'The Walking Dead- TV show ONLY! Only spoilers allowed are about PAST TV episodes!

[Sr. Mints]

Wow, the actress who plays Beth is 29!

[Fire]

The one thing that bugged me was how all those walkers got into the church. Earlier you saw one or two snuck through the defenses but how did a swarm get through all of a sudden to overwhelm them?

[djsFlames]

Also I don't see how a big gunfight didn't erupt in the hallway. Dawn was standing directly in front of her people and Darryl put a bullet in (/through?) her head. I don't see how that wouldn't have startled her people enough to either draw weapons or duck (I mean what if he missed?..)

And the perfect timing of the firetruck group arriving at the church (while making absolutely no sound until it was directly in front of them), hence the "where are we gonna go?" when they should've heard that thing from a mile away. And again arriving at the hospital just as the rest of the group emerges. It's the consistently flawless timing in shows that makes me roll my eyes.

Too bad, the season started off so well. Now it's gonna be another 4 or 5 episodes of just fending off walkers and reflecting on those who've been lost.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Wow, the actress who plays Beth is 29!

wtf?? I was feeling guilty for being a perv thinking she was barely 18.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Yamer

I for one didn't mind the hospital storyline. However, one thing I do have an issue with is that, as others have mentioned, they don't develop these people enough and allow the viewer to invest anything into the characters or their situation.

I agree and would love to see some more character development, but the writers hear it from all sides. On one hand, people get bored with the same ongoing stories as characters are developed (IE the farm). Reading some of this thread, you see how easily a lot of people get bored. Which is really unfortunate because it would be so much better to get more character development and more back story on these characters, but appeasing the general public is tough because people seem to get bored quickly these days and attentions spans, well, just are not there any longer.

[terminator]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Isn't that why the show is so popular? It's a highly entertaining show that you don't have to think a whole lot about. In fact, the show is better when you don't try and think about it.

Its like SOA, but at least the action/zombieness makes it quarter decent.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Wow, the actress who plays Beth is 29!

Well that makes me feel better about myself.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I wonder aboiut their decision to leave the hospital. I get that it would be bad TV, but I wonder if it is a good decision.

I think it might be that they have come to the conclusion that staying too long in one place just means eventually someone will come along to take what you have.

I just wonder about what their goal is now for the next half of the season. Given the 2 month break, they didn't leave much of a cliffhanger.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Igster

I personally had no issue with the last few episodes. Not sure what people are expecting. It's been a fun ride IMO. Sad to see Beth go. She was in tears on the Talking Dead.

I'm probably in the minority, I really liked Beth as a character and she really grew on me since season 2. One of my favourite episodes of the entire series is the one where her and Darryl are separated looking for alcohol. I'm really sad that she's gone, but I have a feeling it will be a plot point that will shake the entire group over the next season.

[Stranger]

I have watched the show from the beginning. I still enjoy it, though it has many flaws. I just keep wondering how long it can last. It could go on forever. Breaking Bad had wrapped up after about the same amount of episodes and The Walking Dead hasn't really even seemed to find its direction yet at times it seems.

And I think a 16 episode season is far too long. They could easily compact it into a 12 episode season.

[doctajones428]

Am I the only one who nearly shed manly tears when she died? The shock plus Daryl crying hit me freaking hard. Throw in Daryl carrying her body and watching Maggie go from pure glee to absolutely agony...

So many different feels at the same time

Best episode of the season, other than officer Bob flying off a cop car at the speed of sound

[OutOfTheCube]

Pretty poor midseason finale that tried to cover it up with a shocking death. The most major thing that happened last week (other cop taking off) was resolved before the title sequence and didn't impact the plot at all. Most of it was kicking around, talking. Carol didn't even get a line (wouldn't she have been pretty surprised to see Beth?). And the whole hospital plot line ended up being pointless, except to wrap up the Beth storyline which, after the first few excellent episodes this season, nobody really cared about going back to anyways. Very much an Andrea style death, relief that we can move on from this poor character/plot line. Hopefully the second half gets off to a better start.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by Stranger

I have watched the show from the beginning. I still enjoy it, though it has many flaws. I just keep wondering how long it can last. It could go on forever. Breaking Bad had wrapped up after about the same amount of episodes and The Walking Dead hasn't really even seemed to find its direction yet at times it seems.

And I think a 16 episode season is far too long. They could easily compact it into a 12 episode season.

This is exactly how I feel.. the show is good, but it drags on. If they cut the number of episodes down each year it would be a lot better product. However, as long as they are getting the ratings they will keep it up.. so as soon as we see a dip I imagine they start to wrap things up.

At least this is better than reading the comics, those could go on forever, with TV there HAS to be an ending at some point.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

This is exactly how I feel.. the show is good, but it drags on. If they cut the number of episodes down each year it would be a lot better product. However, as long as they are getting the ratings they will keep it up.. so as soon as we see a dip I imagine they start to wrap things up.

At least this is better than reading the comics, those could go on forever, with TV there HAS to be an ending at some point.

I wonder if there does need to be an ending.

This show, really is a lot like an animated show. This show has the ability to bring in new characters at any time, I think they would struggle if they killed Rick off, but beyond that it really is a never ending story line (which doesn't mean it will be a good never ending story line).

[Erick Estrada]

Now that zombies have become secondary (they have been relegated to more of an obstacle than threat) the show really only thrives when they have a good villain like Shane, Gareth, Merle, or the Governor. The entire hospital story was preposterous and Dawn was a terrible villain. They really should have ran with the cannibal/Gareth storyline longer than a few episodes (how does the Governor get a full season and Gareth only a few shows?) as man did this season start so well and fizzle out at the midpoint.

Was never a fan of Beth the character or actress so even though I thought the ending was stupid and cliché at least she's been written out and we don't have to endure episodes of her unexciting storyline of frail girl growing into hardened woman.

Here's hoping for a new and better nemesis in the 2nd half of the season.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Igster

I agree and would love to see some more character development, but the writers hear it from all sides. On one hand, people get bored with the same ongoing stories as characters are developed (IE the farm). Reading some of this thread, you see how easily a lot of people get bored. Which is really unfortunate because it would be so much better to get more character development and more back story on these characters, but appeasing the general public is tough because people seem to get bored quickly these days and attentions spans, well, just are not there any longer.

The thing is, one doesn't have to come at the expense of the other (action or drama v character development). It's only when the writing is average or worse, do you find yourself in the paradigm.

I'm going to take it by your avatar you were as over the moon about Breaking Bad as I was. Now there was a show that had great character development and great action. And often, the action (or drama/suspense) pulled out the character development. which is really how it should be. When you write a book, you develop a character through their actions and how they relate to the world. You don't have them sitting around telling each other how they feel.

That's the trap that TWD is in. Most of the character development is forced. It's monologues and tedious conversations. Don't get me wrong, I love a good dialogue bit. In a show, in a movie, in a book. But some people can do it right. TWD writers get it wrong 90% of the time.

One of the best moments of this season, and the show, had character development and action. And that was Carol with the rescue. We got to see some kick ass action, and we saw Carol continue her development from battered wife, to 'I'm not letting anyone push me around ever again!' They can and should do more of that. And it doesn't always have to be such an 'explosive' scene, but there are ways of generating action and character development at the same time.



After a great start to season five, I definitely was let down a bit by the finale. I will say though, this has been the best season since season one, and I have been sucked back in, for better or for worse. My favorite bit is how they've upped the creepy factor. Both with the zombies and society at large. It's a fricken zombie/horror show, creep me out!

[Igster]

I would agree Daradon. The writers definitely don't get it right many times. And yes, BB was awesome at it. One of the best shows ever.

I think with the limited amount of skill that we see from the writers, we get one or the other. They have a hard time putting it all together, so when we do get some character development or a slowdown in pace, people need to learn to deal, as it seems it's the best the writers are capable of on TWD. What I don't understand is how people can watch the show to simply bitch about it constantly. My advice to them, just stop watching it if you don't like it.

[ken0042]

Here's a serious question- were the people at the hospital at all bad? Yes, there were a few bad apples in the bunch who took advantage of the situation a bit. But consider the following sequence of events:

- The funeral home gets over run. Darryl tells Beth to get out.
- Once Darryl gets past the zombies inside, he encounters more inside.
- Darryl sees Beth's bag on the ground, and the car with the cross on the window speeding away.
- When Beth awakens in the hospital, she is told they saved her from being eaten by a group of zombies.

So it is quite possible that the funeral home was not a trap; at least not one set by the people in the hospital. If so, they could have been driving by, seen somebody in distress and stopped to help her.

Once she recovered, she was expected to contribute to the group.

From the hospital scenes I didn't really see anything to indicate that they had walkers at their disposal like Woodbury did; especially not something that far out of the city.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Here's a serious question- were the people at the hospital at all bad? Yes, there were a few bad apples in the bunch who took advantage of the situation a bit. But consider the following sequence of events:

- The funeral home gets over run. Darryl tells Beth to get out.
- Once Darryl gets past the zombies inside, he encounters more inside.
- Darryl sees Beth's bag on the ground, and the car with the cross on the window speeding away.
- When Beth awakens in the hospital, she is told they saved her from being eaten by a group of zombies.

So it is quite possible that the funeral home was not a trap; at least not one set by the people in the hospital. If so, they could have been driving by, seen somebody in distress and stopped to help her.

Once she recovered, she was expected to contribute to the group.

From the hospital scenes I didn't really see anything to indicate that they had walkers at their disposal like Woodbury did; especially not something that far out of the city.

But then they rape the women...so....

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Igster

I would agree Daradon. The writers definitely don't get it right many times. And yes, BB was awesome at it. One of the best shows ever.

I think with the limited amount of skill that we see from the writers, we get one or the other. They have a hard time putting it all together, so when we do get some character development or a slowdown in pace, people need to learn to deal, as it seems it's the best the writers are capable of on TWD. What I don't understand is how people can watch the show to simply bitch about it constantly. My advice to them, just stop watching it if you don't like it.

For sure, I think we're on the same page.

After thinking about it for a time, I think some of the fault is with the actors too. Even some of the fan favorites aren't great in those slower, talkier, scenes.

I think the reason TWD is open to so much criticism is two fold. It can be frustrating to watch because of it's inconsistency. You get an awesome episode, then a few rotten ones. But then you get an amazing one again. If it were just bad all the time you could walk away.

The other reason is because it's the most popular show on television. You can't really go anywhere without hearing about it. So of course if people don't like it or are frustrated, it's going to come up. Part of being at the top I suppose. I get what you mean though, and I do try to do that with most shows. I've been on the fence with this one a lot though, so it goes back and forth. For instance, the very first episode I think was the best episode and could have easily been a better than average movie if you added 20-30 minutes. Of course, we all know a lot of the bad episodes from season two and three that nearly had us packing in the towel.