Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 16-"The Storm"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Hey, every one! It is season finale time!!! Who will live? Who will die? Who will freeze to death in the storm? Opens with Eugene's radio. Ezekiel's voice stating that the Kingdom is finally broken. With winter, the fires raged, rot spread, and the Kingdom has fallen. They need help and shelter. Daryl brings food to Lydia. They plan to move everyone to Hilltop. He talks about never forgetting the magic and love that the Hilltop brought. Carol is sadly going through some of Henry's things. Ezekiel rolls up the charter to take with them. He talks of the ones who died bravely defending them, like Tara. Aaron and Michonne have arrived with members of the Hilltop to try to get the people of the Kingdom to safety. Carol and Ezekeil are the last to leave the Kingdom. He talks of how the ones who died were valiant, and now they must be valiant, too. Farewell to the Kingdom...

The Hilltop is in a bit of disarray with Tara's death. They have tried to contact Maggie, but no word from her. Alden starts in on Lydia about the Whisperers who seem to be following them. Daryl tells him to lay off Lydia. Carol is eyeing Lydia suspiciously. Daryl tells her that Henry wanted her here, and she is a good kid. He asks Carol what does she see when she looks at him. She says he sees him. As she touches his arm, Ezekiel looks back a little jealously. Jerry tells him that the barometer is dropping, and a storm is approaching. All the power is out in Alexandria, and Eugene recommends that everyone using firewood. Aww, Ezekiel is jealous. He wants to start over with Carol without Daryl being a third wheel. He says the last few months without Henry have been difficult, and he just wants a piece of what he has lost. Daryl doesn't really answer him. Lydia wanders off by herself and spots a frozen walker. She seems hypnotizes by it. She is attempting to let it bite her, but Carol comes through the woods, and she stops. They decide to stop for the night, and they end up at the Sanctuary.

Back to Alexandria, where Negan is basically being well Negan teasing everyone especially the paternal threesome. Judith is worry about Dog, because she promised Daryl that she would take care of him. Negan smells something off before the fireplace explodes. They all decide to move to Aaron's house, but it is almost white out conditions in Alexandria. Back at Sanctuary, Carol and Daryl talk about Ezekiel. She says he blames Daryl because he can't blame her. She says that she feels like she is falling apart again. Daryl tells her he can take her away, and he would take care of her. She asks if he wants to leave. Lydia is listening in on their convo. Meanwhile, Michonne and Ezekiel are discussing the next step in getting to the next wait station. They only have enough food for a few days. They aren't going to be able to travel with the wagons, and the best way through is through Alpha's territory. Carol tells him that those borders were hers not theirs. Ezekiel says that he doesn't want to start a war, especially with an enemy they don't really know how to fight.

Michonne and Ezekiel are discussing the plan. He blames himself for their situation. Michonne tells him they are stronger together. She thought they were better alone. She said that is how Alpha was able to get to them because they didn't know each other anymore. So they set out in the night hoping to cross Alpha's border without initiating a fight. They come to the pikes, and Ezekiel stops briefly before they continue into Alpha's territory. Meanwhile in Alexandria, they are trying to make it to Aaron's house when Judith hear's Dog and runs after him. Negan lets go of the rope to follow her. Well, we see three walkers frozen solid as the group makes its way toward the river. Daryl and Michonne check to see if the river is solid. Lydia sneaks off. Carol goes to find Lydia, and some walkers come out of the snow bank.

Although they have to fight walkers, everyone makes it across the river. Carol catches up to Lydia. Lydia tells her that she has to die. She tells Carol it could be her, and no one has to know. She says she is the reason Henry is dead. She begs Carol to kill her. This is how she loses no one else. Lydia says she is too weak like her mother said. Carol tells her she is not weak, and they have to go. Back in Alexandria, they are still trying to find Judith, and Negan gets hit in the leg with a piece of wood, but he finds Judith and Dog. He tells her that she wanted spend more time with him. He gives Judith his coat and sets out with her and Dog to find everyone else. 

Finally, they make it to Hilltop. Lydia is looking at paintings of Glenn and Hershel. Daryl tells Lydia to get some rest that they are traveling to Alexandria the next day. Carol tells Ezekiel that she is going back to Alexandria. He tells her that he understands, but he will never stop loving her. She offers him back the ring, but he refuse it. Michonne sees Negan in the infirmary, and she thanks him for saving her. Negan calls Siddiq Dr. BabyDaddy. He talks about how her and the Kingdom were stuck in the weather. He says that Michonne was ballsy for cutting through Alpha's territory. Negan tells her that no one ever thinks they are the evil one. Alpha tells Beta she has made mistakes, but she needs to be strong for what comes next, as he beats her with a switch. Ezekiel is back on the mic, talking to Judith. He tells her just because they lost the house, doesn't mean they've lost their home. After he leaves, the voice of a woman comes across the radio...So, who is the lady on the radio?

Well, that's the season everyone! Is it the CommonWealth contacting them? Is it Maggie? See you, guys in October!!!!

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 15-"The Calm Before"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everyone!!! It is the next to the last episode of the season, and we are getting an extended season tonight. I know we are going to start losing some of our TWD family tonight, but knowing that still does not prepare me for the evil that Alpha is about to unleash upon them. I know it is a boring concept, but I wish they could have just one semi-peaceful season.

Who is this killing Walkers already? Who are these strangers standing outside of Hilltop? Now, they've been in Hilltop for five years. Miles and Hilda. So, why are we just meeting them? So, she's a carver. So, Miles and Hilda are Alpha's first victims. Well, thanks for introducing and killing them so quickly, TWD. Nice knowing, ya, kids...

Ezekiel giving a speech at the fair about Rick and Carl's vision. He is also talking about how Jesus brought them all together. The Fair of New Beginning begins with the launching of doves. Carol and Mika's group are preparing to leave to find Henry when Michonne, Daryl, and the crew pull up to the gates of Kingdom. Tara sees Lydia and reminds them that Lydia should not have come back. Michonne calls a meeting of the leaders. Alexandria has voted to give Lydia sanctuary. Michonne reminded everyone how Tara was taken by everyone after she was with the Governor. They have decided to form a mutual protection pact. They are going to send a group of fighters to protect Hilltop and each other. They all decide to sign the charter that Michonne created. All the leaders sign. Michonne tells Gabriel to sign for Alexandria as the leader of the council. Rachel Ward, who I vaguely remember, showed up for Oceanside. I had no idea they were still around.

Lydia and Henry take a walk around the fair. Henry and Lydia both say that they wish they could go to Hilltop with them. Ezekiel tells Carol that their son is going on a date to the movies. Luke is trying to convince Alden to sing, as Enid declares Alden her boyfriend. (You know, I'm having a hard time remembering all these names!!!). Meanwhile, Kelly is still mad at Connie for leaving and not saying goodbye. When then find out from Connie, as she implies, that she may have lost a child, which is why she was determined to save the baby and Lydia. Kelly is calmed, but reminds her that they should always say goodbye because they never know which goodbye will be the last. Connie telling Daryl to be safe as he prepares to leave to go to Hilltop.

Michonne and Siddiq are walking and talking about going to Hilltop. Siddiq kinda tells Michonne about his baby after she told him to keep an eye on Judith. Addy apologized to Henry for ratting him out while Gage gives Lydia a complex by telling her that Addy likes Henry and Henry liked Lydia. Ezekiel offers Daryl a home once everything has settled at Hilltop. Carol tells Ezekiel to enjoy the fair, but he says he won't until she comes back. So, Carol, Daryl, Michonne, Yumiko, and crew head off to Hilltop. The Highwaymen show them the wagon that was attacked by the Whisperers. Yumiko decides to go with Carol, Daryl, and Michonne try to find the Hilltoppers who were ambushed.  Magna, Dianne, and Oscar go on to Hilltop. Michonne's group see the Hilltoppers who have been turned to walkers; they try to head back but are surrounded by walkers and possibly Whisperers. After killing a bunch of walkers, they are surrounded by Whisperers. Then, Beta shows up telling them to drop the weapons. He tells them that all they had to do was bring him the girl, and no one else would have had to die, but now that deal is done.

Why do we have this little Ezekiel Flashback. There is Alpha dressed like Hilda behind Jerry and Nabila. Eugene and Rosita having a conversation above the fair. They discuss how they should still be friends regardless of how things have turned out, and she thanks him for all the help with Gabriel. Henry is busy looking for Lydia. Tara talks to Rachel and Gabriel talk about sharing training techniques. Tara is still worried about Hilltop. Everyone is enjoying the fair. Henry finally finds Lydia, who is sulking about Addy. Alpha sees a picture of Ezekiel and Carol and sees Tammy and Earl with the baby. Henry tells Lydia that he doesn't like Addy like that, and that he likes her and they kiss. Meanwhile, he leaves to go check on a pipe. Alpha spots Rosita and Eugene. Alpha pretends to be Debbie from Alexandria, and goes to the clothing booth escorted by Ezekiel. Ezekiel is missing the movie. Henry is late to the movie as well. Alpha sits down next to Lydia and tells her to be quiet.

Alpha has made it back. Daryl tells her that she is not getting Lydia back. Alpha says you think this was about my daughter. She tells them that Lydia was weak, and that they are in no position to talk to her. She makes Daryl come with her. She shows Daryl her herd of Walkers, and how her people steer them. She tells him that his friends are safe, and in the field to the north. She has marked the border to the north, oh no, the pikes. She tells them to stay out of their territory, or she will unleash her horde upon them. He asked did she kill Lydia. Lydia stands up to Alpha threatening to scream if she doesn't leave. She tells Alpha to leave. Alpha tells her that she was never one of them. She left her. She tells him that she doesn't think he can protect her daughter. She hope that she is wrong. They are to leave through the north field. I'm not ready, y'all...

Here we go y'all with the sad violin. This is about to be bad, bad.  Our group is on the way. Beta asks about Lydia, and Alpha tells him she wants to be alone as she cries. She kills one of the Whisperers who happened upon her crying. Siddiq is beaten and tied to a tree. They find the heads on the pikes. Who are the?  The Highwayman, Alex, D.J., Frankie, Tammy, Addy, Rodney, Enid, Tara, and Henry, Siddiq was supposed to die, but Alpha left him alive to tell the story. Siddiq talked about how they all fought for each other until the very end. Siddiq says that their time was cut short but theirs keeps going for all of them. They need to honor them and remember they died as heroes. He says that's the story he wants to remember. Lydia returns to put the necklace that Henry gave her at the pike where he died as the snow begins to fall. Carol is not going to take lightly the death of Henry though, you can believe that. 

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 14-"Scars"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everybody! We open with a flashback of Michonne looking for Rick and finding his gun. Then, she is visibly pregnant still looking for him. Daryl approaches her telling her that he had searched all the way to the ocean. She tells him that Judith has been looking for him. Daryl tells her that he will never stop looking for Rick. She asked if he was okay alone. He asks her the same. She says she's not. Now it's present day, and Aaron has approached her telling Michonne that Daryl is at the gate. Michonne looks to Aaron who does not trust Lydia, but Michonne tells him she trusts Daryl. They flash back to Scott who has brought three people with him. One of them is a black woman with braids who Michonne recognizes and calls Jocelyn, who responds Michonne. Who is this chick?

Henry is being operated on under watchful eye. She asks Daryl if they are heading to the Kingdom. he says eventually, but Carol should know. I like Connie who steps to Michonne with a note that says she'd do it all again, but with better shoes. Okay, my service jumped to a commercial for some reason, and when it comes back, Jocelyn looks to be running and tells Michonne that she needs help. Flash to a warehouse where Gabriel, Rosita, Eugene, Aaron, and Michonne go to the building where the newcomers come from and find even more kids. Present day, Michonne tells Henry that she needs to talk to Lydia. He thanks her for letting people go to the fair. She tells him if she had known about this situation that she wouldn't have. She tells Lydia that she has done a lot of things to protect this place and her people. She tells her it might have been easier if the only life she had to risk was hers and just walk away and make everyone else's life easier. She tells Lydia to think about that.

Judith asks Daryl if Hilltop is in trouble. He says he doesn't know. He told her that Lydia just tagged along. She asks if Daryl is going to stay. He says no that he is going to move along. He tells her that her mother was right protecting her and RJ from everything. Judith doesn't agree. She then asked what would Rick do, and Daryl's non-response is enough for Judith to know that Rick would not agree with Michonne. She and Jocelyn talk about how she ended up with all those children. She tells her that the parents all died. Jocelyn and Michonne went to college together. Jocelyn encouraged her to look for Rick. Flashback to the present and Daryl and his group are leaving. Michonne says that Judith is mad at her. Daryl says she doesn't understand, and that Michonne should tell Judith what happened. Michonne stares at a manhole cover that has been sealed. Judith slept over with Jocelyn and her kids. When they go to the house where Jocelyn is staying to get Judith, everyone is gone. Scott finds out they have raided the pantry raided and one of her people dead, the infirmary has been raided, and Jocelyn and her kids have stolen Judith. They have slipped out through the sewer throught that manhole cover. Jocelyn and her kids are why Michonne is against newcomers.

Michonne is riding a horse, and what is going on with the commercials tonight? Present day, the Grimes are having dinner. Judith asks to be excused. During the night, Michonne gets up, and we see the scar again. Michonne goes to Judith's room to tell her something, and she finds Judith gone. Michonne goes to see Negan and asks Negan what Judith talks to him about. He tells her that he tells her the things that Michonne does not tell her. He also tells her that Judith is just like her, and she does not take stuff lying down. Michonne starts looking for Judith again and finds a note saying that she is going to help her friends. Flashback to Michonne and Daryl looking for Judith. Michonne tells him that Jocelyn had been a good friend, and she wanted that again, so she let her guard down. She tells him that she should have sensed it. He tells her that Jocelyn wasn't like her that she hid her evil with a mask, and again, a stupid commercial break. Michonne and Daryl enter a school, and they attacked by what appears to be Jocelyn's kids, and again with the weird commercial breaks!!!!

Michonne and Daryl are strung up and gagged. Daryl appears to be trying to loosen his ropes. The little blond boy, Linus brands Daryl with the X. Jocelyn tells them the strong survive and thrive and children are capable of anything. Linus then brands Michonne. Present day, Michonne is biking and find Judith's bike in the midst of some walkers. Meanwhile, Daryl has broken loss and broken free and freed Michonne who tells him they need to split up. She fights off two kids one of whom wounds her in the stomach, as she tries to get to Judith, Jocelyn attacks her again, and she kills Jocelyn. Michonne doesn't want to kill these kids, but she is killing them all to get to Judith. Winnie one of Jocelyn's kids doesn't attack and runs away, and Michonne is finally reunited with Judith. Michonne finally finds Judith who is seemingly handling her own with the walkers, but one grabs her, and she yells for Michonne who kills the walker and tells her that they need to talk.

Michonne tells Judith the story, and how she thought she had been brainwashed. Judith tells Michonne that she remembered, and she said they were all bad people. Michonne tells her she did everything because she thought she did understand. MIchonne tells her that it is not so simple helping everybody. She asks Michonne when did we stop loving our friends. She said they didn't. She takes Judith to Carl's grave. She said she promised that she would never bury another child. Then she lost her father and Judith. She said that's when she decided that they would not let anyone in because that kept Judith and RJ safe which is all she wanted, but not what Carl and Rick would have wanted. She says they will protect all the people they love. Judith and Michonne find Daryl and his crew and they are all headed to the Kingdom. We see two Whisperers who have found their way into the Kingdom. Okay, I'm not cool with this surrounding of our crew next week.. Until then, y'all...

FYI, I waited until the show ended, because Jocelyn looked so familiar, and I could not place her. I've never seen True Blood, but I have seen Rutina Wesley in Queen Sugar. She was awesome tonight...

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 12-"Guardians"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everyone! What are the Whisperers up to tonight? Alpha is concerned about Henry. Lydia tells her mother that she lied to get Henry to trust her. She also told her that she told Henry that there were only a few Whisperers. She tells them about farmland, about their few guns, but not much else. Lydia questions her mother about her reasoning for returning to get her. She wonders if she only wants information. Alpha tells her its a stupid question, but is it really, Alpha, considering you were going to off a baby last week?

Meanwhile in Alexandria, Michonne has found out about the radio and is she furious because the radio caused Eugene and Rosita are injured and Jesus is dead. Gabriel wants to continue, but Aaron is on Michonne's side because she has saved them multiple times. Siddiq tells the counsel that Michonne turned them down without talking to the counsel. Michonne doesn't want to go because it's too isolated and the roads are bad. Siddiq and the others want the Kingdom to thrive, but Michonne says Ezekiel will not give up the Kingdom, and she would welcome the Kingdom, but she is only for Alexandria surviving. Rosita and Gabriel are discussing the counsel and the baby. She has told Gabriel the baby is Siddiq's, and she will let Gabriel decide how he wants to handle it. The Whisperers just sit around in the dirt? Lydia finds a dirty yo-yo, and the Whisperers, namely Beta find Henry. Alpha questions Henry while Beta threatens to break his arms. Henry tells them he is from Hilltop, and that he is only there for Lydia. Lydia tells Henry he was stupid and punches him in the face. I totally agree, girl. Henry deserved that punch.

Howdy Eugene! Eugene has analyzed Gabriel's relationship prognosis if he stays with Rosita and raises another dude's progeny. He then tells Gabriel that he would be a fool if he left Rosita. He tells him that he is wasting time, and he should choose her. Alpha asks why Henry would follow her. Lydia lies to Alpha and tells her that she acted helpless, and Henry fell for it. Alpha tells Lydia that she had to lie. She tells Lydia that she is back where she belongs. Alpha tells Beta to get her a new skin and take Henry with her. Negan and Michonne are face to face. Negan tells her that he was in her house and could have waited to kill her. Michonne tells him the world spit him out. Negan wants to help her out. He thinks power will slip through her hands. He reminds her about the charter, but she is in charge. He wants to be her sounding board. She refuses, and tells him they are going to refortify his lock and close the window, and then she sees Judith watching.

Daryl, Connie, and Dog found where the Whisperers caught Henry, and they kill a couple of walkers. Daryl has trained Dog to retrieve his arrow. Henry watches as they skin a corpse. Alpha is challenged by a man, and she brings up the girlfriend who she accuses of putting her up to it. The girl tell Alpha she failed them all by allowing Hilltop to kill many of them and putting up the trade for Lydia. Alpha cuts the girl's head off in front of Henry and the boyfriend, and then, gives the girl's head to the boyfriend, and tells him to be quiet because crying is weak, and then she kill him. Wow...this lady is bat guano crazy...like full on cray-cray, and I hate her...

Awww, RJ is so cute. Looks like a little Trevor Noah. Michonne questions Judith about being around the jail. She reminds Judith that he is not her friend. Judith says she knows that. Michonne tells her that he killed people they cared about and he did monstrous things. Judith says he's not like that anymore, but Michonne says people don't change. Judith says that Michonne did. Michonne sends her to her room. Henry and Lydia share a look. Alpha tells Beta that it had been years since some one had challenged her. She tells him how Lydia almost suffocated from a plastic bag. When she rescued her, she hit her hard so she wouldn't forget. They leave the corpses of the killed Whisperers to the walkers to eat. 

So, apparently Gabriel is going to take Eugene's advice. Michonne goes to talk to Aaron and thank him for his support. Michonne tells him that if they want to trade with the Kingdom that she won't veto it because it is the people's choice. She does not agree with it, and thinks its a bad idea. Seems as though they have agreed to go to the fair. Michonne does not believe its a good idea. Alpha throws down a knife in front of Lydia and tells her to kill Henry. She tells her to kill him or Beta will kill them both. But then, they are attacked by walkers, and Daryl comes in and rescues Henry who refuses to leave without Lydia, but they leave together. See you next week, guys!!!

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 9: Adaptation

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everybody!!!! Almost time for the Mid-season premiere. Usually, I'm a little more stoked about the return of The Walking Dead. This time I'm a little, meh. I just heard that Danai Gurira is leaving next season, and well, I'm just a little sick of learning new people. As a teacher, I do this all the time. New year, new set of kids, I mean, do I really need that in my entertainment. I read an article today that said they like the idea of cycling out the cast and bring in new people, well, not me. I'm really a creature of habit, and I like my casts. If it gets to the point that you need an entire new cast, call the time of death on the show. Like Law & Order or Criminal Minds, the show starts to lose the chemistry. I actually loved both of those shows, and I eventually stopped watching them for that reason. It wasn't the same show any more, and as much as, I love Carol and Daryl, I think I'm not going to feel the same once Michonne (and possibly Ezekiel) exit, but on to tonight's episode.

When we last saw out group of friends, they had figured out that some of the walkers were people in disguise. The Whisperers and they had surrounded them in the graveyard, and this is where we begin. Our guys take out a couple of Whisperers before they manage to escape and lock the walkers in the cemetery. Of course, the Whisperers are among them to open the lock.

Ugh, Negan sneaking out of his lair. Thanks a lot, Gabriel. Checking in on Judith, Negan? Why would he wait until daylight to leave? Judith with the Rick revolver. That's a lot of big talk from a little girl Judith. Negan promising not to hurt anyone?  Really, kid? She is really letting Negan go. She tells him, if she sees him again she will shoot. She also tells him to keep the compass that he stole from her room. I would have shot him. Luke is going out with Alden to find our group. Michonne and the rest coming back she and Daryl apologized to each other for not finding Rick. They hear and dog senses that they have walker company. New kind or original recipe, good one Eugene. They capture one of the Whisperers, a girl. 

Travels with Negan, a new AMC series coming this fall. Man, I hate this dude. Ugh, a BBQ zombie...drinking that water had to be a bad idea Negan, and...it comes back. Learned that from Naked and Afraid. Hilltop finally learns about Jesus.  I forgot Henry was still in the tank, and Daryl tells him about Jesus, while Tara and Michonne prepare to interrogate the Whisperer girl. Negan is exploring an old abandoned sporting goods store. Finds a crank light. Didn't know they still had those. He sees that the last occupant had set up a mannequin family before shooting himself in the head. He finds a replacement leather jacket before some dogs make him take higher ground. He escapes into the arms of a walker that he traps with the dogs.

I forgot that Alden and Luke were looking for the group. They find some of Yumiko's arrows, and they here the walker herd. 

So, my computer had a burp. Quick review. The Whisperer girl game them no new information, Rosita is pregnant with Siddiq's baby (?), Eugene wanted to propose, but had to listen to her tell him this. Daryl criticizes Henry for his choices. Negan has made it back to Sanctuary, which is a dump right now. 

Aaron tells Michonne that she was right that they all should be about protecting their own now. Michonne tells Daryl that he should stay and help Tara run Hilltop. He doesn't really want to. They also realize that Alden and Luke should have made it back, but they haven't. Negan sets about cleaning up the Sanctuary and killing some lose walkers including "Big Richie" one of his former Saviors. He looks at Judith's compass, before he finally kills the Big Richie zombie.

After Jesus's funeral, Daryl goes back to interrogate the girl some more. He gets some more information from her, but she is still lying. She tells him that there were only 10, and it is just her mother out there. Henry convinces Daryl to leave her alone. She tells Henry that her name is Lydia, while Daryl is outside listening. Negan is making his way back to Alexandria. Judith shoots his motorcycle from under him. He tells Judith that he doesn't really like it outside of his 10x10. Alden and Luke still have not made it back. Alden and Luke are surrounded by Whisperers who has a shotgun on them. Until next week, y'all...

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 8-"Evolution"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everybody!!! Mid-season Finale time! Definitely, not my favorite time of the year. We almost always lose somebody, and I'm thinking it may be Rosita this time. 

We open with Walkers just milling around, and Daryl, Aaron, and Jesus are watching with concern because these walkers aren't acting like normal walkers. So, they are not normal walkers, because one just seemed to be listening. I'm guessing that these guys will be the Whisperers that everyone who has read the comics keep talking about. 

Meanwhile in Alexandria, there are a lot of kids there, and Gabriel is trying to help Negan meditate. Gabriel wants to know why he won't change. Negan tells him how people talk outside of his window as if he isn't there. He tries to goad, Gabriel about Rosita. As Gabriel leaves he notices the messengers from Hilltop and learns from another Alexandrian that Rosita is hurt. As Michonne and her crew approach, everyone disappears as a messenger tells the Hilltop that riders are approaching.  Man, Hilltop is hostile to Michonne. She has to disarm to enter. Tara tells them about Eugene and Rosita. She also tells them about Carol, Daryl, and Aaron. Tara allows the newcomers to stay, but tells them that Jesus has to have the final stay, but if they stay, they will have to earn their keep. Michonne sees Carol and smiles, but Carol turns her back. I am really, really curious as to what happened (besides Rick's "Death") to splinter the group into so many pieces.

Michonne is angry that they have been communicating with Hilltop. Carol and Michonne are talking about their kids. Michonne still refuses to come to the fair, even though Carol tells her they need some people from Alexandria. Aaron and Jesus are discussing how Daryl use to trade with Hilltop; he tells Jesus that he should stop fighting and become the Hilltop leader. Jesus says that he and Aaron were better when they were out scouting for people. While they are talking, Daryl hears the heard coming for them. Dianne asks Carol for a ride back to the Kingdom. She tells Carol that the Kingdom needs her more. I really wish that we could find out what happened between all of the settlements, and why does it appear that the Kingdom fared the worse. 

The herd that they saw earlier seems to have increased in size. Henry has a crush on Enid, but he sees that Alden and Enid are an item. Negan is being his normal disgusting self as Gabriel comes to take this discards. Gabriel tells Negan that Rosita is hurt, but he can't go to her because has to be responsible for Negan. Some of the Hilltop kids are trying to befriend Henry, but they want to sneak out of Hilltop at night to their secret "hideout." Siddiq apologizes to Michonne for not tell her about his communication with Hilltop. He tells her that it's not to late to mend fences, but she tells him that she will not mend the way they want her to (whatever that means). She also said that she had to make a tough decision, that apparently was life or death, and she would rather they hate her and be alive. SERIOUSLY, WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED???? Then, Rosita wakes up and tells Siddiq and Michonne that she knows where Eugene is and that our boys have know clue what they are about to run into. I wish somebody would be direct.

Storm is a rumbling, we see our heroes Daryl, Jesus, and Aaron, finding a barn. Eugene has been hiding in a crawl space under the barn. Eugene tells them that the herd has double back twice looking for him. He tells them that the herd was talking. Daryl can't believe that its the same herd. They try to get Eugene out of the barn and away from the herd. The Hilltop kids have a nice little hangout, and they are trying to get Henry to participate in a a game with a walker they trapped in a hole. Henry jumps in and kills the walker. Eugene and the boys are discussing the herd that Eugene believes is evolving. The group splits up with Aaron and Jesus taking Eugene to the horses while Daryl will try to draw off the walkers. Meanwhile, back at Alexandria, Negan is playing ball by himself when he accidentally loses the ball outside of his cell. The wind is shaking the bars, and when Negan checks it, he finds that the door is open, dang it, Gabriel, and just like that, Negan is free. 

The kids have gotten Henry into trouble. He does not want to get the kids in trouble. So, he doesn't tell on them. He tells Earl the blacksmith that he did not want get in trouble, but he he did not take into consideration what a bid deal it was his coming to Hilltop, and blames it on getting used to Hilltop. Daryl tries to distract the herd with fireworks and his dog, but the herd basically ignores him and continues after Eugene, Aaron, and Jesus, who are chased into a graveyard and surrounded by the walkers they fight off.  Michonne and Magna and her crew show up to help them get Eugene, but Jesus stays to fight, and he awesome, but he is stabbed in the back by one of the Whisperers. Naw, man, not Jesus!!! Daryl kills the one who kills Jesus; Daryl realizes what they were wearing the masks of the dead. They are trapped, and now they hear the Whisperers coming. I'm ticked, man. Why, Jesus, though...

Now, we have to deal with Negan and the Whisperers...and no more episodes until February, Sigh.  Been great hang with you guys!!! Happy holidays, everyone!!!! See, you in February, Walking Dead, fam!!!

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 7-"Stradivarius"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everybody!!! Last week, introduced us to life without Rick Grimes, and that life apparently included a break between the once close surviving groups. While it was a good episode, I wish we could have seen the immediate aftermath of the "death" of Rick Grimes. I'm ultra-curious as to why Daryl left all the groups (probably guilt), and why Hilltop, Alexandria, and the Kingdom have splintered. I'm also curious about this Fair, I mean, Faire (you know that Ezekiel is fancy and extra). I also want to know exactly what that X is on Michonne's back.

The Whispering Walkers are closing in on Rosita who is running alone with no sigh of Eugene. The voices are getting closer when she collapses. Seeing traps that apparently Daryl has made for his life off the "grid." C. Thomas Howell, did I just see that name pop up on my screen? Daryl also has a dog and has been living like Huck Finn apparently on a raft. Siddiq is questioning Michonne about the group. The New group has a rig some where. Magna still wants her knives. HIlltop is looking fantastic. Tara is hanging out at Hilltop, and Enid is their doctor. Hey, Jesus. Apparently, Jesus is the new Leader at Hilltop. Maggie apparently has gone to live with Georgie and is happy according to a letter she has sent Jesus. Daryl is just walking around with a dead snake around his neck. Carol wants Daryl to go to Hilltop to keep an eye on Henry. Daryl refuses telling her that Henry needs to learn to take care of himself like they did. 

Michonne's group takes the newcomers back to their rig. Magna finds some of Bernard's things. Yumiko suggests taking some with them. Siddiq finds a recorder. Luke is looking for an instrument they lost. everyone. Yumiko and the others want to agree with Michonne who tells them she will not be traveling all the way. Jesus knocks Aaron off his horse, and the two start mixing it up. Jesus and Aaron want to bring the group together. Michonne doesn't know about Maggie, and she has been reluctant to work on a compromise between the groups. Jesus and Aaron want to go to the Fair to help mend fences. Jesus and Aaron see a flair which leads them to Rosita, who says that she has left Eugene in a barn. So, apparently Aaron was looking for her as well. They decide to take her back and look for Eugene in the morning.

Henry has figured out why Carol was looking for Daryl. He is upset that she feels like he needs a chaperon. As Carol cuts his hair, we find out that Daryl is out in the woods because he had been searching for Rick's body, which he has never found, and it just became easier to stay out in the wilderness. Something is spooking Michonne as she is keeping guard on the group. Luke was bending over something. Michonne tells him to drop it he refuses, and she hits it with her sword. It turns out to be what looks like a violin that she has destroyed. (I'm thinking the Stradivarius from the title). Daryl's dog got caught in one of his and the walkers he had captured almost got him. Henry saves him from another. They manage to save the dog and each other, as Carol looks on with her bow at the ready.

Jesus has been training Aaron. They have Rosita at Hilltop. Tara is fussing at Jesus for being away to long and not living up to what was promised to Maggie. She's leaving to look for Eugene in the morning. Daryl has two X's on his back like the one that Michonne has. One in the exact spot that Michonne has hers. Henry wants him to come back with them not just for him but for Carol. Luke reveals that the violin was a Stradivarius. He has been traveling through the apocalypse to help connect. 

Siddiq is trying to convince Michonne to go with them. She is concerned about seeing Maggie and how Maggie will react. Siddiq tells her that Maggie and Hershel are gone. but before he can explain how he knows walkers have surrounded them. DJ is finally allowed to give them their weapons. Kelly and Connie are proficient with the sling shot. They see their friend Bernard as a Walker, and Magna is devastated as he walks towards them. Michonne puts him down.

Daryl has decided to join Carol and Henry. Siddiq apologizes for not telling her about Maggie. A couple of Sentries (one of them was C. Thomas Howell) tells Michonne about Rosita. Connie sees something in the woods; someone is watching them. Daryl, Henry, and Carol have made it to Hilltop; Aaron, Jesus, and Daryl go out to find Eugene. Next week, mid-season Finale!!! I'm a little uneasy going into next week. See y'all, next week!!!

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 6: "Who are You Now?"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everyone!!! I hope everyone has recovered from last week's final Rick Grimes episode. Last week's episode was perfect to me. Here's why: I would have been fine with Rick dying in that matter, because he was sacrificing himself for those he loves, plus it was such a boss way to go, but I'm glad he did not, because there is going to be an awesome reunion to come in the future. Now, I do not like the idea of Rick being away from his family for this long.  

Michonne opening, she's talking to Rick. Daryl is fishing and kills a walker. Carol's hair is longer (I don't know how I feel about that), and she and Ezekiel are definitely a couple waking up together. She wakes up looking out over the Kingdom. Michonne finds a van with a cigar box with children's toys, one of which is a cowboy that looks like Rick; she takes it with her. Daryl comes across a bird that is feeding its babies. Carol sees a flower growing out of concrete. Michonne finishes her monologue which is simply telling Rick that she has has not given up, and she never will. We also see that they have decided not to rebuild the burned out bridge. I like the images of Michonne, Daryl, and Carol over the monologue, because it shows some of the last members of the last of the core. 

Eugene, Rosita, Aaron, and one of the saviors run into the new comers looking for Judith (who apparently has a lot of Carl in her disappearing). Jerry calls Carol his queen. She has married Ezekiel and adopted Henry. Henry said that they need better tools. While Ezekiel appreciates Henry's passion he does not like the teen's tone. Apparently, Henry wants to train at Hilltop, but Ezekiel is reluctant to let him go becasue he feels that Hilltop has become distant since Rick. The newcomers have arrived at Alexandria and they cannot believe what they are seeing. I can't believe that Aaron has a reasonable facsimile of an arm, and he has been raising Gracie as his own. Michonne arrives in time to see the new ones. Judith tells Michonne that she decided. Michonne accidently dropped the little cowboy and Judith found it. Michonne does not seem to be very receptive to the new people. Gabriel suggests that they hold them until morning and let the council vote. So, Alexandria has established some rules and regulations since Rick's death. It also looks like a utopian western town. Now the downside of having satellite. Weather has stop my viewing.

Okay, it rained all night. It wasn't easy, but I've managed to be spoiler free all day!!! Not an easy task when you work with teenagers. It's 6:14 p.m. Monday, November 12th, and I'm picking up where I left off. 

So, Ezekiel is allowing Henry to go to Hilltop. Ezekiel wants to get the communities back together, so they have splintered since the death of Rick. Now, to Alexandria and the council vote. So, they lost Bernie yesterday. Fantastic Beasts is telling how they all came together. How much time has passed? They ask the new comers who they were and who they are. What did they do to survive? One of them is deaf. I'm surprised she survived. Michonne is a councilperson and head of security. One of the new comers is a former prisoner. Magna, the apparent leader had the prison tattoo, and she was wearing a knife as a belt buckle. Well, I didn't see that coming. She asks can she ask Michonne a question, which Michonne refuses. Michonne is acting much like Maggie did after Glenn. She's not wanting to take in newcomers, which is funny considering she was wounded and carrying a katana when Rick met her. 

Gabriel is working on some type of HAM radio contraption. Rosita tells us that the new people are going to stay until their injured party is well. Gabriel and Eugene want to find people outside of Alexandria. Wait just a pea-picking minute!!! Gabriel and Rosita are together?!!! Wait, what?!! I'm so confused. Michonne is talking to Rick and Judith is spying on her. Judith calls Michonne, Mom. Henry and Carol are not heading to Hilltop? Henry hears a woman crying for help, and so the Saviors have tricked them. Dang it, Henry, and they are lead by the jerk who Carol had to check twice while working on the bridge.

Everybody is driving these makeshift carriages. Eugene is hitting on Rosita as they go to set up the transmitter. They noticed a herd of walkers apparently traveling east while they are traveling west. The newcomers question Siddiq about how he came to be there. The Sanctuary went bust, so their stealing from Carol and Henry. He wants Carol's ring, too, which is too much for Henry who attacks the jerk leader. He is really going to have to die after Carol has spared him twice. Negan is apparently tutoring Judith. She is talking to him about the newcomers. He guesses that she wanted to bring them in. He tells her the story of how he like to bring home strays, and one time the stray he brought home killed the others and took most of him mom's ear. He said that broke him from bring strays. Judith tells him and look how it turned out. She advises him that she only needs him for math because numbers don't care if he's good or bad. Sassy...Eugen and Rosita have just finished with the receiver, when Eugene gets stuck on the water tower and falls hurting his knee as the herd that they thought they had avoided was now headed toward them.

Henry is questioning Carol why she did not stand up to the Saviors. She tells him because of him. She is missing her ring. Magna wants to fight. The others tell her they need to leave Michonne alone. The others do not want to fight. Luke tells Magna to sleep on it. Carol sneaks back and sets the Saviors on fire and walks away like a Boss!!! She tells him that she could forgive the ring, but they took things that belonged to people they had lost. He argues they would disappear, and Carol agrees as she dropped the match he had been sucking on. I love Carol...

Some one is sneaking up to Michonne's house. RJ? Who is this kid? Magna surrenders the knife that Yumiko had around her neck. Brother? Wait, Rick and Michonne have a kid? Judith knows Michonne talks to Carl and Rick. She tells her that she is starting to forget their voices. She hopes that Michonne can remember them. Crap I forgot about Rosita and Eugene. Where are they that it is still daylight, but dark everywhere else. Henry apologizes for what he said to her, but notices she has the ring back, right before they meet Daryl off the road. Why does Michonne have an X on her back? Is she mimicking Rick's injury? We see before she puts on one of his shirts. She gives Judith the Rick toy before telling the newcomers that she is taking them to Hilltop. Eugene and Rosita camo themselves with mud to hide from the herd, that is now talking?  Are these the Whisperers?! More trouble next week!!!!

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 5-"What Comes After"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everyone!!! It's the last The Walking Dead episode with Rick Grimes. Our fearless leader is about to leave us, and while I'm going to miss Rick, and how he says "Carl," I think I'm going to be okay when it is over. We'll see.

And so it begins...

The blackbird flock opens with current Rick telling old coma Rick to wake-up. The birds turn into helicopters. Morgan's voice asking him what is his wound. Coma, Rick telling him to wake up. Rick wakes up and pulls himself off the rebar using his belt as a lever. He's made it back to his horse, but he is bleeding badly.

The smoking RV driven by Anne's RV has run out of gas. Her walkie talkie asks for her location and her A. She lies about her A. Rick is delirious trying to lead the Walkers away, but he is in pain. It moves to Diane and Maggie who confront a Walker. Maggie kills it with the crowbar from last week. Back to Rick, and he is losing a lot of blood. He sees a mailbox and follows a trail a cabin with a message on the door "Come face me a**holes." He finds a tablecloth and uses it to try to stop the blood before he looks around the cabin and sees the dead former residents of this cabin. Then, he passes out.

Flashback to Rick riding into Atlanta. Lori asking what is his wound. There is Shane. Rick says he's looking for his family. Shane tells him sure it isn't his family. Then, points out that Judith is his. Shane is telling him about all the things that he did that is a reflection of Shane. Shane is telling him to dig deep. He apologizes for killing Shane, who tells him to forget it and wake up right before walkers almost overtake him. Judith and Michonne are talking about shells when Scott comes in to tell her that Maggie is there. She gets there in time to stop Maggie. Maggie says that Negan should have died under the tree. Michonne tells her that Glenn nor Hershel would want her to do this. Michonne asks can she live with what comes after. She says that she cant live with it now. Michonne gives her the keys to the cell. Negan tells Maggie that Michonne has the blade, but she has the fire. Negan says that she took a long time to get there. He tells her that he enjoyed killing Glenn. He tells her not to punk out like Rick. He is begging Maggie to kill him, so he can be with Lucille. HE can't kill himself, so she has to kill him. He wants her kill him. She came to kill Negan, but she says that he is worse than dead, and puts him back into his cell. Negan appears to be broken, but I don't trust him. I do not trust him at all.

Michonne seems relieved that Maggie did not kill Negan, but Diane arrives telling them that there is something wrong at the camp. Rick is delirious. Flashing back. Awwww, Hershel...Rick apologizes for Hershel, Beth, and Glenn. Man, I'm crying...Rick tells him he needs to find his family. Hershel tells him they will get there. Hershel tells him to wake up. He does briefly before he finds himself in the hospital going through the don't open dead inside door, and he finds himself standing among the dead. All with faces of people he has known. Sasha rises from among them. He says they are all dead. She tells him that it is okay because he did his part. They gave strength from those who died, and he will strength others. She tells him that he is not going to find his family because they are not lost and neither is he. She tells him he needs to wake up. Rick has fallen from his horse and appears to wake up at the camp, and there seems to have been slaughter there.  

Rick takes down two Walkers, but the others are coming through the camp. He's leading them away from the camp. Honestly, most people would have been dead of this injury by now. Rick has made it to the bridge with the Walkers behind him. Daryl and the rest have arrived. Michonne tells him that him that they don't die. She tells him to fight for her and fight for all of us. He has found his family. Wait, I think he is hallucinating. She tell him to wake up. So he was, but Rick is at the bridge. He is going to sacrifice the bridge to save his family. But the bridge is holding, and Daryl is keeping the walkers away from Rick. Rick tells them not to save him. His friends are trying to turn the herd to save him, but it's too many. Rick sees dynamite and blows up the bridge. H sacrifices himself to save the others. Not Daryl and Michonne crying. I'm not going to make it guys. Daryl just walks away, and Maggie and Carol are trying to comfort Michonne. Rick's last words were, "I found them." He found his family, and he saves them one last time. This is the second time this week that I have ugly cried at something I watched on the screen. Daryl just broke me, man...

I don't even care about Jadis/Anne and the helicopter. Wait!!!! Rick is still alive. She says she has a b, not an A. The Helicopter people pick up both Rick and Anne. Where the hell are they going?  Rick Grimes lives!!!!!!!! Where are they taking him though? Who are these people? I see the chubby dued from Fantastic Beasts. Who is the little girl voice? What the What? Did we have a flash-foward? Judith? With Rick's hat, a gun, and her own sword? I don't know what is going on?! Wow, so much to unpack for next week!!! We basically get a whole new show next week, and I can't wait!!!!

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 4-"The Obliged"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everybody!!! I'm not really looking forward to the next episodes as much as I normally do. Knowing that there are only two Rick Grimes episodes left is so depressing, almost as bad as the post Glenn episodes.

Episode opens again in bed with Rick and Michonne. They really are trying for that family. No one has noticed that Gabriel is missing. Michonne and Rick looking at plans, breaking up fights, serving the sick, but Michonne is missing her katana. So, she is sneaking out killing Walkers in her spare time. When she isn't working on the charter or taking care of Judith. The Grimes family dynamic is seeming to be not enough for Michonne. Now, she finds a fresh walker hanging from a tree, and she is attacked by another. She ends up find a bat similar to Lucille that she uses to kill the walker with, but she leaves as the rain begins, with still no idea who this recently deceased walker is. 

Back to Hilltop and Maggie is teaching the animals to little Hershel. Everything seams to be running well at Hilltop. Georgie has been sending Maggie letters. She has taken a crowbar with her. Jesus believes that Negan should have died at the end, and that Rick made a mistake leaving him alive, but he is unsettled about Maggie's plan for Negan. The rain has created a deluge, but the rain may take out the bridge. He says there are two major herds running parallel to each other, but they do not seem like they are going to merge. Carol has decided not to go back to Sanctuary. She tells Rick that they need to figure out life for themselves at the Sanctuary. He tell her that she gives him hope. She is instead returning to the Kingdom. Still no one has noticed that Gabriel is missing. Jerry shows up and tells Rick that Jesus has relayed a message that Maggie is headed to Alexandria. Daryl offers Rick a ride on his bike. New character, Nora, who tells her that crows are taking some of their crops, and Negan is not eating. Rick asks Daryl to pull over. Daryl has messed with the relay to allow Maggie to get into Alexandria. The two get into a fight, and they roll into a hole that looks as if it was man made for something not on the up and up. Sooooo, both are stuck at the bottom.

We return to life with Negan, as Michonne tells Negan that he is to end the hunger strike. He wants Michonne to stay and talk to him in return he will eat. She gives him 20 minutes. Daryl and Rick are arguing. He says he can't believe that Rick is allowing Negan to live after what Glenn did for him. Rick believes killing Negan is only making hims a martyr. He tells Rick he believes in all these other people, but not in his own group. He tells Rick to let Carl's dream go. Rick says he never asked anyone to follow him, but Daryl tells him maybe he should have. I honestly see it from both sides, but seriously, I'm more team kill Negan.

Negan is mocking Michonne being in Alexandria while Rick and the rest build the bridge. She tells him they are rebuilding the world. Negan is telling Michonne about his wife. He tells her that his wife had cancer, and they would have loved to have had a kid like Carl. She tells him about her son Andre. He tells her that his wife was weak, but she made him strong. He is messing with her head telling her that she was glad Andre is gone because he would have made her weak. Finally, Anne and Gabriel, even though no one has noticed that both of them are gone. She kisses her unconscious lover. I don't understand how this works. She is going to turn him before delivery? He tells her that he forgives her for what she is about to do. He temporarily stops her from using a walker to turn him into a walker. Then, she knocks him out.

The Saviors have taken guns from Alden, and they want to fight Oceanside for killing their people. Carol over powers them, but now there is shooting. Rick and Daryl hear the gunshots, and they are working together to get out of the hole, before the herds converge. Michonne is looking at her katana again. She confronts Negan as she returns with his food. He tells her that they are the same. She tells him that they are not. She wants to bring people together. She says she gets strength from the dead, but she lives for the living. She says that he is trying to connect with her. He wants to see Lucille, and he thinks Michonne will bring it to him. She tells him the bat is still out on the field. He is desperate to see the bat, and he appears to be beating his hand against the wall.

Now walkers are falling in the pit with Rick and Daryl has made a step stool out of some of the walkers as they both frantically try to climb out. Rick has made it out he is trying to help Daryl out. Brother, Rick says. Take my hand, and they are both out. Rick says he is going to take the Walkers in another direction after Daryl tells him to sacrifice the bridge. He tells him to be safe. Gabriel wakes up in one of the trailers she used to hold prisoners. She left him a note, but she is gone. Michonne is reading to Judith. She sees a bat in the picture of the story she is reading. Maggie sees dead walkers and Rick's hatchet. Rick is surrounded by Walkers. The horse throws him, he lands on exposed rebar, and he is pinned to a piece of concrete as the walkers are converging from two directions towards him. Now, we are down to Rick's last episode, and things don't look like they bode well for Rick Grimes...sigh, see you next week. Bring tissue...

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 3-"Warning Signs"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everybody!! Well much like last week, my eyes are dancing around because my amazing new quarterback Patrick Mahomes, II is playing on Sunday Night Football. Now begins Episode 3 of the Rick Grimes Farewell Tour. What site is this? Who are the Walker's gnawing on? Is that the Savior from last week? What happened to him? Yep, that's week's Bully Savior with what looks like a bullet to the back as his walker form walks past a sign that states "Final Warning." So who is killing Saviors? I mean, I'm okay with them dying, but I need to know who to thank.

Rick is up early, as Michonne snatches covers. They moved Carl and Judith's handprints from the porch and have placed them on a wall inside the house. He touches Carl's as he goes to check on the garden. He puts a ripe tomato on what appears to be Carl's grave. Michonne has been working on the Charter for the communities. Judith may be sick, so Michonne wants to take her to Siddiq to be sure. She reminds Rick that Maggie and Daryl are still angry and others maybe, as well, but Rick believes that they will come around. Meanwhile, he thanks Michonne for everything that she has done for him and the community. Rick is apparently feeling a little frisky telling Michonne he can think of another way to prepare for the future. Scene changes to Maggie and a member of Hilltop on the road. The Saviors stop Maggie and question her about the missing Savior and the ones who disappeared with the ethanol. They are supposed to be working on the bridge. The Saviors let them pass after one of them, but Maggie spots what appears to be the recently deceased Savior. Back to Alexandria where after a quick doctor's appointment, the Grimes family is having a family funday when Scott runs in to tell Michonne that the Savior who went missing the previous day was found dead.

So dude's name was Justin, the Saviors are tying to start a fight. The Saviors want weapons. They think that Anne or Daryl killed Justin. Alden is trying to keep the peace. The female Saviors want to keep the peace, but the male Saviors want weapons. Alden tries to convince Rick to give some of the Saviors weapons; he says he will consider it, but Maggie shoots it down. As they examine the body, Rick gives Daryl a suspicious look. He questions Gabriel about Anne. Gabriel questions Anne, but she refuses to answer. Rick is now questioning Daryl, who tells him he would have done it in public. Daryl tells him that he doesn't know who kill them, but he knows why they wanted to kill Saviors. Rick tells him he felt the same why they fell that way, but he wants to stop all the killing. Daryl says he doesn't understand why these Saviors get the chance that Glenn, Abraham, and Sasha didn't get. Rick tells Daryl that he would like him to give it the same chance he once game Rick, even after Rick left his brother Meryl to die.

Everyone is in the forest doing a grid search for the people who are missing. Cyndie and Maggie track a group of walkers to an abandoned house. Where a broken piece of tin roof is attracting them. Oh, good, the house is full of walkers who break through the wood when Cyndie falls throught the porch. Maggie manages to get a few, before Daryl and Rick show up. Grid 5 team is missing. Bea from Oceanside was with Arat, whose weapons were left behind, but Arat is missing. Jerry is asking what's going to happen to the killer. The group lies to the Saviors, but they go out to look for Arat. Carol admits that she wanted to kill some of the Saviors during the fight. Rick admits there are some days he wants to go down and kill Negan, but he admits he does it to honor all the ones that they have lost. The dead already rule, and every life is precious. Maggie does admit Rick's way is better, for the future. They find a walker with what looks like an arrow in it. Daryl says that he knows who took Arat. I think it just might just be Dwight taking out the Saviors. 

So, Anne is in the junkyard communicating with someone over a walkie-talkie. She is asked does she have an A or a B. She has to bring someone to them--an A, which I take for a leader. Gabriel has followed her to the junkyard. He learns that she had been trading people for supplies before the end fight with Negan.  She was going to trade Rick and Gabriel when she had captured them earlier. She wants to leave Alexandria because everyone still looks at her with suspicion except Gabriel. Gabriel says that he can't do this. He says he has to tell Rick. He tells her he doesn't want to be a party to this, and that he can't leave with her this way. I don't know what a B is, but Anne thought Gabriel was one initially, but apparently, he is the A that is going to get her out of her situation. Before she knocks him out. Meanwhile, Jed attacks Rick and Carol and takes Carol and hostage. Rick is trying to talk him down. Rick feigns dropping his weapon, while Carol escapes and stabs the distracted Jed. DJ stands down when Rick raises his gun in his direction.

Maggie and Daryl end up where the episode began. It turns out that it was Oceanside has been killing the Saviors. So, I missed that one. Turns out this place used to be where the Oceanside group use to be before the Saviors came, and Simon delivered the final warning which is why they fled. Arat killed Cyndie's mother and brother. Cyndie's brother was only 11. Cyndie tells Daryl and Maggie that she started this revenge after what Maggie did to Gregory. Arat told them she said she killed the boy after Simon demanded her; Cyndie and Maggie demanded she tell the rest. Arat said she told them "no exceptions" before killing the boy. Maggie and Daryl walk away as Cyndie kills Arat. Maggie and Daryl agree that Rick's way isn't exactly working, and they need to talk to Negan. The episode ends with the Saviors leaving the camp. 

The preview for next week reminds us that there are only two more Rick Grimes episodes, and it looks like he and Daryl will have a fight...Until next time...

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 2-"The Bridge"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everybody! I think that I've recovered from last week. I'm probably going to be a little distracted as my Chiefs are currently playing the Patriots on Sunday Night Football.

This week's episode opens with Rick having what appears to be a one-sided conversation with Negan (I'm assuming, because it looks like Rick is outside of Negan's cell). Apparently, Rick does most of the talking. Rick tells him that it was Day 35, and everybody is camped out while they are reparing the bridge that connects the colonies. We get a glimpse of some of the other couples, and the appearance of some semblance of normality.

Ezekiel tells young Henry about the importance of the building this bridge, then he and Carol have a cute moment as he, Carol, and Henry have created a little family. Apparently, the Saviors have been slipping off. Siddiq has been training Enid to do medicine. The ethanol shipment from the Sanctuary has not arrived, and Maggie refuses to send them more supplies until the Saviors hold up their end. Michonne tries to get Maggie to let Earl, the blacksmith who tried to kill Maggie, out to repair the broken plow from D. C. Michonne reasons that keeping him locked up while the tractor is out of fuel punishes everyone. Maggie refuses to let him out, because of what he did. Michonne says that maybe it's time to lay down some rules. Maggie doesn't disagree and suggests that Michonne stay the night at Hilltop instead of heading back to Alexandria. While working on the bridge, one of the Saviors starts trouble with Henry and ends up on his behind. The Savior then starts a fight with Daryl.

Rick comes back to break up the fight. Daryl is ticked that Rick let the Savior off, but he and Rick tells them that they need the Saviors to help. Clearly though, there is a rift with Daryl and Rick, and Rick trying to bring everything together. Tammy is upset that Maggie will not let her see Earl, and refuses to leave the jail until she sees her husband. Michonne suggests that Jesus talks to Maggie. Jesus talks to Maggie who realizes Michonne's influence, and while Jesus does not always agree with her, he tells her that he trusts Maggie. We also learn that Georgie has been trying to convince Maggie to join her group. The scene ends with Rosita and the Savior who cut her face, Arat, as they are setting off explosions, which draw walkers.

We learned that Earl built the jail cells that he is now in. Maggie asks him to describe the drinking, and we learn his back story. He tells her how the drinking got out of control, and he took baby Kenneth from the baby sitter while he was drunk. We heard that Saviors are missing and have not returned to the Sanctuary. The heard that they were moving does not go as planned because the second post does not report. One of  the saviors panics and a log lands on Aaron breaking his arm so badly that they have to amputate. Rick, Carol, Ezekiel and their crew take down the walkers. It turns out the Savior who started the fight on the bridge was the person at point two who blames a "bad radio" kept him from turning the herd, which causes Daryl to open up a can of whoop all over him.

Maggie agrees to some common laws. She allows Earl to work under supervision, but she does not regret what she did with Gregory. Rick tells the Savior to leave and not come back. Aaron is recovering, and Anne (Jadis) and Gabriel are getting closer. Gabriel just kissed Anne!!! And now they are...okay...I'm done.

Carol and Ezekiel are engaged. Rick commenting how they all commented and came together at the end of the day. Rick believes that it is human nature to come together. Rick tells Negan that he still thinks he's in charge, but he is never leaving that cell. Negan tells Rick that the bridge is a monument to the dead. Negan tells Rick that he is just getting the world ready for him. Anne sees a helicopter while on night watch, and the loose Savior gets snatched into the woods on his walk back to the Sanctuary.

There's so much to digest. Does Anne know the helicopter people? Who snatched the Savior? What does Negan mean? Hopefully we get some answers next week! Until next week!!!

Dead Viewing: Season 9, Episode 1-"A New Beginning"

***WARNING***

***You may want to stop here.***

***There will be spoilers.***

***This is not a review. It is just my thoughts as I'm watching the show.***

***I update during commercials.***
Remember, I'm just writing what I see and reacting.

Welcome back, everybody!!! Long time, no see!! Honestly, I had many reservations about blogging about The Walking Dead this season. I didn't want to write for two reasons. Reason #1: The weak season finale, and reason #2: Rick and Maggie are leaving. The fact that Rick is leaving the show after eight seasons is devastating to me. He's been there since the beginning, and he is one of my favorite characters, but this just makes Carl's death even more unnecessary. Maggie has become one of my favorite's simply because I love seeing BA female leaders in action on television series. She will be missed, but I hope they don't kill either of them. I'm sure they are going to die, but I would like it to be like Morgan, so they could come back if they choose. We will see. 

Opens with Rick's narration and we are back in Alexandria with Rick, Michone, and Judith has finally grown. WE are meeting up in Washington, DC on horseback. The team is back together. Washington, DC is looking worse for wear. This is quite the interesting intro. I wish I were as quick as other Walking Dead fans who pick up all the Easter eggs.

Looks like they are entering some type of library or museum. It's a museum. Maggie seems positive that this will work, but there is a glass floor with a ton of walkers below it. What are we looking for? This year's walkers are all kinds of gross, man, bugs, and spiders, and Siddiq definitely was feeling that. I like the killing of the walker at the end of the human evolution. I really. We also learned that Maggie won an election, suggested by Gregory, and she is officially the leader of the Hilltop. Heirloom seeds, a canoe, a plow, and trying to get a wagon across a cracking glass floor. I like how all the groups are working together...and Ezekiel falls through the glass. He and Carol are an item. Carol loves her king, I see. 

Ezekiel asks Carol to marry him, and of course, she shoots him down Carol style. Maggie named the baby Hershel. Of course the wagon gets stuck. Just as they move, Walkers show up. No Ken, don't go back for he horse., and he's bit. Ken's dead. Maggie puts him down to keep him from turning. Tammy is railing on Maggie about taking Ken, and Earl walks away when she questions his manhood. She's mad because she believes the Saviors are receiving more than they deserve. I think Maggie may agree with her. 

Alden singing over Ken's funeral. So, everyone is invited to the funeral except Maggie, who is watching from the balcony. Now, they are back at the Saviors warehouse, where apparently some are still "NEGAN." Gregory is allowed to speak at Ken's funeral. Daryl has been leading the Saviors, but he doesn't want to do it any more. Daryl wants to stop dealing with everybody. Daryl wants to fend for their own, and Daryl wants to take care of everyone. Someone has to stay, because Daryl wants to go back to Hilltop with Maggie and the baby. There is definitely a break with Rick and Daryl on philosophy. Meanwhile, snake in the grass Gregory is lurking around with Tammy and Earl.

I love Carol and Daryl's relationship, and the fact that she calls him Pookie. She offers to take over the Sanctuary for Daryl for a while. Man, I hate Gregory. How low do you have to be to manipulate a couple who just lost their child. He really just needs to go away, because he will never get over not being in charge of the Hilltop.

Michonne is questioning whether or not they should not have kept Negan. She is considering what Daryl was talking about with the Saviors. Gregory buttering up to Maggie again. I hate this guy. Someone defaced Glenn's grave and had Earl attack Maggie. Enid and others come to her aid. Now, he is attacking her with a knife. He has got to go.

Carol stays at Sanctuary with Daryl leaving. Leaves Jerry, my fave, to watch over Henry and Ezekiel. Little Hershel is so cute. Rick wants her to visit Alexandria, but she still refuses because of Negan. She says she will help Sanctuary, but they have to sacrifice. They are about to execute Gregory. Execution by hanging...well, bye Gregory...

Before I leave, I would like to take a moment to talk about Scott Wilson. I loved him as Hershel in The Walking Dead, but he has been a part of some of my favorite works including The Great Gatsby and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He will be greatly missed. Thank you for the memories, Mr. Wilson...

Until next week, "You walk outside, you risk your life. You take a drink of water, you risk your life. Nowadays you breath and you risk your life. You don’t have a choice. The only thing you can choose is what you’re risking it for."-Hershel