8.14: The Walking Dead - Still Gotta Mean Something

[ctg]

Morgan and Carol (Photo by Gene Page/AMC)

A Heaps prisoner makes a discovery; Carol searches for someone in the nearby forest; Rick and Morgan find themselves in the company of strangers.

 

[ctg]

I almost didn't wanted to write this, because I took personally the appearance of the negative threat. I get same people time and again coming to tell me what a sh*t this series is and I feel that people want me to quit. I don't get likes. People don't read my stuff. I don't even get a single review. So, what's the point of even trying to put up anything? Nevertheless, I also feel I have to say something, because some people expect these appearing.

So, here we go as the title says maybe this still gotta mean something. I felt this was a good episode even though a lot of it could be nitpicked and turned to its head. We got so close to the death of Negan, but still he got away. Just like the Governor. Just like Rick and Morgan did even though their deaths were much closer as Jadies effed big time with Morgan's ties.

I don't know why she even tried ACME ties and believed they were going to last on Negan. If he really would have wanted get free could had done it sooner. Maybe even soon after he woke up. Then again it was even more mystifying to see the trashlady living in a specifically built container. To be honest, her place has to be the most coolest and the most clean place in TWD's history. And it all ups with the helicopter scene that she's a spy. The trash tribe was a cover and there are much more to it and possibly to the Oceanside then we have been privy.

I feel excited and at the same time terrified for the series future, because the long arc is veering off from the original story quite a bit. In fact, the original story has ended a while a back and I'll expect Morgan to leave the Hilltop behind, because he cannot get the ghosts out from his mind. Rick, even though he doesn't admit it are doing the same thing. The only one whose not going mad is Carol.

How did she find that inner strength?

 

[nixie]

@ctg I really appreciate your posts every week.

The negative thread, I was going to ignore it completely. Then I thought, no, a number of us invest a lot of time and enjoy the series, yes it has its ups and downs. The quality has dropped but it is still one of my favourites.

When I seen Negan dismissed as a psycho, I decided too post. Sorry i think I pinched one of your insights, when I posted my thoughts on Negan.

 

[grip junky]

I almost didn't wanted to write this, because I took personally the appearance of the negative threat. I get same people time and again coming to tell me what a sh*t this series is and I feel that people want me to quit. I don't get likes. People don't read my stuff. I don't even get a single review. So, what's the point of even trying to put up anything? Nevertheless, I also feel I have to say something, because some people expect these appearing.

So, here we go as the title says maybe this still gotta mean something. I felt this was a good episode even though a lot of it could be nitpicked and turned to its head. We got so close to the death of Negan, but still he got away. Just like the Governor. Just like Rick and Morgan did even though their deaths were much closer as Jadies effed big time with Morgan's ties.

I don't know why she even tried ACME ties and believed they were going to last on Negan. If he really would have wanted get free could had done it sooner. Maybe even soon after he woke up. Then again it was even more mystifying to see the trashlady living in a specifically built container. To be honest, her place has to be the most coolest and the most clean place in TWD's history. And it all ups with the helicopter scene that she's a spy. The trash tribe was a cover and there are much more to it and possibly to the Oceanside then we have been privy.

I feel excited and at the same time terrified for the series future, because the long arc is veering off from the original story quite a bit. In fact, the original story has ended a while a back and I'll expect Morgan to leave the Hilltop behind, because he cannot get the ghosts out from his mind. Rick, even though he doesn't admit it are doing the same thing. The only one whose not going mad is Carol.

How did she find that inner strength?

I read you every week. I am not going to stop watching, I love the show. I am not sure what people want or think the shows should be. Thanks for posting.

 

[Dave]

Haven't read the negative thread either. I do appreciate what you write, but I haven't been reading them for a few weeks - I was too busy watching things - but thought I would come and see what people had said about this week. I thought it was a particularly strong episode, though a lot more gory than usual, and yes, I agree that "our people" are becoming more cruel and violent. It is difficult to root for them when they enjoy hurting people and enjoy killing for killings sake. They have changed. Even the kids who are left alive will kill now (and there aren't many kids - Morgan's reason for saving Rick was poignant.) They have gone feral.

However, I also wanted to see if you had mentioned the second appearance of the helicopter. Maybe there is still a part of the world (despite the radio broadcast in FTWD) where everyone is still untouched. The question is, are "our people" too damaged and too far gone to ever fit back into a normal society now?

Edit: Read that thread now. Strange, so many people writing about why they don't watch something anymore. I do tend to agree about the season end with Negan and the unbelievable escape by Glen, only to have his head squashed. It did get better though, even though first half of this season dragged on a bit.

Edit2: If there is another continent that is still free of the disease. They wouldn't allow anyone inside from the quarantined areas. They would probably just fly around in a helicopter to monitor the situation, and stop any big groups of survivors from getting large enough to be able to attack them. Let the groups fight among themselves instead - it keeps them occupied, cuts down their numbers and they can't grow food and increase in size while they are fighting.

 

[grip junky]

Haven't read the negative thread either. I do appreciate what you write, but I haven't been reading them for a few weeks - I was too busy watching things - but thought I would come and see what people had said about this week. I thought it was a particularly strong episode, though a lot more gory than usual, and yes, I agree that "our people" are becoming more cruel and violent. It is difficult to root for them when they enjoy hurting people and enjoy killing for killings sake. They have changed. Even the kids who are left alive will kill now (and there aren't many kids - Morgan's reason for saving Rick was poignant.) They have gone feral.

However, I also wanted to see if you had mentioned the second appearance of the helicopter. Maybe there is still a part of the world (despite the radio broadcast in FTWD) where everyone is still untouched. The question is, are "our people" too damaged and too far gone to ever fit back into a normal society now?

Do you think our normal society could ever be again? In their time and place they are normal, I think, and I do not think they can ever go back to who they were.

 

[Dave]

They have become what they are to survive in that world they live, I agree. In that world, our normal society is never going to return, I also agree. However, I have two provisos:

1. As I said, I still find it hard to support them when Rick tells the men he will take them back but then kills them. Rick is now Negan, so what exactly were they fighting for?
2. As a child my favourite apocalyptic story was The Chrysalids and the ending always made an impact on me when they...

Spoiler

found the other land beyond the ocean where everyone was telepathic and weren't persecuted for being different.

Maybe there is still a land across the water in this world.

 

[nixie]

• The helicopter is back.

We may not have Negan's back story but we do have Lucille's.

I really enjoyed this episode, the more we see of Jadis the more I want to know. When the trash people were first introduced I dismissed them as a waste of time but there is something about her that grows on me.

Carol is saner now than she has been in a very long time. Finding Henry alive released and healed something in her.
Although he is a brat I'm pleased he is still alive.

Some of the arguments we see about TWD is how the zombies are being pushed more into the background and the main threat is the other survivors. I've been thinking about this over the last few days, conclusion I've come to is it is the natural progression. Yes they are a threat but they have become hardened to them, see something often enough it becomes common place. They know how too fight them, they don' t evolve, other survivors want what you have and will do anything to take it from you. Meet a walker you kill it, a person you hesitate, friend or foe?

Their only real fear from walkers now is large herds.

 

[svalbard]

They have become what they are to survive in that world they live, I agree. In that world, our normal society is never going to return, I also agree. However, I have two provisos:

1. As I said, I still find it hard to support them when Rick tells the men he will take them back but then kills them. Rick is now Negan, so what exactly were they fighting for?
2. As a child my favourite apocalyptic story was The Chrysalids and the ending always made an impact on me when they...

Spoiler

found the other land beyond the ocean where everyone was telepathic and weren't persecuted for being different.

Maybe there is still a land across the water in this world.

I think that is a brave and interesting thing which the showrunners are posing the viewers. For a while now I have felt that Rick's group weren't ruthless enough, although there have being notable moments ie. the destruction of the Terminal group. In a world like this I believe there would only be levels of varying badness as civilisation collapses towards barbarism and survival of the fitest. This does leave us as the viewer in the position of having to recalibrate our moral compass to a certain extent.

 

[REBerg]

I almost didn't wanted to write this, because I took personally the appearance of the negative threat. I get same people time and again coming to tell me what a sh*t this series is and I feel that people want me to quit. I don't get likes. People don't read my stuff. I don't even get a single review. So, what's the point of even trying to put up anything? Nevertheless, I also feel I have to say something, because some people expect these appearing.

I appreciate your creation of these threads after each episode. Your analyses of plot developments and insights into general human qualities are worthwhile reading.

Then again it was even more mystifying to see the trashlady living in a specifically built container. To be honest, her place has to be the most coolest and the most clean place in TWD's history. And it all ups with the helicopter scene that she's a spy. The trash tribe was a cover and there are much more to it and possibly to the Oceanside then we have been privy.

I didn't recognize her at first. She was as much of a role-player for the trash tribe as King Ezekiel is for his Kingdom "subjects".

If there is another continent that is still free of the disease. They wouldn't allow anyone inside from the quarantined areas. They would probably just fly around in a helicopter to monitor the situation, and stop any big groups of survivors from getting large enough to be able to attack them. Let the groups fight among themselves instead - it keeps them occupied, cuts down their numbers and they can't grow food and increase in size while they are fighting.

This theory makes a lot of sense and eases some of the disappointment and frustration I've felt about survivors failing to unite despite a clear mutual threat. Outside agitators!

I really enjoyed this episode, the more we see of Jadis the more I want to know. When the trash people were first introduced I dismissed them as a waste of time but there is something about her that grows on me.

I see a Jadis backstory episode coming. I would be interested in learning how she infiltrated the Trash Tribe and became its leader.

Some of the arguments we see about TWD is how the zombies are being pushed more into the background and the main threat is the other survivors. I've been thinking about this over the last few days, conclusion I've come to is it is the natural progression. Yes they are a threat but they have become hardened to them, see something often enough it becomes common place. They know how too fight them, they don' t evolve, other survivors want what you have and will do anything to take it from you. Meet a walker you kill it, a person you hesitate, friend or foe?

Increasingly, it has become "shoot first and ask questions later" whenever two groups make first contact. If Rick had been in charge instead of Maggie when the knowledge-for-albums offer came along, things might have ended more violently.

 

[svalbard]

Who got into the car with Negan?

 

[nixie]

I'm trying to puzzle that one.

I'm thinking someone who escaped when Dwight led the saviors into a trap.

 

[svalbard]

I'm trying to puzzle that one.

I'm thinking someone who escaped when Dwight led the saviors into a trap.

That is what I am thinking.

 

[Moonbat]

Yeah, could be the lady that saw Dwight switch sides and kill the saviours. He asked about her when he first met the saviours again and they said they assumed she was dead too. It would be a bit of a double whammy on the saviours when Neegan 'deals' with Simon and possibly also Dwight.

 

[Judderman]

I appreciate your efforts CTG! Yes the series has been disappointing recently but is still watched by a lot of folks. And some want to comment on it. No criticism on you if there is a bad episode.
I thought it was a poor episode though the crazy Rick and Morgan stuff was interesting.

 

[Judderman]

What on earth was going on with Jadis and Negan. I think that was rather too absurd. The photo stuff and the zombie on the cart. If she is waiting for a helicopter why does she bring the zombie cart contraption out? Then Negan being allowed to go was odd too. It seems playing the role of garbage lady actually made her unstable. Having the helicopter show up was good.

 

[ctg]

If she is waiting for a helicopter why does she bring the zombie cart contraption out?

Because she wanted revenge and the hamburger machine wasn't good enough.

 

[Judderman]

But she must have had this contraption for some time. Unless she built this specifically for Negan. She is more nuts than Morgan.