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Animal Kingdom: Fubar (2022)
Could Have Been Better
Breaking Pope out during a bus transport to a different institution with police escort and another prisoner who wanted to kill Pope was just too ambitious and unrealistic to be successful. The boys should have just scooped Pope up when he was showing the Detectives where the second body was buried.
Needed a closing shot of Deran and his boyfriend Adrian in a non-extradition country with a handful of diamonds and catching some waves.
Craig's death was the saddest part as his character arc was finally somewhat respectable as he had given up the drugs for the most part and wanted to be a responsible parent. Had Pope's conscious not gotten the better of him which led to his incarceration, Craig would be living the good life with his own family.
They really should have given Deran's father more screen time as Denis Leary was a great actor for the part. Perhaps having him participate in breaking out Pope and catching a bullet meant for Deran or something along those lines to give him a meaningful death and well deserved closure.
Didn't care for all the time spent with young Smurf and the kids. They might have used all that time more effectively perhaps with Pope having flashbacks of his sister Julie while he was stuck alone in protective custody.
J actually drowning in the pool this time would have been poetic justice for killing his girlfriend to eliminate a potential snitch down the road. It was ironic that she basically died the same way as J's mother with a drug overdose he gave her. Penny along with many other comparatively innocent victims did not deserve to die.
IDK, no one checking on all of that money which J stole from right under everyone's nose when they were all going to be quickly going off to different countries forever felt rushed and unrealistic given the level of trust, or lack thereof, afforded to J by the others.
Pope taking the Mexican's eye out was gratuitous. Just a severe MMA style beat down could have sufficed. Hatosy really chewed up most of his scenes and should receive and nice push for bigger roles moving forward.
The only question I had going in to the finale was if Pope would have to serve out the rest of his life in prison like Hatosy's character in Alpha Dog or would he die like his character in Fear TWD as he was just too crazy to stay out in the streets.
In hindsight, Animal Kingdom was a great show which really captured the thrill of California extreme sports, high tech assisted thefts and the West Coast drug culture and surfer scene, even though the show should have probably ended last season and without all of the unnecessary flashbacks it was still a captivating thrill ride well cast and for the most part well written, directed and acted.
8.5.
The Walking Dead: The Rotten Core (2022)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Daryl like most Po-Pos enjoys a good donut before punking out the Mayor's son. If that kid and Hornsby don't both die very gruesome deaths I will feel very cheated.
Its not a good idea to threaten Judith or Coco while Daryl and Rositta are armed.
Its not a good idea to accrue alot of debt when you live at the Commonwealth.
It seems way too fast for Negan to be hooked up with a new group and to have taken a new wife let alone having knocked her up already.
Secret rooms always come in handy for ambushing your enemy or a panic room.
Very strange the Commonwealth economy runs on old cash as opposed to their own monetary system. Why didn't Daryl grab the coke while he was at it? (I got the money and the yayo!)
Nice to see Mercer coming around to Daryl and Rosita's side by dropping those 2 body guards for the brat without his heart rate ever elevating.
Elijah in Ninja mode is very bad azz.
Aaron shooting Carlson without killing him so he would fall off the roof and be eaten by the same people he pushed off the roof was a nice touch.
Baby Glenn doesn't like to talk very much, but it was funny seeing him get the drop on Negan although it was a tad ironic that when the two first meet Negan smashed someone's head in with a crow bar.
Negan giving Baby Glenn a rain check on trying to kill him was honorable.
It doesn't seem like it takes as much Walker guts for them not to bother you as it use to.
Blaring home security systems for protection tend to have the exact opposite effect in the ZA.
Leah is back! She looks like she belongs with those chicks at Oceanside. Maybe she will hook them up with her cache of guns. As if TWD didn't already have enough girl power!
I hope the former Riverbend apartment residents join Maggie at Hill Top as she will need some more back up when the Storm Troopers from the Commonwealth come calling in the scene they keep teasing.
Looks like a showdown is brewing between Carol and Hornsby as to who can out BS the other, my money is on Carol.
Best Line: (Lydia) Like the Whispers they wear a mask
8.5 (The lines are now pretty much drawn)
The Walking Dead: Warlords (2022)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Target practice on random Walkers is a one way to pass time while on guard duty.
Hitting on chicks in the ZA is a lil different than pre-ZA.
You can take the Preacher out of the Church, but you can't take the Preaching out of the Preacher for very long.
Having Michael Biehn (aka Cprl Dwayne Hicks and Kyle Reese) play a psycho group leader was one of the best casting moves TWD has ever made.
Killing off Michael Biehn's character Ian so quickly was one of the worst decisions TWD writer's have ever made.
Bald headed chicks in the ZA are usually bad azzes plus no one can grab their hair in a fight.
Ian keeping the skulls of his enemies like a Predator does, is just what you would expect from a former star of the movie Aliens.
Having an apparent lame suddenly turn into a bad azz Special Forces CIA type of killer like Carlson did is always a nice unexpected twist.
Watching someone like Carlson back down, push around and punk out that lil weasel Lance Hornsby is always fun.
Aaron got rather lucky that the gun Carlson took from Ian only holds 14 bullets in the clip and 1 in the chamber.
Watching Father Gabriel in Bad Azz mode is much more interesting than listening to his sermons.
Its about time we got Negan back too bad he didn't get to interact with Ian.
Its a good thing Carlson quit drinking, well almost, as mean as he is sober can you imagine him drunk?
Tossing someone off a 7 story building is the perfect amount of time necessary for a good Wilhelm scream.
Juggling the timeline can be confusing unless when done right as was the case here.
Best Line: (Gabriel) I wanted you to see who I was before learning what I was.
9.5 One of the best in the last few years.
The Walking Dead: The Lucky Ones (2022)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Maggie appears to be as stubborn as she is hypocritical. Obviously She feels there is not enough fairness in the Haves vs Have Nots society contained within the Commonwealth, yet she alone speaks for 2 communities.
There will always be those with more material goods than others, but as long as all have the basic necessities for life and access to schools and employment why would you want to stay in a community that has been decimated many times and where the members repeatedly faced possibly starving to death?
Why doesn't Maggie simply visit the Commonwealth and speak to some of its long time members as apparently she no longer trusts Daryl, Rosita and Aaron's judgement
If Zeke really felt so strongly about not jumping over other Commonwealth community members for his needed surgery, then why did he go through with it?
Eugene needs to get his head back in the game and get over being so woman whipped. With his brains he could prolly have his pick of choice positions at he Commonwealth.
It didn't take long for Daryl to get on Mercer's good side and its a good thing that Daryl doesn't trust anyone as he has seen before that if things seem too good to be true they most likely are.
Gov Milton obviously feels Hornsby has too much ambition and I wouldn't be surprised to see him as the leader of the underground resistance and possibly coordinating a coup d'etat.
Shooting a large group of Walkers with automatic weapons isn't nearly as fun as killing them hand to hand with edged weapons.
At least Gov Milton finds time to get a pedicure before meeting new community leaders.
Now Negan will be coming back soon won't he?
Best Line: No Pineapple Jerry, I'm Serious!
7.5.
The Walking Dead: Rogue Element (2022)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
So far I have rated every episode of TWD between 7 and 9 with the occasional 10. So why in good conscious can I only give Rogue Element a 6?
I think most would agree TWD is fictional, although its handled in way which feels possible if there was a world wide plaque (COVID on steroids) other than of course the part about the dead coming back to life as in George A. Romero's Night Of The Living Dead and all the other Zombie movies it spawned.
TWD is NOT a fantasy show like LOTR or Harry Potter yet Rogue introduced a fantasy Element or sub-plot which totally took me out of my usual suspension of disbelief and seriously caused me not to be able to enjoy the rest the show. Not that there was a whole lot more other than Eugene playing like he was Detective Sam Spade from the noir classic The Maltese Falcon.
Now I'm neither a pharmacist nor a horticulturist and I accept the fact that almost every generalization has exceptions. But I do know a little a little bit about narcotics, perhaps more than I should.
Morphine (and with another processing step or two heroin) comes from certain poppy plants. Not poppy seeds for bagels or pretty looking poppies for flower shops, but the ones from which you get the needed extract or alkaloids for morphine or codeine.
80% of the morphine type of opium poppy plants come from Afghanistan with the rest mainly coming from South East Asia. The drug cartels also try to harvest the morphine poppies in Columbia and Mexico, but its not the same. For example, the Mexican grown poppies processed for morphine and then heroin comes out brown and is made into Black Tar not the nice China White used for morphine and then heroin grown in Asia.
Like other plants it is all about soil and climate. If the US could grow and cultivate potential morphine producing poppies don't you think they would? Especially seeing how we consume more than any other country does per capita?
Sure Virginia or wherever could possibly grow poppies for seeds or flowers, but not the ones which can then be processed to morphine for the hospitals to use during and after surgeries?
12 years or so into the ZA surely all of the oxycodone and fentynal has been long gone along with other similar drugs which perhaps could allow non-morphine poppies to be converted to morphine. So wouldn't it be impossible or fantasy for The Commonwealth's "partners" to ultimately produce morphine as shown or suggested?
Of course Carol was brought along because she wants to move Zeke up the surgery waiting list before its too late as more morphine means more surgeries, but this isn't the same as finding a stash of wine.
What would have made a whole lot more sense is if they were growing and then trading marijuana to help ease the pain and side effects of those who have cancer and other diseases.
Hopefully this one issue doesn't ruin the show for too many other people as it did for me. IMO this one item just seems symptomatic or symbolic of the deterioration in the quality of TWD as a whole just as if they introduced magical wands to instantly start manufacturing bullets and other ammunition.
Best Line: (Princess) You think you know someone and then its like you never met them, yah that sucks man.
6.5/10.
The Walking Dead: No Other Way (2022)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Questioning and the testing Father Gabriel's beliefs and commitment- Bad Idea- even for a fellow man of the cloth.
Negan fights best when he improvises and fights dirty especially against a martial artist like Carver.
Maggie seems to be worse than a starving shark when she starts to smell blood and I'm starting to wonder if deep down inside she is starting to enjoy killing people. Perhaps partially inspired by the fact that she outlives all of her boyfriends.
Snipers should always have a spotter watching their backside.
Its difficult doing acrobatic types of stunts with only one good hand.
Daryl assuming the role of the moral compass of the group takes a little getting use to, but his change from loner to leader feels organic for the most part. Sometimes you just have to thin out your potential girlfriend herd.
Per usual Negan reads Maggie likes a book and having the utmost sense of self preservation he takes his leave before Maggie slits his throat while he is sleeping or something similar.
The burning piles of bodies felt a little like it might have been COVID inspired.
Eugene finally makes himself useful for the group as a whole, even though the 6 month time jump cliff hanger reveals apparently not everyone was on board.
Best Line: "Nope, this isn't Jenson"
9.5/10 Great way to start the end.
The Walking Dead: For Blood (2021)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Chekhov's Gun was in full play! You just knew when they showed that makeshift MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) it would be used, too bad it's a 4 month cliff hanger.
Bottle rocket propelled spears and arrows was most def one of the baddest weapon innovations ever utilized on TWD.
Leah's betrayal of Daryl (or as she called him Dixon) deprived us of a potentially epic cat fight showdown between her and Connie with the winner getting to sleep with Daryl Dixon for the rest of the ZA.
Judith is a take charge, lead by example, improvising, fearless, little azz kicker. Still bothers me when she is constantly referred to as Rick's daughter when she is in fact Shane's daughter. Just once I would love to hear Negan if he knows, (BTW Not The Father, Father Gabriel will go down as one of the best lines ever in TWD series) remind the adults of Judith's real biological parents as that was one of the sub-plot which drove the narrative in the first 2 or 3 seasons.
Maggie still looks way too clean when she takes off a dead Walker face mask.
So how many people correctly guessed who the architect of Pope's demise would be (be honest with yourselves)? I had Neagan who was criminally underused in this episode.
We all knew Pope would get it and I gotta admit not only did I expect his death I cheered when it happened as he was too willing to sacrifice his own men. How many religious zealot's through World history have been similar mass murders killing in the name of God. Pope stated God was talking to and through him was unnecessary to establish him as a psycho. They had me when they showed how much he enjoyed torturing people.
Gabriel and Eugene character arcs are getting into total badazz territory. Are they setting up a drunken bunkhouse brawl as everyone with sexual feeling for Rosita wants to assert their Alpha dog machismo?
A major storm again, really?
Yes TWD has killed children in the past (some times quick and some times way too long and drawn out), but tonight it seemed to me that none of them were ever in any real danger of actually dying even though Judith making a miscall which led to an unexpected death could have been a good character building and learning experience for Shane and Lori's daughter.
8.5 /10 (slightly underwhelming for a near end of the road break)
Megalodon (2018)
Thats 1and a half hour I'll never have back
There are bad movies, really bad movies and movies like this one. I get its a "TV" movie but at least try. Michael Madsen gets top billing but is severely under used which is a good thing as he should be too ashamed and embarrassed to cash his check.
Usually you can find some redeeming quality in a bad movie, but not with this one. Acting, writing, effects, etc., all suck! I like Shark movies and love Sci-Fi but this stinker is neither. US-Soviet Cold War sub-plot is 4 decades too late. Multiculturalism can be a good thing when done correctly but insincere when obvious and shoved down the viewers throat with every cliche in the book.
The Walking Dead: Look at the Flowers (2020)
So What Did We Learn Tonight? AMC/IMDB Doesn't Care About Long Time Viewers!
I remember watching the previews for a new show called The Walking Dead on AMC over 10 years ago. It looked interesting and I got quickly hooked. It aired on the perfect day and time Sundays at 9 pm (EST) as I was almost always home then and a few hours before bed.
After 4 or 5 seasons of reading other viewers reviews as well as the professional External ones AFTER the latest episode of TWD had aired I began writing fairly short reviews myself just for fun. I would jot down bullet point topics while watching and then quickly bang out my review while everything was still fresh in my mind.
I would NEVER read other people's reviews or any of the professional external ones until after I had submitted my review as I did not want to be influenced in any way, shape or form directly or even perhaps subconsciously.
This worked out great for me until recently.
Apparently if you pay extra money or purchase an upgraded package or whatever from AMC you get to see the newest episode of TWD a day or so earlier than everyone else.
I have absolutely no problem with that.
What I do have a problem with is IMDB now allowing rating scores and reviews to be posted PRIOR to the latest episode has being aired on traditional cable tv.
I know, I know - Why don't I just NOT read them until AFTER I have watched the latest episode at its regular time? Fair question.
The answer is before the new episode starts I would always review the cover page and read the basically spoiler free AMC synopsis. That way I got the general gist of whats going on, Is this a continuation of last weeks episode or something different like Michonne going to the island or Morgan's one off back story.
I would also then go back to last weeks episode and re-read my review as well as reading everybody elses and the profession external reviews to be all caught up from last week as a lot of things can happen IRL in any given week, this week being no exception.
I would also glance at the characters to see if there were any new ones and if so how to correctly spell there names.
I CAN'T do that anymore without seeing the average vote from over 300 viewers who have all seen the newest episode early, not to mention the over a dozen reviews some with already over 50 pro or con votes (obviously those are much easier to ignore).
My point is that I never use to have to go through all these various gyrations.
So now its not fun anymore and I have just stop writing reviews.
The solution to this problem is very easy. IMDB should simply NOT post RATING SCORES or REVIEWS until AFTER the new episode has aired at its normal time when MOST people watch it. Is that really that hard?
OK, I've vented. I was just curious if anyone else felt the same way?
The Walking Dead: The World Before (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Apparently these writers don't understand that a mid-season finale is suppose to be much more eventful and exciting.
Walker Siddig seemed to be jelly of Dante and Rosita spending time alone together so he interceded only to be killed once again.
Gabriel's character arc has now gone full swing from a sniveling coward locking out his church congregation to judge, jury and stabbing executioner bad azz.
Apparently Eugene's stalking of Rosita will be back in play now that shes down to just one boyfriend again.
Rosita isn't very good with holding on to her boyfriends very long.
Judith isn't very good with holding on to her mothers very long.
Putting a baby in the middle of Aaron and Gamma's secret meetings will most likely turn out to be a bad idea.
A library really is a good place for someone like Luke to meet new friends.
At least Michone's departure was somewhat explained and understandable unlike Maggie's.
Virgil should be able to name his price if he really has a large cache of working weapons and ammo at his Naval base.
Apparently Negan and Beta both negotiated an early holiday break in their contracts.
Carol chasing Alpha like a lil kid playing tag looked stupid at the time and really does now that they are trapped in a big cave with many hungry Walkers.
Should not have at least Daryl known better than running blindly, into unknown territory, deep in the woods at night?
Best line of the night: Hearing Siddiq's death gurgles for the second week in a row.
The Walking Dead: Open Your Eyes (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Maybe Siddiq supplements his diet with the wrong type of mushrooms because his PTSD seems to be going to the next level.
Gabriel doesn't agree with Carol's unilateral decision making.
Alpha prolly could have hung out with ISIS.
You know Daryl has really made the big time when they make a video game around him.
Old people dying with dignity after surviving 10 years in the ZA is cool.
Carol is old school and still believes the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach, but she can also improvise.
Its gotta suck when you learn that Alpha's brain washing was built partially on a lie.
Gamma is prolly thinking she can tell Aaron is lying because his lips are moving.
Perhaps the Walking Dead writers are going for something a lil more philosophical by killing off an antagonist with hemlock.
Alpha has strange ways of showing her belief in someone.
Siddiq really was drowning in his own sorrow but was still alert enough to pick up on a nervous tick possessed by an infiltrator.
Carol knows how to make a timely entrance and if Lydia thinks Carol is just like Alpha then she doesn't know her very well.
I love it when The Walking Dead pulls a surprise out at the end of a so-so episode.
Best Line: Your other, other man.
The Walking Dead: Bonds (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Hydrating with contaminated water prolly isn't a good idea.
Creepy doctors need to work on their bedside manners or put on a red shirt.
Sometimes Negan talks too much and misses people kneeling to him.
Double capped acorns really are good luck and will prolly pop up again as a signal or a message.
Apparently you start at the very bottom when joining the Whispers.
It doesn't take much to catch the attention of a Walker herd.
If Eugene can't have a girlfriend in real life an over the radio one will do.
Daryl makes a good bloody Rambo.
With a name like Coco are they sure Gabriel isn't the baby daddy?
Pissing off Beta, in the middle of a Walker herd, with only a small folding knife, bad idea.
Either Daryl is a bad searcher or Carol is a bad liar.
Best line of the night: Your not going anywhere.
7.5
The Walking Dead: What It Always Is (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Its not who kills the wild boar, but who bites it first that wins.
Lucky thing there always is some good gas laying around for Daryl's motorcycle.
History tends to get exaggerated and twisted as the years go by in the ZA, but don't tell Negan the wrong facts about what he allegedly did.
Barbwire makes an effective Walker garrote, but finding the guy that has your old leather jacket is just a little too convenient.
Some Walker chicks are hotter than others.
Daryl has plenty of fishing stories to tell which helps take the edge off while looking for lost people in the woods.
Hereditary thyroid cancer isn't the way you would expect a king who has won so many battles to go out.
People are a resource but having to school a young, awestruck, wide eyed Negan fan isn't very practical when your on the run and just ain't gonna happen.
Running with Alpha's group does have its risks if you get on her bad side.
Does anyone else wonder how the hell a mother and son, on their own approx 10 years into the ZA are so clean looking?
Sausage fingers and loose wrists make for the best nut tapping.
Aaron carrying hand bandages when he only has one hand is a little ironic, but still helpful however, if Alpha wants Gamma to flirt with Aaron for ulterior reasons, she might want to pick someone of the other gender.
You cant sign language behind Daryl's back and get away with it.
Should be interesting to see how long it takes Negan to take over Alpha's leadership position. I really like Ryan Hurst and hope he doesn't get killed off in the process but that appears almost inevitable at least as things now stand.
Best Line: I don't care what you do as long as I don't have to see your pasty ass face again.
8.5
The Walking Dead: Silence the Whisperers (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Daryl's extensive skill set includes of all things room service.
Magna and Yumiko are really good friends especially when the lights go out.
Without Maggie the Hilltop is kinda rudderless when stuff starts going sideways.
Zoned out Kings are kinda emo and depressing to be around especially when they want a kiss.
Negan and Lydia are finding out the hard way that its not easy to fit in when either you or your mother killed alot of people who your new group were close to.
PTSD knows PTSD and a little humor helps.
Unless you are with Daryl in the woods, eviscerating a large rodent during dinner is considered bad manners.
Negan telling Daryl that he was putting a stop to child abuse was a smart move.
Its a good thing that Walkers move slow when there are alot of them coming at your group.
Nothing like a little girl with a small sword killing multiple dead people to remind you its all fiction.
Its funny when a music teacher checks Eugenius' eccentric verbiage.
Should be interesting to see when Negan pops back up, my guess is that it will be just in time to save someone from a Walker or Whisperer.
Best Line: Hes gone.
7.5
The Walking Dead: Ghosts (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day to kill all of the Walkers that you have to.
No one else can make a good old fashion pre-battle pep talk like Rick could.
After all those years Negan still very deeply misses Lucille.
Carol would have made a good boy scout as she always comes prepared.
Alpha takes her borders very seriously and isn't afraid to change them.
Lack of sleep and popping speed can be a deadly combo especially if you start thinking that you are Carol Crocker.
Negan always looks at the big picture and thinks two steps ahead.
Getting Walker blood tainted with wild radishes in your eyes can be quite painful and disorientating.
Aaron's metallic spiked arm is even cooler than Merle's was.
Even when she is just hanging around Carol is a lethal Walker killer.
Best line of the night: I was hoping that I would be re-zoned into Love town.
The Walking Dead: We Are the End of the World (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Flashbacks and time shifts are fun plot devices to flesh out the newer characters back stories.
On the job training for younger wannabe Whispers learning to seamlessly blend in with the dead can be difficult at times.
Ryan Hurst (aka Beta, Opie-Sons Of Anarchy and Chick-Bates Motel) could easily play a Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees type of role.
If you were a constant drunk bum stumbling around in the pre-ZA, learning the Walker Shuffle should be no problem at all.
Padded cells make for a nice crash pad.
Killing and then eviscerating Walkers together is a good way to start the bonding process.
Innovative and creative camera angels and techniques can add quit alot to an already intense atmosphere.
Reminiscing of your dead baby in the middle of a large Walker herd can lead to serious problems.
Being anointed by Alpha is the equivalent of being promoted at your job in the Whisper world.
Nothing says eternal love and memory like wearing your dead buddies face and t-shirt.
Its safe to say that Alpha and Beta's relationship status is complicated.
Best line of the night: We're all monsters.
The Walking Dead: Lines We Cross (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Russian satellites have a shelf life of about 10 years in the ZA.
2,000 years later armies are still paying homage to the fighting techniques of the Roman Empire.
Dancing hot dog trophies are a good ice breaker when trying to make a new hook up.
Finding skinned people can ruin an otherwise nice day of horseback riding.
Judith has a potential career in the field of children story writing and telling.
Getting caught sneaking a peak of someone breast feeding and bad doctor jokes are very awkward.
Negan's powers of observation and truth manipulation never seem to fade.
Daryl and his dog have alot of choices in the lady friend department.
Sometimes you have to fight fire with water and fire.
Best line of the night: Eugenius.
Its kinda hard to win a staring contest with someone who has vacant eyes.
8.5/10
The Predator (2018)
Felt more like a TV show
Admittedly I am a very big fan of all things Predator, Alien and Terminator related. Sadly, I have no freaking idea if this latest installment of The Predator franchise is a re-do, re-boot, update, sequel or whatever.
Although it has its moments (ie-the trick or treat scene), overall it falls short of the first 3 Predator flicks. Way too many F bombs than necessary and having a child in a major role just felt wrong. I can only assume that they were going for something like Newt in Aliens, but sadly they missed the mark.
If they had shortened this installment to one hour and announced that this was a pilot for a new TV series (be it HBO or SYFY) in addition to casting the major players a bit better I could have rated it a little bit higher.
In fairness its hard to compete with the original Predator starring the not yet Governors Arnie Schwarzenegger and Jessie Ventura or its sequel with the late, great, scene stealing Bill Paxton along with Gary Busey. Even the most recent Predator flick (2010) continued the well established tradition of great casting with Danny Trejo and Walton Goggins among others.
This endeavor was more akin to the 2 Alien v Predator flicks than the first 3 Predator movies. It would have made for a good TV show. Not bad, but could have been better.
The Walking Dead: The Storm (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Virgina can get a lot colder and snowier than Georgia in the winter.
If Rick thought that it would be a cold day in Hell before Neagan got out of his jail cell he was almost right.
Suicide by Walker bite is about as emo as it gets.
Best line of the night: Not The Father Gabriel.
Daryl is as good with a cross bow as he is with an eye sickle.
When crossing frozen lakes, stay next to the skinnier people.
If your a kid and you want someone to kill you, don't ask a woman who has already seen her own kids die among others.
Neagan couldn't save Coral, but did a good job saving Judith, who did a good job saving Neagan and dog.
Frozen Walkers have a hard time eating when their teeth break, but still look cool.
Now that Carol has turned in her Queen crown maybe Zeke can hook up with Michonne and they could do each others hair.
Just when you thought Alpha couldn't get any freakier.
So guess whose in the helicopter has changed to guess whose on the short wave?
If it turns out to be Junk Lady, they got another (A)lpha to give her. Trade for Rick?
8.5
The Walking Dead: The Calm Before (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Managing to live as long as 5 years as a Red Shirt in the ZA is quite an accomplishment even if celebrating the anniversary doesn't last very long.
Giving Tara a needed history lesson helps to keep her ego in check.
Kings get to sign their names bigger than other people do.
Dunk tanks double as a weekly bath for guys like Eugene.
Fairs are fun even if Jerry doesn't read the updates.
Speeches about Rick can be as long and drawn out as Rick's speeches.
Teenage angst, love triangles, third wheels can get sorted out with goat droppings.
Beta doesn't ask twice. Strange he didn't at least punch Daryl a few times.
Do you ever wonder if all these time jumps are "have to" or "want to"?
Alpha cleans up really well and shows a Trojan horse can come in many forms.
Vlad The Impaler hasn't got anything on Alpha who gave all her victims a nice view of flowers from on top of the hill. They even put Addy's glasses back on her head after all the fighting and beheadings?
Can't help but feel a lil cheated that we didn't actually get to see Henry's death as his actions led to so many others losing their lives.
When Alpha told Ezekiel she "looked forward to meeting Carol" were they foreshadowing who will kill Alpha, especially now she beheaded Henry?
Even though every so often the herd needs thinning, I always thought Tammy Rose was too mean to die and Enid too sweet. Tara's death was surprising after they kept her through her IRL pregnancy which just goes to show you never know what to expect. I wonder if Henry final learned his lesson now.
Seeing a few thousand Walkers can make one change their perspective, seeing Alpha cry can cost you dearly.
If Lydia felt less than welcome before, what now, send her to Oceanside already.
They set the stage for a movie and a concert, now it appears to be set for an inevitable big snowy showdown with the Whisperers and a couple thousand Walkers. PLEASE tell me Negan will be involved.
So much merchandising, when can I buy an Enid head on a stick paper weight?
A great ending can raise an 8 episode to a 9 (in this viewers opinion).
The Walking Dead: Scars (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
To answer my own title -a lot.
Very well written as the mystery behind both the X scars and the rift between the communities are exposed in a series of time jumps.
I feel sorry for anyone who is watching this episode as their first installment of TWD as so much was dependent on what had occurred prior to this pay off.
Trust is as elusive in the ZA as comfortable shoes.
Judith is a risk taker and seems to have a guardian angle watching over her.
Water wheels of progress make for great establishing shots.
Only thing more unnerving than exploding bridges is exploding diapers.
Negan is an expert at mixing sound advice and half truths while subtly advancing his own agenda.
Swing sets are handy when your third trimester prego.
Michonne is better at killing her friends than picking them.
Its OK to kill kids when they are trying to cut your unborn child out of your womb like the Manson family, Carol would have approved.
Is Michonne the ZA Bionic Woman, Please, how do you take that much of a beating, branding and stabbing, and not lose your child?
Nothing says love, like a lil mother daughter bonding after killing a dozen Walkers.
Judith has never stopped loving anyone, but shes still too young to date.
Isolationism is a bitter two edged sword and perhaps is simply not practical.
Vehicles with only 2 horse power are more environmentally friendly.
9.5
The Walking Dead: Chokepoint (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Henry is most def a hopeless, optimistic romantic. Don't be surprised if Lydia slits his throat in his sleep like a Black Widow after mating.
Good thing level headed Daryl was on time for Kissus Interruptus before Henry's sharp stick got him in trouble.
Beta telling a dying Whisperer that he will always be "one of us" was either foreshadowing the dude was about to contribute a new Whisperer mask or a nod to Tod Browning's Freaks "one of us, one of us".
If Alpha and Beta are considering cutting ties with Lydia, now would be a good time. Some things you just can't come back from and I doubt if she is going to be welcomed home like before.
Zeke really likes his tigers.
Dianne is getting a bigger role after many episodes as only a background character. Hmmm, as Han Solo would say, I have a bad feeling about this.
Carol wanting to negotiate first and kill second seemed confusing and inconsistent especially after her experiences with the Governor, Terminus and Negan to mention just a few.
Sorry but I'm just not buying into Tara being in charge as she exudes a serious lack of confidence and indecisiveness. The position to replace Maggie would be much better filled by Magna.
The Highwayman at first seemed legit, even for Civil War reenactors or whatever, until they gave in to Carol's demands just for a movie night. Really, that was something I would expect to see in Z Nation.
Daryl was most likely drawing upon how many times he promised himself as a kid that Merle would never kick his butt again when he had his epic fight with Beta.
All that was missing when Beta crashed through the wall was him yelling "Heres Johnny!"
Good thing Beta landed on that nice soft metal elevator roof after falling a few stories. Maybe he was a stunt man for the WWE pre-ZA.
Next episode is entitled scars, hopefully we learn how Michonne and Daryl got those X scars on their backs.
Other than the big fight things were only fair to midland (bad pun intended).
7.5
The Walking Dead: Guardians (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Not everyone or perhaps better stated not anyone but Aaron, is happy with Michone's leadership at Alexandria.
Michone Trump's democracy is actually playing out like an autocracy with her vetoing any idea she doesn't agree with in the name of national security.
Is Rosista's 2 timing going to lead to some strange threesome+baby with Eugene on the outside making relationship matrixs and stretchy pants? Odds are one of her suitors die fairly soon.
Beta's strong physical presence as Alpha's right hand man adds a more threatening dynamic to the Whispers as a whole. Beta would make a good Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees.
The Whispers day to day lifestyle seems more realistic than the junk peoples did.
How to make a Whisper mask 101, interesting.
How to use a Godfather garrote to the point of decapitation, brutal.
Challenging Alpha's leadership, bad idea. At least the dude got to hold his girlfriend's head one last time, touching.
Negan laying the groundwork for his seemingly inevitable freedom is interesting to watch unfold. Fascinating to observe Judith advocate on his behalf. I was just waiting for her to tell Michonne "Your not my Mom !"
Dog retrieves Daryl's arrows from dead Walkers, nice.
It won't be a real fair until the Whispers show up.
Henry's luck was in between West Side Story's knife fight and Romeo and Juliet.
(Query: Would Alpha actually allow Lydia to kill Henry or would she have stopped the execution at the last second therefore simply testing her daughters resolve as Alpha said herself having Henry as a hostage is leverage)
Daryl's Walker mask actually looked cleaner than his face and hair usually does.
Interesting parallel of Michone's constitution which gives her the final say and Alpha's law of allowing anyone the right to challenge her leadership only to be summarily executed with the help of Beta.
Lydia had the best line of the night- "Guess Henry is dumber than I thought."
The Walking Dead: Bounty (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
Jerry and his girlfriend have been very busy the last few years.
Even a post apocalypse King enjoys a good ghetto blaster.
A movie in a dark decrepit old theater will attract alot of Walkers.
Will they show Night Of The Living Dead at the fair now they have a bulb?
Apparently dog is also part bloodhound.
Alpha (everyone calls her that BTW) is on way too high of a power trip, natural selection in the ZA means you sacrifice a crying baby rather than just take it somewhere else? Not even a real animal does that.
The Children Of The Corn scene was even more creepy and eerie without sound.
Prisoner exchanges are inherently extremely dangerous. Surprised nothing went south. Seemed like a missed opportunity as things ended kinda flat.
I knew Coral. He was a smart and pragmatic young man seeking the best solution for all involved in the long term. Henry, you son, are no Coral.
Will Daryl blow off another potential girlfriend or booty call candidate? At least she wouldn't talk about stuff Daryl doesn't want to hear.
Could they foreshadow Enid on prego alert anymore than the ending did?
How many people will die before Henry gets laid? Must of been a good kiss.
Sounds like Sons Of Anarchy fans, myself included, finally will get to see Opie in the next episode playing Beta. They can hide his face but not his voice.
They seem to be enjoying drawing out whatever divided the communities, it better be something good and worth the wait.
The Walking Dead: Omega (2019)
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
The title Omega suggests the end of someone or something. Lets hope its the end of Henry's hormonal induced stupidity as he is way too hard up for female companionship. But for a perfectly timed mental trigger he would prolly have a hole the size of a hammer in his head
Flashback stories can be extremely interesting (ie- what defined Morgan as who he is today) or ambiguous as when told from the perspective of a young child. Learning what has shaped a new character to behave in the manner which they do is critical especially given the revolving door of people lately.
As despicable as the subject of child abuse is, it may serve to hasten bonds between those who have shared experiences.
Long handled spears are good weapons for killing for the first or second time.
Worms not drenched in tequila are gross to eat regardless of their protein content.
Apparently cutting your hair short or bald puts some women in beast mode.
Little Michone needs to be smarter and far less impulsive no matter how well intended she may be or she wont be around long.
Taking on dark subjects good, filming those flashbacks too dark bad.
Tara seemed to be just way too forgiving and polite with Yumika who had blatantly disobeyed her order, what could this be foreshadowing? Oh, never mind.
The very best adversaries or leaders thus far, Governor, Negan and Rick all had one thing in common, I guess Alpha was inevitable.
For those of you keeping count, that makes 2 eps in a row someone wanted back in their jail cell.
Why was Tom Payne's name still in the opening credits? Are they waiting at least 3 days, in show, to make sure his character doesn't resurrect?
A good ending can make a 7 star filler episode into an 8.