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Con Suite => Movies and TV Shows => Topic started by: Transmute Jun on October 08, 2018, 09:05:31 AM

Title: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on October 08, 2018, 09:05:31 AM
Who is watching this season? What did you think of the first episode? As a fan of the comics, I was very pleased, especially by the parts with Gregory.

This is my review of the first episode of the season.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/10/08/focc-review-twd-a-new-beginning/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9
Post by: perc2100 on October 23, 2018, 11:46:21 AM
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Who is watching this season? What did you think of the first episode? As a fan of the comics, I was very pleased, especially by the parts with Gregory.

This is my review of the first episode of the season.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/10/08/focc-review-twd-a-new-beginning/
So far this is the best season in awhile, IMO!  I'm digging the character development & situation developments; I think focusing on the dynamics between the different settlements, as well as The Saviors being 'assimilated' into the societal fold.  For the first time in years I feel invested and interested in seeing just where all of this goes.  I kinda hate that a) Rick is exiting and thus b) the show making it a focal point in advertising or whatnot: it _COULD_ obfuscate the rest of the dynamics if handled not-so-great.  Before the season started I was real nervous the focus would be too heavy on Rick's exit, but I feel better about it after the first several eps.  I really think the internal changes have been a huge positive for this series!

Now the big question: how do you think Rick will exit?  Death?  Disappearing/leaving into the sunset?
Speculation: the 'civil war'ish strife will come to a head w/someone killing Rick (maybe pseudo-accidentally?) causing things to get worse before they rally together to deal with
Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.
, who will likely close out the first-half of the season with a show that they mean business (no spoilers, but comic readers know what I'm saying)
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9
Post by: Devorah on October 23, 2018, 11:47:46 AM
I haven't read the thread since I missed the last episode and don't know if there are *SPOILERS* so...

[member=314]Transmute Jun[/member] can you please add either Spoilers or No Spoilers to the subject line? Thanks :)
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9
Post by: perc2100 on October 28, 2018, 01:14:06 PM
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I haven't read the thread since I missed the last episode and don't know if there are *SPOILERS* so...

[member=314]Transmute Jun[/member] can you please add either Spoilers or No Spoilers to the subject line? Thanks :)

FWIW, assuming you a) see AMC commercials for the show and you b) know a certain character is leaving the series, there aren't any spoilers.  I put one name in spoilers that is maybe more known to comic readers than just show watchers, but FWIW there have already been cast members announced for said...name.  I kept my post spoiler-free, and Transmute Jun mainly just posted a link to his review.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on October 28, 2018, 01:38:21 PM
Spoilers tag was placed in the title of the thread.

I agree with Perc that the group of people mentioned is clearly evident at the end of the season 9 trailer. They have not yet appeared on the show. The 'spoilers' involved in that are minimal, at best, and anyone who has not read the comics doesn't really understand what that's about anyhow.

Regardless, the point in taken that there are spoilers being discussed, hence the title change. ;)

And my episode reviews for the FoCC Blog are always published with a spoiler warning at the top. For those who are interested, here are the reviews for the last couple of episodes.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/10/15/focc-review-twd-902-the-bridge/

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/10/22/focc-review-twd-903-warning-signs/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on October 29, 2018, 12:12:39 PM
This is my episode 4 review.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/10/29/focc-review-twd-904-the-obliged/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on October 30, 2018, 09:36:38 AM
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This is my episode 4 review.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/10/29/focc-review-twd-904-the-obliged/
I agree with a lot of this.  The horse-bucking part was confounding, and I was with you, watching baffled, as the horse was seemingly the most chill horse I've ever seen for every moment except the convenient bad timing/location of bucking Rick.  But, I did appreciate the moment, as it felt like a nice callback to the pilot episode (minus the tank - and we'll see if the horse succumbs to the same fate as Rick's horse in the pilot).
I rolled my eyes at the machismo nonsense on display of Rick "fighting" Darryl in what seemed a bit out of character for Rick at this time in the series, but again the payoff (Rick calling Darryl 'brother') was worth it.

I definitely didn't think Rick would start his demise like this, that's for sure.  I wonder how much next week will be hallucinations and flashbacks, how Rick saves himself, etc.  I don't think there's any way Rick bleeds out/gets eaten while impaled by rebar.  I suspect he'll magically get off the rebar, head over to his insanely chill horse, cross the bridge (which probably will hold), and get back to his people.  And THEN die while saying proper goodbyes.  I'm holding judgement, but IDK if I'm a huge fan of this development (so far, this episode is my only 'huh/meh' moment of this youngish season).  The new showrunner seems not into the doom and gloom/nihilism of the last few seasons, so I can get shaping this big departure into more of a "popular TV show exit" type of thing rather than something darker: and I'm generally OK with that.  Rick/Lincoln has earned that, and after how they (WAY mis)handled Carl's death last year, this feels more like a proper pseudo-course correction.

In the comics, Negan didn't work well for me throughout much of the 'All-Out War' storyline.  He felt like the epitome of a comic booky badguy, and his dialogue really bugged me (note: as a 40+ year old he might not have been created for my demographic).  It wasn't until the aftermath/rebuilding/Whisperers storyline where I felt the character really became nuanced and clicked for me.  Just as the Governor before him, the show has handled Negan much better for the most part and I've been looking forward to his arc developing further long before Rick slashed his throat.  I'm really happy they kept Jeffrey Dean Morgan around (or rather, I'm glad he's staying around + the show is seemingly sticking to the comics script a bit here).  Shifting his interactions to Michonne makes a lot of sense, and I think it could work just as well as the comics with Negan + Carl.  Michonne is a criminally underdeveloped character, but in the books and in the show, and both have gone to greater links recently to fix that: I like this turn of Michonne confiding in Negan and vice versa and am interested to see where it goes.

The real question mark for me is what happens next w/everyone else in the communities.  The civil war-esque plotline that feels developing seems both a realistic 'growing pains' kind of turn, but also a retread.  With the 1 year+ time jump, logically I would've thought these growing pains would've significantly eased up before now.  Part of me, though, is glad we're not jumping right into "big bad of the season/half-season/year" with the Whisperers - a group that overstayed their welcome in the comics.  If things work out the way I think they will, I'm glad (hoping?) The Whisperers won't be a dozen-episode+ arc but only time will tell.  While I'm more interested in getting to the Commonwealth and expanding our characters' world even more, I'm OK with teasing that out a bit longer.
I guess a secondary question is what's up with the helicopter: and who's Jadis talking to/dealing with/trading human beings for supplies with?!?!  Episode 3 dropped a huge bombshell with no real followup (I think?).  The Jadis & Gabriel relationship is interesting enough I guess, but feels more like wheel-spinning/servicing the actors more than the story.

Well, next week we raise a glass for Rick (I think ep. 4 all but confirmed he's likely dying and not just riding off into the sunset).  To be honest, I'm more excited for this season of TWD than I have been in years!  I'm legit interested in "what's gonna happen next," even if I'm anxious to move past Rick's demise and get on with things.  Part of me wishes Kirkman would've 'left' Rick in the comics and shifted focus on others, and I agree with Lincoln and other cast members this is going to hopefully be a good direction for the show
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on October 30, 2018, 12:14:14 PM
The problem I have with shifting focus to other characters in the show is that those other characters might be Daryl... and I've always found Daryl to be kind of boring. He's not interesting, he's not fun to watch... he's just kind of there, and pouty when necessary for plot.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, and I too think it is likely that Rick will get to the horse and leave... and probably lead off the herd to save everyone in the process. He may lead them onto the bridge, which would then be demolished to destroy the herd. I'd like to think that he might get traded to the helicopter people and therefore we might see him again... but I agree that's not looking likely at this point.

I'm wondering if the helicopter people are the Commonwealth. They mentioned this past episode that Maggie is receiving letters from Georgie, so there's definitely a connection.... although Georgie isn't officially Pamela Milton either... yet... ;)

I agree, Negan added a lot more interest to his characters with the Whisperers arc, and I am looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on October 31, 2018, 09:28:56 AM
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The problem I have with shifting focus to other characters in the show is that those other characters might be Daryl... and I've always found Daryl to be kind of boring. He's not interesting, he's not fun to watch... he's just kind of there, and pouty when necessary for plot.
Great point, and I 100% agree with this.  Even episodes the last season and change that focused more on Daryl it kind of blew my mind how "flat" his character fells.  Michonne was the same way, but she's been developing nicely lately.  I was hoping Maggie would take more of a front seat lead, but with her leaving that's obviously not the long-term solution.  The Whispers will also likely thin the heard quite a bit, if the comics are any indication
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Now that I think about it I hope Daryl doesn't become the big lead of the show: he really does seem like the least interesting character (or at least, least interesting main/featured character).  I've never really gotten his overwhelming popularity with fans of the show

Whoa: I wonder if I'm now feeling like non-SW fanatics who wonder WTH is the deal with Boba Fett's popularity?!  :P
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on October 31, 2018, 11:33:49 AM
LOL!

Last summer (before this season began) I was guessing that Rick would suffer the fate of the person you mentioned in the spoiler tag, and that would be his exit from the show. I figured that would be a great midseason finale.

But what do I know?
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: AzT on November 04, 2018, 07:18:31 PM
From https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-ricks-fate-revealed-as-andrew-lincolns-character-will-be-spun-1157341

Quote
Do you have a message for fans of the series?

I'd like to express my gratitude for their humor, passion, loyalty and ferocity, and, particularly to the people with tattoos, I am astonished by your commitment to this story. The thing that I will miss a lot is Comic-Con in San Diego and New York because that one-on-one dialogue with fans and getting that direct feedback is something that I'd never experienced in my career and that is extraordinary. For that, I thank everybody across the world, really. I said it in a mailer to] the press: From Tokyo to Trinidad, everywhere I go there's people grabbing me and just saying, "Please kick Negan's ass!" This experience has been rare and unique and I know it won't be repeated. This has been the greatest rollercoaster ride of my career.

Maybe you'll be back at Comic-Con for those movies…
You never know! I'd like to think I'd get an invitation! [Laughs.]
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: NCDS on November 04, 2018, 10:28:40 PM
I had mentioned to others I thought the whole Rick thing was trickery and sure enough it was.  I liked the episode though.  Finally, Judith is older, that storyline was killing me!
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on November 05, 2018, 09:58:33 AM
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LOL!

Last summer (before this season began) I was guessing that Rick would suffer the fate of the person you mentioned in the spoiler tag, and that would be his exit from the show. I figured that would be a great midseason finale.

But what do I know?
That would've been such a great gut punch! 
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on November 05, 2018, 10:16:14 AM
I had so many feelings about this episode. You can find them all in my episode review.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/11/05/focc-review-twd-905-what-comes-after/

And yep, I start with the 'big one'.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on November 06, 2018, 01:29:42 PM
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I had so many feelings about this episode. You can find them all in my episode review.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/11/05/focc-review-twd-905-what-comes-after/

And yep, I start with the 'big one'.
Alright, I had to watch this ep. twice to gauge my complacency with the last scene vs my disappointing frustration.

Like you, Transmute Jun, there was soooo much to like in this episode: like, literally everything but the last scene was pretty much the perfect goodbye to Rick, and a solid episode altogether.  I was really feeling tepid going into the episode the first time with the flashbacks/hallucinations (I wasn't 100% sure which they'd be before the episode), but each one was perfect: the soul, heart, and minds or Rick, so-to-speak, speaking to Rick about his journey and decisions was spot-on!  It was hard not to get a little extra emotional with his 'chat' with Hershel, given the actor's recent death and knowing this was likely his final performance.  All of his hallucinations along the way were really well done, from writing + staging + acting.

The 'side stories' were also really compelling.  Maggie's chat with Negan added nice depth for a character many fans might be feeling has overstayed his welcome (note for those not-reading the books: Negan has a substantial role coming down the pipe - a very different role than from All-Out War).  Actress Lauren Cohan has also left the series for now, and she went out fairly strong with her interactions w/Negan!  We'll see how they write her off next week or later.

And then we had Rick's...IDK what to even call it: bamboozlement?  Faux exit?  We obviously knew he likely wouldn't bleed out on rebar, or become Zombie Thanksgiving Feast.  I don't know what I thought would happen, but it all felt like "right" to me for the most part.  When Rick got back to his family at the bridge, it was incredibly moving: the look of him recognizing he wouldn't die alone, that he would be recognized as doing the right thing: making the right decisions to protect his people.  When he self-sacrificed by shooting the dynamite, the look on Daryl's face was worth a million thoughts (and is probably the best acting Reedus has ever done on the show, and I don't mean that in a snarky way).  Michonne breaking down slayed me a bit as a husband, at the mere thought of watching my spouse end her life to save the rest of her family: knowing it's the right thing but still not wanting to see my love's life end.  Perfection!

It was the perfect goodbye for an actor and character who deserves it: who earned it.  His death resonated.  As the lead of a popular show his death hit all the right points: was earned; emotionally hit the right points; happened while Rick was being heroic.  He had the perfect hero's death, and was the absolute ideal way for Rick Grimes to end his run in the Walking Dead world.

Except he didn't die.

Sigh.. ::)

Reading an interview with Lincoln yesterday, he flat-out said AMC executives didn't want to kill off Rick and instead want to exploit the situation to get even more TWD content (in this case a slew of TV movies).  I won't get into the kinda pathetic corporate greed angle of this decision (profit over art/best narrative decisions), and will only focus on the story aspects.
And in that regard, it's confounding.  A fanbase that was livid with Glenn's dumpster diving miraculous save is likely not a fan of this turn.  It's hard to think too logically about a show that features reanimated corpses as the title character, but even by this show's physics and logic there is little/no plausible explanation to Rick looking/acting stable in that helicopter ride (that happened to have necessary medical equipment/drugs on board just in case?!).  Even the first scenes with Jadis were pretty great: the shot of the non-moving/dead zombies going downstream was an awesome one!  Until the camera panned to Rick laying on the beach somehow (even though no other zombie made it there).  Jadis "rescuing" Rick felt incredibly disingenuous in multiple ways.  The logic of the whole thing was really lame for me.  The advertising and what not was also horrible.  And maybe I wouldn't have minded too much if TWD didn't pull a similar stunt with Glenn.  But the history of the writing of this show exposes what has been historically a major weakness with lame plotting, making big decisions based off of maybe not the right reasons (side note: yes, I understand network/cable TV is all about business and commerce and of course AMC wants to keep milking their cash cow - but from a pure narrative perspective it's problematic).  In the pit of my gut I had a bad feeling AMC/TWD would pull that kind of a stunt - not killing Rick and keeping them in their back pocket until such time as they want to exploit his character.  Linoln has to be stoked for being able to have his cake and eat it too (side note: what if this leads to a "Walking Dead: London" spinoff, as the actress who plays Jadis is also British).

The real question: was that "j/k - Rick is alive and well and will be back someday" twist enough to sour me on the episode? 
After rewatching the ep. knowing the twist, I realized quickly it doesn't.  A lot of poor twists torpedo the rest of the episodes for me (again, see Glenn's dumpster fun) but this kind of didn't change much for me.  It definitely de-legitimized (might've just made the word up - sorry) the emotional heft that came before it but everything else worked well.  This was a strong episode regardless of Rick's fake-out exit.

It will be curious to see explicitly what the show does form here.  I like the time-jump (though IDK about Judith being that competent with that caliber of a pistol, but I'm willing to give benefit of the doubt in a zombie apocalypse).  I can't wait to see what our communities look like.  We're clearly gearing up for Whisperers (the main female intro'ed was introduced only a few issues before Whisperers) but I'm more interested in the dynamic of the communities, who is leading, etc.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on November 06, 2018, 01:45:58 PM
I was actually okay with Glenn's dumpster adventures. I understood the 'drama' of waiting for weeks, and loved that he made it. What got me was that as soon as he makes it back to Maggie, he's killed by Negan. In my mind, it was very poor storytelling. What was the point of Glenn surviving the dumpster attack if he was just going to be killed off right after that? It makes his 'miraculous survival' at the dumpster meaningless and trite. So the dumpster thing didn't bother me; it was that combined with his death a couple of episodes later.

Otherwise, I pretty much agree with everything you said, although I strongly suspected that they wouldn't want to take Rick out permanently, and that there would at least be some ambiguity as to his fate. It's just the immediacy of these 'original films' that frustrates me, and makes me feel used. I agree that it cheapens Rick's entire exit.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on November 07, 2018, 09:30:48 AM
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I was actually okay with Glenn's dumpster adventures. I understood the 'drama' of waiting for weeks, and loved that he made it. What got me was that as soon as he makes it back to Maggie, he's killed by Negan. In my mind, it was very poor storytelling. What was the point of Glenn surviving the dumpster attack if he was just going to be killed off right after that? It makes his 'miraculous survival' at the dumpster meaningless and trite. So the dumpster thing didn't bother me; it was that combined with his death a couple of episodes later.

Otherwise, I pretty much agree with everything you said, although I strongly suspected that they wouldn't want to take Rick out permanently, and that there would at least be some ambiguity as to his fate. It's just the immediacy of these 'original films' that frustrates me, and makes me feel used. I agree that it cheapens Rick's entire exit.
Great points about what worked/didn't about Glenn's Dumpster Days.  I think what bugged me the most was how that situation was 'sold' to viewers: it felt hacky.  From what I remember they weren't quite committing to the "he's definitely dead" side but also not committing to "he might've survived."  It, again, felt like a very disingenuous move on AMC's part: same was the handling with "Rick's Last Episode!!" shenanigans. 

Good news in my head, though, is that ending would've killed my enthusiasm for the entire season if it had happened the last several seasons.  Not only was the episode REALLY well done other than the helicopter ending, but the season in general has been great.  I'm still really looking forward to the next episodes to see what the 'new' world and communities will look like.  Even with what I think was a significant artistic misstep (albeit a solid business decision), I'm still really excited about this season and where its headed - and I haven't been able to say that about TWD in quite a long time, I think!
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on November 12, 2018, 01:43:30 PM
Those who are interested can ready my episode 6 review here.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/11/12/focc-review-twd-906-who-are-you-now/

Overall, I am very happy with how the show is aligning with the comics, yet at the same time bringing in new material (such as the mysterious happenings in Alexandria causing everyone to mistrust strangers to such a big extent).
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on November 26, 2018, 01:13:31 PM
Here's my take on the midseason finale. IMHO it was the best episode of the season so far.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/11/26/focc-review-twd-908-evolution/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: meecheles on November 26, 2018, 04:40:14 PM
I think I'm OK with the walkers evolving. I was shocked when I heard them  speak. I know for sure I'm not OK with Judith making grown up decisions and carrying a gun. I know she has to grow up fast  due the environment , but I'm on the fence.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on November 26, 2018, 07:06:34 PM
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I think I'm OK with the walkers evolving. I was shocked when I heard them  speak. I know for sure I'm not OK with Judith making grown up decisions and carrying a gun. I know she has to grow up fast  due the environment , but I'm on the fence.

I think they were in a hurry to have her replace (some) aspects of Carl. Henry seems to be dealing with the other part of Carl's comic book storylines.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on December 03, 2018, 05:46:26 PM
Took me a little while to catch up on the last two episodes.  I have REALLY mixed feelings.  I feel like with the snap of a finger TWD writers essentially rebooted back to a more-or-less status quo.  We have Judith-as-Carl now, which I'm not opposed to on its face: in fact, I'm far more interested in how she got to this point than where she's at.  Again, we've all seen Carl as a youngin' so this just feels like "Judith is a slightly cooler character than Carl because the actress has more charisma.  In the show's favor, the actress seems better-than-average for TV kid actors, so I'm curious to see where her arc goes in the very near future: I'm at a use-em-or-dump-em mindset with the ginormous cast, so I hope she gets interesting stuff to do ASAP and not just revert to "first couple seasons Carl" of 'kid-in-distress' mode.  It was compelling storytelling the first time around, will be redundant and not interesting to me the second time: I really, really hope we don't have a Carl 2.0 here in any way.

We also immediately have massive tension in the group (w/out a lot of explanation).  I think the writers and show runners past and present think the characters are more interesting fighting amongst themselves, but at this point I feel like that's been the bulk of this series.  I was really looking forward to seeing how all of the colonies were dealing w/each other after the time jump, and the answer is "same as it ever was."  I was really hoping to see more interesting workings and camaraderie, for a change of pace, but nope: lots of tension between colonies and characters.  Again.

Michonne is back to being boring.  Again.  I'm so over gloomy, angsty, "could've fronted a band in the early 1990's" Michonne.  The show was doing so well developing her this season, and after the time jump she seems lame.  And for no reason, yet.

TWD also reverted back to their tried-and-true trope of "we're killing off a character tonight or maybe next week, so wer're going to cram a ton of development into it right now since we haven't really developed this character in a looooong time" and killed of Jesus.  I like that turn of events, and I think TWD is at its creative best when it covers the more interesting story lines from the comic but also deviates enough for long-time readers to still be significantly surprised.  Jesus is a character that, IIRC, doesn't exactly have much character development in the books either.  I read an 'exit interview' where the actor that plays Jesus essentially wanted off the show because he didn't have anything to do, and I can't blame him there.  The business side of the show dictating the narrative is nothing new, and while I'm always slightly bummed when an actor is unhappy and wants off, I think TWD handled it well.  We've all known The Whisperers were coming (er...maybe most of us - I don't want to be definitive as I'm sure someone here didn't know) since the summer, and comics readers have known all along this was down the road.  So there was zero surprise when The Whisperers appeared.  While I was busy condescendingly rolling my eyes hearing Eugene insist the zombies have evolved, out-of-the-blue the killed of Jesus!  I really appreciate with this show can surprise me, as it doesn't happen as often as I'd like, and this was a fun surprise to me.  I honestly thought for a little bit that Jesus was being developed to maybe be a lot more integral to the series: I gave it 50/50 the buildup/development was either 1) he's dying tonight 2) he's being elevated!

I dug what felt like an old school horror movie throwback with the nighttime, foggy graveyard climax.  In a show that sometimes feels like they're intentionally trying to stray from its horror roots diving into classic horror tropes seems like a breath of fresh air every once in awhile.  This half season seems like the writers have done a good, improved job tonally, even if said tones are still mostly "angry," "dour" and "kind of scary."   I think this show needs more humor, and some of the convos with the new crew of people Judith saved have amused me.  As a musician/HS music teacher the music conversation made me smile, though I find it hard to believe those chumps stumbled into a legit Stradivarius.  The sentiments were 100% on point, and the idea of carrying around a Strad is clever for most of the general world who doesn't know that instrument would've been trashed loooooooooong ago because of how fragile instruments hundreds of years old made of wood are.  I digress a bit, and overall I became automatically endeared to that character.  That I can't remember the name of.  Oh well: maybe by the next finale.

Generally I felt like post-Rick was quite a step back from the genuinely fresh feel of the first several issues.  It's like the showrunner and network don't have faith that reformatting things slightly would keep old viewers/entice new ones.  The only interesting thing about the Whisperers, IMO, are how Negan factors into the storyline.  There is a LOT of ground to mine with the culture of The Whisperers as well: are there other reasons to roam the wild dressed as zombies?  "World War Z" (the book) has a great story about humans that had some weird mental thing where they wanted to dress as zombies, live as them, become one with their culture.  They'd bite other humans (and get shot by them) and try to assimilate into the zombie world (to worse results than The Whispers seem to be having).  The books made The Whisperers generally feel way one-dimensional, as Kirkman tends to do with many of his villain characters (the TV-only watching fans will never know how lame The Governor was in the books - generally the show has made him and Negan vastly superior, with more depth, as living/breathing characters than the books ever did).  Perhaps the show will do the same with Whisperers, but generally I think keeping them a half-season concern is the right way to go.

Going forward:
I cautiously optimistic.  I'm giving the writers the benefit of the doubt that they've earned this season in developing Michonne & explaining WTH is up with her right now.  I'm hoping the characters get to a place where they can actually develop and evolve in this new world (that somehow how working vehicles w/no oil refinery or oil drilling mechanisms in place?!).  I wish the show would've let us live the bulk of this season living in the new world, which radically changed twice from last year's finale to the mid-season finale this year.  Rushing into The Whisperers feels to me the writers don't have faith in not having a human bad guy for a season.  While a female Big Bad is a nice variation on TWD season formula, it's still the formula.  This series needs something fresh as a palate cleanser from what felt like a decade-old "All Out War" slog.  Something currently in the books, and perhaps hinted at last season, could be just that: the show needs to get there sooner rather than later, though, and not fall into their same ol' tropes that seem to me to have gotten a bit stale.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on December 03, 2018, 06:04:23 PM
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Here's my take on the midseason finale. IMHO it was the best episode of the season so far.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2018/11/26/focc-review-twd-908-evolution/
This has been a sedate discussion: surprisingly, I think.  It doesn't get said, but I really enjoy your reviews: you do a great job giving just enough analyzation, minor speculation, relating it to the books, etc. without just summarizing the beats of the episode.  Thanks for the write-ups, Jun!
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on December 04, 2018, 06:22:36 AM
Thanks, Perc! I started out just writing recaps, then realized that it wasn't really offering anything new to the reader. I then started moving toward a more stream-of-consciousness thing, and now I organize it more to comment on the major plot points and character development. ;)

I actually loved the introduction of the Whisperers, and am really excited for it. I suspect that Judith is there to take on the 'friendship with Negan' aspects of Carl in the comics, while Henry is there to take on the 'interaction with future character related to Whisperers' aspect of his storyline.

As for the conflict... I'd be more interested in it if they'd actually give us some details about it. Then it might make all of this waiting worthwhile.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on December 21, 2018, 09:07:37 AM
Grimes Family Video

https://twitter.com/WalkingDead_AMC/status/1075866037650931723
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on December 21, 2018, 12:03:17 PM
I admit that I starting watching it again after vowing off Walking Dead in the middle of season 8.  I binged it an episode before the mid season finale.  Much better than it's been in years past.  Still some groaners for me.  Henry just rushing off like that, what kid that grew up in this environment would do that?  The big groan was the final scene in the mid season finale.  Can they just let Negan go?  That whole story arch was stretched out far too long which lead me to stop watching Walking Dead.  I rather they just move on with the new storylines.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on February 18, 2019, 01:20:49 PM
Who is enjoying the Whisperers? Here's my review of epsisode 10.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/02/18/focc-review-twd-910-omega/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: omraged9 on February 18, 2019, 04:03:40 PM
I was surprised by how much I liked the past 2 episodes. I've lost some interest in TWD for the past 3 seasons when the writing started getting more stale. While I liked the first half of the season for the most part with the new showrunner coming in, it didn't fully regain my interest until now. I didn't expect to like the Whisperers arc that much but I thought they made walkers more frightening for the first time since maybe season 2. With each walker that comes on screen, I'm holding my breath sometimes wondering if they're going suddenly pull a knife and shank one of the good guys. Or when they suddenly stop walking like a normal zombie and they turn and look at you, it has such a startling effect.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on February 18, 2019, 04:58:51 PM
They have definitely amped up the actual horror this season with the advent of the Whisperers, with Rosita and Eugene terrified in the woods, with the graveyard scene where Jesus fights them, with the Walkers appearing in the woods to accost Alden and Luke... I agree that this is a really cool aspect of this season.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chaosdreamer on February 19, 2019, 09:09:33 AM
I've found the Whisperers arc surprisingly enjoyable so far (surprisingly because I'm not a fan of the creep/horror factor) but I'm still on the fence with wherever they are going with Negan.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on February 19, 2019, 11:13:59 AM
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Who is enjoying the Whisperers? Here's my review of epsisode 10.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/02/18/focc-review-twd-910-omega/

Thank you for this review.  I admit to skimming over it for now, but I agreed with what I did read of what you wrote.  I don't know if you mentioned it, but a wee small part of when Lydia was trying to get information from Henry reminded me of Fear the Walking dead.  I also get why Henry called Daryl an a**h***, but this reminded me of when my dad kicked me out of the house to learn what the world can be like.  There is still a big part of me that is much like Daryl from those days, but I am working on tempering it as I grow older.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on February 25, 2019, 11:43:36 AM
You raise a good point, Ron. These kids who have grown up in relative 'safety' need to be 'kicked out' a bit to learn what the world is like, and how to deal with it. But it's tough love, for sure.

Here is my review of this week's episode.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/02/25/focc-review-twd-911-bounty/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Chris on February 25, 2019, 09:44:20 PM
I'm not caught up on the show, but is Daryl the only character from season 1 that is still alive?
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: janray on February 26, 2019, 05:48:55 AM
Carol is still alive and kicking whatever needs kicking!
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on February 26, 2019, 06:38:39 AM
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I'm not caught up on the show, but is Daryl the only character from season 1 that is still alive?

In addition to Carol (previously mentioned) technically Morgan is still alive, but in the Fear timeline. Rick is still alive, but in another place.

Also, Judith was conceived in season 1, and she is still alive. ;)
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on February 27, 2019, 07:59:36 AM
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You raise a good point, Ron. These kids who have grown up in relative 'safety' need to be 'kicked out' a bit to learn what the world is like, and how to deal with it. But it's tough love, for sure.

Here is my review of this week's episode.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/02/25/focc-review-twd-911-bounty/

Once again, I enjoy reading your weekly episode reviews of TWD.  A lot of times, I allow my mind to drift while watching the show.  Your reviews make me want to pay closer attention to what is going on.   Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on February 27, 2019, 10:29:59 AM
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Once again, I enjoy reading your weekly episode reviews of TWD.  A lot of times, I allow my mind to drift while watching the show.  Your reviews make me want to pay closer attention to what is going on.   Keep up the good work!

Well, it's my job to pay close attention to what is going on... ;)   I sit with my tablet on my lap, taking notes as I watch. I dabble in creative writing, so I really enjoy exploring plot threads and character development, etc. Adding in that I read the comics, it's fun to compare the development of the 2 properties.

I am glad you enjoy the fruits of my fan-expression. :)
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 02, 2019, 04:52:19 PM
Potential new spinoff series.

https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2019/03/01/amc-teases-new-walking-dead-spin-off-series/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on March 03, 2019, 08:11:44 AM
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Potential new spinoff series.

https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2019/03/01/amc-teases-new-walking-dead-spin-off-series/

Thank you for this Transmute Jun!  I am actually looking forward to new episodes of Fear the Walking Dead.  The hints of more crossovers would be more icing on the cake for me.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 03, 2019, 08:34:05 AM
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Thank you for this Transmute Jun!  I am actually looking forward to new episodes of Fear the Walking Dead.  The hints of more crossovers would be more icing on the cake for me.

I'm okay with crossovers as long as the characters are compelling and the story is well-written. They struggled with that on Fear at first, but now seem to be moving in a better direction.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 04, 2019, 10:19:06 AM
Here is my review of episode 912. Can I just say, "Awww.... poor Eugene....' ?

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/03/04/focc-review-twd-912-guardians/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on March 05, 2019, 11:19:06 AM
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Here is my review of episode 912. Can I just say, "Awww.... poor Eugene....' ?

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/03/04/focc-review-twd-912-guardians/

Thank you again Transmute Jun for a very excellent review of this week's episode.  I have been distracted from TWD due to my new found obsession with The Blacklist.  I was afraid for Eugene, but having read your review, my mind is at rest now.   
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 05, 2019, 12:27:55 PM
I said 'awwww', not 'ouch'! ;)

Nothing new, but I still feel badly for him...  :'(
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on March 05, 2019, 12:38:08 PM
I've really been struggling staying engaged with this show since The Whisperers showed up.  For me, I think I'm not that into most of the characters.  I'm also up-to-date with the books and the most interesting part of The Whisperers to me was
Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.
  IDK if that will play out, but I'm not liking "replacement Carl" and Daryl is not a compelling enough character to be the center of the show.  I feel like things are drifting w/out Rick to keep things centered.  I do hope The Wanderers are a little bit more explored than in the book, though part of me is intrigued with the idea of "yep: these freaks are just part of the world now and no need to delve too much into the why's or relationships."  IDK.  I understand growing pains and all, and I won't be upset when Michonne exits, even though in the books they're FINALLY doing something with her character nowadays.  I get why the actress 1) feels like now that she's in $ 1+ billion dollar films she wants to explore that and 1) in 9 seasons they haven't done too much with her character (just as she was fairly under-utilized in the comics for quite a long time IMO).  It sucks that her character is likely only a year or so away from going through the biggest arc of her character and now we won't get that.  I do think it was a mistake for Carl to be killed off right before his bigger arcs in the books (though that firing might've lit a fire under his butt to better his craft).

IDK: I'm rambling at this point.  The Whisperers were never that interesting to me so maybe that's why this show is uninteresting to me at this point.  I know we're in growing pains post-Rick & Maggie, but so far this show has mostly shown us that not only is Daryl not a great lead character, but the ensemble of this show is pretty weak.  The show will need to jump to The Commonwealth sooner than later just to hopefully inject some stronger actors & characters into the series.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 05, 2019, 01:36:43 PM
I agree that Daryl is not a compelling character and Henry is a poor replacement for Carl in the Whisperers storyline. However I am liking Judith more and more, and her 'Carl' role with Negan. I agree with you about the best part of the comics Whisperer storyline and hope that comes to pass as well.

I'd love to see more focus on The Kingdom... Carol/Ezekiel/Jerry. But I'm afraid of that leading to another part of the Whisperers comic storyline...
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on March 07, 2019, 07:49:39 AM
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I agree that Daryl is not a compelling character and Henry is a poor replacement for Carl in the Whisperers storyline. However I am liking Judith more and more, and her 'Carl' role with Negan. I agree with you about the best part of the comics Whisperer storyline and hope that comes to pass as well.

I'd love to see more focus on The Kingdom... Carol/Ezekiel/Jerry. But I'm afraid of that leading to another part of the Whisperers comic storyline...
Yeah, I think The Kingdom has the most compelling characters at the moment (though you're right: I do like Judith - she's much more charismatic than Carl ever was, I think - and I don't mean that as a negative against Carl).  I think it was already at least rumored that
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Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 08, 2019, 11:09:02 AM
AMC just announced the Fear cast members that would be at WonderCon... including NEW CAST MEMBER Austin Amelio. Looks like Dwight made it over to Fear.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on March 08, 2019, 07:56:56 PM
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AMC just announced the Fear cast members that would be at WonderCon... including NEW CAST MEMBER Austin Amelio. Looks like Dwight made it over to Fear.

Thank you for the heads up Transmute Jun!  Thank you!
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 11, 2019, 12:32:24 PM
My review of last night's episode...

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/03/11/focc-review-twd-episode-913-chokepoint/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on March 11, 2019, 12:41:32 PM
I really like this new season much more than the last few.  It's the influx of new characters.  It's given the show a new lease on life.  There are some things that irk me.  Henry.  Why?  How can a kid that grew up in that environment going through what he has still be so naive. I don't find it plausible.  The Whisperers.  Back in previous seasons, they made a point of having to cover themselves from head to toe in guts to be able to blend in with the walkers.  Now anyone can just by wearing a mask, or not even that, by walking slowly and shuffling along.  In a made up world, blatant inconsistencies take me out of that world.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 11, 2019, 12:47:40 PM
Fair enough, but in terms of the flow of the plot, it works better that way. Still, it's a good point.

Ummmm.... maybe the walker skin emits some kind of pheromones that make the walkers think it's not a person? Yeah, I know, it's a stretch.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on March 11, 2019, 07:18:47 PM
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I really like this new season much more than the last few.  It's the influx of new characters.  It's given the show a new lease on life.  There are some things that irk me.  Henry.  Why?  How can a kid that grew up in that environment going through what he has still be so naive. I don't find it plausible.  The Whisperers.  Back in previous seasons, they made a point of having to cover themselves from head to toe in guts to be able to blend in with the walkers.  Now anyone can just by wearing a mask, or not even that, by walking slowly and shuffling along.  In a made up world, blatant inconsistencies take me out of that world.
To be fair, in previous seasons (and really always), the characters were winging it completely.  There are few explicit rules, and certainly none that are known before trying them out.  For all we know just a little bit of guts would've done the trick but our heroes went way over-the-top to make sure they'd be fine

(also, I kinda hate that I'm defending continuity inconsistencies of this show :-P )

Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 18, 2019, 01:04:53 PM
My episode review for Scars. Spoiler: it didn't quite fit in with the current flow of the plot.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/03/18/focc-review-twd-episode-914-scars/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on March 19, 2019, 12:11:04 PM
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My episode review for Scars. Spoiler: it didn't quite fit in with the current flow of the plot.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/03/18/focc-review-twd-episode-914-scars/

Thank you again for the review. 

I've been tired lately, so again I started dozing off during TWD.  I did the the last part where Michonne did her thing.  I love reading your insights and pretty much agree with all of your thoughts.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 19, 2019, 01:33:45 PM
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Thank you again for the review. 

I've been tired lately, so again I started dozing off during TWD.  I did the the last part where Michonne did her thing.  I love reading your insights and pretty much agree with all of your thoughts.

See, you don't have to watch... just read my reviews! ;)   But I'm glad that you enjoy reading them.

I have high hopes for the final 2 episodes.
 
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: DRWHO42 on March 19, 2019, 06:58:59 PM
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My episode review for Scars. Spoiler: it didn't quite fit in with the current flow of the plot.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/03/18/focc-review-twd-episode-914-scars/
This was a good recap. Thx!!!!
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: mllNY on March 24, 2019, 08:05:14 PM
Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on March 24, 2019, 08:08:58 PM
Should we still use the spoiler tag even though the whole thread says spoiler?  I'll do it just to err on the side of caution.

Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 24, 2019, 09:31:30 PM
To address one of your points, Chocolateshake (I don't think this needs a spoiler tag) the reason people were moving in and out so easily is because the fair was ongoing, and people were naturally coming and going. I believe that everyone who went out did so willingly (at that time).

I had an even bigger nitpick, which I will reveal in my episode review tomorrow, but overall, I thought this was a great episode.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on March 24, 2019, 10:45:05 PM
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To address one of your points, Chocolateshake (I don't think this needs a spoiler tag) the reason people were moving in and out so easily is because the fair was ongoing, and people were naturally coming and going. I believe that everyone who went out did so willingly (at that time).

I had an even bigger nitpick, which I will reveal in my episode review tomorrow, but overall, I thought this was a great episode.

There's coming and going and there's having the gate wide open without anyone manning it.  Just because more people were coming and going doesn't mean they didn't have security up.  That was clearly shown when Daryl and friends showed up.  The gate was not open.  They had to open it up to let them in.  The fair was already in full swing by that point.  Wouldn't it be suspicious if someone showed up on foot?  The only people reasonably doing that would be residents of The Kingdom.  The guards would have known them.  I doubt they get many visitors from other settlements walking in.  That is The Kingdom's problem after all.  It's isolated from the other settlements.  If it was easy to come and go then they should have shown that.  Instead they showed that security was up as usual.

I could see the teenagers maybe leaving willingly, but the more seasoned people?  Tara the suspicious, I don't see her going outside the gates with someone she didn't know.  Enid and Henry both had places to be and reason not to.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on March 25, 2019, 06:03:00 AM
Hi Transmute Jun!  I am eagerly waiting to read your review!  In the meanwhile, I need therapy. 
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 25, 2019, 07:18:54 AM
*hugs* Ron! It's already written! I just have to put in the images and go through the editing process. ;)
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 25, 2019, 10:13:41 AM
And published!

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/03/25/focc-review-twd-episode-915-the-calm-before/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: madfly on March 25, 2019, 11:01:12 AM
Love your reviews [member=314]Transmute Jun[/member]! I am so confused by this episode, though. It never showed/explained how & when the decapitated group was captured. And where were they being held? I thought maybe I dozed off & missed something. ???
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 25, 2019, 11:05:55 AM
There was a brief 'montage' at the end, where people noticed that there were others missing from the fair. This is actually how they did it in the comics as well, with people noticing that others were gone, intermixed with panels showing the victims.

Essentially, Alpha individually convinced these people to leave the fair with her peacefully, then kidnapped them once they were away from others.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: madfly on March 25, 2019, 11:10:16 AM
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There was a brief 'montage' at the end, where people noticed that there were others missing from the fair. This is actually how they did it in the comics as well, with people noticing that others were gone, intermixed with panels showing the victims.

Essentially, Alpha individually convinced these people to leave the fair with her peacefully, then kidnapped them once they were away from others.
Thanks [member=314]Transmute Jun[/member] :) I will have to re-watch that part! I wish they would've shown Alpha in action, though.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 25, 2019, 11:15:00 AM
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Thanks [member=314]Transmute Jun[/member] :) I will have to re-watch that part! I wish they would've shown Alpha in action, though.

But if they had, it wouldn't have been so much of a shock at the end when you saw the heads.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: madfly on March 25, 2019, 11:39:47 AM
That’s true! [member=314]Transmute Jun[/member]
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on March 25, 2019, 11:46:06 AM
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There was a brief 'montage' at the end, where people noticed that there were others missing from the fair. This is actually how they did it in the comics as well, with people noticing that others were gone, intermixed with panels showing the victims.

Essentially, Alpha individually convinced these people to leave the fair with her peacefully, then kidnapped them once they were away from others.

That still seems a stretch to me.  While the others didn't know her, Henry did.  I suppose that maybe she could have gotten him to go with her by telling him that she already had Lydia.  But in that montage scene, Henry seemed surprised to see Alpha when she arrived in the barn during the fight.

Once again there's the guards.  Wouldn't they be suspicious that someone they didn't know kept leaving with people they did and then coming back in solo over and over again?  Most guards tend to be suspicious to start with.  Considering they were on high alert because of the whisperers you'd think they would be doubly so.

Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on March 25, 2019, 11:47:00 AM
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Thanks [member=314]Transmute Jun[/member] :) I will have to re-watch that part! I wish they would've shown Alpha in action, though.

They hinted at that during her scene with the King.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on March 25, 2019, 11:48:11 AM
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But if they had, it wouldn't have been so much of a shock at the end when you saw the heads.

When Alpha told Daryl about the northern border being marked, I instantly had a GOT head mounted on stakes flash.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: madfly on March 25, 2019, 11:55:54 AM
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They hinted at that during her scene with the King.
Hinted at what? I just wish there would have been some sort of flashback or someting at the end to show how Alpha got all the victims out. Like you said it’s pretty sketchy! ;) ;
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on March 25, 2019, 06:14:58 PM
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Hinted at what? I just wish there would have been some sort of flashback or someting at the end to show how Alpha got all the victims out. Like you said it’s pretty sketchy! ;) ;

Hinted at Alpha's ability to get people to escort her. She got the King to walk off with her.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: madfly on March 25, 2019, 06:33:42 PM
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Hinted at Alpha's ability to get people to escort her. She got the King to walk off with her.
Got it...yes, she was able to get people to walk off with her but how did she get all of them outside of the Kingdom?  ??? I didn't watch Talking Dead...maybe they discussed it on the show. Or maybe I just shouldn't look that deeply into it :)
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 25, 2019, 07:01:07 PM
Clearly Alpha dug a tunnel with her bare hands and spirited people out underneath the Kingdom's walls... ;)

One question they never answered in either the comics (that I recall) or the show... what happened to the bodies of the victims?
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: lliving on March 25, 2019, 09:57:32 PM
Did they ever show Alpha enter the fair?  Perhaps she rode in with a cleaned up group of whisperers and she used her people to collect/capture people one by one.  Although you would think their lack of social skills from years of mumbling like walkers would make them stand out at such a joyous social event. .  I think it’s likely Henry got nabbed when he went to check on the banging pipe.  Of course they will likely never explain how seasoned survivors like Tara or Enid would go anywhere alone with someone they didn’t know. Probably better to ignore the plot holes, I guess


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Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on March 26, 2019, 08:17:24 AM
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And published!

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/03/25/focc-review-twd-episode-915-the-calm-before/
Terrific review. 

I was able to watch most this episode (mom had urgent business that pulled me away from the show so I missed the dunking booth scene) so your review filled in the gaps. 

I was starting to like the Highway Men...  But those guys ended their time on the show well giving the captured group one last chance to inflict damage on their captors.  May the Highway Men get the best seats in the house at that big Bijou Theater in the sky.

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Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on March 26, 2019, 11:37:41 AM
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Did they ever show Alpha enter the fair?  Perhaps she rode in with a cleaned up group of whisperers and she used her people to collect/capture people one by one.  Although you would think their lack of social skills from years of mumbling like walkers would make them stand out at such a joyous social event. .  I think it’s likely Henry got nabbed when he went to check on the banging pipe.  Of course they will likely never explain how seasoned survivors like Tara or Enid would go anywhere alone with someone they didn’t know. Probably better to ignore the plot holes, I guess


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They didn't.  They could have done that.  They set it up, but then they didn't.  The whole opening sequence was introducing a couple of characters that subsequently got killed by the Whisperers.  That's how Alpha got the hair and dress she wore in the Kingdom.  That group of 4 from Hilltop headed out in a wagon.  So they could have taken all the clothes and the wagon and pretended to be the group of 4.  They didn't though since they showed how the wagon was overturned during the attack.  Then later on the highway men found the overturned wagon.  So Alpha and any other whisperers would have to have walked in.  Since the only people close enough to do that are from the Kingdom, wouldn't the Kingdom guards be suspicious about a group of people they don't know?
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on March 27, 2019, 09:44:31 AM
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But if they had, it wouldn't have been so much of a shock at the end when you saw the heads.
I agree; we don't need to know every detail - we just need 'moments' to pack emotion and effectiveness.  I have my criticisms of this season, especially the back half, but for me how the last episode set-up and concluded the "moment" was pretty perfect.  The show presented to us Alpha walking around freely amongst all of the other people, she was clearly acting suspicious with some sort of plan, and we saw it how it played out in the finale scene.  I don't know specifics about everything, provided a 'moment' achieves the effect it's supposed to: in this case, it totally did, and was clearly meant as more of a shocking, visceral moment
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: omraged9 on March 28, 2019, 10:31:35 PM
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Clearly Alpha dug a tunnel with her bare hands and spirited people out underneath the Kingdom's walls... ;)

One question they never answered in either the comics (that I recall) or the show... what happened to the bodies of the victims?

I thought it's been said or shown on the show that the Whisperers like to feed their victims' bodies to the walkers? Kind of like feeding their 'pets' in a way.

I did think the guards at the fair were surprisingly lax about letting anyone in. I guess not everyone in each group were alerted enough about the dangers of the Whisperers.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on April 01, 2019, 12:40:26 PM
Hmmm... that sounds vaguely familiar about the bodies. I will have to check that out!

My review of the season finale episode has been published.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/04/01/focc-review-twd-episode-916-the-storm/
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on April 02, 2019, 10:53:40 AM
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I did think the guards at the fair were surprisingly lax about letting anyone in. I guess not everyone in each group were alerted enough about the dangers of the Whisperers.
IDK: think about the situation, with all of these totally new people swarming into the community.  I suspect they were told/"trained" to keep a lookout but if none of the Whisperers were acting super suspicious I can see them easily getting missed (think about alllll of the weapons and contraband that can be snuck into airports via lax TSA or lame technology).  I mean, as much as they people have been through they're mostly looking for a) zombies and b) aggressive/suspicious bad guys (in this case, dirty bad guys who dress in the flesh of zombies).  It's not like they're highly trained CIA or MOSSAD or something.  These are just ordinary people in a seemingly loosely organized huge gathering that seemed to have minimal security checkpoints
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on April 02, 2019, 11:10:01 AM
Michonne also made a really good point in the season finale, that the Whisperers were able to sneak into the fair because the communities didn't know each other. She blamed herself, becuase the people in other communities wouldn't have instantly known if someone was from Alexandria or not.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on April 02, 2019, 12:34:06 PM
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Hmmm... that sounds vaguely familiar about the bodies. I will have to check that out!

My review of the season finale episode has been published.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/04/01/focc-review-twd-episode-916-the-storm/
Lots of great stuff.  I'm conflicted on how I feel about this significant change-of-pace, though it kinda feels like the way GoTs goes about their business, no?  Huge penultimate episode, more chill and reflective finale (Sporanos often did that as well, especially down the stretch).  My 17 year old son said the same thing, that "The Calm Before" would've made for a better (or, more honestly, a more typical) finale while "The Storm" feels like a more typical season opener.

To add to some of Jun's awesome thoughts:

*lots of mental gymnastics in this episode.  Why not hunker down in the theater and wait out the storm? Why not shut off the main water valves?  How the eff does fire, let alone the mass fires, happen from frozen pipes?
There are others, but those basics are in my head this morning
*I like how there was a lot of hope in this ep.  Seems like a rare season finale of TWD where you walk away feeling pretty good about situations going into the next season
*part of me is annoyed with the complete lack of development of anything.  I don't need uber drama to end the season, but there was very little character development.  The break-up seemed a little like "forced drama" to me, though I get that's how many normal people would react in a similar situation.  This episode felt like an episode of THE HOBBIT of FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS, but even Peter Jackson know he had to do something and not have our Fellowship just walking for 60 min.  Like I said, I'm a little torn between the "OMG WTF nothing's happening the ENTIRE episode?!?!" and "OK: kind of nice to take a breather here at the end of year nine."
*I dug the 'zombies-buried-in-snow' gags.  Cool idea!  I sometimes wonder if the zombie gag comes first and then the situation (i.e. "wouldn't it be cool to have zombies attack our heroes while buried in the snow where our heroes won't see them" and then "OK: so we have a big snow storm....").  The homage to a zombie movie GOAT, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, was a not-too-subtle nice touch
*it was nice to see Negan where he should be at this point: remorseful, helping, but with this brand of wit.  IMO at this point in the books is when Negan began to be interesting for me (I wasn't a fan of his insanely comic-booky "eeeeeeeeevil" personality during the all-out war stuff in the books, and I personally think that once again the show took an over-the-top 1-dimensional Big Bad and gave them dimensions/made them better in general).  I do look forward to seeing him hopefully take on a more pro-active role next season vs Whisperers
*they obviously have left the door open for Maggie to return if her series gets canceled (and it's on the bubble, I think).  Just like TWD producers, I suspect, they sent plenty of message and haven't heard back.  If her show gets canceled I suspect she'll be back next season
*I think this show is severely missing a legit lead.  Darryl, Carol: they don't have the charisma or presence that Rick had - great co-stars but kinda lame main character/leader (Ezekiel is a MUCH better character/actor on the show right now IMO).
*The setup for next season is exciting, particularly for the Commonwealth.  That's the good news.  Michonne is a HUGE focal point for that (current) ongoing storyling.  That's the bad news, as she's leaving fairly soon into first half of next season.  IMO the producers might've thrown a huge paycheck at the wrong actor; Michonne is a horribly one-dimensional character and has been for 9 years (same as in the comics).  She didn't really start to become an actual human being until The Commonwealth stuff, and just like Carl is too bad the actor/character may be exiting just when the character is about to enter a potentially huge storyline from the books.
*Whisperers storyline has taken FAR too long.  It's not even a good storyline in the books, IMO.  I'm shocked they didn't wrap this up by now so they can start fresh with the Commonwealth arc next fall.  I'm bummed, since The Whisperers are one of those "much cooler in concept than in execution/ongoing story" and dragging it out will make this feel old/stale too fast.  In the books we would have already have seen the most interesting aspect of them (the heads on sticks) and the rest plays out like every other 'big bad' does.  We've likely been there/done that.  Several times.  Hopefully they dispatch of The Whisperers quickly (like the Terminex peeps) and move on
*I like the new showrunner.  This was a much better season than the last couple (several?).  And like I said, The Whisperers arc was a very weak/bad one in the books.  The Commonwealth is a MUCH more interesting story (less zombies - more societal drama) and I can't wait to see what the show runner/writers do with GOOD source material!

This was generally a good season, IMO.  But, it's been hard for me to stay engaged now that this is seemingly "The Darryl and Carol Show."  I'm hoping for either way better material for the actors, or better actors to step up.  Best case scenario is the former, and with so many liberties this season taken from the source material there was ample opportunity for writers to give those characters more to do.  I'll miss the King and Queen stuff, but only because I like Zeke.  FWIW Zeke would've been killed the previous episode of the show was faithful to the books (kudos on that misdirection, TWD showrunner!!), with his being one of the zombie heads on a stick.  So we're in uncharted waters here (in the books he had a thing with Michonne which put her both a) in a dark place and b) in a revenge type o mood vs Whisperers which transitioned nicely to Commonwealth story lines and her arc) and I look forward to the gift of more Zeke!  For the first time in quite a while after a season I'm feeling optimistic about the direction of the show and I look forward to where it goes from here
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on April 02, 2019, 12:39:10 PM
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Michonne also made a really good point in the season finale, that the Whisperers were able to sneak into the fair because the communities didn't know each other. She blamed herself, becuase the people in other communities wouldn't have instantly known if someone was from Alexandria or not.
Exactly.  I think of just smallish family reunions and what not that I've attended and times when kids were playing and after wondering "who's kid is that? Is she a cousin or something?!" and I never thought about it when it was just some rando at the park at the same time.  There would've needed to be crazy planning for security and I'm willing to give the (fictional) community members the doubt that either a) they couldn't think of every possibility imaginable that would be someone in danger or b) they didn't have the resources necessary.  I mean, there aren't photo ID w/rapiscan checkpoints into the compound to check for bad guys.  And what are the odds of finding people from each community who literally knows every name/face in their neck of the woods?  I mean, I don't really know everyone in my condo building, let alone my corner of the complex let alone the entire complex!  It seems unrealistic that with all those people there would be handfuls of folks who know literally everyone from their personal community.  Trying to coordinate that sort of security would've likely been impossible & as long as no one looked too suspicious they likely could've come and gone as they wanted
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on April 02, 2019, 01:06:07 PM
You make a lot of good points, Perc!

It does seem that they are trying to bring Maggie back. IMHO, she makes a better 'lead character' than Michonne or Daryl, or possibly even Carol. I would guess that even if her new series is renewed, that she might be available for a few episodes in between. I have never understood the appeal of Daryl as a character, but I know there are those out there who love him.

The issue with rushing to the Commonwealth is what happened with GoT: they are risking getting ahead of the source material. The Commonwealth storyline is right in the thick of things (I am a few issues behind, because I get the volumes, but I am current through Volume 31/issue 186) and isn't really ready for 'prime time', so to speak. I am also looking forward to the rest of the Whisperers' storyline and Negan's (probable) involvement, because I enjoyed that part of the comics.

As far as Michonne leaving, she can't play the same role in the TV show that she does in the comics (regarding the Commonwealth) because her background is different in the TV show, IYKWIM. But there could be a similar type of connection played out with another character, or that connection could be through something else (say, if Rick happens to be at the Commonwealth). 

I agree that this season has been better than the past seasons in terms of excitement, even with the departure of major characters.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on April 03, 2019, 11:15:39 AM
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You make a lot of good points, Perc!

It does seem that they are trying to bring Maggie back. IMHO, she makes a better 'lead character' than Michonne or Daryl, or possibly even Carol. I would guess that even if her new series is renewed, that she might be available for a few episodes in between. I have never understood the appeal of Daryl as a character, but I know there are those out there who love him.

The issue with rushing to the Commonwealth is what happened with GoT: they are risking getting ahead of the source material. The Commonwealth storyline is right in the thick of things (I am a few issues behind, because I get the volumes, but I am current through Volume 31/issue 186) and isn't really ready for 'prime time', so to speak. I am also looking forward to the rest of the Whisperers' storyline and Negan's (probable) involvement, because I enjoyed that part of the comics.

As far as Michonne leaving, she can't play the same role in the TV show that she does in the comics (regarding the Commonwealth) because her background is different in the TV show, IYKWIM. But there could be a similar type of connection played out with another character, or that connection could be through something else (say, if Rick happens to be at the Commonwealth). 

I agree that this season has been better than the past seasons in terms of excitement, even with the departure of major characters.

1. when you say IYKWIM I heard that spoken in Axel's voice  :P
2. I haven't thought of Axel in a loooooong time (maybe not since his demise in the show) until your post
3. I dunno if there'd be a rush/big concern about Commonwealth surpassing the source material.  First of all the Commonwealth was first introduced (kind of) in November 2017 issue of TWD.  In that issue the Whisperer war was dying down and a group of people had already spent a few issues on their journey to meet the voice on the other end of the radio of Eugene's.  The Nov. '17 issue ends with them finding Commonwealth 'welcoming party'/security to escort them to the actual place.  So obviously we're quite a distance away from when our 'heroes' first meet someone from Commonwealth in person.  It will likely be pushing 2 years between that point and when it actually happens (plus, it's an ongoing story in the books with IMO no 'easy' end in sight).
Also, for the most part the show isn't shy about straying from the material extensively (hi Ezekiel's head NOT on a stick, Rick/Michonne hook-up, Carl getting killed, Rick exiting, etc) so there's no doubt there will be brand new material added: especially since Darryl and Carol aren't anywhere NEAR The Commonwealth storylines.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on April 03, 2019, 07:47:17 PM
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It's not like they're highly trained CIA or MOSSAD or something.  These are just ordinary people in a seemingly loosely organized huge gathering that seemed to have minimal security checkpoints

They aren't ordinary people.  They are the survivors after years of conflict with walkers and other survivors.  They are the baddest of the bad.  They are the toughest of the tough.  They would eat your average CIA agent who has never even fired a gun let alone killed anyone for lunch.  These aren't doe eyed gullible people.  All those people are dead.  Well they shouldn't be anyways.  That's the problem.

I'm going with the internet conspiracy theory.  For me, that's the only thing that makes sense.  It does explain how the whisperers could have pulled it off.  It's just not that there were able to sneak people in.  It's that they knew so much about everything.  Like how did they know that Henry was the one to fix the pipes?  How did they even know there were pipes to fix?  How did they know where the pipes were.  How did they know how to bust they pipes so they would make that sound for Henry to come running?  The conspiracy theory makes all that plausible.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chocolateshake on April 03, 2019, 07:56:07 PM
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It does seem that they are trying to bring Maggie back.

Maggie is one of the sketchy things about the season finally for me.  They talk about how Maggie hasn't responded.  Like they sent her an email or left her a voicemail or something.  Yet during the same episode they kept pounding out the message that all the communities have been so isolated.  How would there be easy communication with Maggie?

That was minor.  The big sketch for me were the winter conditions.  On one hand they showed how tough it would be for the gang to not make it to shelter for one night.  They showed how walkers were frozen solid and would shatter.  How do the Whisperers survive the winter?  They don't build fires.  They don't have houses.  They don't even have coats.  They are just hanging out in the open.  Do they migrate to Florida for the winter?
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on April 03, 2019, 09:06:02 PM
Yes, the Whisperers (like the animals they claim to be) migrated. This was clear when they showed them in a warmer place with plenty of green vegetation.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: perc2100 on April 05, 2019, 12:10:45 PM
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They aren't ordinary people.  They are the survivors after years of conflict with walkers and other survivors.  They are the baddest of the bad.  They are the toughest of the tough.  They would eat your average CIA agent who has never even fired a gun let alone killed anyone for lunch.  These aren't doe eyed gullible people.  All those people are dead.  Well they shouldn't be anyways.  That's the problem.

Right, but we're talking about actual human beings.  Surviving in a community of people does not equal impeccable skills of detection.  It means they are likely good at spotting and fighting off zombies, fighting of marauders, etc.  Not necessarily spotting strangers who may be a threat.  As stated before by Jun, it was explained in the show (and I think by me somewhere?) that no one in any community knows everyone in every community: let alone teams of security people.  There clearly was no thought-out ID method, or whatnot to distinguish whom is a community member & who wasn't.  Add to that at that point people knew The Whisperers as animal-like community who roamed the landscape with zombie hordes: not nicely-dressed, fairly-cleaned-up friendly folks who look like everyone else.

My dad spent a large chunk of his career as an investigator of one-kind or another for the state of OH: often analyzing criminal behavior.  He once said to me (and I've heard this from MANY police officers & detectives over the years) that often the most simplest of answers is the explanation.  Overwrought conspiracy theories don't mean much to me, and remind me of early 00's Sopranos theories (the Russian who escaped the Pine Barrons is working with Johnny Sac!!); often fans need to have every little detail spelled out or whatnot, when in the big picture it's not important to the narrative of the series.
IDK; go with the conspiracy & I'll go with my thoughts  8)
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: chaosdreamer on April 10, 2019, 01:28:36 PM
Finally had a chance to finish up the last few episodes of Season 9 and I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised overall by this season even though I'm still upset that they killed off Jesus as I thought he was one of the more interesting and most versatile characters. 

I have a slightly different take on the Alden-Lydia bit. I think Alden's hostility toward Lydia is not so much because he thinks she's like her mother but because he blames her for Enid's death.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on April 10, 2019, 03:46:13 PM
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I have a slightly different take on the Alden-Lydia bit. I think Alden's hostility toward Lydia is not so much because he thinks she's like her mother but because he blames her for Enid's death.

Possibly, but that is still indirect. I just think, given his backstory, that he'd be more sympathetic to her position. But yeah, it makes sense that he is upset about Enid.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on July 03, 2019, 08:34:32 AM
Wow, I just learned that the TWD comic ended today with the release of issue 193. No spoilers, but I understand that something big happened recently in the comics (I am a few issues behind since I get them in volumes) but I am shocked to hear that it is ending!

In the comics, they were dealing with the Commonwealth. I am wondering what this means for the show, since the Commonwealth comes after the Whisperers...
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on July 03, 2019, 08:45:38 AM
Wow.

I first really started following your reviews on TWD recently.  The comics and the show are similar but not exactly the same so we will have to see how things go.

Ron
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: mark on July 03, 2019, 08:57:06 AM
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Wow, I just learned that the TWD comic ended today with the release of issue 193. No spoilers, but I understand that something big happened recently in the comics (I am a few issues behind since I get them in volumes) but I am shocked to hear that it is ending!

In the comics, they were dealing with the Commonwealth. I am wondering what this means for the show, since the Commonwealth comes after the Whisperers...

It's pretty big. I won't spoil but I don't think it can go the exact same way in the show due to the characters involved. I do think the show could do a lot with the Commonwealth.

Let me know if you want me to post under a spoiler tag.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on July 03, 2019, 12:26:32 PM
You are always welcome to post under a spoiler tag!

I was spoiled because I saw a special cover for an issue that had the spoiler right on it. Really, Skybound?

Regardless, I am curious what the intentions are for the show.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: mark on July 03, 2019, 12:44:45 PM
Massive comic spoilers below:

Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.


Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on July 03, 2019, 12:47:55 PM
Press release for the final issue.

TODAY’S CONCLUSION TO LONG-RUNNING COMIC BOOK SERIES THE WALKING DEAD OFFERS READERS ONE FINAL, JAW-DROPPING CHAPTER

PORTLAND, Ore. 07/03/2019 — Image/Skybound’s long-running series THE WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard has come to its conclusion with today’s #193 issue.

This final chapter in the pop culture phenomenon was hinted at by the events of issue THE WALKING DEAD #192 and, according to Kirkman’s farewell letter at the end of the issue, has been planned and a longtime coming.

“I’ll say it again, I love (loved… oh, god, I’m not ready for past tense) writing this series. I really don’t want it to end. In fact, I’ve been… kind of unsettled since I wrote the script for this issue. The whole thing just feels… weird,” Kirkman wrote in the letter. “In a way, killing this series has been a lot like killing a major character. Much, much harder… but the same feeling. I don’t WANT to do it. I’d rather keep going… but the story is telling me what it wants and what it needs. This needs to happen. Whether I want it or not.”

Eric Stephenson, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer at Image Comics, added: "THE WALKING DEAD has always been full of twists, but one thing that has never been surprising is Robert Kirkman’s absolute commitment to telling the best story he could on his own terms. Other comic books traffic in the illusion of change, but Robert and his collaborators embraced actual change, so it’s only fitting that THE WALKING DEAD end by confronting the biggest change of all—a resolution to the story Robert began over 15 years ago. It’s testament not only to Robert’s and Charlie’s abilities that THE WALKING DEAD #193 is such a fitting farewell, but also to the possibilities available to anyone in the creative community when they are allowed to tell stories the way they want."

THE WALKING DEAD #193 is in stores today. Stop by your local comic shop to pick up the oversized issue and find out how it all ends.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on July 04, 2019, 08:04:17 AM
[member=314]Transmute Jun[/member],

Do you write a review of the comic book as well as the televised show on AMC?  I love your insights and would like to read your thoughts on the last issue of Fear The Walking Dead. 
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Transmute Jun on July 04, 2019, 08:36:08 AM
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[member=314]Transmute Jun[/member],

Do you write a review of the comic book as well as the televised show on AMC?  I love your insights and would like to read your thoughts on the last issue of Fear The Walking Dead.

I do not specifically write a review on the comic book, partly because I read the volumes, so I am always up to 6 issues behind. I was thinking of writing a discussion of Fear this season, but I am traveling right now and not watching the episodes right away, plus I believe it will be ending during SDCC, so the timing is terrible for writing an analysis right after airing! I was lucky enough to meet and interview the Fear cast at WonderCon this year, and wrote an article about it last April.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/04/02/fear-the-walking-dead-season-5-coming-together/

I haven’t watched the most recent episode of Fear yet *hides* because we are on satellite internet in Europe right now and it can’t handle the stream. I hope to watch it on Saturday when we are at the airport. *crosses fingers*
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: Mario Wario on July 04, 2019, 10:05:14 PM
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Wow, I just learned that the TWD comic ended today with the release of issue 193. No spoilers, but I understand that something big happened recently in the comics (I am a few issues behind since I get them in volumes) but I am shocked to hear that it is ending!

In the comics, they were dealing with the Commonwealth. I am wondering what this means for the show, since the Commonwealth comes after the Whisperers...
I wouldn’t worry about the show quite yet, regardless of the ratings being low. As long as the cast and crew and AMC want to keep pumping out new episodes, the main series isn’t going anywhere. Heck, we have movies being made and another series, too. Basically, it’s Power Rangers. AMC doesn’t want TWD to end.

As for Fear, I won’t say anything until you are caught up.
Title: Re: Walking Dead Season 9 *Spoilers*
Post by: darkron9 on July 05, 2019, 08:11:08 AM
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...I was lucky enough to meet and interview the Fear cast at WonderCon this year, and wrote an article about it last April.

https://www.friendsofcc.com/2019/04/02/fear-the-walking-dead-season-5-coming-together/

I haven’t watched the most recent episode of Fear yet *hides* because we are on satellite internet in Europe right now and it can’t handle the stream. I hope to watch it on Saturday when we are at the airport. *crosses fingers*

I loved this article!  These are the kinds of insights I love to read when I am pointed towards one of your articles.  Hope to see you again on Sunday at the farewell supper.   :)