The Walking Dead Season 3

I think the one thing I'm finding incredibly stupid are the commercial breaks where they put up stuff like info on the show or Norman reedus's zombie killing music list. They put these things up and they are a couple PARAGRAPHS and they are on the screen for approx. 3.5-4 seconds. It is literally Impossible to read them. I pretty much read the title and then its off to a commercial.
 
I think the one thing I'm finding incredibly stupid are the commercial breaks where they put up stuff like info on the show or Norman reedus's zombie killing music list. They put these things up and they are a couple PARAGRAPHS and they are on the screen for approx. 3.5-4 seconds. It is literally Impossible to read them. I pretty much read the title and then its off to a commercial.

I keep seeing infomercial/commercials for shingles/chickenpox during The Walking Dead. Come on now.
 
Also very, very odd that out of nowhere sword girl develops a character. Makes me wonder if the powers that be spoke up and pointed out the dreadfully horrid character she was. Although she is still too ninja Jedi for my taste. I can get up on that second story building while being shot at and enter a zombie diner through a solid wall and be back in 10 seconds...

Michonne is pure awesomeness. She has plenty of character. You don't need a lot of dialogue to say a lot. She does things the same as I would in her situation. Zombies are dangerous, but other humans are 1000 times more dangerous. No need to say everything that is on your mind or tell everything you know. It's a tough world, and becoming increasingly obvious that you will have a harder time making it alone, but no need to show all your cards to everyone you encounter.

Michonne rocks! Stick the governor in his other eye!
 
Re: Re: The Walking Dead Season 3

I think the one thing I'm finding incredibly stupid are the commercial breaks where they put up stuff like info on the show or Norman reedus's zombie killing music list. They put these things up and they are a couple PARAGRAPHS and they are on the screen for approx. 3.5-4 seconds. It is literally Impossible to read them. I pretty much read the title and then its off to a commercial.

I have to wait until after I'm done watching Talking Dead, boot up the recorded version, and pause it to read it. AND you can't find them online. Sucks donkey balls.

Michonne is pure awesomeness. She has plenty of character. You don't need a lot of dialogue to say a lot. She does things the same as I would in her situation. Zombies are dangerous, but other humans are 1000 times more dangerous. No need to say everything that is on your mind or tell everything you know. It's a tough world, and becoming increasingly obvious that you will have a harder time making it alone, but no need to show all your cards to everyone you encounter.

Michonne rocks! Stick the governor in his other eye!

I've been saying this for a long time. After talking with my bro, I figured out what the biggest problem with Michonne is: you never see what she's like with Andrea before she got sick. You never see how they interact or how they work with each other, so Michonne's stoic-to-the-point-of-stupid silence has no basis, no grounding, no justification. But from this episode and the previous one, I think we can all see that it came from very deep betrayal and a case of the crazies. Which makes her pretty compelling to me.
 
I really hope we see more of Morgan, he would be a great asset to the group if he can be bought back to some degree of normality.
 
I really hope we see more of Morgan, he would be a great asset to the group if he can be bought back to some degree of normality.

I agree but I'm not that hopeful that he would actually get a grip on what's left of his sanity. He has a lot of guilt to live with and being all by himself with no one to talk to is not very conducive to one's sanity. Think of it, there's a reason why unruly prisoners are put into isolation wards/cells, humans are social animals by nature and we don't do well when all alone by ourselves which is why it is often recommended for old people who live by themselves to have a pet dog or cat to keep them company. Given that, how likely do you think that somebody who is nearly stark raving mad is going to do all by himself?
 
My only guess is that the reason she told Carl to stay there was more then just keeping him safe, obviously he was distracting all the zombies while she slipped in. All the zombies in the joint would be at the front door trying to get him. I agree though that it seemed like the picture was dropped very close to the door.
 
For those defending Michonne's character on the show... I think you are giving her a lot of credit, based on the comic, that the show hasn't really provided. She is an awful character in the show and easily the most unrealistic and ridiculous. I didn't love her in the comics (nor did I care for the comic version of the Governor), but I have absolutely HATED her in the show as she brings nothing to the table but a single angry stare that got old in about 2 seconds. As many others have said, She has taken a dramatic turn in Ep13 and it seems very clear to me that someone made a decision to change her, and I am very glad they did. For the first time, she seemed like a character instead of a caricature. I still don't care for her ninja stuff either which comes across as something that should be in a GI Joe or Bruce Lee movie more than in this gritty world, but, if they continue to give her something to do besides just staring a people with contempt and anger, I can look past some of the silly sword play.

Oh, and this was easily the best show of an otherwise uninspired season.
 
easily the most unrealistic and ridiculous.

I think that's where a lot of fans seem to fail in understanding. The show is not grounded in reality, thus no realism (if it was, it wouldn't be a show about the zombie apocalypse, as a show with "realism" wouldn't feature fictional creatures such as zombies), and there have been a lot more ridiculous moments with the pre-established characters that make anything Michonne has done tame in comparison that no one seems to complain about (Carl not staying in the house the whole season, and Lori not realizing he's not in the house until a herd of zombies are practically walking up to the front door? Rick and Shane killing zombies with knives, without the blades getting stuck or breaking off? Dale not hearing a hungry ninja-walker coming up behind him until it is too late? The whole CDC episode? Hell, Daryl's whole bad day episode is even more ridiculous than anything with Michonne). The comics are full of just as unrealistic and ridiculous things. And if you can't look past them when you're watching the show, well... There's always other shows on at that time, such as Red Widow and The Good Wife.
 
Last edited:
For those defending Michonne's character on the show... I think you are giving her a lot of credit, based on the comic, that the show hasn't really provided. She is an awful character in the show and easily the most unrealistic and ridiculous. I didn't love her in the comics (nor did I care for the comic version of the Governor), but I have absolutely HATED her in the show as she brings nothing to the table but a single angry stare that got old in about 2 seconds. As many others have said, She has taken a dramatic turn in Ep13 and it seems very clear to me that someone made a decision to change her, and I am very glad they did. For the first time, she seemed like a character instead of a caricature. I still don't care for her ninja stuff either which comes across as something that should be in a GI Joe or Bruce Lee movie more than in this gritty world, but, if they continue to give her something to do besides just staring a people with contempt and anger, I can look past some of the silly sword play.

Oh, and this was easily the best show of an otherwise uninspired season.

No offense, Art..You rule.. BUT that just blows me away, reading what you wrote. I couldn't disagree more with everything you said..

To start with, yes, this was probably the best of the season so far. But this season has been INCREDIBLE. Hands down, people have for the most part loved this season, and the ratings continue to improve steadily. I expect season 4 to break even more ratings records. Hence why getting rid of Mazzara was very stupid, and why so many fans went nuts hearing about it, especially after the axe Darabont got. But I don't know where in the world you get the idea that this season is uninspired?

I will agree that the show Michonne doesn't have the luxury of the backstory that her comic version has. (such as the origin of the pets (her boyfriend and his friend) and how she got the sword, etc). But the reason she is easily in the top 3 favorite comic characters for TWD is because she is awesome. If you didn't like the comic, that is fine. I get that. You clearly didn't like the governor in the comic, and a lot of people loved him and thought he was the best comic-book villian of all time. He constantly appears on top 10 lists as such. So I'm not really gonna argue that with you either. But Michonne has a great backstory, complex love life (practically raping men) in the books after all the sexual abuse she's had. She's one of the best flushed out characters in the comic who remains very mysterious because they only reveal a bit at a time.. She's guarded, and she holds a lot of pain, and so she doesn't open up often.

Show wise though, she has barely had any screen time at all! This week and last week were the first chances things were calm enough to really let her open up. I think the reason they did that was a creative decision based on what they thought was realistic. Probably a mistake to not have revealed more of her backstory, etc, because everyone needs to understand their characters immediately apparently.. but what is wrong with viewing her as what she was, mysterious, and angry, and yet badass? A lot of people have loved her on the show, and yet I continue to see hate for her. Andrea? I understand the hate there. She is a cluster..bomb.. lol of horrid character choices and such a far cry from the awesome andrea of the comics that it just brings me to tears to see it. But Michonne is just starting off, and I've loved every bit they have given us. Of course she was gonna be angry and shut off at first. She survived on her own for a long time, and then just with andrea. They have made it a point this season to carry the theme that you can't survive alone. They most likely structured her character arc to bloom in these later episodes because they knew they were making huge changes with rick's story, and were having his breakdown early. Instead of an instant bond like in the comics, they have a more emotional bond that will develop over time. That's what made that scene where she tells him she sees dead people too so great.

If you don't like the "ninja" stuff.. well.. i just don't know what is wrong with you! lol. A katana is the PERFECT weapon for the zombie apoc. Perfect balance, No sound, extremely deadly, lightweight, requires no reloading- only sharpening on occasion, does not pose the risk of getting stuck in a head the same way say a hammer, and other tools might, etc. It's the dream weapon. She was smart enough to know this, and perfect the use of it, and as such is a great warrior for the group with that sword. It's no more crazy than someone using a crossbow, which is less believable, despite its awesomeness in daryl's hands! That is a weapon that most people wouldn't even dream of grabbing in a rush, and yet it makes sense to daryl, and serves many functions.

Michonne had great moments from the last two weeks, which were some of the only quieter eps this season she really had a chance to open up at all. There are a lot of characters, and a lot of things that are seriously worth focusing on as an audience, and in the place of the show too, that I didn't mind holding off on her development. Clearly, some people see it a little different. But I can't believe some of the stuff I'm reading. Honestly, it almost seemed like you were trolling me for a minute! I just get worked up because i'm a huge fan of the comic and show though. So don't take any offense! :)
 
Michonne knows, once you start yapping about how you feel, they kill you off...especially when you normally have to lines for a full season.

I.E., T-Dog, Handlebar Mustache guy
 
I'll take Michonne's character over annoying Andrea any day, with Michonne she we can see new things with her, with Andrea the same dumb looks, annoying decisions she makes and she just loves banging the people that cause trouble, no where for her to go from there.
 
No offense, Art..You rule.. BUT that just blows me away, reading what you wrote. I couldn't disagree more with everything you said..

This is what makes these threads worth reading! We all see things a bit differently.

To start with, yes, this was probably the best of the season so far. But this season has been INCREDIBLE. Hands down, people have for the most part loved this season, and the ratings continue to improve steadily. I expect season 4 to break even more ratings records. Hence why getting rid of Mazzara was very stupid, and why so many fans went nuts hearing about it, especially after the axe Darabont got. But I don't know where in the world you get the idea that this season is uninspired?

I really enjoyed season one and while many didn't seem to like seaon two, outside of the ridiculous dragging out of the Shane/Lori/Rick love triangle, I really enjoyed that too. I was really looking forward to the story of the prison as I think it was a brilliant move in the comic and the idea in a situation like this IS to create a long-term sustainable life. The first couple of episodes of this season had some interesting action, but overall, I am just not digging it that much. The Andrea arc is way past due and is incredibly annoying. Blah blah... I could go on but you see where I am going with my opinion. I just don't like how things are being handled and it doesn't feel very exciting or interesting (outside of this past episode which was about as good an episode as you could possibly ask for).

I will agree that the show Michonne doesn't have the luxury of the backstory that her comic version has. (such as the origin of the pets (her boyfriend and his friend) and how she got the sword, etc). But the reason she is easily in the top 3 favorite comic characters for TWD is because she is awesome. If you didn't like the comic, that is fine. I get that. You clearly didn't like the governor in the comic, and a lot of people loved him and thought he was the best comic-book villian of all time. He constantly appears on top 10 lists as such. So I'm not really gonna argue that with you either. But Michonne has a great backstory, complex love life (practically raping men) in the books after all the sexual abuse she's had. She's one of the best flushed out characters in the comic who remains very mysterious because they only reveal a bit at a time.. She's guarded, and she holds a lot of pain, and so she doesn't open up often.

For me, both in the comic and in the show, this story is set in the "real world" and is relatively realistic. For me, Michonne (from the comic) and the Governor (again, from the comic) just don't fit into that world. They aren't people. They are larger than life representations of badassery (is that a word?) on the part of Michonne and evil on the part of the Governnor. Both characters immediately pulled me out of the world of the comic and were jarring in that they seemed to be lifted from a superhero type story line that allows for such characters as opposed to the Walking Dead which is based on more realistic, normal people like you and me. One of the best and most appealing aspects of Rick as the hero of this story is that he is just a man, susceptible to all the same things we are. Not so with character like Michonne who can simply slash her way through any problem like an infomercial food processor or who can burn holes through you with her constant angry stare. I won't argue that Michonne is a badass, but she simply doesn't fit this world.

I believe, earlier in this very thread, after Michonne has been introduced but before the Governor had been seen, I posted my grave misgivings about how he would be handled because he is perhaps even more of an over-the-top ridiculous character in the comic. He reminds me of a Cobra (GI JOE enemy) reject of some sort in the comics and again, is completely unrealistic in an otherwise very realistic world. Unlike Michonne, the show has given us a very real world Governor who fits right in with everyone else. He isn't a caricature of insane evil. He isn't a bio-mechanical nightmare. He is just a man... a very dangerous and unbalanced man, but every bit as believable as the rest of the cast.

Show wise though, she has barely had any screen time at all! This week and last week were the first chances things were calm enough to really let her open up. I think the reason they did that was a creative decision based on what they thought was realistic. Probably a mistake to not have revealed more of her backstory, etc, because everyone needs to understand their characters immediately apparently.. but what is wrong with viewing her as what she was, mysterious, and angry, and yet badass? A lot of people have loved her on the show, and yet I continue to see hate for her. Andrea? I understand the hate there. She is a cluster..bomb.. lol of horrid character choices and such a far cry from the awesome andrea of the comics that it just brings me to tears to see it. But Michonne is just starting off, and I've loved every bit they have given us. Of course she was gonna be angry and shut off at first. She survived on her own for a long time, and then just with andrea. They have made it a point this season to carry the theme that you can't survive alone. They most likely structured her character arc to bloom in these later episodes because they knew they were making huge changes with rick's story, and were having his breakdown early. Instead of an instant bond like in the comics, they have a more emotional bond that will develop over time. That's what made that scene where she tells him she sees dead people too so great.

I suppose we will never know, but I think you are giving the writers way more credit than they are due. I don't feel like we are seeing Michonne's character arc blooming. I feel we are seeing an abrupt change in approach. I, for one, am very glad to see it, as it gives me hope that I won't always completely despise the way her character is written, but to me, someone made a conscious effort to go in a different direction with her character and all I can say is kudos to whoever made that decision. Show me vulnerability. Show me humanity. Don't show me an endless angry, one expression, completely unstoppable, completely unfazable, zombie killing machine. That isn't realistic and doesn't fit in with this show. Is it badass and fun to watch? Sure. Does it add to the story or to our band of heroes? Not for me.

If you don't like the "ninja" stuff.. well.. i just don't know what is wrong with you! lol. A katana is the PERFECT weapon for the zombie apoc. Perfect balance, No sound, extremely deadly, lightweight, requires no reloading- only sharpening on occasion, does not pose the risk of getting stuck in a head the same way say a hammer, and other tools might, etc. It's the dream weapon. She was smart enough to know this, and perfect the use of it, and as such is a great warrior for the group with that sword. It's no more crazy than someone using a crossbow, which is less believable, despite its awesomeness in daryl's hands! That is a weapon that most people wouldn't even dream of grabbing in a rush, and yet it makes sense to daryl, and serves many functions.

I don't like the ninja stuff at all. Again, from a fanboy perspective, it is fun to watch and if this were Blade or GI Joe, I'd be all for it, but both in the comics and in the show, Michonne has little history (was she a fencer in the comic) to show the type of master swordplay we see. I am not arguing that the sword is a great and effective weapon, but you have turned an attorney who found a sword at the neighbor's house (wasn't that the story?) into such an adept swordsman, that Snake Eyes and Stormshadow would run away from her.

Daryl's crossbow as a main weapon is fairly unrealistic as well, but at least they constantly show him getting into trouble with it and being forced to bash zombies with it or stab them, by hand with the arrows, instead of cutting through hordes of them like they weren't even a danger or threat the way Michonne does.

Michonne had great moments from the last two weeks, which were some of the only quieter eps this season she really had a chance to open up at all. There are a lot of characters, and a lot of things that are seriously worth focusing on as an audience, and in the place of the show too, that I didn't mind holding off on her development. Clearly, some people see it a little different. But I can't believe some of the stuff I'm reading. Honestly, it almost seemed like you were trolling me for a minute! I just get worked up because i'm a huge fan of the comic and show though. So don't take any offense! :)

Definitely not trolling you and not taking any offense at all that we don't agree. I sincerely have hated her character up until Ep13 which has given me just a glimmer of hope. I hope they continue on in this direction and create a more believable character with her. We will see!
 
For me, both in the comic and in the show, this story is set in the "real world" and is relatively realistic. For me, Michonne (from the comic) and the Governor (again, from the comic) just don't fit into that world. They aren't people. They are larger than life representations of badassery (is that a word?) on the part of Michonne and evil on the part of the Governnor.

..... like Michonne who can simply slash her way through any problem like an infomercial food processor or who can burn holes through you with her constant angry stare. I won't argue that Michonne is a badass, but she simply doesn't fit this world.

I suppose we will never know, but I think you are giving the writers way more credit than they are due. I don't feel like we are seeing Michonne's character arc blooming.

Michonne CAN'T slice through any problem. She has been seriously injured more than once. She knows people are MUCH more dangerous than zombies in this new world, but she is starting to understand that no matter how much she would like to be entirely on her own, it is virtually impossible to make it without help.

I haven't read the comic. I don't know Michonne's backstory. I still like her character. I kinda like not knowing everything about her. What's wrong with a mysterious character? Some people did not like it when Wolverine's origin story came out. They preferred the mystery.

A character can have a story without a lot of dialogue. You dont need to know everything she is thinking or for her to say everything that is on her mind.

I find most often a facial expression can say more than words. Id rather have that than characters giving monologues about themselves. How realistic is that?


I don't like the ninja stuff at all. Again, from a fanboy perspective, it is fun to watch and if this were Blade or GI Joe, I'd be all for it, but both in the comics and in the show, Michonne has little history (was she a fencer in the comic) to show the type of master swordplay we see. I am not arguing that the sword is a great and effective weapon, but you have turned an attorney who found a sword at the neighbor's house (wasn't that the story?) into such an adept swordsman, that Snake Eyes and Stormshadow would run away from her.

I don't think she is that great with her sword. She chops multiple slow moving zombies, but when she goes against people, she doesn't always come out on top. Certainly not making anyone run away from her. As far as her experience with the sword, well the zombie apocalypse didn't start last week. You would be surprised how good you can get at something when its all you do all the time and your life depends on it!

Daryl's crossbow as a main weapon is fairly unrealistic as well, but at least they constantly show him getting into trouble with it and being forced to bash zombies with it or stab them, by hand with the arrows, instead of cutting through hordes of them like they weren't even a danger or threat the way Michonne does.


Definitely not trolling you and not taking any offense at all that we don't agree. I sincerely have hated her character up until Ep13 which has given me just a glimmer of hope. I hope they continue on in this direction and create a more believable character with her. We will see!

I agree. Bullets and arrows will eventually run out, but a sword doesn't need reloading.
Me personally, I would have some type of sword, but my main weapon would be a shotgun, at least when I could get shells. I'm surprised there aren't more shotguns in TWD.
 
Last edited:
Re: Re: The Walking Dead Season 3

For those defending Michonne's character on the show... I think you are giving her a lot of credit, based on the comic, that the show hasn't really provided. She is an awful character in the show and easily the most unrealistic and ridiculous. I didn't love her in the comics (nor did I care for the comic version of the Governor), but I have absolutely HATED her in the show as she brings nothing to the table but a single angry stare that got old in about 2 seconds. As many others have said, She has taken a dramatic turn in Ep13 and it seems very clear to me that someone made a decision to change her, and I am very glad they did. For the first time, she seemed like a character instead of a caricature. I still don't care for her ninja stuff either which comes across as something that should be in a GI Joe or Bruce Lee movie more than in this gritty world, but, if they continue to give her something to do besides just staring a people with contempt and anger, I can look past some of the silly sword play.

Oh, and this was easily the best show of an otherwise uninspired season.

I've never actually read the comics. I was just looking at the subtext and drawing from my on experience with "BFFs". Which is pretty much the only way to watch this show: draw your own conclusions based on your own interactions. I've had several instances of my best friend not reading my body language or the subtext of my actions, and as a result have gone silent for weeks until she finally gets the hint that she screwed up. Is that the wrong way to behave? Yes, and I've tried to change that about myself. But the fact of the matter is, it's something that's realistic for a person to do, even in a life or death situation, and I'm glad they wrote Michonne that way, despite how terrible she seems to other people.

Besides, this show seems to ignore the passage of time A LOT. I haven't really had the sense that Andrea knows it's been 8 months, and we don't really know how much time is passing between episodes. Some of them are fairly strict, like this episode being only a day after last week's, but others are way more ambiguous.

Also, I think the swordplay wouldn't be a problem if the people setting up the stunts were a) consistent with how the blade enters and exits a body and b) knowledgeable of how swords actually work. You cannot stab with a katana. Period. Wanna do that? Get an arming sword with a diamond cross section. But given how often this show fails with guns too, you just kind of have to look past it. No, it's not reasonable to slash someone's skull in half with a katana. It's also not reasonable to do so with two axes swinging in opposite directions (Daryl).
 
I have not read the comics so I don't know the whole back story thing. I just enjoy the show for what it is, an hour of my life watching people struggle and kill zombies. I can ignore anything I find to be too fantastical, because, well, it's a show about ZOMBIES. So yeah, the over the top characters like the Govenor and Ninja Death Stare Michonne are all cool with me.

What I want to know is, what was in the hitchikers backpack?
 
What I want to know is, what was in the hitchikers backpack?

From the looks of it probably nothing more than extra clothes, food, & misc. camping supplies. I think the reason why Rick & co. stopped to pick it up was a matter of waste not want not, in a situation like theres you can't afford to let anything of potential use go to waste.
 
I don't know, this episode was very good for character development, but was on the more "quieter" side. I like the way Michonne's opening up. Maybe I gotta watch a second time to appreciate it… But they could have taken more guns, especially the autos…
 
Back
Top