So, Season 4 is on next month :)

[Neil]

God that sounds good! Can't believe it's come around so quick... And 16 episodes again too!

That should take me all the way into the next season of Game Of Thrones too :)

[MinionZombie]

Wooooooooooooooooo! :hyper:

I suppose that's a good thing about a split-season, the wait between a finale and a premiere is never too long, and with the mid-season break being populated by the holiday season, there's always plenty of stuff to distract you from the wait, and by the time you're up for it, it's almost back on again. :)

I'm gonna give season 1 through 3 another bash before season 4 gets going. :cool:

[Morto Vivente]

Only 6 weeks or so to go. :D Was just going to watch only season 3 again, but now that you mention it I'll be giving all 3 seasons another gander!

[bassman]

Right now I couldn't care any less. Breaking Bad has my full attention.

[MinionZombie]

Only 6 weeks or so to go. :D Was just going to watch only season 3 again, but now that you mention it I'll be giving all 3 seasons another gander!

*high five* :)


Right now I couldn't care any less. Breaking Bad has my full attention.

It's a very good way to wait out the return of season 4 - blimey, only four episodes of BB left to go! :stunned: - but when it's all over you'll be able to soften the blow by diving right into TWDs4 the following week. :cool:

That's another thing, for me, that helps fill the gap between seasons of TWD - AMC has a bunch of other cool shows ... although BB is ending in a month, and Mad Men's only got one season left IIRC ... still though, there's always plenty of telly shows to keep me entertained and distracted. :) It's quite nice to have the break from TWD as well - I get so invested in it while it's on, so obsessed, that it's nice to just take a few steps back from it and get obsessed by other shows - so I can come back to TWD all refreshed and ready to rock. :thumbsup:

[kidgloves]

Im still confused why people feel the need to compare TWD with BB. Apart from being on the same network and occasionally interchanging directors, they share no other common trait. IMHO its somehow become cool to slate TWD and hold up BB as some saviour of scripted drama, especially online. Just enjoy each one for what it is.

[ProfessorChaos]

Right now I couldn't care any less. Breaking Bad has my full attention.



as skinny pete would proclaim, "church!".

between the lackluster back half of season 3, the ever-increasing quality of breaking bad, and the upcoming release of the sure-to-be-epic gta5, the walking dead isn't even on my radar right now. i will definitely be tuning in and expect my interest to grow as we get closer to the premier, but the show really fizzled out towards the end there.

and yeah it's kinda like comparing apples and oranges, but the pacing and quality has been all over the place for twd, while bb has been fairly consistent in those regards throughout the entire series. seems like a lot more love and craftsmanship has been put into breaking bad while the walking dead is starting to go with the "lets-throw-a-bunch-of-shit at-the-walls-and-see-what-sticks" route.

[bassman]

Im still confused why people feel the need to compare TWD with BB. Apart from being on the same network and occasionally interchanging directors, they share no other common trait. IMHO its somehow become cool to slate TWD and hold up BB as some saviour of scripted drama, especially online. Just enjoy each one for what it is.

Wasn't really comparing them, just responding to the original post that I'm not all that excited about TWD's return this year. Sure, i'll tune in and everything, but interest has faded more and more. I'm not bashing TWD, I still like it, it's just a shame that it's gone so far off the beaten path that it's losing viewers. On the other hand, BB has only gotten better and it's on the home stretch, so I believe it's fair to say it has more peoples' attention at the moment.

[kidgloves]

Wasn't really comparing them, just responding to the original post that I'm not all that excited about TWD's return this year. Sure, i'll tune in and everything, but interest has faded more and more. I'm not bashing TWD, I still like it, it's just a shame that it's gone so far off the beaten path that it's losing viewers. On the other hand, BB has only gotten better and it's on the home stretch, so I believe it's fair to say it has more peoples' attention at the moment.

Aye. It wasn't really aimed it you Bass, your comment just sparked something thats been bothering me for a while now.

[rongravy]

I'm gonna give season 1 through 3 another bash before season 4 gets going. :cool:

This is why I haven't overwatched season 3. I have seen the first two seasons wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too many times to the point where I just fast forward straight to the chomping.
I will get boned up on it before 4 starts, though. No webisodes to go with it all this time?

[bassman]

I will get boned up on it before 4 starts, though. No webisodes to go with it all this time?


We've heard they're coming. Time will tell.

[rongravy]

We've heard they're coming. Time will tell.

Cool, because they've been pretty sweeet so far. I'd hate for them to break with, ahem, tradition.

I dunno, I've been digging the show. The thing you said about the numbers dropping. Is this true? I thought they were pulling in ever higher numbers each season.
Confusion.

[MinionZombie]

Yeah, the numbers haven't been dropping - they went out as strong as they came in, if not stronger, over the course of the whole third season.

As for being 'on path', I think season 4 should correct that - Gimple has actively been bringing much more of the comics into the show in slightly different ways, which I think will be a good balance. They definitely did move too far from the comics in season 3 - it took more of it's own path in the context of seasons 1 and 2, rather than in the context of seasons 1 and 2 and the established comic book arc.

The link between the show and the comic is much stronger in the first two seasons, but without just being a copy & paste jobby, whereas season 3 went off the leash too much - I also think that the upping to 16 episodes from 13 off-set them a little bit. I was reading an interview a couple of weeks ago and that was addressed - they'd not quite got the second half figured out as well as they could have, pacing wise, due to the additional episodes. Had season 3 been another 13 episodes then I don't think the pacing problems of the back half would have really been there (if at all). Anyway, clearly it's something they're aware of, and they now have the experience.

To be fair, going from season one's 6 episodes to season two's 13 episodes slackened the pace somewhat with the near-seven-week hunt for Sophia (a storyline that definitely works much better, in pacing terms, when watching the episodes in your own time rather than first airing time).

So I'm looking forward to seeing Gimple's work bring the show back more 'on path' than in this last season. I really enjoyed season 3, even with some of the flaws that were present, but yeah - bring on season four.

I may be distracted by Breaking Bad and other shows, as well as the soppy-crotch anticipation of GTA V, but I'll be there, on-the-dot, for season four, with bells and whistles on. ;)

[bassman]

I dunno, I've been digging the show. The thing you said about the numbers dropping. Is this true? I thought they were pulling in ever higher numbers each season.
Confusion.

No, that's true. The ratings have always been improving. What I said about losing viewers' attention is just my own perception. Everyone that's a fan of the show/zombies/comic will still tune in, but it seems to me that anticipation has dropped quite a bit throughout the 3-4 seasons. Anticipation used to be intense for tons of viewers but now it's starting to seem like "We'll see...". If I had to put a finger on it, I'd say it's because the show has been so uneven in the past two seasons.

Again....i'm not bashing it. Just saying that it doesn't stir the same excitement in some people that it once did.

[AcesandEights]

No, that's true. The ratings have always been improving. What I said about losing viewers' attention is just my own perception. Everyone that's a fan of the show/zombies/comic will still tune in, but it seems to me that anticipation has dropped quite a bit throughout the 3-4 seasons.

I've kind of been getting this feeling, myself. There's some really cool bits to the show, the occasional punch up in the story arc, but the show has spent a lot of its time spinning its wheels.

[Moon Knight]

Love Breaking Bad, love The Walking Dead. I'm a horror guy at heart so of course I'm fucking excited for the return of TWD!

[Morto Vivente]

Im still confused why people feel the need to compare TWD with BB. Apart from being on the same network and occasionally interchanging directors, they share no other common trait. IMHO its somehow become cool to slate TWD and hold up BB as some saviour of scripted drama, especially online. Just enjoy each one for what it is.

Couldn't agree more. Both shows are great IMO.

[zombi-onie]

Can't wait want to have a premier party

[zomtom]

Hi Zombi-oni!!! Welcome to the site. I hope you will enjoy it here. It was great meeting you this Summer!! As for me, I just spent the last two weeks watching all three seasons on Blu-ray and my ass is ready for October 13th!!!

[MinionZombie]

I've re-watched seasons 1 and 2, and I'm just waiting for season 3 to be released on our shores - I'll crack that out prior to the premiere. It'll be nice to see it according to my own schedule over a compressed time period, rather than two batches of eight week-to-week episodes.

There's been a lot of entertainment to distract me during the wait, but now it's getting very close I'm getting more and more excited. :)

[bassman]

I'm just waiting for season 3 to be released on our shores - I'll crack that out prior to the premiere. It'll be nice to see it according to my own schedule over a compressed time period, rather than two batches of eight week-to-week episodes.

I just finished doing that a few days ago. While I expected it may flow better while seeing them back-to-back, it didn't. The pacing issues and time spent between the two camps still feels like a negative mark on the season, imo. Not to mention The Governor's crazy "evolution". It's so uneven and back and forth it gave me whiplash. I like the idea of showing his transformation to the evil Governor, but the execution of that idea leaves much to be desired. Especially when they can't decide what direction to take it.

[Wyldwraith]

I only watch BB intermittently,
However, holding it up as a dramatic tour de force is a bit laughable IMO. Just cast your mind back to the scene when Hank's wife (her name escapes me at the moment) comes to confront Skyler over Walt's activities, and keeps asking obvious questions about when she (Skyler) knew what about Walt...and then her "OMG, you won't talk to Hank because you think Walt's going to get away with it" elicited nothing but rolled eyes from me. The scene was wooden, predictable, down to the "I'm nutty enough to grab another woman's baby and try to take it against the mother's will *for the baby's good*" action.

I'm NOT saying BB doesnt have some absolutely BRILLIANT story and deep, DARK characterization. Just that it has as many warts as TWD EASILY. The one thing BB escaped was a completely lackluster Back 9 like TWD's Season 3 2nd half. Which is honestly the root of the aforementioned trend about bashing TWD and holding BB up as the Holy of Holies.

[AcesandEights]

With the above in mind, I officially announce the start of season 4 of HPotD's Walking Dead shenanigans!

I will pitch in, as well: all last season was Shane's fault!

Let the games begin!

[bassman]

With the above in mind, I officially announce the start of season 4 of HPotD's Walking Dead shenanigans!

I will pitch in, as well: all last season was Shane's fault!

Let the games begin!

Don't be silly......it was Milton's.

[MinionZombie]

A lot of flack gets tossed at the back-half of season 3, but as I've said, the back half also contained some of the best episodes of the season (3x12 and 3x15). The finale was pretty good too, although it did subvert expectations in a big old way (it was unfair of the show to lead the audience to expect one thing, and deliver something rather different). 3x09 and 3x10 were also quite good.

The big bugger up was 3x14 "Prey" which, while having enjoyable moments, was total filler ... 3x13 (where Rick and The Guv have a face-to-face) was pretty good, the only issue with it was it's part in the overall pacing ... hence this meme being popular:
http://img.pandawhale.com/53443-Walking-Dead-season-3-episode-HkVq.jpeg

The pace slackened (decidedly so at some points) - no doubt about that - but to write off the entire back half? No.

...

Speaking of Shane, I recently re-watched seasons 1 and 2, and it reminded me of how much I liked what they did with Shane's arc. Far more satisfying than in the comic, Bernthal played it perfectly, and the pay-off packed the expected punch. Sometimes I think of seasons 1 and 2 as 'the Shane era'.

[babomb]

All I wanna know is if there's gonna be another season of Comic book Men!!?? God I hope so! I've been anticipating it since last season.

[MinionZombie]

All I wanna know is if there's gonna be another season of Comic book Men!!?? God I hope so! I've been anticipating it since last season.

As a matter of fact there is. Midnight following the encore presentation of TWD.

I know you're being sarcastic, but I'm pleased - I enjoy the show, particularly as I'm a big fan of the Tell 'Em Steve-Dave podcast. :)

[Wyldwraith]

I disagree with the positive assessment of the Season 3 Back 9,
Whatever I thought of the annoying hopping from Woodbury to the prison, Andrea's blind naiivety (sp?), or general pacing, I was utterly disgusted with the Governor's snatching Andrea, and pretty much everything that came of that. Then, the utterly unbelievable "A-Team like" casualty-free shooting by Glenn, Maggie and Daryl (who again, were the 3 characters with the sharpest axes to grind vs the Gov and Co.) during the Woodbury attack of the prison, followed by the Governor simply slaughtering all his troops honestly brought me within a hair of simply turning the TV off.

Were there great elements to Season 3? Absolutely, "Clear" springs right to mind, among other plot points. However, the less interesting material, coupled together with some disgustingly unbelievable events/character decisions, and the general pacing problems through the latter half of Season 3 created a sub-par overall effect IMO. Which is all that is, my opinion. Certainly not The Authoritative Jihadi-Like Obsessive Objective Declaration of Truth.

I could even pick out one single event that drove me so nuts it alone was capable of lowering the "letter grade" of Season 3's back half on an A+ to F- scale by a full letter. Andrea yapping and yapping at a dying Milton, and stopping all escape efforts each time she opened her mouth. Say what you want about the out-of-story Why's of it, the scene was HORRIBLY DONE, and an insult to TWD in general. Whoever wrote that bit of tripe, and whoever greenlighted it after they saw it once editing was finished deserve a solid backhand slap and a "WTF were you thinking!"

Even the note the Season ended on, with Rick & Co. taking in all the ex-Woodbury folks that the Governor deemed unfit to serve as combatants creates logistical problems for the main characters that all-but-necessitate another breach of the prison and Walker Chow-Down to dramatically thin the ranks of the ex-Woodburyites.

Finally, for me it's as simple as this: The MAJOR plot points that went wrong, whether it be a little wrong or horribly disastrously wrong, simply outweighed the enjoyable stuff for me in the 2nd half of last season.

[ProfessorChaos]

i've decided to just sit this season out during the initial airings, and set the dvr and save the episodes for a rainy day. i feel virtually not even the slightest trace of interest with the season opener only 2 days away. the characters aren't interesting, the writers have dumbed the show down to pander to the masses, and it seems too predictable plot-wise right now.

perhaps i'll discover later that i was wrong here, but right now i couldn't care less about the whole thing. it just seems that after looking back upon the series, there have been like maybe a half-dozen really good episodes, a handful that were almost awful, and the rest are mediocre. watching this show by the week just sounds as fun as waiting in line to get a flu shot.

[facestabber]

And after a painful wait, The Walking Dead has returned. Life can now progress

[MinionZombie]

And after a painful wait, The Walking Dead has returned. Life can now progress

Fortunately there's been plenty to keep me occupied - the final season of Breaking Bad, GTA V, a season 1-3 TWD marathon etc - but over the last few days I've definitely felt a sharp increase in my anticipation. I want my mits on the new season!!! :hyper:

Lookin' forward to seeing 'Farmer Rick & The Walker Gang'. :)

[bassman]

No doubt i'll be tuning in tonight, but this season still has my anticipation at an all time low. Hopefully that will improve after a few episodes.

Although, I must say that the casting news(Abraham and Eugene!) and clips from yesterday's New York Comic Con caught my attention. The number of walkers in one of the clips was staggering...

[babomb]

No doubt i'll be tuning in tonight, but this season still has my anticipation at an all time low. Hopefully that will improve after a few episodes. My thoughts exactly. Last year I was writhing with anticipation about a week before. Watched the entire marathon last year. This year, I'm just not feelin it. I only watched a couple episodes of the marathon this time around.

One thing i noticed though, the images they show in the opening credit sequence of S3 are themselves better than the majority of the episodes.

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/walking-dead-people-arguing-poster.jpg

[Geordie9]

just watched the first episode of season 4, cant wait till next week!