The Big Scary U

Well, we finally got the return of Negan this week as he's been locked away with Father Gabriel in that small building for 4 weeks (but likely only a few hours in the show's timeline). Either way, it was nice to get him back, and we got quite a few nuggets of information based on his life before the outbreak. Before Robert Kirkman spilled the beans on Talking Dead last week, I wouldn't have predicted the show would ever divulge such info. Some things are better left unsaid right?

With that said, I really enjoyed Negan's back and forth with Gabriel (or as Negan calls him, Gabe(e)), it was something both characters needed. We needed to see Gabriel in a situation where he can stand up to someone in power, it's not something we have been able to get from his awkward and even creepy character. And it was also nice to see Negan in a different light. The tidbits of information he gave to Gabriel about having a wife and not being able to put her down when the time came was interesting. Not exactly something stunning or anything we haven't heard before with other characters. But it did feel a little bit more interesting coming from Negan.

Rick and Daryl had another episode where they shared most of their screen time with each other. Again, I like the fact that we are getting these moments with the two of them because it feels like it's been a few years since we have. However, the two of them ended up on the wrong side of their punches, breaking out into a small scuffle after they disagreed on tactics towards taking out the Sanctuary. It's hard to really pick which one is right in this situation. I understand why Rick wants to think about the innocent lives considering from the beginning that was always their motto of taking people in from the outside. But how can you not think about the consequences of NOT using full force towards the Sanctuary? You know that it's going to come down to a big decision and Rick will be on the short end of the stick. It always has to get a little bit worse before it can get better again.

Even though we did have to endure another Walker escape while being covered in Walker guts, tonight's episode was a good one. Things are escalating at the Sanctuary with Dwight edging closer and closer to meeting his end, while Gabriel all of a sudden got really sick. So while I don't think this season is moving as fast as they marketed it to be, I still very much enjoyed the dialogue tonight. It's far from filler.

8.4/10

You've got to admire Negan. He is the perfect example of the the successful psychopath leader. They represent him as many true leaders actually are, dictators who killed millions of people for a specific purpose. It's all utilitarian with him. I am glad they didn't just get an average criminal role and the actor plays it perfectly well.

It's great to see Negan again after such a long absence in the series. Well, it certainly seemed that way! It's great to learn more about such an important character. I love how Gabriel says at the beginning that maybe he was sent to redeem Negan. It's not just them as we get some great scenes from Daryl and Rick as well. There's even a lot of talking scenes with many of the minor characters. I admit that this episode didn't have as much action as most, but it didn't matter because it was still awesome! It was quite easy to follow.

We just get more insight onto the characters. This series always was in fact about the psychological implications of a zombie apocalypse. Or should I say walker apocalypse. I'm glad to have been familiar with the comic books even though I haven't read them in a long time. We're getting more built up to how the good guys are going to handle the saviors. I feel bad for that really hated review below me. For once, I won't have the most hated review of an episode! I think that 16 minute opening is the longest in the show's run. ****

Oh my god i really cant look at Eugenes face anymore. His boring lifeless expression, it almost seems he is continuously constipated. Negan is even worse with his stupid grin, the only thing he does now is talking about genitals, feces and other BS. Rick and Daryl fighting each other didn't make no sense at all but then again these two guys are the only one that makes watching this messy episode bearable. 3/10

A "Glenn" is where a cliffhanger finally continues after 2 (or more) full episodes not covering the topic, in this case Father Gabriel and Negan. I find this form of storytelling very hackneyed and cliché.

We backtrack to a big meeting with Savior leadership before Rick and posse arrives (3 episodes ago) for a verbal duel and assault on the compound. Afterwards, we cut back and forth between the trailer, the Savior top captains, and the dynamic duo of Rick and Daryl. I get why Negal feels what he does is for the best, however he is a bad guy. As we know, killing select "good guys" as a lesson to everyone empowers the "bad guys". People are a resource, true, yet you destroy in a world without real production (burn mattresses) and enslave.

Frankly, I'm weary of his banter. Don't get me wrong, I get pretty vulgar, but one big attraction to the series initially was how crude language wasn't necessary to get the desperate survival theme across. It is commonplace now among all the characters and cheapens the show.

The only semi-dramatic engaging moment was when Father Gabriel and Negan confessed some of their past with one another, otherwise I wasn't fully captivated by the story-line. Oh look, issue resolved, truck with big weapons blows up. Stupid plot devices.

I think the series has become a parody of itself, amazing to think the plot quality has dropped in efforts to get "ratings" when the same efforts are losing the same people which gave them the awesome ratings. Half the household no longer watches it for these reasons, and now I'm near finding other things I'd rather do than continue following the mess.

Thank you.