Michell3

Really, Ray? You're being hunted by (presumably) Black Mountain military guys AND you want to send an email with an attachment, so your grand escape plan is to drive out to the most isolated area you can find on short notice? Couldn't you have driven to a nearby mall and hid in the food court bathroom? At least there'd be wifi. Ok, I get that Ray was destined to die at the end, as Lynch-ian Dream Dad revealed in an earlier episode, but the way it went down was just...dumb. I kept thinking over and over, surely there is a smarter way out of this than to drive to a forest and pray to make it out alive, Lone Survivor-style. You see, 2 days later, this is what has stayed with me. Really wanted him to live and win at something, after he spent the entire season being The Biggest Loser. Kind of like how it was refreshing to see Rust a little optimistic at the very end, after hours of his nihilistic blah-blah-blah. Instead he's quickly hunted and killed, the bad guys win, AND his freakin' file doesn't even send. Because he is the Biggest. Loser. Ever. We get it, show. Geez. That being said, CF's more talented than I remember.

This reminds me of something I was thinking earlier....the ASZ folks are like our CDB crew was the 1st season, really. Soft, civilzed folks, ex-suburbanites maybe, not used to getting their hands too terribly dirty, certainly not used to having to be heroes and save each other's lives on almost a daily basis, like our intrepid CDB crew. This first occurred to me when Aiden had strung up a walker because it killed one of his crew. How long has it been since anyone on any episode has taken a walker's attack on a live person so, for lack of a better word, personally? That perception of walkers seems so 4 seasons ago. As a side note, I'd like to say I'm pretty impressed with Glenn, overall. I didn't think much of his character in the beginning, his role seemed more of an errand boy ("go get me a pregnancy test! dangle at the end of this rope and fish this bloated rotting walker out of this well!") than anything else, but I think the writers have done his character right and his growth into a semi-badass has seemed natural.

randomness: - so when one of the wall-building dudes said, "i'm going to send a fax to cleveland," i was like WHAT?!?! they have a working fax machine? and someone in cleveland does too? and they're communicating?!?!? major plot point? haha i'd obviously never heard this colorful euphemism for droppin' the kids off at the pool. - anyone wonder why sam insists on hanging around carol who threatened his life rather psychotically in the last episode? is he so afraid of his dad that hanging out with batshit carol seems safer somehow? wouldn't ANYWHERE be safer than either of those two? or is he just a dumb kid who wants to follow around the cookie lady at any cost? OR maybe he's actually smart and realizes he has a piece of info to blackmail carol with and use that to get cookies and protection and maybe his own gun? so he's either really smart or really dumb. - the ASZhats have been living together for a long time, and it's a pretty small community. does anyone think that maybe everyone knows that pete beats his wife and kid, but they're all putting up with it because he's the only doc in town? they are all cowards, after all. i think someone might've mentioned this earlier. or worse, maybe jessie is "taking it for the team" to keep him happy because he's the only doc in town. ugh. - which brings me to my next point....i love that the the ASZhats big evil secret (so far) has been that they're all too cowardly to live. their code of honor seems to be, when the shit hits the fan, every man for himself! nice. sheesh. no wonder deanna sought the badassery of CDB. if she's thinking long term, she has to know her cush little community wasn't going to make it with these stay puft marshmallow men/women.

I think you're right, that she's attractive and doesn't know anything about the things he's had to do "on the road," but also, as far as he knows she's not just clean on the outside, but clean on the inside too. As far as he knows, she HASN'T had to do horrible things to survive, she's kept her slate clean, morally fresh and untouched, like pre ZA. I can see that also being very attractive to someone like Rick, who's been through so much, done and seen so much.

on the show, yeah, cute blondes abound, but i meant in the general ZA population, i'd bet that pretty blonde women in general are pretty rare. People make a big deal out of hot blondes now because there's not tons of them; statistically speaking, with a large part of the population eaten or zombified, they'd be even more rare. i'm assuming.

To be fair, I think Shane shot Otis to save his own life, yes, but also to get meds to Carl, who was in a coma at the time with a gunshot wound. I don't think Otis was going to be able to do it. Tough call. I think you're right though, I think Shane was naturally brutal and ruthless, but it was kept in check by civilized society. I don't think it was ever in Rick's nature to be that way, but came about by way of extraordinary circumstances. The net at this point is *similar*, but I certainly don't see Rick attempting to kill his best friend (Daryl, I guess?) or attempting to rape Jessie.

I can't tell if AL is really hot or the ZA has just drastically lowered my standards. Also, I don't think he's particularly good looking, but seriously, I can't wait till Daryl takes a bath and brushes his teeth and gets a haircut. I will jump up and clap like a seal. I need to see this, please Santa, I've been so good! (I'm talkin' to you, season finale...)

HAHA that one flew right over my head the first time! We're 5 seasons in and I'm just now getting used to Maggie and Glenn because I don't think I have a choice here. TWD and romance...ugh: - What is wrong with this show that it cannot come up with any natural-appearing romantic entanglements? Ok except Andrea and Shane and the carsex in season 2 (?); that seemed natural, was hot but brief. I've never ever watched a show where the romance was handled so awkwardly. - None of the characters have any chemistry, not even Maggie and Glenn (sorry, they still make me cringe when they make out). So the show has to swing wildly in the opposite direction and spoon-feed us a cute blonde (who, I imagine, in the ZA, is like finding a damn unicorn) for Rick to get showered and shirtless for. Also? no wonder Pete is all, "that's my unicorn who cut your hair." I guess in the context of the ZA, I'd be a little possessive too. Slim pickings out there. - Changing subject here, but anyone notice how similar Rick season 5 is becoming to Shane season 2? Shane was always about protecting the family at all costs. His methods were sometimes brutal, but I think his intentions were usually good (until his almost-rape of Lori and almost-murder of Rick). Now look who seems to be willing to go to extremes to protect the family. Ooh and look who's also coveting someone else's cute wife. Is Rick the new Shane? Ironic. I think Shane was better built for the ZA world, was too brutal for the softly lit Pottery Farm, but perfect for these later seasons.

I think the show has made it pretty clear that at least some of the crew is nostalgic for their life on the road. Like someone mentioned before, similar to the soldier who can't come back from war. I found that last scene with Rick leaning up against the wall weirdly....romantic? Not sure that's the word I want to use. Anyone remember that movie with Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson, Indecent Proposal? At the end I think they hold hands over a wall that's separating the two. It reminded me of that. Rick would've held that walker's hand if he could've. And then stabbed him in the head with the quickness.

Uh yeah...i think i meant aiden. Deanna's snotty son. And is Tobin that big dude's name? I might just be making stuff up at this point. Too many new characters =)

Excellent points. My thoughts: - Guns are a big deal in Texas (where I'm from), and can add up to be an expensive hobby (bigger and badder GUNS GUNS GUNS, giant gun lockers, competitions, hunting trips, practice etc), so sure, I'll buy that at least some of that is from the neighborhood itself. Maybe they ransacked the homes of people that got evacuated by the military; I imagine those folks would've been forced to leave their weaponry behind. - I do find it interesting that they seem to have this giant store of weaponry, but, if Spencer is any indication, seem to suck "out in the field." Maybe he's not one of ASZ's finest, but if not, then why is he going out on dangerous supply runs and risking the lives of other people? Perhaps they obtained their weaponry hostile-y taking over other groups, but again, they all seem kinda soft so how could they have overpowered anyone? (Ok maybe Tobin doesn't suck, or whatever his name is Mr. "I'll show you my big gun, lil' lady" who was talking to Carol in their weapons storage) - I also don't understand why they have this huge store of weaponry, but Deanna doesn't want anyone to carry and doesn't care to have much of a lookout for intruders. Maybe she was initially more interested in protecting their community against walkers/intruders, then eased up when no one seemed to want to intrude? OR... - Maybe she was interested in CDB because she has this huge store of guns and no one in ASZ knows what to do with them (except maybe the big dude in the weapons room). - Or maybe the're all faking it and they're all secretly bad ass? They all seem so fake. Def hiding something. Or maybe I'm cynical now and I've just been on the road too long.

ooh i love this! another psychotic child, not just murderous on a small scale "imma kill my sister" kinda way, but in a "i hate you cookie-baking assholes, i hate cardigans, you're all gonna buuuurrn!" she IS pretty creepy. also, where are her parents? i don't recall seeing them or mention of them.

i almost hate to say this, because I usually just watch the show and take it for what it is, enjoy it and not try to draw any preachy or particularly philosophical conclusions that aren't spoon fed to me (eg Rick: "WE ARE THE WALKING DEAD!" really? thx for that, rick) but the contrast between the alexandria folks' world/life view v. rick's crew's world/life view kinda reminded me of how some (a lot?) of people live here in the good ol' US of A and how it must seem to others in war-torn or impoverished countries like (*insert your fave here*). i don't mean to say that the writers were intentionally creating a metaphor here, but when you think about it in those terms, Sasha screaming, "Is that what you worry about here??!!" seems comically appropriate. My internet is too slow =( the line for the new iphone is too long =( 1st world problems, anyone? ....except no one seems to be complaining in ASZ. i guess that's some of the "bad stuff" that's supposed to have fallen away after the ZA? hmm...

Someone might've addressed these questions already but sorry, just can't go through 14 pages of forum =) where's our fallen and painfully useless priest? certainly alexandria could use a religious figure? does anyone else find it weird that aaron and eric just spied on the crew (for days/week/months???) without being eaten or discovered? i mean spied with audio equipment too? that easy, huh? ok. i love carol like i love walter white. maybe her descent has been a bit clunkier, but i'll take it. however, unlike my love for carol and her crazy, i am not quite believing rick even for a moment being a teeny tiny bit tempted to kill pete to get to jessie. he's damaged goods for sure, but it just makes no sense.

ugh what is wrong with this show and black men? there isn't room for 2 black men in the show? maybe noah better take a cue from glen and hook up with a white girl if he wants to be around longer than a season or 2. gah. this just bothers me so much.

i'm not up to thoughtfully analyzing this episode like usual. i'm just....gah. so sad. van alden, my comic relief, you giant headed psychopath, i'll miss you. will i ever laugh (while watching BE) again? and chalky too? that's just....mean. to the viewers, specifically. i feel like....i feel like when omar died. yeah, that about sums it up. i have to say, i'm a little disappointed with chalky's measly story line. they just didn't give him much to do, and he didn't even "win" in the end. also, that scene with capone and VA and eli was all over the map, tonally, and it was fantastic! terrifying and hilarious ("greedy. i'm very greedy.") and then oh my GOD VAN ALDEN IS DEAD WHY??? what a great scene. ok i guess i was up to a little thoughtfulness. grief makes me retrospective.

Oops, meant "impersonation," not "impression." Anyhow, kinda like Gatsby and his incessant "old sport"-ing. I'll buy that. You know, I initially thought that Sigrid married such a weirdo for the sake of the safety of the child she was caring for when she was working for Van Alden, but I suppose the way she's treating them now is inconsistent with that theory. Perhaps an inconsistency in her character, or, like RealityGal alluded to, perhaps she was an optimistic immigrant chasing the American dream, American husband with stable job and lovely baby and house, and the realities of life have made her bitter and generally awful....? Of course she IS married to Van Alden, and she DID have to dispose of a dead body...guess I shouldn't judge.

I think that sweet and innocent act went out the window (for me, anyway) when Van Alden killed someone last season and she was all WELP! time to get rid of this body! anything for my man!! After that, I kinda knew she had a batshit crazy streak somewhere in there, just didn't know she would wind up straight up evil. In contrast, June, to me, was the only bright and lovely and pure thing in Eli's life and really the entire Boardwalk universe, and, although June never got a lot of screen time or any story at all, I was sad anyway when Sigrid (and really Eli, too) ripped her to pieces. Strangely, I was not happy to see Daughter. Well, let's say I was conflicted. I want Chalky to have a reason to continue living, but other than that, Daughter, to me, is a pretty weak character whose weakness is made even more obvious because she is surrounded by so many strong female characters (however flawed or otherwise batshit crazy they may be). I think I might be the only person on the planet who thought that the portrayal of YA Nucky was a little over the top. More like an impersonation of current Nucky (if he was a drawing, he'd be a caricature). Or maybe those Halloween teeth amped up all his other mannerisms, in my perception. And I am a jerk because I just remembered those are (*actor's name here*) God-given teeth. Have the writers bestowed upon him a sliver of charm this season? I find him less repellent than usual. Indeed, I found his last conversation with Sally cute, even. Huh. I felt like the episode had this recurring theme of starting over, redemption, trying to start with a clean(ish) slate, that sort of thing. At this point, I don't really know who will wind up with the happy ending. Mabel is, well....a brat. She and Daughter certainly got short-changed as characters.

a couple more questions: How would she do this though? Does she even have a job anymore? I'm sure whatever privileges she had at the firm have been taken away now that she's being sued. Guess I'm not sure I full understand Nucky's plan. ...and what is Eli doing? What happened to him at the end of season 4? I vaguely recall him being undercover for the feds at some point...they threatened his family somehow, so he had to do something....??

Another question: why would Mrs. Rothstein accept $0.25 on the dollar? Why not sue for the entire amount? I can only guess that at least with Nucky's solution, she would get her money relatively quickly; if she went to court, it could take months (?) and she'd be paying lawyers presumably large sums of money in the meantime. Is that it?

- This was a nice reminder that Nucky and Margaret ever had any chemistry at all. Was nucky attempting to be chivalrous by not taking advantage of a drunken Margaret who was obviously throwing herself at him? Or is he kinda over it now? Is it Sally? - Given that Kennedy is supposedly the guy that Nucky wishes he had become, it must've been a real blow to his ego to see Margaret take to Kennedy like she did. She was ready to hop on a train with a stranger and eat his oysters,and she wasn't even drunk! Oh, Nucky...ouch. - I love that Mueller had this likely adrenaline-induced out-of-body experience where his pure desire to continue to exist pulled just the right words out of his ass to save him....and then he didn't remember a thing afterward. Boardwalk isn't normally so on-the-nose funny. Loved this moment! Scary and hilarious. - Nucky tells Kennedy that he wants to leave something behind. Is saying this because he thinks this is what Kennedy wants to hear? Or because he means it? And if he means it, then leave it behind for who? Margaret? Her kids? I was embarassed for Nucky when he kept changing his orders to suit Kennedy. He's rarely portrayed as this weak. And I think I'm referencing the episode prior to this one. oops.

He technically didn't kill her himself, Richard accidentally killed her when he was aiming for Narcisse. She leaned across that table at which Narcisse and Chalky were sitting and just got in the way. A really terrible accident.

- I love the look on Nucky's face when he wakes up, drunk, and sees Margaret. He looks genuinely happy (and drunk)...genuinely happy (not smirky) is not an expression I've seen much on this guy's face. I've seen 4 seasons with Buscemi in the central role, various movies and other TV roles, and still he manages to come up with an expression I feel I haven't seen before. He is acting his little butt off! - I love Mrs. Rothstein calling Margaret out on her bullshit. Thank GOD! I don't know what happened, but I really used to like Margaret's character, now find her intensely irritating. I don't think I can blame the actress, I just don't think she's been given much to do lately. - I have deep sympathy for Chalky. I can't imagine what his goals in life might be (after he kills Narcisse, of course). When he said "she remember what I was," I was crushed, I was so sad for him. Man, no one does down in the the dumps like Michael K. Williams. Anyone who hasn't seen the Wire should, just for him. Omar comin'!

Really? I think we've all seen people destroy and assault with the mob mentality for lesser offenses. For example, when the Lakers used to win championships. When I was watching the fires and beatings I honestly thought to myself that the GR had it coming for a loooong time. I thought, I can't believe they waited THAT long to beat the crap out of all of them. Breaking and entering at Christmastime? Barely a peep about it. So for me, it was more like FINALLLYYY!!!

i think this will be interesting to watch. laurie did not want to be a mother to her, so why would she now? or maybe jill's arrival will snap laurie out of her whatever/deep blue funk/cowardice and they'll both leave the GR together. or, if laurie truly is mentally ill, maybe she'll be motivated to leave the GR and get real help. anyhow, my understanding of the GR is that they don't care about anything except their purpose....do they even care about each other? are they allowed? wouldn't that be a distraction from their purpose? i just don't think a mother/daughter couple of members would work, given what i've seen so far.