Stradivarius

This what most would call a filler episode but too be honest everything this episode covered developed the new characters and the cast as a whole into a new set of story's and mystery while also keeping the creepiness of the "Talking Zombies" till next week !!

This season has been so amazing. It grips you to your seat and keeps you thinking what is going to happen next. Good job.

I think one of the biggest issues with the past couple seasons is I really lost feelings for a large majority of the characters, this season completely fixes that and has me caring again. I already love Maginas entire group, The former savior DJ who seems to be Michonne's right hand is really starting to grow on me and Siddiq is finally stepping up for a bigger part and becoming a favorite of mine as well. Overall this season really has been the best in years and I think it's safe to say it will remain that way with Angela Kang at helm.

It's sad how much intolerance people have against the new season. I think they did the best they could to save the series given the fact that two lead roles already have gone to vacation. If you could not give it another chance just stop watching, but go on with your lives and stop ruining the ratings without even seen the episodes. The quality is obviously back on it's roots.

'The Walking Dead' "Stradivarius" (2018)

Opening thoughts: Actually was incredibly impressed by all the previous Season 9 episodes and Season 9 on the whole was a massive improvement over the previous two seasons easily. "Stradivarius" having said that was a bit disappointing. Not that it is bad, it is actually still good with many things being great and it was wonderful to see development to a character that had not been properly focused on for ages. Just that all the previous Season 9 episodes were tighter paced and had more consistent writing.

Bad things: Getting the not so good things out of the way, for my tastes it was too slow for my tastes. Due to having a little too much content that didn't add very much, some of it dragged out.

Especially in the final act, which is rather contrived.

Good things: "Stradivarius" is primarily compensated though by two things. One is the character development for Daryl, who is at his most interesting here since what feels (and has been) a long time. Character development that actually progresses him and that is insightful and not dumbed down or contradictory. The other is Norman Reedus, who is outstanding in a performance that wrenches the gut in a tense and moving way.

Furthermore, it is a very stylishly and atmospherically made episode, with no signs of self indulgent gimmicks or showing off. The music is also full of atmosphere of the haunting and ominous kind, while also having emotion that is not spelled out. There are thrills and suspense when the episode is more eventful with little coming over as ridiculous or chaotic. The massive improvement in the writing obvious in the previous Season 9 episodes carries over into this one too. The previous two seasons had a lot of (too much) extraneous talk, long winded-ness and soap-opera, next to none of that is here apart from some long winded-ness early on but even that was done far worse in Seasons 7 and 8. Instead the scripting is tight and thoughtful on the whole, treating the characters and the viewer with respect.

On the whole, the story compels and has intrigue and emotion. None of the characters frustrated me, with none of the intelligence insultingly ridiculous and vague decision makings and motivations that plagued too much of Season 7 and nearly all of Season 8. The acting is very good, outstanding in the case of Reedus.

Concluding thoughts: All in all, good but not great.

7/10.