So what did folks think of Rick's final episode on the show?

I thought it was the best of both worlds and really well done. Loved the hallucination flashbacks, and the one with Hershel was particularly touching ... thought it was odd to finish with Sasha though as I don't think Rick and Sasha were that close. They really should have featured Carl and/or Lori. Great seeing Jon Bernthal back, forgot how great he was on the show.

Clever that they had the 'killing him off' moment in front of the main cast (Dary's reaction was heartbreaking!) but yet kept him alive ... I'd have been gutted if they'd have killed him. I don't get the people complaining about another Glenn dumpster fake out, I thought this worked well. Kudos to JDM for his Negan moment to, which kind of got lost amongst everything else.

And the final 6 year time jump twist was awesome! Really will feel like a new show moving forward now. Also can't wait for the Rick spin off movies to see what happens next with his story.

It was an excellent episode. And talk about surprise endings? I wasn't expecting that at all. But, I did have a feeling they were not going to totally kill the character off.

TWD has become repetitive. There are only so many bad guys you can pull in (whether Negan, Anne, etc), so many "omg this walker got close to me and I didn't see it" moments, etc. Once I heard Rick was leaving, I knew I'd be done with the show. It was a good reason to make a jump off the wagon. Eventually, even folks like Carol, Daryl, Maggie, they're all going bye bye.

With Rick's fever dreams, each of those people represented something. Hershel was the heart, Sasha was wisdom, Michonne was hope.

I thought it was a very cliché that Judith shows up, wearing her daddy's hat just like Carl did. We've seen the young gunslinger, I don't care to see it again. (I suppose it was needed for a time jump, but still.) It wasn't a cool moment for me the way they went on about on The Talking Dead. It also fucked up the storyline, as I understand it, in the comic books. Ezekiel dies - being beheaded with his head on a stick - before Negan does, and Rick is alive. So, I don't like that it's something totally different now. I've never read the comics, but it was cool knowing they were recreating (mostly) major plot points and imagery from the comics.

By the way, that was Scott Wilson's last role before he died. So it was rather fitting that he's seen in an afterlife.

I'm not sure I will watch the movies. Probably not. I've resigned my time with the show. It had some great moments, and it's had some stinkers.

TrivialPursuit said:

TWD has become repetitive. There are only so many bad guys you can pull in (whether Negan, Anne, etc), so many "omg this walker got close to me and I didn't see it" moments, etc. Once I heard Rick was leaving, I knew I'd be done with the show. It was a good reason to make a jump off the wagon. Eventually, even folks like Carol, Daryl, Maggie, they're all going bye bye.

With Rick's fever dreams, each of those people represented something. Hershel was the heart, Sasha was wisdom, Michonne was hope.

I thought it was a very cliché that Judith shows up, wearing her daddy's hat just like Carl did. We've seen the young gunslinger, I don't care to see it again. (I suppose it was needed for a time jump, but still.) It wasn't a cool moment for me the way they went on about on The Talking Dead. It also fucked up the storyline, as I understand it, in the comic books. Ezekiel dies - being beheaded with his head on a stick - before Negan does, and Rick is alive. So, I don't like that it's something totally different now. I've never read the comics, but it was cool knowing they were recreating (mostly) major plot points and imagery from the comics.

By the way, that was Scott Wilson's last role before he died. So it was rather fitting that he's seen in an afterlife.

I'm not sure I will watch the movies. Probably not. I've resigned my time with the show. It had some great moments, and it's had some stinkers.

Ezekiel dies in the comic at the start of the Whisperer War, along with some other characters, as you said with their heads stuffed on pikes ... there's still time for them to do that on the show. And Negan is still alive in the comic.

From what I've read today it was meant to be another character other than Sasha in the hallucination but the actor couldn't fit it in to their schedule. My guess is it was Glenn given how close he was to Rick. Would have made alot more sense for it to be him.

I still think the Whisperer War should have been the last story for TWD as its the last decent villain from the comic and different from what we've seen before, After that they should have given the remaining characters some sort of happy-ever-after. If that was the overall plan I think Andy Lincoln might have stuck it out one more season just to finish up the show. Too much of a cash-cow for AMC though, so I'm assuming the show is gonna go on for a long while yet.

I still haven´t even watched a single episode since the mid season finale because I´ve been very busy lately and want to watch them later (even though I´m not really into bingewatching).

So.....I avoid these threads but can´t wait to join the discussion again.

I have only read the tite of this thread. But some of the magazine headlines that pop up in my newsfeed on Facebook already posted some stupid spoilers ....in their headlines.

I like the episode.I am so glad that they didn't kill Rick off.This keeps hope alive that he can return someday.And sure enough,they just announced that Andrew Lincoln will continue the Rick Grimes story in three upcoming movies it's not over yet

Andrew Lincoln to lead three "Walking Dead" movies

Andrew Lincoln to lead th...- CBS News

Fans who are depressed over "The Walking Dead" star Andrew Lincoln's departure from the show can rejoice. AMC announced a series of feature-length "Walking Dead" movies on Sunday.

Lincoln was written off from the TV series on Sunday. Warning: Spoiler alert! Do not proceed if you have not yet watched Sunday's episode of "The Walking Dead."Lincoln's character, Rick Grimes, was on the verge of death when a helicopter whisked him away to an unknown place and rescued him. But viewers soon learned that they will find out about Grimes' fate as Lincoln reprises his role in at least three future "Walking Dead" movies.

AMC announced that its chief content officer, Scott M. Gimple, will write the first of the films. The films will follow Grimes' story after his exit from the TV show and separation from the group.

The first movie in the planned expansion will "explore the story of where Rick is taken and what he faces in a new corner of the zombie apocalypse."

Gimple said in a statement about the films, "We have a lot on the horizon – starting with a new epic featuring one of the greatest leading actors in television history and one of the best people I've ever met. We want to break new ground with different, distinct stories, all part of the same world that's captured our imagination for nearly a decade of the 'Dead.'"

The network also said that it's developing a number of TV specials, digital platform content and other projects related to "The Walking Dead."

Lincoln played Grimes for nine seasons of "The Walking Dead." He was one of the show's few remaining original cast members.

Last December, Lincoln talked to ComicBook.com about Grimes' journey and said, "There's part of me that really wants to complete something. How long that takes? I don't know but certainly I really think the fans and my character deserves an end point as some time in the future."

DaveT said:

And the final 6 year time jump twist was awesome! Really will feel like a new show moving forward now.

This is the one part of the episode that I didn't like.Why have such a huge time jump? Are the writers impatient or something? It feels like they're moving a little too fast,imo.

yeah,that scene was so powerful and emotional

DaveT said:

Clever that they had the 'killing him off' moment in front of the main cast (Dary's reaction was heartbreaking!)

SoulAlive said:

DaveT said:

And the final 6 year time jump twist was awesome! Really will feel like a new show moving forward now.

This is the one part of the episode that I didn't like.Why have such a huge time jump? Are the writers impatient or something? It feels like they're moving a little too fast,imo.

I think it was the smart thing to do to finally wrap up the Saviors story, which a lot of people were complaining had dragged on for too long already.

A big time jump like that wraps up all the current story threads and I'm hoping will give the show a fresh feel ... but leaves it open for some cool flashback episodes that fill in the blanks. One of my all time fave episodes was the flashback one where we found out how Morgan got his fighting stick from ... more of that sort of thing would be excellent!

As a long-time Dead fan, my reaction was boiled down to three words:

Oh, good lord.

They've removed all the real drama and suspense from this series. They've chosen to let this franchise linger like a Walker.

More and more I'm resorting to watching the recaps.

This hasn't gotten too much attention,but Rick's final episode was also Maggie's last episode....of the season,at least.She won't appear on any more episodes this season I think they're trying to work something out where she can return occasionally.

DaveT said:

Also can't wait for the Rick spin off movies to see what happens next with his story.

Me too,but there is something funny going on here.When Andrew decided to leave,he made it sound as if he was missing his family and wanted to spend more time with them.He didn't mention anything about these movies Seems like the producers told him to keep quiet about these future plans.Turns out that he's not really "done" with The Walking Dead at all,lol.

In any case,I like the idea of 'Walking Dead' movies that expand the story and take it to other places.

SoulAlive said:

This hasn't gotten too much attention,but Rick's final episode was also Maggie's last episode....of the season,at least.She won't appear on any more episodes this season I think they're trying to work something out where she can return occasionally.

I knew Lauren Cohen wanted out as well, but I assumed that would come later ... but she wasn't featured in any of the previews for next weeks episode, so maybe you're right and she's gone to.

I would assume a big character like that would have more of a dramatic exit though. Perhaps they will feature that in flashback ...

DaveT said:

SoulAlive said:

This hasn't gotten too much attention,but Rick's final episode was also Maggie's last episode....of the season,at least.She won't appear on any more episodes this season I think they're trying to work something out where she can return occasionally.

I knew Lauren Cohen wanted out as well, but I assumed that would come later ... but she wasn't featured in any of the previews for next weeks episode, so maybe you're right and she's gone to.

I would assume a big character like that would have more of a dramatic exit though. Perhaps they will feature that in flashback ...

yeah,the showrunner said that she won't be in any more episodes this season.I guess with Rick's departure,they felt like they didn't wanna have two "goodbye" episodes but they want Maggie to still appear on the show occasionally.She's open to doing that,so her story will continue.....next season though.

TrivialPursuit said:

TWD has become repetitive. There are only so many bad guys you can pull in (whether Negan, Anne, etc), so many "omg this walker got close to me and I didn't see it" moments, etc. Once I heard Rick was leaving, I knew I'd be done with the show. It was a good reason to make a jump off the wagon. Eventually, even folks like Carol, Daryl, Maggie, they're all going bye bye.

With Rick's fever dreams, each of those people represented something. Hershel was the heart, Sasha was wisdom, Michonne was hope.

I thought it was a very cliché that Judith shows up, wearing her daddy's hat just like Carl did. We've seen the young gunslinger, I don't care to see it again. (I suppose it was needed for a time jump, but still.) It wasn't a cool moment for me the way they went on about on The Talking Dead. It also fucked up the storyline, as I understand it, in the comic books. Ezekiel dies - being beheaded with his head on a stick - before Negan does, and Rick is alive. So, I don't like that it's something totally different now. I've never read the comics, but it was cool knowing they were recreating (mostly) major plot points and imagery from the comics.

By the way, that was Scott Wilson's last role before he died. So it was rather fitting that he's seen in an afterlife.

I'm not sure I will watch the movies. Probably not. I've resigned my time with the show. It had some great moments, and it's had some stinkers.

I'm with you here. I have said to my hubby for the last two seasons that I don't know why we're still watching it. It got boring for me. And I found myself amusing myself by spotting things such as the make-up artist showing off (one big one each episode) and how zombies first needed to be killed through the head and yet so many times they died by being stabbed in the torso etc... I won't watch the movies, I have no interest in Rick being this James Bond type character who lives forever. I would have preferred he'd died when Karl did TBH.

I've been a fan of the show for so long,I could never just stop watching or caring I'm in it for the long haul.

maplenpg said:

TrivialPursuit said:

TWD has become repetitive. There are only so many bad guys you can pull in (whether Negan, Anne, etc), so many "omg this walker got close to me and I didn't see it" moments, etc. Once I heard Rick was leaving, I knew I'd be done with the show. It was a good reason to make a jump off the wagon. Eventually, even folks like Carol, Daryl, Maggie, they're all going bye bye.

With Rick's fever dreams, each of those people represented something. Hershel was the heart, Sasha was wisdom, Michonne was hope.

I thought it was a very cliché that Judith shows up, wearing her daddy's hat just like Carl did. We've seen the young gunslinger, I don't care to see it again. (I suppose it was needed for a time jump, but still.) It wasn't a cool moment for me the way they went on about on The Talking Dead. It also fucked up the storyline, as I understand it, in the comic books. Ezekiel dies - being beheaded with his head on a stick - before Negan does, and Rick is alive. So, I don't like that it's something totally different now. I've never read the comics, but it was cool knowing they were recreating (mostly) major plot points and imagery from the comics.

By the way, that was Scott Wilson's last role before he died. So it was rather fitting that he's seen in an afterlife.

I'm not sure I will watch the movies. Probably not. I've resigned my time with the show. It had some great moments, and it's had some stinkers.

I'm with you here. I have said to my hubby for the last two seasons that I don't know why we're still watching it. It got boring for me. And I found myself amusing myself by spotting things such as the make-up artist showing off (one big one each episode) and how zombies first needed to be killed through the head and yet so many times they died by being stabbed in the torso etc... I won't watch the movies, I have no interest in Rick being this James Bond type character who lives forever. I would have preferred he'd died when Karl did TBH.

The writing is BAD now. I stopped watching a while back. But I cant publicly rant about it on Facebook because an aquaintance (and facebook friend on her personal profile) of mine was lucky to get signed as a main character for two seasons (I think... I haven't been watching). She is set for life. Those residuals! So damn lucky.

last night's episode was interesting....six-year time jump...and just as I predicted,Michonne now has a son before his departute,she and Rick decided to expand their family.The only sad part is....there was no Maggie and no Hilltop.But the new characters seem interesting.

SoulAlive said:

last night's episode was interesting....six-year time jump...and just as I predicted,Michonne now has a son before his departute,she and Rick decided to expand their family.The only sad part is....there was no Maggie and no Hilltop.But the new characters seem interesting.

I enjoyed it ... love the new Judith, the actress playing her is very good, much less annoying than Carl was at that age. The final scene was very creepy to.

Some misses though. They need to get Negan out of his cell ... with Rick gone you can't have a character that charismatic stuck behind bars. Rosita and Gabriel didn't work for me, too forced, ditto Michonne's new son with Rick (we assume), that was an eye-roll moment.

Carol's new hair looks horrendous. And what was Eugenne thinking dropping that far with a herd on the way ... does my head in when supposedly smart characters do dumb things like that.

DaveT said:

They need to get Negan out of his cell ... with Rick gone you can't have a character that charismatic stuck behind bars.

NO! they need to just let him rot in jail.I don't like the idea of him suddently becoming a good guy after all he's done.Maggie should have killed him.

I agree.It really does seem like they're just throwing mismatched people together and making them a couple.

DaveT said:

Rosita and Gabriel didn't work for me, too forced

SoulAlive said:

DaveT said:

They need to get Negan out of his cell ... with Rick gone you can't have a character that charismatic stuck behind bars.

NO! they need to just let him rot in jail.I don't like the idea of him suddently becoming a good guy after all he's done.Maggie should have killed him.

See, I don't get all the hate for Negan. What the Saviours were doing wasn't far off what Rick's group ended up doing, providing protection from the walkers for a share of their food and supplies.

What's overooked is the fact Rick's group struck first and killed in greater number. He didn't go and speak to Negan to get his side of things, he went straight to one of Negan's hideouts and slaughtered a load of people, very few questions asked; there could well have been a Glenn or Abraham in that group. Negan's retaliation was to kill only two of Rick's group, albeit more theatrically.

The show never explored this angle enough for my liking ... and you'd think Negan would have made this point more clearly himself ... I think because they'd written themselves in to a corner and AMC didn't want the viewers thinking "Hey, Negan has a point, Rick and his crew and even bigger murdering bastards than Negan is".

In terms of how Negan ran the Saviours, in the comicbook its made much clearer that Negan had to be that tyranical because people weren't strong enough to stay alive by themselves anymore. I love what JDM done with the Negan role but AMC mishandled him with how he was written ... they wanted a pantomime villain rather than a complex character.

Are you really gonna stick up for Negan? You're defending a guy who says stuff like "I just slid my dick down your throat and you thanked me for it"? I just don't find him charming or "cool" in any way.He's the epitome of EVIL.

SoulAlive said:

Are you really gonna stick up for Negan? You're defending a guy who says stuff like "I just slid my dick down your throat and you thanked me for it"? I just don't find him charming or "cool" in any way.He's the epitome of EVIL.

Nothing wrong with a bit of banter

I just think that the main reason the group and the viewer hated Negan (killing Glenn and Abraham), Rick had already done the same thing only in greater number and he struck first without even trying to speak to Negan ... that's evil and there's no defending it, whereas you could argue for Negan it was just an eye for an eye.

I always thought a great TWD episode would have been to show the backstory of all the people in that outpost that Rick and his group slaughtered ... showed some of them as a-holes, but some of them as decent folk, as was probably the case.

Did you guy see Sunday night's episode? I don't like the way the show dealt with Maggie.In this episode,we discover that Maggie has left the Hilltop with Georgie No proper send-off? No big,dramatic episode that explains why she's leaving? SMH

Save the show, make it animated and move it to Saturday mornings.

SoulAlive said:

Did you guy see Sunday night's episode? I don't like the way the show dealt with Maggie.In this episode,we discover that Maggie has left the Hilltop with Georgie No proper send-off? No big,dramatic episode that explains why she's leaving? SMH

I thought that ... there's got to be more to her story for sure. No way they would arbitrarily dump such a big character like that, unless Lauren Cohen really p*ssed off the writers and producers.

I think we'll see her farewell in flashback. Quite a bit has happened that they've yet to reveal ... like what are those cross scars that Daryl and Michonne both have on their backs?

Didn't think much of this weeks episode, weakest one of the series so far. I don't mind slower talky episodes but this one added nothing to the story.