Pretty much, they're taking the long road to set up season five and along the way attempt to develop some of their very many underdeveloped characters. Whether this approach is working seems mixed so far.
I prefer this slightly more realistic approach than the last time they were all separated---S2 ending, and how they all ended up at the very same, very exposed place 2 minutes later, episode-screen time wise. I can't honestly be the only person greatly enjoying the set-up of this season, character wise? This is [supposed to be] a character drama set in a zombie apocalypse. Use the setting wisely, and you could have gold on your hands for the next five+ seasons. Give us flawed characters, give us characters with eccentric personalities, give us characters that are shocked of the things they have to do to survive, give us characters with guilt, throw in the occasional flashback or flashback narration...and so far this has been S4. There's just too much potential having gone wasted on S3. They can even use pre-apocalypse flashbacks to tie various dead characters, or characters being with the group initially that never met current characters, expanding the world this way. Something like, say, Hershel having his truck fixed at Jim's garage. Jacqui being a co-worker of the Governor. Michonne running across Dale on the first days of the apocalypse. Andrea and Amy getting hit on by the guys that are in the gang that found Daryl, at a gas station, some days into the apocalypse. Shane pulling the Governor over for a speeding ticket while Rick is on the phone arguing with Lori in the background. Just silly, fan-wank little instances that bring happy cameos all over the place. Sure, none of these were in the comics, but can be used very effectively in the TV show.
You're definitely not the only one since this show generates millions of viewers, but I'm not one of them. Maybe it's bc of other shows I've watched (Breaking Bad, Mad Men, House of Cards, etc) or that I've read all the comics, or even how great season 1 was, I have high expectations of this show (though much more tempered after the past 2 seasons). Pacing's too slow from what I'd like most of the time and I have a vision from the comics how I'd like to see things done ("Don't look back" was the most wasted line on the show) Though mostly boring, S2 had fantastic moments, mainly the way the flashbacks were done in the Otis episode. And I loved when the group, mainly Rick, had to make the hard decision on whether or not to trust that group they met at the bar when Hershel started drinking. This execution level has yet to be repeated. At this point in the show, yes they led normal lives before the zombie infestation, but so what? That's everyone in the main cast now. Maybe Michonne has something to hide, but they're all interchangeable at this point. I want the flawed characters, give us characters with eccentric personalities (Merle, but no more). I'd love a scenario where one of group has to kill another but makes a mistake based on a bad judgement call. We'll see how they handle Abraham's group, but having a cycle with different people isn't something I enjoy at all.
Great episode. I think the guy in the car was the care-taker of the funeral home. Those guys that found Daryl...they really look like BAD news.
I LOVE character development, but I think the problem with TWD is that they just can't figure out to balance it with the story-telling. It's all extremes, either boring set-up to focus on the characters or swift zombie action at the expense of establishing exactly who these characters are or what these characters were previously. I agree to an extent, but it says a lot about how poorly written these characters are still being written when the Talking Dead becomes pretty crucial to learning more about who these characters are, their motivations, and why they're acting the way that they act. Not to mention explaining things like Country Club civil war. That would be really cool, but after four seasons, the show has really established that once a character is dead, the producers and writers are done with that character, which a shame. The show could really benefit from some Lost-style flashbacks to give us insight into these characters. I'd much rather see a flashback of Daryl and Meryl in the early days of the outbreak than his creepy bonding with Beth. I guess you can sum it all up with the adage, "Show don't tell,"
It was a builder episode, in that it's helping build up the end of the series, but it was an effective one. It made me what to see more of Bob, so I really hope they don't kill him off (yet).
Honestly, the only thing I greatly enjoyed from S1, besides the opening, of course, was Vatos, and that's because it was so amazingly fresh at the point. Previous episodes had some minor deviations, but occurred more or less like in the comics, albeit with a more modernized approach. Vatos changed thee dynamic by bringing two established comic characters, along with a red-shirt and a -then- redshirt Daryl into the city of the dead to rescue another new guy, Merle. And then the standoff. But episodes 5 and 6 were very slow. Seriously guys, episode 5, with Andrea being over Amy for 18 or so minutes? Episode 6, in which the only crucial thing that happens is something that gets whispered to Rick, and we only learn of it 14 or so episodes lateR? Why do you think that "don't look back" was a wasted line? It was actually said in the same context and in pretty much the same scenery as it was in the comic book. I like that the show takes some cues here and there from the comic, but ever since early S2 is doing its own thing. It keeps people like you and me, who have read the comic, in the dark. Some scenes are near identical though. For instance, I could tell that Hershel would die exactly like that once he was on the wrong side of the fence with the Governor, because of an extremely similar scene in the comics. The S2 bar scene was pretty cool, and actually transcribed the whispering scene from S1, because Rick clearly goes back and shoots an already dead man at the head, but at the time, few caught on to that. I don't watch the Talking Dead, mainly because I don't care, but it's nice to have a "behind the scenes" option for those who do. Nothing wrong with extra trivia that way. And you did get a scene exactly like the one you ask; somebody having to kill somebody else due to a bad judgement call. It happened when "Carol" killed the two sick people at the end of episode 2. Not trying to defend the show, at least not to the extent it shows, but so far S4 has been stellar. This is coming from a big fan who almost quit after the S3 ending.
I feel the same way. If things would have continued the way S3 went I would have been done. For me, these "filler" episodes have saved what I thought was lost about the show, the character building, depth and exploration. It's exactly what I have been wanting, and is making the latter half of S4 on par with S1 for me. I honestly love what they've been doing, even if it does seem like a slower pace. It feels right to me.
I think having to pay the actors to come back plays a big part in this as well. Not to mention that some of them (like Shane and Merle) have turned their popularity from Walking Dead into busier careers.
I liked that and the CDC. Edwin Jenner was the best example of a broken character and the type of person you felt bad for and could kind of sympathize why he wanted to end it all. Even when Jacqui wanted to stay behind. The Hunters in the comics were the last "broken" antagonists that I could remember, their logic on why they do what they do, bear/cubs, etc. Hoping that's executed well. In no way it was the same emotional impact. Maybe the second time he said it, but not like this (Spoiler for those who haven't read the comic don't want to post the pic): http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131117054953/walkingdead/images/6/6e/Lori_death.jpg True, but the Hershel death was no where near the same impact for me either as Spoiler Tyresse's . http://www.mdcu-comics.fr/upload/news/news_illustre_1390168065_271.jpg Method same, but it showed the Governor frustrated and kinda weaker as he yelled "F#CK" bc the decapitation wasn't as easy as he thought since it took many strokes. Another nuance which I liked from the comic. Then the Governor kicks the body out of the truck. Agreed on most of the above. I don't watch Talking Dead either. But the "Carol" thing, that just seemed forced to me. My biggest fear is that the whole "flu" or whatever it was, was just filler and never brought up again. I was hoping that one of the Governor's troops caught it bc it was resolved way too easily. Also, please don't feel I'm attacking you, no need to defend, I respect your opinion. I'm probably in the minority with my gripes, esp with my friends, bc they love this show. I'm trying hard to like this show, but my expectation levels need some recalibrating.
The Hunters were actually my biggest let-down in the comic book. The entire chapter was hyped so effing much, that the entire backyard scene took place in a few pages, and they all felt like cameos. Truth be told, they all were cameos. In my opinion that was only a marketing ploy to extend the book for a few issues back then and keep an "antagonist" running. On the "don't look back" you're referring to a throwaway line which I clearly had forgotten. I was referring to the actual last line Rick said [in the comic], while on a cliff overlooking the prison on the back. That was almost shot for shot reproduced on the TV show. To be honest I don't think they could pull the scene with Lori and the baby on a TV show. Tyrese made a big impact at the moment partly because he was the only other alpha male at the time. Tyrese was, at the time, the Daryl of the comic book, but no runner ups. And Hershel was a goner either way in the prison assault. The Governor is arguably the same but entirely different in both mediums. He's still a guy with social issues so deep he fakes a polar personality to survive, but it's for different reasons. In the comic/actual novels, he's so pathetically weak and emotionally vulnerable he has to fake his brother's persona in order to survive, and in doing so, it completely takes him over and makes him the cruel bastard he is. In the show, it's the exact opposite. He's a hinged psychopath who is perfectly good at being the alpha male as long as nobody will question his rule, who eventually goes too far and suffers from PTSD, taking on a much softer and kinder personality because he understands how cruel he is. In the end, his original personality takes over when he's convinced that it's the only way to protect his new family. It's too early to say that about the flu, and it was mostly centered in the prison/close quarters. It can crop up in the future should they go for it. We're not arguing, this is a civilized discussion brother It's just that, especially compared to S3, the show has taken such an abrupt 180 degrees turn in terms of writing quality that it has taken me aback, and I was a fan already.
'The Walking Dead': Robert Kirkman on why Sunday's episode is the one you 'absolutely' have to watch Uh oh...
I love the show, but the way they like to kill people I don't think anyone's death would really come as a shock at this point.
Except for Rick or Daryl. I think those are the only two characters where you would say "Holy shit!" if they killed them.
At this point I wouldn't even be shocked to see those two go. Maybe a little bit surprised, but the "oh my god they killed Kenny!" gimmick doesn't work as well for me as it used to. Now, if someone discovered a part of the country that wasn't infected, or a more advance walker that could talk and reason or some other non-typical zombie trait, that would be more shocking to me. And more interesting.
Knowing Kirkman, it will just be some kind of fake-out or something stupid that won't matter in the long run.
well if you saw the preview for the episode it looks like one of the girls falls into a trap about to be taken over by zombies and she calls out to Carol who turns and walks away.
I saw the preview, but honesty this show is so low on my give-a-darn list that by the time the new episode airs I've forgotten the preview.
Maybe this will be the episode where Judith gets bit and turns into a baby zombie. I've been hoping for that ever since she was born. That would be epic.
I read online spoilers, and quite frankly what happens tonight, I kinda thought it would happen because of what happened in the comics.
