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Post by waywyrd on Feb 27, 2024 1:44:16 GMT
Critical - holy shit, Rick is back! That opening scene was something else (and brought in a major event from the comic), but leaving us hanging at the end after THAT happened was just wrong. It felt like the production level and writing was amped up for this one. They did a fantastic job. And now I kind of regret bailing on World Beyond, I might try to start back up where I quit...
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Post by Critical on Feb 27, 2024 2:16:58 GMT
You can see why I didn't want to say anything! If I said something about the ending, you would have been waiting for something to happen. I literally did NOT see that coming. I mean both the attack in the helicopter and Michonne. When the attack on the helicopter started, I was literally on the edge of my seat. Then that reveal! BTW, I saw a meme on Reddit with a pic of Morales calling Rick "helicopter boy" in (I think) the third episode and then a pic of Rick flying a helicopter!
I saw an interview with Scott M. Gimple and he said they liked the idea of bringing in Rick losing a hand because they didn't do that part in the comics. At least this time, there's technology to sort of give him a hand back....and a badass weapon. If it'd happened on TWD, he would have had something like Aaron did, I guess. Still badass, but less hi-tech.
If you haven't watched that video I posted upthread with Andy and Danai talking about the characters and their journey definitely watch it. They just walk together, visit various sets from TWD and talk about the characters. It's really enjoyable. Their chemistry is still so strong.
I loved the little alternate universe dreams Rick had about meeting Michonne in the old world. Five pizzas and a wedding ring
I watched World Beyond, but I've forgotten a lot. I'm going to try to watch it this week, although with 20 episodes, I don't think I'm likely to finish it all. It wasn't great, but it had its moments. Plus, you know, Juliette Binoche and Nico Tortorella. Both great.
I have a feeling that, after this series, I'm going to end up hating Jadis even more.
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Post by waywyrd on Feb 27, 2024 2:29:47 GMT
I loved Rick's fanfic dreams too. And we finally learned what A and B people meant.
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Post by Critical on Feb 27, 2024 2:49:24 GMT
I think they explained the A and B thing in World Beyond as well. Maybe I'm misremembering. Definitely need to watch it again. I do remember that it was the CRM that destroyed Omaha.
It's not that they ugly up Danai at all when she's playing "normal" Michonne, but when she's in a great dress, with hair and makeup, she's stunning. Andy just looks cleaner in those dream sequences, but she looks incredible!
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Post by Critical on Feb 29, 2024 23:00:47 GMT
Norman Reedus just posted to his Instagram story that the second season of the Daryl series is coming this summer. Its official name will be (and this is a long one), The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol. That title just rolls of the tongue, doesn't it?
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Post by Kao on Mar 1, 2024 2:11:17 GMT
Thank you guys for keeping it vague. I'm avoiding anything social media about it because people have no chill and enjoy spoiling things for others.
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Post by Critical on Mar 1, 2024 3:29:55 GMT
Thank you guys for keeping it vague. I'm avoiding anything social media about it because people have no chill and enjoy spoiling things for others. We'll always put future events in spoiler tags, but just know that, as soon as it airs, it's not considered a spoiler any more. I just know that not many people here are watching - sometimes it feels like just me and way - so I wait until she's watched to post details.
It's not just social media you have to be careful with. Lately, regular media outlets are putting major plot points in the headlines of articles.
If you can get an AMC+ free trial for a month (I can't remember if it's 2 weeks or a month that they give free). I'd do it as soon as you can. If you get a month, start it maybe the Monday after this coming episode so you can see the whole season. The finale airs on 3/31.
I just started a re-watch of World Beyond. I'm going to really pay attention to all of the CRM stuff. I haven't watched the episodes since they aired and it's already clear that I forgot A LOT!
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Post by Critical on Mar 2, 2024 2:10:51 GMT
I can't imagine that, as long as both Rick and Michonne survive the season, AMC wouldn't want to do another season. That being said, Rick and Michonne had better survive the freaking season! I didn't sign up for a sad ending on this thing.
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Post by Critical on Mar 3, 2024 20:49:23 GMT
OMG. The second episode! O.M.G. I'm about to watch it for the THIRD time. I watched it twice in a row last night. It was amazing. Even better than the premiere. Nat, in less than one episode, became one of my favorite characters in the WDU. I liked the actor on New Amsterdam, but he's amazing in this role. Great writing and acting. I think the fact that Andy and Danai are exec producers (AND Danai is a writer), is making the difference.
I finished re-watching World Beyond yesterday and it really gave a lot of info about the CRM. Things I didn't catch the first time. It's worth watching, just to give more context to TOWL. Not all of the actors are great, but it's not terrible like some have claimed.
ETA: I found this video on Matthew Jeffers' (Nat) IG. It makes me like him even more!
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Post by waywyrd on Mar 4, 2024 18:50:33 GMT
Now how are they going to introduce a character I fell for right away and then do THAT. I immediately thought of Tyrion blowing up Blackwater Bay when they went into Nat's backstory and thought I had a new favorite character to cheer on. *sob*
Danai just killed it this episode. Her face when she found Rick, then realized how he'd pretty much given up while she was still out looking...
I won't even get into how much I hate Jadis and her stupid hair.
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Post by Critical on Mar 5, 2024 0:27:28 GMT
I loved him too. In maybe 30 minutes, there was more character development with Nat than with some characters who stayed on TWD for YEARS. I would have loved it if he had been on the mothership show.
Danai posted a pic (with "how it started....how it's going") on her IG from when she played Richard III in Shakespeare in the Park and Matthew Jeffers was in the ensemble. I think she probably hand-picked him to play Nat.
IMO, Jadis will have to die. I don't see any other way. I've seen comments online that Rick will sway Jadis and turn her to his side. Yes, because that worked out so well for him in the past To quote Carol, "bitch has got to die." I think reuniting with Michonne is going to bring Rick back to his old self and he's not going to let her threaten his family....and that's even before he finds out he has a son. I watched the episode an embarrassing number of times. I loved it so much. They were separated for so long on the show that I think I forgot how great the chemistry is between Danai and Andy. I wish she'd told him about RJ, but I understand why she didn't. She needs him to not go off and do something impulsive.
I think the only hope is if they can overthrow the CRM. In World Beyond, they talked about how the CRM was only supposed to have autonomy for ten years. Then it's subject to civilian oversight. It's definitely been longer than ten years. Maybe they can capitalize on that. Someone on Reddit screenshot a moment where people were holding picket signs - possibly against the CRM. Maybe there's already unrest brewing, like we saw at the Commonwealth.
I found an account that does really good Easter egg/breakdowns of each episode. This is the one for last night's episode:
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Post by Kao on Mar 5, 2024 0:37:26 GMT
I heard that AMC put the first episode on YouTube, so I'm gonna find it and watch.
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Post by waywyrd on Mar 5, 2024 0:41:55 GMT
It's been so long I had forgotten that Rick doesn't even know about RJ. When he asked Michonne about Judith and not RJ, I was like damn, Rick! Then I remembered. Yeah, the CRM has to go down. I loved that shot of Michonne scanning the complex while holding Nat's lighter.
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Post by Critical on Mar 5, 2024 3:21:50 GMT
I really recommend watching World Beyond, if you have access to it (not sure if it's available OnDemand - I watched it on AMC+). There's SO much about the CRM that I missed when I watched it the first time. The teenage drama stuff isn't terribly interesting, but there's quite a lot about the workings of the CRM and the evil things being done there.
So, we learned in this episode that the walker herds migrate with the seasons. Interesting too that the group that Nat, Aiden and Bailey were a part of just kept moving. Even the "building" where Michonne met the leader at the beginning of the episode was on wheels.
I loved Michonne using the walker to pull Nat's wagon. Why has no one else thought of that!? Oh, and we learn that Nat is the one who made her new armor.
I think it was that video I linked to above where he explains that "shoto," Judith's code name, means "little sword." Perfect.
Kao - as good as the first episode is, the second one is even better!
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Post by Critical on Mar 10, 2024 22:47:09 GMT
NO spoilers for this week's episode, but Rick had one of the best lines of the entire WDU this week!
This one is FULL of tension and suspense. I can't wait until next week....although then we'll only have two more episodes These 6-episode seasons go WAY too fast!
Danai wrote the next episode. I think it's going to be a good one!
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Post by waywyrd on Mar 14, 2024 12:34:40 GMT
"You're a hero. With a shit haircut." I was rolling. This season is going way too fast. I appreciate the lack of filler that TWD sometimes had, but 6 episodes seems too short...
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Post by Critical on Mar 18, 2024 3:48:21 GMT
I had an early work morning today, so I couldn't watch the episode last night. I just now finished it and Oh. My. God. It was excellent. Written by Danai and some of the best acting from her and from Andy as these characters, ever. I wish Danai had been given the chance to write for the mothership series.
I'm so sad there are only 2 more episodes. I want to believe that both characters survive and there's a chance they'll do a second season, but I worry that one of them is going to die I need more time with this story!
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Post by waywyrd on Mar 18, 2024 23:07:54 GMT
That was some fine acting from both of them, even though I wanted to smack Rick when he wouldn't shake that defeatist attitude. I think she got through to him at the end? I mean, he had a perfect out with that wrecked helicopter... And someone was cutting onions in my house when Rick started talking about Carl.
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Post by Critical on Mar 19, 2024 0:12:17 GMT
That was some fine acting from both of them, even though I wanted to smack Rick when he wouldn't shake that defeatist attitude. I think she got through to him at the end? I mean, he had a perfect out with that wrecked helicopter... And someone was cutting onions in my house when Rick started talking about Carl. That whole scene got me. When he talked about dying in order to live and how he didn't know if he could die again if he lost her. OMG. I think that's the best acting we've ever seen from Andy.
Danai's script was incredible. It's so clear why she's won an Obie and been nominated for a Tony. She really got to the heart of these characters and gave us SO much of what we haven't gotten from them both on this show, but also on WD. Especially on WD, there were just too many characters to allow for a whole hour with just two people, mostly just talking.
Obviously, this isn't going to be an easy road trip home to Alexandria, but I hope we get a happy ending with neither of them dying.
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Post by Critical on Mar 24, 2024 8:36:33 GMT
I'm up late watching episode 5 and OMG. There's a cameo in the first few minutes of the episode that had me squealing! It was so unexpected. It was right up there with Simon showing up on Dead City. No spoilers, but based on the preview for the finale, I have NO idea how this is going to end. All I know is that I want more! I've seen speculation online that one of them will die, but I have to believe that Andy and Danai KNOW the fans would be devastated. I think this series has been for the fans, and I can't imagine they'd break everyone's hearts. Having one of them die would I thought this would end up being a spoiler about the TOWL finale next week. Khary Payton (Gabriel) posted something on his IG about how excited he was about something coming up. Turns out, it's NOT WD-related. He just got cast as the new (old?) Black Panther (T'Challa's grandfather) in the Rise of Hydra movie. Very cool!
The preview for the finale did not call it the series finale. I have hope for another season! I need a reunion with Rick and Michonne and the kids AND Daryl!
BTW Danai did a "Talking About the Dead" interview with Yvette Nicole Brown on her IG this past week. It's in three parts and covers a lot about the third episode. Really good.
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Post by waywyrd on Mar 25, 2024 15:03:38 GMT
New walker unlocked! I'm totally confused as to why they drove all the way to Montana, but I guess there was a reason.
Not sure if all that was supposed to make me feel for Jadis, but...I don't. I'm happy that mess ended like it did. And I enjoyed that cameo, even if I think he's nuts for meeting someone who has tried to kill him previously. Red flags much?
I have to assume there will be a second season, no way can they wrap all that up in one episode. Rick has to get this mysterious "Echelon Briefing," Michonne has to make good on her promise to take out the CRM, and they need to get back home.
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Post by Critical on Mar 26, 2024 3:46:06 GMT
I'm still laughing over Tasteful Noods
They were on their way to the Cascades Base (PNW) - and I think they had to have been pretty close - when she hurled them both out of the helicopter, so they'd have a lot of states to drive through to get back home to Alexandria. I think (hope?) there might be a second season. Since there was so much blow back (including from some actors) when they announced Dead City before TWD ended, thus spoiling the series finale, maybe they're waiting to make any season 2 announcements until season 1 is over I mean, if they announced a second season before episode 2 aired, we'd know that they both survive.
I've seen some grousing about the romance of this series, but I love it. Plus, they described this series as being about their relationship. It fits. I love the stuff with the ring, the proposal, how he'd wanted to get married on the bridge when it was finished. Loved it all.
I wanted Jadis to die. She needed to die. Still, her line about wishing she'd died an artist was pretty poignant. I've seen discussion online - clearly from people who didn't pay attention - about who painted those portraits at Hilltop. I thought it was pretty clear, not only because they showed her with Gabriel as he described that woman in his congregation and she drew her, but because they're signed with her freaking name! Apparently, some people believe you can only paint someone's portrait if you've seen them with your own eyes They've ever heard of police artists before
I know Danai and Andy have said that they want to give the fans the conclusion to the story, but IMO, without those reunions we all want to see, it can't really be finished.
When you think about it, Gabriel was the perfect person to see Anne/Jadis. I mean, she's using his last name. She used it on World Beyond too. He obviously made an impact on her life. I did worry, right up until the end, that she would kill him.
I haven't seen anything about how long the finale is going to be, but I hope it'll be extra long. It seems like they have a lot of ground to cover....although I'm still hoping there will be a second season.
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Post by Critical on Mar 31, 2024 7:45:53 GMT
Okay, I'm watching the finale right now and I'm so stressed I had to pause it They really know how to ratchet up the suspense!
I'm literally so nervous that my hands are tingling
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Post by Critical on Apr 1, 2024 0:42:51 GMT
I've watched the finale three times already. I won't say anything more than that because I don't want to spoil it! Kao - no spoilers, but the series is worth getting the free AMC+ trial to watch it. I think they just give you a week, but you can watch the 6 episodes quickly. Heck, AND watch the Daryl series too. It's excellent. Dead City was pretty good too. I watched both of those series again this week. With only 6 episodes each, they're both a pretty quick watch. Tonight, AMC is airing the season 2 preview of the Daryl series after the TOWL finale. I'm excited, especially after re-watching season one.
ETA: Again, no spoilers, but Danai Gurira needs to give the DP a HUGE thank you. She looks incredible in the finale. Absolutely luminous in some scenes.
Someone else needs to watch this so I can talk about it!
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Post by waywyrd on Apr 1, 2024 2:39:25 GMT
I had to watch in real time tonight. WOW. I wasn't sure if we were going to get a happy ending with all that going on, but they finally gave us what we all wanted.
The non stop commercials were infuriating, though.
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Post by Critical on Apr 1, 2024 3:43:17 GMT
I had to watch in real time tonight. WOW. I wasn't sure if we were going to get a happy ending with all that going on, but they finally gave us what we all wanted. The non stop commercials were infuriating, though. I know! I was shocked too. One of the other benefits to watching on AMC+, along with early releases of the episodes, is no commercials.
{Spoiler tagging this, since I just tagged Kao a few posts up and don't want her to be spoiled!} I've watched the last few minutes at least ten times and bawled every time. I'm SO happy that they got that reunion with the kids. It's exactly what so many of us wanted. I don't think Anthony Azor (RJ) should act any more. He's just not very good. Cailey Fleming, OTOH, did so much in just a few minutes. As soon as Judith locked eyes with Rick, I started crying. I've already seen complaints online about how it felt rushed or how people wanted reunions with everyone at Alexandria and I don't think that was going to happen. First of all, they knocked down the Alexandria walls and don't have access to that location any more. Second, how on earth were they going to get so many cast members back AND keep it secret that they were all in one place together. I'd bet they shot that reunion where they did because it was easier to keep it secret. I mean, I LOOKED for spoilers and didn't find ANYTHING. They could do that scene with a camera or two and a handful of crew members. I love that they wrapped up the CRM plot quickly, got Jadis' dossier on Rick and Michonne (out of a wire cat's butt, no less ), killed the 3,000 red stripe troops and, as a result, saved Portland..... AND then reunited with their kids! In maybe 50 minutes. Pretty good. It would have been great if they'd gotten an extended finale and were able to bring in some other TWD cast members, but that's nitpicking. They wrapped up the story for us and gave fans what they wanted. I'm happy.
I saw a comment online about the time frame of the original show and TOWL and it was surprising, even for a WD super nerd like me. Rick was with the original group for maybe 3 years and it's been around ELEVEN since The Fall. That's crazy. I think it would seem like less time but for the kids growing up. You can keep the adults in the same clothes and make them look the same, but you can't stop puberty
The Book of Carol preview is out now. I cannot wait!
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Post by waywyrd on Apr 1, 2024 23:35:36 GMT
I agree the ending was a *bit* rushed, but no way were they going to be able to show reunions with everyone. I have to wonder about the plants the CRM had in other communities - are they Thorne-level loyal or will they let "the plan" go? They were thisclose to taking Portland out... Beale said something about the dead being walking petri dishes, spreading who knows what to the living. I never thought about that but it makes sense. Very much looking forward to Carol and Daryl!
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Post by Critical on Apr 2, 2024 2:28:05 GMT
I agree the ending was a *bit* rushed, but no way were they going to be able to show reunions with everyone. I have to wonder about the plants the CRM had in other communities - are they Thorne-level loyal or will they let "the plan" go? They were thisclose to taking Portland out... Beale said something about the dead being walking petri dishes, spreading who knows what to the living. I never thought about that but it makes sense. Very much looking forward to Carol and Daryl! I thought those 3,000 CRM soldiers who were killed were the hard core "strike force" from across the country who had drunk the KoolAid so-to-speak and were going to carry out Beale's orders, while the rest of the military were regular military who didn't realize what was going on with Beale. They do still have to worry about the various people who Beale said were planted in various communities around the world. What will they do now?
I think they could have done ten episodes, but when was enough going to be enough? I'm sure they were limited in episodes and air time by AMC. They did what they could do within those constructs and I think they did a great job. I don't have a lot of complaints and they're mostly about cast members who I fell in love with in a short period of time, only to see them killed off. It's TWD, so what did I expect?
I'm watching the season again, but the "Cast Diaries" version on AMC+, which includes some behind-the-scenes stuff and cast interviews, basically where the commercials would be. I'm reminded of how much I liked Esteban. They need to do a lighthearted series just following Esteban around. He was a whole series all on his own. The line about Rick giving him a scowl as a gift
I've seen some pics on IG of Norman and Melissa together on set and it's clearly the new series. She's wearing that leather jacket we saw her wear in the season finale and that sneak peek. I'm excited! I don't think they'll unite Carol and Daryl as quickly as they did Michonne and Rick, but I hope we get a lot of stuff with them together.
I keep seeing comments from Gimple and others, being coy about the future of the franchise, but I'd love it if we got more episodes with ALL of the actors once the spinoffs end. Even a short series would be a dream. I definitely need a Daryl-Rick reunion.
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Post by Critical on Apr 10, 2024 23:55:48 GMT
No word on a premiere date.
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