them back on their feet to fight back like they did, then yeah, he's done 100%, as far as I'm concerned. A shame, too, as he really had potential, I think, to do great things in future episodes.
I'm sure someone might want to try to give him a pardon, but if Dwight and Simon both basically confirmed it was all him who got them back on their feet to fight back like they did, then yeah, he's done 100%, as far as I'm concerned. A shame, too, as he really had potential, I think, to do great things in future episodes.
Yeah, Eugene said it himself: he is on the side that let's him keep breathing, period. He knows he's a coward and is ashamed of it, but will mostly likely keep doing whatever is necessary to just stay alive. He hates himself for it but isn't going to change. He doesn't have it in him.
I don't imagine that Rick & Co. will ever trust him again, nor should they.
I don't imagine that Rick & Co. will ever trust him again, nor should they.
I'd say Eugene is irredeemable at this point. He can go down with the rest of Negan and his Lieutenants barring something extraordinary.
Well, that was classic Carl and par for the course of The Walking Dead. Doing something stupid. "Hey, I could easily shoot/stab this walker, but, nah, I'm gonna wrestle him! Oh noes! I've been bitten!!!!!!!" 
After years of thinking Carl was the most annoying kid character on TV (only to be outdone by The Strain's Zack Goodweather), I kinda wished they'd killed somebody else, since many other characters have dethroned Carl as most annoying Walking Dead character.
To those who say they're done with Negan and the Saviors' storyline... I say they're the ONLY reason I'm still watching. Sure, they ham it up in every scene they're in, but at least they're interesting to watch.
Also, does anyone else think Michael Bay was nervously keeping tally on the explosions, thinking he was going to be outdone?
After years of thinking Carl was the most annoying kid character on TV (only to be outdone by The Strain's Zack Goodweather), I kinda wished they'd killed somebody else, since many other characters have dethroned Carl as most annoying Walking Dead character.To those who say they're done with Negan and the Saviors' storyline... I say they're the ONLY reason I'm still watching. Sure, they ham it up in every scene they're in, but at least they're interesting to watch.
Also, does anyone else think Michael Bay was nervously keeping tally on the explosions, thinking he was going to be outdone?
So what's up with Chandler Riggs dad saying he was fired?