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Some of you may be wondering what in the *hell* I'm doing watching this series, and it's all because of this. What I'm doing is so severe that I've decided to nauseate myself, and this is the most disgusting show I've ever seen - I've decided to power-watch it, especially during meals - rest assured, the *last* thing it will make me want is to sink my teeth into a juicy steak ... wish me luck.

Season One (Oct 31 - Dec 5, 2010)

Screenshot 2016-06-18 at 21.26.59.png - 1.1 "Days Gone Bye" - Directed by Frank Darabont, Written by Frank Darabont

Screenshot 2016-06-18 at 21.12.58.png - 1.2 "Guts" - Directed by Michelle MacLaren, Written by Frank Darabont (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-19 at 14.12.52.png - 1.3 "Tell It To The Frogs" - Directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Written by Frank Darabont (3), Charles H. Eglee, and Jack LoGiuduce

Screenshot 2016-06-19 at 15.44.27.png - 1.4 "Vatos" - Directed by Johan Renck, Written by Robert Kirkman

Screenshot 2016-06-19 at 18.19.28.png - 1.5 "Wildfire" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson, Written by Glen Mazzara

Screenshot 2016-06-19 at 23.24.57.png - 1.6 - "TS-19" - Directed by Guy Ferland, Written by Adam Fierro and Frank Darabont (4)

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A very basic question about Zombie Apocalyses: Wouldn't hoards of zombies, walking around without food, decay to the point of immobility in a matter of weeks, if not days? 

Say, for example, that zombies took over a major city, and every living person was either gone or deceased (which they would become, eventually). How would thousands of zombies - carbon-based life forms with soft tissue - not simply dry up and decay into skeletons? So what if their brain stem is activated? That wouldn't do diddly in terms of sunlight and oxygen decomposing them.

Sure, they can kill animals and such, but even those will be depleted at some point. (I won't even get into some of their more "incomplete" digestive systems which nourish the soft tissue.)

Is this a "suspend your skepticism" kind of thing? Because it's such a basic concept that it takes something silly, and makes it absurd. Okay, it takes something absurd, and makes it impossible under any circumstances.

Okay, okay, I'm watching a Zombie Apocalypse series, so I get what I deserve, but still!

Roger Ebert's review of the original Zombie Apocalypse movie, George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" (1968), is something of a classic and worth reading.

Dollar-for-dollar, "Night of the Living Dead" is one of the most influential movies ever made, basically giving my generation its very own genre of monster that became world-famous like Dracula or Frankenstein - it's kind of ghoul cool that I saw it in the theater when I was seven; it's kind of irresponsible that my dad took me. :wacko: (Nah, he didn't know.)

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9 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Is this a "suspend your skepticism" kind of thing? Because it's such a basic concept that it takes something silly, and makes it absurd. Okay, it takes something absurd, and makes it impossible under any circumstances.

Yes.  Remember, the zombies in this show (and basically every other end-of-the-world show/movie worth watching) are simply MacGuffins.  The main narrative is the sudden fracturing of human society, and the fallout that ensues as people try to reorganize their lives.  I think the best moments of this show in particular have had very little to do with actual zombies, it's all about inter- and intra-personal conflict.  "The Grove" may be one of the most powerful and disturbing episodes ever to air on a TV show.

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50 minutes ago, TedE said:

Yes.  Remember, the zombies in this show (and basically every other end-of-the-world show/movie worth watching) are simply MacGuffins.  The main narrative is the sudden fracturing of human society, and the fallout that ensues as people try to reorganize their lives.  I think the best moments of this show in particular have had very little to do with actual zombies, it's all about inter- and intra-personal conflict.  "The Grove" may be one of the most powerful and disturbing episodes ever to air on a TV show.

I agree with everything you say, and it's this very aspect that (in my eyes) separates "The Walking Dead" from a lot of work by Quentin Tarantino. However, the zombies serve as something more than just a MacGuffin that fractured (past-tense) society - they're a continuing (present-tense) menace, and they add that big, extra dimension of suspense to an already-bleak situation. (Do you agree?)

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13 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

I agree with everything you say, and it's this very aspect that (in my eyes) separates "The Walking Dead" from a lot of work by Quentin Tarantino. However, the zombies serve as something more than just a MacGuffin that fractured (past-tense) society - they're a continuing (present-tense) menace, and they add that big, extra dimension of suspense to an already-bleak situation. (Do you agree?)

Right, but the continuing threat could be disease, aliens, radioactive fallout, asteroids, cybernetically enhanced mecha-ferrets, whatever.  The underlying story about what happens to society doesn't have to change much.  The whole zombie thing is gripping because of the literal dehumanizing factor of the threat.  Being faced with "things" that were once your loved ones adds an obvious depth to storylines that can be plumbed endlessly.  Or played for cheap thrills.  "The Walking Dead" has done both, but on balance I think instances of the former have been much stronger than telegraphed ploys in service of the latter.

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19 minutes ago, Al Dente said:

It seems to me that the military would mow them all down pretty easily. In fact, the only reason I'd support the 2nd amendment is to fend off zombies.

I'm not squeamish, but I was not drinking the kool-aid on this one.

If you're going to base a fictional world on an unstoppable zombie virus it doesn't make sense to end the story at Chapter 1 :)

The companion show "Fear the Walking Dead" (what an awful title ...) tells that exact story from the earliest days of the outbreak.  I have about a season and a half on DVR to catch up on, but I thought the first few shows were compelling enough to keep recording.  The logic is a familiar disaster story trope: disorganized government response to an unforeseen threat, late and ineffective attempts at quarantine until they are overwhelmed and order breaks down, further decreasing their ability to battle the zombies.  It's another reason for the popularity of the zombie genre: each person defeated by the threat doesn't just reduce humanity's numbers, it increases the strength of the threat itself.  You have to figure there is a tipping point of no return.

"World War Z" (the book, not the terrible, terrible movie) is better-than-average zombie fiction that deals pretty well with how the undead would be able to take over.

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Season Two (Oct 16, 2011 - Mar 18, 2012)

I've just finished this post, and I'm really proud of the photos I've chosen to represent each episode - nothing is a spoiler, but everything should be enough to jog the memories of people who saw the entire season, hopefully even years into the future. This doesn't look like much, but a lot of work and thought went into it - note that if the name of a Director or Writer is used for the first time, a Wikipedia link is included; in subsequent episodes, the name is followed by how many episodes they've worked on up until that point. There is a wonderful Wiki for "The Walking Dead," and each episode is linked to it - that website, walkingdead.wikia.com, should be your primary source of information for this series.

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 15.29.41.png - 2.1 "What Lies Ahead" - Directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton (2) and Ernest Dickerson (2), Written by Frank Darabont (5, under the pseudonym "Ardeth Bey") and Robert Kirkman (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 15.33.31.png - 2.2 "Bloodletting" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (3), Written by Glen Mazzara (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 15.38.41.png - 2.3 "Save the Last One" - Directed by Phil Abraham, Written by Scott Gimple

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 15.44.02.png - 2.4 "Cherokee Rose" - Directed by Billy Gierhart, Written by Evan T. Reilly

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 15.51.25.png - 2.5 "Chupacabra" - Directed by Guy Ferland (2), Written by David Leslie Johnson

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 16.03.37.png - 2.6 "Secrets" (*) - Directed by David Boyd, Written by Angela Kang

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 16.11.27.png - 2.7 "Pretty Much Dead Already" - Directed by Michelle MacLaren (2), Written by Scott Gimple (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 16.16.11.png - 2.8 "Nebraska" - Directed by Clark Johnson, Written by Evan T. Reilly (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 16.31.12.png - 2.9 "Triggerfinger" - Directed by Billy Gierhart (2), Written by David Leslie Johnson (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 16.38.33.png -2.10 - "18 Miles Out" (**) - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (4), Written by Scott Gimple (3) and Glen Mazzara (3)

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 16.45.22.png -2.11 - "Judge, Jury, Executioner" - Directed by Greg Nicotero, Written by Angela Kang (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 16.47.35.png -2.12 - "Better Angels" (***) - Directed by Guy Ferland (3), Written by Evan T. Reilly (3) and Glen Mazzara (4)

Screenshot 2016-06-23 at 16.50.56.png -2.13 - "Beside the Dying Fire" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (5), Written by Robert Kirkman (3) and Glen Mazzara (5)

(*) The most descriptive photo about "Secrets" occurs in "Chupacabra."

(**) I'm a guy; if I were a girl, i.e., more thoughtful and less literal, I would have, and perhaps should have, shown the broken mirror.

(***) There's my make-up call for "18 Miles Out."

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Season Three (Oct 14, 2012 - Mar 13, 2013)

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 13.26.23.png - 3.1 - "Seed" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (6), Written by Glen Mazzara (6)

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 13.32.58.png - 3.2 - "Sick" - Directed by Billy Gierhart (3), Written by Nichole Beattie

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 13.51.32.png - 3.3 - "Walk With Me" - Directed by Guy Ferland (4), Written by Evan T. Reilly (4)

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 13.56.14.png - 3.4 - "Killer Within" - Directed by Guy Ferland (5), Written by Sang Kyu Kim

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 14.02.21.png - 3.5 - "Say the Word" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (2), Written by Angela Kang (3)

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 14.07.00.png - 3.6 - "Hounded" - Directed by Dan Attias, Written by Scott Gimple (4)

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 14.12.19.png - 3.7 - "When the Dead Come Knocking" - Directed by Dan Sackheim, Written by Frank Renzulli

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 14.16.31.png - 3.8 - "Made to Suffer" - Directed by Billy Gierhart (4), Written by Robert Kirkman (4)

Screenshot 2016-06-28 at 14.45.22.png - 3.9 - "The Suicide King" - Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter, Written by Evan T. Reilly (5) <--- This episode is so uneventful that I wasn't even sure what to take a picture of - Andrea and Milton trying to calm down the citizens of Woodbury - in nearly a full rebellion - is as good as anything, I guess.

Screenshot 2016-06-29 at 15.36.57.png - 3.10 - "Home" - Directed by Seith Mann, Written by Nichole Beattie (2) <--- Affectionately known as a "walker bomb"

Screenshot 2016-06-29 at 15.52.56.png - 3.11 - "I Ain't a Judas" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (3), Written by Angela Kang (4)

Screenshot 2016-06-29 at 16.00.15.png - 3.12 - "Clear" - Directed by Tricia Brock (Director of "I'm With the Maestro" on "Mozart in the Jungle"), Written by Scott Gimple (5)

Screenshot 2016-06-29 at 16.13.47.png - 3.13 - "Arrow on the Doorpost" - Directed by David Boyd (2), Written by Ryan C. Coleman

Screenshot 2016-06-29 at 16.24.26.png - 3.14 - "Prey" - Directed by Stefan Schwartz, Written by Evan T. Reilly (6) and Glen Mazzara (7)

Screenshot 2016-06-29 at 16.27.24.png - 3.15 - "This Sorrowful Life" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (4), Written by Scott Gimple (6)

Screenshot 2016-06-29 at 16.37.55.png - 3.16 - "Welcome to the Tombs" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (7), Written by Glen Mazzara (8)

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Season Four (Oct 13, 2013 - Mar 30, 2014)

Screenshot 2016-08-03 at 21.47.38.png - 4.1 - "30 Days Without an Accident" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (5), Written by Scott Gimple (7)

Screenshot 2016-07-01 at 01.46.35.png - 4.2 - "Infected" - Directed by Guy Ferland (6), Written by Angela Kang (5)

Screenshot 2016-07-01 at 01.43.54.png - 4.3 - "Isolation" - Directed by Daniel Sackheim, Written by Robert Kirkman (5)

Screenshot 2016-07-01 at 01.41.38.png - 4.4 - "Indifference" - Directed by Tricia Brock (2), Written by Matt Negrete

Screenshot 2016-08-03 at 21.59.47.png - 4.5 - "Internment" - Directed by David Boyd (3), Written by Channing Powell

Screenshot 2016-08-03 at 22.28.18.png - 4.6 - "Live Bait" - Directed by Michael Uppendahl, Written by Nichole Beattie (3)

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 00.32.44.png - 4.7 - "Dead Weight" - Directed by Jeremy Podeswa, Written by Curtis Gwinn

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 00.29.09.png - 4.8 - "Too Far Gone" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (8), Written by Seth Hoffman

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 00.25.42.png - 4.9 - "After" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (6), Written by Robert Kirkman (6)

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 00.23.19.png - 4.10 - "Inmates" - Directed by Tricia Brock (3), Written by Matt Negrete (2) and Channing Powell (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 00.19.16.png - 4.11 - "Claimed" - Directed by Seith Mann (2), Written by Nichole Beattie (4) and Seth Hoffman (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 14.57.17.png - 4.12 - "Still" - Directed by Julius Ramsay, Written by Angela Kang (6)

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 17.30.14.png - 4.13 - "Alone" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (9), Written by Curtis Gwinn (2)

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 20.58.10.png - 4-14. "The Grove" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis, Written by Scott Gimple (8)

Screenshot 2016-06-30 at 23.26.47.png - 4.15 - "Us" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (7), Written by Nichole Beattie (5) and Seth Hoffman (3) 

Screenshot 2016-07-01 at 01.30.50.png - 4.16 - "A" - Directed by Michelle MacLaren (3), Written by Scott Gimple (9) and Angela Kang (7) <--- Could these past two titles have been an attempt at dark humor: "UsA?" There seems to be some precedent with intra-title word play with "4 I's" in episodes 4.2-4.5.

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Season Five (Oct 12, 2014 - Mar 29, 2015)

Screenshot 2016-07-01 at 16.43.47.png - 5.1 - "No Sanctuary" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (8), Written by Scott Gimple (10)

Screenshot 2016-07-02 at 11.47.12.png - 5.2 - "Strangers" - Directed by David Boyd (4), Written by Robert Kirkman (7)

Screenshot 2016-07-02 at 12.12.27.png - 5.3 - "Four Walls and a Roof" - Directed by Jeffrey F. January, Written by Angela Kang (8) and Corey Reed <--- Bob's reveal during the cold open is one of the greatest "Fuck Yous" I've ever seen (this cannot be viewed without at least watching episode 5.2 first).

Screenshot 2016-07-02 at 23.21.07.png - 5.4 - "Slabtown" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis (2), Written by Matt Negrete (3) and Channing Powell (3)

Screenshot 2016-07-02 at 23.17.35.png - 5.5 - "Self Help" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (10), Written by Heather Bellson and Seth Hoffman (4)

Screenshot 2016-07-02 at 23.08.46.png - 5.6 - "Consumed" - Directed by Seith Mann (3), Written by Matt Negrete (4) and Corey Reed (2)

Screenshot 2016-07-03 at 23.01.21.png - 5.7 - "Crossed" - Directed by Billy Gierhart (5), Written by Seth Hoffman (5)

Screenshot 2016-07-03 at 22.52.33.png - 5.8 - "Coda" - Directed by Ernest Dickerson (11), Written by Angela Kang (9)

Screenshot 2016-07-03 at 21.53.50.png - 5.9 - "What Happened and What's Going On" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (9), Written by Scott Gimple (11)

Screenshot 2016-07-04 at 01.17.07.png - 5.10 - "Them" - Directed by Julius Ramsay (2) and Healther Bellson (2)

Screenshot 2016-07-04 at 21.06.03.png - 5.11 - "The Distance" - Directed by Larysa Kondraki, Written by Seth Hoffman (6)

Screenshot 2016-07-04 at 16.12.54.png - 5.12 - "Remember" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (10), Written by Channing Powell (4)

Screenshot 2016-07-04 at 21.01.37.png - 5.13 - "Forget" - Directed by David Boyd (5), Written by Corey Reed (3)

Screenshot 2016-07-04 at 20.55.09.png - 5.14 - "Spend" - Directed by Jennifer Lynch, Written by Matt Negrete (5)

Screenshot 2016-07-04 at 23.41.55.png - 5.15 - "Try" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis (3), Written by Angela Kang (10)

Screenshot 2016-07-05 at 09.12.36.png - 5.16 - "Conquer" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (11), Written by Scott Gimple (12) and Seth Hoffman (7)

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Season Six - (Oct 11, 2015 - Apr 3, 2016)

Screenshot 2016-07-31 at 00.06.27.png - 6.1 - "First Time Again" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (12), Written by Scott Gimple (13) and Matt Negrete (6)

Screenshot 2016-07-30 at 23.30.22.png - 6.2 - "Just Survive Somehow" - Directed by Jennifer Lynch (2), Written by Seth Hoffman (8)

Screenshot 2016-08-03 at 04.16.15.png - 6.3 - "Thank You" - Directed by Michael Slovis, Written by Angela Kang (11)

Screenshot 2016-07-30 at 23.33.02.png - 6.4 - "Here's Not Here" - Directed by Stephen Williams, Written by Scott Gimple (14)

Screenshot 2016-08-03 at 04.26.30.png - 6.5 - "Now" - Directed by Avi Youabian, Written by Corey Reed (4)

Screenshot 2016-08-03 at 04.38.33.png - 6.6 - "Always Accountable" - Directed by Jeffrey F. January (2), Written by Heather Bellson

Screenshot 2016-08-06 at 15.40.07.png - 6.7 - "Head's Up" - Directed by David Boyd (6), Written by Channing Powell (5)

Screenshot 2016-08-06 at 15.56.11.png - 6.8 - "Start to Finish" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis (4), Written by Matt Negrete (7)

Screenshot 2016-08-06 at 16.01.19.png - 6.9 - "No Way Out" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (13), Written by Seth Hoffman (9)

Screenshot 2016-08-06 at 16.05.57.png - 6.10 - "The Next World" - Directed by Kari Skogland, Written by Angela Kang (12) and Corey Reed (5)

Screenshot 2016-08-21 at 12.42.47.png - 6.11 - "Knots Untie" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis (5), Written by Matt Negrete (8) and Channing Powell (6)

Screenshot 2016-08-21 at 12.59.16.png - 6.12 - "Not Tomorrow Yet" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (14), Written by Seth Hoffman (10)

Screenshot 2016-08-21 at 13.11.03.png - 6.13 - "The Same Boat" - Directed by Billy Gierhart (6), Written by Angela Kang (13)

Screenshot 2016-08-21 at 13.16.34.png - 6.14 - "Twice as Far" - Directed by Alrick Riley, Written by Matt Negrete (9)

Screenshot 2016-08-21 at 13.21.22.png - 6.15 - "East" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis (6), Written by Scott Gimple (15) and Channing Powell (7)

Screenshot 2016-08-21 at 13.25.51.png - 6.16 - "Last Day on Earth" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (15), Written by Scott Gimple (16) and Matt Negrete (10)

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Before Season 7 begins, are there any guesses as to who Negan finished off?

For those of you who haven't seen it yet, there's a trailer on this webpage - not the same trailer that was out a couple months ago, but a new one. The only thing it reveals is that one person in particular wasn't killed.

I'd say "Spoilers Follow," but this isn't a spoiler since it's only a guess:

I originally thought it would be Maggie, because she's so close to death anyway, and Negan wants healthy people to work for him, but now I think I'm going with Carl. The poor kid already lost an eye, he's doomed to live in this awful, post-apocalyptic world, and when Negan is hauling Rick away, you don't hear Carl yelling for Negan to stop (which would be normal for a son to do). Plus, killing Carl would have maximum effect on Rick, and might cause him to say something threatening like he did; although I think losing a son would result in Rick having an emotional breakdown which isn't shown in the trailer (although, damn he sure looks shell-shocked).

Coral.jpg

That said: "Does Negan Kill Daryl? ...." on dailymail.co.uk

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On 10/11/2016 at 11:06 AM, DIShGo said:

I just watched the trailer and I am thinking Carl as well. At first I thought Michonne, but eliminating Rick's new love interest seems too trite. It also seems like Carl's role has been marginalized since he lost his eye. 

It seems to me that if they kill off Daryl, they'll be cutting off their nose to spite their face - why would they eliminate their most popular character? It might provide for maximum shock value, but it will only hurt them as the series progresses because fans will begin to care less. That's my thinking, anyway.

Everyone likes Carl, but he really has become expendable at this point, and they'll really be able to play up the psychological impact it would have on Rick.

In the comic book, The Governor amputates Rick's wrist ....

---

IMPORTANT: It goes without saying that if anyone finds out anything (even a few days after the episode airs), it's *imperative* that you precede your comments with:

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

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*** SPOILER ALERT ***

"'The Walking Dead' Season 7 Episode 1 Review: The Wrath of Negan" by Erik Kain on forbes.com

From the article:

"Much better was Rick very nearly cutting off Carl's arm. It was almost biblical: The binding of Isaac, in which Abraham is tasked by God to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him, only to withdraw the command at the last moment."

Not to sound condescending, but: "No shit, Sherlock."

"Sacrifice of Issac" - Caravaggio

"sacrifice-of-isaac-1602.jpg

"The Sacrifice of Isaac" - Chagall

chagall_slaying_isaac432x355.jpg

I guess this kind of makes Rick (in advance, I'm *so* sorry for saying this) "Abraham Lincoln."

As an aside, can you imagine *anyone* trying to pull this off today? Good luck explaining *that* one to the judge!

Ask yourselves this: Would you like The Walking Dead if it wasn't so violent? If yes, you're a fan of the series; if no, you're a fan of torture porn. If the answer is "Violence is part and parcel of The Walking Dead," then you're a fan of torture porn.

A much better review:

"'The Walking Dead' Just Isn't Fun Anymore" by Melissa Leon on thedailybeast.com

Every time I see a young person write an article of this quality, I have hope for this world.

"The Walking Dead's Season Premiere Wasn't Worth It" by Rob Bricken on io9.gizmodo.com

"Has 'The Walking Dead' Finally Gone Too Far for Its Fans?" by Kelly Lawler on usatoday.com

"The Walking Dead Quitters' Club: Goodbye for Real" by Bryan Bishop and Nick Statt on theverge.com

"Negan Promises He's 'Just Getting Started,' But Have Walking Dead Fans Already Seen Enough Misery?" by Meredith Woerner on latimes.com

PS - Look at the picture I chose to represent Season 6, Episode 16, "Last Day on Earth" (and no, I didn't guess; I was just lucky).

In Season 7, Episode 1, the most important dramatic element is the total, absolute, unqualified capitulation of Rick, and it took me two pictures to convey that - this is, to date, the only episode that is represented by two pictures.

A few other questions:

1) Why didn't Abraham - a total bad-ass - try to duck-and-roll when the bat was swung for the first time?

2) I'm a little surprised that Carl - youngster though he may be - didn't take a stand, and tell Negan to go fuck himself. It would have been in character for him to say "I'd rather die like a man, then be a slave to this dipshit" - especially when his dad was falling apart right in front of him.

3) What was the hatchet doing on the roof next to Rick? Had he already grabbed it, and if so, why didn't he just go back into the RV?

I'll miss Abraham and Glenn; I'm glad Carl didn't have to suffer any more than he has, although at this point, I see no happier ending for anyone than death itself - the only people I remember dying with smiles on their faces are Edwin Jenner and Jacqui in Season 1, Episode 6: TS-19 - they died completely at peace, and with a sense of tranquility I don't believe we've seen since.

Maybe in the final episode, Rick will wake up in the hospital, coming out of a multi-year coma, surrounded by Lori, Carl, his daughter Judith whom he's never seen, Shane, Daryl, Glenn, Michonne, Dale, and the rest of the hospital workers, with Head Nurse Carol stepping forward and saying, "You've been delirious for several days, my poor dear - we didn't think you were going to make it, but your fever finally broke, and you're back now." And Rick's first words are, "I had some kind of dream, and all I remember is wanting to go home. Oh, Lori, I want to go home. There's no place like home ... there's no place like home ...."

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Season Seven - (Oct 23, 2016 -)

Screenshot 2016-10-24 at 10.20.00.pngScreenshot 2016-10-24 at 10.20.02.png - 7.1 - "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (16), Written by Scott Gimple (17)Screenshot 2016-11-11 at 08.23.55.png - 7.2 - "The Well" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (17), Written by Matt Negrete (11)
Screenshot 2016-12-12 at 08.59.44.png - 7.3 - "The Cell" - Directed by Alrick Riley (2), Written by Angela Kang (14)
Screenshot 2016-12-12 at 09.24.10.png - 7.4 - "Service" -  Directed by David Boyd (7), Written By Corey Reed (6)
Screenshot 2016-12-12 at 09.34.53.png - 7.5 - "Go Getters" - Directed by Darnell Martin, Written by Channing Powell (8)
Screenshot 2016-12-12 at 09.43.59.png - 7.6 - "Swear" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis (7), Written by David Leslie Johnson (3)
Screenshot 2016-12-12 at 09.55.41.png - 7.7 - "Sing Me a Song" - Directed by Rosemary Rodriguez, Written by Angela Kang (15) and Corey Reed (7)
Screenshot 2016-12-12 at 10.45.15.pngScreenshot 2016-12-12 at 10.44.30.png - 7.8 - "Hearts Still Beating" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis (8), Written by Matthew Negrete (12) and Channing Powell (9)
Screenshot 2017-02-23 at 7.55.09 AM.png - 7.9 - "Rock in the Road" - Directed by Greg Nicotero (18), Written by Angela Kang (16)
Screenshot 2017-02-23 at 11.26.46 AM.png - 7.10 - "New Best Friends" - Directed by Jeffrey F. January (3), Written by Channing Powell (10)

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6 hours ago, DonRocks said:

A much better review:

"'The Walking Dead' Just Isn't Fun Anymore" by Melissa Leon on thedailybeast.com

Every time I see a young person write an article of this quality, I have hope for this world.

PS - Look at the picture I chose to represent Season 6, Episode 16, "Last Day on Earth" (and no, I didn't guess).

...

I'll miss Abraham and Glenn; I'm glad Carl didn't have to suffer any more than he has, although at this point, I see no happier ending for anyone than death itself - the only people I remember dying with smiles on their faces are Edwin Jenner and Jacqui in Season 1, Episode 6: TS-19 - they died completely at peace, and with a sense of tranquility I don't believe we've seen since.

Melissa Leon's excellent review sums up exactly how I feel about the show after Season 6 and last night's episode. I will keep watching for a while, and I heard next week's episode is supposed to be "funny," but I have lost a great deal of enthusiasm for the series. 

***SPOILERS FOLLOW***

While waiting for last night's premiere to begin, I rewatched Season 6, Episode 16. I thought Abraham might be Negan's victim because of the foreshadowing in that episode. Glenn, however, took me by complete surprise.

I had nightmares last night, about Glenn and his altered face, specifically. As I watched last night's episode, all I could think about was how, if I were a character on the show, suicide would feel like the only option. Back in Season 1, Episode 6, this decision seemed like a cop-out to me. The overwhelming sense of hopelessness in the current story arc is mind numbing, and has made the show difficult for me to enjoy.

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On 10/24/2016 at 3:34 PM, DIShGo said:

Back in Season 1, Episode 6, this decision seemed like a cop-out to me. The overwhelming sense of hopelessness in the current story arc is mind numbing, and has made the show difficult for me to enjoy.

Think back to how *good* the series was back then. That episode was *so interesting*, and although unique, was emblematic of the series' quality as a whole. The Walking Dead may be "sensational," but beginning with Season 6, Episode 1 - and continuing through that whole, God-forsaken season - this has been a series in decline - I don't understand why more "fans" aren't up-in-arms about how *bad* Season 6 was.

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I think this series started going south in season 2. Season 3 confirmed it for me. It just gets repetitive and not interesting anymore. One of the things that I find problematic with most series on TV is that people are never really given the opportunity to tell just one story with a beginning, middle and end. Everyone is looking for an amazing series to then milk to death with endless repetition, surprises, twists and turns of an unexpected (yet grow to be expected) type. <sigh> I am sure it is all about making money and if people keep watching, that is what will continue to happen. But I find it tiresome.  That said, there is plenty of other stuff to watch out there, and I'll keep searching for the good stuff.

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I just finished Season 7, Episode 2, "The Well."

The best thing about "The Walking Dead" was that, even though it was comic book nonsense from the get-go (I mean, come on, Zombie Apocalypse?), it somehow pulled it off while being *dramatically realistic*. 

Somehow, some way, they made it all seem real, and even plausible - that's remarkable!

Now?

It's comic book nonsense that's *coming across* as comic book nonsense. 

Season 6 - the whole damned season - was *so boring*, but I - like the rest of viewers - was willing to give it one last chance.

Season 7, Episode 1 ("The Negan Episode") was action-packed, yes, and I think it might have also been the end of the entire series. It came a year too late - the entire Season 6 was a waste of everybody's time - but now, there's nothing left. 

I don't care about Carol.

I don't care about Rick.

I don't care about Maggie.

I don't care about Morgan.

I don't even *remember* Daryl or Michonne.

There's nobody left to care about.

I'm not going to sit here and say I won't watch next week's show, but I'm pretty sure that inside my head, the series is over, and now, it's just a technicality - looking back, I think the series has been over for a long time now. Like with many "relationships," you don't realize something is over, until after it has been over for a long, long time.

This might be different if I was power-watching in retrospect, like I did with the first 6 seasons, but the "once-a-week" thing? That's just not going to fly, at least not deep inside my head.

I think it's over. And the reason I think it's over is because I honestly just don't care what happens.

I'd say, "It sucks," but it actually doesn't - it's almost like it no longer even exists. I honestly feel like I have better things to worry about, and to do with my time right now. I'm just not into it anymore.

Clemson is 8-0. *That* is worth worrying about.

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They are trying too hard. That's what I thought watching "The Well," Season 7, Episode 2, of the Walking Dead. The dialogue was awkward and the humor felt forced. Coming off of last week's dark and violent premiere, the writers tried to lighten things up. But the result was a cartoonish mess.

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*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***

On 10/24/2016 at 10:40 AM, DonRocks said:

Season Seven - (Oct 23, 2016 -)
Screenshot 2016-12-12 at 10.45.15.pngScreenshot 2016-12-12 at 10.44.30.png - 7.8 - "Hearts Still Beating" - Directed by Michael Satrazemis (8), Written by Matthew Negrete (12) and Channing Powell (9)

There is one word that I thought I would *never* use to describe "The Walking Dead" - "maudlin."

Yet, that is precisely the word that may be the (forgive me) Savior of this series, because it had become so scattershot, so distributed and decentralized, so unfocused, that I no longer cared about anybody or anything. They could have killed off the entire cast via slow torture, and I'd have simply shrugged my shoulders and moved on to the next series. 

"The Walking Dead" is by no means (again, forgive me) out of the woods, but beginning with Episode 7, and culminating with Episode 8 (the mid-season finale), my level of interest has once again been piqued: I might (repeat: might) care about the characters again. 

Yes, this was contrived, but after the dark, divergent path, down which the series had aimlessly drifted, it *needed* to be contrived - while not technically Deus ex Machina this was *virtual* Deus ex Machina.

Saccharine leaves a bitter aftertaste, but if you've been fed a steady diet of arugula for months, if not years, it will taste like the most beautiful sweetener there is. Oh, this was saccharine, all right, to the point of being farce, but the whole point of farce is that the audience is in on it - and after all, we're dealing with a post-zombie-apocalyptic world, so let's all do a group gut check and realize what we've been so concerned about for all these years: a post-zombie-apocalyptic world, for God's sake. 

Looking up after the first eight episodes of season seven, I feel like asking, alone and aloud, "What the hell just happened?" And I really don't know. But somehow, the producers and writers managed to construct one, gigantic shovel, and with one single, enormous dig, were able to scoop up all the shit, and fling it over the fence.

Plausible? Of course not. Not even within the absurd realm of a post-apocalyptic world. Necessary? Absolutely yes. It's like Lance Armstrong apologizing to Oprah - he has lost fans forever, and there was nothing he could have done to prevent that, but at least he starts clean going forward: What he does with the rest of his life is entirely up to him.

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The Walking Dead has died.

Tonight's episode was akin to walking in and watching your child play 45 random minutes of a random shoot-em-up video game. There are no more characters, there is no more plot, there are no more locations; it's just go-forth-and-shoot, go-forth-and-shoot, go-forth-and-shoot. There are no limits on ammunition, and all of the characters have become equally unimportant.

Thinking back, the last good arc I can remember was Terminus, and that was several seasons ago. I've watched every episode, and am seriously considering throwing in the towel - the producers have apparently decided that the financial future in this franchise lies in spin-offs and video games; the show itself no longer matters, and hasn't mattered in a long time.

I just scrolled up and looked at posts I made a year ago, and I was thinking the same thing then - incredibly, it has gotten even worse.

"'The Walking Dead' Season 2, Episode 2 Review: A Total Mess" by Erik Kain on forbes.com

From the article:

"I don't understand what's happening with The Walking Dead. I don't understand how it's come to this, how it's fallen so far."

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