TWD 9x14 "Scars" episode discussion... **SPOILERS**

[MinionZombie]

Please keep all talk of episode 9x14 "Scars" specifically inside this thread.

If you have a theory for a following episode, please use the "spoiler tags" (visit the HPOTD FAQ to find out how to use them if you don't already know).

Similarly, if you're going to discuss plot points from the comic book, please use "spoiler tags" - not everyone is up-to-date on them, and some people don't read them at all.

Enjoy!

Directed by: Millicent Shelton
Written by: Corey Reed & Vivian Tse


An outsider's arrival forces Alexandria to rehash devastating old wounds; eye-opening secrets from the past are revealed.

https://dailydead.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/TWD-Scars-01.jpg

[Moon Knight]

This one will be something special. Dark.

[Harleydude666]

I FUKKING LOVED this episode. That was dark. Been waiting for TWD to challenge the episode when Negan bashed in Glen and Abe’s skulls. Nothing will ever top the darkness of that scene but at least this episode challenged it.
At least we now know why Michone has been a bitch all season, totally understandable as this episode unfolded.

[MinionZombie]

Best episode of this half-season (so far). Excellent episode, and like you folks are saying - dark as hell.

Great stuff between Daryl and Michonne and nice to see an answer to these scars. It's also interesting in that they appear to be cherry picking a piece here or there from fairly recent issues of the comics, stuff that wouldn't otherwise fit in (because of different paths taken with the story)...
In the comics Michonne meets her long lost daughter - now grown up.
So this 'person from the past' idea has been reworked and put in here to really good effect.

Nice to see they brought back the little actress that played Judith prior to the time jump. :)

Really powerful stuff in this one, Michonne - heavily pregnant - having to kill a bunch of feral kids. Blimey. Dark, but entirely justified, and explains all her actions. I loved the few scenes set just after Rick's disappearance as well. It's nice to get a chance to see the lingering toll of the death of someone important in your life on this show, further echoed by the graveside visit to Carl later in the episode.

[Moon Knight]

So many good moments in this episode. This is how you do a filler episode.

[Zombie Snack]

Great job explaining what happened to cause Michones attitude to helping/accepting outsiders into Alexandria. I know this explained how Daryl and Michone received those scars but I still dont understand the reason for the brandings. Did I miss the meaning or reasoning for that or was it just vaguely done with no true explanation.

[MinionZombie]

I know this explained how Daryl and Michone received those scars but I still dont understand the reason for the brandings. Did I miss the meaning or reasoning for that or was it just vaguely done with no true explanation.

They said on Talking Dead that this feral kids gang was inspired by child soldiers and the like, so the branding thing was part of a process of dehumanisation and forcing the kids to become conditioned to violence (particularly inflicted violence themselves). Also a part of brainwashing them so they'd do Jocelyn's bidding and take orders without question.

[Zombie Snack]

Thanks for the explanation, I haven't watched Talking Dead as of yet, I have it recorded. Thanks again

[UndeadHippo]

At the end there, when daryl rejoins michonne outside the trailer, his knives were both bloody. Reckon he had his own anakin episode off screen.
This episode did make me wonder where all the child walkers have been over the last 9 seasons. Aside from the very first little girl in days gone bye, and sophia, I can't think of any others, despite having featured several schools, hospitals, streets and houses where you would expect to find children.. I get that killing kids on TV is still a big no no, but they're dead, they're all messed up, so does it really count?

[Moon Knight]

At the end there, when daryl rejoins michonne outside the trailer, his knives were both bloody. Reckon he had his own anakin episode off screen.
This episode did make me wonder where all the child walkers have been over the last 9 seasons. Aside from the very first little girl in days gone bye, and sophia, I can't think of any others, despite having featured several schools, hospitals, streets and houses where you would expect to find children.. I get that killing kids on TV is still a big no no, but they're dead, they're all messed up, so does it really count?

I believe 5x06 “Consumed” had Carol putting down some walker kid off screen, they were silhouetted behind a door within the school they were taking refuge in back in Atlanta. I’m sure MZ can confirm this. It’s been years but I recall Carol struggling with the act and Daryl stepping in? They burned the body shortly after.

[Zombie Snack]

How about the kid walker who bit Tyreese?

[MinionZombie]

At the end there, when daryl rejoins michonne outside the trailer, his knives were both bloody. Reckon he had his own anakin episode off screen.
This episode did make me wonder where all the child walkers have been over the last 9 seasons. Aside from the very first little girl in days gone bye, and sophia, I can't think of any others, despite having featured several schools, hospitals, streets and houses where you would expect to find children.. I get that killing kids on TV is still a big no no, but they're dead, they're all messed up, so does it really count?


I believe 5x06 “Consumed” had Carol putting down some walker kid off screen, they were silhouetted behind a door within the school they were taking refuge in back in Atlanta. I’m sure MZ can confirm this. It’s been years but I recall Carol struggling with the act and Daryl stepping in? They burned the body shortly after.

You assumed correctly, good Sir. :lol:

Yeah, it was a mother & child in one of the rooms in the shelter for abuse victims (an echo of Carol and Sophia, and who Carol used to be before the ZA).

In terms of child walkers, it's probably mostly down to practicalities. The extent of the make-up effects and the filming conditions vs child labour laws isn't a grand mix. There may also be certain rules governing how much in terms of prosthetic appliances can be glued onto kids, and at the very least there's just the amount of time that would take to apply - they have to be very on-point when it comes to their working hours and making sure they get their schooling done. There's probably an element of it being a bit too much of a bummer to see zombie kids wandering about, but it's probably mostly to do with real world practicalities. You've also got to think about the psychological safety of the children, too - on Talking Dead Denise Huth explained how they have a child psychologist on board to explain to the kids (and their parents) what will occur on set, how it all plays out etc etc etc. Being thrust into a zombie apocalypse could be a pretty intense experience, even if it is just for TV.

Now - how about hiring diminutive stunt performers to portray children? I'm thinking about small women who often stunt double child actors (male or female). You could hire stunt performers (or general actors) who are specifically quite short and not too bulky/muscular, and make them up as zombie kids.

[JDP]

There also was the Governor's zombified daughter, which was killed by Michonne. There's been several zombie children in the show.

[Moon Knight]

There also was the Governor's zombified daughter, which was killed by Michonne. There's been several zombie children in the show.

Crazy I didn’t remember that.

[MinionZombie]

There also was the Governor's zombified daughter, which was killed by Michonne. There's been several zombie children in the show.

Oh aye, good catch.

So many seasons and episodes now, it's hard to recall everything. :D

[shootemindehead]

It's a pity they wimped out and intercut the killing of the kids with the killing of the zombies.

Just kill the kids and don't be so lilly livered.

[MinionZombie]

It's a pity they wimped out and intercut the killing of the kids with the killing of the zombies.

Just kill the kids and don't be so lilly livered.

To be honest, I found it far more effective the way they did it here, intercutting two different moments in time - especially as those two timelines running through the episode are intrinsically linked. We see how and why Michonne became so shut down and authoritarian, and we also see how she opens back up again and finally makes the decision to move forward in another direction.

Indeed, the killing of the kids not being portrayed bluntly on-screen was probably more effective as the images your mind conjures up are more impactful. An example would be "The Grove" and the broadcast version vs the alternative edit that was put on the DVD/BR release. In the original edit that was shown on telly there's this wonderful close up on Carol just after she shoots Lizzie and we see the consequences of the action writ large all over Carol's face. Meanwhile, in the alternative edit, that powerful shot of Carol is replaced with a far wide two shot of Lizzie dropping dead with Carol standing behind her with the gun pointed. Frankly, the original edit is way better and a hell of a lot more powerful.

[Harleydude666]

Oh aye, good catch.

So many seasons and episodes now, it's hard to recall everything. :D

Did you guys forget that Rick killed a little girl child zombie in the very first episode?

[JDP]

Did you guys forget that Rick killed a little girl child zombie in the very first episode?

She was already mentioned in post #9.

[Moon Knight]

I loved the Juxtaposition between killing the children and killing the walkers in real time. Very well done.