Spoilers and Speculation

[JackONeill]

Here's the thing about the way TPTB has screwed up this season. (IMO)

First of all, let's start with the fake-out about Glenn's dumpster death. (I honestly have no idea what that was about, or why?) Then, and the most irritating thing, came the season-ender that introduced Negan and showed (but not quite) the death of a main character (which turned into two).

By the time the 7th season opened, most of us were pissed or had moved on. Then, the death(s) were so violent AND not totally unexpected. Then the series started to drag, as in a snail-pace. Rick was nearly absent, Negan was in the forefront (which annoyed a lot of people given the way he was written and/or acted), and our family was splintered, YET we had almost no conversation about that. Something as powerful as that, but the writers glossed right over it, yet we had an entire episode on Tara (no offense, Tara, but...)

Rick has largely been quiet, Daryl has largely been quiet, Carol has largely been quiet, Michonne has largely been quiet, but Carl got to sing a song. I mean -- what????

Now, for my point: Remember Terminus. It was introduced. We got the willies because those were bad-ass dudes. (TPTB didn't have to spend episode after episode explaining that. We knew. Another example of what low contempt the writers have for their audience. With Negan they've spelled it out, then respelled it, then had someone else spell it because they couldn't trust us to realize that a guy who beat the brains out of two of our friends was evil. Yet, ironically, that was the very thing that had first scared us about Terminus -- beating heads with baseball bats!).

But with Terminus is was introduced and over in 2-3 episodes. It had our adrenaline going, even though it occurred over a break in the season!!! We wanted to see the next episode despite the break between seasons; in fact, we were eager to. And when we got there we were taken on a good, but short, ride.

With the written word, more is good (unless you're reading ancient Latin). Look at Stephen King's The Stand. It was long. (Then, years later, King made it even longer.) But it held our interest. As readers we can use our imagination. Even if things get slow, we have our imaginations to rely on. With TV or the movies, you're stuck with the image shown, and the portrayal by the actors. The viewer's imagination has little to do with viewership. It's a different medium.

TPTB has failed us with Negan.

Edited December 11, 2016 by JackONeill

[Gobi]

A major problem with Negan, as portrayed, is that he's invincible. The Governor, while dangerous and a real threat, did not come off as unbeatable. Negan does. This will make his, inevitable, defeat unrealistic. Even if the disparate groups we've met do unite against him, we've been told again and again that they are outnumbered and outgunned.  And if Negan's people turn against him, or some new powerful group arrives to fight him, it will come off as a deus ex machina.

Edited December 11, 2016 by Gobi
Spelling

[SnarkyTart]

Who do the mysterious boots belong to?  From The Spoiling Dead Army facebook group:

  Reveal spoiler

"Who was spying on Alexandria?"

We keep seeing this question and we answered it on our tumblr blog. I thought it would be a good idea to also post this info here too...

We believe “Boots” belongs to the new junkyard gang we refer to as the Garbage Pail Kids (or GPK for short, and no that’s not their real name). We know we’ll see this group early in the back half of the season, so naturally it makes sense. However, there’s also further evidence to back this up.

Rick, Michonne, Tara, Aaron, and Rosita will encounter the “Garbage Pail Kids” in episode 9, presumedly at the end of the episode. They end up venturing to the GPK’s community at a junkyard in episode 10. According to filming tracking, Father Gabriel was also filming at the junkyard with them. He wasn’t initially with Rick and Co. when they first encounter the Garbage Pail Kids yet he still ends up at the junkyard.

Now, how would Father Gabriel end up back with his people at a community he never knew about and why would he be there all of a sudden? Well, last time we checked in with Father G, he was being spied on by none other than “Boots”. Bingo. There’s a connection. “Boots” is the reason Father G ends up at the junkyard. Now how that all goes down and if Father G goes with Boots willingly remains to be seen.

Other things of note:

A casting call came out this summer for a new character codenamed “Brion.” This character is the leader of the GPK. Here’s the description: (Casting call from TWDZone)

“Brion is an educated, pokerfaced leader who has a superior air and does not let his/her motives be known. Brion uses as few words as possible and keeps his/her emotions in check – we do see amusement, annoyance, displeasure – Brion just doesn’t wear their emotions on their sleeve; he/she is confident, quiet, and chiefly concerned with how anything may benefit him/her and those he/she knows…”

You can tell when this casting call came out that they didn’t know if they were going to cast a male or female. This casting call came out around August 12. The scene with Boots watching ASZ was filmed on July 29. That means that if “Brion” was supposed to be the character that was spying, then they hadn’t cast an actor yet. They could have just hired someone to double as “Brion” and concealed them in a way as to not reveal a gender or any physical attributes.

However, we aren’t sure if “Brion” is the one that was actually spying. There’s definitely other possibilities within the GPK. Here’s something else confusing to throw in the mix. We recently learned there is a character belonging to the GPK whose actual name on the show is supposed to be Brion. NOT the same character from the casting call. He’s the leader’s right hand man or something. He could have been the one watching. Or maybe it’s just a random grunt worker in the GPK that’s got spy duty. Maybe this mysterious person will never receive an actual identity. Regardless, Boots definitely belongs to this group of trash hipsters and it will become evident early in 7b.

I have mixed feelings about this.  On the one hand, the idea of yet another group getting thrown into the mix means even less time for "our" group of main characters, which is already a problem for me.  On the other hand, I like the idea of characters and plot lines that aren't from the comics, as it allows the writers some freedom and flexibility in creating potentially interesting stories without the limitation of following the comics.

[scrb]

  On 12/11/2016 at 7:11 PM, Gobi said:

A major problem with Negan, as portrayed, is that he's invincible. The Governor, while dangerous and a real threat, did not come off as unbeatable. Negan does. This will make his, inevitable, defeat unrealistic. Even if the disparate groups we've met do unite against him, we've been told again and again that they are outnumbered and outgunned.  And if Negan's people turn against him, or some new powerful group arrives to fight him, it will come off as a deus ex machina.

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Is he invincible?  Or do they want to milk his character and The Saviors for several seasons?  JDM said in interviews that Negan and Carl's relationship in the comics go on for a long time so supposedly this season was the start of a relationship which will last "seasons."

What exactly did Michone see in the distance?  Hundreds or thousands of Saviors?

Does he have absolute loyalty?  He does have sadistic/sociopathic types who will kill at the drop of a hat.  But if Negan is to be defeated, does that mean Rick and company will have to kill hundreds or thousands to get to Negan?  Or if they assassinate him, because Negan seems to be vulerable (realistically, Carl and Rosita could have taken him out), will every Savior kill whoever assassinated him as vengeance?

Are there general or generals who will take over The Saviors and get vengeance or is it a loose organization where several different generals may fight each other to take over the throne as in GoT?

So far, they really haven't shown that he has true believers keeping him in power.  He has guys who kill eagerly but he also seems to have a lot of people he's screwed over, taking their wives or GFs and melting their faces.  And he seems to dole out little crumbs to the people in that factory so how much loyalty does Negan have?  Certainly Rick and crew are ready to kill him now, despite the high price they've already paid.

If Negan routinely kills or maims people, takes everything, there has to be a lot of people wanting him dead, not just among the conquered groups but even among the Saviors or those in the compound.

If he really has thousands of soldiers or even several hundred, he'd have to feed them well and keep them happy with booze and sex.  How long can that be sustained by taking from groups which are doing subsistence farming (Hilltop, Kingdom) or scavenging (Alexandria)?

I think TPTB try to make him appear more invincible than he really is.

Otherwise, if Rick has to slaughter hundreds of loyal soldiers, while being outgunned, they can drag out the war for a long time.  In that scenario, Negan would kill the leaders of the revolt.  Or maybe they need some extraordinary intervention to kill a lot of Saviors at once, like unleashing thousands of walkers on them at once.

[SnarkyTart]

  On 12/13/2016 at 10:28 PM, scrb said:

Otherwise, if Rick has to slaughter hundreds of loyal soldiers, while being outgunned, they can drag out the war for a long time.  

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After hearing JDM say that the Negan character will be around "for years", I'm afraid you're right about this.  Unfortunately.

[scrb]

OK, I just read the spoilers for what happens with Negan in the comics -- I'll never read the comics so I don't care.

It is really stupid if they follow this path.

  Reveal spoiler

 Negan kills him on the spot for his cowardice — RIP Spencer. Negan and Rick butt heads one last time before he leaves Alexandria, and on his way back to his compound, Negan is attacked by Rick and his crew. Negan basically laughs in his face, and Rick realizes that he's surrounded by Negan's army. There's a scuffle, but Negan ends up back at the Sanctuary to prepare for "All Out War." (This is a big deal in the comics.)

Rick is actually the one who initiates a fight with Negan and his men. He tells Negan to clear the space of women and children, and when Negan refuses, Rick and his men open fire. Rick's army takes out a portion of the walls, allowing zombies to pour in and flood the courtyard. In the heat of battle, Negan catches one of his men about to rape a woman from Rick's side. Negan stabs him and apologizes to the woman. Despite having several wives, Negan does not approve of sexual violence. Part One of the war ends with Negan's men bombing Alexandria with grenades.

The next day, Negan comes up with a plan to cover Lucille and all of his men's weapons in zombie guts. That way, whoever they hit will be instantly infected. They attack Rick's colony, and Rick ends up getting shot with an arrow. Negan and his men temporarily retreat, and when they go to take over Rick's people, Negan is shocked to see that Rick is still alive. Rick manages to convince him that they shouldn't be fighting; they should be pooling their resources to fight the zombies — then he slashes Negan's throat. Don't freak out; Negan doesn't die. 

Two years later, Carl goes to the basement in an unknown house and talks to a shadowy figure about a girl who showed him her boobs. (I'm not making this up.) The man asks Carl if he still wants to kill him, and Carl says, "Yes, Negan. You know I do." He's been living in the basement for two years! He and Rick have some loaded discussions about mercy and why Rick is really keeping Negan alive. Negan ends up escaping with a character named Brandon Rose. He's still alive in the comics, but he's missing in action.

http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/What-Happens-Negan-Walking-Dead-Comics-40810079

Here's my take:

  Reveal spoiler

They haven't established on the show that Negan has loyal guys who will carry the fight for 2 years after he's captured or presumed dead or otherwise MIA.  Of course they haven't shown much about the Saviors, other than the sociopathic muscle that goes on collection runs, intimidates and taunts the other groups.  Inside the compound, there are guys like Fat Joey who's not much of a soldier (he had a gun and let Daryl pummel him to death with a pipe) or Dwight and the other guys who had their wives/gfs taken away and got their faces melted.

It makes sense that Rick would use some walker horde to help neutralize the numbers and arms advantage of the Saviors.  Maybe they take enough casualties that there could be a stalemate for a couple of years.

It still doesn't make sense however that the Saviors would carry on this fight so long.  Will there be a new leader that they rally around in Negan's absence?  They haven't shown it yet unless it's Dwight, the only guy that they've really featured.  But if Rick gets the Hilltop, the Kingdom and Oceanside to band together, where do the Saviors go for their supplies then?  If they've been taking the food and other supplies that these groups either scavenged or produced/harvested, but then these groups go to war with the Saviors, there must be a lot of other sources of food and other resources for them?

 

As for Rick not killing Negan, that's highly uncharacteristic.  It would be like the US keeping Osama Bin Laden alive instead of killing him right away, so that he doesn't become a rallying figure for his followers.  Plus nothing he's done in the show indicates he would show mercy, unless we're going to have several episodes of torture porn.

Kirkman probably keeps the character around to milk him as long as possible, before they move on to the next super villain. 

The problem remains that TWD is now caught in a repetitive cycle of villains whom Rick's group must battle, one after the other.  Kirkman said there will never be a cure so this is the state of mankind, fighting these little regional wars over and over again.

Sure there are births here and there (which is kind of sadistic to bring children to this world) but the mortality rates must be skyrocketing, if not from the violence, then poor nutrition, lack of health care and high stress surviving in this dangerous world.  So in the absence of a cure, human population will decline fairly rapidly.  Any survivors to middle age has to face the prospect of surviving when one is no longer fit, facing various illnesses, needing more health care.

 

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[AngelaHunter]

  On 12/14/2016 at 9:52 PM, scrb said:

OK, I just read the spoilers for what happens with Negan in the comics -- I'll never read the comics so I don't care.

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With the few series I've watched in the last ten years - including this one - I've been fanatical about not reading any spoilers or even watching previews at the end of episodes. I loved being surprised.  Now? I really don't care and I hate that.

[Darlin]

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/walking-dead-star-lands-star-trek-discovery-lead-1201942648/#respond

  Reveal spoiler

 

  Reveal spoiler

 

 

Edited December 14, 2016 by Darlin
Spoilers don't need to be tagged in this thread

[SnarkyTart]

  On 12/14/2016 at 11:42 PM, Darlin said:

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/walking-dead-star-lands-star-trek-discovery-lead-1201942648/#respond

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Thanks for this.  It fits with the latest from The Spoiling Dead Army facebook:

Season finale death:

  Reveal spoiler

**Season Finale Death**

Recently we have been hearing a lot of whispers about Sasha dying in the season 7 finale. We've been waiting for more confirmation before we shared what we heard. Well, by now I'm sure you've already seen the news about Sonequa's new lead role in Star Trek (You go girl!!). This is enough for us to believe the information we received about her death is accurate.

We heard multiple versions of how her death supposedly goes down. However, there's a common theme of Sasha sacrificing herself in a failed attempt to take out Negan. Once we feel more confident in which version actually plays out on the show we will provide those details.

In addition, we have also heard rumors that Michael Cudlitz was sneaky sneaky and actually came back to film scenes for the finale. We think they might be some kind of dream sequence or flashback that has something to do with Sasha's death scene.

We will miss you, Sasha. You have always been one hell of a warrior.

[CofCinci]

RIP Sasha. 

[mandolin]

Maybe the worst part is that she's still trying to take out Negan in the finale. I can't take 8 more episodes like 7a. 

I do like her and will miss her though. 

Edited December 16, 2016 by mandolin

[Morrigan2575]

Good for her...shame about Sasha.

[The Mighty Peanut]

I tend to agree they won't give her Holly's death since they essentially already did it in FTWD. But what other death scenario are they referring to? 

Does anyone feel they're setting Carol up for her suicide by walker comic death with this depression plot? I'd hate to see her go out like that but I'm certain someone will have that fate eventually...if for no other reason than to have Gimple and Co go on TTD to congratulate themselves over the most shocking! Death! Yet!

Edited December 18, 2016 by The Mighty Peanut

[Morrigan2575]

That's some BS if they give Carol that ending after her character progression on the show. 

Just seems like a lame copout only done because comics (which I loathe)

[ByTor]

How much progression has Carol really had, though?  To me she seems all over the place, and with her recent storylines she seems to have regressed, if anything.

[leto]

My sense is that Carol attained untouchable status, like Rick, Daryl, Carl, and Michonne, due to her popularity and Melissa McBride's talent sometime during Season 4 ("Look at the flowers!"), so I don't see Carol dying at all. She may be relegated to only 2 episodes every season, since Gimple always writes some form of disappeared or incapacitated Carol each season, but she won't be killed...

[Ocean Chick]

I'm sad that Sasha is leaving us, as I like the character, but I'm thrilled for SMG getting a lead role on another show.  And Sasha dying is not a deal breaker for me.

[Mattipoo]

I am okay with Sasha dying. I just hope they don't drag it out until the season 8 premiere to reveal whether she died or not. But knowing TPTB, that is probably what will happen. Ugh! I wish Negan will die already!

[Nutjob]

It sounds like Sasha's death will be more heroic than Holly's, which I like. Besides... Sasha and Michonne look nothing alike, so they'd realllllly be reaching to make that exact scenario work out.

[Mu Shu]

I don't mind Sasha leaving.  Her character was going nowhere.  Also, hopefully Rosita can get more screen time.  

[tv echo]

The Walking Dead: Exclusive photo teases new character and location
DALTON ROSS JANUARY 18, 2017 AT 12:00PM EST
http://ew.com/tv/2017/01/18/walking-dead-season-7-new-character-location-photo/

  Quote

AMC’s official synopsis for 7B said, “We’ll meet new survivors in incredible places,” and we have your exclusive first look at one of those survivors and one of those places right here. In this new photo (see the full image below), we see Rick conversing with a woman — at least it looks like a woman, judging from the back — in what appears to be a junkyard setting.

Who is she? What is the deal with her group, which you can see looking semi-menacing behind Rick? Is this junkyard their home or just an intimidating meeting spot to deal with strangers like Mr. Grimes? Also, are these people related to the mysterious stranger in the boots spying on Alexandria at the end of the midseason finale? So many questions!
*  *  *
Predictably, showrunner Scott M. Gimple will answer precisely none of them. But he will give us this: “I’m just going to say that Rick is going to meet this person and/or persons pretty quickly,” says Gimple. “The answers are just around the heap. I cannot wait for people to meet this character and to see this actor. There is some formidable fun coming up.”

Formidable fun? We’ll take it! While fun is not a word often bandied about on The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln already told us that the tone of the second half of season 7 will be dramatically different and that “the thrill of the fight” is back. How this person and group will fit into that fight remains to be seen.

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Edited January 19, 2017 by tv echo

[nodorothyparker]

Because that's exactly what this show needs, more new characters and locations.

So Rick is the Eye of the Tiger now?

[Mu Shu]

God. MORE groups?  Enough already.  At this rate, they'll probably give Tara another dedicated episode to show off her lame comedic skills again.   I don't want to know about junkyard people. 

[Nashville]

  On 1/21/2017 at 9:27 PM, Mu Shu said:

God. MORE groups?  Enough already.  At this rate, they'll probably give Tara another dedicated episode to show off her lame comedic skills again.   I don't want to know about junkyard people. 

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Agreement x1000. 

Did TWD ever specify which ASZhat printed up the church meeting handbills for Prayin' Gabe? 

Because at this rate somebody needs to be printing up frikkin' programs for everybody to keep track of all the players.

[Gobi]

  On 1/21/2017 at 9:27 PM, Mu Shu said:

God. MORE groups?  Enough already.  At this rate, they'll probably give Tara another dedicated episode to show off her lame comedic skills again.   I don't want to know about junkyard people. 

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I think TPTB boxed themselves in by making Neegan so powerful. Now, in order for him to fall (and he must, unless this becomes the Neegan Show), they somehow have to come up with a believable way for that to happen. That is going to require a large number of small groups to unite.

Edited January 22, 2017 by Gobi

[tv echo]

Tara will give a Braveheart speech, Daryl is "in kill mode" and Rick has "the thrill of the fight" again (plus, AL compared the back half to The Magnificent Seven and danced a jig)...

The Walking Dead: Surprising Character Takes On Leadership Role
Brandon Davis- 01/21/2017
http://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2017/01/21/the-walking-dead-details-on-one-characters-braveheart-moment-in-/

  Quote

Late in Season 7, one character will have their Braveheart moment but it's not who you would typically suspect. With the impending war against Negan and the Saviors inbound, some members of Rick's group are going to have to step up if the good guys are going to have a shot at victory.

In the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, the moment is spotlighted from a set visit on The Walking Dead's penultimate episode of Season 7. 

Somewhere in the woods, presumably on a march to battle or the Oceanside commuity (or both), Alanna Masterson's Tara Chambler character will deliver a speech "speech filled with emotion, delivered under duress, and with character's lives -- including Tara's own -- at stake." It's a scene so emotionally involved that it takes the young actress several attempts to get it just right, growing frustrated in between, but being constantly reassured by The Walking Dead's leading man Andrew Lincoln. 

Following the scene, Norman Reedus, Andrew Lincoln, Seth Gilliam, Chandler Riggs, and director Michael Slovis offer hugs one by one to congratulate Masterson on her impressive performance. While the context of the scene remains unknown, we do know that Rick and his group will be rallying various communities to take on Negan when The Walking Dead returns. Based on how many cast members were on hand to deliver hugs to Masterson, it's safe to say this is a pivotal moment heading into the last episode of Season 7 which required a whole slew of cast and characters.

It sounds a lot like Tara's Braveheart moment on the AMC series. She became a more integral part of the show after having an entire episode to herself with 7x06 (Swear) where she discovered the Oceanside community and narrowly fleed to Alexandria. Here she is, though, rallying the good guys to stand up for what's right.

"It was really sweet when I finished that scene," Masterson said. "That was a great day on set, because you get through something challenging and you have all of your peers there who respect and love you. It was pretty rad."

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The Walking Dead: Norman Reedus says Daryl is 'in kill mode'
DALTON ROSS JANUARY 20, 2017 AT 10:00AM EST
http://ew.com/tv/2017/01/20/walking-dead-norman-reedus-daryl-kill-mode/

  Quote

So where is Daryl emotionally now that he has been reunited with his friends when things pick back up in the Feb. 12 midseason premiere? According to Norman Reedus, the dude is hella pissed off. And he’s ready to make some people pay. “He wants revenge,” says Reedus. “He’s ready to fight. When he goes back in that last episode and hands Rick back his stuff, it was like, ‘Let’s go! Let’s go beat this guy up. Let’s go take what’s ours and fight this monster.’ So, you know, he’s in kill mode.”

Kill mode! The best of modes on this show, by far. It sounds like Daryl’s emotions after watching his friends bludgeoned with a baseball bat have progressed from grief to rage. “I feel like he spent his time in the hole thinking about Glenn and thinking about Abraham,” says Reedus. “He took it very personal, and felt like it was his fault and he was deserving what he was getting.” But no longer. “Now he’s ready to get revenge. He’s ready to go kill everybody.”

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The Walking Dead: Andrew Lincoln says 'the thrill of the fight' is back when the show returns
DALTON ROSS JANUARY 3, 2017 AT 12:17PM EST
http://ew.com/tv/2017/01/03/walking-dead-andrew-lincoln-thrill-of-the-fight/

  Quote

After watching Aaron get beat up and Spencer have his guts spilled out next to a pool table, Rick was back and ready to fight the big baddie. And that means we have a whole new Rick Grimes and a whole new show to look forward to when things pick back up on Feb. 12. “It’s probably the opposite of what you just witnessed,” says Andrew Lincoln of the tonal shift for the back half of the season. “Certainly from Rick’s point of view. You see a man in action again with some of the members of his closest family.”

Hearing that the battle is about to be joined is no doubt music to the ears of fans, as are these other comments Lincoln made to EW about what to expect from his character coming up. “There’s a lot more levity, if you can believe that, than you’ve ever seen before in Mr. Grimes,” says Lincoln. “There’s sort of a freedom in him, a feeling that comes from losing everything, and also the thrill of the fight. It’s the thrill of the fight again. He’s back in. All I’m saying is that the band is back together.”

Lincoln also says he personally had a blast filming the second half of season 7, now that he no longer has to cower in fear of Negan on a weekly basis. “There are several episodes that I loved being involved in and it certainly feels very much more like a show that I knew and recognized in the back eight,” he says. “I loved the episodes that I was in.”

More importantly, he predicts fans will be happy with what they see. “It’s The Magnificent Seven in the back half. Rather, the magnificent eight episodes. Wait till [episode] 16. I promise you, there is one beat in 16, I dropped my script and started punching the air and did a little jig.”

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Edited January 22, 2017 by tv echo

[indeed]

Didn't some of the Magnificent Seven die, though?  Probably in a blaze of glory....so, yeah, there's that to look forward to.  And "Tara", the gang gathering around is not usually a good thing.  Did they have a nice dinner afterwards?

Edited January 22, 2017 by indeed

[jay741982]

The Tara episode was Boring. And for non comic readers they are likely introducing these groups cause in the comics Oceanside Alexandria The Kingdom and Hilltop all come together to battle The saviors. Also Negan will be around for a LONG time he gets thrown in Morgan's Jail cell that he built . If the Spolier tag is needed please spoiler tag it Mods.

[DEL901]

  On 1/22/2017 at 6:44 PM, indeed said:

Didn't some of the Magnificent Seven die, though?  Probably in a blaze of glory....so, yeah, there's that to look forward to.  And "Tara", the gang gathering around is not usually a good thing.  Did they have a nice dinner afterwards?

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They ALL died, at least in the Denzel remake I saw during the summer.

[Nashville]

  On 1/22/2017 at 6:44 PM, indeed said:

Didn't some of the Magnificent Seven die, though?  Probably in a blaze of glory....so, yeah, there's that to look forward to.  And "Tara", the gang gathering around is not usually a good thing.  Did they have a nice dinner afterwards?

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  On 1/23/2017 at 9:30 PM, DEL901 said:

They ALL died, at least in the Denzel remake I saw during the summer.

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IIRC three survived in the original - the Leader, the Kid, and One Other Guy (archetypically speaking).

[AwesomO4000]

  On 1/19/2017 at 1:02 PM, tv echo said:

The Walking Dead: Exclusive photo teases new character and location

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Okay, if the shooting time for this episode was mid October, I know exactly where they filmed this. I'm pretty sure as it is. This is actually only sort of a new location in that it's still in downtown Griffin. It's the lot I described in my post on pg 48 (I think the date was October 17 or so.) The lot isn't very big, so it'll be interesting to see how they make it look in the show. And it isn't actually a junkyard. The lot is where they are putting and sorting debris from an old warehouse. I know the guy who is supervising the warehouse teardown.

I also don't know how many more new scenes they might be able to film there, since my guess is that unless they got the lot owner to keep it that way a while, it will be a changing location in that it's not going to stay looking like that for very long as the debris is cleared away and/or recycled or reused. So maybe not a "permanent" location then? (Or even one we'll visit more than once or twice?)

[indeed]

  On 1/23/2017 at 9:40 PM, Nashville said:

 

IIRC three survived in the original - the Leader, the Kid, and One Other Guy (archetypically speaking).

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 I remember a few survived in the new one. 

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They ALL died, at least in the Denzel remake I saw during the summer.

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Anyway, I hope they do a better job of including multiple storylines and no more one episode = one community.  They can do world expansion without using a whole episode.

Edited January 24, 2017 by indeed

[JackONeill]

I grow weary (and suspicious) of how every new season (or half season, in this case) is supposed to be the "greatest" thing.

it sounds like TBTB has -- and knows it -- egg on their face. They have only themselves to blame if the show continues its downward spiral. 

[SnarkyTart]

Detailed spoilers from The Spoiling Dead Fans Army on facebook.  These spoilers are for each episode for the remainder of the season, including the finale. 

  Reveal spoiler

Episode Breakdown - 7B

The following is a breakdown of the episodes in 7b. This is a compilation of filming info and educated speculation that we have gathered throughout the season. It does not cover everything that happens in each episode. While we believe most of this information is accurate, please note that anything can change by the time the episodes air.

Huge thanks goes to the sources that helped us with info this season!!! You are the BEST!!! As a friendly reminder, absolutely DO NOT share information from this breakdown on nonspoiler sites. If you are caught, you will be booted with no one exceptions. If you choose to share this with other spoiler sites please make sure you are giving proper credit.

Episode 7.9

Characters: Rick, Carl, Michonne, Daryl, Maggie, Rosita, Aaron, Eric, Sasha, Enid, Tara, Jesus, Gregory, Father Gabriel, Ezekiel, Morgan, Carol, Richard, Ben, Jerry, Simon, Tobin, “Garbage Pail Kids” (New junkyard group) and finally…Penis Tree.

Location: Hilltop, Kingdom, Highway, Alexandria, Woods

Highlights:

* Team Family has a meeting with Gregory about fighting the Saviors. He will most likely turn them down. Maggie’s potential leadership is looming.

* Jesus leads Rick, Carl, Michonne, Tara, Rosita, Sasha, and Daryl to the Kingdom to meet Ezekiel where Rick tries to convince them to join the war. Rick’s attempt fails and they leave. Daryl stays.

* Rick and Co. encounter a herd on the highway and also find explosives (likely the same ones seen in the promo pics). Should be an explosion in this scene.

* Father Gabriel encounters the mysterious “Boots” from episode 8. This is speculated to be new character Tamiel from the Garbage Pail Kids. We are supposed to find out her identity in a later episode. “Boots” is rumored to take Father G along with a bunch of Alexandria’s supplies back with her.

* Saviors, led by Simon, go to Alexandria, likely looking for Daryl.

* Rick, Michonne, Aaron, Tara, and Rosita go looking for Father G and encounter the new junkyard group (and the penis tree).

Episode 7.10

Characters: Rick, Michonne, Tara, Aaron, Rosita, Father Gabriel, Daryl, Carol, Morgan, Ezekiel, Morgan, Richard, Daniel, Jerry, Ben(?), Jadis, Brion, Tamiel, (NEW!) Garbage Pail Kids

Location: Kingdom, Carol’s Creepy House of Horrors, Junkyard

Highlights:

* Rick’s group goes back to the new group’s headquarters at a junkyard. Rick is forced to fight a crazy spiked walker in their junkyard fighting pit. This is supposed to be some kind of test to prove Team Family’s worth. Rick wins…

* Rick tries to make an alliance with their leader Jadis in order to help grow his army against the Saviors. By the end of their encounter a deal is made. Rick is asked to bring the GPK more guns in exchange for their assistance.

* Richard is still desperate to fight the Saviors. He devises a plan which involves leading the Saviors to Carol and baiting them into killing her. He thinks her death could encourage Zeke to agree to war. Daryl supposedly goes along with this plan until he learns Carol is the target. This is supposed to trigger a fight which can be seen briefly in the trailer for 7b.

* Daryl finds where Carol has been staying and visits her. The two share a hug or two and talk. Carol cooks for Daryl. We do not believe that Daryl tells her what happened with Glenn and Abe. He ends up leaving the house and goes back to the Kingdom.

* It’s rumored that Daryl makes “friends” with Shiva.

Episode 7.11

Characters: Negan, Dwight, Eugene, Dr. Emmett Carson, Negan’s harem, other Saviors

Location: The Sanctuary, Dwight’s former house(?)

Highlights:

* Most of the episode appears to take place at the Sanctuary.

* Eugene cooperates and is put to work for Negan. He supposedly gains status, which grants him access to some amenities. His experience at the Sanctuary should be much different than Daryl’s.

* Dwight visits a house, which belonged to him and Sherry before the ZA. We think something will happen here that might be the start of what will become Dwight's turncoat arc from the comics.

* It will be revealed who wrote the note and helped Daryl escape. (Sherry)

* It’s speculated that Dr. Emmett Carson (the Doc at the Sanctuary) will take the fall for Daryl’s escape and be killed.

Episode 7.12

Characters: Rick, Michonne, Tara, Father Gabriel, Rosita, Sasha, Judith, Garbage Pail Kids

Location: School (with carnival), Alexandria, Junkyard, Woods, Hilltop

Highlights:

* Rick and Michonne go scavenging for guns at a school which happens to also have a carnival set up there. Military trucks and tents were also at the filming location. Rick and Michonne will share some sexy times as well as moments of levity in this episode.

* Rick has a close call while fighting a large group of walkers and almost doesn’t make it out of alive.

* Rick, Michonne, Tara, Rosita, and Father Gabriel make a visit to the junkyard, presumably to turn over guns they scavenged as per their agreement.

* Rosita visits the Hilltop to enlist Sasha’s help with something.

Episode 7.13

Characters: Maggie, Daryl, Sasha, Eugene, Rosita, Negan, Simon, Jesus, Enid, Gregory, Dr. Harlan Carson, Saviors

Location: Hilltop, Sanctuary

Highlights:

* Sasha and Rosita apparently go rogue on a mission to the Sanctuary. Seems like they are on a suicide mission to take out Negan on their own.

* There’s a scene where Rosita and Sasha set a car on fire. Then later another scene where a few Saviors are herding walkers into storage containers, using water jugs to cover their heads. Rosita and Sasha take out these Saviors.

* Sasha makes it inside the Sanctuary while Rosita does not.

* There are rumors that Eugene gets an opportunity to be rescued but turns it down. What’s goin’ on there, Eugene?

* Saviors come to Hilltop and take Dr. Harlan Carson. Maggie and Daryl have to hide and are almost discovered.

* There's whispers that it will be revealed that Jesus is gay.

Episode 7.14

Characters: Carol, Ezekiel, Morgan, Ben, Richard, Jerry, Daniel, other Kingdom people

Location: Kingdom, Carol’s house, other outside areas

Highlights:

* According to information listed in casting calls and other rumors that have surfaced, both Richard and Ben die in this episode.

* At this time, we think Ben’s death will be caused by some shady dealings from Richard during a supply drop. We’ll call it “melon-gate.” It’s believed that he will stir up a conflict between the Saviors and the Kingdomers as another attempt to get Ezekiel to fight back. But Ben will end up paying the price with his life.

* Morgan was seen dragging Richard’s body. We believe Ben’s death will trigger Morgan to regress back into “crazy mode” and he will kill Richard as a result. His life wasn’t all that precious, was it Morgan?

* It's speculated that Morgan will go back to Carol and eventually tell her what happened to Glenn and Abe. Carol filmed at the Kingdom, so it appears she goes back to encourage Zeke to fight.

Episode 7.15

Characters: Rick, Michonne, Carl, Tara, Father Gabriel, Jesus, Daryl, Maggie, Aaron, Negan, Sasha, Gregory, Tobin, Eric, Natania, Cyndie, Rachel, Beatriz, Kathy

Location: Sanctuary, Hilltop, Oceanside

Highlights:

* Tara ends up breaking her promise to Cyndie and tells Rick about their group. They travel to Oceanside along with a large group of Alexandrians.

* Since they brought such a large group to Oceanside, it seems that their initial meetings might not be entirely peaceful. We suspect there will be conflicts and the Oceanside women might not agree to fight. However, Team Family does appear to get a hold of their weapons.

* Supposed to be some really cool ocean walkers in this episode.

* Sasha will become Negan's prisoner. Very possible we could see a remix of that comic Holly scene where a Savior makes an aggressive advance on Sasha. Probably won't end well for that Savior.

Episode 7.16

Characters: Rick, Michonne, Carl, Daryl, Maggie, Sasha, Rosita, Tara, Negan, Eugene, Jesus, Dwight, Simon, Father Gabriel, Aaron, Eric, Enid, Carol, Morgan, Judith, Ezekiel, Scott, Tobin, Jadis, Tamiel, Brion, Jerry, Daniel, Dianne, Eduardo, GPK, Saviors

Location: Sanctuary, Hilltop, Alexandria

Highlights:

* Negan catches word about Rick gathering an army and heads to ASZ with his Savior troops. Sasha and Eugene are also with him. From what we have heard, Sasha does not arrive alive.

* There's rumors that Michael Cudlitz came back to film for the finale. Most likely a flashback/ dream sequence involving Sasha's death.

* The Garbage Pail Kids are also at ASZ and filming reports suggest that they do fire at Team Family. Looks like they double crossed our heroes and fight alongside Negan.

* Episode is basically a chaotic battle, LOTS of gunfire, smoke, and possible explosions.

* Rick and Rosita are supposedly shot. Injuries do not seem serious.

* Eugene tells Team Family they should surrender. Appears to be siding with the Saviors. (Come on, man!)

* Whispers of a possible remix of the second line up scene from the comics. We are hearing it will be much smaller and might only involve Rick and Carl. Negan might attempt to Lucille Carl, only to be saved by the Kingdomers (Shiva!!!) at the last second. Hilltoppers eventually join in on the fun when they arrive a little later.

*Michonne filmed on a large crane during the finale. This appears to be a remix of the Andrea tower scene from the comics, only it will involve Michonne and a member of the GPK.

* Saviors and GPK were both witnessed retreating during filming. The battle has been won and war has officially begun! Reports of speeches, chanting, and cheering during filming. Looks like the end of the episode will be everyone (ASZ, Hilltop, Kingdom) rallying together, ready for all out war.

[joelene]

Thanks for the report! I never did watch 7.07 and 7.08 and I'm not sure I will watch 7B either. Sounds exhausting, and not in a thrilling way. 

[AwesomO4000]

I'm not very happy about the Eugene spoilers. He's become one of my favorites, and it'll be annoying to see him ruined if the spoilers are true.

[SimoneS]

Those spoilers sound like the usual. Grouping different characters and putting them in different situations to string out the episodes. Of course, the war couldn't just happen and be over with. Just like with Phillip, they have to drag it out into another season although it is obvious is Negan is never going any where.

[Haleth]

A lot of that sounds like a big ol' waste of time.  Rearranging deck chairs.

[Mu Shu]

they need to kill off half the cast, or shuffle them off to Buffalo or something.  sorry show, you have become stale and ponderous.  You make me feel umbrage and other pissed off stuff.   

[Statman]

I have 7A saved on my DVR, but haven't gotten around to watching those shows yet.  Based on the 7B spoilers, I may just take a pass on this season because the second half sounds terrible.

[Morrigan2575]

Thanks for the rundown @SnarkyTart. I'll watch the Carol episodes...eventually

[Dobian]

Why does this show insist on making Tara a major player?  This is a character and actress so uninteresting and lacking any kind of charisma you can't get invested in anything she does.  They need to import Ash from the Evil Dead to clean up this mess.

"Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This... is my BOOMSTICK! The twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about a hundred and nine, ninety five. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. You got that?"

[AwesomO4000]

  On 1/30/2017 at 7:21 PM, Statman said:

I have 7A saved on my DVR, but haven't gotten around to watching those shows yet.  Based on the 7B spoilers, I may just take a pass on this season because the second half sounds terrible.

Expand  

I'm starting to think of skipping also - even though I've seen the first half. I'd actually want to preserve my last impressions of Eugene - which were great - rather than see him turncoat and/or forget about what happened to Abraham. And it sounds like one of my other favorites, Carl, is barely going to be in this second half of the season.

  On 1/31/2017 at 7:41 PM, Dobian said:

Why does this show insist on making Tara a major player?  This is a character and actress so uninteresting and lacking any kind of charisma you can't get invested in anything she does.

Expand  

I agree. I'd rather see Carl and Michonne interact, Carol do something... just about anything.

  On 1/27/2017 at 1:26 PM, Haleth said:

A lot of that sounds like a big ol' waste of time.  Rearranging deck chairs.

Expand  

Agreed. Daryl going all "kill, kill" sounds good, but other than that, I'm bored just reading those spoilers. I can't imagine watching 8 or so hours of it.

I'll watch the first episode to see the scenes shot in my town, then I'll go from there, but it doesn't sound promising.

Edited February 1, 2017 by AwesomO4000

[Mu Shu]

Why do they insist on shoving Tara down our throats?  She's just an unfunny, wimpy stumble bum.   Meanwhile, Michonne, Carol, and Rosita are left twiddling their thumbs.  But I guess it's rad and stuff.  Feh.  Braveheart got drawn and quartered.  If Negan chops her down during her a speech, I may enjoy him again. 

[SnarkyTart]

And now as we get closer to the Feb 12 midseason premiere, in-depth spoilers specific to this episode, 7.9 "Rock in the Road",  From The Spoiling Dead Fans Army on facebook:

  Reveal spoiler

Q&A Episode 7.9 "Rock in the Road"

1. In one of the promo pics everyone is looking at Enid. What's going on there?

After Gregory tells Rick and Co. to shove it and leave the Hilltop, Enid comes in and tells them to come outside. While they were wasting their time with Gregory, she went around the Hilltop and rounded up at least a dozen people who were willing to join Rick and fight the Saviors. Carl smiles at her in the end and seems pretty damn impressed.

2. How does the group escape the herd on the highway?

The Saviors had set up a walker fence/trap using cars, steel wire, and explosives. Rick's group loots the explosives, but then Rick and Michonne have the genius idea of driving down the highway using 2 cars connected by steel wire. It literally cuts all of the walkers in the herd in half. Super-gross but super-cool.

3. What happens to Father Gabriel?

You don't see who does it, but apparently Father Gabriel is ambushed by someone (presumably the "Boots" character we saw in the mid-season finale). Whoever it is forces him to loot the pantry at Alexandria and leave with them.

4. Is the identity of the mysterious "Boots" person revealed?

No, we don't see "Boots" nor the leader of the junkyard group in this episode.

5. How does Rick try to convince Ezekiel to join forces? Is he successful?

Rick tells Ezekiel the story of the "Rock in the Road." It's about a big rock that had been in the middle of the road for years, causing wagons to crash and lose their loads. Finally, a girl stopped to do something, to dig the rock up. She dug until her hands bled, and when she pulled the rock up she found a bag of gold underneath. Moral of the story -- the person who put the rock there made to where whoever made the effort to dig it up would be rewarded. Regardless, no, Rick isn't successful.

6. Why does Daryl stay at the Kingdom?

Because Daryl is wanted by the Saviors, Ezekiel offers him asylum since the Saviors have never been behind the Kingdom's walls and never will.

7. Does Morgan tell the group where Carol is?

No, he tells them that Carol was at the Kingdom after she was shot by a Savior, but after she healed she left.

8. Is Carol in this episode? What is she up to?

Briefly. She runs into Ben while out hunting, and scolds him for being out in the woods alone.

9. What is everyone's reaction to Shiva?

About like everyone else's. Complete shock and disbelief.

10. What happens at Alexandria with Simon and the Saviors?

Simon and the Saviors show up looking for Daryl, fully intending on killing him once found (thank God Daryl stayed at the Kingdom!).

11. How does the episode end?

It ends with Rick and the group going back to the houseboat to look for Father Gabriel and then they are surrounded by literally hundreds of the Garbage Pail Kids/junkyard group.

Not much really happens...again.  Continuing the annoying non-plot device, the group is split up again.  The only thing that sounds mildly interesting to me is the FX of seeing a herd of walkers horizontally sliced in two by steel wire.  At least that's a new gimmick.  I'm so past frustrated with what they've done to my favorite character, Carol, turning her into a boring PTSD non-entity.  Thankfully, no Negan this episode, so I'll probably watch.

Edited February 6, 2017 by SnarkyTart

[SnarkyTart]

Duplcate post.  Sorry.

Edited February 6, 2017 by SnarkyTart

[JackONeill]

Look, until we get to the episode in which they actually kill Negan, we are in for a whole lot of...waiting. Sure, there'll be some action. In other words, there'll be foreplay (but probably not good foreplay) until we get to the money shot...which won't be until next season. So question is: is every episode the rest of this season must see? IMO, no.

Edited February 10, 2017 by JackONeill

[indeed]

I'd be happy with a 'Negan gets laryngitis' multi-episode arc...

[Peanut]

Looks like my decision to cancel cable until Z Nation comes back on was the right one.  7B doesn't even sound slightly interesting. 

[Mick Lady]

I gave up on WD after the Governor, worst villain ever! Watched the first half of this season because Mick still watches it. Reading the spoilers, I think I'll take this for my reading time.

Really, this show is; lather, rinse, repeat.