FierceCritter

I realized on a 2nd re-watch of every season (in progress) that the Puma Drift Cat sneakers Sam wears in Season 1 are the same ones I love and wear so much, when they wear out, I buy another vintage pair off ebay.

LOL My brain is too set on "they're fictional characters, they don't have any motivations other than what the script gives them" to get involved in a lot of the in-depth discussions here. But I find the analysis fascinating and impressive. And I'm also not very critical. If I'm entertained, I'm good. The forums also help me follow the action/stories sometimes when I get all "wha???" That said, I do get tired of the same patterns repeating themselves, the wrong bad decisions written in. etc. It's telling that a lot of the forum posters can pick out the flaws in an episode given a particular writer/director. I swear they should have a member of production staff that reads these forums for insight into what they're doing right/wrong. I know opinions differ, but the majority all seem to point out the same flaws in storyline, continuity, etc.

Just curious - seeing new discussion on seasons 8 and 9 going on. Is there an organized re-watch going on or something? I lurk here and there and have been catching up on season 13 on Netflix. Work is slow so doing more lurking than usual. Started binge re-watching from the Pilot episode because I can't seem to get myself to start anything new.

Again, mostly lurker, late to the game, but this also made me snort, at work. I have to stop catching up on these forums while between tasks.

I know I'm really behind (reasons) and I seldom post. But I had to let you know that I snorted - at work - when I read this. Thank you.

Quit watching FTWD after the Season 1 midseason finale. In the past few weeks bingewatched every episode and am up to date. I was only able to catch a few bits of Talking Dead highlights on AMC via Roku. But it struck me as odd - did Frank Dillane never guest on the show, ever? I would have expected him on the last episode he was on, but nope. And from what I could see of those highlight thumbnails, he never did previously. Anyone know anything about that? I just find it curious.

Initially, I thought it was the scene when Aunt Lydia and Offred meet Fred holding Holly, when Offred starts spontaneously lactating. But I don't remember there being a gaggle of handmaids in the narthex in that scene. So I may be wrong.

This X10.

This show literally gives me a stomach ache. I can't even enjoy a snack when I'm watching it. Logic tells me June will never escape so long as Elisabeth Moss wants to stay on the show. But the relentless disappointment has me wondering if I can continue to watch more seasons. I've hung in there with a lot of series that steadily declined. The characters and the stories kept me coming back. But on this show, I don't see how the main character's stories can ever NOT end in disappointment. That is, until the last episode of the final season. I'm honestly hoping/wishing they'd call it a day after the 3rd. Because fucking frustrating. Same thing is happening to me on Roku. Hulu is apparently aware of the issue and are working on a fix according to a reddit thread. Sometimes as @mamadrama mentioned, I can fix it by switching to Spanish, turning subtitles off, turning them back on, rinse, repeat.

Been anxiously awaiting this - they did the same thing with season 1.

Can I hug you through the interwebs? I've been thinking the same exact thing while reading all these posts with other explanations. 1) Thank you for echoing my thoughts 2) Felix. Sylvester. The cats. OMG, I love this and feel like a moron for not figuring that out myself, IF it was intentional.

Just a thought. Maybe the plan is world take-over by hosts. SO maybe they will create dopplegangers of all those who were killed at the end and send them out into the world.

I'm personally a huge Carl fan. I've enjoyed seeing the character grow on the show. Mature, improve on his survival skills, etc. I love that he was what gave Rick both his softness and yet his strength. In a lot of ways, I found him the strongest character on the show. He was just a kid when all this came down. Used to video games, mom packing lunch, etc. To go from those creature comforts to life on the run - it was interesting to me to see how he adapted, and in a lot of ways excelled. And when he had the chance to play video games again when first meeting the other teens at Alexandra? I thought Chandler was a good enough actor that it about melted my heart seeing him realize he could do that again - just be a kid playing video games. I don't mind that he was occasionally a dumbass. In the Carl Poppa episode, he was such a jerk in so many ways. And stupid. Foolhardy. Cocksure and overconfident. He needed to have that moment of dressing down to teach him he had to be more careful, stop fucking around and grow up. And yet, he realizes he really does need his dad. I loved both sides of that coin. I have long eaten up anything post-apocalyptic I could get my hands on. Books especially. My favorite part of them is seeing how people adapt to what's left for them, and how they have to survive without things they need being immediately at their disposal. I enjoyed Carl in particular because we were seeing those moments of how adaptable kids can be in those kinds of situations. I was looking forward to him actually end up even stronger than Rick. I easily could have kept watching if Rick kicked the bucket if Carl was still on. I'm not a hugely critical watcher of TV and movies. If I'm entertained, I generally don't over-analyze. It's why I'm not really that frequent a poster on here. I show up once in a while to see, "Am I missing something? What the hell just happened?" or "OMG - I'm so pissed off about this happening that I just need to rant and listen to others rant." Over this situation, this is probably the most I've consistently posted on here, ever. So I can get past imperfect acting. I can get past illogical aging of a kid from elementary school to high school size in what is only a couple years storytime. I loved Carl, I loved that he was Rick's heart. I was looking forward to seeing him be Rick, but better. I never read the comics, and now that I have allowed myself to be spoiled and know what his storyline WOULD have been, I'm so pissed to be cheated out of seeing where he would go. And some funny. I have always named my female cats after strong characters. Ripley. Xena. Isabeau. Etc. When the time comes I get a couple kittens again, the girl will most likely be Leia. And I seriously was considering Carl for the male. Because to me, he was one of the strongest male characters in my view. Shrug. I rekindled a childhood crush on Luke Skywalker. So guess maybe I'll go with a brother/sister and go the Star Wars twin route instead. :D

I'm waaaaaay too visual for this line of conversation... o.O

Googling is hard. Has anyone ever heard of producers changing direction on a show due to viewer complaint/demand? And yes, I'm wondering if they might not realize what a ginormous mistake they just made, and call for reshoots in time to change things up before the 2nd half of the season. According to what I've read, the cast didn't find out about what was going to happen in episode 8 until they were rehearsing episode 6. So obviously there's room for changes if need be. And yes, I'm back from anger/acceptance to bargaining. :D I'm not asking if they'd do that in this case. I'm wondering if it's ever happened before.

Funny you say this. When season 6 ended, I flat-out asked to be spoiled on here, privately. I just did not feel like dealing with months-long speculation and anxiety about who was going to bite it with that bat. But prior to that, I would get furious if anyone spoiled anything for me. My sister spoiled Carl getting his eye shot out and I about lost it on her. Just a little while ago, I started watching YouTube commentary videos about this. And not only didn't avoid spoilers, nearly sought them out. Didn't shut off the video if they warned against spoilers. Didn't turn off the video once they got into them. This is really telling. That I really just don't give a crap anymore. That now that Carl's going to be gone, my personal reason for watching is going to be dead and buried with him early in the last half of s08. Basically - who. cares.

Watched a few YouTube channels I frequent re: comics, etc. about this episode. One of them said that Chandler flat out said yes, he dies. There's no immunity to the virus, etc. So that sews that up for me. I can move on from denial to anger and acceptance. At least one of these YouTubers thinks this is going to kill the show. Supposedly they were shooting for TWENTY seasons. And he thinks without Carl being part of the journey, Rick has no real reason to fight as hard to go on. Yes, there is Judith. But said YouTuber pointed out - his whole thing from episode 1 was find Lori and Carl. Well, both of them are gone now. So... yeah. There's Michonne and Judith still. But it's not the same. If any piece of Officer Friendly still existed in Rick up until now, he can be buried with Carl. I will probably watch the last half of this season. But I have a feeling I'll just find myself caring less and less and less, and then stop watching altogether. And you know, that makes me really, really sad. Oh - by the way, watched at least one breakdown video of the ep 9 teaser. Pointed out that yes, Carl does appear in the "Old Man Rick" vision. From what I can tell now, I think that will be Carl envisioning what life will be like for the rest of them after he's gone. Reassuring himself that yes, they'll all be ok. And damn if I didn't make myself cry just now.

Much lulz! :D

I don't know. Like I said, I don't frequent these forums much at all, just when I need emotional support after a particularly life-shattering episode, lol. Last time was probably when Glen went under the dumpster. But nearly EVERYONE who has posted here has done so with MUCH outrage over Carl dying. Not everyone, but most. I can't help but think this MUST be another major fake-out somehow, someway. They can't possibly be THAT out of touch with their viewers, can they? I know what Riggs has said, what his dad has said, etc. But if this IS a major fake-out, then they'd HAVE to say things like that. Just like all the evasions and misdirections we got from Kit Harrington re: ?death? of Jon Snow on GOT. I'm still gonna believe Carl really is a dead man walking. But part of me is sensing subterfuge.

Ouch. But sadly true.

I love Rick. I hate all the failures they write for him.

I have to say, even though I post far from regularly here, I'm really glad to be able to commiserate with like-minded people about this show. Even those who feel differently than I do. It's made it a little easier to deal with it when the show really falters. Group hug.

As much as I'm prepared to accept Carl's (bullshit) death, the part of me that loves him so much I've actually planned to name a future cat after him is grasping at one possibility. The helicopter. That it's a team of recovery soldiers working for government scientists who think they've got a cure ready to go. But that it only works on those who have been bitten, not on the recently dead. And not yet in eliminating the virus from the general population. I know. Wishes and fishes. And I didn't say I BELIEVE that's gonna happen. But, ya know, I just don't want Carl to be dead. :'(

Gotta get to work, but wanted to pop in and make a point, sorry if I'm reiterating something that's been said since I last checked posts last night. But with Carl dying, whether you liked him or not, he was the heart of the show. He was the reason Rick tried to be a good example and lead with mercy and understanding. Now, he has zero reason to not pull his punches. He can go totally batshit and rip the world to shreds. Judith can end up one of the baddies from Mad Max with Mad Rick as an example. I wanted the show to at least have heart. It obviously has none. I will probably find myself watching a few more episodes, and then letting it go. And I never thought I'd hear myself say that. Oh, and ditto-a-mundo to those who have complained about the bad plans going awry. I'm so sick of that. Sick of nothing ever working right except for the bad guys. And sick of Daryl being instrumental in deaths and failures. Could have had him be a smart good ol' boy. Nope. Gotta make him a half-cocked, self-important dipshit. They're making me hate him, too. "What stupid thing is Daryl going to do next?" And finally, someone spoke aloud my thoughts of how this compares to what I hate about Game of Thrones. Never-ending misery, with precious little to celebrate. Work calls. Ta.

I have never seriously considered not watching anymore - until now. I've dealt with every death, every loss of a home, etc. Just moved on. Eventually got over the latest bummer and still enjoyed the stories, characters, actors, etc. But I watched this episode physically shaking from nerves over what was going to happen overall. I didn't know this particular shock was coming. And when it did, I admit I just lost it. Carl was my favorite character. I don't usually get emotionally attached to fictional characters. This was rare and different. I don't know if I can continue watching a show that has so little relief from horror. I understand - it's a horror story basically. Bad things are gonna happen. But I watch or read horror hoping for a good ending. They pretty much just dropped the saddest ending I could have thought of. So really, there's no joy left in it for me anymore. :(