The Walking Dead 5.1 "No Sanctuary" (spoiler alert)

[NewJeffCT]

posting it early today, but we're at the season 5 premiere today.

Rick and the group find themselves in a vulnerable situation in the Season 5 opener.


Some trailers

some articles:
http://www.npr.org/2014/10/10/355130974/amcs-the-walking-dead-is-a-hit-show-with-two-meanings

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/10/10/the-walking-dead-five-bloody-questions-for-season-5/

You can even watch the opening scene:
http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead

[NewJeffCT]

1. A few more articles

From Camus to Zombies
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/10/pandemics-pop-culture-walking-dead-ebola

Showrunner Scott Gimple talks about the comic book
http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/10/11/walking-dead-showrunner-scott-gimple-season-5-comic/

We're not the character death show:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-bosses-were-not-739191

[Solly Mack]

2. I'm so nervous!

and excited!

[NewJeffCT]

3. I wonder

if we'll get any "core" group members killed off this year - Rick, Carl, Michonne, Carol, Glenn, Maggie, Daryl? Not sure if I consider Tyreese, Sasha, Bob, Abraham, Eugene or Rosita as "core" members yet, nor Beth.

[Solly Mack]

4. Sasha says something about losing 3? We've lost 3 or We're missing 3...something like that.

In one of the trailers.

Abraham looks completely out of his mind with grief and anger in one scene, so maybe Rosita gets it? Maybe Eugene?

Both?

The show doesn't mind killing off core people and it would be a season premiere shocker to talk about for days to come.

I wonder if Beth makes it but I think she might. Everyone expects her to die....and Daryl would still feel so guilty.....but be so happy to see her alive. I don't want Daryl carrying around that guilt of losing her...and not being able to save her. And I want the perceived weak link to show survival isn't always about being the stronger fighter....it takes brains, cunning...and even chance. The "fittest" doesn't necessarily mean the meanest or strongest. Adaptability plays a huge role. Beth has shown she can adapt to circumstances.

I don't see Rick, Carl, Michonne or Daryl dying tonight. But any of the others might. Well, maybe not Glenn or Maggie either. I think Maggie is going to be pregnant further along in the show. I think Judith will be OK. Babies growing up with nothing but a world of zombies is a theme to possibly explore....sorta a comparison with Carl who knew a life before zombies.

But I don't know. Just thinking out loud.

[NewJeffCT]

5. I think Glenn makes it

The preview with the guy behind him with the baseball bat is a fake out, I think.

[Solly Mack]

6. I think so too.

I hope so anyway.

[NewJeffCT]

7. as they say on another show...

Valar Morghulis.... All men must die

[Solly Mack]

9. Now you've done it!

I miss that show!

[Laffy Kat]

12. Great speculation.

I agree with everything you surmise. I tell ya, though: if Michonne dies I'll be very, very upset and might stop watching. She carries more than her weight on that series. It would be so cool if Michonne and Rick get together. Oh, and Daryl and Beth. I'm such a matchmaker!

[Solly Mack]

13. I hope Rick and Michonne get together too.

They've really already formed a family unit within the larger family group. (Rick, Carl, Michonne)

I would like Daryl and Beth to get together.

[Laffy Kat]

14. We are on the same wave length.

It'll be fun tonight. Thought 10/12 would never get here. And YES, before anyone wonders, I do have a life.

[Solly Mack]

15. I have a life too....it just includes The Walking Dead. :)

Make up and photo by me.

[Laffy Kat]

16. That is sooooper, Solly Mack.

I am impressed.

[DebJ]

132. Talking Dead talked about Beth. Don't read if you don't want to know what was said....

Here's what was said:
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She is alive, for now.

[Solly Mack]

134. Yeah, I saw that and I saw a clip with her in it.

I hope she stays alive.

[GOLGO 13]

145. Tough to say. Some of your "core group" members have already been killed off in the comic and

Some in your 2nd group are still alive in the comic.

However, Daryl is wildly popular and IMO 100% safe. He's not in the comic and his IP is owned by AMC. Also Daryl's image is heavily used in the secondary market (t-shirts, toys, etc).

Michonne, is a key core group member and also wildly popular. Her survivability is unknown till Kirkman decides what her fate will be.

Rick is the key member in all of this and I don't see Kirkman/the network allowing it's star to exit stage left before the very final episodes.

[NewJeffCT]

146. good points

Andrea & Sophia are still alive in the comics, while Tyreese was the one that got his head chopped off by the Governor at the prison.

[GOLGO 13]

149. You are correct good sir. I do like these changes.

Seeing Sophia walk out of that barn shocked and angered me. Also, substituting Tyreese for Hershel made the beheading much more emotionally compelling.

Glad to see there is some progress to stop redshirting all the black men in these things.

[NewJeffCT]

150. Yes, and the women don't just stay behind

and keep the house clean & make dinner for the men-folk like they did in season 2.

And, I had made that point about TWD in Season 2 on one of their forums before - you're in Atlanta and in Georgia, a state that has a significant African-American population - and, the only black person in the entire group was T-Dog, who had maybe one line beyond "aw hell no" every other show. Didn't make sense to me. At least they seem to be more realistic about it now - so, if Bob, Tyreese or Sasha get killed, it won't be the "only" black character on the show.

[Laffy Kat]

8. Can't wait!

The four-minute preview was creeeeeeepeeeee. I have scheduled my entire day around the season premier tonight.

[NewJeffCT]

10. I did not watch the preview yet

I'm trying to resist the temptation.

[Laffy Kat]

11. I couldn't help it.

You obviously have more will power than I do!

[texanwitch]

17. Ok guys I will be working tonight.

Couldn't get off.

Let me know what happens.

[Solly Mack]

18. Sorry you have to work!

But just think of the fun thread you can read later!

[texanwitch]

20. I will not be able to read it until maybe 10 pm.

Thanks in advance.

[NewJeffCT]

21. sorry to hear that

Your input will be missed.

[Brigid]

19. I can't wait!

I ship for Maggie and Glenn.

[Solly Mack]

22. 1 hour to go.

Who has a nervous tummy besides me?

Watching last season's finale now.

[pinboy3niner]

23. What's the title of that finale?

I'd never seen the series until a week or so ago, and have been catching up via all the repeats AMC has been airing. I think I've seen almost all of them now but wondering how I'll know when I'm caught up. I've been too lazy to look up the website to find the answer. (Actually, I'm afraid of geting sidetracked by all the extras they probably have there.)

Note that that time zone differences mean you'll get the new premiere before those of us on the West Coast.

[Solly Mack]

24. Title is "A"

Don't read this thread again after the premiere starts on the east coast!!

Spoilers are always posted.

[pinboy3niner]

25. Thanks, Solly Mack

As expected, that one re-airs right before the premiere. At the moment they're running 'Alone' here.

I'm not too worried about spoilers--and I'm not very good on the characters' names so I might not know who you're talking about anyway.

[Solly Mack]

26. You're welcome! I love the show. Love the characters.

Spoilers don't bother me at all. I'm just as excited with or without them.

[NewJeffCT]

27. Oberyn Martell plays a big role in tonight's episode

with a smashing finish... looks like it could be curtains for Jesse Pinkman, too.

[pinboy3niner]

36. Fortunately for you, spoilers don't bother me

And besides, I have no idea who you're talking about.

[Solly Mack]

100. You're gonna LOVE this episode!

[Solly Mack]

28. OK. Gotta run....must devote my attention to the show.

4 minutes!!

[NewJeffCT]

29. just about to kick off

15 seconds

[Brigid]

30. Are y'all ready for some zombies!!

[NewJeffCT]

32. flashback to start

it seems - very brief

[NewJeffCT]

31. AMC can get pretty violent

but, the line Rick used in the graphic novels - "they're fucking with the wrong people" was way better than "screwing with"

[NewJeffCT]

33. wow

tear gas into the train car - the termites don't fuck around

[NewJeffCT]

34. who is the gagged blonde guy looking at Rick

like he was familiar?

[NewJeffCT]

35. wow

harsh end for those guys - bat to the head & a slit throat

[NewJeffCT]

37. bomb goes off

right as they go to the title sequence.

Rick still showing backbone as he's on the chopping block.

[Brigid]

38. I guess it makes no difference now.

HOLY SHITE!!

[NewJeffCT]

40. Nope

He looked like he recognized Rick, though.

[Liberal Veteran]

92. Was he part of the couple that met up with Carol and Rick...the hipster couple?

If so, sad end for him. Didn't they give him the watch that Carol picked up?

[NewJeffCT]

93. damn

good memory - I think you may be right.

[NewJeffCT]

96. follow up

you were definitely right - good memory. props to Liberal Veteran.

[Baitball Blogger]

112. Was that the couple where the girl never made it out of the town?

Last seen being eaten by zombies, and you never knew what happened to the guy?

[NewJeffCT]

115. yes, that was the same couple

The girl had a problem with her leg, so couldn't run fast enough and Rick saw her getting eaten. That was when Rick kicked Carol out of the group.

The guy is now playing the young Penguin on the TV show "Gotham"

[Baitball Blogger]

118. Interesting.

Sounds like he's working his way up the ladder.

[NewJeffCT]

39. short commercial break

moving to Carol & Tyreese now

[NewJeffCT]

41. Man

I really hate what the show has done to Tyreese. Major ass-kicker in the graphic novels, big cuddly wimp on the show.

[NewJeffCT]

42. Carol covering herself in zombie guts

hearkening back to episode 1.2

[Brigid]

43. Carol is giving new meaning to the term . . .

War paint.

[NewJeffCT]

44. wow

Carol playing Rambo - opening the gates of Terminus by blowing up the gas tank.

[Brigid]

45. Are we sure Carol wasn't In the Army or something?

[NewJeffCT]

46. as I said above

She's playing Rambo in this episode.

[NewJeffCT]

47. flaming zombies running wild

all through Terminus. Go Carol

[irisblue]

48. go Carol!

[Baitball Blogger]

49. Carol is the bad assest of the bad assests.

Wow. Fight like a girl!

[NewJeffCT]

51. yep

she's certainly the bad-ass

[Brigid]

52. You know why?

She just doesn't give a damn what she has to do. Pure survival mode.

[Baitball Blogger]

54. Survival mode AND an intelligent expression on her face.

Always thinking. Not just rote behavior.

[Brigid]

56. Yep. That too.

[NewJeffCT]

50. human meat hanging around

inside of Terminus.

[Brigid]

53. It'll be nightmares for me tonight.

[Baitball Blogger]

55. I do not see how they can establish a truce with these people to go to WA.

But, we will soon find out how that happens.

[Brigid]

58. No doubt . . .

There will be fierce arguments about that.

[irisblue]

57. special effects are disgusting

good job make up crew

[Baitball Blogger]

59. Now I know what the Maggie look-alike was for.

We're left to wonder who got their throat ripped out.

[irisblue]

60. do not piss off carol

[NewJeffCT]

61. Nope

she's been amazing

[Iris]

128. She's come a long way; that's for sure.

I loved when Rick hugged her. There's some redemption.

[Baitball Blogger]

64. Carol: Person you most want watching your back.

[NewJeffCT]

62. short lived guest appearance for Denise Crosby

one scene at the end of last season, one season this season.

[Baitball Blogger]

68. Was that her under those three or four zombies?

That was a good role for a shortie.

[NewJeffCT]

75. yes

very short

[irisblue]

63. tyreese!

[Baitball Blogger]

66. Yeah. That didn't look too promising.

Personally, this show is going to get a bad rep because it always kills off the leading black character. Black is the new red shirt!

[Iris]

129. I knew he wouldn't let anything happen to that baby.

He just warmed up on the zombies.

[NewJeffCT]

65. Damn, I hate TV Tyreese

maybe my favorite character in the graphic novels, now just a big wimp on the show.

[Brigid]

67. Aw Shite! Tyreese!

Last edited Sun Oct 12, 2014, 10:14 PM - Edit history (1)

That guy was right -- Tyreese should have killed him.

[NewJeffCT]

69. OK - Tyreese was a bad ass there

Not Carol level bad ass, but still kicked some butt

[irisblue]

70. tyreese has ovaries of tiantium

was he a parent before?

[NewJeffCT]

73. In the graphic novels

he had a teenage daughter. There was no Sasha the sister, either.

[Baitball Blogger]

71. Tyreese and Carol are the two new Superheros!

[NewJeffCT]

81. I hope it's a turning point for his character

He was kind of Rick's #2 guy in the comic - like Daryl on the show.

[irisblue]

72. weaponized? genomes? awww hell

[irisblue]

74. "they don't get to live"

WHERE IS CAROL?

[NewJeffCT]

76. Right there

great reunion

[irisblue]

77. never mind...

[Baitball Blogger]

78. Best ending ever!

...so far.

[NewJeffCT]

79. yeah, not too many happy endings

nice to get one after how intense the episode was - but, we still have a few minutes left for a twist

[irisblue]

80. well my blood pressure is waaay up

this was a fast hour.....

[NewJeffCT]

82. always seems to be

the group is getting pretty big, though.

[irisblue]

83. bless me father for I have sinned?

next epi

[NewJeffCT]

88. Yes, Father Gabriel

interesting character from the graphic novel

[NewJeffCT]

84. HOLY SHIT!!!!

MORGAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Baitball Blogger]

85. I clapped when I saw him!

This is going to be the best season. How did he know to follow that mark?

[irisblue]

87. I liked Morgan in the pilot

I hope he has not become a baddy

[Brigid]

86. That guy from season one!

What was his name -- Morgan?

[NewJeffCT]

89. Yes, Morgan

from Days Gone Bye - the very first episode. He & his son Duane saved Rick after he got out of the hospital

[Solly Mack]

90. Intense!!!!!......and....Morgan!!!!!

Yes!

Tyreese pissed me off and then he came through as he always does when push comes to shove.

But for a second there.....I was pissed but good. I'm Team Judith.

Carol go BOOM!

Whew.

I love Rick! He's just so resourceful. teehee

[charlie and algernon]

91. I think more happened in this episode than in all of season 2 at the farm

One of the best episodes of the series. That reunion at the end was of LOST quality. And MORGAN!!!

[NewJeffCT]

95. yeah, a lot of Season 2 was a drag

the season opener was good, the episode where they found Sophia, and then the last two episodes (death of Shane and the leaving of the farm) were very good, but the others were blah

[irisblue]

94. Carol, from an abused wife to dangerous woman

quite a character arc

[Solly Mack]

97. I'm still trying to come down from the episode.

[NewJeffCT]

98. yeah

I was almost misty eyed for the reunion. Only my thinking something bad might happen kept me away from that.

[Solly Mack]

99. I wondered if they would be attacked at the shack.

Seemed likely that any cannibal survivor might have thought to go there.

Because that's not the last we've seen of them, I think.

[wyldwolf]

101. aha, a secret "Marvel" ending! Was that Nick Fury?

[NewJeffCT]

102. No

that was Morgan - from Season 1, Episode 1. Morgan & his son Duane saved Rick that first episode, but Morgan couldn't kill his zombie wife at the time. In Season 3, Rick went out to see Morgan and he was super-crazy and armed to the teeth, but also mourning the loss of his son.

[wyldwolf]

104. I know, dude. I use sarcasm so often I just don't bother to use the tag

... wait! THIS could be sarcasm.

[Solly Mack]

103. It is just so wrong to eat people...and doubly wrong to eat your own brother.

Garrett was gonna eat his brother. The man on the slab that was being butchered was Garrett's brother. He got shot and killed last season after Rick saw the watch and other stuff.

[Solly Mack]

105. Preview coming up on Talking Dead

[Solly Mack]

106. Just a short clip of Father Gabriel.

Nothing good, really.

[pinboy3niner]

111. A few funny lines

Conan's Emmys as his preferred choice of weapon--with the advantage that the walkers would be stopping to read the bottom to see what he won for.

Talk of "getting the baby back" naturally led to rib jokes and 'Welcome Wagon Mary.'

But mostly the Talking Dead show was just a way of killing time until the premiere repeated immediately afterward.

[Solly Mack]

116. I boo-hissed the "baby back" ribs comment.

But I have to admit to almost laughing at first. I just hate the thought of Judith dying.

Conan was much funnier last night than usual. To me, anyway.

I watched it 3 times. (the episode)

There is always something new to see.

I can't wait until next Sunday!

I've come to the conclusion that the creators eased us back into the show this week. The group got out. Carol is back and she was the driving force behind their rescue. A reunion...4 actually. The group itself. Judith with her family. Carol and the group...especially Daryl. Tyreese and Sasha.

So viewers got a high. A happy high. We saw the group take out many of the cannibals. We got Carol going warrior woman. Rick telling the group they would survive...and then them surviving. We got Morgan back.

Now the dying off starts.

[NewJeffCT]

135. The only one missing

is Beth.

And, Michonne's sword.

[Solly Mack]

136. I think they'll find Beth. (I hope)

The cannibals took the sword, right?

[pinboy3niner]

137. Maybe Michonne and the sword will have a reunion, too. :) nt

[Solly Mack]

138. That would be special! :)

[pinboy3niner]

139. Hey, everybody else is doing it, right?

[Solly Mack]

140. lol! True. True.

She needs that sword. She's like Tyreese that way. She can take out 10-20 walkers at a time.

Remember the scene (from a past season) in the car (they were going to look for medicine) where Tyreese just sits there? Then he gets out, gets surrounded and still survives?

[kaiden]

107. Will AMC replay this episode this week?

We are on vacation in Mexico (I know) and I could not find it on the television.

[NewJeffCT]

108. I'm sure they will

just check the AMC schedule. If not, I know they'll play it this coming Sunday at 8pm

[pinboy3niner]

109. It repeated twice already and it will be on again early Sat. AM and at 8PM Sunday

They usually run the last episode immediately before the new one airs.

http://www.amctv.com/schedule#series/The Walking Dead

[kaiden]

133. Thanks!

[NewJeffCT]

110. As the group got onto the tracks going away from Terminus last night

Did anybody else think they have too many characters on the show?

I'm guessing at least a few of them don't make it past the mid season finale.

[Baitball Blogger]

113. Those herds are getting much bigger.

Something wicked this way comes.

[NewJeffCT]

114. remember back to last season

The Governor found a seemingly secure site of people, and then came back later, to find out they had been wiped out - and, not by walkers. Did they ever reveal how those people had died?

[Baitball Blogger]

120. I got the impression that it was the Governor who went back to slaughter those people.

Remember the signs at their camp? "Liar," was prominently displayed.

What was the word that the Governor said right before the slaughter began at the prison? "Liar.

[NewJeffCT]

122. you're probably right

now that I think about it.

[Duer 157099]

117. Things I don't understand: (spoilers, of course)

1) why are they butchering non-zombies? I just don't get that mindset when there are already a limited number of survivors.
2) why are they eating them? There's still food out there, why eat people?
3) why is the scientist guy protecting his secret so carefully? Is he afraid of someone tweeting out the cure and stealing his Nobel prize or something? Makes no sense to me.
4) is it really that easy to get such a large group of people to "turn" into cannibal assholes?

[Baitball Blogger]

119. Answers as best as I understand them.

1) The whole "Then" sequence at the end of the show was supposed to answer your question. Terminus was originally set up to be a sanctuary. The intentions were good. The signs were meant to attract people to them to develop a safe place. But, one of the groups that they attracted were vile men who attacked them, and raped the women--continuously. They were thrown as prisoners into their own train cabins. They were the first ones to be held that way. In the midst of the torture that came from this coup, they resolved to take back Terminus. When they succeeded, their group went nuts. Their new motto was, "If you're not the butcher, you're the cattle."

As people continued to follow the signs to Terminus two things would happen. The weak were immediately exterminated, and the strong were given the option to be one of them. (This last part we got from Talking Dead.)

The idea is that, given enough bad experiences, people will succumb to the worst. That was exactly what the conversation between Carol and Denise Crosby was at the end. Denise tells Carols that she is just like them. But Carol claimed that she will never be like that. We shall soon see if that's true.

This should also answer question no. 2 and 4.

Question 3) I can't answer your question without giving you a spoiler. I suggest you hold on and let the answer be revealed in due time. Just take special care to listen to every word he says, because he is dropping hints.

[Duer 157099]

121. Thanks BB

I did understand the "how" of what turned the group, I just don't quite buy it. But who knows, maybe if I were in a zombie apocalypse, I'd do the same.

As for the spoiler, I'm all ears if you want to reveal. My best guess would be something like: he plans to infect the living with a counter-virus of some sort. That would be the only reason I can think of that he wouldn't want to divulge it, absent Twitter.

[Baitball Blogger]

123. MAJOR SPOILER

If this story follows the comic book:

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Be sure you want to know because this will spoil the season for you.
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He's bluffing. He doesn't have an antidote to cure the zombie virus. He is just smart enough to use that ploy against the Sergeant in return for protection. One of the first things he told the Sergeant was, "Trust me. I'm smarter than you."

This is something we see in daily life. Fraudsters and con-artists that manipulate people by telling them things that they want to hear.

[pinboy3niner]

130. I thought it was something like that

I wondered if they might have another motive for the journey and they just used that to enlist support.

The explanation he gave is plausible, but it's a no-brainer. A bioweapon that works only against walkers is an obvious solution. But unless he has something specific in mind, there's a huge gap between the concept and the reality.

Thanks for the "spoiler." It doesn't ruin the season for me at all.

[DebJ]

131. That seemed the obvious conclusion from the look on his face, to me. n/t

[NewJeffCT]

124. Monster ratings for season premiere

There’s just no killing the zombies of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” as the mega-hit returned Sunday to open its fifth season with more record-setting ratings.

Nielsen estimates that an average audience of 17.3 million watched Sunday’s premiere, besting the show’s previous high — 16.11 million for its fourth-season premiere a year ago — by more than 1 million.

https://tv.yahoo.com/news/amc-walking-dead-returns-record-17-3-million-203349065.html

[Solly Mack]

125. I'm not surprised. It's a great show.

People I know who don't watch claim they don't like "zombie shows".

I tell them it's not about zombies. It's about how humans react to a world shattered...how they react to a world with the walking dead, yes - but mostly how they react as people. About their humanity.

[Brigid]

126. I wonder if . . .

AMC really expected they'd have such a huge hit on their hands when they first considered the idea of making a series out of these graphic novels.

[NewJeffCT]

127. No, I think they've been shocked at the success

They only ordered 6 episodes of season 1 because they did not have a high degree of confidence in the show.

When Season 1 was a success, we got 13 episodes of season 2, but then they also cut the budget for the show, and fired Frank Darabont for season 2 (too high a price for such a big name - the guy that directed Shawshank Redemption & The Green Mile) - so, they didn't expect too much going into season 2. That's partly why they stayed on the farm for all of season 2. In the graphic novels, Hershel & family (with Glenn, if I recall) stay behind on the farm and Rick and the gang go out to find the prison. It was not a happy parting, but after they find the prison, Rick goes back & convinces the others to come to the prison. They didn't have the budget for two big sets, so it was the farm for all of season 2 and the prison was put off until season 3.

[bettyellen]

144. I read the budget cuts were the reason they parted ways with Darabont- who was filming with huge

sets, helicopters, and insisting on huge groups of real actors playing zombies. That they were pushing him for much more CGI and less cinematic methods of filming it, and he completely disagreed. It seems they learned he was right after the boring farm season.

[GOLGO 13]

147. No. They had little expectation here.

This show was turned away by all the big boys (HBO/Showtime) and that explains the short 6 episode first season.

[Tripper11]

141. Finally got through the first episode...

and like all of you, it left me breathless & excited. I couldn't believe how much could happen in one show.
Even though I know they won't keep that pace, I hope they do keep a good pace this year.

So my question:

Gareth from Terminus - did he or didn't he survive?

To me it looked like was shot, but in the shoulder, then he ran away never to be seen again......yet!?!?!?!!?

[Solly Mack]

142. Looked like a shoulder wound to me as well. I think we'll see him again.

[NewJeffCT]

143. they'll be back

judging from the pre-season trailers/previews.

[GOLGO 13]

148. Gareth survived.

AMC seems to like drawing out their villains/conflict at a glacial pace. However, Rick absolutely wants to keep his promise to Gareth, so this holds the promise of an action packed season.

Made more interesting with Morgan creeping in the far background and hinting at future conflict.