6.16: The Walking Dead - Last Day on Earth

[ctg]

Rick and the group must go outside the walls to save one of their own. What they experience on the road will change their lives forever.

This episode will be 90 minutes long. I put Negan's collection piece on top, because I wasn't happy with any PR shots. He is a special person to this series, standing probably almost as high as Rick. So, I thought to give you guys best idea about how Kirkman's antagonist really look, before he appears on the small screen.

Spoiler: A way Negan speaks in the comics, but not in the tv

Andrew Lincoln was quoted as saying about the finale, "It was the first day in the whole six years of working on The Walking Dead that I was late for work because I woke up in the middle of the night and I couldn't get back to sleep. I was so angry and frustrated and I felt sick. And that was just after reading it" implying a significant event will happen in this episode.

Lauren Cohan also said, "[Hearing] the word 'finale' gives me a physical reaction because it's the hardest day on set that I've ever had in my life. I never even imagined that as an actor you could have that experience. It's one of the most raw experiences that I think any of us have ever had. Andy talks about being late to work; I didn't want to go to work that day. It took a really, really long time for everybody to feel okay again after the finale, let's put it that way".

According to various official TV guides, the original title for this episode was "Something to Fear", but was changed for unknown reasons.

 

[REBerg]

Eugene.

 

[ctg]

It has been left open. Just like it was predicted, the season ends to a cliffhanger, and again we have to wait for months and months of speculation, because it's not entirely clear who Neegan picked at the end. Think about that, a whole season without taking out someone from the main cast.

There were a lot of people who were important to the cast, like Denise for example, or Dianne promising to take her own life before she would turn to one of the walkers and then wandering around surrounding forest, before she was taken down.

To be honest, I think Rick can be blamed for not using opportunity to find out more about their opponent, and instead keeping his one the road. Just in case. Would he had commit to really securing Alexandria, he would have to put out outposts to guard the perimeter, because with the numbers Neegan has on his side, Alexandria, and Hilltop are both in jeopardy.

There is no easy way out. Not to anyone. Not even Neegan, who seemed to be rather enjoying to show his massive ego at front of such audience. How many times he has done that?

Hundred or more? Maybe even thousands.

So putting Hilltop fighting capable men on top of Alexandria, I don't think they can match numbers, because Neegan has way more men than Rick is ever able to muster together.

Can Michonne or Abraham be cloned?

I'm asking, because I think Rick has no choice, but to find numbers to boost his ranks, or do the usual and abandon the place and move elsewhere. Probably even head to Canada or something.

Also if Eugene was chosen for being the sacrificial lamb, at least he transferred knowledge to make ammo to Rick, so that all would not be lost.

 

[REBerg]

It has been left open. Just like it was predicted, the season ends to a cliffhanger, and again we have to wait for months and months of speculation, because it's not entirely clear who Neegan picked at the end. Think about that, a whole season without taking out someone from the main cast.

There were a lot of people who were important to the cast, like Denise for example, or Dianne promising to take her own life before she would turn to one of the walkers and then wandering around surrounding forest, before she was taken down.

To be honest, I think Rick can be blamed for not using opportunity to find out more about their opponent, and instead keeping his one the road. Just in case. Would he had commit to really securing Alexandria, he would have to put out outposts to guard the perimeter, because with the numbers Neegan has on his side, Alexandria, and Hilltop are both in jeopardy.

There is no easy way out. Not to anyone. Not even Neegan, who seemed to be rather enjoying to show his massive ego at front of such audience. How many times he has done that?

Hundred or more? Maybe even thousands.

So putting Hilltop fighting capable men on top of Alexandria, I don't think they can match numbers, because Neegan has way more men than Rick is ever able to muster together.

Can Michonne or Abraham be cloned?

I'm asking, because I think Rick has no choice, but to find numbers to boost his ranks, or do the usual and abandon the place and move elsewhere. Probably even head to Canada or something.

Also if Eugene was chosen for being the sacrificial lamb, at least he transferred knowledge to make ammo to Rick, so that all would not be lost.

It was that transfer of knowledge when they were about to separate which makes me think that Eugene is the victim -- that and his insistence on being taken on the trip despite Rick's objections. Eugene had also been given more screen time this season, which adds to my suspicions. The only thing that could have sealed his fate more completely would have been if he was one day away from retirement.
Negan is a real showman, staying "behind the curtain" in the RV while his henchman warmed up the crowd. I don't I've ever seen a greater look of fear in Rick's eyes in the entire series, with the possible exception of waiting to be butchered at Terminus.
Negan's monologue went on a little long, I thought. If he were on stage, he probably would have heard that "move along" music from the band before he finally got around to swinging Lucille.
Those repeated roadblocks made me wonder. Is the group out of RPGs?

 

[ctg]

Those repeated roadblocks made me wonder. Is the group out of RPGs?

Yeah, they had three rounds.

 

[Dave]

I also wondered about the RPGs.

I also thought at first that if they don't kill off anyone important this time (like that redshirt they kicked around in the road this week) then it would be highly unbelievable. However, on further thinking, Neegan has a real dilemna. He needs to kill someone, to punish them, but he has been observing them and knows them all very well. He wants to keep the useful people alive to use. He really needs them to replace his lost troops. (They also said that killing Denise was a mistake, though the shot could only have been meant for her or Daryl.) So, Neegan may well deliberately take the weakest link - though who that could be I wouldn't know. Glen, maybe?

 

[ratsy]

Not a big fan of this one. The last few episodes we saw the Rick group act like idiots. They spent way too much time outside, when they know things are going on. Did they all just feel invincible? Egos getting in their way? I mean, what kind of world would almost all major characters end up on their knees in that scene? The end did nothing for me. It felt over done and I suppose it was just to make them feel helpless and us to see that there was nothing they could do. I don't know who took the bat, but at this point, I am not sure I even really care that much. Shows need a balance of hope and despair, and this season just had a little too much despair to balance out for me.

 

[nixie]

Why was Carl allowed to accompany them, wouldn't you have sent someone to Hilltop to fetch the doctor instead of taking her on a joy ride knowing there are groups of people wanting to kill you.
Instead all best fighters are out of Alexandria, you leave a priest in charge and to protect your daughter.
Least we know Morgan will kill, and who are the guys with the horses.

 

[Ste-Pe]

Getting tired of these type of cliffhangers already, why not just show who got killed? That would have had a bigger impact
From what Negan said, it's not Rick or Carl
Very intense episode though, I agree Megan's monologue was too long: didn't need to be 90mins
Feel a bit let down with the end, not the pay off I was hoping for (plus the blood on the camera looked very cheap, strange when the production on TWD is normally brill)

 

[ctg]

All I'm saying is that it's a family thing. To act stupid. Mrs Grey has been in the ICU for past four weeks, and you might guess that I've observing people and things quite a bit. And the place is scary, because most of the people don't understand infection control or that in the of grief, your suppression system goes down and you're more likely to pick up nasty things. Hence you have wash your hands all the time.

But you look families and they come in big numbers when I think it's would more suitable to go to funeral or not go and just remember person. Thing is, Rick's people is own big family and so was Dianna's. But Ricknator won and now they're all one big happy family, with a lot of disfunctionalities, like doing stupid things in groups.

Back in the Prison Rick has options that could had turned odds on his favour, but he didn't listen. It's as if he's like a big stubborn bull, capable of doing havoc in short distances, but stupid to listen his mind, or even using his heart. Although he was showing a lot affection towards Maggie, while a wise leader would have trusted a group to take her safety.

That's the thing about wisdom. Rick doesn't have a lot of it, while it seems Negan has been wise enough to gather numbers and operate in large territory. At the same time you have to assume he's been ruthless in his actions, but smart enough to not over do it, like Governor did when he was blinded by his arrogance.

He though he could chop off Hershel head with one chop. Or command his troops like Patton.

Neegan however has studied and listened his scouts, because he's right when he tells Rick, "you have killed too many of my people." But in the same time he's showing arrogance on not just straight away capping Rick off and then having words with his followers.

How many of them would you think turning on Neegan's side? because it looks like he has rather large group of ravagers, instead of organising them on occupying land over their central location. It is almost like the stupidity of warlords that goes around terrorising people, instead of using all resources to his advantage. That's all he has learned about art of warfare. Be the biggest bully and carry a big stick! (Although I think Lucielle is awesome. Even better seen in the screen.)

PS. I'm rather tired after a day of waiting to hear the good news. I can smile again.

 

[REBerg]

who are the guys with the horses.

A zombie apocalypse version of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza?

 

[Dave]

Strange armour they were wearing - Is it home made or body armour from some kind of sport? I only ask because that might be a clue to who they are. (The US Olympic Polo Team?)

 

[Ste-Pe]

Pretty cool armour (guess it's a good way of stopping the walkers biting you) I wonder if those are hilltop spears they had (like Rick and Morgan found in the previous episode)?
A nice glimpse of the bigger world Jesus promised us?
Also, the guy with the spray painted cross who was hung- he mentioned a library where the rest of his group died, do we think that's the same library carol was outside when Morgan found her?

 

[Bugg]

Getting tired of these type of cliffhangers already, why not just show who got killed?

Probably waiting to see which of the actors argues most over their contract for next season

 

[Cat's Cradle]

My wife is reading the third omnibus of the comic, and has just passed the point in the book where season 6 ended...I can tell you her reaction was a super-sized "WOW!". (I will be stealing the book from her very soon, to see what has unsettled her so.)
I was a bit upset, at first, that they didn't reveal who Negan attacked with Lucille...but then I thought about the anticipation of the reveal next fall, and the sheer joy of sitting down on that October evening to watch season 7 show 1...and I instantly got over it. What a HUGE show that will be, huh?

ps - I wonder who else is reading, or has read, the comics? No SPOILERS though, of course! Just curious if other people read the books, too.

 

[the_evil_ted]

I haven't read it but someone in work just told me who gets it.

I stopped reading when the tank turned up at the prison, as I was in the mind that id rather spoil the comics than the show any further.

Bitterly disappointed. But then they've already changed a lot, it may not be...

 

[the_evil_ted]

Oh and Neegan was awesome.

 

[Bugg]

My wife is reading the third omnibus of the comic, and has just passed the point in the book where season 6 ended...I can tell you her reaction was a super-sized "WOW!".

I will be very pleased if it turns out to be the same person as in the comic.

What's the betting the first episode of next season is all about Carol and Morgan and we don't find out who it was until episode 2?

 

[Ste-Pe]

Probably waiting to see which of the actors argues most over their contract for next season

Yes this!!! Makes you think that the writers haven't decided who dies either...

Haven't read the comics either, but I do know who's supposed to die. However, in the comics it wasn't Denise who was killed by the bolt, so the writers are happy to deviate where they see fit

I don't want any of the characters to die, but I think, perversely, that if it isn't one of the bigger ones that is I'll feel a little bit robbed. Or if they change it all and Negan's 'beat the hell out of you' is just a beating to unconsciousness.

I agree with Bugg that I wouldn't be surprised if it's an episode 2 reveal. Or the RV turns up at the end of it and a sad Rick gets out with a body in a shroud

However, after all my criticisms, being beaten to death with a bat by a man who enjoys it so much is a horrific way to go - that thought's stuck with me for a bit too long now

 

[ctg]

who are the guys with the horses.

Strange armour they were wearing - Is it home made or body armour from some kind of sport? I only ask because that might be a clue to who they are. (The US Olympic Polo Team?)

Morgan and a person from Kingdom.

To my eye it looks like they modified a mixture of different sport related gear to form a riot armour. They probably have fought with a countless number of zombies in order to survive. And if you look closely, you'll see he's carrying a pistol in a holster.

The thing that's most interesting is: these people don't seem to be wearing a chain mail to protect themselves from bites, scratches and a damage from bladed weapons. It's true that a bullet will penetrate all of these examples, but it has also become evident that the survivors are running out of ammo. And with a large number roamers still being in the DC area, Eugene's ability to manufacture rounds should be valued very high, because it's not his only thing.

Eugene simply is the most important person to keep around. He can learn, or figure a way to do almost anything. Maybe even act doctor in time of need. So, for Neegan to cap him, he would blow impact in Rick's camp in terms of survival. He could possibly enhance all those spike traps and make sure Alexandria can defend itself from Neegan's savages.

Least we know Morgan will kill

There was never doubt about that. He might be even worse than Carol as all we know from his doings is next to nothing. But somehow he managesdto keep a whole town on his own - against roamers and survivors that might have come in to loot stuff.

Or if they change it all and Negan's 'beat the hell out of you' is just a beating to unconsciousness.

The person he smacked, died. Definitely.