TWD: "The Ones Who Live" (Rick/Michonne spin-off)... **SPOILERS**

[MinionZombie]

Comic-Con teaser. Coming 2024.

[MinionZombie]

It's rocking up on February 25th 2024. Hopefully it turns out to be good. Most of the spin-offs have been either utter dross or decidedly uneven - except for Daryl Dixon, which was excellent and a real pleasant surprise.

[MinionZombie]

Looks cool, got some nice scale in there as well. Fingers really crossed for this one. Daryl Dixon turned out great, so I'm hoping this'll be more like that and not like pretty much every other TWD spin-off.

[MinionZombie]

One little idea I like in there is herding walkers into a confined space with narrow slits so you can take them out gradually with spears.

[Neil]

Except those confined spaces will soon get blocked up?

[MinionZombie]

Except those confined spaces will soon get blocked up? Maybe they're letting in tranches of the dead. The area looks fairly large, and even with some piling up, you could take out quite a lot in there - then burn the remains and start over?

[Moon Knight]

I did really enjoy Daryl surprisingly, so yep, definitely gonna give this a shot. It’s been so long I kinda don’t really care much for Rick’s return but nonetheless, I know I’ll pop once Rick and Michonne reunite!

[Neil]

Maybe they're letting in tranches of the dead. The area looks fairly large, and even with some piling up, you could take out quite a lot in there - then burn the remains and start over? Get them into a large dead end area and just drive a steam roller around

[MinionZombie]

Get them into a large dead end area and just drive a steam roller around I hope you're listening, AMC!!!

[MinionZombie]

Just watched the first episode - and I really enjoyed it. I think they've done a solid job of explaining why Rick hasn't been able to get back, while also doing some nice world-building for the CRM. It also seems to have a decent amount of oomph about it. SPOILER   I figured they'd string it out a bit, but Rick and Michonne are reunited at the end of episode one in a surprise twist. There'll be some time jumping going on, episode two looks like a peek inside Michonne's time away like how episode one was all about Rick, and then it'll be interesting to see where they go next - and teamed up. Naturally, it's real nice to have Lincoln back as Rick Grimes, albeit within the confines of the CRM. This episode also felt pretty good over all. I was interested to find out who these people were, what this place is about, what's been going on etc - and I wasn't sat there just waiting for the obvious to happen, either, so there were a few surprising twists along the way because you're not sure where things are heading, so that was also a plus. So first impressions are very good and I'm eager to see the next episode.

[JDP]

I think they've done a solid job of explaining why Rick hasn't been able to get back, while also doing some nice world-building for the CRM. Not so sure about this part. For example, why are they so opposed to Rick wanting to find his group? You would think that it would be in their best interest to actually let Rick find them again, and then, depending on their judgement of the group, either "absorb" the whole of it into their community (just like they are so eager to do with Rick), or reject the ones they don't want and just allow in the ones they consider useful for their purposes (once again, as they are so eager to do with Rick.) These guys are not closed to allowing new people into their community, they in fact seem to be constantly recruiting people (which they divide into "A" and "B" categories), so there is no reason why they would not be interested in evaluating Rick's group.

[MinionZombie]

Not so sure about this part. For example, why are they so opposed to Rick wanting to find his group? You would think that it would be in their best interest to actually let Rick find them again, and then, depending on their judgement of the group, either "absorb" the whole of it into their community (just like they are so eager to do with Rick), or reject the ones they don't want and just allow in the ones they consider useful for their purposes (once again, as they are so eager to do with Rick.) These guys are not closed to allowing new people into their community, they in fact seem to be constantly recruiting people (which they divide into "A" and "B" categories), so there is no reason why they would not be interested in evaluating Rick's group. They do address this quite clearly throughout the episode. "A" people are dispensed with for the most part, which is why Jadis classed Rick a "B". "B" people are followers. The CRM likes followers. As they say in the episode the people who are living there are thankful to be there and absolutely do NOT want to leave. The trouble with "A" people (which Rick really is), is that they could cause trouble, lead uprisings, question authority etc. The CRM has kept their massive community stable because of their strict rules. Rick's family of people back in Alexandria et al is filled with "A" people, so the CRM wouldn't be that willing (or at all) to take them in. They'd also probably be considered too small and not worthwhile. The population of the CRM is, after all, something like 200,000 people. So a couple of hundred is chicken feed and not worth the risk. Their strict aversion to risk has kept them successfully secret for many years now. The only reason Rick is still there is because of that one dude who wishes to change the CRM from the inside, and needs people like Rick to help him in secret. Of course, Rick has his own goals, at least for much of his time in the CRM - to escape back to Alexandria - but of course the CRM can't allow such a thing to happen because it once again goes against their strict rules which have successfully kept them hidden from the world of ruin surrounding them. Indeed, because so many people who do enter the CRM never want to leave, the notion of someone wanting out is totally alien to them.

[Moon Knight]

Went in completely forgetting this was coming out and I enjoyed every second. Made me really realize how much I missed Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes. The CRM and Rick’s absence was explained well enough for me. I’ll admit, I did NOT see that ending coming!

[JDP]

They do address this quite clearly throughout the episode. "A" people are dispensed with for the most part, which is why Jadis classed Rick a "B". "B" people are followers. The CRM likes followers. As they say in the episode the people who are living there are thankful to be there and absolutely do NOT want to leave. The trouble with "A" people (which Rick really is), is that they could cause trouble, lead uprisings, question authority etc. The CRM has kept their massive community stable because of their strict rules. Rick's family of people back in Alexandria et al is filled with "A" people, so the CRM wouldn't be that willing (or at all) to take them in. They'd also probably be considered too small and not worthwhile. The population of the CRM is, after all, something like 200,000 people. So a couple of hundred is chicken feed and not worth the risk. Their strict aversion to risk has kept them successfully secret for many years now. The only reason Rick is still there is because of that one dude who wishes to change the CRM from the inside, and needs people like Rick to help him in secret. Of course, Rick has his own goals, at least for much of his time in the CRM - to escape back to Alexandria - but of course the CRM can't allow such a thing to happen because it once again goes against their strict rules which have successfully kept them hidden from the world of ruin surrounding them. Indeed, because so many people who do enter the CRM never want to leave, the notion of someone wanting out is totally alien to them. That is hardly an explanation. Most people in Rick's group are in fact just "B's": followers. Rick and a few others (Michonne, Daryl, Carol, Negan, Maggie) are "A's". Since Jadis is part of this whole thing, it is easy to conclude that she has been informing them about Rick and his group. Plus these guys are also interested in "A's" for their apparently sinister purposes. The only reason why Jadis lied about Rick being a "B" was to protect him, since "A's" do not end up well among this people. So, there is no apparent reason why they should be so opposed to Rick establishing contact with his group. It would in fact be in their best interest to be able to keep an eye on them, and to possibly find more recruits among them too. Since they know that Rick won't stop trying (he even chopped off his own hand trying to escape!), they might as well just let him find them again. They have nothing to lose and much to gain.

[MinionZombie]

That is hardly an explanation. Except that it is, you just never ever accept anyone's counter argument. Ever. Most people in Rick's group are in fact just "B's": followers. Rick and a few others (Michonne, Daryl, Carol, Negan, Maggie) are "A's". Add in plenty more, including the likes of Aaron and Gabriel. Even the 'followers' in Alexandria et al are far more capable and much more "A" than the "B" people happily living in, and never wanting to leave, the CRM. The only reason why Jadis lied about Rick being a "B" was to protect him, since "A's" do not end up well among this people. So, there is no apparent reason why they should be so opposed to Rick establishing contact with his group. Except there's no real need for them to approach Rick's group. Also, why would Rick really want them to approach Alexandria et al, considering how he's been essentially kept prisoner all this time? It's safer for his people to not have them mixed up with the CRM. Also, as we've clearly established with the CRM, secrecy is absolutely paramount to them and why they've been so successful in protecting their city and their hundreds of thousands of people. Getting mixed up with relatively tiny groups of people - strangers to the CRM - is needless danger for them, regardless of what someone like Jadis has to say. It would in fact be in their best interest to be able to keep an eye on them, and to possibly find more recruits among them too. Since they know that Rick won't stop trying (he even chopped off his own hand trying to escape!), they might as well just let him find them again. They have nothing to lose and much to gain. Again, they potentially have everything to lose (see above point about secrecy). And, again, much to gain? The CRM has hundreds of thousands of people, they have their own power, water, food - they even have their own television station broadcasting news to their citizens, for crying out loud - plus a large army, military weapons, vehicles, helicopters etc etc etc. What on earth could Alexandria, Oceanside, and the remnants of Hilltop possibly have to offer the CRM? And keep tabs on them? They'd have to do that to every settlement in the wasteland, every individual - not happening. A waste of resources and just more opportunities for someone to potential get taken and tortured into giving away the CRM's location, the secrecy of which is of utterly paramount importance.