Walking Dead Comic Con Panel Discussion with Cast and Crew

If you missed San Diego Comic Con  here's a video of the panel discussion with the cast and crew of the Walking Dead.

The panel featured: showrunner Scott Gimple, executive producers Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero and David Alpert and stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Norman Reedus,, Melissa McBride, Chad Coleman and Michael Cudlitz. 

If you still haven't seen the newest preview trailer or you want to see it again click here. Enjoy!

Thoughts on The Walking Dead Sneak Preview of Ep 501

Sunday night on Talking Dead if you haven't already heard, a trailer of Season 5 was aired. If you haven't watched it you can view it below. 

During an on set interview by Chris Hardwick's with Lauren Cohan (aka Maggie Greene) she states, "You'll see members of the group you didn't know were bad ass get to be bad ass." I think we should all brace ourselves and expect a very action packed, disturbingly bloody premiere like no other that we have witnessed before on this show. 

The preview clip focused on Carol and Tyreese as they traveled to Terminus with baby Judith in tow. You can see the back of the Terminus sign in the beginning of the clip. Also if you remember, just before Rick, Michonne and Carl reunited with Daryl they saw a herd of Walkers attacking a screaming man in the field. Based on this scene, I'm thinking Carol and Tyreese should approach Terminus shortly after Rick's group.

Remember both Rick, Michonne and Carl were staying in a house for a couple of days, as did Carol and Tyresse when they had all the kids. Unlike Glen and Maggie, who were on a constant search for each other and covered more ground quickly. Carol and Tyreese timeline seem to be in sync with Rick's group instead of Glen's group (who arrived first).

I'm thinking Carol and Tyreese may hear the gunfire/witness the capture of Rick's group or be accepted into Terminus as a member and later find out the fate of the others. Subsequently, they will be instrumental in the group's freedom. What do you think? Do you think Carol and Tyreese will be trapped as well or do you think they will be the catalyst for the group's escape?

To hold us over until the premiere, AMC has scheduled two additional behind the scenes shows. If you're interested in learning how the show coordinates stunts, weapon uses and explosions don’t miss Inside The Walking Dead tonight, Tuesday July 8th at 10pm est. 

Next week another episode Walker University, this special will show how extras transition to on-set Walkers in the series. We'll see the behind the scene choreography on walking, moving and vocalizing as a Walker and the motivation behind each zombie. If interested, tune in Tuesday July 15th at 10pm est.

The Walking Dead - Trapped Like Prey

Prey - hunted or caught for food, defenseless in the face of attack. 

In the season finale of The Walking Dead, Rick showed Michonne and Carl how to catch an animal in a trap. He explained if you camouflage the trap, you can control the movement of the animal and force them directly into the trap.

The irony of his statement is we now know, Rick's group was in fact the big catch of the day. The maze layout of the compound is exactly what Rick described as the perfect trap. The group was forced through the facility guided by snipers on the rooftops shooting at the ground and directing them to boxcar "A" by gun men in the bushes.

There is no question that they have done this before.

AMC released this photo of a deleted scene from the finale. We see Rick, Carl, Michonne and Daryl fighting off a several Walkers chained-up with stacks of human remains sprewed all over the ground (note how the remains look).

It's not zombie ravaged victims but carefully cut leftovers. If you read my previous post Come for Sanctuary - Stay as a Meal, I've suggested that  humans are butchered for their meat by the cannibals of Terminus. This photo is further proof of their practice. 

We have witness survivors feeding the undead before. Remember The Governor caring for his daughter Penny and Hershel keeping Walkers in the barn on the farm. Could the well-fed Walkers be former members of Terminus who now serve as part of the trap? What do you think?

Rick the Fearless Leader is Back

Watching the season finale of The Walking Dead was a bittersweet experience. After my thirst to find out how the season was going to end was quenched, the reality of the seven month hiatus became quite real.

This season Rick struggled with the lost of his daughter, the group and mostly the prison. I say mostly the prison because it offered a security that pales to anything else since the onset of the zombie apocalypse. The group became comfortable at the prison and let their guard down from the Governor. This one act set the course of the events of season 4. 

When Rick and Carl fled the burning Walker overrun prison, he was batter and weak. Carl had lost respect and trust in his father's judgement. He blamed Rick for the lost of his entire world. I think it's safe to say Rick doubted his leadership abilities as well.

Rick's only focus is keeping Carl safe. Because of that, he taps into a part of himself that I don't think he knew he possessed. This entire season all the characters were pushed to the brink and only the strong survived.

When you have nothing to lose ...you will do anything. 

Rick morphed into a true gladiator when he unleashed the warrior within and ripped Joe's jugular open with a single bite. In the face of unavoidable brutality, Rick has not lost his humanity, it's just been altered. In fact, he found the necessary drive within to motivate himself Daryl, Michonne and I'm sure the rest of the captured group (who seem discouraged by their situation).

Despite Carl's traumatic encounter with the attempted rape, he was still frighten by his father's actions in order to keep him safe. We forget sometimes that Carl is a boy and he has deep felt fears as all children possess. But the loving

relationship with Michonne (his mother figure and best friend) allowed him to cling to her for the emotional support and nurturing needed for him to feel safe again. Through her loving and insightful words, Carl gained understanding and reignited his respect and devotion for his father. 

For Rick, reconnecting with part of the group brings inspiration and propels him with the drive to be the great leader they need. He has never been stronger and more willing to do anything to keep his group alive. Season 5 promises to show us Rick at his very best.

Check out this video released by AMC behind the scene of episode 16

 

The Walking Dead Insight from the Cast on Ep 15 "Us"

If you are like me you are anxiously awaiting Sunday's finale of the Walking Dead. The official show description states: "Many paths collide; Rick faces sheer brutality; the group struggles to survive."

That description makes me really wonder about Rick, Michonne and Carl safety.  Will Daryl be alright with this ban of ruffians he is currently with? I'm guessing things will be very intense on this finale and I hope they all survive.

I came across this video released by AMC and I thought you may be interested in hearing the perspective of the cast.

Enjoy

The Walking Dead Terminus sanctuary for all ...Really?

Sunday night’s episode of the Walking Dead gave us the much anticipated reunion of Maggie and Glenn. This was one of the most heart warming moments that we have seen in this otherwise chaotic world. 

The warm feeling continued as our weary group of survivors Maggie, Glenn, Sasha, Bob, Tara, Eugene, Abraham and Rosita enter the so-called “sanctuary for all”. From the outside of this brick and mortar building, things looks very peaceful and welcoming but the strangely innocuous, unguarded, unlocked entrance to Terminus is perplexing.

Despite its serene entry with Sunflowers, various vegetable gardens, Palm trees and a friendly woman named Mary (the welcoming committee) no one in their right mind should trust any of this for a minute. But our beloved group seemingly does, they are tired and suffering from shell shocked after the prison escape. 

They just need a place to sit still, think and hopefully connect with others from the group. There's one interestingly strange coincidence that you may not have noticed, there is an odd resemblance with the destroyed painting of the woman with the long braid. 

Remember in episode 11 "Claimed" Michonne found the portrait inside an abandon house. The plain dressed woman in the painting looks strangely like a younger version of Mary.

We don’t know much about Terminus because the name isn’t used in The Walking Dead comic book series. The only information that we do know are those residing in Terminus want survivors to come to their facility. The obvious indicators are the blatant signs all along the railroad tracks with directions on how to find their location.

In episode 3 "Isolation”, Daryl, Michonne, Bob and Tyreese while driving in search of medical supplies, when a voice on the radio startles them. The voice says, “Sanctuary. Those who arrive survive.” While the name “Terminus” was not used in the broadcast, this is the same slogan that appears on the signs for Terminus.

In episode 10 “Inmates” Tyreese, Carol and the kids were told by a dying man, “There’s a place up the tracks. It’s safe. You can take the children there. Trust me. Leave. Follow the tracks.” Tyreese just tried to save the man from Walkers. How would he know it’s safe? Was he a resident of Terminus? If so, what was he doing roaming around the countryside?

The push to encourage survivors to go to Terminus makes the likelihood of something deeply insidious a real possibility. You have to ask, why would a protected group actively seek people to come to their sanctuary? Shouldn't they be leery of new comers? 

Trust is earned and building trust in this world does not come easily, food and supplies are limited, undesirable survivors roaming around ready to rob and kill is a real threat. Given all this, why would a group risk their resources and safety unless they are a bigger danger to fear? 

  2 Sneak Preview of Sunday's The Walking Dead Finale Episode 16 "A"

 

The Walking Dead "The Grove" - 2 Sneak Peeks of "US"

For many viewers this was a shocking episode to watch but, for the Walking Dead comic fans this was not a surprise. Fans of the comic series, anticipated the death of Mica and the execution of Lizzie.

The episode starts with Lizzie laughing and playing with a Walker, as if it was a play-date pal. Carol frantically runs from the house they have recently secured and puts the Walker down. Lizzie's reaction is volatile. 

In Lizzie's twisted mind, she views Walkers as misunderstood friends that are "just different". Since the beginning of her character, she's had an affinity for Walkers. I believe she relates to them because she's always been different from others.

As the episode unfolds, Carol tries to reason with Mica to embrace the notion of protecting herself from not only Walkers, but people as well. She explains that life is different now and you have to change to survive. Out of the mouths of babes, Mica says "Killing people is wrong and I don't even wish I could." Mica doesn't have a mean bone in her body and she reminds Carol of Sofia, another precious child not equipped for this world. 

As much as Mica is a sweet child, her lack of a survival instinct leads to her ultimate demise when her sister kills her. Due to Lizzie's mental incompetence she awaits Mica's return as a Walker. Her sickness has manifested into a disconnect in understanding what is a Walker. 

Lizzie confesses that she was just about to kill baby Judith when Carol and Tyresse arrived back at the house. They know having a mentally unstable person in the group is equivalent to having a time bomb. Carol had no choice but to put her down. Carol feels responsible for Mica's death and Lizzie's actions.

"Lizzie, Look at the Flowers"

This was first said by Mica when the girls had their backs turned away form their dying father, as Carol put him out of his misery. This must have been their father's way to calm her down. Clearly Lizzie has been a disturbed child for a while. Was the zombie apocalypse the responsible for her initial mental issues or was she already a broken child? It makes me wonder, how will Judith fair through this if she grows into a tween. Her entire childhood is surrounded with death. Which child's characteristics do you think she will adopted Lizzie, Mica or Carl?

There are only two episode left this season. I hope we see some reunions before the season ends. The official description of the next Walking Dead episode reads, "However brutal some survivors believe they must be to stay alive, we get to see that faith can sometimes be the strongest survival tool."

Here are 2 sneak peeks for the next episode of The Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead Episode 10 "Inmates" - Sneak Peek #2

In this clip we see an apprehensive Daryl and a determined Beth's in the woods. Beth's character has emerged to become a force to be reckoned with since her failed attempt to kill herself in the mid-season premiere of season 2.

If you recall, she sunk into a deep depression after watching her family members and neighbors (who had turned into Walkers) pour out of the barn and get shot down one by one.  

It is very impressive that she has built a resilience that will help push her and Daryl to find the others.