THE WALKING DEAD - SEASON 5

[gmillerdrake]

All the hype for the Season 5 opener finally got me to start watching it, and hoo boy what a show. Just started S4, I'll be back in a week...

yeah.....   ......one more sucker....errr.....fan to add to the mix!!! Can't wait to hear your input RJ!!!

[Jamesman42]

Does no one like slow builds to episodes anymore? I loved the atmosphere of this episode. Creepy and mysterious.

[orcus116]

Slow builds work if a) you have an interesting character to develop and b) the show hadn't completely underwhelmed in the past with bad payoffs.

[lonestar]

All the hype for the Season 5 opener finally got me to start watching it, and hoo boy what a show. Just started S4, I'll be back in a week...

yeah.....   ......one more sucker....errr.....fan to add to the mix!!! Can't wait to hear your input RJ!!!

I'm averaging four episodes a day. I need help.

[Metro]

I thought what happened was that after Chris Rock had escaped he met Daryl and Carol who had arrived the night before and started watching the place from the outside, Rock told them he knew Beth and the way to sneak into the community, he told them Dawn won't take Daryl cause he's an able bodied man who can fight back and would probably take Carol since she looks like a weak old woman, so somehow Carol let herself cross ways with the cops to get in and escape with Beth somehow with help from Daryl from the outside.

That could be the case....sounds plausible. I don't see why then they wouldn't have shown both Daryl and Carol come out of the woods at night to greet Michonne. I had the impression that Daryl went first to check it out so that if the group was there they'd see a familiar face? He then would call back to Noah....who I guess....he ran across as he escaped and he and Carol had a run in with the Cops...she getting caught. I guess we will find out sooner or later....I mean, it doesn't seem like Gimple is in to dragging things out at all.......

COMIC Spoiler Talk
Andrew Lincoln has been clean shaven in some recent appearances and his only indication as to what's going on is that some 'pretty cool stuff'....pretty generic but it makes me believe that at some point this season, possibly mid season finale or shortly thereafter they either find Alexandria or that small community of homes where they camped out for a few days allowing them to re-group and shave/rest/refuel. I'm thinking Alexandria.....and if that's the case that would lend a good possibility of Negan making an appearance as soon as next season or maybe even the finale of this season??

Filming spoilers, you have been warned:
I can confirm that Alexandria will appear this season. In Senoia, GA they fenced off a neighborhood and word has it that they will be there for the next few years. It has the bell tower from the comics, there's no way it couldn't be Alexandria. They've been filming at that location for the past month or so. I'd expect to see it towards the end of the season. Check out The Spoiling Dead Fans on Facebook if you don't believe me.


Don't expect to see Negan this season. It's too soon. They have plenty of story to tell before then and they would almost be caught up with the comic if they introduced him this season. Not a good idea.

[gmillerdrake]

I thought what happened was that after Chris Rock had escaped he met Daryl and Carol who had arrived the night before and started watching the place from the outside, Rock told them he knew Beth and the way to sneak into the community, he told them Dawn won't take Daryl cause he's an able bodied man who can fight back and would probably take Carol since she looks like a weak old woman, so somehow Carol let herself cross ways with the cops to get in and escape with Beth somehow with help from Daryl from the outside.

That could be the case....sounds plausible. I don't see why then they wouldn't have shown both Daryl and Carol come out of the woods at night to greet Michonne. I had the impression that Daryl went first to check it out so that if the group was there they'd see a familiar face? He then would call back to Noah....who I guess....he ran across as he escaped and he and Carol had a run in with the Cops...she getting caught. I guess we will find out sooner or later....I mean, it doesn't seem like Gimple is in to dragging things out at all.......

COMIC Spoiler Talk
Andrew Lincoln has been clean shaven in some recent appearances and his only indication as to what's going on is that some 'pretty cool stuff'....pretty generic but it makes me believe that at some point this season, possibly mid season finale or shortly thereafter they either find Alexandria or that small community of homes where they camped out for a few days allowing them to re-group and shave/rest/refuel. I'm thinking Alexandria.....and if that's the case that would lend a good possibility of Negan making an appearance as soon as next season or maybe even the finale of this season??

Filming spoilers, you have been warned:
I can confirm that Alexandria will appear this season. In Senoia, GA they fenced off a neighborhood and word has it that they will be there for the next few years. It has the bell tower from the comics, there's no way it couldn't be Alexandria. They've been filming at that location for the past month or so. I'd expect to see it towards the end of the season. Check out The Spoiling Dead Fans on Facebook if you don't believe me.


Don't expect to see Negan this season. It's too soon. They have plenty of story to tell before then and they would almost be caught up with the comic if they introduced him this season. Not a good idea.

Wow that is really cool!!! It just seems to fit the timing of the show and the way things were progressing. I guess there is plenty of material to go off of even after finding Alexandria before they'd have to introduce Negan.....but it is close. I am so curious as to 1.) Who they are going to cast for that Iconic role because....it's a pretty vital role and the wrong person playing him could kill that character and 2.) how the heck they are going to get past the fact that every other word out of his mouth is FU%K!

[Fluffy Lothario]

@lonestar: you've never watched the show, and you're starting at S4? Any reason why? I mean, if so, you've literally jumped in 2/3rds of the way through a major story arc.

[lonestar]

@lonestar: you've never watched the show, and you're starting at S4? Any reason why? I mean, if so, you've literally jumped in 2/3rds of the way through a major story arc.

No, maybe I misstated myself. I started at episode one about three days after season 5 premiered. Plowed through it up to S4. As I said, I need help.

[Fluffy Lothario]

Oh, I see. Jesus, that's a LOT of WD in one month.

Having said that, I watched all of Breaking Bad in I think two months, and I took a week break at the end of S3.

I'm curious what your impressions were of each season once you're done.

[Dimitrius]

Slow builds work if a) you have an interesting character to develop and b) the show hadn't completely underwhelmed in the past with bad payoffs.

And Beth isn't interesting and the show has sucked with its payoffs so far.

[gmillerdrake]

Does no one like slow builds to episodes anymore?

Certainly. But like orcus says
 

Slow builds work if a) you have an interesting character to develop and b) the show hadn't completely underwhelmed in the past with bad payoffs.

and

Slow builds work if a) you have an interesting character to develop and b) the show hadn't completely underwhelmed in the past with bad payoffs.

I'll definitely give Gimple the benefit of the doubt and hold off complete 'bashing' of the episode until the season has played out...it's clear he understands the show and I'd bet this episode and the entire 'hospital' story arc have a purpose....even if that purpose is to essentially 'rescue' the character of Beth from being just a background waste of time character and give her a more prominent...interesting role. As has been mentioned....the actress actually had a good episode...probably her best yet.

[ariich]

Slow builds work if a) you have an interesting character to develop and b) the show hadn't completely underwhelmed in the past with bad payoffs.

And Beth isn't interesting and the show has sucked with its payoffs so far.

I can't understand why people here don't like Beth, I think she's pretty cool.

And some of the payoffs did suck a couple of seasons ago, but recently the show has been on a roll.

[Zantera]

I would be thrilled if Carol getting into the hospital is indeed a plan, and they are trying to break out Beth, and we will see Carol go badass-mode and break her out. But given the history of this show and how events like this have played out before, I have a feeling Carol doesn't know Beth is there, she wasn't "caught" on purpose and we will get another 2 slow hospital episodes before they get away.

[Big Hath]

I can't understand why people here don't like Beth, I think she's pretty cool.

ditto that.

I like how they've brought her from a naive little girl to the end of this past episode where she looked like she was ready to take on the entire hospital with a pair of scissors.  Sure, she's not at Carol-level badass, but she seems to be making the change.

[gmillerdrake]

]I can't understand why people here don't like Beth, I think she's pretty cool.

For me.....her character has never really been one that stood out to me to really care about. Certainly her character.....like all the others has progressed....and this past episode did do a lot to show that progression by her surmising that the DR. had her kill that guy because he was a DR as well....her setting up the cop to get eaten and the escape.....certainly she's 'grown'.

But....up until this past episode she's never 'stole' a scene for me or done anything to where I was invested in her character. She could easily disappear from the show and it wouldn't affect me one way or the other. But it does look like Gimple has plans for her and is making an attempt to involve and grow her character more.

[Dimitrius]

But....up until this past episode she's never 'stole' a scene for me or done anything to where I was invested in her character. She could easily disappear from the show and it wouldn't affect me one way or the other.

Exactly!

When she was first introduced it was interesting to see the suicide angle they brought with her (and that was quickly forgotten), after that all she's been doing is standing in the back of scenes while attending the baby or once in a while singing around a campfire. Doesn't exactly scream interesting.

[gmillerdrake]

But....up until this past episode she's never 'stole' a scene for me or done anything to where I was invested in her character. She could easily disappear from the show and it wouldn't affect me one way or the other.

Exactly!

When she was first introduced it was interesting to see the suicide angle they brought with her (and that was quickly forgotten), after that all she's been doing is standing in the back of scenes while attending the baby or once in a while singing around a campfire. Doesn't exactly scream interesting.

I agree they had something there with the suicide angle...but they failed to develop her and just allowed her character to fall into the shadows and occasionally sing to everyone while she fed Judith.

And for me....the episode they gave her character with Daryl that was designed to really announce her character and establish it.....fell short. I didn't find Emily Kinney's performance compelling at all in it.....actually, to me....it was pretty lousy acting. She was much better in this last episode.....but that episode with her and Daryl was brutal acting IMO....Norman Reedus couldn't even save it.

Listen...I'm a huge fan of the TV show....I think Gimple's done a great job at getting this show back on track and making it compelling to watch. But I have a hard time 'caring' about ancillary characters who've done nothing to compell me to care about them....and Beth is one of them. I'm not even a big fan of Maggie....she's an important role but her character on the show just one step up from Beth for me. Anyway.....there are several cool characters that are to come so I'm just hoping that with Gimple at the helm they are develped in a manner to where they are as prominent and vital and interesting as they are in the novel....

[Podaar]

And for me....the episode they gave her character with Daryl that was designed to really announce her character and establish it.....fell short. I didn't find Emily Kinney's performance compelling at all in it.....actually, to me....it was pretty lousy acting. She was much better in this last episode.....but that episode with her and Daryl was brutal acting IMO....Norman Reedus couldn't even save it.

Yeah, this is why (up until now) I didn't care about Beth--she just wasn't a believable person based on Kinney's performance.

I'm actually completely turned around now. I thought she did a terrific job last week, and I actually care to find out what happens with her. On her own, she's responding to threat more in the way Daryl or Rick would. Her environment is rubbing off...now that she's seen Carol (not knowing what Carol has done to help the others) it could be completely fascinating to see what happens.

What if she's still of the mind that Carol abandoned them and was at least partially responsible for loosing the Prison? What if she tries to exact retribution?

[Zantera]

I don't mind Beth, the problem is that she is currently a weak character. Don't get me wrong, she had some pretty good moments in the last episode and did some things she might not had done a few seasons ago, but when it's an episode about one of the characters being "trapped" with another group with a ruthless leader, Beth being that character is just a bit underwhelming. If it had been one of the characters known to fight back, and one of the characters who could hold their own, it would have been a more interesting dynamic. But then again, if someone like Rick or Darryl ended up at the hospital, they would probably have been taken out of the picture before they got a chance to do something.

[gmillerdrake]

I don't mind Beth, the problem is that she is currently a weak character. Don't get me wrong, she had some pretty good moments in the last episode and did some things she might not had done a few seasons ago, but when it's an episode about one of the characters being "trapped" with another group with a ruthless leader, Beth being that character is just a bit underwhelming. If it had been one of the characters known to fight back, and one of the characters who could hold their own, it would have been a more interesting dynamic. But then again, if someone like Rick or Darryl ended up at the hospital, they would probably have been taken out of the picture before they got a chance to do something.

It could be that Gimple is attempting to turn Beth in to that type a character with this situation? Judging from what we saw it's certain that had any of the male characters been taken they'd have been killed.....Had it been Maggie or Sasha I doubt they'd have played it as smooth as Beth did...they'd have fought back sooner. Like Gregg mentioned...this was a good episode for Beth due to the fact Emily Kinney's performance was good...it's started a groundwork (for me) to 'care' about what happens to her where as in the past as I've mentioned I could care less.


Having read the comic and knowing that there are at least (5) characters that are coming soon to be introduced...that are rather 'vital' to the story....I'm just curious as to if/when they are going to start thinning the herd in the group to make room/time for these 'new' characters to be introduced/developed while on screen. I mean...there's only so much you can do in 43 minutes?

[lonestar]

On the last episode of S4, should be caught up by Sunday. Then it's five pages of thread to read 

[Metro]

Theory about Tara


Comic Spoilers
In the Comics, Carol tries to join Rick and Lori in a 3 way marriage, but they decline and Carol eventually gives herself up to a walker. Mr. Gimple seems to be all about revisiting and remixing scenarios from the comics. Maybe Tara tries to join in on Glenn and Maggie's marriage and the same situation happens? I recall her looking at Maggie kinda longingly back in episode 2 this season.

[lucky7]

Is that comic spoiler for real or fake? If real I am glad they have gone in a different direction.

lonestar you are a stronger person than me, if I wasn't up to date and came onto this forum there is no way I couldn't read spoilers.....hang in there, S5 is worth the wait! 

[Metro]

It's True. Comic Carol is the 100% polar opposite of TV Carol

[Dimitrius]

TV-Carol is basically Comic-Andrea.

[gmillerdrake]

On the last episode of S4, should be caught up by Sunday. Then it's five pages of thread to read 

This is quite an amazing feat!! You'll be sizing up every environment you find yourself in as to the quickest way out when the group of 'walkers' comes crashing in....what will I use as a weapon.....should I go it alone or find a group.....

I am very curious as to your opinion on the show being that you've essentially watched it straight through and everything is fresh.

[gmillerdrake]

Theory about Tara


Comic Spoilers
In the Comics, Carol tries to join Rick and Lori in a 3 way marriage, but they decline and Carol eventually gives herself up to a walker. Mr. Gimple seems to be all about revisiting and remixing scenarios from the comics. Maybe Tara tries to join in on Glenn and Maggie's marriage and the same situation happens? I recall her looking at Maggie kinda longingly back in episode 2 this season.

That is quite interesting indeed! I can totally see that happening.....in fact, now that you mention it....it is set up for that.

[gmillerdrake]

TV-Carol is basically Comic-Andrea.

Yep. It really is a shame how badly they butchered TV Andrea's character compared to comic Andrea.

[lonestar]

S5, E1...wow, just wow.

(totally called the cannibal aspect though, saw that coming from miles away)

[Aefenwelg]

Something from the most recent episode made me think.

So, we all know the trope that people in zombie-genre media have never had the thought of the dead coming back to life, so nobody knows the word "zombie".
But the characters have to refer to the zombies somehow, so the writers have them come up with their own names.

Rick's group calls them "walkers". That makes some sense. Dead people aren't supposed to walk and zombie's basically only stand or walk around when they aren't trying to eat people.
So "walkers" describes zombies' primary action. It's fine.

I think it was the Woodbury group that called them "biters". This one is good. Probably better than "walkers". Again, zombies pretty much just stumble around and try to bite people.
"Walkers" describes their more boring action. When you think of a zombie, you probably think about how they eat human flesh.

Now the hospital people: "Rotters"?
I understand what the writers are doing. Disparate groups of people will come up with different ways to talk about zombies. But "rotters"?

[Zook]

Better than Geeks.

[Metro]

Don't question it, or Dawn will slap you.

[lonestar]

OK, guess I'll get some thoughts down for the series.....

Season 1- Too short, but awesome. I know it was meant to be a miniseries, but damn I wish they had stretched out some of the initial story lines, and covered more of the breakdown of society, it's always one of my favorite parts of any post-apocalyptic tale.

Season 2- Solid, though the Sophia story was a bit dragged, and I felt that the farm was a bit too safe considering how fucked they were in every other living situation. Good ending to the Sophia storyline though, really set a somber tone for the coming tales.

Season 3- Good stuff, governer is such a dick man, love him. Michone quickly became a favorite of mine as well.

Season 4- So lame they had to kill Herschel, but my favorite season otherwise, a lot of the tales seemed closest to what this reality would really be like. Especially loved the episode with Carl and Rick in the house and the one with the two little girls, Tyrese, and Carole haunted me, having the one kid be a psychotic killer was spooky as fuck, and the scene where Carol had to put her down, just brilliantly done.

On S5, E2 now, like that they are going to draw out the cannibal storyline, should make for some epic shit.

[Tom Bombadil]

That ending was awesome.

[Phoenix87x]

That ending was awesome.

Yeah it was.

I had a feeling that was going to happen, with Eugene's personality, it makes sense.

And its sad that all big ginger was trying to do was protect his family and they disowned him for it. geez