musick

he probably knows nothing about anything and is pretending to so he has some muscle to protect him at all times from harm

johnnysd

The level of extreme WD takes this to is unbalanced and completely unrealistic and is why I no longer watch this show, in addition to the sheer idiocy of so many elements. I think there would certainly be lawlessness, rape, murder and torture, even cannibalism in a society beset by a zombie apocalypse, however I think WD takes the "evil" concept and the emergence of animalistic tendencies to parody levels of extreme. If history has shown anything is that civilization and rules is consistently borne out of chaos. There would be far more groups getting together to protect each other and create a civilized place with rules, than compounds run by corrupted cardboard caricatures of mustache twirling villains than WD portrays.

Another factor people forget that destroys any tie to what the society of this future would look like is that they ALL have a common enemy and ALL have a common interest in surviving against that common threat. Instead of preying on each other, a far greater amount would work together to create a semblence of goodness and morality and above all else safety in this world.

There is no way the world would devolve the way it is portrayed in WD

hanshotfirst1138

It happens in the wake of all kinds of riots and social breakdowns. You could of course argue justifiably that in many cases, it's because the "social order" was something in the interest of a small number of people and a reaction against totalitarian rule (and throughout history, that has certainly happens its share of times), but look at the 1967 riots. Any kind of social order can be thin and fall apart easily, and what's underneath can be unpleasant. I'm not someone with a real jovial view of human nature, I admit, but there's enough historical evidence to make the argument.

Jason

Sounded like the plot of some videogame to me. He's talked about gaming before. I think he's talking out of his ass.

hanshotfirst1138

That into some extent agree with. Becoming shell-shocked, savage and brutal is one thing, becoming articulate cannibals who still have a society is another.

MScottM

I disagree. How many people do you know that are "producers" in this world? How many can grow crops? And I am not talking about a garden, I am talking about growing enough food for 200 people? How many that can raise cattle/sheep/pigs? How many do you know that can can/preserve food? So they will have food over the winter. How many do you know that can take ingredients and make a loaf of bread? No machine involved. Can hunt, kill and butcher an animal? There are millions that can do some or all of those things but there are many more millions that can't do any of them. The society we live in right now is in a very precarious position. Cities, big cities live or die by the trucks and trains that constantly move food to them. Cut off the food supply in New York for 2 weeks and you will have 9 million starving people that will do whatever they need to do to keep their families and themselves alive, even if it means stealing from you and your family and friends.

Sure, their would be some supplies laying around for a while in an event as seen in the Walking Dead but very quickly, the food runs out or turns scarce and then it is the producers that have the best chance of living. But to do that, they need a secure base. Secure from the walkers and also from those that will try to take what they have.

And yes, civilization and rules will eventually win out, they always do but that is because the ones that hold power at that time want to keep it without constantly having to fight for it. Every kingdom started when a bandit/pirate/mercenary/warlord/strongman took a large piece of territory and held it and then passed it on to their children. But it always took the fighting at the beginning to start the process.

Tom Creo

So you didn't watch the show yet we get this from you? Nice.

flashburn

My only complaint was putting the after credits scene AFTER the previews. Who's fucking stupid idea was that? The episode itself was great, one of the best.

DJariya

Well, someone other than live viewers has to get rewarded for not immediately deleting it from their DVR after the episode ends.

Big Boy Laroux

That certainly COULD kill someone, but people have survived far worse.

I guess we'll see what happens. It was just the way he was adamant with his "oh no need to go in there, I totally killed that guy" that screamed that he didn't actually do it (to me).

Paff

Agreed. I actually turned it off and deleted it as soon as the credits rolled because I find that previews often give away too much. After reading the comments here though, I saw it on the beginning of the Comic Book Men episode that came later.

Deftones

it beat SNF, which is pretty much unheard of.

dhmac

The "every day workman" quality of the Termites was something I liked in the episode. It made them like the Nazi SS in being able to do horrible things without any empathy, like it was just another day at the office.

That part was ok but explaining it as "they were good people and only the evil rape gangs made them turn into evil cannibals" just doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

bluetoast

I didn't get around to S4 when it aired, but am quickly catching up on Netflix (though some of the post prison episodes are a chore). Glad to hear it was a good opener, and damn those are some high ratings.

Dr. DVD

Wouldn't ratings like that indicate that if a house had cable last night, chances are it was watching Walking Dead?

In terms of the questions answered by Gimple that were not directly addressed on the ep.:

Shazam

Yeah, Gareth called her "mom" in the show during the last flashback.

Oh and:

Shazam

Great, now they're going to have zombie football players.

dhmac

Talking Dead had one of its best episodes too. Having both Nicotero and Gimple meant good info on the show itself, and Conan O'Brien was the best comedy guest I think it's ever had. He knew how to be really funny and yet not try to take over the show.

I hope Conan returns again for TD (maybe for its season finale).

devilshalo

What I liked about Conan being there, was that he knew the show, too. During the break, they were still talking about Marilyn Manson's appearance. It scarred them for life!

Deftones

it's obvious conan is a big fan, as he's had the entire cast on his show several times.

i actually meant to watch TD, but forgot to record it. i need to see if it is online or something. apparently AMC has it. i'll have to check that out in the next day or so.

DthRdrX

Are they really going to tease us by having Glenn hang on to that bat all season? At least it's not wooden!

Michonne left without her sword. Here's to a termite picking it up and bringing it with them ....

JesseCuster

This was easily the best season premiere thus far. The budget has been pretty clearly upped and I think Scott Gimple is finally truly seated as a long term show runner. He has some real Ronald D. Moore cleverness and writing ability about him.

This is a very strong group of actors now assembled. Andy Lincoln is the original badass IMO. The scene where he pulls open the train door and screams we fight to the fence...I would have followed that cat anywhere. Melissa McBride continues to be THE obscure find of any recent major show. Immensely gifted and in this show she was the original badass. All the most featured in this one and especially the "Slaughter Four"...Readus, Lincoln, Yeun and Gilliard...were excellent. I also thought Andrew West as the subhuman but somehow humanized Gareth was superb.

The intercutting between the Termites before and after with Rick's crew is VERY well done, especially the last one. Some forward pointing contrast?

Ladies and Gents enjoy what happened in this episode. The positive emotional moments. The hero moments. Because I really think this thing is headed into some very dark waters. Maybe more so than at any other point in the series.

Groucho

I thought it would have been hilarious if Daryl tearfully ran up to Carol, grabbed the crossbow, and started hugging it instead.

PhantomStranger

This was a great, hectic season premiere. It really should have been the finale to last season instead of having to wait several months. I guess the writers decided to shuttle hanging around Terminus any longer.

This is the kind of zombie apocalypse action I can get behind. They stepped their game up on the zombie effects, that was some quality zombie face-munching on par with a theatrical production. I liked Carol going all Rambo.

Osiris3657

Awesome premiere, loved it. Ton of action, hope they didn't use most of the season's action budget on this episode.

It was cool seeing the gang all together again. Naturally, that is going to end real fast.

I, for one, can't stand the scientist who claims to hold a cure. I expect it to be revealed this season that he's just a lying scumbag.