DRW50

I always wished they'd done more with the Ciji/Laura relationship - I know that they weren't interested in each other, that was just Richard's paranoia, but Cathy was so butch, I might have believed that character with Laura (I never believed her with any men...).

Chuck Todd, a flaming bag of sycophancy, is shocked and horrified at the "heated rhetoric" of Democrats. This is the new talking point - Democrats are meeeeeean to Republicans...mean! I have never understood how Republicans are gushed over by the media as both kick-ass "stronger fathers" and perpetual victims.

I read about him passing away but didn't know he'd written for Knots. That was a great episode.

I guess Bjorn was a big fan favorite but they didn't want to bring him back from the dead?

I think Andrew Lincoln's great (Rick is an almost unplayable character, to me, and I imagine that's tough to work with, but he sells it for me). I don't think Laurie Holden ever fit Andrea, although I liked her at times. Emily Kinney has her limits, I agree. There are other people, like David Morrissey (the Governor), who I know are great, from their other work, but just don't work well with the writing or character. I can point out a few people in the cast who can't act, but the idea is often that no one cares about the characters, they just want to see zombies. I don't think that's true. I think the show for the most part has a wonderful cast who give strong performances, and they do so even when they are just a minor part of a scene. The characters are why I watch, not the zombies.

I know a lot of people felt that way about her and Jamie. (I thought Martin was cute but not sure if other fans did). I don't see a point in Sonia returning long-term but I wouldn't mind a visit, especially to see more of her with Carol. Natalie Cassidy is one of those people who screwed themselves over by believing they were a "celebrity." She became way too known for her personal life and her personal feuds, and I think it hurt her career a lot.

Sadly, it's as if he didn't exist before Brendan. Anything interesting of his past is gone, along with most of Kieron's acting ability. The character is utterly worthless now, IMO. Bringing in a creepy father for "John Paul forbidden romance #43" doesn't change that.

Kirkman interview. http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/10/14/walking-dead-season-premiere-robert-kirkman/

Danai interview. http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/14/the-walking-deads-danai-gurira-on-michonne-and-planning-for-zombies/

So apparently the comic Michonne gave Carl was a Robert Kirkman comic, Invincible. Good way to plug his stuff, I guess.

It's mostly lip service for people who would rather forget that Brendan is rotting away, and, since, as we so often heard, Emmett is going to be a huge, huge, huge star, the Ike Turner of Ireland will likely never be seen again.

If you needed any reminder of just how out of touch and silly the Beltway is, here they are having a hissy fit because of inappropriate wordage. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/10/10/white-house-faces-an-insurrection-over-metaphors/ Helpful advice from a far right Congressman - get a loan. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/11/steve-pearce-furloughed-workers_n_4086260.html

I do think viewer indifference was part of it (Mary was sort of grafted onto the show and never had a strong story, and the most popular McKinnon girl - Kathleen - was gone), but the constant writer turnover was likely another reason. You have probably already seen these but someone put up some Marissa edits a while back.

It ticks me the hell off when people say this show is terrible and is only popular because of zombies. Say what you will about the writing or producing (although I don't think it's ever as bad as it's made out to be) but this show has the finest cast on TV. Why do they never get any credit? I don't expect the sneering elite websites like AV Club to ever say as much, but it just feels like nobody acknowledges the cast.

Natalie Cassidy will be back as Sonia. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a523538/eastenders-confirms-sonia-fowler-return.html

juniorz1 I think I am the only Sally Spencer MJ fan out there! I never saw Kathleen, aside from a clip or two, so it's not against her - I just like the vulnerability Spencer has in the role. The McKinnons were phased out in late 1987 (the last child, Cheryl, left in mid-1988). Then Vince and Mary hung on until early 1989. I think Mary's backstory was already convoluted at this point. The best part of this for me was the fight between Rachel and Mac. I love watching Watsson and Wyndham fight. Pure fire!

I like what they do with Carol. They were going in an odd direction with her right after Sophia died but she did refocus in the months before season 3's premiere. She seems to be so clear and strong, and she doesn't let her emotions or a nostalgic view of a "good" world get in her way. I absolutely loved the scene where she asked Carl not to tell Rick that she was teaching the kids how to use knives. She knows that world is gone, even if Rick can't bring himself to face it. Has anyone wondered if there is some plague, if the Governor will have a cure (or claim to have a cure)? I don't know why I feel that way - I haven't read anything. It just sounds like some way they might bring him back in.

I don't think I'd make it in Revolution because I would want to shoot most of the main characters. The weird thing about the end of the world universes are that people who may think they're weak often survive the longest, while people who are in many ways strong (like Shane) just can't take it mentally.

At the time she wrote it (late summer/early fall 1996 I believe) it was all Patrick/Marty, Andy/Antonio, with some Kevin/Cassie on the side. She also panned Carlo's return and the regression of the Dorian/Viki relationship.

Glad you got to see it.

I think after season 2 they may have decided someone has to die in every episode or people will not watch. I always have mixed feelings about this, because some of the characters could have had long-term potential (I wish Axel had stayed around a little longer). But I'd rather see short-term people killed off than more of the long-running characters, as, like you said, there are few left. I hope they will also keep a few new or newish characters around to build up. One of the best parts of the show for me is what I have seen few TV programs do since Doug Marland passed away - everyone gets something. A scene, a line, a quick story. That wasn't always the case - T-Dog was treated horribly by the show - but I think it is now. This means every fan gets a little something to tide them over, and you feel more like you're watching a small community being interwoven, instead of just the same few characters and extras.

I don't think they ignored the races, a lot of things just went against them in 2010.

I think they were married for a year or two.

When Frannie was a child they showed her sometimes to set up the Dana/Bob story (Frannie went to ballet classes). I think that was it. And she had some tension with Bob's wife Miranda.