S06.E05: Now

[FierceCritter]

I can't think of anyone in OCDB who is left or the new additions that would have a problem with [another CDB member hooking up with Rick].

I was saying that one of the reasons RICK might not want to hook up with any CDB members is a fear, conscious or subconscious, it would cause resentment from one or more others. Not that any of the others would resent it for sure.

[Irishmaple]

Aside from my stated frustration with the Alexandrites level of general unpreparedness, I like several of the new characters. I don't mind them getting some development though I'd prefer it not come at the cost of characters I've been invested in for years.

Maggie and Aaron's adventure in the storm drain creeped the hell out of me, and those sludge Walkers were a worthy successor to well Walker. I would have liked to see more of Eric in this episode. I caught a glimpse of him when Aaron was confessing and was surprised when he didn't step up beside Aaron to offer support. There was no reason he couldn't have walked Maggie and Aaron to the drain and secured it behind them too.

I like Spencer, mostly. I enjoyed his speech at the pantry and loved it more when I realized he had faked it, and believed the community was doomed. He was hard on his mother and partly right. She is a dreamer (drawing up a crop rotation plan with Walkers outside the walls) and she allowed the community to avoid reality for too long, but I believe he was so vicious because of his own guilt. He didn't see the world because he didn't look. He made that choice. His lack of confidence in his shooting speaks to lack of practice. He never confronted a human being in defence of another, leaving Pete and his anger control issues free reign until it cost them Reg and he couldn't go up against the Wolves. He kept watch but didn't seem to engage. I hope that's changing. Rosita was right in that luck is as good as skill as long as the job gets done, but eating the crackers alone implied part of him still believes he's on borrowed time.

I don't trust Ron. Denise is okay, and I wish Olivia had held onto the gun and defended her stores.

My Richonne-shipping heart curled up and had a little sob, but I'm also happy for Rick. That man has long needed some attention from someone not trying to kill him. Jessie has grown on me but I wish the show would do something about the passage of time. Pete went into the ground like yesterday! But, yeah, that is Rick fucking Grimes and I question the sanity of no woman who chooses to hit that.

[FierceCritter]

Edited because meat and meet really are two different words. Look it up. And one tastes better.

 I was in a band we initially named "Swap Meat."

[nodorothyparker]

This episode strangely drove home for me even further what a hugely manipulative copout it will be if Glenn does eventually show back up alive.  I'm pretty sure that's not what they were going for, but it's what I got nonetheless.  Painting all the names of the people killed on the wall, it was glaringly obvious that it was a huuuuge bunch of redshirts that we couldn't have been expected to really know or care about ... and Nicholas and Glenn.  Waste an entire episode on another bunch of redshirts ... and talking about Glenn.  So clearly the only real emotional cost for all the bad decisions we've seen, starting with Rick unleashing the walker parade, is Glenn.  And that's only if he's really most sincerely dead.  If not, who cares that they got most of the ASZhats killed?  It's not like we knew most of their names anyway, right?

 

I have no doubt though that he'll show up eventually using the same magic teleporter Rick used to escape the RV.  Probably with the previously unmentioned storm drain figuring prominently into it.

[MutieTheMailman]

So Abe, Sasha and Daryl are still leading the rest of the zombie hoard away from Alexandria. In a past episode, didn't someone say they were going to lead them 20 miles away? What then? If Abe, Sasha and Daryl turn around to head back to Alexandria, won't the undead do the same thing? Am I missing something?

[Beast Saver]

So Abe, Sasha and Daryl are still leading the rest of the zombie hoard away from Alexandria. In a past episode, didn't someone say they were going to lead them 20 miles away? What then? If Abe, Sasha and Daryl turn around to head back to Alexandria, won't the undead do the same thing? Am I missing something?

I'm assuming the plan would have them zooming away from the hoard and taking another road back

[truelovekiss]

Who knew lesbians were so plentiful in the ZA?  I'm all for Tara finding a romantic interest, but Dr. Crybaby laying a playground kiss on Tara was kind of random.  Speaking of same sex relationships: Aaron doesn't seem to have any qualms about taking off on adventures without telling his partner, Eric.   While all the hetro couples' separations are filled with chest pounding angst, the 2 gay guys who are deeply in love aren't given a second thought.  I don't think we've even seen Aaron & Eric interact alone together other than for 30 seconds last season.

Have we seen Eric at all this season?  I don't remember seeing him since the day Daryl ate spaghetti with them.  Or maybe they showed him during that tribal council meeting during the season 5 finale where they were going to decide what to do about Rick?  Oh well.  I have a feeling the next time he gets lines is going to be the episode where he dies.  Sorry, I think they're adorable too, but Eric is a total red shirt.

[GaT]

Enh. She is not made up, supposed to look worn and walkinga round mostly in shock in what looks like an ill-fitting shirt. 

 

Tovah Feldshuh looks like a REAL 61 year old woman, not the botoxed, plastic surgery version that we've all become accustomed to thanks to Hollywood. So much respect for her for not falling into that trap. She's beautiful as she is and a talented accomplished actress. 

As someone who is almost the same age & who has never had plastic surgery or botox, I have to disagree. Yes, she's made up for the show & isn't looking her best right now, but she has way too many wrinkles & sags for someone who is only 61. Maybe she spent lots of time in the sun, or had an illness, or smoked a ton, or gained & lost lots of weight, but she should not that amount of sagging in her face yet.

[JackONeill]

I'm assuming the plan would have them zooming away from the hoard and taking another road back

They'll take them down a one-way road. Walkers refuse to walk the wrong way.

[truelovekiss]

Not to mention invasive. Is it somehow less predatory for a woman to kiss another woman full on the mouth when consent was not previously and expressly made than it would be for a man to do the same (to either gender)?

Totally agree!  I get that they were trying to be romantic or spontaneous or something, but it just came across as WTF?! At least with Jessie and Rick, you could tell that they were feeling each other.

[RustbeltWriter]

I think the problem with this episode is that it was just a lame payoff to the episode two weeks ago. You had Glen go down and Rick was trapped in the RV after killing Wolves that he strongly suspected had been in Alexandria. Things slowed down with Morgan's episode but when we go to Alexandria Rick's dilemna has resolved itself off screen and we never see him check on his children. The cliffhanger from Morgan's episode, the Wolf in the basement, isn't touched on. There are so many plot points dangling, like Betsy killing herself, that viewers are losing track of what's going on.

 

This season started off fast paced, hit the brakes with Morgan's episode and now is sputtering along.

[nodorothyparker]

So Abe, Sasha and Daryl are still leading the rest of the zombie hoard away from Alexandria. In a past episode, didn't someone say they were going to lead them 20 miles away? What then? If Abe, Sasha and Daryl turn around to head back to Alexandria, won't the undead do the same thing? Am I missing something?

 

They're going to use Rick's teleporter.  And then send it back for Glenn.

 

Otherwise, yeah, the extent of their plan seems to be to outrun them and hope the walkers don't turn back.

[Constantinople]

It's good to be self-confident, but Coral seems a little blase about how it's safe outside the wall if you know what you're doing.  It's safer for the average member of CDB than the average ASZHat, but that doesn't make it safe.

[CletusMusashi]

What I care about:  What will Michonne tell Maggie, and how will she react???  How will Rick react to the compound being overrun by psychotic murderers???  How will remaining CDB react to Glenn, Daryl, Sasha and Abraham going missing???  After a 90 minute episode devoted to Morgan's life, what will he do with an injured wolf now that the town is in jeopardy (which he apparently never told them after Rick sent him back).

 

What Show cares about: 

How will Deanna react?

How will Spencer react?

How will Deanna react to Spencer's reaction? 

 

Maggie's upset.  She's on a mission.  What do Michonne, Rick, Rosita, and Carol think?  Who knows.  She's with Aaron.  (This is forgivable because Aaron is more CBD than ASZ, and he actually wants to DO something)

 

Oh, no, Rosita's crying?  She  must be reacting to Abe being missing, and...let's talk about how Spencer feels.  Rosita validates Spencer.  (Also, Carol let an incompetent, drunken coward take her watch duty)

 

Hey, Carl gets a scene!  It's about Ron.  Bye, Carl.  Rick tries to bond with Ron and believes Carl is in the house.

 

Hey, it's Tara.  Glenn is her first friend and closest connection to CDB, and she's the "most important person in the world" to Maggie, but let's check on Denise.  Poor Denise!  "I'm stuck with this injured guy who's been risking his life to keep me fed and supplied during the ZA, who got wounded defending my home from a horde of walkers.  Glenn probably died trying to get him back to safety, and now they expect me to take care of him just because I'm a doctor.  Poor meeeee!  I just want to read a book."  Tara comforts Denise while Maggie slogs through a zombie infested sewer below.

 

This show has turned into The Young & The Restless, where they just use legacy characters to prop up new, annoying characters no one cares about.

I don't like to quote entire long posts, but I just have to say that it is terrifying how accurate every word of that was. Me, I've just been bitching about how long and phony all the speeches were. But you're right. The character focus this week was just... bizarre.

[catrox14]

I was saying that one of the reasons RICK might not want to hook up with any CDB members is a fear, conscious or subconscious, it would cause resentment from one or more others. Not that any of the others would resent it for sure.

 

I'm saying that I don't think either CDB or Rick would have any reservations, resentments, concerns if he was with Michonne for all the reasons I gave. I tend to think they might be MORE resentful of him going with someone they barely know and don't trust precisely because Rick is the leader of the group. 

[blackwing]

There are three episodes left in this half-season, and I am convinced that we won't get any sign of Glenn until the last episode before the break, if any.  It seems to me that he is not done with the show.  The opening credits still have a noticeable space where his name was.  If he was really dead, they would have either removed him right away, or they would have kept his name in the credits.  I'm pretty sure they left Sarah Wayne Callies in the credits for the rest of the episodes in the half-season even after she died.  The way they have blanked out his name, they are purposely trying to mess with us.

 

I think he is still alive, and I think he managed to find a storm drain underneath the dumpster.  Which will magically connect with the other storm drains and he's going to pop up into Alexandria one day.

[okerry]

Just a thought on the ASZhats: It would be okay to have characters who cannot face the reality of the ZA, who try to live in denial, who won't listen to reality, etc. The problem is when they aren't used to create conflict with Our Heroes - because here, they really aren't. All we see are ASZhats doing lame stuff in ASZ. The End.

 

Somebody upthread mentioned that the shows are only focusing on one storyline at a time - on only a few characters at a time - instead of switching back and forth between the storylines of different characters. That's bang on. If we could have seen not just what Deanna et. al. were doing this time, but switched it up with Michonne and Carol and Daryl for contrast - THAT might have worked. But one character at a time - no. Doesn't work. Boring. Too slow.

 

And whoever said that the show is "using much-loved, established characters to prop up new and boring characters that no one cares about" - you win the Internet today.

[Ellaria]

So Abe, Sasha and Daryl are still leading the rest of the zombie hoard away from Alexandria. In a past episode, didn't someone say they were going to lead them 20 miles away? What then? If Abe, Sasha and Daryl turn around to head back to Alexandria, won't the undead do the same thing? Am I missing something?

 

I'm missing something about the entire Walker Parade. I may have missed part of an episode so I apologize if this rehashes an old discussion:

 

Aaron said something about the 'walls of the quarry collapsed" (paraphrasing here). At the start of the season, I recall seeing a quarry with thousands of walkers in it and Rick & Company making a plan. Then, a semi-trailer falls over into the quarry. The next thing that I remember is Darryl and Abraham/Sasha leading the Walker Parade on a 20-mile hike away from Alexandria.

 

How did they come upon the quarry of walkers? Did they have any other ideas about how to dispose of the quarry walkers, besides leading them elsewhere? The entire plan seems doomed to failure so I am hoping that there was some sound reasoning for coming up with it.

 

Again, apologies if this is an old discussion.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Ellaria Sand

[riverheightsnancy]

And for God's sake, Carl just flat out doesn't look like the 10 year old he is supposed to be.  Enid should be his babysitter. 

Wait, back up the RV. Carl is supposed to be 10? I thought that he was 13 or 14. (I like his hair-small voice). 

[Dobian]

I'd like to know where these walkers get their strength from, especially ones that have turned to ooze like in those sewers.  They used to be ordinary people, now they are people with no oxygen going to their muscles.  As living people, they had the biting power to put some impressive teeth marks on someone, and the clawing power to gouge out some skin.  As zombies they have the biting strength of a croc and the can claw you up like a jungle cat.

 

Morgan needs to leave town and walk the earth like Cain in Kung Fu.  Get his own spinoff, Kung Dead.

 

I still don't get why Zoey chose this show from all her offers after winning an Emmy in a featured role.  Now she just gets to be a bit player in a large ensemble which, do to the nature of the story, tends toward a lot of one-note acting (your basic, fear/anger/sadness/loneliness/depression/desperation/resolve/determination deal, over and over).  Compare that to OITNB and other shows where the writing and story arcs give the actors lots of opportunities to shine in different ways.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Dobian

[nodorothyparker]

I generally don't care who Rick does or doesn't get with.  I'm not a shipper, although I'll concede Rick and Michonne do have really lovely chemistry together.  My objection to potentially pairing off with Jessie is that it validates the creepy mouth-breathing stalker way he was acting for fully half of the back half of last season.  I defended Rick going off the rails through all that because as a breakdown it made sense after everything he and CBD had been through as long as we weren't supposed to be seeing it as anything remotely romantic. But as a romantic overture, it was all kinds of inappropriate and just plain terrifying.  I liked that Jessie seemed to get that in the season opener and looked to be trying to put some distance between them.  This just erased all that.

 

That, and you know, he just buried her husband like the day before after putting a bullet in him.  

[ChipBach]

They should light the Wolves' corpses ablaze and hurl them over the fence. When the zombie hoard goes into a feeding frenzy on the BBQ, they'll catch themselves on fire, too, which we've seen at best destroy zombies (in season 3 when Milton torches the governor's walkers) or at least debilitate them (as seen a few episodes ago, when the guy who was molotov'd turned, but was too crispy to do anything). Two birds, one stone.

This - I have always been an advocate of one massing walker fire, but now that they are right there, up against a metal wall, rain down some fire.  At the very least burning seems to create significant limitations on their ability to move (when they get all "melty and stuff").  You could burn up hundreds at one time while hiding behind a terrific fire break...

[JBody]

Alternative beginning: Show the town cleaning up, in mourning. Show Michonne and her two men fighting their back down that creek they were following. Intersperse with scenes of Rick sneaking out of the RV, then battling his way (mostly running like Wile E Coyote) down the road. You could do quick intercuts of the "three" scenes. Take, what, about ten minutes?  That's how they should have started last night's episode. Hell, they could have had Michonne and team meet Rick on the road and have them all make that last 100-yard dash with Walkers coming at them from every angle. (Think the last Butch Cassidy and Sundance scene, without the getting shot to death-thing.) Or, we could watch a bunch of people we don't really know talk. Hmmmmm.

 

 

Edited because meat and meet really are two different words. Look it up. And one tastes better.

 

JackONeill, dust off your CV and forward to AMC Studios/Valhalla Entertainment/Circle of Confusion or one of the other production companies.  PLEASE.

[CletusMusashi]

I didn't understand Rick's objection about burying the bodies of their enemies.  Does Rick think that only the decayed, rotting bodies of his fellow Alexandrians pose a health hazard?  Is that the ZA equivalent of calories not couting if you eat something off someelse's plate?

They have construction equipment. Just hoist them over the walls and let the zombies munch them.

[truelovekiss]

My Richonne-shipping heart curled up and had a little sob, but I'm also happy for Rick. That man has long needed some attention from someone not trying to kill him. Jessie has grown on me but I wish the show would do something about the passage of time. Pete went into the ground like yesterday! But, yeah, that is Rick fucking Grimes and I question the sanity of no woman who chooses to hit that.

Slightly ironic how quickly the Ricktator after a widow, isn't it?  Kind of like a certain friend he had?  I know, I know, Rick wasn't dead, but as far as Lori knew, he was.  But I know that sticking up for Lori is not a welcome behavior, so I'll pipe down now...

 

The problem is, I don't think all viewers are like us. I'm not trying to be snotty, but this show has a very low-brow following. If I look at fan sites on FB, I see hundreds of comments along the lines of - "OMG, that episode was awesome!" or "Yay! Rick and Jessie finally made out!" I'm not saying there isn't room here for differences of opinion, quite the opposite. But I just think this site is unique in its appraisal of the show. Even when there's a general consensus that the writing was bad or the show was just boring, there are tons of fans out there who loved it. So I don't see it going anywhere any time soon. 

I 100% agree with this.  My favorite part about coming here is the in depth analysis that happens.  A lot of fans are just happy when something blows up, or a walker gets killed in a new way, or people make out.  And that's fine.  But here we like to really explore each component of the show, and that's what makes it great,

 

And Tara is getting her second girlfriend?  And poor Carol and Michonne haven't yet found one guy friend?  That stinks.  It's tough to be a bad ass warrior woman - you don't get a mate unless you're a dorky woman who trips over her own feet, I guess.  Better not get too good killing walkers and baddies, Jessie, or Rick will lose interest in you.

Ugh, it's so frustrating seeing the cute blonde girls like Beth and Jessie just keep getting new boyfriends like ten minutes after the old boyfriend/husband dies.  Michonne could use some love, too.  And I would actually be really interested to see Carol in a romantic relationship.  She spent her adult life with stupid Ed.  I want to see how she would react to being with a good man, especially now that Carol ain't afraid of nobody.

 

If they hadn't dropped such massive anvils about Maggie's pregnancy, the reveal could have been a lot more effective.  I imagine a lot of you responded as I did when Maggie said she was pregnant.  "Yeah.  I know."

I think it's more likely that Maggie will lose the baby or we will lose a pregnant Maggie than it is for us to lose Judith.  But we shall see.  

Personally, I think Judith is safe. I know that I thought that too about Sophia, but I don't think they would kill off Judith in favor of Maggie having a baby.  I think that either they will juggle the two babies (because now Judith can have someone to marry someday.  Or at least a friend close to her own age) and it will be part of a "rebuilding the future" trope, or Maggie will have a miscarriage.  I'm personally on team two babies!

 

3) Not surprised Ron considers Enid his girlfriend, even if his feelings are not reciprocated. She's the only teenage girl around and I'm sure she's fun to hang out with. Until Super Cool Carl came to town, Ron didn't have any competition for her affection except for Nicholas' son Mikey. (Hey, have we seen Mikey since the first day when they were playing video games?) 

I don't think we've ever talked about Mikey since they introduced him.  Why didn't Ron have to compete with Mikey for Enid's affections?  I'm sure Mikey is a stellar young lad with plenty to offer.  Except, probably not because he has Nicholas' genes, so he probably sucks as a human.  Speaking of which, that poor kid is an orphan now, and I don't think anyone cares.

 

I would disagree though about Enid being fun to hang out with.  She didn't even seem a little bit fun to me.  I think the only thing that she had going for her that attracted Ron is that she was a teenage girl and she was there.  And if she gave him any indication that they were together, I'm sure the only thing that made her do so was that he was a teenage boy and he was there, and somehow preferable to Mikey.  Obviously Carl Grimes, son of the Zombie Apocalypse's most eligible bachelor blows the two of them out of the water.  Those Grimes genes, though...

[lulee]

So the dude who Maggie told about her pregnancy (forgot his name). ..is his boyfriend dead?

... No....He's fine. Safe and alive in Alexandria and shown briefly during last night's episode.

[BananaRama]

I wasn't worried about Ron until I started reading the comments. You guys are right. Ron can't be trusted. I was naïve to think that Ron would do a 180 and suddenly like Rick and start looking out for Carl!?! Carl "stole" Ron's girlfriend plus he pushed him flat on his ass and Carl is a total badass who knows how to shoot a gun and kill a walker. Rick killed Ron's dad, gave his dad a half-ass burial, yelled at and embarrassed him. Ron is not going to be thrilled when he finds out Rick is banging his mother. Ron has several grudges against the Grimes Family. Except Judith, unless she spit-up on him.

[blackwing]

I'm missing something about the entire Walker Parade. I may have missed part of an episode so I apologize if this rehashes an old discussion:

 

Aaron said something about the 'walls of the quarry collapsed" (paraphrasing here). At the start of the season, I recall seeing a quarry with thousands of walkers in it and Rick & Company making a plan. Then, a semi-trailer falls over into the quarry. The next thing that I remember is Darryl and Abraham/Sasha leading the Walker Parade on a 20-mile hike away from Alexandria.

 

How did they come upon the quarry of walkers? Did they have any other ideas about how to dispose of the quarry walkers, besides leading them elsewhere? The entire plan seems doomed to failure so I am hoping that there was some sound reasoning for coming up with it.

 

Again, apologies if this is an old discussion.

 

From what I recall, I think Rick and Daryl stumbled across the Walker Quarry when he went out looking for Ron.  Somebody that came before had arranged two semitrucks in a V formation to block the walkers from leaving the quarry.  Walkers would wander around, fall into the pit, and not be able to get out.  What I've never understood about those semitrucks were that the trailers were still on the rig and had wheels.  There were huge gaps underneath the trailer.  We have seen walkers crawl underneath cars before.  I don't understand why more of them weren't getting out.  Seemed like occasionally, one would squeeze through the small gap.

 

Rick noticed that the rock was crumbling, and that it was only going to be a matter of time before the semitruck stopper fell and failed.  If that happened, the walkers would parade as a horde down the road, which led straight to Alexandria.  So he built that corrugated steel diversion fence which was going to make the horde turn down another road.  As long as Daryl, Sasha and Abraham acted as bait and got the head of the horde to follow them down that other road, then the horde doesn't make it to Alexandria.  They wanted to lead them 20 miles out, and then presumably, the horde would just keep going the same direction, or they would disperse in that area.  But not near Alexandria.

[diebartdie]

Poor Tara. Nurse Zoe macking on her. ugh. You know she was hoping for Rosita to look her way eventually.

 

Well sure, of course Ive been waiting for Rositara forever BUT the anxious doctor is really hot too (fat bottom girls make the rockin' world go round) so Im happy happy Tara got her a girlfriend at the end of the world!

[ghoulina]

I think it's more likely that Maggie will lose the baby or we will lose a pregnant Maggie than it is for us to lose Judith.  But we shall see.

 

Agreed, I think Judith is probably the 3rd safest person on the show. 

 

 

 

They should light the Wolves' corpses ablaze and hurl them over the fence. When the zombie hoard goes into a feeding frenzy on the BBQ, they'll catch themselves on fire, too, which we've seen at best destroy zombies (in season 3 when Milton torches the governor's walkers) or at least debilitate them (as seen a few episodes ago, when the guy who was molotov'd turned, but was too crispy to do anything). Two birds, one stone.

 

Now you're thinking! Why aren't they doing something??? Rick is all, "We'll just wait for Daryl and co. to get back, so they can lead the rest of these walkers away". Um, what if they're dead? Ever think of that? You need to be thinking of a Plan B. Hell, even at the prison people were taking out the walkers that piled up on the fence. But not in ASZ. It's time for kissing and cookies on the landing. 

 

 

 

I don't hate the Alexandrians as much as many seem to. I think it is understandable, given how sheltered they were from the real ZA, that they have not developed the toughness and skills needed to survive.

 

CDB was pretty naive at the quarry. Hershel and fam were at the farm too. Their learning curves were much quicker. And no one ever struck me as selfish and cowardly and all out stupid as these damn ASZhats. They're simply the worst. 

 

 

 

Why couldn't we have seen how Rick escaped?

 

Because we had more important things to deal with, like Spencer stealing food and getting drunk. Or Deanna creating plans for an alfalfa garden. 

Edited November 9, 2015 by ghoulina

[Anela]

I find it insulting that TPTB relies on The Talking Dead to fill in the blanks of things that their writers/director are incapable of showing/telling on their own show.

 

Me, too, and I accidentally deleted Talking Dead, so I won't get to see it until it runs again next Friday/Saturday. 

[Ellaria]

As long as Daryl, Sasha and Abraham acted as bait and got the head of the horde to follow them down that other road, then the horde doesn't make it to Alexandria.  They wanted to lead them 20 miles out, and then presumably, the horde would just keep going the same direction, or they would disperse in that area.  But not near Alexandria.

 

Thanks for the complete explanation. I certainly did miss a few early scenes.

 

Not sure why they assumed that nothing would distract a portion of the herd during the hike. They ended up doing exactly what they tried not to do.

[Nashville]

This is my thought as well. At first I thought I saw a stress fracture, but when I watched a second time, I saw it was blood dripping. I think Deanna was there being defiant toward the walkers while, above, Spencer has offed himself and will become the danger to the community.

 

That's a good strong possibility, and one that I, for one, hadn't considered. Only contradiction of which I can think - and it's not a very strong one - is the blood/gunk/whatever appeared to be welling through holes or cracks in the wall at/around eye level, and running down from there. If it were coming from the observation platform above, I'd have expected to see blood runs/drips all the way down, and I'm moderately sure there weren't any - and I was actually looking for them, because my first take was the stuff was zombie goo from walkers getting crushed against the wall, and I was wondering how high they might be piling up against it. But without a re-watch, I'll allow I might have missed something significant relating to your take

 

I actually don't mind that we didn't see how Rick got out of the RV. Even though it was surrounded by walkers, the herd was thin when he bailed. I don't need them to show me that he got out and ran like hell through them.

Same here. Last we'd seen was Rick out of ammo (except for whatever few rounds, if any, were left in the magazine of the rifle he used to spray through the side of the RV), not being able to get the RV started, looking in the side mirrors, and seeing the first wisps of the Zpack's leading edge. Now, many people may have frozen long enough to let the horde overtake them - but not Rick Grimes, bitch. :D For better or worse, our little Ricky has no problem whatsoever making snap decisions. So Rick channeled his inner Forrest Gump and RAN.

 

Ron is definitely up to no good. He is probably blaming CDB, particularly Rick and Carl, for ruining his life.

 

Let's see now:

• Rick beat the shit outta Dad - then blew Dad's face off with a .357 at close range (which, if you're not familiar with the effects of what a .357 hollow-point round at close range would do, means Pete's head is now largely a combination of pink mist and faded memory) - THEN wouldn't even let Dad's body receive a "normal" ASZhat burial, opting instead to dump Dad's mortal remains in the ASZ version of the town dump. And oh yeah, don't forget - Rick's trying to nail Mom too, and the odds are looking good.
• Carl's pretty much much snatched Ron's crown as King Stud of the ASZ Angsty Teen set, halfway-stolen Ron's girlfriend without breaking a sweat, and made Ron look like a hapless helpless wuss in need of saving - in front of said girlfriend.

So yeah, I think it's a safe bet Ron would be totally OK with the notion of every male named Grimes getting wiped off the face of the planet.

I still hope Glenn was able to get away somehow.

Glenn is still in a box/dumpster of Schroedinger's design, arguing with the cat over who gets the last bag of Cheetos.

[ghoulina]

I'm assuming the plan would have them zooming away from the hoard and taking another road back

 

Yea, they've been going at a slow crawl. Once they really accelerate, the walkers won't be able to keep up.

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!

 

Ninety-Nine Problems And The Dead Are One Thousand
Alexandrians and newcomers alike struggle to face unpleasant realities, mostly by making terrible decisions.

[GreyBunny]

In my mind Aaron is already part of CDB, if I have to pick one Alexandrite to survive and get some storylines it would be him. 

So...consensus is that Glenn is dead?

I don't think Glenn is dead YET, I think he survived his dumpster dive, but either by the end of this season or early next season I think he's toast.  I doubt we're going to see him and Rick sitting on the porch exchanging Daddy & Me baby care tips while Morgan is bouncing Judith and Baby Rhee on his knees.

[Statman]

This - I have always been an advocate of one massing walker fire, but now that they are right there, up against a metal wall, rain down some fire.  At the very least burning seems to create significant limitations on their ability to move (when they get all "melty and stuff").  You could burn up hundreds at one time while hiding behind a terrific fire break...

 

A few questions:

 

1.  Wouldn't a "massing walker fire" burn down the WOODEN support beams outside the ASZ walls thus jepardizing the structural integrity of the only thing that is preventing the ASZ from being overrun?

 

2.  Wouldn't a "massing walker fire" also presumably rage out of control at some point and possibly threaten to burn down ASZ?

 

3.  Wouldn't a "massing walker fire" create plums of heavy smoke which not only would attract more walkers, but serve as a welcome sign for more psychos like the Wolves?

 

[GaT]

 

 

What I care about:  What will Michonne tell Maggie, and how will she react???  How will Rick react to the compound being overrun by psychotic murderers???  How will remaining CDB react to Glenn, Daryl, Sasha and Abraham going missing???  After a 90 minute episode devoted to Morgan's life, what will he do with an injured wolf now that the town is in jeopardy (which he apparently never told them after Rick sent him back).

What Show cares about:

How will Deanna react?

How will Spencer react?

How will Deanna react to Spencer's reaction?

Maggie's upset.  She's on a mission.  What do Michonne, Rick, Rosita, and Carol think?  Who knows.  She's with Aaron.  (This is forgivable because Aaron is more CBD than ASZ, and he actually wants to DO something)

Oh, no, Rosita's crying?  She  must be reacting to Abe being missing, and...let's talk about how Spencer feels.  Rosita validates Spencer.  (Also, Carol let an incompetent, drunken coward take her watch duty)

Hey, Carl gets a scene!  It's about Ron.  Bye, Carl.  Rick tries to bond with Ron and believes Carl is in the house.

Hey, it's Tara.  Glenn is her first friend and closest connection to CDB, and she's the "most important person in the world" to Maggie, but let's check on Denise.  Poor Denise!  "I'm stuck with this injured guy who's been risking his life to keep me fed and supplied during the ZA, who got wounded defending my home from a horde of walkers.  Glenn probably died trying to get him back to safety, and now they expect me to take care of him just because I'm a doctor.  Poor meeeee!  I just want to read a book."  Tara comforts Denise while Maggie slogs through a zombie infested sewer below.

This show has turned into The Young & The Restless, where they just use legacy characters to prop up new, annoying characters no one cares about.

When I commented on last week's show, I wondered if they were changing to a new bunch of "regulars" because they spent more time on new people than the ones we've been following. While I wouldn't mind losing some of the older people (bye Maggie), I'm not finding the new people that interesting, & if the show thinks that substituting them for Carol or Darryl is a good idea, they're sadly mistaken. They need to work on new plots, not just adding new people in the hope that the plot will seem different.

[CletusMusashi]

I don't think we've ever talked about Mikey since they introduced him.  Why didn't Ron have to compete with Mikey for Enid's affections?  I'm sure Mikey is a stellar young lad with plenty to offer.  Except, probably not because he has Nicholas' genes, so he probably sucks as a human.  Speaking of which, that poor kid is an orphan now, and I don't think anyone cares.

Don't worry. I'm sure soon we'll see an entire episode devoted to Mikey, Father Pee Pants, and Third Startled Townsperson From The Left.

Edited November 9, 2015 by CletusMusashi

[MaggieG]

I really liked Aaron this episode. To me it wasn't so much guilt that was pushing him to help Maggie, but also him putting himself in her shoes. If Eric was out there, he would be going after him too, with or without anyone's help. The two of the them hugging in the storm drain was definitely the highlight of the episode. Agree with everyone, we need answers on Glenn.

The Rick/Jessie thing doesn't really bother me that much. There is a lot going on with both of them and sometimes making out and having sexy times is a way to forget about your problems, even for a little bit. Plus, if anyone needs to get laid, it's Rick Grimes.

The name Glaggie never fails to amuse me.

[mommalib]

Slightly ironic how quickly the Ricktator after a widow, isn't it?  Kind of like a certain friend he had?  I know, I know, Rick wasn't dead, but as far as Lori knew, he was.  But I know that sticking up for Lori is not a welcome behavior, so I'll pipe down now...

 

I 100% agree with this.  My favorite part about coming here is the in depth analysis that happens.  A lot of fans are just happy when something blows up, or a walker gets killed in a new way, or people make out.  And that's fine.  But here we like to really explore each component of the show, and that's what makes it great,

 

Ugh, it's so frustrating seeing the cute blonde girls like Beth and Jessie just keep getting new boyfriends like ten minutes after the old boyfriend/husband dies.  Michonne could use some love, too.  And I would actually be really interested to see Carol in a romantic relationship.  She spent her adult life with stupid Ed.  I want to see how she would react to being with a good man, especially now that Carol ain't afraid of nobody.

 

Personally, I think Judith is safe. I know that I thought that too about Sophia, but I don't think they would kill off Judith in favor of Maggie having a baby.  I think that either they will juggle the two babies (because now Judith can have someone to marry someday.  Or at least a friend close to her own age) and it will be part of a "rebuilding the future" trope, or Maggie will have a miscarriage.  I'm personally on team two babies!

 

I don't think we've ever talked about Mikey since they introduced him.  Why didn't Ron have to compete with Mikey for Enid's affections?  I'm sure Mikey is a stellar young lad with plenty to offer.  Except, probably not because he has Nicholas' genes, so he probably sucks as a human.  Speaking of which, that poor kid is an orphan now, and I don't think anyone cares.

 

I would disagree though about Enid being fun to hang out with.  She didn't even seem a little bit fun to me.  I think the only thing that she had going for her that attracted Ron is that she was a teenage girl and she was there.  And if she gave him any indication that they were together, I'm sure the only thing that made her do so was that he was a teenage boy and he was there, and somehow preferable to Mikey.  Obviously Carl Grimes, son of the Zombie Apocalypse's most eligible bachelor blows the two of them out of the water.  Those Grimes genes, though...

Lori hooked up with Rick's partner and best friend. Totally different story. I'm glad Rick is getting some.

[Mars7]

In my mind Aaron is already part of CDB, if I have to pick one Alexandrite to survive and get some storylines it would be him. 

I don't think Glenn is dead YET, I think he survived his dumpster dive, but either by the end of this season or early next season I think he's toast.  I doubt we're going to see him and Rick sitting on the porch exchanging Daddy & Me baby care tips while Morgan is bouncing Judith and Baby Rhee on his knees.

I agree, I too believe Glenn's still alive.  If he can survive getting shot in the shoulder and left for dead, then he certainly can survive a zombie mosh-pit.  

 

ooks like most on this thread are in agreement that this was another boring episode.  I don't know what's up with the producers, but I think this show is nearing the end for 2016.   Just think, "Breaking Bad" lasted 5 seasons and so 6 seasons for TWD may be it.  Looks like the big Madison Square Garden premiere for the TWD was done for two reasons: Season 6 and to be the last season.  I noticed all the past main cast members were at the premiere -- may be for a memorable send off.       

Edited November 9, 2015 by Mars7

[CletusMusashi]

Right now, Glenn is alive, carrying a huge machine gun, and riding back to town in the sidecar of a motorcycle, driven by Eugene's nephew, Little Fat Tobias.

Edited November 11, 2015 by CletusMusashi

[Beast Saver]

I agree, I too believe Glenn's still alive.  If he can survive getting shot in the shoulder and left for dead, then he certainly can survive a zombie mosh-pit.  

 

ooks like most on this thread are in agreement that this was another boring episode.  I don't know what's up with the producers, but I think this show is nearing the end for 2016.   Just think, "Breaking Bad" lasted 5 seasons and so 6 seasons for TWD may be it.  Looks like the big Madison Square Garden premiere for the TWD was done for two reasons: Season 6 and to be the last season.  I noticed all the past main cast members were at the premiere -- may be for a memorable send off.       

The Walking Dead has been approved for Season 7.

[Morrigan2575]

Pretty sure it's already been renewed for S7

[Beast Saver]

For all its flaws, I'm really glad to have an ongoing zombie show to watch.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Beast Saver

[CletusMusashi]

Speaking of zombie shows to watch, did anybody else think that the sewer zombie effects were more "Z Nation" than TWD? Except there is no way Doc would just stand there silently waiting for a five minute speech to end.

Edited November 9, 2015 by CletusMusashi

[SuzWhat]

So, why were almost no townspeople armed with... anything?

I mean, the houses have fireplaces. Shouldn't we have seen a couple of people near the wall with axes?

Or whatever else they have? Picks? Shovels? Pipes? Come on!

Frieda Baggins just beat one down to head-stabbing level by repeatedly jabbing it with a broken bottle!

And the bottle didn't even re-break.

I honestly hope that the passivity of the townfolk is meant to be satire.

But even if it is, it is extremely lazy half-assed satire with no particular whatsamaschitz to it.

 Seconded! I think a little mariachi music would have cheered the episode up tremendously.

Freida Baggins. Dead.

[meep.meep]

 

Well partly because it is being filmed somewhere else.  That said, this could very well be a planned community in a part of Virginia, about 20 out of the city center - there is a lot of this type of "wealthy, rural, but planned" crap in NoVa.  They wouldn't name it Alexandria though.

 

It's the housing development that was named "Alexandria" not the town.  It's not in Alexandria, the historic Virginia town.  It's somewhere else - where has never been made clear.

 

I saw the Doctor Tara kiss as mostly a thank you for keeping her from quitting.  OK if it leads to lesbian true love.

 

So, how tall is Chandler Riggs now?  Will we ever see him in a shot with Rick where he's not sitting down?  It looks like he's about a head taller than daddy.  And has the worst haircut on the show.  Even worse than Darryl's.

[Nashville]

[Deanna] is a dreamer (drawing up a crop rotation plan with Walkers outside the walls) and she allowed the community to avoid reality for too long,

  

I actually liked Deanna's bit with her FutureWorld map, because I thought it a very human response. Deanna has none of the knowledge or experience necessary to deal with the zombie horde which chased Rick to ASZ's very front door; when she saw them piling up and reaching for her through the just-closed gate, Deanna's reaction was identical to just about every other ASZhat - she was overwhelmed, her little mental circuit breakers went all trippy-click, and she instinctively sought a security bubble which would restore her some sense of normalcy. Deanna was stumbling around in a bewildered cloud until her son's heroic speech at the pantry raid reminded her; she's useless right now when it comes to actual action - but she's a good at planning, so she should go, you know, PLAN something. Deanna immerses herself in drawing up her plan for the future - not because the plan is actually necessary - especially at this particular moment - but because the act of drawing up as plan restores her internally to a sense of normalcy where she's guiding her community, same as she did before that nasty bother outside the wall showed up. And it worked for her - at least, until her soused sonny boy, who had temporarily restored in her the notion of a future, re-shattered her illusion as thoroughly as the glass he dropped by revealing he saw his St. Crispin's Day speech at the pantry as only so much flowery bullshit to stop the run on the food bank.

As someone who is almost the same age & who has never had plastic surgery or botox, I have to disagree. Yes, she's made up for the show & isn't looking her best right now, but she has way too many wrinkles & sags for someone who is only 61. Maybe she spent lots of time in the sun, or had an illness, or smoked a ton, or gained & lost lots of weight, but she should not that amount of sagging in her face yet.

  

Depends on how many of the wrinkles are hers vs. how many were added by Makeup - but it's worth remembering Tovah hit her twenties at a time when tan was "in" as the look of health and beauty, and George Hamilton was worshipped as a tanning god. Many of the 70s-era beauties now have skin which resembles an old wallet - hence the meteoric rise in the popularity of face lifts.

Ugh, it's so frustrating seeing the cute blonde girls like Beth and Jessie just keep getting new boyfriends like ten minutes after the old boyfriend/husband dies.

Hey, I'd hit that - Jessie, that is. Not Beth. Actual age notwithstanding, doing Beth would be too much like doing the babysitter, and that would just be too T. S. Garp for words.

 Michonne could use some love, too.  

Entertaining though the thought might be, I doubt I could score enough Aspercreme between repeat sessions to survive.

And I would actually be interested to see Carol in a romantic relationship.

Reference my earlier comments regarding praying mantises.

Well sure, of course Ive been waiting for Rositara forever BUT the anxious doctor is really hot too (fat bottom girls make the rockin' world go round) so Im happy happy Tara got her a girlfriend at the end of the world!

I'm personally suspicioning this is a setup for Tara to stay in the ASZ if/when CDB decides it's time to hit the road again.