The Walking Dead: TV Series (Comic spoilers in tags with warning)

[Halie Satanus]

Lucy Liu, Ming-Na Wen, Grace Park, to name a few. Many female Asian American/Canadian actresses have been doing well and in lead roles for years. Or do women not register on your Asian affirmative action agenda?. What this has to do with the show I don't know. Maybe leave out the crusade for the mudpit.

[RubiconDecision]

Most type-casting has occurred with male Asian-American actors. It's a historical fact. The episode is the 1st time in American television, akin to Katsumoto's popularity in The Last Samurai in cinema(despite the dubious historicity). It will be endlessly written about by critics and scholars due to lasting cultural significance.

What's hysterically amusing is Asian-Americans have largely opposed Affirmative Action including myself.

[John Doe]

The cultural significance of TWD S0607

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

It's 1961. Breakfast at Tiffany's is lauded by the critics. Audrey Hepburn is the new icon of ideal female beauty. In the background, Mickey Rooney portrays a Japanese-American in "yellowface".


It's 1973. A largely unknown Chinese-American martial arts star, Bruce Lee, performs in a B movie Enter the Dragon. It's the first time American audiences express any admiration and empathy for an Asian character.

It's 2009. A Korean-American man becomes an integral part of a major production without fake accents and cheesy lines, but simply is a regular guy...and with minimal stereotyping, and without having to use gimmicky martial arts.


It's 2015. Sure, we still have racist depictions and false accents of Asian-Americans on Two Broke Girls.

Sure we have staff volunteers at TWC still calling Japanese "japs" on a regular basis. It happened in the last 24 hours.

But everyone in America is secretly hoping and cheering an Asian-American character and actor for the first time in American history. 'Rather a colossal milestone.

Now Glenn Rhee (Steve Yeun) isn't a marginalized person identified by his ethnicity, but a man...a man who happens to be Korean-American.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Lucie Liu?
Tia Carrere?
etc...

EDIT: Too late

Edit 2: Gran Torino

[RubiconDecision]

Name a time when the future of a normal Asian-American character on television became a matter of national concern. It's a wonderful first. "Is Glenn dead?" became a mantra on the Internet.

[Halie Satanus]

I wonder if the fate of a Caucasian on a TV show has ever been big news in any Asian country.

You also forgot 'Toshirô Mifune' in the TV mini series 'Shogun' 1980, which was a huge world wide hit.... I remember when it was on, it didn't hold my attention, too much romance for a 10 year old. You also left out 'The Water Margin.' Maybe that wasn't a hit in the states, it was pretty big in the UK and much more exciting for impressionable minds. Though I really didn't know what was going on. We also had 'Monkey' which was huge. Every kid in the UK was hooked on Monkey.

Any way: Over all this weeks episode was another filler, setting up future events.

[Harry Lime]

Anyway.........

to get back to the show.

The last 2 episodes have seriously annoyed my inner geek. Darryl giving a gun back to the dude who was waving it in his face threatening to pull the trigger only a short time before. And then turning his back on him. What's happened to you Darryl? You've gone soft.

Then we have Rick giving a gun and instructions on how to shoot, aim it, to the revenge filled son of the man he shot in the head. Disallowing said son from practising with gun because of the noise whilst then proceeding to cheerfully hammer nails into the walls, mere feet away from thousands of walkers. Spencer carrying out the worst Spider-Man impression ever. Total failure to act on the falling mill which had been hit by the HGV because 'things hadn't let up'. Things had let up for at least 2 days, Rick. You found time for aforementioned suicidal death wish gun training, for snogging the lad's mum, interrogating Morgan and pointless chats on the verandah but you didn't think to actually inspect the damage that may have been done to the security of the town's defences?

Getting near the end of my rant, lol, still a couple of things to spew. Enid and the balloons? Talk about target to any passing walker or perhaps she just wanted to make her rucksack lighter by attaching as much helium as possible. Last but not least. Glenn. You stab 2 walkers in the head and apparently the rest of 'em will totally ignore the fact you're mere inches away. Absolutely lame. Still on the brighter side, next week looks like a good 'un.

[Halie Satanus]

cheerfully hammer nails into the walls, mere feet away from thousands of walkers.

It was an allegory.

[RubiconDecision]

Next week there will be a significant body count of the suburbanites and possibly the 5th season crew death. (Plural)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rosita could die given the budding romance between Abraham/Sasha. Eugene could die from foreshadowing. Fr. Gabriel is likely to die. Jessie is likely to die as there was no romance in this episode and rotten things happen to lovers in TWD.

Enid will live, facilitating a negative influence on Carl, and probably leading to Negan.

Carl and Enid are child soldiers, and teenagers who lack morale inhibitions and framework create their own framework, likely emulating Carol and Shane.

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It is ridiculous to presume I give a fig what the Japanese do. You should know that American stars are idealized to the point of using Western faces in ad campaigns and Japanese women having plastic surgery to emulate them.

I'm an American of mixed ancestry and old, and so I recognize the unique significance of universal fascination with Glenn's death. It's a major positive triumph, even if you don't see it.

[Everyone knew Toshiro Mifune = Tokugawa hence there was zero concern about a demise. The book was a humongous bestseller and thus there were no surprises.]

[HunterKYA]

Next week there will be a significant body count of the suburbanites and possibly the 5th season crew death. (Plural)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rosita could die given the budding romance between Abraham/Sasha. Eugene could die from foreshadowing. Fr. Gabriel is likely to die. Jessie is likely to die as there was no romance in this episode and rotten things happen to lovers in TWD.

Enid will live, facilitating a negative influence on Carl, and probably leading to Negan.

Carl and Enid are child soldiers, and teenagers who lack morale inhibitions and framework create their own framework, likely emulating Carol and Shane.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

- That's probably to be expected, when it comes to the Alexandrians. Living in seclusion, in their pristine homes with mowed yards, left them in an oasis of denial as things fell apart around them. They only learned too late that they had to fight for their survival and that the world wouldn't ignore them forever. With this latest event, most of those who survived the Wolves' attack, are certainly going to be wiped out. They're by no means survivors, and by the end of next week, it'll show.

- It isn't so much that Carol and Shane created their own framework, but instead quickly adapted to the changed reality of the world. Carol, because of her abusive marriage, had to survive by eluding her husband; Shane, on the other hand, seemed to let his duty of being a police officer subvert any of his aggressive, brutish tendencies. Once the world fell apart, the notion of rules and laws vanished depending on the person. For the most part, Carol had a moral compass, doing what she felt was right for the group, asking opinions when necessary. Shane adapted into being aggressive and conceited, doing things for the betterment of himself and those he trusted as allies, and did nothing to disguise his domineering, alpha-male personality.

The difference between them and Carl and Enid, is that Carl and Enid are growing up in a world without rules, where inhibitions are secondary when someone could die at any second. Without normal childhoods, without proper guidance, children growing up during this time will know only one rule: You have to kill to survive. Growing up absent the moral compass that adults, mainly their relatives, grew up under, the first full generation to live during the apocalypse would be susceptible to anything, especially if there were no rules involved to hinder them.

[A Man]

Not gonna lie, feeling skeptical about the upcoming mid season finale. It will probably end in some crazy cliffhanger. A man hates cliffhangers.

[Halie Satanus]

Next week there will be a significant body count of the suburbanites and possibly the 5th season crew death.

I agree most of the Alex group have to go, there's just to many of them and the show needs to have a mass body count at this stage. However, they need to keep a number for cannon fodder in the future.

Dead.
Rossita: she's never really been developed as a character.
Gabriel: he serves no purpose any more.
Tara: Again little point to her character after Woodberry.
Eugene: Another one with no point to him any more.

I'd like to see Morgan/Aaron/Enid join ricks group.

The difference between them and Carl and Enid, is that Carl and Enid are growing up in a world without rules, where inhibitions are secondary when someone could die at any second. Without normal childhoods, without proper guidance, children growing up during this time will know only one rule: You have to kill to survive. Growing up absent the moral compass that adults, mainly their relatives, grew up under, the first full generation to live during the apocalypse would be susceptible to anything, especially if there were no rules involved to hinder them.

I'd say Enid more so than Carl. Carl has been through the morality of killing with impunity and been given clear guidelines. Rick is a do as I say not as I do moral compass, at least when it comes to Carl, less so with any one else. Enid we know little about, she seems to have a far more nihilistic outlook to self preservation. She knows death is around every corner but she's not afraid to face it. I just hope she doesn't get killed or leave, she could be an interesting foil to the constant soul searching of Rick's group. Enid and Morgan could make an interesting pair, conversation wise.

[RubiconDecision]

Carl and Enid on their own would become feudal barons with serfs i.e. Into the Badlands. Anything democratic would be worthless. They'd justify it as pragmatism to effectively deal with scarce resources and save the ones they could. In fact a series of conversations would pave the way to

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Negan over endlessly migrating to a new situation that is doomed to failure.

[A Man]

Eugene is still in progress. He will certanly have "a point" later on, and a very important one at that.

[RubiconDecision]

Given new and altered characters, and intentionally creating niche characters to broaden the demographics, plus odd character development that would significantly raise the CGI budget, the comics and the show are not locked into story lines. Focus groups liking a character, and then boosting the ratings, then has to be factored into the writing.

Case in point Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge).

Only an insane writer would kill off Daryl barring a contract dispute.
...
It's significant that many Broadway and film actors have switched to television due to belt-tightening and a steady gig vs. hoping to be cast for the next project. They're puzzled how to pay for series since advertising is irrelevant. Steaming services will boom, but they're losing sales to piracy.

No one has good encryption to fingerprint media, but you'll see a push for it.

[GreyFox]

Total failure to act on the falling mill which had been hit by the HGV because 'things hadn't let up'. Things had let up for at least 2 days, Rick. You found time for aforementioned suicidal death wish gun training, for snogging the lad's mum, interrogating Morgan and pointless chats on the verandah but you didn't think to actually inspect the damage that may have been done to the security of the town's defences?

The tower was outside the walls and surrounded by walkers. How did you expect him to examine it? Also, even if he could examine it and knew what to look for (he's a former policeman, not an engineer), what do you expect him to be able to do about it?

Also, to the best of my knowledge, the events since the walkers got out of the quarry have occurred in the space of about 24 hours.

So far I've enjoyed the latest season and think it's the best so far since season 1. Walkers are scary again.

[Halie Satanus]

Walkers don't kill people, stupid people do.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

1000's of walkers around and it's still the living trying to kill each other that cause the most problems.
Oh that and bad ill fitting shoes, can't be any other explanation for why everyone seems to fall over while being chased by rambling walkers.
Also much as I'm sure Maggie has a wonderful bottom, she might want to think about wearing some less restrictive jeans/trousers.
Morgan needs a good slap, such a shame he went from great character to idiot.
Why did the girls give up their guns? might as well have shot that guy in the head, even if he did stab the Doc.

This season had been great up until the last 2/3 episodes. The mid season finale had some nice moments but was well short of the early episodes.

[RubiconDecision]

They went for stretching out an iconic moment from the comics.Why, I'll never know. In the old days, such a pause was to create tension and gain new viewers. I doubt that works for TWD.

Darabont is fighting the profit runaround clause. Routinely their agents try to get 3-5% profits on billions made, but accounting magic hides the profits so on paper... they show loss.

Such legal headaches then start affecting productions. See the Bones tv series debacle unfolding with 11 years of megaprofits ripping off the cast.

The Bones stars say they have uncovered "more than a dozen accounting errors, tricks, and deceitful acts that 20th TV has used to deprive plaintiffs of their entitlement to profits," the suit alleges. Just a few of those:
►Sweetheart deals between 20th TV and Fox and affiliated foreign networks, as well as its syndication deals with Fox's television stations
►Self-dealing in licenses to Hulu and Netflix
►Improper allocations of "package fees"
►Improper charging costs for a spinoff pilot, distribution fees, overhead and other corporate charges, foreign taxes and rebates from media buys, product placement and integration revenue
(Side note: Deschanel's loan-out company is called Snooker Doodle Productions, which just looks funny in a formal legal complaint. Boreanaz's company is called Bertha Blue, Inc.)
Profit participation claims like Frank Darabont’s and the Bones group’s are not uncommon in Hollywood due to the complexity of deals for creators and talent. Some allege vertical integration claims, like recent concluded lawsuits over Smallville and Home Improvement, while others take on home-video royalties and other features of Hollywood accounting.

Darabont was the original showrunner who got axed, creating chaos, and still gets weekly credit. He must have a tough contract.

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So we have Maggie perched up high just like Glenn was before. Yawn.

A fruitcake predictable Carol vs Morgan scene when it's a no-brainer to not waste antibiotics on a Wolf.

Abe/Sasha/Glenn might have been the cavalry only to introduce Negan.

Now we're just waiting for the WTF moment with Jessie and Rick. Personally that ruins Rick's character, so I hope they don't stick to canon. It will alienate a lot of viewers.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/Je...omic_Series%29

TV series are not like comics particularly adult comics, and if they go that route they'll alienate 1/2 of the female viewers plus create a feminist firestorm.

[A Man]

As long as they try to please the viewers rather than telling a good and scary story that the comics presented - this show will never be above average at best.

[RubiconDecision]

As long as they try to please the viewers rather than telling a good and scary story that the comics presented - this show will never be above average at best.

So your idea of Art probably means making little profits in television which must be PC to survive versus the horror graphic novel niche.

Zombie media was once considered so revolting that it had a tiny fanbase, but today it's become mainstream with kids watching gore. I doubt mom and dad will approve of Jessie's comic book finale. The scene is so horrifying, I doubt AMC is dumb enough to proceed.

TWD could have killed her off several episodes ago versus such controversy that's likely to damage the franchise and turn the creator into a pariah. Not to mention Carl's fate.

[maxi90]

*Sigh*

Oh, TWD, why can´t you be good?

Edit: Wait, was this the finale?