tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post6985301677304643208..comments2024-02-10T10:52:58.614-05:00Comments on THE DIG: WALKING DEAD Still Kickingcinemarchaeologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13507603255666191405noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-8082192735707743402014-03-03T23:59:45.131-05:002014-03-03T23:59:45.131-05:00As someone who's just exiting his teenage year...As someone who's just exiting his teenage years the whole situation seemed extremely realistic. At this point Beth just wants to feel <i>something</i>, and having a drink is the perfect way to do that. Plus the pace they got drunk at seems pretty viable, since Beth's tolerance is super low, and Daryl's probably is too since it's been awhile since he had a drink. <br /><br />And about each "I Never" purposefully escalating the tension, I'd agree, but that's not bad writing. In fact, it plays in perfectly with Beth's character and actions throughout the show. Throughout the show before the "I Never" game she was trying to get Daryl to show that he wasn't completely disconnected. She did that in the camp, in the golf club, and elsewhere. <br /><br />@jriddle I feel like the metatextual could go one of two ways. One: they kill off Beth (and I would not be happy). Two: it is the beginning of a Beth that is much more important as a character, and last night was an "introduction" of sorts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-69706137299016561542014-03-03T14:54:14.347-05:002014-03-03T14:54:14.347-05:00The metatextual stuff didn't help.
I checked ...The metatextual stuff didn't help.<br /><br />I checked out of the episode pretty early on. Daryl being extra violent to country club zombies because he's po' white trash? Ugh. Beth deciding that she needed to risk her life and Daryl's for her first drink? Groan. Getting Daryl drunk (and they both got drunk mighty fast even considering they were drinking moonshine) and then playing a game that was designed to piss him off just so we could have an emotional confrontation? Hack writing in my book. Every one of Beth's "I nevers" was designed to escalate the tension. I was rolling my eyes and checking my watch.<br /><br />But obviously this is subjective. If it worked for you, then the episode did its job. I was expecting to come here and read about Mazara-era soap opera because that's how it played to me.lebeauhttp://lebeauleblog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-25062872197097685102014-03-03T12:05:44.102-05:002014-03-03T12:05:44.102-05:00On an intellectual level, I can see how "Stil...On an intellectual level, I can see how "Still" could be a game changer for the show (unless Beth dies soon). But actually watching the episode last night, I couldn't help cringing. It seemed so forced and artificial when Beth decided she needed her "first drink".<br /><br />Thinking about it now, I would say the biggest problem wasn't so much the episode's concept or the dialogue. For me I think it was just too weird for Emily Kinney (29 yo this year) to be saying those words. Beth being in her late teens works when she remains in the background. But last night, where she was center stage, suspending disbelief was difficult.John Rottenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07736420410333742002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-8557339910716306092014-03-03T09:10:25.924-05:002014-03-03T09:10:25.924-05:00@Anon, it remains to be seen whether this was just...@Anon, it remains to be seen whether this was just a set-up for Beth's death. Recall that Hershel's death was set up in one episode then carried out in the next. I don't really care if Beth lives or dies, but it kills <i>this</i> episode if it turns out it was just a set-up for smoking her next week.<br /><br />@lebau, yours seems to be a common reaction. I don't agree, though. A good, simple story that ends up embracing a healthy, "fuck this" attitude toward life in the zombie-verse, some good character moments, and minimalistic dialogue; I think it's one of the best eps they've ever done. And fully expect to be crucified by my regulars for it! Do you think the impression you got of it being "forced" came from the obvious metatextual content of the dialogue (Beth trying to rationalize her continued existence)?cinemarchaeologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507603255666191405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-80287629622581065712014-03-03T08:54:50.229-05:002014-03-03T08:54:50.229-05:00I am really shocked to see you liked this episode....I am really shocked to see you liked this episode. I thought it was the worst of the bunch since the mid-season. I didn't buy into a single moment of it. The goal was to be character-driven. But every note felt forced to me. There's nothing worse than when TWD goes for a character study and misses the mark. That was the case here.<br /><br />Obviously, mileage may vary. In this case, it appears to have varied quite a bit.lebeauhttp://lebeauleblog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-18087191072096590822014-03-03T06:06:28.458-05:002014-03-03T06:06:28.458-05:00One of the best episodes of TWD that wasn't a ...One of the best episodes of TWD that wasn't a season finale. Maybe someone on the staff has come to the realization that an audience can't care about characters that are just a name and a face. Finally they are giving the audience a reason to care about the characters, alive or in their deaths. Characters defined by real dialogue and meaningful action and not by ridiculous melodrama while they commit illogical behaviour and personality shifts just to further poorly constructed episodes. Actual characterization in TWD, I am speechless. Burning down the shanty was almost poetic, and Daryl smiling as he walked by the camera was a great touch too.<br /><br />You know TWD has become predictable when a red shirt like Beth gets dialogue and screen time, and all I could think was that she was going to be taken out by the end of the episode. Since that's TWD usual modus operandi. It's nice to find out TWD may actually be able to surprise me after all. I really hope this is a turning point in the series, so such writing in the future doesn't surprise me, but instead, becomes the norm. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com