The Walking Dead; 4.08 "Too Far Gone" (open spoilers)

[Algernon]

@SenorBeef

The thing is - if this show was made up on the fly by a 13 year old in English class, it’d be a pretty good effort. But the production of this show involves months of time and millions of dollars and a crew of hundreds. What does it say that with all the months spent in the writers room with professional writers all bouncing ideas off each other that the random critiques and suggestions people make up on the fly on a message board are drastically better than what they can come up with?

Any five random people from this thread would write a much tighter, more compelling, more logical, more consistent show.

Well said. This is precisely what bugs me most about this show. I really don’t like any of the characters (even Daryl) but the worst is the writing – it is terrible. The overall story arc is fine but they don’t seem to care about the details and the pacing is overly slow (to milk the ratings I guess).

Sigh. But I do like zombies and the associated special effects, though even there my patience is wearing thin because of the stupid consistency-of-cardboard skulls.

[EllisDee]

@SenorBeef

with all the months spent in the writers room with professional writers all bouncing ideas off each other

Isn’t the show basically written by the comic book writer? Not exactly a novelist.

[DigitalC]

@carnivorousplant

He was the brother of the guy the (Don’t Call Me That) Governor whacked. I didn’t know that he was military. Perhaps he wasn’t a tanker.

He said he was military and specifically that he drove a tank. I imagine it would be very hard for any random person to drive a tank or learn to fire the main gun without a lot of very dangerous trial and error.

[Push_You_Down]

@EllisDee

Isn’t the show basically written by the comic book writer? Not exactly a novelist.

:dubious:
Whoa… kind of uncalled for jerk-ery and elitism.

1. Kirkman actually doesn’t write much of the show–he’s not even the show runner.
2. Walking Dead is one of the most popular independent comics of all time and won an Eisner in 2010. It’s probably better than the majority of novels that get put out.

Also, I don’t ever care for the guy or his writing, but that comment was just odd.

[Ellen_Cherry]

So thanks to Cinnamon’s sharp observation skills, I don’t have to worry about zombaby Judith during the hiatus — or the fact that she may have been abandoned! Although I was momentarily distracted by the amusing question of whether a baby Walker would walk, crawl, toddle or what.

Hey! Spin-off for Carol idea: The Crawling Dead. Instead of the governor, she could be the governess! <rimshot>

[carnivorousplant]

Has anyone pointed out that the child carrier was unbuckled?

[Ellen_Cherry]

Yes, that’s how we knew actual human beings must have her. If not, it would still be buckled and bloody from some zombie chowing down on her.

[emarkp]

More bad writing. I can’t say I’m interested in this show anymore. (Whereas I’ve found the comic to be generally quite good.) Now that they’ve killed off the only decent actor in the bunch, I can’t manage to be interested in how the story continues.

One nice inversion from the writers: the children who saved Tyreese only did so because of Carol’s training. Because the writing is mostly crap, that’ll probably never be pointed out. Meh.

It’s a shame they killed off Andrea, since she was supposed to be the budding crack shot. Could have helped in this situation.

[gytalf2000]

I have a question about Herschel’s initial neck wound from the katana blade. Would it actually be possible for someone to take such a cut and still be crawling about like he was doing?

[carnivorousplant]

@gytalf2000

I have a question about Herschel’s initial neck wound from the katana blade. Would it actually be possible for someone to take such a cut and still be crawling about like he was doing?

On television.

[Cat_Whisperer]

@SenorBeef

<snip>
Any five random people from this thread would write a much tighter, more compelling, more logical, more consistent show.

Sweeet! I volunteer - I’ve read all the zombie books there are (well, if I haven’t read it yet, I will).

@FXMastermind

<snip>

I mean it. There isn’t really an intelligent one in the group, except Rick’s son. He wanted to just shoot the madman, and he was right. He is pretty much always right.

And Rick keeps not understanding that Carl is much more suited to this new world than Rick is. Well, we’ve seen a few glimpses this time that Rick might be starting to get it.

@gytalf2000

I have a question about Herschel’s initial neck wound from the katana blade. Would it actually be possible for someone to take such a cut and still be crawling about like he was doing?

So, Michonne uses that blade to decapitate walkers regularly with a flick of her wrist, and the governor can’t manage to hack an old man’s head off with two hands and a running start. Blade dulled by plot requirements!

[Lightnin]

@Cat_Whisperer

So, Michonne uses that blade to decapitate walkers regularly with a flick of her wrist, and the governor can’t manage to hack an old man’s head off with two hands and a running start. Blade dulled by plot requirements!

As I understand it, katanas require a “draw cut”- you basically pull back along the blade as you move it forward. You can’t just hack at your target and expect to do any serious damage, as the blade just isn’t very heavy. Most people wouldn’t know how to cut with it correctly.

I was actually surprised the Guv cut as deeply as he did.

[Push_You_Down]

@emarkp

One nice inversion from the writers: the children who saved Tyreese only did so because of Carol’s training. Because the writing is mostly crap, that’ll probably never be pointed out. Meh.

My theory is Tyrese ends up encountering Carol on the road and they bond…and then Daryl or Rick eventually tells him that Carol murdered his girlfriend.

[brewha]

What I’m amazed about is how the grenade ended up inside the tank. If only the barrel of that tank were designed to contain explosions. If only…

[carnivorousplant]

@Lightnin

As I understand it, katanas require a “draw cut”- you basically pull back along the blade as you move it forward.

Like sushi.

[carnivorousplant]

@brewha

What I’m amazed about is how the grenade ended up inside the tank. If only the barrel of that tank were designed to contain explosions. If only…

Someone upthread explained to me that the breech (the rear end of the gun, where you put the shells) is large enough for a grenade to roll inside the tank.

[brewha]

Any trained tank operator would know not to leave the breach open. So, unless Daryl got incredible lucky and rolled the grenade in there at the exact time that they were reloading, nothing would have happened.

Though, in the land of poor writing, this should be the least of nits to pick.

[Bryan_Ekers]

I was cheering when the girl got bitten and cheering when the other girls started shooting.
I have no idea what this says about me, if anything.

[carnivorousplant]

@Bryan_Ekers

I was cheering when the girl got bitten and cheering when the other girls started shooting.
I have no idea what this says about me, if anything.

You should speak to your Physician or Clergyman.

[simster]

@brewha

Any trained tank operator would know not to leave the breach open. So, unless Daryl got incredible lucky and rolled the grenade in there at the exact time that they were reloading, nothing would have happened.

Though, in the land of poor writing, this should be the least of nits to pick.

There’s also the possibility that the tank driver didn’t even consider the need to close the breech - he yelled ‘grenade’ - if there was someone else in theere, they may not have even known to do so.