I enjoyed that. Took awhile to suck me in for some reason despite knowing it was a good episode but by second half, was pulled in. It was nice seeing some of the side characters get time
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Gabriel could have gone with a stronger argument but it was a fun one, good to see Eugene and Rossita dynamic again. Less keen on guy Rick was with and the whinymcwhine Rick hater
, enjoyed the main strand with Negan holding the attention well, building a bit more about his world and his power.
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I get being impressed by Karl's bravery but the kid's plan was really really stupid, surely he should be executed on that alone?
Why hasn't Negan died: It would certainly be a brave move to kill him just before the half-season finale but would seem poor narrative. In terms of "real life", how many powerful rulers/warlords actually get assassinated even when at war? Usually it is a defeated figure whose power has collapsed and is being pursued or someone who has stirred up trouble by overreaching themselves (which Negan and the wives thing risks doing) by an internal foe. It is very high risk with potential disaster if it goes wrong with little chance of succeeding.
Internally Negan has masses of followers for a reason. With the rest of the world going to hell, Negan provides food, jobs, security, a home, chance for promotion, a sense of stability (and harsh laws can even be welcomed times of trouble). He is also seemingly a winner and people like a winner. Some people there might think Negan is a git but he provides people with things they want and even if one hates Negan, what happens after he goes? Do you lose all that? Are you even that desperate to kill him or can you accept the bad side for everything provided? The wife thing could be the final straw but that is going to be too only a few people, hard to gather support.
From the outside, he ensures the outside forces are kept busy and weakened, he knows how to break people so they submit, he has numbers and knows how to win a war, they tend to be isolated from each other and killing Negan himself is unlikely to solve things but bring a wrathful force down on your community. You have to know where his HQ and take that out as well as Negan or really cross your fingers, allies to bulk up your forces and an opportunity.
I've said it before to Sideshow when we've had in depth discussions some time back.
For me the show has never once been about characterisation. In fact decent efforts at characterisation would have rendered the show a different beast altogether and possibly - for me - proven to be a turn off. Quite simply, for me, the show has always been about the collective journey through the mire of the apocalypse and - crucially - feeling whilst watching that I am actually 'there' with the protaganists. It's why I don't actually want this huge character predominance - except perhaps for the baddies such as Negan where it kind of adds to the overall flavour. When i watch the Sopranos or Breaking Bad or Deadwood or any quality drama I'm desperate for the great characterisation because I'm never 'there' with those characters. I'm always merely an interested and absorbed spectator. With Walking Dead, however, I'm right there alongside the other protaganists as they fumble their often characterless way through the nightmare.
That's why those previous three episodes prior to last night never really grabbed me. Not because they were characterless - which they were - but because they were each clearly no more than appendages to to the main journey. Last night brought me back on track. I was there again.
I know that's all a bit clumsily expressed but I think it might help clarify why I'm often at loggerheads with some who crave for Walking Dead the deeper characterisation that you get with the very best dramas - where the plot almost gets driven by the characters simply performing to the traits that drive them.
Interesting. I do find the world intresting but not in a "there moment" whereas I love the character episodes but each to their own.
