TV: The Walking Dead

[Animeniax]

Yet the tag of the series is "Fight the dead, fear the living."

What part are you arguing, where the series is going or what they should focus on? They've been doing what the tag line says for 4 seasons now and it's grown stale, particularly with the way they've handled things. In a post apocalyptic zombie scenario you have 3 things to worry about: zombies (the dead) and bandits (the living) and getting supplies. They've covered all of those to the point of tedium in the first 3 seasons.

This season seems to be internal struggles, but its between and among characters you don't really care about. Like this Bob guy with his alcohol dependence. Are we supposed to feel bad for him or is he simply going to be a dbag so we can cheer his inevitable death by zombie bite?

Photo from their fb page. Lori looking pretty hot... they need to find a way to bring her back on the show. Also I hate it when hot chicks make dumb faces.

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[UChessmaster]

What part are you arguing.

My point is essentially that the comic have been doing the "fear the living" part sucessfully for pretty much over 100 chapters now, the only reason the tv show is struggling with this is because they pussyfied the governor and dont have the balls to show real villains like thomas (no, not tomás), the hunters or negan, so im afraid the show will be stuck in a loop until the ratings cancel the show.

[Alhuin]

Don't forget the twins Ben and Billy. They totally ignored that part of the story, even though it was a major growth point for Carl.

EDIT: I'm reading over the Wiki again to refresh my memory, and goddamn... If I had even the slightest doubt before, I don't now. The only way this show is ever going to get better is if it's pulled from cable.

[Animeniax]

And reinvented on premium cable or just off air altogether? You can't be suggesting network tv would save it or give it the liberties that basic cable provides as far as gore and violence. BB had no issues with being on AMC. I think it's just more interesting subject matter and better written than TWD.

I don't think it'd be too late for a pair of twins to lead Carl astray. He's still young and impressionable.

[UChessmaster]

Yes they can still have the twin, and for the record, i think the twins are more related to the notion of kids not quite understanding the new world they live in as opposed to growth for Carl

[Alhuin]

The whole point of the twins, though, was that Ben was the first human Carl had killed after Shane. Shane was in defense of his father, but Ben was in defense of the entire group. He wasn't backed into a corner... it was premeditated thought. It was the moment that Carl started becoming a real character instead of just Rick's son. When he started being "badass", as I like to refer to him. The part about "children not quite understanding" can still be applied, but it doesn't change the fact that that was a very important situation in Carl's growth. If they include them now, it wouldn't have as much of an impact. We've already seen Carl go down that road, however bland it was.

Also, @Ani: I mean premium cable. And you've got to be joking if you think that that wouldn't provide it with more liberties. Just look at Dexter and True Blood. Basic cable has gotten better about treading the line over the years, but they still have limits. Is this series good as it is? Sure... even with the stagnating content, I still think it's one of the best shows on TV. But it could be so much better.

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As for the episode: The only thing I can say is that that was quite a twist. I really wasn't expecting that to happen until either the season finale or next season altogether. I figured they'd want to flesh out some more "story". I'm looking forward to next week's episode now though.

One final note: I forget to mention this after last week, but it looks like the one black chick is actually Tyrese's sister... not sure why I didn't catch on to that before.

[Animeniax]

Also, @Ani: I mean premium cable. And you've got to be joking if you think that that wouldn't provide it with more liberties. Just look at Dexter and True Blood. Basic cable has gotten better about treading the line over the years, but they still have limits. Is this series good as it is? Sure... even with the stagnating content, I still think it's one of the best shows on TV. But it could be so much better.

A move to premium cable would not do much besides allow them to kill other humans in more horrific and visceral fashion, which I don't think would help the show. There is already plenty of killing and blood splattering, though tame and somewhat boring. BB didn't have any issues with showing gore and murder on basic cable, why would that stop TWD? Because it wouldn't bring anything new to the show, just more of the same. I guess they could improve the show with more skin or sex scenes if they were on premium cable...

edit: pretty good episode (by TWD standards), good amount of action and slowly progressing through the mystery illness and the end of their time at the prison. I got tired of watching Hershel try to retain peoples' senses of humanity and civility while endangering himself and everyone else. I thought we'd seen the last of Glen but unfortunately not.

[Alhuin]

There is already plenty of killing and blood splattering, though tame and somewhat boring.

Exactly. The whole point of the series is how fucked up the world is after the apocalypse and how to survive it... which means coming into contact with fucked up people that do fucked up things. The TV series' Governor is a kitten compared to the comics. Not to mention the people UChess pointed out in a previous post. Basic cable doesn't have the ability the depict these characters in their true manner. That's all I was trying to say.

I get that you don't read the comics or even like the series that much... so from your point of view, it's pretty gritty as it is. But I reiterate my previous comment: "It could be so much better".

As for Glen... I'm banking that he'll make it through the illness only to die at the hands of the Governor. That would be an unseen twist, right?

[Animeniax]

Yes but I don't think more gore and blood will make this show any better without a more interesting story and characters. If the governor had been any more crazed and vile, I don't see that that would have made season 3 any better.

I bring up again the case of Walter White in BB. He was on basic cable and his character was very messed up and did fucked up things, most of which wasn't unnecessarily gruesome or violent for violence's sake, but fed a storyline that was worth watching. I guess TWD just doesn't have that, but I don't think a move to premium cable and the additional ability to show depravity and baseness will help the show beyond shock factor.

I like the show well enough, or I wouldn't spend so much time critiquing it and wondering how it could be better.

[poopdeville]

I just watched S04E05. Nothing happened. Did I miss anything?

[rockmanj]

And does anyone else think it's weird to see previously racist and anti-social Daryl driving around with 3 black peoples? I'm sure the writers meant to show how people change because of the circumstances of world destruction, but it's just funny to see.

I am sure if Merle were around to see that, he would be apoplectic.

Also, to Alhuin's point, the comic's Governor is messed up in a way that AMC would be way to scared to show. It isn't just about the level of violence in the comic portrayal, it is the methods of violence and cruelty he uses. Technically AMC could have shown that, but since basic cable shows tend not to do things to frighten away sponsors, it didn't happen.

Also, I doubt AMC would show or allude to castrations.

[Animeniax]

I am sure if Merle were around to see that, he would be apoplectic.

Haha I don't doubt it. He'd be tearing his little brother a new one for being so tolerant.

[Penner]

So is it now allowed to discuss the TWD comics in this thread aswell?

If so, then i might just have to avoid this thread entirely until the show ends because from what i can tell, the TWD showrunners are pretty much doing the same thing as Game of Thrones is doing (taking stuff from earlier/later in the comics and moving it around to earlier/later in the TV show).

[Alhuin]

While it's true they are using that method, there are also things they skipped (or changed) entirely. Discussing those differences is part of what makes this thread interesting, while at the same time providing some insight for the non-readers that may become interested in reading because of said differences.

In any case though, I've been very careful to disguise my "spoilers" with white text for those people who wish not to know exact details, and I feel like, as long as that method sticks, discussion should be allowed. Adding a SPOILER tag would also be wise.

Of course, I think only two or three people here actually pay attention to the comics anyways, so avoiding the thread would be pointless, as you could most likely just avoid certain posts.

[Sapphire]

What a phenomenal episode.

[Penner]

I was totally expecting some shit to go down after how the last ep ended but this was a really nice surprise tbh.

Also... did the Gov and that woman do the nasty in the car when they were literally inches away from the girl and the child? lolwat

[Animeniax]

I completely expected some boning when they intro'd the 2 sisters, but thought it would be more along the lines of the Governor raping and murdering them.

I thought it was a good episode but still so much frustration in the way things are handled and portrayed. Why do some zombies seem hungrier and more intent on their prey, and others shamble slowly and don't seem to care? Do they have appetites, and are some just not as hungry as others?

And why are the survivors reluctant to kill some zombies, then go ape-shit psycho reckless when killing others?

[Penner]

Was there no "Talking Dead" ep this week? I can't find it anywhere (and they don't air them on TV where i live :/)

[deadlydreamx]

Was there no "Talking Dead" ep this week? I can't find it anywhere (and they don't air them on TV where i live :/)

I don't watch them but I kno there was. The governor was one of the guests.

[UChessmaster]

Is this it?