2017 TV/Movie/Book Thread with Spoilers

[El Duderino]

The Walking Dead is bringing it so far this year.

I wonder how all of these people shooting at each other seem to have a near unlimited supply of ammunition?

It's entertainment man. You can come up with something for every piece of fiction in history. Sometimes you just gotta sit back and enjoy something for what it is. I prefer an episode like this vs some sort of exposition filled hour where they discover some ammunition factory and stock up. They could do it but it doesn't really move the story forward and certainly wouldn't be entertaining.

I can't help it.

Generally i don't watch shows like Walking Dead and i'm not a fan of most action movies because i can't just sit back and avoid thinking, why is X character doing this when it makes no sense or when an action star manages to not get killed a dozen times when he really should have as he kills seven guys with an Uzi even though he only has a pistol. I tune out.

My nephew though used to spend a lot of time with me and he'd watch Walking Dead here because my sister wouldn't let him watch it at her place. So i got sucked into the show and liked it over the first 5-6 seasons, but outside of bringing in Negan who is my favorite character, i think the series has been going downhill. After investing so much time through seven seasons, it's hard for me to just bail, but the show feels like other good ratings TV series who hang around to long because it makes money.

Breaking Bad was smart to avoid this even though it could have figured out a way to squeeze out another season or two for financial gain. They finished while to show was still good vs straining for ideas to keep going.

[ReasonablySober]

Happy Death Day is a pretty fun movie.

[Bucksfan28]

Episode 6. ****. Best ep of the whole series?

[BUCKnation]

The ratings are pretty funny for the stranger things individual eps on IMDB. high 8's and 9's across the board and ep 7 is sitting a high 6. Haven't even seen the episode yet, but it's interesting how universal the criticism is.

[HKPackFan]

The ratings are pretty funny for the stranger things individual eps on IMDB. high 8's and 9's across the board and ep 7 is sitting a high 6. Haven't even seen the episode yet, but it's interesting how universal the criticism is.

I didn't think it was that bad. As someone said, we binge watch so the cliffhanger wasn't that bad. If it was weekly release would have been tough to have to wait two weeks to get back to the main story but in a binge scenario it didn't bother me at all. Afterwards it was an interesting character development episode to look back on.

The character's behavior was heading down two diverging paths leading up to episode 7, so I did found it beneficial to see the character go down a previously unexplored path. I thought it was worthwhile even if I didn't love it.

[HKPackFan]

I wonder how all of these people shooting at each other seem to have a near unlimited supply of ammunition?

It's entertainment man. You can come up with something for every piece of fiction in history. Sometimes you just gotta sit back and enjoy something for what it is. I prefer an episode like this vs some sort of exposition filled hour where they discover some ammunition factory and stock up. They could do it but it doesn't really move the story forward and certainly wouldn't be entertaining.

I can't help it.

Generally i don't watch shows like Walking Dead and i'm not a fan of most action movies because i can't just sit back and avoid thinking, why is X character doing this when it makes no sense or when an action star manages to not get killed a dozen times when he really should have as he kills seven guys with an Uzi even though he only has a pistol. I tune out.

My nephew though used to spend a lot of time with me and he'd watch Walking Dead here because my sister wouldn't let him watch it at her place. So i got sucked into the show and liked it over the first 5-6 seasons, but outside of bringing in Negan who is my favorite character, i think the series has been going downhill. After investing so much time through seven seasons, it's hard for me to just bail, but the show feels like other good ratings TV series who hang around to long because it makes money.

Breaking Bad was smart to avoid this even though it could have figured out a way to squeeze out another season or two for financial gain. They finished while to show was still good vs straining for ideas to keep going.

Good point about the show really going on too long.


I'm heavily invested, but I have seen a few friends drop out the Last couple of years.

I actually took a year hiatus after the premiere last year, then binged season 7 over the summer. I hated the first half, the 2nd half of the season gave me just enough to stay along.

But I am getting weary of it all. First 2 episodes have been fun but, I kinda want the series to end now.

[HurricaneKid]

I wonder how all of these people shooting at each other seem to have a near unlimited supply of ammunition?

Really? It took you till this season to realize this? I couldn't get through the pilot because every situation was so bumfack (Please Use More Appropriate Word). I can't stand shows like that. If someone tells me they like the walking dead, I think a little less of them.

You big strong cultured man, you.

Nah. Hege is right. Walking Dead has completely jumped the shark. We had a character come out and say he couldn't die, take automatic fire to the chest from 5 bad guys and come to a little later like he bonked his head. Years into the apocalypse we have an episode where 10,000s of thousands of rounds of ammo are used as a freaking DIVERSION. That was in just the last episode.

You HAVE to abide by the rules YOU establish. Its a series where our favorite characters die on a weekly basis. Where no one expends a single round of ammo needlessly and literally risk their lives to save a bullet. Where waiving a gun around with no ammo is a common bluff and has been for years. To completely alter the fabric of the universe to mindlessly entertain does the series, especially the parts that built the show's popularity in the first place, enormous harm.

Of course, I'm still watching. But I can still complain about the horrific turns the show has made of late.

[jakecronus8]

Really? It took you till this season to realize this? I couldn't get through the pilot because every situation was so bumfack (Please Use More Appropriate Word). I can't stand shows like that. If someone tells me they like the walking dead, I think a little less of them.

You big strong cultured man, you.

Of course, I'm still watching. But I can still complain about the horrific turns the show has made of late.

Just seems weird. If it's jumped the shark and its so terrible why not just stop watching it? Strange

[emunney]

The biggest problems TWD has are when it tries to reconcile itself with the comics. The comics are just different -- different things have happened, characters have made different choices and are different people at each juncture -- so when they try to bring the show back toward the comic to serve some great scene *from the comics*, inevitably enough things are different that they have to shoehorn it in and it causes all sorts of problems. Like **** trust the choices you've made for the show and just move forward. Stop trying to get back to the comic. Way more people watch the show anyway, just honor the **** show and think about the precedents *in the show* rather than how to contrive a way to get to the next cool tableau from the comic. Drives me crazy. The show is clearly at its best when it charts its own path.

[Bernman]

You big strong cultured man, you.

Of course, I'm still watching. But I can still complain about the horrific turns the show has made of late.

Just seems weird. If it's jumped the shark and its so terrible why not just stop watching it? Strange

Sunk-cost fallacy. I'm one who succumbs to it often in regards to movies and t.v. because there's nothing inherent lost, am hoping all the while it will get better, and I want to see how things end. The Walking Dead has no shortage of bad actors, annoying characters, forced back stories, and absurd events (kill off Glen when he was cornered in an alley by walkers, not choose him as the guy who Negan makes an example of). Dexter was the rare drama I tuned out on eventually. Like Walking Dead, it had it's initial lure, but clearly ran out of good ideas.

[El Duderino]

Nah. Hege is right. Walking Dead has completely jumped the shark. We had a character come out and say he couldn't die, take automatic fire to the chest from 5 bad guys and come to a little later like he bonked his head. Years into the apocalypse we have an episode where 10,000s of thousands of rounds of ammo are used as a freaking DIVERSION. That was in just the last episode.

You HAVE to abide by the rules YOU establish. Its a series where our favorite characters die on a weekly basis.

I actually think main characters don't get killed off often enough.

Take a show like Game of Thrones in comparison. One thing which i think has made that show so good is that at any point a main character could be killed off and for non-book readers, it catches you off guard and makes you always wonder who could be next.

With Walking Dead though, i never think main characters like Rick, Carl, Daryl, Carol, Maggie, Michonne, Morgon, etc have any chance of being killed off, regardless of how dumb/reckless of a battle they get into or precarious situation they find themselves in.

Negan for example easily could have and should have killed Rick multiple times, yet i always knew something would happen to prevent this. Then two episodes ago, Negan is standing there talking smack while Rick and his crew have many guns pointed at Negan, but i knew they wouldn't do the obvious and shoot, thus allowing Negan to escape. Last episode ends with a gun pointed at Rick, but we all know he'll escape death yet again because well, he's Rick and escaping these situations is how he rolls. None of his rivals ever simply wants to pull the trigger, gotta leave an opening for Rick to turn the tables and get away.

[El Duderino]

Sunk-cost fallacy. I'm one who succumbs to it often in regards to movies and t.v. because there's nothing inherent lost, am hoping all the while it will get better, and I want to see how things end. The Walking Dead has no shortage of bad actors, annoying characters, forced back stories, and absurd events (kill off Glen when he was cornered in an alley by walkers, not choose him as the guy who Negan makes an example of). Dexter was the rare drama I tuned out on eventually. Like Walking Dead, it had it's initial lure, but clearly ran out of good ideas.

I agree for the most part and i had the same deal with Dexter. My brother is in the Army and when he was in Afghanistan, he wanted me to burn a bunch of TV series for him and Dexter was one of them.

So since the series was on my computer and my brother liked it, i gave it a try. First 3 or 4 seasons were really good, but then it nosedived badly and i was stuck thinking, should i stick this out and finish given i've invested time watching as much as i have?

Eventually i just couldn't watch anymore, it got so bad and that i skipped the last two seasons and went to the last episode to see how it ended. Walking Dead hasn't gotten nearly as bad as Dexter had, but i certainly no longer look forward to new episodes as i once did and hope they bring the series to an end pretty soon.

[HurricaneKid]

Nah. Hege is right. Walking Dead has completely jumped the shark. We had a character come out and say he couldn't die, take automatic fire to the chest from 5 bad guys and come to a little later like he bonked his head. Years into the apocalypse we have an episode where 10,000s of thousands of rounds of ammo are used as a freaking DIVERSION. That was in just the last episode.

You HAVE to abide by the rules YOU establish. Its a series where our favorite characters die on a weekly basis.

I actually think main characters don't get killed off often enough.

Take a show like Game of Thrones in comparison. One thing which i think has made that show so good is that at any point a main character could be killed off and for non-book readers, it catches you off guard and makes you always wonder who could be next.

With Walking Dead though, i never think main characters like Rick, Carl, Daryl, Carol, Maggie, Michonne, Morgon, etc have any chance of being killed off, regardless of how dumb/reckless of a battle they get into or precarious situation they find themselves in.

Negan for example easily could have and should have killed Rick multiple times, yet i always knew something would happen to prevent this. Then two episodes ago, Negan is standing there talking smack while Rick and his crew have many guns pointed at Negan, but i knew they wouldn't do the obvious and shoot, thus allowing Negan to escape. Last episode ends with a gun pointed at Rick, but we all know he'll escape death yet again because well, he's Rick and escaping these situations is how he rolls. None of his rivals ever simply wants to pull the trigger, gotta leave an opening for Rick to turn the tables and get away.

Early on, back when it was good, popular characters died regularly. The ever-so-many Glen deaths really showed just how far that line had been pushed back. Take a look back at S2, 3, 4 and the top 7 characters then. A lot of them had their faces eaten.

[M-C-G]

Normally I don't get too worked up about these kind of things, but they made such a big stink about having to surrender all the guns to Negan, a season (or two now?) ago, then all of a sudden they are super gun rich and ammo rich. I think I recall them stealing the guns from the lady camp but then I thought they lost those too. I don't know, I guess I need to pay attention more.

[machu46]

I loved the new season of stranger things.

Spoiler:

Bob was so intriguing to me. It seemed like the show wanted you to think there was something going on with him. He seemed too good of a person, but would smile at inappropriate times. He also gave advice to Will that kicked off the whole thing. Then there was the time the mom pointed out that he was really cold holding the coffee mug, implying like he might be possessed too. When he volunteered to hack in the computer, which he was way to gun ho about, I was convinced he was gonna expose himself as a bad guy. Then he died a heroes death and became motivation for the group. I was so confused. I liked him a lot though

Re: Fresh Prince's post:

Spoiler:

I've seen a few people bring this up and I completely missed that vibe myself lol. I loved that dude from the get-go, though it seemed painfully obvious to me that he was going to die. They're clearly angling for a Joyce/Hop reunion and Bob obviously had to be out of the way for that to happen.

The ratings are pretty funny for the stranger things individual eps on IMDB. high 8's and 9's across the board and ep 7 is sitting a high 6. Haven't even seen the episode yet, but it's interesting how universal the criticism is.

You'll understand when you watch. I personally didn't mind it so much, but as others have said, it's almost entirely detached from the rest of the series.

I'm guessing it's planting a seed for Season 3, but it feels extremely out of place right now.

My takeaways after having finished watching the entire season (obviously don't click unless you too have finished):

Spoiler:

The show is a lot of fun but definitely has issues in terms of believability/continuity in spots. I'm a 90's baby myself, but I've always loved the culture of the 70's and 80's so seeing a show with so many callbacks to the 80's is so satisfying for me.

The Good:

• Steve. It seemed to me that Steve was casted to be the bad guy for the show, and roughly halfway through Season 1, they realized he had potential as a good guy instead, and ever since, it's been really redeeming watching his character develop.
  Turning into the babysitter/single mother as he calls it was awesome. His 1 on 1 scenes with Dustin were awesome. I just loved watching him this season. He and Dustin together was probably my favorite part.
• Will. That kid is a seriously talented actor. And after basically being Doug from The Hangover in Season 1, he really came into his own in Season 2.
• Elle & Hop. The dynamic between these two was great. It was especially cool because I know Dave (actor that plays Hop) said after Season 1 that he grew really attached to Millie (actress that plays Elle) and kinda looked after her like she was his daughter.
• Some other quick stuff that I liked...I thought the Snow Ball was a good way to end the season, and the callback to Joyce/Hop smoking outside the school was cool. I loved the way they'd rotate the camera upside down as they were transitioning into the Upside Down.

The Bad:

• Max/Billy (for now anyways). I kinda like Max, but she hasn't had a chance to really be fleshed out yet. They seem to be doing with Billy what they wanted to do with Steve at first. He's come into the school and they literally stated how Billy was basically replacing Steve as the big man on campus and he's the complete **** that they seemingly wanted Steve to be. His role felt sort of pointless this season, but I think there's potential for both he and Max. Him flirting with Mike's mom was pretty hilarious.
• The very ending. Just seemed kinda lame to me that it basically ended the way it started with the Mind Flayer being there again. I don't know; I really liked how they had Will cough up the slug at the end of Season 1 to hint at Season 2, but this season's ending fell flat for me (outside of the Snow Ball part which I enjoyed).
• Episode 7. Just super out of place. They seemingly used this episode to possibly plant a seed for Season 3 while also having Elle go through her Luke/Yoda training kinda thing where she learned how to really tap into her power, but that part felt so rushed.
• Nancy's drunk acting. My god was that bad lol.
• Some of the logic:
  1. Dustin hiding Dart from the rest of the friends group. Also more importantly, they just finished the world almost ending due to a demidog and then he mysteriously finds a new species of animal that looks kinda like a demidog and he isn't suspicious? Seriously what the hell is that?
  2. The Dustin/Dart reunion at the end with Dart letting him and his friends pass by was so easy to see coming and also just lame.
  3. Most of the first two seasons, it seems like shooting demidogs doesn't really do anything. Then the finale happens and Hop fights them all off with his guns while Elle does her thing.
  4. The new Hawkins Lab guy gets viciously attacked by demidogs but then they apparently decide to just leave him be instead of killing him like they've done to literally every single other human that they've attacked?

[RRyder823]

The Walking Dead is bringing it so far this year.

I wonder how all of these people shooting at each other seem to have a near unlimited supply of ammunition?

Really? It took you till this season to realize this? I couldn't get through the pilot because every situation was so bumfack (Please Use More Appropriate Word). I can't stand shows like that. If someone tells me they like the walking dead, I think a little less of them.

Such a hipster comment.

It is the most popular show on TV. At this point u might as well say the same thing about everybody watching GoTs. I mean they got ravens that fly as fast as fighter jets now

Sent from my SM-G892A using RealGM mobile app

[thomchatt3rton]

Normally I don't get too worked up about these kind of things, but they made such a big stink about having to surrender all the guns to Negan, a season (or two now?) ago, then all of a sudden they are super gun rich and ammo rich. I think I recall them stealing the guns from the lady camp but then I thought they lost those too. I don't know, I guess I need to pay attention more.

I stopped watching the show precisely because of stuff like this.
Too often things would happen- not for any good reasons or because of the internal logic of the story- but because the writers needed to get the characters to the next plot point.

A sudden appearance of a bunch of walkers would usually do the trick to get the characters to: leave a place, go to a place, split-up, regroup, whatever. Anything really. Whichever thing was convenient at the time, plot-wise. The exact threat-level of a group of walkers seemed to vary too- sometimes they were manageable, sometimes they were an insurmountable enemy capable of forcing the action in whichever direction it needed to go whether logical or not, and quite arbitrarily (as far as I could tell).


I don't mind a little bit of this kind of cheating with writing- writers can't always come up with plausible reasons for everything, and every show does it to an extent (breaking bad did quite a bit of it). But there can't be too much of it and the show has to have other great qualities that make you not mind a little cheating with the plots. TWD didn't check either of those boxes for me.
I didn't hate it or anything, but I didn't think it was real great or anything either.

[hege53190]

I wonder how all of these people shooting at each other seem to have a near unlimited supply of ammunition?

Really? It took you till this season to realize this? I couldn't get through the pilot because every situation was so bumfack (Please Use More Appropriate Word). I can't stand shows like that. If someone tells me they like the walking dead, I think a little less of them.

Such a hipster comment.

It is the most popular show on TV. At this point u might as well say the same thing about everybody watching GoTs. I mean they got ravens that fly as fast as fighter jets now

Sent from my SM-G892A using RealGM mobile app

That is awesome. First time ever that Hipster has in any way been used to describe me.

I love the first 3 books/first 4 seasons of A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones. The trilogy is one of my favorite series ever. Now I am pot committed and just want to see where everyone ends up. I am actually relieved the series is ending. The last 17 years have not been kind to this series creative team. The last year has been an absolute kick in the nuts to any competent fan of this series.

Maybe I didn't give The Walking Dead enough of a chance but from what I remember the main character had to make the worst possible decision to further the plot. Any time a show does this it loses me. When they constantly do it I am dumbfounded how people can like it (kind of like season 7 of GOT). Plus from what I remember these zombies are really easy to kill and are unbelievably stupid yet they take over the world.

[jakecronus8]

I get some of the negative reviews but Suburbicon was mostly just twisted fun. Way more political then it needed to be and they didn't exactly hit with subtlety, but it was different and I commend George Clooney for being ballsy enough to attempt it.

Cast was amazing individually, particularly Julianne Moore. Biggest criticism to me was using what I assumed was going to be an important sub plot of characters, essentially to set up one scene at the end.

[midranger]

Dexter was the one of the only series I punted on as well. Should have been a 4 season series arc. I think it ended up being 7. Didn't watch the last two.

I keep inching closer with every episode of The Walking Dead. It'll keep going as long as it's making money. Luckily it's incredibly expensive to make, so the break even point might come sooner than with other series. It has been really awful though. For years.