The Walking Dead, Season 7 Part Deux

[meyers7]

I think this point can be explained by the shock of the events and only a day passing between the meetings, but shouldn't someone from the Kingdom group been curious about how they ended up with only 11 cantaloupes? They had 12 when they left, so one must have disappeared on the trip. Either a stranger snuck up and took just one during the shopping cart delay, or someone in their group took one. I can accept, though, that these people have been through a lot, live in a crazy time and just lost a friend, so giving the situation the CSI treatment may not have been their immediate priority.

Did you miss the last 20 minutes (or so) of the show???

Anyway, I thought it was a pretty good episode. But ones with Morgan usually are. Lennie James is probably one of the best actors on the show. Also Gimple wrote this one and those are usually some of the better ones.

 

[StoweD210]

Did you miss the last 20 minutes (or so) of the show???

Nope.

I'd write more, but the subject is a missing cantaloupe so it's really not worth breaking down into more detail.

 

[meyers7]

Nope.

I'd write more, but the subject is a missing cantaloupe so it's really not worth breaking down into more detail.

So how did you miss Morgan tracking down what happened to the cantaloupe?

 

[Dogdeacon]

So how did you miss Morgan tracking down what happened to the cantaloupe?

A viewer may truly not understand why people don't make constant rationalizations & assumptions when there is an inexplicable action. Illogical plot developments are oft supported by some off-screen assumption that a viewer conjures & believes as gospel. These assumptions are supported because sometimes motivations are explained to a viewer on talk-shows or by fan videos. And what is truly amazing is that in a minute a viewer may accuse StoweD (great dorm!) of not being perceptive enough to form rationalizations to chase away the inexplicable .

 

[StoweD210]

So how did you miss Morgan tracking down what happened to the cantaloupe?

Ya got me. I didn't watch the last 20 minutes yet. Thanks for ruining it, though.

 

[StoweD210]

A viewer may truly not understand why people don't make constant rationalizations & assumptions when there is an inexplicable action. Illogical plot developments are oft supported by some off-screen assumption that a viewer conjures & believes as gospel. These assumptions are supported because sometimes motivations are explained to a viewer on talk-shows or by fan videos. And what is truly amazing is that in a minute a viewer may accuse StoweD (great dorm!) of not being perceptive enough to form rationalizations to chase away the inexplicable .

The crazy thing is, I had no problem with those rationalizations in this case. I said I was fine with the way thing played out.

 

[intlzncster]

A viewer may truly not understand why people don't make constant rationalizations & assumptions when there is an inexplicable action. Illogical plot developments are oft supported by some off-screen assumption that a viewer conjures & believes as gospel. These assumptions are supported because sometimes motivations are explained to a viewer on talk-shows or by fan videos. And what is truly amazing is that in a minute a viewer may accuse StoweD (great dorm!) of not being perceptive enough to form rationalizations to chase away the inexplicable .

If you need a talk show to explain motivations so the viewer can understand and rationalize plot holes or explicable actions, then you suck as a story teller.

 

[Fishy]

Why send a truck to transport 12 melons?

You need to frame your product better. Send a smaller car to make the melons seem larger and more impressive. Send a Prius.

I thought it was a good episode. The Walking Dead always seems to be more focused in the second half of the season - feels like we're finally getting somewhere.

 

[intlzncster]

Why send a truck to transport 12 melons?

You need to frame your product better. Send a smaller car to make the melons seem larger and more impressive. Send a Prius.

Conversely, they could of made them giant duck_king melons. 40 pounders. That would justify the trip from The Sanctuary and the absolute seriousness of the situation. Nobody else could grow those kind of melons.

 

[Chuck]

I still don't understand the relationship between the Kingdom and Saviors. How did they come to this understanding without any violence? The Saviors captain and the relationship in general seem to be completely anti-Negan. The only thing I can think of is that Negan is actually a bit afraid of the size and resources of the Kingdom, but then why is Ezekiel so quick to comply? The reaction to the killing of Benjamin seems to imply that the Saviors didn't go with a symbolic killing to introduce themselves.

 

[meyers7]

A viewer may truly not understand why people don't make constant rationalizations & assumptions when there is an inexplicable action. Illogical plot developments are oft supported by some off-screen assumption that a viewer conjures & believes as gospel. These assumptions are supported because sometimes motivations are explained to a viewer on talk-shows or by fan videos. And what is truly amazing is that in a minute a viewer may accuse StoweD (great dorm!) of not being perceptive enough to form rationalizations to chase away the inexplicable .

Except there was action. Morgan did go and try to figure out what happened. It's not like I'm bringing some insight here or information gleaned from some talk show, it was right there in the episode.

 

[meyers7]

Ya got me. I didn't watch the last 20 minutes yet. Thanks for ruining it, though.

Well that would explain it anyway. And I'm deeply, deeply sorry.

 

[meyers7]

Why send a truck to transport 12 melons?

You need to frame your product better. Send a smaller car to make the melons seem larger and more impressive. Send a Prius.

Don't know if Toyota is a sponsor??

 

[meyers7]

I still don't understand the relationship between the Kingdom and Saviors. How did they come to this understanding without any violence? The Saviors captain and the relationship in general seem to be completely anti-Negan. The only thing I can think of is that Negan is actually a bit afraid of the size and resources of the Kingdom, but then why is Ezekiel so quick to comply? The reaction to the killing of Benjamin seems to imply that the Saviors didn't go with a symbolic killing to introduce themselves.

My assumption is that might be true. It would seem that for some groups, Negan lets his henchmen do the dirty work. e.g. Simon takes care of Hilltop and Gavin takes care of The Kingdom. However for a group like Alexandria which has killed numerous Saviors, including wiping out an outpost, Negan feels he needs to be in charge here, and there needs to be a lot more show of power to control them.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I liked the episode. But honestly, never give them your guns. These people are idiots. Put two snipers far away with good scoped rifles, and don't bring guns to the delivery. And you don't bring kids like Benjamin either.

I like the idea of Morgan and Carol switching, Carol coming in now that it is fighting time. She's the swamp fox. If Rick is stupid enough to simply go head to head, someone needs to convince him otherwise. The Saviors are very vulnerable to ambush tactics.

 

[Dogdeacon]

My assumption is that might be true. It would seem that for some groups, Negan lets his henchmen do the dirty work. e.g. Simon takes care of Hilltop and Gavin takes care of The Kingdom. However for a group like Alexandria which has killed numerous Saviors, including wiping out an outpost, Negan feels he needs to be in charge here, and there needs to be a lot more show of power to control them.

Great example of behind the scenes strategery we don't see, or like all the characters, they parse out actor episodes to save money.

 

[Fishy]

The penny-pinching really does hurt the series.

Fairly clear that the writers have to ad lib to create the two-half format AMC wants to milk two premieres and two finales. And then the side stories that have to be created to allow AMC to save some cash by limiting the appearances by essential characters.

How much better would these past few years have been if it were in the hands of HBO?

 

[HuskyHawk]

The penny-pinching really does hurt the series.

Fairly clear that the writers have to ad lib to create the two-half format AMC wants to milk two premieres and two finales. And then the side stories that have to be created to allow AMC to save some cash by limiting the appearances by essential characters.

How much better would these past few years have been if it were in the hands of HBO?

Better, like the early episodes were. But some of the side story episodes have been quite good.

 

[Tommyboy]

The penny-pinching really does hurt the series.

Fairly clear that the writers have to ad lib to create the two-half format AMC wants to milk two premieres and two finales. And then the side stories that have to be created to allow AMC to save some cash by limiting the appearances by essential characters.

How much better would these past few years have been if it were in the hands of HBO?

This drives me nuts. Every episode only focuses on one group. Just pop into a group for like 5 minutes for a little update if you want to keep it brief. GoT does that very well.

 

[Dogdeacon]

This drives me nuts. Every episode only focuses on one group. Just pop into a group for like 5 minutes for a little update if you want to keep it brief. GoT does that very well.

The series has been given the cash cow treatment from day 1. Business wise it makes total sense as its literally a brain dead enterprise that can draw big #s so easily with gore. I don't think it has 'potential', it is what it is, I enjoy the action and the silliness of some of it.

 

[meyers7]

Great example of behind the scenes strategery we don't see, or like all the characters, they parse out actor episodes to save money.

I do think they do that.

 

[Fishy]

Back to old tricks.

The Selma and Louise mission to kill Negan was just a waste of time. You know that is not how that ends.They haven't known what the heck to do with those two characters but they can't bring themselves to just get rid of them either.

And now we know that we can expect an episode with Maggie having some sort of baby emergency without a doctor.

Most of the actors in this series need a part-time job.

 

[intlzncster]

I realize this is picking nits, but for the love of god, if you are going to have a scene practicing knife throwing....is it that hard to have Enid put her opposite foot forward? There's throwing like a girl, and then there's throwing like a girl.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Is nothing going to happen in the series anymore except for on mid season or season finales?

 

[meyers7]

I realize this is picking nits, but for the love of god, if you are going to have a scene practicing knife throwing....is it that hard to have Enid put her opposite foot forward? There's throwing like a girl, and then there's throwing like a girl.

Well she is a girl, so....

They did their own "stunt work" for that. So they practiced until they could actually make those throws and stick the knife. (not sure how long it took )

 

[Chuck]

Back to old tricks.

The Selma and Louise mission to kill Negan was just a waste of time. You know that is not how that ends.They haven't known what the heck to do with those two characters but they can't bring themselves to just get rid of them either.

And now we know that we can expect an episode with Maggie having some sort of baby emergency without a doctor.

Most of the actors in this series need a part-time job.

Agreed. What did we get out of the episode:
i) Rosita is still hot, but a terrible character;
ii) They are both pissed off about Abraham dying on his knees and can't seem to buy-in that they have a better shot at winning/killing Negan if they let Rick's new alliance build and attack the Saviors as part of a group effort. They selfishly don't seem to realize or care that if they fail to take out Negan (or even if they do), they will bring torture and death on their friends.
iii) Sasha seems to think she is taking one for the team (not just trying to be the one that gets to kill Negan), but why would she think Rosita will not just make the same mistake after she does.
iv) Eugene looks as if he's all-in on the Saviors. I'm sure there will be an eventual change, but Rosita should have killed him. If there is any chance that Eugene is "Negan" then he is going to say that Sasha and Rosita were both there. The Saviors will then go and wipe out Alexandria that same day.

I still watch and enjoy the show, but more as a diversion. I no longer look forward to the show all weekend. I do think part of that is the complexity of a new world rather than just surviving from zombies.

 

[Dogdeacon]

My take-aways simpler:
1. Letsgo is right, nothing major happens except in finales b/c $/limited actors in episodes, all come together twice tops per mini-season
2. Maggie is going to have baby complications b/c no doctor & some other Hilltop redshirts get sick
3. Eugene is going to flip at key dramatic moment, become geek legend
4. Gregory still cowardly drunk will get just deserves death next episode
5. Jesus is gay!

 

[meyers7]

Agreed. What did we get out of the episode:
i) Rosita is still hot, but a terrible character;

Eh, she's so-so on the hotness scale. (although in the Apocalypse, I guess that could be a sliding scale). She's a little boring as a character, but she does have a lot of useful skills.

Agreed.
ii) They are both pissed off about Abraham dying on his knees and can't seem to buy-in that they have a better shot at winning/killing Negan if they let Rick's new alliance build and attack the Saviors as part of a group effort. They selfishly don't seem to realize or care that if they fail to take out Negan (or even if they do), they will bring torture and death on their friends.

I agree but many on here disagree. Just taking out Negan may not help any. There are a few people (Simon, Gavin in particular) who I think would love to step in and keep the status quo. And they would definitely have to show off some power (e.g. take out Alexandria) to keep everyone in line.

iv) Eugene looks as if he's all-in on the Saviors. I'm sure there will be an eventual change, but Rosita should have killed him. If there is any chance that Eugene is "Negan" then he is going to say that Sasha and Rosita were both there. The Saviors will then go and wipe out Alexandria that same day.

I don't think Eugene is all "Negan". I think he's more "this is nice, they think I'm smart and important/respected here. Life is easy for me here. I don't want this to change." But I don't think he'd go out of his way to hurt his old friends.

 

[StoweD210]

My take-aways simpler:
2. Maggie is going to have baby complications b/c no doctor & some other Hilltop redshirts get sick

That particular plot development was a big part of last season's finale. Would they play that card again so soon? I guess anything is possible.

3. Eugene is going to flip at key dramatic moment, become geek legend

Agreed. No amount of pickles and classic Atari games could turn Eugene permanently. Like the first time he was grabbed by the Saviors, he's going to figuratively bite Negan in the crotch at a critical moment.

I'm trying to project out the developments for the last 2 episodes this season. From the previews, it looks like Tara takes the Rick & Co back to Oceanside to try and get their assistance in the battle against the Saviors. Assuming they get their buy-in, that leaves the season finale for Rick's coalition to make their plans and attack the Saviors. I don't believe the war will end this season even in a 90 minute episode, so we'll get some type of cliffhanger during the fighting and they'll continue the battle next season.

 

[Dove]

Somehow Lucille ends up in Eugene's hands. And after 30 seconds of agonizing struggle underneath his mullet he is the one who knocks Negan's head into orbit while Rick screams him back to reality.

Yes, it should be Rick, but it will be Eugene with the kill.