Looking at the threads for the first half of season 4:
“The Walking Dead”; Episode 4:1 tonight
Comics are discussed. Someone comments that they didn’t like the Governor in the comics, and tv Gorvernor bored him. Someone comments that the word “zombie” is never used in the show or in the comics, plus that the comics was more about the end of the world and less about zombies specifically. Someone else points out that in the comic, and in the show, the whole premise is stunningly nihilistic. If the premise is that nothing will ever go well, don’t make things go badly due to stupidity. Not one single complaint or even mention that comics are off-topic for the thread.
The Walking Dead; 4.02 “Infected” (open spoilers)
No mention of the comics.
The Walking Dead; 4.03 “Isolation” (open spoilers)
Someone points out that one of the complaints about the comics is that all the characters have the same personality, which matches some of the complaints in the thread about the show. Someone else agrees about the comics but points out it may be tough with such a large cast and black and white art. Not one single complaint or even mention that comics are off-topic for the thread.
The Walking Dead; 4.04 “Indifference” (open spoilers)
Tons of comics discussion. It’s openly stated that killing Rick would be a radical departure from the comics. This is responded to with discussion of why, NOT complaints about spoilers from the comics. Someone else comments that the show is trying to touch on all the same issues as the comics. Someone comments that Tyreese seems useless, which draws a reply with a spoiler-boxed description of Tyreese’s role in the comics. That’s replied to with what amounts to “Cool, thanks, didn’t read the comics so didn’t know.” Someone else comments that they hope the show writers leave the comics behind. Another person comments that the original comics are about the end of the world, not zombies. Someone half-mocks the silly characters from the comics fitting into a real-world scenario like a “council.” To quote: “I keep forgetting this is a comic book adaptation. Okay, chick with a sword, guy with a crossbow, cowboy sheriff - alright.” Not one single complaint or even mention that comics are off-topic for the thread.
The Walking Dead; 4.05 “Internment” (open spoilers)
In response to complaints about the (stupid) writing of the show, a reply says come on, it’s based on a comic book; it’s not winning any writing awards. This is replied to with why not? The early issues of the comic were intelligently written. Someone else agrees. Someone points out that Michonne’s pets were stupid, and were just fan service for fans of the comics. Not one single complaint or even mention that comics are off-topic for the thread.
The Walking Dead; 4.06 “Live Bait” (open spoilers)
No mention of the comics. (Unusually short episode thread. Only 57 posts.)
The Walking Dead; 4.07 “Dead Weight” (open spoilers)
No mention of the comics.
The Walking Dead; 4.08 “Too Far Gone” (open spoilers)
The Governor is referred to as a “literal comic-book villain.” (heh) Someone else posts an unspoilered description of how all the show events we just saw happened in the comics, which had some similarities and some differences. This is replied to with a polite, single sentence post: “It’s considered bad form to post unspoiled stuff from the comic books here.” At this point, someone else jumps in to say that comics should be left out of the discussion entirely, as was hashed out in season 1 threads. (No cite.) This sparks a discussion about comic spoiler in threads. Ellen Cherry then issues a mod ruling out of the blue that comic book discussion is not allowed in episode threads. This feels highly inappropriate and out of place, contrary to how the threads have been going all season. After the mod announcement, someone points out that Daryl doesn’t exist in the comics. Someone comments that the (low) quality of the writing may be because the show is written by the comic book writer. Someone takes offense. Someone else comments that they’re losing interest in the show even though they quite like the comics. That same moderator is continuing to participate in the thread, never mentioning all these rules violation, and never (still to this day) boxing the unboxed spoilers that caused the drama in the first place.
Oops, I kept going past the mid-season break without realizing it. I thought it went to 4.10, but it only goes to 4.08. Well, since I already did the recap, here it is:
The Walking Dead; 4.09 “After” (open spoilers)
It’s pointed out that Michonne’s pets are a stupid comic buy idea only intended to look cool, not make sense. Someone else points out that the characters can’t change clothes because the show is based on comic books. Meaning they have costumes they have to wear. Someone else reiterates that Michonne’s pets are bad comic book writing, and points out that the show has changed other comic book stuff. Someone explains what Michonne’s pets did in the comics that was so bad that she’d turn them into pets. Not one single complaint or even mention that comics are off-topic for the thread.
My comment on the dust-up from episode 4.08 is that it could have been much more easily resolved with a simple spoiler box from the mod instead of the mod making a pronouncement that all of a sudden, contrary to most TWD threads, the comics no longer exist in threads. This is highlighted by the fact that after the pronouncement, people kept talking about the comics, and that same moderator kept posting so there’s no way she missed it.
I think it’s also worth pointing out that the poster who escalated the “please use a spoiler box” into “comics shouldn’t exist in these threads” is the OP of this poll thread.
