Walker: Independence in the Media: No Taradiddles here, Ma'am

[tv echo]

Walker and Walker Independence Trailer | The CW
The CW Network   Oct 25, 2022

Philemon Chambers - Justified | Walker Independence | The CW
The CW Network   Oct 25, 2022

Katherine McNamara talks Abby Walker, and clears up THAT tartan photo with a story about Sam Heughan
Monica Gleberman   Oct 25, 2022

[tv echo]

Fall TV Freshman Report Card: Here Are 20+ Ways to Improve 9 New Shows
By Matt Webb Mitovich, Andy Swift, Dave Nemetz, Vlada Gelman and Keisha Hatchett / October 27 2022
https://tvline.com/lists/fall-tv-2022-new-shows-improvements-quantum-leap-fire-country-winchesters/ 

Quote

Walker Independence (Thursdays on The CW)
...
WHAT WORKS: A diverse cast makes for a refreshingly different take on the much overdone Western format, with Apache tracker Calian (played by Justin Johnson Cortez) an early standout, especially in his unlikely partnership with outlaw Hoyt and the widowed Abby. Speaking of Hoyt, it’s possible that no one on TV is having more fun than his portrayer Matt Barr, who oozes rascally charm. Add in throwback action/horse chases, beautiful vistas and the intrigue of what the dastardly Sheriff Davidson is plotting, and you’ve got a genuinely entertaining hour of TV.

WHAT NEEDS WORK: With so many characters and mysterious intentions — in addition to Davidson, there’s also the question of what dancer Kate Carver is up to — it can sometimes feel like there’s one too many plot threads threatening to overwhelm the show. We also have to wonder how no one in town is suspicious of newcomer Abby Walker, an educated woman who seems to have arrived in Independence with no possessions and no real explanation for why she’s there.

[tv echo]

Walker: Independence - Episode 1.07 - The Owl and the Arrow - Press Release
Posted by SpoilerTV at October 28, 2022
https://www.spoilertv.com/2022/10/walker-independence-episode-107-owl-and.html 

Spoiler

Abby (Katherine McNamara) navigates the unforgiving frontier justice system and her complicated feelings for Tom Davidson (Greg Hovanessian) as she throws herself into defending a case with life-or-death consequences. Calian (Justin Johnson Cortez) confronts painful memories to free himself of guilt, Gus (Philemon Chambers) weighs a friendship against his badge, Hoyt (Matt Barr) and Lucia (Gabriela Quezada) must come to terms with an immeasurable loss, and Kate (Katie Findlay) is faced with a choice after uncovering corruption in an unexpected place. The episode was written by Ryan Harris and directed by Cierra “Shooter” Glaudé (#107). Original airdate 11/17/2022.

Edited October 28, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Matt Barr talks Walker: Independence & gushes over co-star Katherine McNamara
Brief Take   Oct 28, 2022

Friend of the Devil | Walker Independence Season 1 Episode 5 Promo | The CW
The CW Network    Oct 28, 2022

Edited October 31, 2022 by tv echo

[WildFlower87]

The CW is finished. No Back Orders for The Winchesters and Walker: Independence

https://deadline.com/2022/11/the-winchesters-amp-walker-independence-no-back-orders-cw-cutbacks-season-2-canceled-renewed-1235159619/#comment-3579156

Edited November 1, 2022 by WildFlower87

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

Once again CW is cancelling a really good series. Hopefully some other network picks this up. 

[tv echo]

Hoyt Tells Abby and Kate His Plan | Walker Independence Season 1 Episode 5 | The CW
The CW Network   2 days ago

Random Acts | Walker Independence Season 1 Episode 6 Promo | The CW
The CW Network   3 days ago

[tv echo]

Uh oh...

CW’s Carryover Programming From Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery Will Be ‘Minimal’ by 2023-2024 Season, Nexstar CFO Says
By Jennifer Maas     Nov 8, 2022
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/cw-shows-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-nexstar-2023-2024-1235426407/ 

Quote

The writing was already on the wall, but now it’s getting bolder: The CW’s carryover programming from its former parent companies Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery will be “minimal” by the next broadcast season.

“Programming for the CW is in place for the 2022-2023 broadcast season, that extends through the end of August/early September timeframe of next year. You’ll see that programming is consistent with what the programmers have historically had on the air for that timeframe,” Nexstar executive vice president and chief financial officer Lee Ann Gliha said during the company’s Q3 earnings call Tuesday. “Over the course of the next year, we’re really working to develop our slate, which will then come online in the 2023-2024 broadcast season. We will have some carryover commitment for the CBS and the WBD programming in that year, but it’s minimal at that point.”

“Warners and Paramount are not precluded from selling us programming, it’s just going to have to be a financial deal that we like and there may be a couple of shows that distinguish themselves that we want to hold over into next year,” Nexstar CEO Perry Sook added.
*  *  *
Currently, the CW has just a handful of Paramount and WB Discovery-produced titles left to be considered for carryover into the 2023-2024 season, as many have already been canceled or announced final season end dates. These remaining contenders include “Walker,” “Walker: Independence,” “Superman & Lois,” “All American,” “All American: Homecoming,” “The Winchesters” and the upcoming DC Universe series “Gotham Knights,” which will debut at midseason.

Sook brought up the recent appointment of CW programming chief Brad Schwartz, a vet of Pop TV network, who was tapped by new CW network president Dennis Miller. The exec noted that Schwartz, “on a much smaller budget than we’ve given him at the CW, was able to find and develop a show called ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ which, boom, your job is easy — just go find a couple more of those and we’ll be in fine shape at the CW.”

As Nexstar has previously laid out, Sook again indicated the TV station group is looking to shift the CW to a mix of scripted and unscripted content for a “broader audience.” The company hopes to make the CW profitable by 2025.

Also on the call, Sook spoke about how NBC doing away with the 10 p.m. primetime hour and joining Fox and the CW in handing that block to local station groups would be “extremely profitable” for Nexstar.

[tv echo]

The Owl and the Arrow | Walker Independence Season 1 Episode 7 Promo | The CW
The CW Network    Nov 11, 2022

EXCLUSIVE Interview: Katherine McNamara | Walker: Independence (The Fan Carpet)
The Fan Carpet Extra    Nov 10, 2022

Walker Independence | Katie Findlay & Philemon Chambers | KSiteTV Interview
KSiteTV   Nov 10, 2022

[tv echo]

Katherine McNamara Heads West with "Walker Independence" Arrow, Shadowhunter's and More!
The Brett Allan Show   Nov 11, 2022

Katie Findlay Talks "Walker Independence" "Gem and the Holograms" Career Choices and More!
The Brett Allan Show   3 weeks ago

[tv echo]

Walker Independence Fall Finale: Justin Johnson Cortez Talks Calian's Verdict and Two Potential Love Triangles
By Vlada Gelman / November 17 2022
https://tvline.com/2022/11/17/walker-independence-recap-season-1-episode-7-calian-abby/

Walker Independence 1x08 Promo (HD) Prequel Spinoff series
TV Promos   Nov 17, 2022

Philemon Chambers - Rapid Fire Questions | Walker Independence | The CW
The CW Network    Nov 17, 2022

Edited November 18, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

INSIDE DFW WITH JENNY ANCHONDO
‘Being able to flesh out a character that looks like me is something that we haven’t seen before’: Lawrence Kao talks Walker Independence
by: Tyler Manning   Nov 21, 2022 
https://cw33.com/news/inside-dfw/being-able-to-flesh-out-a-character-that-looks-like-me-is-something-that-we-havent-seen-before-lawrence-kao-talks-walker-independence/ 

Quote

Actor Lawrence Kao who plays Kai in the show talks about the opportunity to be in a Western show with a diverse cast.

“It’s really cool, because there are just a lot of diverse characters. Being able to flesh out a character that looks like me is something that we haven’t seen before. Kai is just a character that used to work on the railroads in San Francisco. He found himself in Independence, Texas, and he was trying to establish a new life here. He is trying to start over and find his identity. As we see, in each episode, more things are revealed about his character, and along with all the other characters as well.”
*  *  *
I can remember back in the day, seeing a lot of Westerners that didn’t have a lot of Chinese American actors in those roles. They were all often played by other actors of other ethnicities and I want know how does it feel to be a Chinese American in a lead in this series during the 1800s.

“It’s awesome, man. It’s cool, but it definitely holds a lot of responsibility. I was apprehensive at first because it was like, ‘Man, this is going to be interesting. I wonder how they’re going to tell this story.’ Everyone’s been super open to collaboration. Being a being on a project like this and having my relatives and my parents see me even speak Mandarin and speak the language, is fun for them to watch. I feel like it’s a stepping stone for more opportunities for people that look like me to be in Westerns to be in all kinds of different kinds of genre television.”

Edited November 21, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Gabriella Quezada - Rapid Fire Questions | Walker Independence | The CW
The CW Network     1 day ago

[tv echo]

The CW Midseason Premiere Dates: ‘Walker’ & Walker Independence‘, ‘All American’, ’Kung Fu’ Return, ‘The Winchesters’ Moves To New Time
By Denise Petski  November 29, 2022
https://deadline.com/2022/11/the-cw-midseason-premiere-dates-walker-walker-independence-all-american-kung-fu-return-the-winchesters-moves-to-new-timeslo-1235184065/ 

Quote

The network’s hit drama Walker will premiere its third season at 8 p.m. Thursday, January 12, followed at 9 with the midseason premiere of spinoff Walker Independence.

[statsgirl]

Hopefully that means that they will get the backorder now.

[tv echo]

Chatting with "Walker: Independence" Star Justin Johnson Cortez
Cowboys & Indians Magazine     2 days ago

Katherine McNamara - Rapid Fire Questions | Walker Independence | The CW
The CW Network    Dec 1, 2022

Edited December 2, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

KATHERINE MCNAMARA NA #CCXP22: SUA PRIMEIRA COMIC CON FOI... AQUI | CORTES Omelete | #OmeleteNaCCXP
Hyper Omelete    posted 5 days ago

Matt Barr - Rapid Fire Questions | Walker Independence | The CW
The CW Network    Dec 8, 2022

[tv echo]

Walker Independence's Mark Sheppard Was Instructed To Channel P.T. Barnum And Sir Richard Burton Into Hagan - Exclusive
BY XANDRA HARBET    DEC. 8, 2022
https://www.looper.com/1130854/walker-independences-mark-sheppard-was-instructed-to-channel-p-t-barnum-and-sir-richard-burton-into-hagan-exclusive/ 

Quote

Looper spoke to Sheppard during an exclusive interview, where he explained that series creator Seamus Fahey instructed him to channel two famous historical trailblazers in his portrayal of Hagan. He also dove deep into his character's psyche and the human condition as a whole to lend insight into Hagan's use of elixirs.
*  *  *
On whether any characters or historical figures helped inspire Sheppard's take on Hagan's showmanship qualities, he said, "Seamus gave me a great note. Seamus Fahey and I worked together on 'Battlestar [Galactica]' back in the day. He's a wonderful writer, and I love him dearly. He's [an] amazingly smart man," Sheppard explained. "He said, 'It's pretty much P.T. Barnum meets Sir Richard Burton.' I'm like, 'Whoa, that's a hell of a ... ' Aim a little high there, son." Of course, Sheppard pulled it off and then some.

Even though Hagan has deep roots in the town, he's willing to give it all up to save Kate. "The truth is, Hagan is a founding father of the town of Independence, and Independence is nothing. It's nowhere. It's post-Alamo — [the] early foundation of Texas' independence. He's building this brick-and-mortar thing," he added. "He's a man who loves theater, and he's a man who loves art. The thing about Kate and Hagan is that Kate is very much Hagan's conscience and constantly helps steer Hagan into not doing the wrong thing."

While it seems like Hagan will have to find his own moral compass without Kate, changes are brewing in Independence, and Hagan's characterization is a strong indication of the time. Sheppard noted, "The railroad's coming, all these things are changing, all these people's stories are starting to converge in this little town.
*  *  *
There's still hope that Sheppard may come back as Hagan, though. He said, "I don't know. That's a question for Seamus more than anyone else. If they ever asked me to do it, [I'd] be there."

[tv echo]

Katie Findlay - Rapid Fire Questions | Walker Independence | The CW
The CW Network   Dec 15, 2022

[tv echo]

Episode 1.08 will air on Jan. 12, 2023 (you can read the episode synopsis behind spoiler tags below)...

Walker: Independence - Episode 1.08 - [OMITTED TITLE] - Promo + Press Release
Posted by SpoilerTV at December 22, 2022
https://www.spoilertv.com/2022/11/walker-independence-episode-108-promo.html

Spoiler

WILD PLANS – Abby (Kat McNamara) finds her secret identity in jeopardy when an estranged family member arrives in town and demands Tom’s (Greg Hovanessian) help finding Liam Collins’ missing wife. A restless Hoyt (Matt Barr) reconnects with his outlaw roots, Kai (Lawrence Kao) contemplates his future as his past begins to catch up with him, and Calian (Justin Johnson Cortez) receives a dire warning from a mysterious woman that may drive him back to Independence. The episode was written by Margaret Lebron and directed by Pamela Romanowsky (#108). Original airdate 1/12/2023.

Edited December 23, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Greg Hovanessian - Rapid Fire Questions | Walker Independence | The CW
The CW Network   Dec 22, 2022

[tv echo]

TVLine ranked Walker Independence at #5 overall among The CW's shows for Fall 2022...

Midseason Ratings Report Card: CW's Best and Worst Performing Shows
By Matt Webb Mitovich / December 28 2022, 
https://tvline.com/2022/12/28/best-worst-cw-shows-tv-ratings-2022-2023/

Quote

Listed below is the average DEMO RATING for each series on The CW (including Live+7 DVR playback). Alongside that is the TOTAL AUDIENCE for each program, as well as any noteworthy PERFORMANCE NOTES.

Each program’s RANK represents how it is faring in the coveted-yet-dwindling 18-49 demo compared to other shows on The CW; any ties in the demo (and there are MANY on The CW!) were “broken” by total viewership.

 

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Episode 1.09 will air on Jan. 19, 2023 (you can read the episode synopsis behind spoiler tags below)...

Walker: Independence - Episode 1.09 - Strange Bedfellows - Press Release
Posted by SpoilerTV at December 30, 2022
https://www.spoilertv.com/2022/12/walker-independence-episode-109-strange.html 

Spoiler

THE MONSTROUS AND THE BEAUTIFUL – Abby (Katherine McNamara) starts to question everything she thought to be true, much to the dismay of her friends. Kai (Lawrence Kao) thinks he’s seen a ghost when an unexpected person from his past appears in Independence, which makes Kate (Katie Findlay) suspicious. Gus (Philemon Chambers), Hoyt (Matt Barr) and Kate work together to help Kai, resulting in Gus making a move no one saw coming. The episode was written by Grace Ding and directed by Sheelin Choksey (#109). Original airdate 1/19/2023.

[tv echo]

Episode 1.10 will air on Jan. 26 (you can read the episode synopsis behind spoiler tags below)...

Walker: Independence - Episode 1.10 - All In - Press Release
Posted by SpoilerTV at January 05, 2023
https://www.spoilertv.com/2023/01/walker-independence-episode-110-all-in.html

Spoiler

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM – As a dust storm descends upon Independence, Abby (Katherine McNamara) and Tom (Greg Hovanessian) find themselves desperate for shelter. Gus (Philemon Chambers) has a lead that can potentially help Calian (Justin Johnson Cortez). Kate (Katie Findlay), Hoyt (Matt Barr) and Lucia (Gabriela Quezada) work together, but things do not go according to plan. Kate stumbles upon something very unexpected and leaves her questioning everything. The episode was written by Laura Sedlak and directed by David McWhirter (#110). Original airdate 1/26/2023.

Edited January 6, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This Badge | Walker Independence Season 1 Episode 8 Trailer | The CW
The CW Network    Jan 5, 2023

[tv echo]

[tv echo]

Walker Independence 1x09 Promo "Strange Bedfellows" (HD) Prequel Spinoff series
TV Promos    Jan 12, 2023

[tv echo]

Katherine McNamara was at Creation Las Vegas over the weekend...

[tv echo]

 

[tv echo]

All In | Walker Independence Season 1 Episode 10 Promo | The CW
The CW Network   Jan 20, 2023

Also, FYI...

Edited January 23, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Walker Independence 1x11 Promo (HD) Prequel Spinoff series
TV Promos    Jan 26, 2023

[tv echo]

Synopsis for episode 1x11 - airs Feb. 16...

Walker: Independence - Episode 1.11 - The Pittsburgh Windmill - Promo + Press Release
Posted by SpoilerTV at January 28, 2023 
https://www.spoilertv.com/2023/01/walker-independence-episode-111-promo.html

Spoiler

Abby (Kat McNamara) proposes a scheme to reroute the railroad away from Calian’s (Justin Johnson Cortez) tribal land. Tom (Greg Hovanessian) finds the tables turned while attempting to take down his brother. Kate (Katie Findlay) and Kai (Lawrence Kao) navigate their fractured friendship while Gus (Philemon Chambers) remains convinced that Tom is up to no good. The episode was written by Michael Carnes & Josh Gilbert and directed by Geoff Shotz (#111). Original airdate 2/16/2023.

Edited January 30, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Synopsis for episode 1x12 - airs Feb. 23...

Walker: Independence - Episode 1.12 - How We Got Here - Press Release
Posted by SpoilerTV at February 05, 2023 
https://www.spoilertv.com/2023/02/walker-independence-episode-112-how-we.html

Spoiler

SANCTUARY - Through a series of letters Gus (Philemon Chambers) writes to his late wife, the origin stories of Abby (Kat McNamara), Hoyt (Matt Barr), Kate (Katie Findlay), Kai (Lawrence Kao), Calian (Justin Johnson Cortez), and Tom (Greg Hovanessian) are revealed along with the role each played in each other's destiny. The episode was written by Seamus Kevin Fahey and Nicki Renna and directed by Sheelin Choksey (#112). Original airdate 2/23/2023.

Edited February 6, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Synopsis for 1x13 (season finale) - airs March 2...

Walker: Independence - Episode 1.13 - Let Him Hang (Season Finale) - Press Release
Posted by SpoilerTV at February 10, 2023
https://www.spoilertv.com/2023/02/walker-independence-episode-113-let-him.html

Spoiler

SEASON FINALE – With Gus (Philemon Chambers) clinging to life, Abby (Kat McNamara), Hoyt (Matt Barr), Kate (Katie Findlay), and Calian (Justin Johnson Cortez) stop at nothing to expose Tom’s (Greg Hovanessian) true nature and end the Davidson reign over Independence once and for all. The episode was written by Seamus Kevin Fahey and Nicki Renna and directed by Yangzom Brauen (#113). Original airdate 3/2/2023.

Edited February 10, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Promo for next (penultimate) episode...

Walker Independence 1x12 Promo "How We Got Here" (HD) Prequel Spinoff series
TV Promos    Feb 16, 2023

[tv echo]

Video of the Feb. 5th Walker/Walker Independence panel at Creation Entertainment's Salute to Supernatural and Other J&J Projects in Dallas, TX...

SPNDALLAS 2023 Matt Barr, Justin Johnson Cortez, Jake Abel and Mitch Pileggi Panel - Walker
Gayle  posted Feb 6, 2023

[tv echo]

Katherine McNamara was nominated for a Critics Choice Super Award...

Nominations Announced for the 3rd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards honoring Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action Movies and Series
February 22, 2023
https://www.criticschoice.com/2023/02/22/nominations-announced-for-the-3rd-annual-critics-choice-super-awards-honoring-superhero-science-fiction-fantasy-horror-and-action-movies-and-series/ 

Quote

(Los Angeles, CA – February 22, 2023) – The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced today the nominees for the 3rd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards, honoring the most popular, fan-obsessed genres across both television and movies, including Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action. Winners will be revealed via a special announcement on Thursday, March 16.

Edited February 24, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This is the season finale (and maybe the series finale if this show isn't picked up for a second season)...

Let Him Hang | Walker Independence Season 1 Episode 13 Promo | The CW
The CW Network    Feb 24, 2023

Edited February 27, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Showrunner Seamus Fahey teases Season 2 (although the show has not been renewed yet)...

Walker Independence EP Talks Finale's Tom Cliffhanger and How It Hints at Even 'Bigger Threat' — Plus, Grade It!
By Vlada Gelman / March 2 2023
https://tvline.com/2023/03/02/walker-independence-recap-season-1-finale-episode-13-tom-cliffhanger/ 

Quote

Below, showrunner Seamus Kevin Fahey talks about the finale’s Tom twist, the former sheriff’s “f—ked-up love” for Abby, and potential Season 2 storylines. (The series has yet to be renewed; Fahey discusses the show’s future prospects here.)
*  *  *
TVLINE | He confesses, he says, to protect her, because he’s developed feelings for her, but she doesn’t reciprocate them, and she sends him off to face trial for his crimes. How might his feelings change after that, if you were looking ahead at a potential Season 2?
I like that prospect! I like that there’s a few moments in there where she’s really trying her best to bury [her feelings] and keep them at bay so she can get the confession out of him. Tom, on the other hand, is kind of leading with his feelings on his sleeve a little bit more and making her aware that he did a lot of this for her, at least in his mind’s eye, whether you consider that to be part of an unhealthy, obsessive love or something else entirely. But he knew he had to do it because her life was at risk and would continue to be with his family and other powers that be that are out there lurking in the shadows… I don’t think the intention was that Tom would confess, and even if Abby would be part of sending him away, that he would change his tune, that he wasn’t trying to protect her, that he didn’t have feelings for her. I think those linger, and those [will] continue to linger.

Moving forward, what Abby went through, knowing Tom had known who she is for much longer than she ever imagined, I think that’s something that will take a while to wrap your head around. That he had this kind of obsessive love for her is the big reveal of the last two episodes… I don’t think he recoils or regrets the fact that he told the truth, and he still has strong feelings for her and loves her in his own warped sense. So I think that would continue. It’s a f–ked-up love story, Vlada.

TVLINE | Abby now finally has some closure and justice when it comes to Liam’s murder. So what does that mean for her as she moves forward in her new life in Independence?
I wanted to name it Independence for a reason, [to] see Abby come full circle like that and just explore how to tell a different type of western and how a main character and the entire ensemble could reinvent themselves in a western town. As far as Abby goes, it was kind of finding her independence and going down the path of exploring, what is vengeance? What is justice? And is she doing this for Liam? Is she doing this for herself? And slowly, she’s kind of doing it for herself, as much as the town and this town family that she has. But she kind of stood on her own, literally, with a rifle in her hand in the episode. But I think she’s ready to do her best to move on. That’s never going to be easy. Who doesn’t love a flawed character? But she’s kind of come full circle from Boston, upper-class elite to this kind of “Sarah Connor of the West” was the line I used in the pitch, and you see a real grit to her. At the same time, moving forward, it would be really dishonest to just abandon everything that she went through and everything that’s going through her head and her heart. She can do her best, but I don’t think Abby or anyone else, for that matter, can abandon what they’ve endured this whole season.

TVLINE | Looking at the end of the finale, Tom manages to escape, thanks to this mysterious new group. What can you say about these people with the circle tattoo and whether this is a blessing or a curse for him?
I think it might be both. Did someone want to free Tom? Or did someone want to silence Tom, make sure he wouldn’t say any more than he had? Playing into that new mystery in a Season 2 would be the new onion [to] peel layer upon layer away. Everything he knew and his connections and his family connections to the outside world and trains, there’s a lot left to explore with what he knows and what their intensions are out West, in Independence at least. That’s exactly the question. It’s not taking one lane or the other. Did people want to save Tom, or did people want to kill him? And where does that put our characters, who wanted him to at least go to trial and pay for his crimes?

TVLINE | You left the season on this very interesting cliffhanger, with Tom’s dad handing him a knife. What kind of guy is Tom’s dad? And is it safe to say this is not a happy father-son reunion?
[Laughs] Yeah, I mean, you know, men and their daddy issues… If we’re lucky enough to explore more stories in this world, it would definitely be about that father-son dynamic, in the wake of everything that Tom did and everything that happened. And how does Aunt Teresa fall in that mix? How do you take a character, who is more or less fearless in Tom Davidson, and kind of get to a point where he was cornered by everybody else on the call sheet? You finally see him sweating a little bit. But he made it this far, and how can you pull it off in just one scene where he’s terrified of what comes next, just by a shadow alone, the presence of a father figure? That was an interesting way to end the season: What is a villain now scared of, and opening it up to a bigger threat and a bigger mystery.
*  *  *
TVLINE | When the show first premiered, I felt like there was a bit of a love-hate flirtation between Abby and Hoyt, but then they both went on these separate romance journeys, and in the finale, Abby calls Hoyt a friend. Is that all there is between them?
Listen, if you put two attractive people in a room, there’s always going to be an interesting chemistry, and so I think that will always be there. That’s just a fixture of TV… She needed to hire a gunman to kill someone. So it’s not exactly the most romantic thing, and Hoyt’s seeing her in a very fragile place. From the start, they had a very different relationship, and there’s moments where the sparks fly, there’s certainly chemistry. But at the end of the day, it was more interesting, the realization that, through thick and thin, he was always there for her. Knowing that starting point up on the hill in the pilot of someone who’s telling her, “This is a bad idea,” but at the end of the day, he was right at her side, being shot and taking shots. It was that reliance on someone that’s dependable that was more important and stronger, honestly, than a romantic relationship, and it was just kind of acknowledging that. That’s the crux of that one. But we’ll see where it goes. You never know. No one’s locked in.

Edited March 3, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Doesn't bode well for renewal, which is a shame, because I think this is a good series with lots of potential...

Ratings: Alaska Daily Returns Steady, Independence Ends on Low Note
By Matt Webb Mitovich / March 3 2023
https://tvline.com/2023/03/03/tv-ratings-walker-independence-finale-renewed-cancelled/ 

Quote

THE CW | Walker (620K/0.1) hit an audience low, while fellow “bubble” drama Walker Independence (441K/0.0, read post mortem) matched lows with its finale.

[tv echo]

Kyle Meredith with... Matt Barr (Walker: Independence)
Kyle Meredith     Mar 6, 2023

 

[tv echo]

Which Broadcast-TV 'Bubble' Shows Do YOU Most Want Saved? Vote Here!
By Matt Webb Mitovich / March 15 2023
https://tvline.com/lists/cancelled-renewed-bubble-tv-show-list-2023-poll-vote/abc-renewed-cancelled-show-ratings/ 

Quote

In the poll down below, you’ll find nearly 30 scripted comedies and dramas that are currently “on the bubble.” After assessing these curated options, cast your vote for up to FOUR (4) shows that you want to be renewed (even though most decisions may not come down until mid-May or in some cases later, for those with spring premieres). THE POLL CLOSES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 at 11 am ET; any shows renewed/cancelled before then will be removed from the poll.
*  *  *
The CW 'Bubble' Show Ratings

Ranked by demo rating, then by total audience:

Superman & Lois 0.3 demo rating / 1.6 million total viewers (Season 2 averages; Season 3 premiered March 14, no Live+7 data yet)
Walker 0.2 rating / 1.3 million viewers
The Winchesters 0.2 rating / 800,000 viewers
All American: Homecoming 0.2 rating / 620,000 viewers
Walker Independence 0.1 rating / 950,000 viewers
Kung Fu 0.1 rating / 800,000 viewers
Gotham Knights (Series premiered March 14; no Live+7 data yet)

All numbers include Live+7 DVR playback as of March 14

Edited March 17, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Interview: Philemon Chambers on ‘Walker: Independence’: Augustus’ Story, the Finale, and More [EXCLUSIVE]
By Briar   March 17, 2023
https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2023/03/17/interview-philemon-chambers-on-walker-independence-augustus-story-the-finale-and-more-exclusive/ 

Quote

Nerds and Beyond: Let’s start with episode 12. You narrated the episode as well. What was it like getting to explore Gus so deeply in that episode, and also lending your voice to everyone else’s stories?
Philemon Chambers: Nerve-racking. It was nerve-racking because I was like, “Are you sure? You want to hear me talk for 42 minutes straight?” They were like, “Of course.” You know, it fit very well. And I’m honestly not even saying it just because I played him, but it wouldn’t have made sense for anybody else to do it since Gus is the historian and he is essentially the moral compass of Independence. It just made sense. And I have to give credit to Seamus [Kevin Fahey] and our team because they did a hell of a job. Especially with the way … when we did the table read for 12, some things were different. But just the cadence of the writing really lent to Gus, his voice, and his gravitas that kind of comes with him and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would love to do more. Hopefully, I get the opportunity to, it’s something that I think I wasn’t expecting, especially at the beginning of the season … me and Seamus had talked about it. I was like, “Hey, what do you think about Gus writing?” And then Seamus was like, “Writing? Okay, well, if he writes, do you want to like, say what he’s writing?” And again, it never popped into my head after that. But Seamus brought it to the forefront and it was great. I had a lot of fun with that.

N&B: So Gus has a tragic backstory as we saw in that episode. How far in advance were you aware of his story?
Philemon: Literally when we were shooting 11. We got the script for 12 and I read the script and I was like, “Oh shit. Okay,” because, the interesting thing about Gus … his backstory is we were going to explore his backstory if we had got the back five [episodes]. And a lot of people told me if this was any other like, time in CW history, we would have gotten the back five, we would have been approved for a second season … so now that everything is kind of in limbo, certain things are suffering behind it, and Gus’ backstory was one. We really didn’t get to see a lot of it. We got a glimpse into who he is and what makes him tick. When we were doing 11 I got the script for 12, and then I saw all the Gus stuff and I was like, “The hell?” So, you know, Seamus felt bad. Our writers felt bad. All of our executive producers felt bad because Gus’ backstory was kind of contingent on getting the back [episodes]. So, you know, it was what it was. We’re in the position that we’re in, but I do think that it was a great start to what will be if season two happens, a bit of backstory.
*  *  *
N&B: If there is a second season, what would you want to see for Gus? Is he going to be the Sheriff now?
Philemon: Sheriff, that’s a given.

Edited March 20, 2023 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Inside Line: Scoop on 9-1-1: Lone Star, Fire Country, True Lies, Criminal Minds, Ghosts, Walker Independence and More
By Matt Webb Mitovich / March 21 2023
https://tvline.com/lists/911-lone-star-season-4-spoilers-judd-grace-tarlos-wedding/ 

Quote

Any scoop on either of the Walker shows? –Morgan
If the Walker Independence prequel spinoff gets renewed, Season 2 might include a nod to executive producer Jared Padalecki’s previous series. “I had a lot of ideas early on of, like, an entire episode from the point of view of a horse, as kind of an homage to Supernatural and the car,” showrunner Seamus Kevin Fahey tells TVLine, referencing the classic Supernatural episode “Baby.” “I’m a big film geek, and there’s this Robert Bresson movie Au Hasard Balthazar, an entire movie from the point of view of a mule,” Fahey continues. “So I think it would be interesting to pull off, at least for an act — and it doesn’t get more Western than that.”

[tv echo]

‘Walker: Independence’s Justin Johnson Cortez To Appear On Mothership ‘Walker’ Series At The CW
By Katie Campione    March 23, 2023
https://deadline.com/2023/03/justin-johnson-cortez-guest-star-the-cw-walker-1235308270/ 

Quote

EXCLUSIVE: Justin Johnson Cortez, series regular on the CW period drama Walker: Independence, is crossing over into the future as a guest star on Walker.

He will play a potentially recurring new role, which could eventually have ties to Calian, the Indigenous character he plays on Walker: Independence. Cortez will appear on the contemporary Walker as Detective Sonny Alcala, a shrewd Homicide Detective who got his start working closely with Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki) and Captain James (Coby Bell) on a case years ago. The Detective initially calls Walker as a courtesy to let him know of a death relating to a case, but something doesn’t quite add up. 

Edited March 25, 2023 by tv echo

[statsgirl]

I wonder if they are hedging their bets if Walker: Independence gets cancelled and tying up actors they want to stick around.

[Artsda]

It's been cancelled.

 

 

 

[tv echo]

Not entirely surprising, but still disappointing. Here's an interview that was recorded on May 8th, the day before the Walker: Independence cancellation was announced...

Walker Independence Interview: Katherine McNamara's Take on the Renewal/Cancelation Process
Collider Extras   May 9, 2023

Edited May 10, 2023 by tv echo

[christie]

I'm disappointed - this was a fun, little show and, in my opinion, better than Walker. 

[wlk68]

On 5/10/2023 at 1:33 PM, christie said:

I'm disappointed - this was a fun, little show and, in my opinion, better than Walker. 

Agreed. I really liked this show and the characters.