To me the tiger, along with the enormous axe-wielding henchman, are nice reminders that this series was originally (and still is) a comic book.
1
Is it me or does Jadis' male sidekick look like Riff Raff from Rocky Horror? For those of us old enough to remember. I wish we can do the Time Warp and go back to 2008.
3
WD is entertaining, but has lost my undivided attention. I multitask on Twitter simultaneously to check in on the even scarier actual America.
If I did treat the story as drama more than camp, I might have some complaints about that well-timed lion attack, the King of Cartoons, and Pinky Tuscadero jumping a shark on a motorcycle.
But as a reflection on America as a gun-obsessed oligarchy with a permanent, wasting and rootless dying class, this may be studied in future seminars on the Trump era.
If I did treat the story as drama more than camp, I might have some complaints about that well-timed lion attack, the King of Cartoons, and Pinky Tuscadero jumping a shark on a motorcycle.
But as a reflection on America as a gun-obsessed oligarchy with a permanent, wasting and rootless dying class, this may be studied in future seminars on the Trump era.
4
I just want clarification on why ( and where) Maggie and Sasha were sitting and talking- so peacefully. I kept thinking they were dead and watching over their "family".
I am happy about the conclusion and that the story is moving on. Negen is one of the most evil villains I have encountered and had a really hard time with him especially after the election. A big bully like you know who.
I am happy about the conclusion and that the story is moving on. Negen is one of the most evil villains I have encountered and had a really hard time with him especially after the election. A big bully like you know who.
1
From a tvguide interview with Greg Nicotero, he said the following regardint the scene:
Even when Maggie and Sasha were sitting together on the log looking at the sunrise, that is a direct callback to the morning after the tornado when they were all trapped in the barn and they were at their absolute worst. And they made through the night, and the next morning Sasha and Maggie are watching the sun come up, and that's when they meet Aaron (Ross Marquand) and their world changes. There was even a little bit of that in there, in terms of what's to come.
link=> http://www.tvguide.com/news/the-walking-dead-greg-nicotero-season-7-fina...
Even when Maggie and Sasha were sitting together on the log looking at the sunrise, that is a direct callback to the morning after the tornado when they were all trapped in the barn and they were at their absolute worst. And they made through the night, and the next morning Sasha and Maggie are watching the sun come up, and that's when they meet Aaron (Ross Marquand) and their world changes. There was even a little bit of that in there, in terms of what's to come.
link=> http://www.tvguide.com/news/the-walking-dead-greg-nicotero-season-7-fina...
3
Sorry but the battle scene was confusing and ridiculous. They were shooting machine guns at each other and in the wide open and no one seemed to get hit. Huh?
3
Dear Seth,
To be fair, a lot of people actually got hit, and we saw folks lying dead on the ground all over. But they were apparently all nameless extras, all the core characters lived. For additional fairness, very few of the entire population present had much experience with automatic rifles, and aiming at moving targets is tough even for the pros.
To be fair, a lot of people actually got hit, and we saw folks lying dead on the ground all over. But they were apparently all nameless extras, all the core characters lived. For additional fairness, very few of the entire population present had much experience with automatic rifles, and aiming at moving targets is tough even for the pros.
4
I agree. Those two battles at the end were terribly directed and, as a result, consistently confusing. In the first battle (triggered by Sasha) it appears Team Rick is kicking ass. But the minute Rick himself is shot, they’ve already surrendered. In the second battle (after the tiger), once again Team Rick appears to be kicking ass. But there are also indications that large numbers of the enemy were able to escape. It's all just running around and shooting. Then most get away. That's a satisfying battle? I don't think so. Speaking of the escape, when crowds are rushing through the gate we have no idea if they’re bad guys getting away, or good guys chasing them. Then there was some confusing nonsense with the gate that wouldn’t open. (Did the Saviors lock it closed from the outside?) And was Dwight’s toy soldier with a message supposed to reveal something, or just indicate he didn’t know the garbage people would double-cross them?
This kind of action is hard to direct in a way that’s more than just random shooting, and actually advances storytelling along the way. What we got was random shooting.
Musically, this season has been bracketed by two songs that aren't the work of TWD composer Bear McCreary: the annoyingly catchy "Easy Street" used to torture Daryl at The Sanctuary, and the inspired use of Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" in the season finale. Choosing a song from a talented artist who took his own life as the swan song for Sasha -- who, like Donny Hathaway, is "young, gifted and black" -- was brilliant, even if the reference went over the heads of the younger members of the viewing audience. Well played, show.
8
The finale took me to a point where I'm ready to move on. Since I'm a cut the cord viewer who has to go to the effort to subscribe, I probably won't.
I won't waste another minute on the terrible "FTWD" spinoff, because I find I'm generally rooting for the zombies. But TWD was fun for a good long time.
I won't waste another minute on the terrible "FTWD" spinoff, because I find I'm generally rooting for the zombies. But TWD was fun for a good long time.
2
Negan will find and exhume Sasha's body and take her back to the Sanctuary for Dr. Carson to do an autopsy. Word will get out about the poison. Then Negan's sister-wives will nail Eugene for Sasha's "murder."
2
I wonder about this... I was sure Negan would brain Eugene in that last scene- as another real "kicker" to the end of this season, not b/c he knew Eugene was inadvertently complicit, but b/c he is inherently very suspicious. I give Eugene credit for providing a credible story pretty quickly, and I'm not sure he won't be offed in later episodes, since his now (apparently) true betrayal likely warrants it.
I'd be willing to bet though, that the technology to do cadaveric testing no longer exists in that world, and a full-time clinical OB/Gyn is unlikely to have the ability to make it happen (if anything, it would seem that Eugene may be most likely to find that skill, and I remain uncertain as to how much actual advanced knowledge/education/training he has, and how much is McGyver-ing). I have commented in the past (and speaking as an emergency physician) that the relative value of a physician in the zombie apocalypse is likely small. I can sew a lac (if I have the material), reduce/splint a fracture/dislocation (again, need some time, maybe some meds, material), deliver a baby (in the normal way, unlikely by c-section), but in the absence of sterility, meds, hospitals, technology in general, and EMT-P is probably just as helpful. Even the use of ultrasound is diagnostic, not therapeutic.
I'd be willing to bet though, that the technology to do cadaveric testing no longer exists in that world, and a full-time clinical OB/Gyn is unlikely to have the ability to make it happen (if anything, it would seem that Eugene may be most likely to find that skill, and I remain uncertain as to how much actual advanced knowledge/education/training he has, and how much is McGyver-ing). I have commented in the past (and speaking as an emergency physician) that the relative value of a physician in the zombie apocalypse is likely small. I can sew a lac (if I have the material), reduce/splint a fracture/dislocation (again, need some time, maybe some meds, material), deliver a baby (in the normal way, unlikely by c-section), but in the absence of sterility, meds, hospitals, technology in general, and EMT-P is probably just as helpful. Even the use of ultrasound is diagnostic, not therapeutic.
2
The finale drove me nuts, not unlike most of this season, with its Hallmark-level philosophozing and its Mrs Butterworth-level pacing. I love TWD and have since its inception, but this was a very frustrating year. Jeffrey Dean Morgan isn't a bad actor, but I think Negan is an almost impossible part to play. I blame the writers and the directors more than JDM for all of Negan's annoying flourishes and his inconsistencies. And they're not interesting inconsistencies, redolent of a complex personality. Actually, they just come off as dumb or obviously in support of the narrative. I didn't think TWD could ever devise a character that would make me long for the good, old days of The Governor, but somehow they have. At least The Governor had a little backstory about loving his daughter which seemed to at least partially justify his madness. I'd love to know what people think Negan did before the ZA? I think he might have been the Atlanta area's premier Mazda salesperson for fifteen years in a row, winning countless trips to Hawaii as well as exclusive dude ranches in Arizona. I've read that some people believe he was a politician, but if he was why wouldn't he say so? Actually, this might really be what's wrong with this season: where are the specifics? We know a lot about our people and their background but what do we know of Negan or Gregory? We found out a little about Ezekiel and that helped make him more believable and more interesting.
7
You raise a good point regarding backstory and it would be nice to have an episode in Season 8 focus on Negan's backstory. It seems to have been some time since there has been a backstory flashback on TWD. Was Enid's the last one? I can't recall. But yeah, I would like to see Negan's backstory as well as some others.
However, in response to some other comments below I have no problem with Negan's mannerisms as they echo the comic, as I understand it anyway not being a reader of comic. Perhaps I'm off on this though. "That widow Is alive, guns a-blazin"? That's gotta be straight from the comic and I applaud the writers for having Negan say it on the show in this way as a nod to the comics. I seem to be in the minority who enjoys Negan as the key antagonist.
However, in response to some other comments below I have no problem with Negan's mannerisms as they echo the comic, as I understand it anyway not being a reader of comic. Perhaps I'm off on this though. "That widow Is alive, guns a-blazin"? That's gotta be straight from the comic and I applaud the writers for having Negan say it on the show in this way as a nod to the comics. I seem to be in the minority who enjoys Negan as the key antagonist.
7
perhaps a few of those "webisode" shorts would suffice, i'd hate to see limited episode time squandered on the Negan backstory (although I also am curious).
4
I love the Negan!
3
I don't think the hoarders are so odd looking. I have friends in Boston who look/dress/same hairstyle as Jadis. Soccer moms.
As for their speech, could the ZA be affecting speech?
As for their speech, could the ZA be affecting speech?
7
I suspect the Trash People were once upon a time a band of Scandinavian eco-tourists who came to America before things got all apocalypticy and then couldn't get a return flight home so they raided a Banana Republic warehouse to outfit them all alike through the end of days as they scavenge for recyclables and Björk adherents. The show runners must have some rationale for explaining how they forgot to talk goodish so soon after the inciting zombifying event, it's all just silly when they appear and the show's momentum grinds to a dead stop.
After Glenn's demise, I vowed to never watch TWD again until I ended up watching TWD again sometime in the season's second half. Thank you Jeremy for being my dead lifeline. It had it's moments. Sasha's send-off was inspired. Lovey-dovey Michonne, not. Give her back her pets! I can get behind Shiva but whatever happened to all of our household pets in this world? I suppose we ate them all. How about showing us a zombie dog-walker or some bad guy that's rescued all the rescue dogs and now uses them for evil. Maybe that's silly too. I was hooked since episode one of season one. I still get goosebumps when I think of Sophia walking out of that barn. C'mon man, Make The Walking Dead Great, Again!
After Glenn's demise, I vowed to never watch TWD again until I ended up watching TWD again sometime in the season's second half. Thank you Jeremy for being my dead lifeline. It had it's moments. Sasha's send-off was inspired. Lovey-dovey Michonne, not. Give her back her pets! I can get behind Shiva but whatever happened to all of our household pets in this world? I suppose we ate them all. How about showing us a zombie dog-walker or some bad guy that's rescued all the rescue dogs and now uses them for evil. Maybe that's silly too. I was hooked since episode one of season one. I still get goosebumps when I think of Sophia walking out of that barn. C'mon man, Make The Walking Dead Great, Again!
19
Yeah, that was a great season and great episode.
6
Agreed- it will likely never feel that "real/shocking/moving" again, in part b/c the technique was used at that time and so any/all subsequent shockers feel more staged, but it's also when Rick became a truly courageous leader, b/c he was willing/able to break through his shock and put Sophia down, when all the other characters were frozen. I liked the sequence b/c it illustrated the truest (in my mind, anyway) horror of the zombie world, which is that the survivors will really never know what happened. She was young, she got lost and defenseless, she was attacked and turned... Sasha's departure from this life was a reasonable facsimile of the surprise of Sophia's demise, though. Best part of the season.
i wonder if the trash people were gamers at a convention and their instinct is to be offbeat anyway, and the weird speech patterns were initially intentional... I was disappointed that they betrayed the core group, although I'm not sure I fully followed how it happened, how they were contacted by the Saviours, and what the deal was (is Negan giving up 10 of his slaves?)... I too like Shiva but I oft grow mildly weary of the sudden and spectacularly coincidental plot turns, the arrival of the Hilltoppers and the Kingdom literally during Negan's backswing... Kudoes to Karl for being the first to take advantage of the Garbage people and start to light them up...
i wonder if the trash people were gamers at a convention and their instinct is to be offbeat anyway, and the weird speech patterns were initially intentional... I was disappointed that they betrayed the core group, although I'm not sure I fully followed how it happened, how they were contacted by the Saviours, and what the deal was (is Negan giving up 10 of his slaves?)... I too like Shiva but I oft grow mildly weary of the sudden and spectacularly coincidental plot turns, the arrival of the Hilltoppers and the Kingdom literally during Negan's backswing... Kudoes to Karl for being the first to take advantage of the Garbage people and start to light them up...
1
Walking Dead, just like life: some days are "good", some days are "bad". Most just fall in-between somewhere. "Enjoyment" is a strange word to use when watching this show. I don't feel enjoyment most of the time watching TWD. I feel: anxious, freaked out, wary, shocked, surprised, love, compassion, sorrow, angst, mourning. Sometimes a bit of relief when things go well. Maybe that's why I keep coming back. The characters are alive. They are flawed. They are right-on. They are dealing with chaos, most of the time with smarts and dignity. They survive everyday in a macro version of everyday life.
As far as Jadis and her crew, my theory is that they escaped from a mental institution after it all went down.
As far as Jadis and her crew, my theory is that they escaped from a mental institution after it all went down.
9
Where is Heath? No one seems to have mentioned that he is still missing.
I read he is on a different show now and they left his departure open-ended in case he comes back.
3
He's alive and well as the lead on "24: Legacy." I didn't recognize him right away because it looks like he hit the gym and lost some weight for the new show. I actually like him better than Jack Bauer. Not clear if he'll return to TWD at some point, but I'd be surprised if he came back for such a small role.
4
Wow, thanks for pointing that out, he is unrecognizable in 24! Maybe he will return to TWD after his 24 hours are up, lol.
2
After the season opener, I switched to reading blog posts and reviews like this, after the fact, and find it much better than watching the episodes themselves. Maybe when Negan/Morgan is gone I will try watching again!
1
I totally agree -- I love the good recaps (like this one) and substantive/funny/insightful comments -- we should all migrate to live tweeting with a unique hashtag during the show (although I'm on Pacific time...)
2
1) The tiger lives! 2) Michonne lives! 3) Rick really does get under Negan's skin (good to see Negan angered by how Rick's not afraid of him). So ... all boxes ticked and baseball's here to keep me company until Season 8 or Trump's impeachment, whichever comes first. I'm good.
18
Miss Gregory!
2
Another plotline I mostly missed- he was "invited" to find sanctuary w/ the Saviours? Do we think he provided the inside scoop on the planned rebellion? Is it clear to anyone else how Negan knew enough to take the initiative and attack before Alexandria was fully ready? He alluded to knowing about the new guns- how did he find out? Does he know about Oceanside? I had to blast through 3 recorded episodes before going to work a few days ago, couldn't wait for all the plot subtleties to organize themselves in my mind!
Jadis and her crew look and sound like they wandered off the set of a cancelled Star Trek TV show spinoff.
6
Galaxy Quest aliens
1
Negan sorry typo. Hang this auto-correct! P.s. Hate garbage people. No sense made. English first language?
3
Tedious finale to a very tedious season. Looks like more of the same next season. Outta here!
5
Tedious comment too I think, and goodbye.
15
Have to agree with you DW. I usually tape the shows and use the fast forward button to avoid commercials. When I start skipping parts of the show because they are tedious, trite, boring then it's not much longer before I stop watching altogether. Have finally reached that point with this show. Just no worth a look any longer. To all of you fan boys who can't tolerate folks having a negative view on your show well all I can say is FTWD! There is still hope for that :-)
1
Dear Ledoc254,
Now see there, your comment wasn't that tedious. I really meant my first reply literally, there wasn't anything of interest in the first comment.
I agree that TWD is not the same as it was. I too have hopes for FTWD. But even though TWD is lesser now, it's still interesting to me, and still better than any other zombie show that has ever existed (there haven't been many). So I'm sticking with it until something better comes along.
Now see there, your comment wasn't that tedious. I really meant my first reply literally, there wasn't anything of interest in the first comment.
I agree that TWD is not the same as it was. I too have hopes for FTWD. But even though TWD is lesser now, it's still interesting to me, and still better than any other zombie show that has ever existed (there haven't been many). So I'm sticking with it until something better comes along.
2
Thanks, Jeremy. I've enjoyed your recaps.
This was a good, not great season ender. But, satisfying.
I hope they wrap up Negan and the series in Season 8
This was a good, not great season ender. But, satisfying.
I hope they wrap up Negan and the series in Season 8
5
Note about the back bend: JDM said he got that from the comics
8
About Megan's posture-JDM took it from the comic book.
2
Think of negan as president, and walkers as his supporters- but at least there is active resistance! I was glad to see Rick, Darryl, Carol, King Ezekiel, and co rise up and fight back on the side of decency. It the moral heart of this show that drives it and when it was too crushed by negan we were left in the doldrums. We excuse it in other art forms though.
7
Finale = marriage
Season 7 overall = adolescent
Hopes for next season = a bride on the eve of her second wedding
Wild animal: Elephant
As an aside, does anyone else have trouble accessing the comments from their mobile device?
Season 7 overall = adolescent
Hopes for next season = a bride on the eve of her second wedding
Wild animal: Elephant
As an aside, does anyone else have trouble accessing the comments from their mobile device?
I have iPad. Had to tap "subscribe" to get into comments even tho I was signed in.
Relief--no repeat of S6 finale game show. Really liked Rick's f2f encounter w/Negan--Rick has evolved again convincingly. Really liked Shiva. (Understand why she's hard to buy, but I am glad to be happy w/her!) Really, really liked Glenn's tribute. Tied up everything & turned the page to new chapter.
Still weary of having to ask needless questions such as, "What?/who?/why?/huh?" For example, awkward staging of Sasha's walker death. Seeing her come into view from distance instead of lurching for 1 second close up & half-seen from the back would've removed 3-4 seconds' uncertainty, and been far more impactful. (And Darabont would have shown Maggie ending Sasha's walkerness.). Also, why no closeup of Eugene, the coward confronted by Negan re Eugene's treason? We only got a 4-5 second shot of Negan waiting for reply. Time for Nicotero & others to step aside. I sense burnout. Finale felt alternately rushed, sloppy & poignant, exciting. Episodes have been rip-offs, unnecessarily puzzling, even tedious, but never rushed & sloppy. (BTW, Mr. Egner, I did involuntary fist-pump reading about gratuitous backbending, etc.)
Still weary of having to ask needless questions such as, "What?/who?/why?/huh?" For example, awkward staging of Sasha's walker death. Seeing her come into view from distance instead of lurching for 1 second close up & half-seen from the back would've removed 3-4 seconds' uncertainty, and been far more impactful. (And Darabont would have shown Maggie ending Sasha's walkerness.). Also, why no closeup of Eugene, the coward confronted by Negan re Eugene's treason? We only got a 4-5 second shot of Negan waiting for reply. Time for Nicotero & others to step aside. I sense burnout. Finale felt alternately rushed, sloppy & poignant, exciting. Episodes have been rip-offs, unnecessarily puzzling, even tedious, but never rushed & sloppy. (BTW, Mr. Egner, I did involuntary fist-pump reading about gratuitous backbending, etc.)
4
In a show about zombies, Shiva's presence seems normal.
6
And, I, too, wanna know what 10/12 of what Jadis & Negan were haggling over. Why was this brought up & not explained? Is it supposed to be the big S7 mystery to spice up interest in S8? Ah, I miss the days when I would come away from a new episode wrung out & afraid, but needing to see the next episode.
1
Greene - I'm guessing 10-12 cat statues to replace the one Rick took
3
Have to agree about yawning over Negan's repetitive posturing, and that it's hard to believe no-one from his own group has already taken him out. That kind of cruelty is unsustainable over time. BUT... it is a show based on a comic book about zombies...
Really enjoyed Sasha in this, and the flash backs with Abraham were sweet. And then Cutlets showing up on Talking Dead with flowers was a hoot; are they are real-life item?
Tiger attack is silly, but the CGI is pretty damn cool and it is a gorgeous beast.
Am thinking the speech if the trash people is a valentine to the Road Warrior movies.
And for once, Carl made me happy! He was the first to shoot when weaponized Sasha appeared, and I counted three immediate deadly shots. Nice, Carl, you may stay. (o;
Really enjoyed Sasha in this, and the flash backs with Abraham were sweet. And then Cutlets showing up on Talking Dead with flowers was a hoot; are they are real-life item?
Tiger attack is silly, but the CGI is pretty damn cool and it is a gorgeous beast.
Am thinking the speech if the trash people is a valentine to the Road Warrior movies.
And for once, Carl made me happy! He was the first to shoot when weaponized Sasha appeared, and I counted three immediate deadly shots. Nice, Carl, you may stay. (o;
8
Cudlitz & Martin-Green married to different people. Sonequa's husband is an Alexandrian, and was the guy w/injured leg in pet shop last season. He was in foreground of group of good guys as camera panned across them after Saviors left.
4
If by valentine to Road Warrior you mean Jadis is a poor woman's Furiosa...
"weaponized Sasha"; brilliant klf !!
1
I hope Rick learned something — if you get the drop on your enemy, don't let them hold onto their guns.
3
Sheesh! Glad this season is over. The final battle became nonsense--how many entrances does Alexandria have? Did the Kingdom's handful of fighters battle past the main gate? If so, why not kill savior truckers and disable the getaway vehicles as you saunter past? If not, how did they appear suddenly around a house? Anyone got a map of Alexandria that lays out the battle sequence?
Makes you wonder just what lies beyond the Saviors territory in the opposite direction. Is there no other conflict to tie them down?
Makes you wonder just what lies beyond the Saviors territory in the opposite direction. Is there no other conflict to tie them down?
5
So true. Also: At the end of the battle what's happening at that other gate that 4 Alexandrians can't manage to open? what is Daryl looking for when he climbs up on top of that truck and looks around at - nothing at all? How does he know where to look for that soldier figurine? And what's the significance of that object? Have we seen it before?
Jadis et al. are a nightmare. I didn't see the twist coming, but then again I don't really spend much time thinking about this show. I just watch it and read recaps.
Maggie's speech didn't move me. The Abraham flashbacks fell flat. Who really cares if Carl lives or dies? But the thought of him getting his head bashed in was too much to bear.
The deus ex machina needs to be retired. Shiva jumps out mid swing and saves the day? No Savior or garbage person thought to shoot her? For a moment, I thought she died and had to rewind and look for her in the speech making scene.
I get that it's TV but King Ezekiel didn't need to announce his arrival and intentions. Just start shooting!
If getting shot then falling from a height of 10 feet or more didnt kill Rick, nothing will!
It was hard to watch Michonne take such a beating.
I want redemption for Dwight. Tara screaming Do it! Do it! didn't work for me. I just didn't buy it. I see Eugene working from the inside now to undermine Negan and help Rick and co.
We take, we don't bother. It's kind of a great philosophy.
Jadis et al. are a nightmare. I didn't see the twist coming, but then again I don't really spend much time thinking about this show. I just watch it and read recaps.
Maggie's speech didn't move me. The Abraham flashbacks fell flat. Who really cares if Carl lives or dies? But the thought of him getting his head bashed in was too much to bear.
The deus ex machina needs to be retired. Shiva jumps out mid swing and saves the day? No Savior or garbage person thought to shoot her? For a moment, I thought she died and had to rewind and look for her in the speech making scene.
I get that it's TV but King Ezekiel didn't need to announce his arrival and intentions. Just start shooting!
If getting shot then falling from a height of 10 feet or more didnt kill Rick, nothing will!
It was hard to watch Michonne take such a beating.
I want redemption for Dwight. Tara screaming Do it! Do it! didn't work for me. I just didn't buy it. I see Eugene working from the inside now to undermine Negan and help Rick and co.
We take, we don't bother. It's kind of a great philosophy.
4
I DVR-ed the season and just couldn't get myself to watch it until last week, when I binged the whole season up to this episode. I've been gradually losing interest in the show, which I think happens when you lose favorite characters and there are too many subplots that don't really pull you in. The Kingdom and the Hilltop just aren't that intriguing and the article-dropping trash people just seem absurd--where the heck did they come from anyway? And the time between seasons doesn't help. When you're losing interest, absense doesn't make the heart grow fonder.
That said, having waited so long to dive in, I noticed a big difference in this season. They toned the violence and Negan down a lot. It was obvious that the producers listened to the fan complaints. I'm not sure that was a good thing. I mean, I was happy to see much less of Negan, as he is soooo irritating, but the season just seemed a little lethargic. And enough with the death fake-outs. No one is falling for that! I was however glad to see zombies once more be a bit of a threat when Rick and Michonne were at the abandoned fair. I miss zombies. I miss badass Michonne--lovey-dovey Michonne is boring. What did work for me was Eugene's turncoat (act?), Dwight looking for his wife and leaving the carving (I always liked that character), and Sasha's dramatic ending (as contrived as it was). And kudos for using that beautiful Donny Hathaway song (there was some significance there, I think).
That said, having waited so long to dive in, I noticed a big difference in this season. They toned the violence and Negan down a lot. It was obvious that the producers listened to the fan complaints. I'm not sure that was a good thing. I mean, I was happy to see much less of Negan, as he is soooo irritating, but the season just seemed a little lethargic. And enough with the death fake-outs. No one is falling for that! I was however glad to see zombies once more be a bit of a threat when Rick and Michonne were at the abandoned fair. I miss zombies. I miss badass Michonne--lovey-dovey Michonne is boring. What did work for me was Eugene's turncoat (act?), Dwight looking for his wife and leaving the carving (I always liked that character), and Sasha's dramatic ending (as contrived as it was). And kudos for using that beautiful Donny Hathaway song (there was some significance there, I think).
11
Ditto, ditto, ditto, and . . . Wait for it . . . Ditto.
3
Season 7 opener started out great (shocked and devastated) - it took a few days to get over it, like the brutal Terminus opener in S6. The S7 finale was entertaining with some nice twists. Had Negan homered on Carl... that would have been tough to swallow. To the writers and directors: I read somewhere that the show toned it down after complaints about the opener. Please don't cave in (no pun intended) to the few that complain. That's what makes your show so great! Cheers :)
4
Given the "I am Negan" motif and that Rick keeps repeated he is going to kill Negan... I think a nice turn of events would be for Eugene finally get the nerve to surprise Negan and kill him, saying "I am Rick."
35
Good call on the writers' part for dialing down the overblown Negan, as the show was losing a million viewers a week the first half of season seven, but they should have had Sasha or Shiva finish him off. He's still alive, and as mind-numbingly garrulous as ever. Bad call, also, negating the only high point of season seven, the excision of the insufferable Abraham, by bringing him back in entirely too many overlong flashbacks.
5
I guess as she is dying Sasha doesn't think of anyone in her life before the apocalypse? I would hope that ALL of my thoughts were from before the apocalypse...
4
I have never missed an episode, but may call it quits now. Negan fatigue or maybe overall WD fatigue. Is there light at the end of this tunnel?
8
Can someone please explain how that tiger knew who the bad guys were. If he's that smart, he should have finished off Negan first.
35
Man! I was watching and saying exactly the same! Hehehehehehehe
6
Shiva wanted to let Sasha finish her meal & leapt on the next guy over. She has manners & respects a sister predator. ;o)
5
For that matter, would have been a fine time for Dwight to plug Negan, in all the confusion.
2
Last season's family was an enormous affront to TWD's loyal audience. Its callous manipulation of audience loyalties made sure this season started with a sour taste, which only got partially redeemed when, a few shows in, an actually beloved character was brutally murdered. And then the carnage was so gratuitous (I know, it's the Zombie genre, and I shouldn't complain). Were it not for my inexplicable and insatiable lust for all things Zombie, I would have left the show forever.
But I thought last night's finale was very good, almost redeeming the shortcomings of this interminable season and its dead horse beating of what a bad, bad, super bad guy Negan is.
Sasha's plan was genius. While I had figured she would take her own life, I failed (mercifully) to consider she would zombie-up in the coffin. The junk people's betrayal was superb and added to the mayhem, which was filmed in such a way as to communicate chaos without adding any clarity to the tide of the battle.
Sasha's character spent a lot of time reminiscing on Abraham, a relationship that was never deeply sold, but backstories are fine.
Now, at the end of this season, I have good eagerness for next season, unfettered by the manipulations cruelly foisted on the audience next season.
Can we at least get some resolution on Rick? His earnestness under fire is growing quite tiresome. Either kill him or have him truly struggle with real moral dilemmas.
But I thought last night's finale was very good, almost redeeming the shortcomings of this interminable season and its dead horse beating of what a bad, bad, super bad guy Negan is.
Sasha's plan was genius. While I had figured she would take her own life, I failed (mercifully) to consider she would zombie-up in the coffin. The junk people's betrayal was superb and added to the mayhem, which was filmed in such a way as to communicate chaos without adding any clarity to the tide of the battle.
Sasha's character spent a lot of time reminiscing on Abraham, a relationship that was never deeply sold, but backstories are fine.
Now, at the end of this season, I have good eagerness for next season, unfettered by the manipulations cruelly foisted on the audience next season.
Can we at least get some resolution on Rick? His earnestness under fire is growing quite tiresome. Either kill him or have him truly struggle with real moral dilemmas.
7
Thank you Jeremy for 16 terrific recap weeks.
And to Dan, Leslie and all friends here; please join the recaps for the upcoming seasons of The Leftovers; Outlander and GoT.
BTW - To those who claim TWD is losing viewers. It is not. It is gaining them. Bigly.
JDM was downright humble on TTD. Didn't recognize him, though. Thought he was Mandy Patinkin's Saul from Homeland/
And to Dan, Leslie and all friends here; please join the recaps for the upcoming seasons of The Leftovers; Outlander and GoT.
BTW - To those who claim TWD is losing viewers. It is not. It is gaining them. Bigly.
JDM was downright humble on TTD. Didn't recognize him, though. Thought he was Mandy Patinkin's Saul from Homeland/
7
Indeed, thanks Jeremy for doing a great job on recaps for a couple years now. And I'll be on the Thrones recaps, going to get HBO for the next season as I finally caught up. Maybe Leftovers & Outlander, but I can't promise it for sure. Definitely I'll comment on Fear TWD if they're doing it.
Also according to the interwebs, TWD season 1 premiere had 5.35 million viewers, season 6 premiere had 14.63 mil, and 7 premiere had 17.03, so it's true, people have not been abandoning it in droves. They do tend to claim that they are quitting the show though, regularly, which is an odd phenomenon.
Also according to the interwebs, TWD season 1 premiere had 5.35 million viewers, season 6 premiere had 14.63 mil, and 7 premiere had 17.03, so it's true, people have not been abandoning it in droves. They do tend to claim that they are quitting the show though, regularly, which is an odd phenomenon.
4
Prairie! Will definitely see you on GoT recaps. I started and stopped The Leftovers, but I keep hearing good things. Maybe I'll try it again. As with Dan (who put in his hat as a recapper for Legion!), I'll join the recap for FTWD as well.
2
You can always find statistics that support your position:
Season 7 finale had the lowest number of viewers since Season 2, at 11.3 million. Season 6 finale had 14.2 million viewers, vs. the 14.6 million who tuned in for the premiere of the season.
So while the premier of season 7 picked up about 2.4 million viewers vs. season 6, the year-over-year finale watcher total was down almost 3 million.
In total, there were about 5.7 million fewer people who watched the finale than the premiere of season 7 versus about 400K fewer finale than premiere watchers for season 6. So there was a very large viewership drop off during season 7, while viewership was pretty steady during season 6.
Even if you "normalize" season 7 premiere to about 14 million viewers -- given the hype about who Lucille did in in the season 6 finale -- the show was still down close to 3 million viewers by the end of season 7 from the beginning.
If you are saying that the show has gained viewers since it started -- well, yep, you're right. But I suspect that the sharp decline in viewership this year is keeping a lot of folks at AMC and TWD up at night.
Season 7 finale had the lowest number of viewers since Season 2, at 11.3 million. Season 6 finale had 14.2 million viewers, vs. the 14.6 million who tuned in for the premiere of the season.
So while the premier of season 7 picked up about 2.4 million viewers vs. season 6, the year-over-year finale watcher total was down almost 3 million.
In total, there were about 5.7 million fewer people who watched the finale than the premiere of season 7 versus about 400K fewer finale than premiere watchers for season 6. So there was a very large viewership drop off during season 7, while viewership was pretty steady during season 6.
Even if you "normalize" season 7 premiere to about 14 million viewers -- given the hype about who Lucille did in in the season 6 finale -- the show was still down close to 3 million viewers by the end of season 7 from the beginning.
If you are saying that the show has gained viewers since it started -- well, yep, you're right. But I suspect that the sharp decline in viewership this year is keeping a lot of folks at AMC and TWD up at night.
1
Admittedly, this is not the most important topic, but am I the only one who is bothered by the fact that Jadis does not speak in complete sentences? It's not as if the zombie virus attacks human syntax. Maybe this issue is MY "cross to bear," but I want her end to come when someone points a gun to her head and says sternly, "You should have paid attention to your high school English teacher." Bang.
21
Yes, it is bothersome and the Kardashians do not speak in complete sentences either, especially Kourtney. I don't get it.
4
I find her way of speaking contrived; every time she opens her mouth it takes me out of the story. I'd be happy to see her die a painful death even if she hadn't turned out to be a rat. Especially in your scenario.
3
Yes, very contrived and inexplicable, but then it's not like everything on the show makes sense. I call them "The Baby-talkers" instead of the trash people.
1
I just want to know how that tiger knew who to attack
12
Undoubtedly Ezekiel aimed the tiger at Negan and told her, 'go get him, girl!', but the tiger's aim was a little off.
4
Was thinking the same thing...
Hilarious!
So much hate in these comments! What's up with that? Anyway, I am glad to read that Negan's back bends are irritating to other people. (I don't hate them. Just find 'em irritating.) And isn't it lucky Ezekiel saved a tiger from the zoo when the zombie apocalypse came down. Can you imagine how different last night would have gone if he'd saved an other animal? A platypus? A coatimundi? A dik-dik (redundant?)? "Oh my god, they've got a wallaby!" Negan yells as he runs away...
20
Negan's posturing reminds me of a school yard, too tall bully who is trying too hard to look cool... looks plain silly when a middle aged man sways and smirks with such regularity. I honestly felt the show was awful.
1
He reminds of the Henry "Fonzi" Winkler from Happy Days with those gestures.
7
Makes me think of Bowzer from Sha Na Na.
4
What in the TWD world was that finale about? It was SAFE, as if the story runners were scared to anger the rest of the dwindling fan base. All predictable outcomes, with very little in the way of a shocker. I knew when Michonne took the role of "sharpshooter," Sasha's days were numbered. But, why do a beat down on Michonne and kill Sasha in the same epi! Yeah she won that fight, but she was looking about the same as Carl (finale of Season 6). Every-bodies focusing on the Tiger, the tiger can smell & sense evil... so let's give them a pass on that.
What is up with the dialogue for the trash heap people. Let's get something clear... The ZA did not stop people from being able to talk in full English sentences. All of the trash heap people appear to be old enough to have lived before the ZA OR is this a jab at the type of education in VA public schools? I do not think so. Neither interesting or sensible - just bad writing!
Now that the line has been drawn in the sand, Rick crossed over it & they now have a bonified "War" on their hands will the "Oceanside" women be allowed to fight too to balance out the trash heap people? These alliances are getting confusing. We will need some more seashells to redefine who's with Rick's group.
Lastly, I was not remiss in noting Negan's dialogue as he & the trash heap people ran from Alexandria. It was just nice to not talk about the character, as we have spent far too much time debating his arrival & subsequent impact to all groups.
What is up with the dialogue for the trash heap people. Let's get something clear... The ZA did not stop people from being able to talk in full English sentences. All of the trash heap people appear to be old enough to have lived before the ZA OR is this a jab at the type of education in VA public schools? I do not think so. Neither interesting or sensible - just bad writing!
Now that the line has been drawn in the sand, Rick crossed over it & they now have a bonified "War" on their hands will the "Oceanside" women be allowed to fight too to balance out the trash heap people? These alliances are getting confusing. We will need some more seashells to redefine who's with Rick's group.
Lastly, I was not remiss in noting Negan's dialogue as he & the trash heap people ran from Alexandria. It was just nice to not talk about the character, as we have spent far too much time debating his arrival & subsequent impact to all groups.
1
Extremely disappointed by the episode and this review. I think we spent an entire season with way too many emotional stories/talking and after all that did NOT get the pay-off of a big action episode. I think TWD is losing the reason people loved this show--you learn more about the characters from their actions rather than their (endless, repetitive, boring) words. Even in the action, it should be the entire group that matters, not just one person like Michonne's fight. Since when is the story valuing one person over others? That's not what TWD is supposed to be and why it was great before.
And I hate when the writers don't do what would "really" happen based on the characters as we know them--there's no way Negan is just hanging around back at the Sanctuary, he's heading right back out to slaughter every member of either Hilltop or the Kingdom or both while their fighters are away. That's why this can't be much of a war in "real life," those three groups can't protect their homes on their own.
And I hate when the writers don't do what would "really" happen based on the characters as we know them--there's no way Negan is just hanging around back at the Sanctuary, he's heading right back out to slaughter every member of either Hilltop or the Kingdom or both while their fighters are away. That's why this can't be much of a war in "real life," those three groups can't protect their homes on their own.
1
Elizabeth... hon'
You do know this is just a show?
You do know this is just a show?
7
What kind of TWD season finale did you expect?
Obviously they can't just kill off one the best created and acted bad guys of all time.
And those of you that complain it is the same thing every year, well, that's what the show is about. It's like complaining that 24 always seemed to have a plot where there are 24 hours to head off some sort of attack on America. Those that watch TWD know it's about man's survival not against zombies, but man, just like it's been since the start of time. Fighting for wealth, and power. Seemingly, good against evil. The zombies and the apocalypse are there just to make the slate easy to draw the episodes and plots on.
For years TWD has been my guilty pleasure, and reluctantly it would be brought up in conversation just to find out others were just as into it (or more) as I was.
I found the final episode of season 7 exciting and leaving me wanting more. Yes, good job AMC, you did your job. You will continue to sell advertising and we will, even if it's a guilty pleasure, continue to watch.
Obviously they can't just kill off one the best created and acted bad guys of all time.
And those of you that complain it is the same thing every year, well, that's what the show is about. It's like complaining that 24 always seemed to have a plot where there are 24 hours to head off some sort of attack on America. Those that watch TWD know it's about man's survival not against zombies, but man, just like it's been since the start of time. Fighting for wealth, and power. Seemingly, good against evil. The zombies and the apocalypse are there just to make the slate easy to draw the episodes and plots on.
For years TWD has been my guilty pleasure, and reluctantly it would be brought up in conversation just to find out others were just as into it (or more) as I was.
I found the final episode of season 7 exciting and leaving me wanting more. Yes, good job AMC, you did your job. You will continue to sell advertising and we will, even if it's a guilty pleasure, continue to watch.
22
The show runners are too in love with their own idea of Negan as an earth shattering, sea change character for the series. Astute viewers got tired of Morgan's affected performance just a few episodes in... He is fine, given the material and the direction, (and maybe Negan blows everyone's minds in the comic) but it is far from a best ever character or performance. Too one note...
I have been watching the earlier episodes of season 7 of The Walking Dead, trying to catch up and I have to tell you, they have been yawners. Anyone of Negan's own followers could have taken him out long ago, but chose not to out of stupid fear. For that matter anyone of Rick's members could have taken Negan's bob-wired bat wheeling mooching worthless person out. Come on writer's of this show, Negan should not have had an entire season, he should have been taken out just like the Wolves and those darn cannibals. In fact Negan should not have been allowed to leave season 7 alive. This only means you might have plans to bring him back for another long drawn out season, again. I hope season 8 will be less drawn out with or without Negan re-surging.
4
I have been wondering why the show has felt less compelling this season. One of the reasons is that there are too many players now. We don't get to know new characters as well as we used to. And it is hard to tell the factions apart just by looking at them. The other reason is that Negan hasn't been explained well enough. He is the worst of the worst, true, but one thing I liked about the Governor episodes was that we got to understand his motives, as screwed up as they were. I guess we're going to get to know Negan better next season? I hope so. Just hating him isn't enough.
6
The writers of this show need to cease their capricious malfeasance.
14
Jeremy, oh, how a little bit of plot development causes you to jump back on the bandwagon. this episode was more fun to watch, to be sure, but it was not without several guffaws:
-in real life Daryl holds a knife poised at Dwight's face for dramatic effect, or does he just kill him quickly?
-how does the tiger know exactly which human face to eat?
-during the gunfight the good guys know precisely when to turn around and shoot bad guys that are coming up behind them but for some reason not shooting?
-Rick survives a bullet to the abdomen and a fall from a tower, to be seen comforting Michonne nursing her cat-fight wounds?
still a fan.
-in real life Daryl holds a knife poised at Dwight's face for dramatic effect, or does he just kill him quickly?
-how does the tiger know exactly which human face to eat?
-during the gunfight the good guys know precisely when to turn around and shoot bad guys that are coming up behind them but for some reason not shooting?
-Rick survives a bullet to the abdomen and a fall from a tower, to be seen comforting Michonne nursing her cat-fight wounds?
still a fan.
7
I think Daryl had an affinity for Dwight from the start. They understand each other.
2
Negan is no longer scary or interesting. Between the writers (who never give him anything to do but whisper the same crap again and again with Lucille on his shoulder) and Jeffery Morgan Brown, who at this point could phone it in, 'cause I know how he's gonna say it before he says it, you have no one to frighten or compel the audience. He got boring on The Good Wife as well. Either help him out (writers) or let him go. Otherwise you're walking in circles.
3
I think the problem with Negan as a character is that we still haven't been given any insight into who he really is and what makes him tick. We don't need a long soliloquy about his backstory or flashback scenes. If we could just see how he behaves when he's alone, in a private moment, it would speak volumes. All we ever see is the public persona that he puts on for his followers. Was he always a psychopath and a bully, or was he brutalized himself and decided that he had to become this person to survive? As it now stands, his character has no depth. I hope the writers rectify this in the coming season.
10
The Governor and that idyllic town storyline was just the same. I got tired of him too.
1
The Governor still makes my skin crawl. Megan just makes me fidgety w/impatience for him to go away. Stephen Ogg should've been cast as Negan, and JDM as Simon.
1
How does the lion know who is enemy and who is friend? What was the baby doing over at Maggie's compound?
1
It's a tiger, Panthera tigris.
2
Also baby Judith goes where she will, untouched by every menace. She's completely invulnerable.
12
Evidently
1
All of this. This season had a few great moments, but I am still bitter about the cliff hanger in the Season 6 finale, and Negan and the war seems to feel so much like the prison- grim, long, and I don't know if I am going to make it through. The core cast needs to be reunited more for this show to sustain itself- it falters when they are kept apart for too long, like this season.
Let's all sit back and imagine how things would've turned out if Shiva had only gone a couple of feet to her left.
Looking forward to Season 8.
Looking forward to Season 8.
4
Maybe next season they could include a couple of dire wolves since GOT is ending.
6
Loved this episode, loved this season, love The Walking Dead. Sure, some storylines are weaker than others. Sure, some characters are grating and over emoting. But it's a show about something fictional, where you get to suspend belief for an hour or more. I don't overanalyze it, I just watch it.
That being said, I was realty worried there wasn't going to be a Hail Mary for Carl. So glad Shiva did her thing. Just too bad she went after a different Savior instead of Negan. Favorite part of the episode, Jadis asking for permission to lay down with Rick after Michonne. That was funny stuff! Looking forward to next season.
That being said, I was realty worried there wasn't going to be a Hail Mary for Carl. So glad Shiva did her thing. Just too bad she went after a different Savior instead of Negan. Favorite part of the episode, Jadis asking for permission to lay down with Rick after Michonne. That was funny stuff! Looking forward to next season.
21
Carl should've taken a fatal whack just before the tiger strike. Imagine the emotional rollercoaster of an ending then, with Rick escaping and mad with vengeful rage. And good riddence to hat boy.
Btw, it's "suspend disbelief"
Btw, it's "suspend disbelief"
8
Instead of simply handcuffing Sacha, they put her in a coffin in the back of a truck. Makes perfect sense. It also makes perfect sense that Sacha knew they would put her in a coffin.
2
Why would they handcuff her? She had agreed to Negan's deal and had no gun, knife, etc to harm anyone else. She is not going to overtake scores of Saviors.
What was she going to do in a coffin, roll it off the truck bed while she was in it and escape? Negan is all about theatrics and he didn't see anything wrong with her going into it. He certainly did not know she had Eugene's pill. And while discussing the deal with Negan, who is to say she didn't suggest the coffin to Negan? And perhaps she had another plan with the pill along the way.
It's a TV show about the zombie apocalypse. No need to parse every detail. If one is going to do that, start at the beginning and ask why are there even zombies in the first place?
What was she going to do in a coffin, roll it off the truck bed while she was in it and escape? Negan is all about theatrics and he didn't see anything wrong with her going into it. He certainly did not know she had Eugene's pill. And while discussing the deal with Negan, who is to say she didn't suggest the coffin to Negan? And perhaps she had another plan with the pill along the way.
It's a TV show about the zombie apocalypse. No need to parse every detail. If one is going to do that, start at the beginning and ask why are there even zombies in the first place?
4
Negan, enough with the speechifying. Every time he opens his mouth in one of his "Now I am going to explain how I intend to kill you, Mr. Bond" speeches, every villian in every James Bond movie yells, "Dude, just shut the heck up!" Poor Ezekial sounds like an extra from Medieval Times. Are the writers being unintentionally funny or intentionally cheesy?
6
That is funny Marilyn (LOL) and the funny thing is, he worked at a zoo and is pretending to be what his followers see him as. Why can't he just speak like he is from this century or the next century? I guess he is speaking the way he thinks an ancient King would speak, its funny.
1
That's so funny-I told my husband it seemed like they were Renaissance Fair actors playing out their big fight scene!
1
The whole show has always been too full of speechifying from the very start. It's always been my biggest complaint. Running for your life from zombies (remember when they used to do that?), but taking time to stop and talk about your feelings. My husband gave up on the show long ago but will drop in from time to time while I'm watching and annoy me by laughing at inappropriate times or talking over some lines of dialogue. He laughed at the first line Ezekiel said and I had to explain that he was purposely creating theater (and it did seem silly. But any sillier than the article dropping trash people?). And he laughed at Negan's finger.
I thought the dramatic scenes, even with their heavy sentimentality have always been part of the strength of the show. The theme of how one retains some sense of humanity when all about you has gone to hell is a little different for each character and that keeps them interesting.
The fight scenes are another story. Hollywood has an infatuation with guns and so does Walking. We are teated too every type of weapon imaginable, even though it would be impossible to keep up with all the different types of ammunition they use. They also have these intense fire fights with no one hitting anything, but thousands of rounds being shot. Pare it back a little. These are desperate civilians trying to survive, not an infantry platoon in action.
The ending was basically satisfying. One more scenario of good verses evil and steps along the way for those who straddle the fence to decide which one the will choose. Looking forward to the next season.
The fight scenes are another story. Hollywood has an infatuation with guns and so does Walking. We are teated too every type of weapon imaginable, even though it would be impossible to keep up with all the different types of ammunition they use. They also have these intense fire fights with no one hitting anything, but thousands of rounds being shot. Pare it back a little. These are desperate civilians trying to survive, not an infantry platoon in action.
The ending was basically satisfying. One more scenario of good verses evil and steps along the way for those who straddle the fence to decide which one the will choose. Looking forward to the next season.
4
My addiction to this series is wearing thin. Highly manipulative plot. An extended 1 hr. and 25 minutes so AMC could pack in more ads - it seems ad time exceeded drama time. And the quality of the closed captions continues to be a joke. Yuck!
3
A few thoughts in no particular order:
(1) So living among big piles of trash leads to speech regression? What IS that about?
(2) Did Negan seem to cut a deal with the Garbage People because of a timing issue? The Saviors pimp out every other colony - why not these folks? Why negotiate a deal at all, when the Saviors' motto has seemed to be 'If you want it, take it'? I figure it's either that Negan figures they have nothing worth taking at the garbage dump; or it was a timing issue and the Saviors will strong-arm the Garbage People in future episodes (?).
(3) Thought the attack tiger was a little silly. But as someone wrote a few weeks ago, you don't have a tiger on a series unless you're going to use the tiger at some point. So, you know, Attack Tiger!
(4) Did Dwight betray Negan & the Saviors? Or was that a ruse? I wasn't clear on that by the end.
(5) Were the women from that woodland women's colony even there?
(6) How were all these people shooting willy nilly and not inadvertently shooting each other?
(7) I guess we can assume that Rick had the bullet in his gut surgically removed and didn't bleed to death.
(8) We record the Sunday shows to watch them in this order: (a) Homeland, (b) Billions, and then (c) Walking Dead. Badlands is typically up first for Monday night watching... probably should have watched Badlands last night instead.
(1) So living among big piles of trash leads to speech regression? What IS that about?
(2) Did Negan seem to cut a deal with the Garbage People because of a timing issue? The Saviors pimp out every other colony - why not these folks? Why negotiate a deal at all, when the Saviors' motto has seemed to be 'If you want it, take it'? I figure it's either that Negan figures they have nothing worth taking at the garbage dump; or it was a timing issue and the Saviors will strong-arm the Garbage People in future episodes (?).
(3) Thought the attack tiger was a little silly. But as someone wrote a few weeks ago, you don't have a tiger on a series unless you're going to use the tiger at some point. So, you know, Attack Tiger!
(4) Did Dwight betray Negan & the Saviors? Or was that a ruse? I wasn't clear on that by the end.
(5) Were the women from that woodland women's colony even there?
(6) How were all these people shooting willy nilly and not inadvertently shooting each other?
(7) I guess we can assume that Rick had the bullet in his gut surgically removed and didn't bleed to death.
(8) We record the Sunday shows to watch them in this order: (a) Homeland, (b) Billions, and then (c) Walking Dead. Badlands is typically up first for Monday night watching... probably should have watched Badlands last night instead.
8
(5) You mean the women at Oceanside? Their leader said they will not participate in the fight. She threw a hissy fit and told the Alexandrians to take the guns and go. I'm sure they'll show up later since many of the women wanted to fight.
(7) it was my take that Jadis only gave Rick a graze wound when she shot him. She kind of shot him with the gun facing down.
(7) it was my take that Jadis only gave Rick a graze wound when she shot him. She kind of shot him with the gun facing down.
4
You're saying it was a graze wound? Stop making excuses for the show's sloppiness. She shot him at a downward angle in the pelvis. He would not be walking after that, and there are would A LOT of blood. Rick was walking while holding his hand over the wound. Look where the wound was. That wasn't a grazing hit.
2
(1) The only rational explanation for the scavengers is that they were a bunch of cosplayers on the way home from comicon when the zombie apocalypse hit.
11
I hate flashbacks- waste of time just to extend the episode.
I hate how hollywood essentially glorifies suicide.
It was clear when she said only 1 and she would choose that it would be the posion pill way out. but the music, the flashbacks with abraham making her noble gesture- and her asking how long the trip would be- that 2 hours would give her time to die and become a walker to be let out and attack began.
a neegan replacement- GOD will some one kill or eat Jadis. I can't wait till she dies- and I hope it's carl or rick that kill her.
I hate how hollywood essentially glorifies suicide.
It was clear when she said only 1 and she would choose that it would be the posion pill way out. but the music, the flashbacks with abraham making her noble gesture- and her asking how long the trip would be- that 2 hours would give her time to die and become a walker to be let out and attack began.
a neegan replacement- GOD will some one kill or eat Jadis. I can't wait till she dies- and I hope it's carl or rick that kill her.
3
I hear what you're saying about Hollywood and suicide, but as I mentioned in my much later comment (before reading these earlier ones), the song was by Donny Hathaway, who has one odd the most beautiful, soothing voices I've ever heard, and he died by suicide. I know that could be considered exploitative, but I found it rather poignant.
2
I had to back it up after the woman's scream to see if there was something in the background I missed... After I saw there wasn't, I knew she was alive. I agree on the shootout confusion... It was tough to tell who was who...
Also, I am going with Hoarders as a name for the trash weirdos... Seems more fitting...
Also, I am going with Hoarders as a name for the trash weirdos... Seems more fitting...
3
There was no way Season 7 could be worse than Season 6, I thought. I was wrong. The whole season was like watching two teams warm up on the sidelines before the big game. So much fluff, with almost no action. And a world of six billion zombies, yet you never see them, and when you do, they're no more of a threat than a bumblebee. The big finale shootout, with lots of bullets flying, but no one hurt. What are these people, Stormtroopers? All of the horror style and edginess of the first seasons has been lost. Speaking of Lost, how many ideas from Lost are they going to reuse?
3
This is the first year the TWD wound up on my second to third tier of viewing. In years past I would wait for my DVR to get up to the 30 minute mark and blow through the commercials before Sunday bedtime. That time has past. I watch on demand the next day or a couple of weeks later. The pace of the show is maddening, the zombies that made this show what it is are now seemingly an afterthought. The endless debate of "who died at the end of season 6" at work and on the Internet tested my faith as a loyal viewer, perhaps a bit too much. Season 7's opening should have been Season 6's finale with maybe a two week teaser between the two episodes. Negan had the potential to be dynamic, explosive; it's seems like an opportunity lost. J.D. Stanton is one of my favorite actors, but instead of horrific, he often times comes off parodic; thumbs down to the writers on that one. Game of Thrones has accepted the challenge to be great and exit stage left; The Walking Dead runs the risk of hanging on so long that the title might be descriptive of something other than zombies.
1
Ha ha, it's funny how everyone keeps getting poor Jeffrey Dean Morgan's name wrong. You may have been thinking of the great Harry Dean Stanton, Alien's Brett, "Riiiiight".
1
Liked the action in this episode (God knows this season needed a shot in the arm), but everything preceeding and leading up to it was deeply unsatisfying. Ending felt rushed.
One thing's for sure, TWD's got its work cut out for it for season 8.
One thing's for sure, TWD's got its work cut out for it for season 8.
3
Heraclitus said "character is fate" while Aristotle said character is what you do in those critical moments of decision.
Whether you make judgments about people/problems based on "feeling" or (like Eugene) you "calculate," it may be worth pointing out that the primary theme for this episode is that you can never really know for certain who's on your team and who is a dissembler. To substitute trusting Daryl's judgment when you're not certain won't work well either, because Daryl doesn't know. (NB Dwight's carving with "didn't know" written on it.) More important, we/people change: "a story is about change, how we must change in order to survive" (J. Gunn) Michonne lost herself; Carol found herself; Morgan became stuck in a moment of trauma; Carl has turned into two persons, one who acts, another who watches; Tara has grown by taking on the group's value; Glenn and Ezekiel decided to be a certain type of person; Maggie, Tara, Enid, and Rick have followed Glenn's lead ... etc.
Once you understand that character is not fated or baked in, you can see/watch Eugene ("I am Negan") understanding that his safety is not guaranteed by becoming a survivor (with a 37-minute peak experience tilted to delusion) but by choosing, always from an unsatisfactory list of options, a confessed coward who just faced down a capriciously malevolent Savior with more self-control than Rick has ever managed.
Read Tom Nichols "Death of Expertise." Recommended to haters of TWD.
Whether you make judgments about people/problems based on "feeling" or (like Eugene) you "calculate," it may be worth pointing out that the primary theme for this episode is that you can never really know for certain who's on your team and who is a dissembler. To substitute trusting Daryl's judgment when you're not certain won't work well either, because Daryl doesn't know. (NB Dwight's carving with "didn't know" written on it.) More important, we/people change: "a story is about change, how we must change in order to survive" (J. Gunn) Michonne lost herself; Carol found herself; Morgan became stuck in a moment of trauma; Carl has turned into two persons, one who acts, another who watches; Tara has grown by taking on the group's value; Glenn and Ezekiel decided to be a certain type of person; Maggie, Tara, Enid, and Rick have followed Glenn's lead ... etc.
Once you understand that character is not fated or baked in, you can see/watch Eugene ("I am Negan") understanding that his safety is not guaranteed by becoming a survivor (with a 37-minute peak experience tilted to delusion) but by choosing, always from an unsatisfactory list of options, a confessed coward who just faced down a capriciously malevolent Savior with more self-control than Rick has ever managed.
Read Tom Nichols "Death of Expertise." Recommended to haters of TWD.
7
Dramatic arch required Neegan be killed in this episode. Audience is bored with him. With so much of season devoted to plot to kill him, not killing him just slowed down the plot to point of the speed of molasses. The end of the episode Neegan leaving flipping the bird - that was a metaphor of the writers telling the audience you didn't get what you wanted, we're dragging this out until we figure out next season. At end of episode my wife turned to me and said. "I think we're done with that show." I agreed.
7
I gave an ultimatum at the beginning of the finale that if Negan didn't die, I was done. It's not because he's upsetting, or because the plot is depressing, it's because he's so boring by now. Every new episode he's in feels like a waste of my time. Washing dishes, reading the obituaries, taking online quizzes--all of these feel like a better use of my time than watching Negan once again bluster on and on and on...
2
I thought the finale was a great end to a not very great season. I found the first episode of the season almost unwatchable with all the brain bashing, and several of Negan episode in the first half of the season were boring and not very good. However, I felt the second half of the season was much better, with many fine episode, especially the Rick and Michonne sexcation one. The finale redeemed the whole season for me. It was well acted and directed and hit all the right notes. I was waiting for the tiger to have a big moment all season, and she certainly did. I still watch this show religiously because I am so invested in the characters. However, after seven seasons I think that the writers and producers should be thinking about an exit strategy. How about Eugene really finding a cure for the zombie virus?
3
Go check out youtube and watch all the videos of people who taped themselves watching the finale, you watch fans of the show as the episode unwinds and pulls and grabs at your emotions. The fans love the characters so much and all the reactions are so honest it is just amazing to watch. Another layer of perfect media synchronization of a event that is being felt in millions of households at the same time and moment.
Walking Dead has won, really, as a TV show and cultural phenomenon it has won.
Walking Dead has won, really, as a TV show and cultural phenomenon it has won.
7
How meta...
1
I hope this battle changes Negan. I'm really tired of him as a character. The first 3 episodes that featured him were good, but I'm tired of his waxing sarcasm and weird chaotic tendencies.
The finale was a little predictable, but at least it didn't leave us with a dire cliffhanger.
I still think Eugene is playing a Professor Snape. Hopefully he won't disappoint me.
The finale was a little predictable, but at least it didn't leave us with a dire cliffhanger.
I still think Eugene is playing a Professor Snape. Hopefully he won't disappoint me.
3
I thought it was a decent finale, although the tiger attack made me think of Tigger joyously greeting a friend (I'll give him a pass since he managed to distract Negan). Nice to see Carol back in action. Sasha, who I've never much cared for, had an awesome death.
So...did Dwight betray our gang? I wasn't really clear on that at then end.
So...did Dwight betray our gang? I wasn't really clear on that at then end.
2
The answer is in the little Dwight carving, "didn't know".
My thoughts:
* my favorite scene belongs to Jadis, Michonne and Rick. Jadis says to Michone "He belongs to you?" The look of panic on Rick's face was priceless! Every woman has seen that look when they bring up the "what is the status of our relationship" talk, LOL! One more - Jadis, "I lay with him after." Love!
* the tiger doesn't bother me so much. You know, with walking dead people shambling around, the fact that someone owns a tiger registers a bit lower on the believability scale. I was happy that Sheba got to have some tasty Savior snacks. I didn't expect they would have her hit any of the primary Savior characters since this is just the beginning of a war and what is a war without generals?
* weaponized Sasha. Pat myself on the back for calling that (hee). I wasn't thrilled with her reasoning for the kamikaze raid on the Savior compound, but the fact that she chose to use her body as a weapon after all of her other choices were taken away? Love! Plus, Sonequa was just awesome in these past two episodes. As Madonna sang, she gives good face
* speaking of which, I know some commenters called the Heapsters as the little birdie. Stand up and take a bow!
* I don't have an issue with Magie's voice over, although it did have shades of Grey's Anatomy. I liked how the speech was used to bring the story full circle back to when Glenn saved Rick in the very beginning.
* My one disappointment? No funny lines from Jerry.
* my favorite scene belongs to Jadis, Michonne and Rick. Jadis says to Michone "He belongs to you?" The look of panic on Rick's face was priceless! Every woman has seen that look when they bring up the "what is the status of our relationship" talk, LOL! One more - Jadis, "I lay with him after." Love!
* the tiger doesn't bother me so much. You know, with walking dead people shambling around, the fact that someone owns a tiger registers a bit lower on the believability scale. I was happy that Sheba got to have some tasty Savior snacks. I didn't expect they would have her hit any of the primary Savior characters since this is just the beginning of a war and what is a war without generals?
* weaponized Sasha. Pat myself on the back for calling that (hee). I wasn't thrilled with her reasoning for the kamikaze raid on the Savior compound, but the fact that she chose to use her body as a weapon after all of her other choices were taken away? Love! Plus, Sonequa was just awesome in these past two episodes. As Madonna sang, she gives good face
* speaking of which, I know some commenters called the Heapsters as the little birdie. Stand up and take a bow!
* I don't have an issue with Magie's voice over, although it did have shades of Grey's Anatomy. I liked how the speech was used to bring the story full circle back to when Glenn saved Rick in the very beginning.
* My one disappointment? No funny lines from Jerry.
10
I "saw" Maggie's speech on Glenn a sort of salve for the fact Sasha and Abraham had most of the episode as a sort of eulogy for them, but Glenn, who was really a more important/integral part of the story from the beginning, had gotten so little 'credit" in comparison.
3
Who is Jerry?
JG - Jerry is King Ezekiel's body guard. The big guy with the double-edged axe (?) who's always saying something funny and then Ezekiel says "Jerry!"
As usual I see there are a lot of gripes and people who proudly claim they haven't watched this in years, they just wanted to stop by and gripe.
Jeez people, get a life. When I don't like a TV show, which is often, I just don't pay any attention to it at all. I have no idea what Keeping Up Wid Da Kardashians is up to, or who died in last season's finale. I don't go blog about it because that airheaded nonsense is not worth my time.
So fine, folks who hate TWD, do yourself and the rest of us a favor, and just walk away. Don't come back to blog about how you're not watching and how it's the worst TV show ever, just find something you like and focus on that. We fans do not need your meaningless gripes and we will not miss you.
Jeez people, get a life. When I don't like a TV show, which is often, I just don't pay any attention to it at all. I have no idea what Keeping Up Wid Da Kardashians is up to, or who died in last season's finale. I don't go blog about it because that airheaded nonsense is not worth my time.
So fine, folks who hate TWD, do yourself and the rest of us a favor, and just walk away. Don't come back to blog about how you're not watching and how it's the worst TV show ever, just find something you like and focus on that. We fans do not need your meaningless gripes and we will not miss you.
32
Hi Dan, what a hot-head! Just kidding. Your passion is endearing. But this is the kind of show TWD is--people love it and hate it, all at the same time. Besides being about zombies, which has some kind of visceral what happens when we die appeal, it's like all those works from the post-apocalyptic genre, like Lucifer's Hammer and The Road--a great premise rich with opportunities for strange subcultures. I like all the comments, pro and con, and I think there's some really valid criticism. I mean, it's certainly not the best-written show around, not like Breaking Bad or Mad Men or this season's excellent Homeland and Big Little Lies (and Homeland used to be guilty of a lot of stupid filler too--so much tighter lately). The big problem is, TWD used to be so much better. But anyhoo, it's still entertaining fun, as are Jeremy's recaps.
1
Another season of trying to kill Negan? I'm done. This show has exhausted it's course.
2
This was a weak season. I'm a reader of the graphic novels and its clear to me the producers of the show are terrified of catching up with the primary source material, so they constantly drag out story lines and create dumb side plots.
3
Sonequa Martin-Green (Sasha)
What a great performance last night by this actress. Just like sports stars, actors can have a break out performances, what we saw from this young actress was nothing short of spectacular. The season Finale of a big show like Walking dead is as big a stage as you can get, and as the primary protagonist , given very emotional stand-alone moments, she absolutely knocked it out of the ball park. I predict big things for Sonequa going forward, she uses her facial expressions and body mannerisms as good as any actress i can think of, and such expressive eyes. And a smile that could light up a room. She has the perfect likeability factor that Hollywood is always looking for,
I know she has a lead role in the upcoming CBS series: Star Trek:Discovery, where she plays: Lt Cdr. Rainsford. All i can say is warp speed ahead for this actress.
What a great performance last night by this actress. Just like sports stars, actors can have a break out performances, what we saw from this young actress was nothing short of spectacular. The season Finale of a big show like Walking dead is as big a stage as you can get, and as the primary protagonist , given very emotional stand-alone moments, she absolutely knocked it out of the ball park. I predict big things for Sonequa going forward, she uses her facial expressions and body mannerisms as good as any actress i can think of, and such expressive eyes. And a smile that could light up a room. She has the perfect likeability factor that Hollywood is always looking for,
I know she has a lead role in the upcoming CBS series: Star Trek:Discovery, where she plays: Lt Cdr. Rainsford. All i can say is warp speed ahead for this actress.
25
Liked the Sasha storyline. I also liked how the tiger always knows who to kill.
6
Negan is beginning to change
If you notice, one of the key things about this episode is the softening of two of the shows villains: Negan and Dwight.
Dwight did a lot to help Rick, including letting Rick know that Negan was coming to Alexandria, obviously Rick got word to Hilltop and Kingdom, he also slowed down Negan enough to let the calvary get there.
The change in the Negan character was also very interesting, usually played as a calculating psychopath, in this episode we saw a different side, he really respected and liked Sasha, that was no put on. He told Sasha he would take 3 lives and she talked him down to one, even though Sasha died, he still was going to keep that promise.
Human psychology is always more interesting than mindless action, watching the change in Negan, seeing the other side of him, the sadness he masks, the front he has to put on-fans of the comic, know he has a sad backstory -and is basically just trying to hold it together, one step from cracking up.
i know fans of the show are complaining about the show repositioning it's focus onto Negan rather than the zombies, but believe me, they would have started getting tired of the walker story lines, the transformation in Negan now that Rick and company have decided to fight back-will drive the show to new heights.
Also we had a perfect counterpoint to last season ending, when Rick basically had a nervous breakdown, this time with his lover and son about to be lost-he refused to break. Awesome.
If you notice, one of the key things about this episode is the softening of two of the shows villains: Negan and Dwight.
Dwight did a lot to help Rick, including letting Rick know that Negan was coming to Alexandria, obviously Rick got word to Hilltop and Kingdom, he also slowed down Negan enough to let the calvary get there.
The change in the Negan character was also very interesting, usually played as a calculating psychopath, in this episode we saw a different side, he really respected and liked Sasha, that was no put on. He told Sasha he would take 3 lives and she talked him down to one, even though Sasha died, he still was going to keep that promise.
Human psychology is always more interesting than mindless action, watching the change in Negan, seeing the other side of him, the sadness he masks, the front he has to put on-fans of the comic, know he has a sad backstory -and is basically just trying to hold it together, one step from cracking up.
i know fans of the show are complaining about the show repositioning it's focus onto Negan rather than the zombies, but believe me, they would have started getting tired of the walker story lines, the transformation in Negan now that Rick and company have decided to fight back-will drive the show to new heights.
Also we had a perfect counterpoint to last season ending, when Rick basically had a nervous breakdown, this time with his lover and son about to be lost-he refused to break. Awesome.
16
Thomas,
I do not think softening of Negan will revive what was lost in this year's fan base. What it does is show vulnerability & that adds to the show's premise of conflict. If we did not like conflict, we wouldn't have the President we have.
In the beginning it was about the ZA, about surviving the massive amounts of infected people with limited resources. The story with its characters stuck to the theme of survival, but now its not surviving from the infected people. Its about surviving with the people you care about from the people who want to subjugate your existence. This "softening" attempts to redefine fans perceptions of Negan. Remember how Pastor Gabriel was.. compared to now - the show does demonstrate that we must inevitably change in order to survive the conflict.
The story runners, producers and writers are walking a very thin line. Excluding all the commercials, last nights show was only 45 mins long. The story has to have an equal balance of conflict, redemption, justice along with cohesion of love, survival & family to be successful. The writers are about out of gas & started from half empty to begin with. Next Season's "WAR" has to be strategically sound, plot-worthy, well-placed deaths of certain characters (not main ones), encompass the birth of Maggie's child & a maybe a marriage proposal in-between the taking down of Negan's stations.
These writers & producers do not think and are not FANS, so they will loose marketing $ not finding the BALANCE.
I do not think softening of Negan will revive what was lost in this year's fan base. What it does is show vulnerability & that adds to the show's premise of conflict. If we did not like conflict, we wouldn't have the President we have.
In the beginning it was about the ZA, about surviving the massive amounts of infected people with limited resources. The story with its characters stuck to the theme of survival, but now its not surviving from the infected people. Its about surviving with the people you care about from the people who want to subjugate your existence. This "softening" attempts to redefine fans perceptions of Negan. Remember how Pastor Gabriel was.. compared to now - the show does demonstrate that we must inevitably change in order to survive the conflict.
The story runners, producers and writers are walking a very thin line. Excluding all the commercials, last nights show was only 45 mins long. The story has to have an equal balance of conflict, redemption, justice along with cohesion of love, survival & family to be successful. The writers are about out of gas & started from half empty to begin with. Next Season's "WAR" has to be strategically sound, plot-worthy, well-placed deaths of certain characters (not main ones), encompass the birth of Maggie's child & a maybe a marriage proposal in-between the taking down of Negan's stations.
These writers & producers do not think and are not FANS, so they will loose marketing $ not finding the BALANCE.
He apparently was planning to take more than one life until the tiger jumped in...
2
About 40 minutes into the episode, we paused and debated whether or not to go to bed and (perhaps) watch the rest later in the week. At some point, I realized that I've just stopped caring what happens.
It's too much.
There are just too many characters now. Too many plotlines. Too much distraction. There's no focus, no heart.
But we figured -- hey, we've come this far.
Then Negan picked up the bat ... and Shiva came leaping across the screen. My husband turned off the TV and said "that's it. I'm done." He left the room. I watched the rest of the show, but honestly -- I don't know if I can stay interested any more.
Our DVR is full of half-watched seasons of stuff from last fall. We have 5 episodes of Scream Queens, 3 or 4 of American Horror Story, etc. We haven't deleted them yet, but we haven't watched them either. Unless things get knitted together pretty quickly in Season 8, I suspect it may suffer the same fate.
I did enjoy Negan's shock when he realized how far Rick's people had infiltrated the formerly subservient Hilltop and Kingdom and stirred them to action.
It's too much.
There are just too many characters now. Too many plotlines. Too much distraction. There's no focus, no heart.
But we figured -- hey, we've come this far.
Then Negan picked up the bat ... and Shiva came leaping across the screen. My husband turned off the TV and said "that's it. I'm done." He left the room. I watched the rest of the show, but honestly -- I don't know if I can stay interested any more.
Our DVR is full of half-watched seasons of stuff from last fall. We have 5 episodes of Scream Queens, 3 or 4 of American Horror Story, etc. We haven't deleted them yet, but we haven't watched them either. Unless things get knitted together pretty quickly in Season 8, I suspect it may suffer the same fate.
I did enjoy Negan's shock when he realized how far Rick's people had infiltrated the formerly subservient Hilltop and Kingdom and stirred them to action.
2
As one of my friends said when our sixth grade class went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "total boredom".
The "combat" scenes were like a worse version of Battle for the Planet of the Apes or an A-Team episode.
And let's consider how the story progressed over the past 16 episodes. Did it?
But in October, I will tune back in like a mindless zombie. Not because I find TWD enjoyable now - but because I will watch anything zombie-related. Heck, I even sat thru the first season of Z Nation.
The "combat" scenes were like a worse version of Battle for the Planet of the Apes or an A-Team episode.
And let's consider how the story progressed over the past 16 episodes. Did it?
But in October, I will tune back in like a mindless zombie. Not because I find TWD enjoyable now - but because I will watch anything zombie-related. Heck, I even sat thru the first season of Z Nation.
Truly, if anyone regards the MoMA as "total boredom", that doesn't speak well of them.
5
We were 12-years old.
4
Well alright then Philip, but anybody over the age of 15 should find something interesting at MoMA, I'd think. Even though, unfortunately, there are no zombies there.
2
Most of us stick around for Talking Dead rehashes and Chris Hardwick is just a bit too cute and offering lame gifts for the questioners that are not that funny anymore. The producers and directors think the shock value of cast deaths is why we stay. We stay for some of the humanity not just from Rick and his son but Carol and Maggie,etc. After the Governor,we kind of knew the show had to get darker and this was a bad season but it is following the outline of the graphic comics. Check out the Son next Saturday night with Mr.Brosnan but I am ignoring Fear the Walking Dead's return as a very lame spinoff effort. What do I want for next season? Negan on his knees.
1
Ditto staying for the human angle & not the shock.
The tiger's leap into the scene was unexpected and fun, but I question why a group of supposedly brutal killers armed with automatic and semi- automatic weapons began running away and screaming in chaotic fear at his appearance.
2
CGI Tigers are bullet proof!
6
That's it. I'm finished with the Walking Dead. Enough is enough with Negan.
1
This didn't need to be an extended episode. Just leave out the Abraham/Sasha filler.
The final battle was confusing. One minute Carl and the gang are blazing away and suddenly on their knees defeated? I thought here we go again.
The final battle was confusing. One minute Carl and the gang are blazing away and suddenly on their knees defeated? I thought here we go again.
3
I liked the finale, although of course it made nearly everybody mad about something. But heck, it's the age of Trump, rage is the norm. Jadis' treachery was actually predicted by some last week (not me), but the form and timing of it was a big surprise to me, and rather crushing. The deus ex machina tiger was terrific, and yes, not all that realistic (I really thought Carl might get the bat this time), but that's storytelling for ya, the crowd likes last-minute miraculous saves.
I thought Negan was well used this episode too, he did his usual act a bit but there were several moments where the real menace crept in, like after Eugene's explanation for Sasha's death, where he just pauses for a full minute then says, "maybe".
Here's something everyone seems to have overlooked: Gregory. He didn't appear at all this ep and is likely still on the way to the Sanctuary to rat on Maggie, which is going to be old news for Negan. Really thought he'd die this time but he ought to turn back up next season. Maybe even Heath will turn up.
Dwight definitely changed loyalties, he blocked the road and Negan didn't know for sure who'd done it. Wasn't in on Negan's plans, and he's still waiting for his chance to betray him.
So overall, I liked it (the last 5 minutes was too cheesy, for sure), and am looking forward to next season. For all those that this time are really quitting forever, goodbye forever then, I wish y'all well and maybe I'll see ya in these comments next season.
I thought Negan was well used this episode too, he did his usual act a bit but there were several moments where the real menace crept in, like after Eugene's explanation for Sasha's death, where he just pauses for a full minute then says, "maybe".
Here's something everyone seems to have overlooked: Gregory. He didn't appear at all this ep and is likely still on the way to the Sanctuary to rat on Maggie, which is going to be old news for Negan. Really thought he'd die this time but he ought to turn back up next season. Maybe even Heath will turn up.
Dwight definitely changed loyalties, he blocked the road and Negan didn't know for sure who'd done it. Wasn't in on Negan's plans, and he's still waiting for his chance to betray him.
So overall, I liked it (the last 5 minutes was too cheesy, for sure), and am looking forward to next season. For all those that this time are really quitting forever, goodbye forever then, I wish y'all well and maybe I'll see ya in these comments next season.
13
We actually don't know for sure that Gregory was going to the Sanctuary to rat out Maggie. We only see him looking at a map, drinking his new favorite liquor -
Tequila! - and calling a red shirt for his car and driver. We're led to assume he's going to the Sanctuary. But just suppose Gregory is finally growing a bit and he's going to another, as yet unknown to us, village for additional help.
Tequila! - and calling a red shirt for his car and driver. We're led to assume he's going to the Sanctuary. But just suppose Gregory is finally growing a bit and he's going to another, as yet unknown to us, village for additional help.
3
It humorous to me that you have a hard time taking the tiger seriously when you apparently are okay with "zombies." Just an observation.
I found the first part of the episode tedious to watch. It seemed like the whole first half of the episode was just setting up Sasha's death. It was pretty clear from those "in casket" shots that at some point she does die, which makes all of the long flashbacks just not necessary for me. They could have been shorter and more like flashes of memory than complete scenes with extended dialogue. But, that's just me.
I expected the "cavalry" to arrive at some point, but was lured into thinking that maybe that would be the cliffhanger. Rick and hes crew would be seen in the back of a dump truck headed to who knows where, whith the Hilltop and Kingdom people arriving just in time to see them drive off. But, I was pleased with what they did. It was pretty gratifying, but not completely so.
It was successful in that one wants to see what happens next. After the horrific start of the second half of the season, this season ended up being pretty entertaining. Not as good as some of the prior seasons, but good enough for me to tune in to see Negen meet his end. Maybe.
I found the first part of the episode tedious to watch. It seemed like the whole first half of the episode was just setting up Sasha's death. It was pretty clear from those "in casket" shots that at some point she does die, which makes all of the long flashbacks just not necessary for me. They could have been shorter and more like flashes of memory than complete scenes with extended dialogue. But, that's just me.
I expected the "cavalry" to arrive at some point, but was lured into thinking that maybe that would be the cliffhanger. Rick and hes crew would be seen in the back of a dump truck headed to who knows where, whith the Hilltop and Kingdom people arriving just in time to see them drive off. But, I was pleased with what they did. It was pretty gratifying, but not completely so.
It was successful in that one wants to see what happens next. After the horrific start of the second half of the season, this season ended up being pretty entertaining. Not as good as some of the prior seasons, but good enough for me to tune in to see Negen meet his end. Maybe.
5
You have to draw the line somewhere.
(Kidding.)
(Kidding.)
7
That's not a hard line to draw. All I can think whenever I see or think about Shiva is . . . how do they keep her fed? A major carnivore like a tiger needs MEAT and lots of it all the time. Some cats can eat a vegan diet, but . . . tigers aren't on that list.
2
At times I yelled and cheered with my heart racing. This made the lesser moments all the more disappointing. However, I believe a solid effort was made to fix what was broken in season 7 and there were times the show transcended and was deeply affecting.
I was not as clearheaded as the reviewer and I did question if Michonne would survive. I was also shocked at the brutality of the junkyard people. Yes, I watched The Walking Dead Beyond Thunderdome episode but I didn't think any former The Cure listening, Camus reading individual living in a trash heap would be that vicious.
Things that irritated me included the ridiculous escape of Negan under a hail of bullets, and no one thought to shoot out the tires. Wow. I guess Gabriel and the others had their A Team moment. Of course, the speeches and the very end were sappy and annoying. It's like the episodes are written by Scott Gimple until they're not. Then apparently someone who used to write greeting cards interjects, "We need soft sunlight streaming in! We need speeches and montages!"
Thanks, Jeremy Egner for a season of good reviews. I look forward to your reviews of season 8.
I was not as clearheaded as the reviewer and I did question if Michonne would survive. I was also shocked at the brutality of the junkyard people. Yes, I watched The Walking Dead Beyond Thunderdome episode but I didn't think any former The Cure listening, Camus reading individual living in a trash heap would be that vicious.
Things that irritated me included the ridiculous escape of Negan under a hail of bullets, and no one thought to shoot out the tires. Wow. I guess Gabriel and the others had their A Team moment. Of course, the speeches and the very end were sappy and annoying. It's like the episodes are written by Scott Gimple until they're not. Then apparently someone who used to write greeting cards interjects, "We need soft sunlight streaming in! We need speeches and montages!"
Thanks, Jeremy Egner for a season of good reviews. I look forward to your reviews of season 8.
3
This could have been a 15 minute episode. I like Sasha but there was way too much of her and even having Abraham rehashing the last trip for Maggie was not necessary. I hope having Carol and Morgan in fighting form continues moving forward. The fight with Michonne was good. I hope Season 8 is the last of Negan. He just never shuts up!!
6
WoW!
Faves:
We knew when Sasha asked for water that that was the end for her. Her heroic way of going out fighting.
The tiger!
The cavalry.
Negan shocked that Maggie is alive.
The moment Negan queries Eugene.
When Negan calls the hoarders "garbage people." (But no offense.)
An attempt at seduction with blueberry pancakes.
But where is Gregory?
That weasel Dwight!
Faves:
We knew when Sasha asked for water that that was the end for her. Her heroic way of going out fighting.
The tiger!
The cavalry.
Negan shocked that Maggie is alive.
The moment Negan queries Eugene.
When Negan calls the hoarders "garbage people." (But no offense.)
An attempt at seduction with blueberry pancakes.
But where is Gregory?
That weasel Dwight!
11
Indeed PrairieFlax, I agree on all of those, but I think Dwight really has turned against Negan. He still blocked the road and Negan didn't know he'd done it, and he's still waiting for his chance to destroy the Saviors.
3
Yes I neglected to mention Gregory. I figured he was a goner this week. But clearly he's wily enough to have taken charge of the Hilltop without possessing any other appreciable skills, so perhaps I underestimated him.
3
Jeremy-perhaps Gregory was a rich real estate developer prior to ZA.
5
I believe Sasha was the only "walking dead" in the episode. Am I right? I watched just to see how they'd wrap it up for another year. I lost my enthusiasm for the show when Dale died.
3
Did they show any walkers at the Saviors' compound? I don't remember any.
Which kind of begs the question of the origin for the Times' picture of the gatuitously impaled walker that accompanies this review. Don't remember seeing that - was it in a distant background shot that I missed?
Which kind of begs the question of the origin for the Times' picture of the gatuitously impaled walker that accompanies this review. Don't remember seeing that - was it in a distant background shot that I missed?
3
AMC provides those photos to the press in advance. It might have been a background shot, or maybe it was edited from the final version of the finale. Not sure. We removed it, at any rate, when we updated with newer photos from the episode, once those became available.
3
I think Jadis and her core group came out of Galluadet University, i.e. used to communicating and interpreting in American Sign Language.
9
I said it when they first showed up: I think they came from a group community for people with developmental issues. That explains the speech patterns and the OCD-like issues.
1
This was the WORST TWD season finale ever. Maggie's voiceover at the end was nauseatingly sentimental and taken directly from Johnny's "Stay Gold Ponyboy" speech from The Outsiders (watch it to see what I'm talking about.)
The battle scene was a non-event, with not a single significant Savior death. You waste a CGI tiger on a couple of extras? Really? And when did Daryl become a nonentity in this show. The scenes of him running, ducking, covering and shooting were filler at best.
And why don't the writers have the balls to kill off meaningful villains anymore? I mean, not even Simon for crissake!?!
The only redeeming story line and performance was Sonequa Martin-Green (Sasha). A powerhouse performance. Emotional without be maudlin (looking at you Maggie!) And as fierce as anyone on the show.
This could be the point where TWD goes from freaking awesome to okay.
The battle scene was a non-event, with not a single significant Savior death. You waste a CGI tiger on a couple of extras? Really? And when did Daryl become a nonentity in this show. The scenes of him running, ducking, covering and shooting were filler at best.
And why don't the writers have the balls to kill off meaningful villains anymore? I mean, not even Simon for crissake!?!
The only redeeming story line and performance was Sonequa Martin-Green (Sasha). A powerhouse performance. Emotional without be maudlin (looking at you Maggie!) And as fierce as anyone on the show.
This could be the point where TWD goes from freaking awesome to okay.
18
Stopped watching this at the midpoint of season 6. None of this makes me want to go back and catch up.
2
Can you please stop devoting ongoing newspaper space and resources to this show? Its quality is far beneath the threshold of newsworthiness.
7
Who is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to read this?
13
Jamie - you do realize this piece is part of the NYT's Recap section? the NYT has devoted much space to recapping popular shows, which also gives a (usually) pleasant place to comment and read other viewers' thoughts, your snark not withstanding.
5
Jamie, here's a solution: don't click on these recaps. Just don't look, you hate it, fine, don't read it. I hate Downtown Abbess and have never read a word about it, and I'm happier for it.
17
The extended finale meant more commercials. The shootout was lame. I am tired of Negan. It will be coming back in October but I won't be waiting impatiently. At least better shows like Better Call Saul and Fargo are coming back soon.
13
The sappy speeches were nearly unbearable. Cheap, juvenile sentimentality, especially Maggie's voice-over, killed the buzz and momentum of an otherwise stellar show.
But I'm REALLY irritated that Jadis apparently escaped. She did get away, right?
But I'm REALLY irritated that Jadis apparently escaped. She did get away, right?
13
Jadis went off to take voice and diction lessons.
20
Jadis is off looking for a box of Lady Clairol
20
Maybe the redeeming possibility is that Jadis will get her #11 and her #12 and Negan will be one of them.
3
It's been downhill since the end of season 5 and this finale was no redemption...
Main characters too spread out. (Not exactly the Carol coming out party we were hoping for. Saying "Guns Up" is not quite the same as tearing up Terminus now is it?) Outcomes telegraphed from a mile away... (For one second did you fear for Carl's or Michonne's well being???) Great dramas surprise you again and again. The quiet moments often outstrip the shocks of action and violence... TWD does none of this very well anymore... Sasha falling out of a coffin and eating an extra? Boo frigging hoo...
Tony Soprano is rolling in his grave. (Yes, that Members Only dude totally did it....)
Main characters too spread out. (Not exactly the Carol coming out party we were hoping for. Saying "Guns Up" is not quite the same as tearing up Terminus now is it?) Outcomes telegraphed from a mile away... (For one second did you fear for Carl's or Michonne's well being???) Great dramas surprise you again and again. The quiet moments often outstrip the shocks of action and violence... TWD does none of this very well anymore... Sasha falling out of a coffin and eating an extra? Boo frigging hoo...
Tony Soprano is rolling in his grave. (Yes, that Members Only dude totally did it....)
16
Actually, the Savior that Sasha chomped on was not an extra. That was Veggie vs Vegetable guy.
3
I despise Negan, but when he yelled, "That widow is alive! Guns a-blazin'!" I, 1. liked him for a split second, and 2. saw the comic strip peek out from behind the film. I also really enjoy how the show will use these old silky songs as a way of contrasting all of the ugliness and depravity in the scene. It does a good job of amplifying the horror. If you weren't completely in love with Sasha before this episode, you will be now. The feelings that she conveys through facial expressions remind me of my favorite chord progressions. Despite some sporadic weakness, this episode had some magic in it.
41
"The feelings she conveys through facial expressions remind me of my favorite chord progressions." Thank you for that beautifully written insight. It expresses and confirms for me something I wasn't even aware I'd been feeling until you articulated it.
6
Wow, thanks!
Okay, I'm going to be one of those tedious repeat themselves commenters, but the silky song was by Donny Hathaway (one of my all time favorites), who committed suicide, so it had an underlying meaning.
3
1) How did the people from the 3 "good" camps know not to shoot each other when many of them had never met before so therefore did not know what each other looked like?
2) Furthermore, how did the Tiger know who to attack?
3) I would still love to have the whole zombie virus explained and also what is going on in the rest of the world?
4) Maggie is the skinniest pregnant person I've ever seen.
5) Michonne's face was healing extremely quickly one scene later.
6) Why do the scavengers talk so stilted? Did they just forget how to speak English?
Based on these questions, you may be bale to deduce that I so want to love this show but it is frustrating me!
2) Furthermore, how did the Tiger know who to attack?
3) I would still love to have the whole zombie virus explained and also what is going on in the rest of the world?
4) Maggie is the skinniest pregnant person I've ever seen.
5) Michonne's face was healing extremely quickly one scene later.
6) Why do the scavengers talk so stilted? Did they just forget how to speak English?
Based on these questions, you may be bale to deduce that I so want to love this show but it is frustrating me!
49
re:5) a little blood makes things look worse than they really are, at least in the ER where I used to work.--
1
A few comments re your list....
1) we don't know there wasn't collateral damage, but fair enough. Maybe the kingdom sent a telegraph: hey, we'll be wearing armor and traveling with horses and a tiger.
3) yes, but no. While I'm curious, of course, the very limited perspectives makes more sense. FEar the Walking Dead gives us another perspective from a different type location.
6)the working theory in my household is that they are members of a German Mumensschanz puppet group that was stranded in the U.S. I did like the "We win." Said twice to Michonne by a trash can child. The first time, it was inclusive, but the second time it clearly wasn't. "We--not you--win!,
1) we don't know there wasn't collateral damage, but fair enough. Maybe the kingdom sent a telegraph: hey, we'll be wearing armor and traveling with horses and a tiger.
3) yes, but no. While I'm curious, of course, the very limited perspectives makes more sense. FEar the Walking Dead gives us another perspective from a different type location.
6)the working theory in my household is that they are members of a German Mumensschanz puppet group that was stranded in the U.S. I did like the "We win." Said twice to Michonne by a trash can child. The first time, it was inclusive, but the second time it clearly wasn't. "We--not you--win!,
5
3) I would still love to have the whole zombie virus explained and also what is going on in the rest of the world?
----
It doesn't matter. Just Cormac McCarthy said the cause of the apocalypse in his novel The Road doesn't matter. (And he also said he doesn' know. Maybe TWD creators don't know.)
----
It doesn't matter. Just Cormac McCarthy said the cause of the apocalypse in his novel The Road doesn't matter. (And he also said he doesn' know. Maybe TWD creators don't know.)
3
There's a lot of Lt Col Kilgore in Negan...others end up being Tiger feed, but not him. And that is one heck of a selective carnivore, but hands-down the takeaway from tonight's episode is that Jadis is the world's worst re-negotiator.
3
Entertaining and hopeful season finale. I'm guessing that the producers took the backlash around last season's cliffhanger to heart and decided that they'd better not try it again. Very clever for Sasha to use Eugene's poison pill to turn herself into a weapon. I had been expecting Negan to find her dead when he opened the casket, but it seems that she had correctly calculated that the length of the trip would give her time to turn. It was sad when Jesus and Maggie found her and put her down. A poignant ending for a lovely character.
The battle scene wasn't bad although it did get to be difficult to tell who was who in the melee. Of course, Negan made the classic villain's mistake of standing around and talking for too long about what he was planning to do. I had to laugh when the CGI tiger came swooping in, but I can't complain too much given that he saved the day. The downside is that Negan will be around next season, but all in all, a pretty satisfying finale. I'll stick around until October to see where it goes from here.
The battle scene wasn't bad although it did get to be difficult to tell who was who in the melee. Of course, Negan made the classic villain's mistake of standing around and talking for too long about what he was planning to do. I had to laugh when the CGI tiger came swooping in, but I can't complain too much given that he saved the day. The downside is that Negan will be around next season, but all in all, a pretty satisfying finale. I'll stick around until October to see where it goes from here.
40
Agree. Will miss sasha. Love that actress. Also, interestin that there were no zombies in entire episode....til sasha. That has never happened before. Not even one in distance shown. Looking forward to a little revenge on jadis and her ilk.
4
Only one zombie when Dale died
1