TV: The Walking Dead

[Strat]

I liked that finale. Lots of tension which was sorely missing for the most part this season. Its rare to see Rick so vulnerable. I didn't mind the cliffhanger ending either, though they teased out that whole scene a bit too long.

And, Jeffrey Dean Morgan was a great casting decision.

He was so fun and terrifying to watch. Really looking forward to next season. I think season 6 was great all around.

[Mike]

What would you say to fans who are trying to wrap their heads around the cliffhanger throughout the summer?
I would say to them that we stand behind our storytelling format, and that they will not be disappointed in the direction of The Walking Dead. Again, I loved The Empire Strikes Back. “This is amazing. I love it. What’s going to happen next?“ I don’t remember being like, "George Lucas is a hack.” Nobody ever f—ing said that. Nobody was pissed. I read the James Bond novels when I was a kid, and James Bond died again in every book, and at the beginning of the next book it was like, “Oh, thank God he got out of that one.” It’s a thrilling way to tell a story. People have to wait a little while, but, I love Game of Thrones, and I have had to wait to find out if Jon Snow’s really dead or not. I wasn’t angry. I was excited and thrilled that the story was taking a new turn. I was excited to see where it was taking me. That’s what you want out of storytelling.

Those are not valid comparisons.

[tommymtcom]

What would you say to fans who are trying to wrap their heads around the cliffhanger throughout the summer?
I would say to them that we stand behind our storytelling format, and that they will not be disappointed in the direction of The Walking Dead. Again, I loved The Empire Strikes Back. “This is amazing. I love it. What’s going to happen next?“ I don’t remember being like, "George Lucas is a hack.” Nobody ever f—ing said that. Nobody was pissed. I read the James Bond novels when I was a kid, and James Bond died again in every book, and at the beginning of the next book it was like, “Oh, thank God he got out of that one.” It’s a thrilling way to tell a story. People have to wait a little while, but, I love Game of Thrones, and I have had to wait to find out if Jon Snow’s really dead or not. I wasn’t angry. I was excited and thrilled that the story was taking a new turn. I was excited to see where it was taking me. That’s what you want out of storytelling.

The Empire analogy doesn't make any sense. Maybe if Vader had lined up all of the main characters and told them he was the father of one of them and then the movie ended.

This was just cheap story telling and it really took away from Negans introduction, imo. Instead of being in awe of how much of a bad ass he is, everyone is talking about who died. It really shifted the focus away from the thing the whole season was building to.

[Kaius]

Correct. They fucked it up. This is their best attempt at damage control. No one will be talking about it in a week or two and then they'll have huge ratings again in October.

[Strat]

I dont know. I still think Negan was amazing. Maybe you guys are just comic book losers.

nerds.

[Kaius]

Negan was great. The cliffhanger antics have just robbed his opening act of the attention it deserves.

[bada]

You guys are overreacting. Its serialized TV. They end seasons on cliffhangers. Besides I never got the impression any of you liked the show enough that it will kill you not knowing who's head got smashed.

[Kaius]

Well, for me, not caring which character got their skull cracked open is the main reason why the ending sucked. The fact that the show producers thought it was a better creative choice to cliff-hang the victim for 6 months, rather than ...

1) corral the good guys,
2) introduce new antagonist in all of his comical bad guy glory,
3) kill off one of the fan favorite protagonists, and
4) end the season in a particularly disturbing, sad, world-changing, but uncomfortably funny way

...establishing Negan as the new "hate to love him" character and king of the world all screams to me, "I don't know my audience!".

[Strat]

As a non comic book guy, that was fucking awesome. Clearly - I do not know what negan is really about then.

[bada]

I'm not sure the audience consists of hard core Walking Dead comic book fans who feel the Negan character needs to be treated with some sort of reverence and somehow not showing who he killed undercuts that.

[bada]

It's just more internet hysteria.

[Kaius]

I just think it would've made for better tv. Perhaps I'm wrong.

[Strat]

I just think it would've made for better tv. Perhaps I'm wrong.

Your feelings are your feelings and your feelings are never wrong.

[tommymtcom]

I just think it would've made for better tv. Perhaps I'm wrong.

Your feelings are your feelings and your feelings are never wrong.

No, Kai is right and you're wrong

[bada]

Sorry Kai I was just about to get some and my kids cocked blocked me and I'm all cranky. Ignore me.

[spike]

Someone slowed down the audio and put their best guess into who said what.

OK so it's Glenn.

[AndySlash]

finally got around to watching this. i knew the cliffhanger was coming because of the 'leak' or whatever a few weeks ago, so the end wasn't a surprise.

i'm not gonna backread several pages to see if this was discussed, but the other 3-4 pov shots during the episode suggest it was one of daryl, glenn, michonne, or rosita, who were kept in one of the other vehicles that was shown to be where those pov shots were originating from. that certainly could be misdirection, but instead i'm going with that being the biggest clue. since glenn is part of that group, i'm going with him. regardless, it was still frustrating to watch the season end that way even knowing that's how it was going to wrap up.

[CopperTom]

Canada has Walking Dead scratchers. I won $10.

[CopperTom]

Spoiler: show

Shiva on set!

[E.H. Ruddock]

Spoiler: show

Shiva on set!

whoa, that is pretty cool.