TWD 9x07 "Stradivarius" episode discussion... **SPOILERS**

[MinionZombie]

Please keep all talk of episode 9x07 "Stradivarius" 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: Michael Cudlitz Written by: Vivian Tse Carol seeks out an old friend living alone in a wilderness teeming with walkers; survivors make the perilous trek to a new home.

[Zombie Snack]

Abraham in the directors chair for this one

[Moon Knight]

I’m really hoping we get to see Hilltop in this one.

[MinionZombie]

I’m really hoping we get to see Hilltop in this one. I reckon we probably will as that's where they're heading, and Kang has so far proved to not truck with stringing things out unnecessarily, so I'd presume we will see Hilltop this episode. Seems we'll also get Carol visiting Daryl (who, it seems, has spent most of the past six years living in the wilderness having lost his brother-from-another-mother ... poor bugger ). - - - Updated - - - Another good episode, and nice to see the first scene of this one follow on from the end of last week's episode - it keeps that momentum going, rather than just picking up somewhere completely different (that'll certainly keep things moving nicely when binge-watching as well). I'd figured that Maggie would have gone off with Georgie, considering the two or three references to letters from that character earlier this season. I believe it basically comes down, yet again, to behind-the-scenes trouble - specifically contract negotiations. Now, last I'd read was that a contract has been reached, but it took so long that Maggie had to essentially be 'written out' of the remainder of the season (although fingers crossed she comes back towards the end, but we may have to wait until season 10 to get her back). At the very least they've written in a good reason for the character to have gone elsewhere that makes sense in the context of the story. Another little thing I like is that the characters communicate amongst themselves much better than they had been doing in the last couple of seasons.

[Moon Knight]

They have a story written for Maggie and she’ll most likely be back next season. If that means giving Jesus and Aaron more screen time I’m cool with that. Pretty solid. Not the most impactful but moved things along. Loved the short but sweet cold open. Dog is my new favorite character. Daryl also has the “X” branding. Liking the new characters. The closing shot was pretty cool. Can’t wait for the mid season finale. Dog!

[facestabber]

I tell ya what. I know there is mixed feelings about the comic whisperer arc. But right now I absolutely love where this is headed. One constant gripe I have is the complacent / non chalant attitude toward walkers. People see a couple of walkers they walk right up and stab/repeat. I miss the fear of walkers. Imagine once they discover the whisperers exist....every Walker becomes a serious threat again. You walk up to stab one, and maybe they shoot or stab you. That’s fantastic if you ask me.

[MinionZombie]

And speaking of the interest in injected more horror into the show, the preview for next week looked very spooky - in the woods, at night, with fog all around. So Michonne and Daryl both have the same "X" scars. I wonder if Maggie has the same thing and the shared experience inspired her to go elsewhere? Big fan of "Dog!", as well. Makes a lot of sense of the character of Daryl, too, as he is in many ways dog-like in his loyalty, but he's a formerly abused dog who found a new home. Also it was interesting to note that Daryl has been searching for Rick's body as, naturally, there was no sign of it after the bridge explosion. They would have wanted to bury him, but wouldn't have found anything. I also liked the Daryl/Henry stuff and Carol keeping to the shadows observing the pair of them just to be sure they were okay, but hanging back to let them bond.

[Zombie Snack]

I still do not understand Michonnes lack of trust for the new group. I mean she doesn't trust them enough to allow them to stay in Alexandria, but she is escorting them to the Hilltop to live there. I believe some of the new characters to be a welcomed addition to the show and as a viewer I find myself trusting them. Also I really like Dog

[facestabber]

I still do not understand Michonnes lack of trust for the new group. I mean she doesn't trust them enough to allow them to stay in Alexandria, but she is escorting them to the Hilltop to live there. I believe some of the new characters to be a welcomed addition to the show and as a viewer I find myself trusting them. Also I really like Dog Michonne does seem over the top. I can only assume something bad happened during 6 year time jump.

[Moon Knight]

I still do not understand Michonnes lack of trust for the new group. I mean she doesn't trust them enough to allow them to stay in Alexandria, but she is escorting them to the Hilltop to live there. I believe some of the new characters to be a welcomed addition to the show and as a viewer I find myself trusting them. Also I really like Dog I agree! Michonne’s actions are really frustrating. Biggest reason is because we don’t know what has happened to give us this new version; considering it all took place between 9x05 and 9x06. Its pretty jarring. She needs to chill already haha.

[MinionZombie]

I agree! Michonne’s actions are really frustrating. Biggest reason is because we don’t know what has happened to give us this new version; considering it all took place between 9x05 and 9x06. Its pretty jarring. She needs to chill already haha. To be fair, Magna is a bit of a pain in the arse at times. I recall that character being a bit of a shit-stirrer in the comics as well. Hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer to find out what "happened", although I wouldn't be surprised if we had to wait for that until the back-half of the season. And to be fair to Michonne, she's warmed up to them somewhat during this episode, and it's clear that some serious shit went down and the communities have kind of broken apart a little bit with Alexandria being particularly isolationist it seems. I think the good part of Michonne doesn't want to cast these people out to the wild, but the wounded part of Michonne would rather not have the worry and fear and suspicion inside her that would come with having them inside Alexandria's walls.

[Zombie Snack]

To be fair, Magna is a bit of a pain in the arse at times. I recall that character being a bit of a shit-stirrer in the comics as well. Hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer to find out what "happened", although I wouldn't be surprised if we had to wait for that until the back-half of the season. And to be fair to Michonne, she's warmed up to them somewhat during this episode, and it's clear that some serious shit went down and the communities have kind of broken apart a little bit with Alexandria being particularly isolationist it seems. I think the good part of Michonne doesn't want to cast these people out to the wild, but the wounded part of Michonne would rather not have the worry and fear and suspicion inside her that would come with having them inside Alexandria's walls. That makes good sence and seems very plausable. I am not a reader of the comics so I am unaware of details about the new characters. I guess we will just have to wait on the flashback to what happened, I am very curious as to what happened to drive a wedge between the communities.

[Moon Knight]

I still love Michonne. So yeah, it does make sense in the context of the story.

[facestabber]

One of the sneak peaks for next week really illustrates how bad the divide is with Michonne and Hilltop. There must be one hell of a backstory.

[Zombie Snack]

with michonne not allowing the new group to join alexandria even after gabriel said he thought they were good people I dont understand his desire to find new people and communities knowing michonne will not relent. If not for his desire to find new people rosita and eugene would not have been out putting up an amplifier. Get michonne on board before finding other survivors