rab01

A lot of drugs are surprisingly non-toxic to the organs. A quick google search turned up a bunch of articles about how the opioid epidemic is clearing the organ donor backlog.

I don't count on Rick being so safe. Andrew Lincoln is talking about an ending to the story he's playing. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-carls-fate-andrew-lincoln-ricks-future-his-contract-season-8-midseason-finale-explained-1066032 I discounted some of the stories earlier but they read differently after knowing that Chandler Riggs was fired - especially the ones where Lincoln, Gimple and Kirkman all say that the Walking Dead can outlast Rick Grimes.

Count me in with modern audiences then cause I sure don't like all that boring talking on this show ;) If they had made Negan the strong silently menacing type, we could have shortened all of last year's episodes and improved them immeasurably.

He didn't sound surprised but I still wasn't sure from the scene whether he knew beforehand because Leo was pretty deep in his own glass house and not in.a stone throwing mood. I guess I lean towards Leo finding out then because it made some scenes between Bartlett and Hoynes fit better if Leo didn't know before Hoynes was chosen as VP.

Yup. Chandler Riggs told us in his Hollywood Reporter exit interview that they are killing Carl to justify saving Negan. Unless the fan outcry gets too loud to ignore, we're stuck with Negan forever.

I was so intrigued by the missing judge that I almost overlooked that I really liked this battle. The challenger was really a pretty modest guy for someone who can cook that well. And I really liked that Flay finally paid a price for lack of creativity. (3 steak courses in one meal? Re-using prior ICA dishes? Really?) Also, maybe it was wardrobe or lighting but Giada looked healthier/better than she did in some Food Network appearances from last year. This is the first time in a while that she hasn't looked anorexic to me. If so, good for her.

Thanks! I was kind of guessing it might be him while I was staring at the fuzzy image ;)

Yup, just rewound the show and in the background of one of the wideshots there is a man seated next to Giada. I can't tell who though ... Seems to be clean shaven with straightish brown hair

Why is Giada the only judge on screen? Was she the only judge or was there a second that they aren't showing because they are someone who is now disgraced?

Yeah, that is a good question - I think they each will have different paths to becoming better enough to make it into the Good Place. From Jason's flashbacks, he was sweet and oblivious to whether or not what he did was helpful or harmful on Earth and he still is now. So, his growth will probably require choosing goals (for himself and others) and working towards it. (Something more specific and active than agreeing with everyone else that he doesn't want to get sent to the Bad Place.) I think we're starting to see Tahani's slow growth towards realizing that her old goals were meaningless (like in the aftermath of the demon party and allowing herself to enjoy horsing around with Jason). Chidi on the other hand is actually moving backwards. He was more decisive before his fatal flaw was brought out into the open. Now he's second guessing himself even more.

And also not to mention that they made having good alcohol a plot point in the SHOW just last year - when Geoffrey intended to give up a bottle of booze to ingratiate himself to the saviors but they took his whole stash

I have to rewatch but I think the cuffs prevented Janet from doing anything physically other than going in and out of her void and the drunk aspect prevented her from providing reliable information. When the train left, the demons thought that Vicki had freed her from the cuffs to conduct it. The plan worked because the demons don't know about Derek.

maybe only because the bad place decided to roll this model out for other victims? I don't think the amount of time passing at this community has anything to do with external time. I'd guess that the bad place exists in its own pocket of time and space and that each part of the bad place can exist within its own timeframe.

Jameela Jamil is on a humor podcast (International Waters at www.maximumfun.com) this week and she's pretty funny in it. You might want to check it out. I haven't finished it yet so I don't know if there is any Good Place discussion (the podcast has a game show format) but it's worth it just for the story of how she almost gave Mary Berry food poisoning on a celebrity edition of the GBBO.

This half-season kept building up unwatched on my DVR until I binged it over the holidays. that meant I wasn't so annoyed by the fractured story telling because I didn't have to wait for resolution of the interesting bits But, I ended up not enjoying any of it much except King Ezekiel's optimistic phase, the garbage lady saying Rick talks too much and Rick telling Negan the same thing. In a good war movie (or TV show), you have to either focus on the powerless grunts and emphasize the tragedy, horror and confusion, or visually explain to the viewer exactly what the objectives are and give us a way to tell whether our protagonists are succeeding or failing. This show wanted to be the latter type but never let us know how many troops each side has, how much ammo, or how many guns. We knew that Rick's group had to take all the satellites or they might free Negan but the show never told us how many satellites there were. So, every episode had another group of heavily armed saviors of just the necessary size to pose a possibly surmountable obstacle. Most importantly, they never showed us (1) how Eugene broke them out, (2) how they took out the snipers watching the Savior compound; (3) why Rick felt that he needed the trash people; (4) whether Rick had an actual plan for the trash people or just a stupid bluff; (5) why Rick's people had a communication system for the first part of the assault but no runners in and out of ASZ to keep Michonne in the loop; (6) why Rick and Darryl had to have a fight that wasted valuable explosives; and so many other things necessary to give us a real feeling of dread or triumph at any point in the season. Here's a prediction -- they are going to show us the Savior breakout from their camp early next season as a flashback and none of us will give a shit because they don't understand the basics of story structure.* As for Carl's death, that was too stupid. Not that he got bit senselessly because that's part of what the show should be about. But that he died to a threat that wasn't all that threatening. That character would never have been surprised by walkers or been bit in a fight with so few of them at any point in the last four years. So just block the fight better for god's sake. Also, Gimple's reason for it is infuriating and I won't quote it here because, even though it's published, it sounds like a disappointing spoiler for the next couple seasons. I think I'm done with the show. * One more thing on structure, they showed us many scenes of the Saviors discussing tactics, options and plot choices but all of their consequential acts occurred off-screen while our "heroes" talked about feelings, philosophy, and heartbreak with their consequential acts being shown but unexplained. That is just so fucking stupid and would have been so easily fixed

the funeral tie breaker -- Josh holds a press briefing

CJ is vindicated by poll numbers Toby is embarrassed to say he's influential

Leo tells Jed he'll lead an army against him. Jed's entrance in the Pilot Jed stays on the phone with the doomed sailor

Toby learns his brother is alive Josh meets Joey Leo tells Jed he'll raise an army against him

Not staying the execution Josh meets Joey Leo tells Jed he'll raise an army against him

Wow, tough list. Thanks for putting it together. Leo tells Jed he'll lead an army against him Josh meets Joey Lucas. Jed decides not to stay the execution Question about Jed embarrassing Hoynes - is it just the first scene? or is it also the follow-up between them in the oval office? If it's just the cabinet scene, I'd like to vote for it rather than Jed not staying the execution

Leo's addictions. Best to worst: Shooting and aftermath Reelection

Leo's Addiction If best means you want to keep them: 1) Shooting and aftermath 2) Reelection Campaign 3) Zoey's kidnapping

You're right and I didn't really mean it the way it came out. I especially shouldn't have tried for the same joke twice.

I haven't seen enough of the remaining plots to continue voting until Season 5 is out of the running but I definitely think the shooting and its aftermath is one plot. I'll be back to vote on whichever plot gets the honor of losing to Jed's MS ;)