Anyone Watching "Walking Dead" on AMC?

phork

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Season 2 and season 3 started off great and then they both took wrong turns into the mud and got stuck. Season2: Looking for Sophia for ever, Season3: buildup to the war with the Governor. And now that apparently continues in season 4...
 
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Buster Bluth

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Season 2 and season 3 started off great and then they both took wrong turns into the mud and got stuck. Season2: Looking for Sophia for ever, Season3: buildup to the war with the Governor. And now that apparently continues in season 4...

Well it all makes perfect sense when you consider that Frank Darabont (the writer/developer/director for season 1) was fire ~3 episodes into season 2. From what I have heard from friends loosely in the business, they were never supposed to stay on the farm for the duration of season 2. They had to though, because AMC fired Darabont (who is notoriously not easy to work with because he's a perfectionist) slashed the budget by 40% and increased the episodes from 6 to 13. So naturally, the new team of writers didn't have any choice but to tone it down.

However, that does not forgive season 3. What a gigantic let down. Eight episodes of predictable sabre-rattling and a rather wimpy season finale?! COME ON.

Once you start to see that this is little more than AMC sitting on a cash cow and they're simply milking it for all its worth, it loses its magic, quickly. We don't need more scenes of slow walks in the woods arguing with each other. We don't need more scenes of the women taking turns being absolutely batshit crazy and nonsensical.

Keep in mind, AMC doesn't own Breaking Bad or Mad Men. Sony owns Breaking Bad and Lionsgate owns Mad Men. They don't gut their shows for profit.
 

phork

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Well it all makes perfect sense when you consider that Frank Darabont (the writer/developer/director for season 1) was fire ~3 episodes into season 2. From what I have heard from friends loosely in the business, they were never supposed to stay on the farm for the duration of season 2. They had to though, because AMC fired Darabont (who is notoriously not easy to work with because he's a perfectionist) slashed the budget by 40% and increased the episodes from 6 to 13. So naturally, the new team of writers didn't have any choice but to tone it down.

However, that does not forgive season 3. What a gigantic let down. Eight episodes of predictable sabre-rattling and a rather wimpy season finale?! COME ON.

Once you start to see that this is little more than AMC sitting on a cash cow and they're simply milking it for all its worth, it loses its magic, quickly. We don't need more scenes of slow walks in the woods arguing with each other. We don't need more scenes of the women taking turns being absolutely batshit crazy and nonsensical.

Keep in mind, AMC doesn't own Breaking Bad or Mad Men. Sony owns Breaking Bad and Lionsgate owns Mad Men. They don't gut their shows for profit.

For the writers its easy, stick to the comic, and expand.
 

Irishbounty28

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What does everyone think of the new season?
Just watched the second episode today and I am feeling pretty decent about this season so far. There seems to be more involvement with the actual zombies this season which cannot be said for the previous season.

It seems that the sickness is coming from the water, does everyone else agree?
 

Irish4Life09

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The first episode was a weak way to start the new season, but the opening to last night's episode is one of the high points of this series.I thought that was fantastic. Hope the series continues on this pace. Although I'm really hoping Carol dies...she's annoying me to death.
 

gkIrish

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Also thought the first episode was weak, but the second was very good. The scene with the pigs was terrific. Third episode had a sweet trailer, hoping for the best.
 

Irishbounty28

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Second episode did liven up quite a bit, but the first wasn't too bad. They at least had the bit where the guy died at the market, which was a pretty stark contrast to last year. Last year it didn't seem like to many people were killed by zombies, but most were gotten by the Governor.

I hope it gets back to more of a zombie type feel, rather than the relationships that everyone has with each other. I know that the relationships go with it, but the first season where it was about survival more than anything was the best.
 

gkIrish

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I also feel like they are trying to get everyone to think that the skinny black guy is the bad guy in the prison but I really hope it ends up being a surprise. Maybe Tyrese's sister?
 

GO IRISH!!!

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I was kind of bummed when they killed off the crazy chick in the woods. I thought she was really creepy and her accent and mannerisms really played that up well. I think having that presence in the woods could have been a cool angle.

Otherwise, I am not as excited about this season as I was for past seasons. Carl needs to die. Rick needs to go back to being bat **** crazy. I am tired of seeing who is getting together. Apparently the zombie apocolypse is a great place to get laid.

And two more words: MORE MICHONNE!
 

irishfan

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Man, I hate this show lol. Watched the first two seasons and thought it got progressively worse each episode. I haven't tuned in yet this season to see if its any better, but I haven't heard good things.

The show is just 90% talking and plots are drawn out for episodes at a time. I can't imagine how boring these characters would be if there wasn't a zombie apocalypse.
 
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Bogtrotter07

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In my most humble opinion, they are killing the series right now. They have just introduced tons of new characters and are killing them off, without allowing us to establish any kind of connection.

Some good and some bad; I agree that anyone who allowed the crazy chick to be killed off was crazy. But if this keeps going, viewers are going to lose empathy with the prison residents. It is already starting, thus the number of recent posts wishing for a character to be eliminated.

And they are bringing out the gimmicks. They already did the enemy within, didn't they? And the savage attacks at the beginning in the cell block, good to establish that you are never safe, but the zombie swarm at the fence is even better. How do you kill them all with out making too much noise to attract a swarm?
 

irishfan

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I just wish they made the zombies more formidable. Its at the point where you have to literally be looking for trouble, or be a spaz, or just have the worst luck in the world to actually be bitten by a zombie.

Its cool that a threat is other people/civilizations, but they seem to have made the actual zombies move at 1 mph and pose no real threat which is kind of the opposite of what they did in Season 1, which was an amazing season IMO.
 

GO IRISH!!!

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I wish they would get a little more cerebral with the horror element. They really overuse the gut splattering, skull stomping, gore in the series.

The crazy girl in the woods brought a much needed element to the show - showing what happens when people in an apocalyptic scenario reach a breaking point. In the prison, there is too much of a "life goes on" attitude and too much of a focus on people hooking up. The chick in the woods, to me, represented a better representation of what would happen to many, many people.
 

IrishinTN

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And they even started Juxtaposing fantasy by bringing in Harry Potter and then immediately killing him. Honestly, when I first saw that kid I was like, "whose Harry Potter"? And then the next thing you know he's dead. I think one of the writer's really doesn't like Harry Potter.

As for the enemy within, it's pretty obvious to me it's that little girl who named them. She thinks they are neat pets or something.

I like Micchone's hunt for the governor and I think they can build on that, but they need to include a character with her. Maybe one she finds along the way.
 

phork

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I just don't get the lack of rules and schedules set up... Walking alone through the prison at night (Tyreses new lady), why isn't someone walking the fence line at night? Why isn't there a dedicated crew (I think it was implied) doing away with the fenced zombies? Once you clear the fence, then head outside the fence daily and start whacking the stragglers. Start gather supplies on your runs to put on the fence so the walkers can't see in.. Why not setup sound traps in no wheres ville to attract the stragglers? So many things they should be doing.

Man I just don't get it.
 

gkIrish

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And they even started Juxtaposing fantasy by bringing in Harry Potter and then immediately killing him. Honestly, when I first saw that kid I was like, "whose Harry Potter"? And then the next thing you know he's dead. I think one of the writer's really doesn't like Harry Potter.

As for the enemy within, it's pretty obvious to me it's that little girl who named them. She thinks they are neat pets or something.

I like Micchone's hunt for the governor and I think they can build on that, but they need to include a character with her. Maybe one she finds along the way.

I highly doubt that. How could she have overpowered two adults and burned them?
 

Grahambo

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I just don't get the lack of rules and schedules set up... Walking alone through the prison at night (Tyreses new lady), why isn't someone walking the fence line at night? Why isn't there a dedicated crew (I think it was implied) doing away with the fenced zombies? Once you clear the fence, then head outside the fence daily and start whacking the stragglers. Start gather supplies on your runs to put on the fence so the walkers can't see in.. Why not setup sound traps in no wheres ville to attract the stragglers? So many things they should be doing.

Man I just don't get it.

Wouldn't all of this kinda kill the dramatics? lol
 

ulukinatme

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Wouldn't all of this kinda kill the dramatics? lol

I thought about this too. From a logical standpoint, you or I would have done this in the real world, but increasing their defenses and blocking the zombie's view into the prison would certainly kill the dramatics. On this show they're more likely to tear down a fence than to reinforce one :laugh: Then again, what better way to destroy all sense of security than to create a threat from within.

I was only talking about the rats at the base of the fence. I wasn't talking about killing the other two.

I think it could be the little girl too, it's a sensible choice. Her sister has already said that she's not weak, she's just messed up. A messed up person certainly would be feeling for the walkers and feeding them.

I have no possible idea who would have burned the two adults though, unless they somehow did it themselves to prevent from being turned. It's probably not someone we've met yet, or maybe it's someone like the governor that found a way to sneak in? That last one is highly unlikely. I can't see it being anyone from the original cast. If it was anyone from the original cast, the only one I could see it being is Carl trying to protect everyone or something weird like that.
 

phork

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I thought about this too. From a logical standpoint, you or I would have done this in the real world, but increasing their defenses and blocking the zombie's view into the prison would certainly kill the dramatics. On this show they're more likely to tear down a fence than to reinforce one :laugh: Then again, what better way to destroy all sense of security than to create a threat from within.



I think it could be the little girl too, it's a sensible choice. Her sister has already said that she's not weak, she's just messed up. A messed up person certainly would be feeling for the walkers and feeding them.

I have no possible idea who would have burned the two adults though, unless they somehow did it themselves to prevent from being turned. It's probably not someone we've met yet, or maybe it's someone like the governor that found a way to sneak in? That last one is highly unlikely. I can't see it being anyone from the original cast. If it was anyone from the original cast, the only one I could see it being is Carl trying to protect everyone or something weird like that.

Did they ever shore up the gaping hole at the back of the prison that Tyrese and his friends waltzed into when we first met them? And Yah I get the dramatic ideas etc. But like when someone says their sick, wouldn't you have a plan in place to implement a quarantine like immediately? God knows there isn't many antibiotics going around.

I guess I'm just jaded from the show veering way off the comic course.
 

IrishinTN

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I have no possible idea who would have burned the two adults though, unless they somehow did it themselves to prevent from being turned. It's probably not someone we've met yet, or maybe it's someone like the governor that found a way to sneak in? That last one is highly unlikely. I can't see it being anyone from the original cast. If it was anyone from the original cast, the only one I could see it being is Carl trying to protect everyone or something weird like that.

This is exactly what my wife and I said.
 

Grahambo

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Did they ever shore up the gaping hole at the back of the prison that Tyrese and his friends waltzed into when we first met them? And Yah I get the dramatic ideas etc. But like when someone says their sick, wouldn't you have a plan in place to implement a quarantine like immediately? God knows there isn't many antibiotics going around.

I guess I'm just jaded from the show veering way off the comic course.

I get what you're saying. I find myself thinking about if I was in that situation, what would I do and they seem to do the opposite.
 

GO IRISH!!!

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I get what you're saying. I find myself thinking about if I was in that situation, what would I do and they seem to do the opposite.

You mean like using precious gasoline to do stupid stuff like set fire to the pig pen? That one really got me.
 
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