DRW50

Who is the woman with the longer hair? Is that Abril? I can see why this triangle wasn't popular. Both men behave horribly.

I agree Rooker's a very good actor. I haven't seen all his season 3 episodes. I assume they toned some of the racism down.

Yes - I've started watching. I actually started with the third season, but hadn't seen the first two seasons yet. I've seen the first two episodes so far, will try to watch the next two in the next day or two. I hear a lot of positive commentary about Merle mostly through Daryl, the "brothers Dixon," how he clearly didn't want to hurt Glenn and Maggie, how touching it is that Merle loves his brother, he needs another chance, etc.

Watching the first episodes... "Days Gone Bye" - Morgan's story was the heart of this episode, and was also a clever device to make us care more about Rick's struggle. Will he find his wife in the same state as Morgan's wife? For that reason, I would have kept her status secret until Rick found her. Instead, they seemed more determined to establish her to viewers in the worst light possible - we see Shane caring about Rick, his friend and partner, but all we hear about her is that she trashes him in front of their son. Then the first time we see her, she's making out with Shane. It's just a little weird, because instead of wanting Rick to find his wife you almost want him to take the kid and keep driving. The guy who plays Morgan (Lennie James, also British!) did a fantastic job. The scene where the walkers were first outside the house and Duane began sobbing because he knew his mother was coming back again, as a zombie, was so perfectly put together. I loved the way they had Rick looking through the peephole. The final moments where Morgan wanted to shoot her but just couldn't do it were heartbreaking. I must say she looked more beautiful as a walker than many people do while living. Rick waking up delirious and dehydrated in the remains of the hospital was also a brilliant set piece. It did the horror movie genre proud. I don't find the walkers all that frightening, but this scene - the fear of the unknown - was absolutely terrifying. I know Rick had been near death, and was then knocked out by Duane, but I still couldn't figure out why he thought going to a major city (Atlanta) was a good idea. That would have been an obvious zombie mill. "Guts" - Again, not quite sure of the logic of having your opening scenes being the hero's wife getting it from behind from her boyfriend. After seeing these opening episodes I understand why Lori was so loathed by viewers. She never had a chance. Not too subtle writing to have Merle as the lone white man, terrorizing a group of minorities and a white woman, until white male hero Rick saves the day. I know that bigoted white men often get a lot of slack from the public, but I'm surprised at how popular Merle is with some fans, considering how unbelievably vile he was in this episode. That seemed to be some type of chem test with Andrea and Rick, which hasn't been followed up on, although they did have decent chemistry. She kind of got on my nerves in some scenes. I liked the little scene of Rick telling them about the man they were about to chop. It was a glimmer into the "good" and "right" life he was rapidly leaving behind. The action scenes were what kept the episode going, as most of the conversations felt a little clunky. And the last scene of Glenn having a blast as he drove the sports car was a great way to end the episode. They got Glenn's introduction just right. Morales was a very solid supporting character. I wonder why they wrote him out. I wish they'd let T-Dog leave Merle on the roof by his own choice, instead of losing the key.

There were some fairly subtle hints early on that Nick was mostly just someone who would sleep with anybody, for his own gain. The Mark/Nick relationship had that vibe. I can't see that with Lofty though, and frankly, I'm glad they dropped it. Lofty was one of my favorite characters.

Was that the last one? I think the ones where a bunch of people sang were more productive (or hilarious).

I don't have a big problem with Clint and Viki breaking up, although I do think CR and ES were among the best soap couples ever. I just hate that Viki's character became so weakened in the process.

I guess Tyreese will probably be in the middle of all that. Since he seems to be sane (from what we've seen so far) and relatively compassionate, he could easily be the one everyone unifies around, although racist Merle would not go for that.

I could see that happening. I wonder how much it's going to cause a schism with Glenn/Maggie and the others if the others accept Merle.

They also said that Natalie and Janet would have more comedy and go back to the battling couple, and this would be a part of Jack's mystery story. The story which ended in...Natalie's death. I guess that took a wrong turn.

This is great. I like getting to know more of the characters, and most of the dialogue doesn't feel like endless exposition or reminding people.

Marisa Tomei asked about her ATWT run. I haven't seen that often. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKItM4_Qhnc

Even if someone loved Clint I think it would have been a fitting end. Although I will admit that making life hell for McBain is also a perfectly fine way of atoning.

Yay, new console room! Apparently this was because they moved the set. I liked the old one but it will always remind me of Rory and Amy so I'm happy for a new start. I loved when Tom Baker had two console rooms. I just wish this meant that Matt Smith was staying for a good while longer. http://blogtorwho.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/sneak-peak-new-tardis.html

Clint should have died.

Not sure if I posted this. It's from last month. Oakdalian has put up two more episodes since that time.

I would think Bravo wouldn't ever let something like that air (the Kim stuff, if that's what she said), bleeped or not.

I was reading a January 1993 Digest which said AMC would be playing up Lucci's flair for comedy...what comedy stories did she have at that time? I don't know the dates. I know by mid-1993 they started Erica's years of hell, bar some stuff like her reunion with Jackson while she and Dimitri were split.

Mesh shirts don't look good on anyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSaq6gxybgc

I love this more than I can say. http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/ppp-sc-voters-want-colbert-84849.html?hp=r1

That's kind of an interesting way to write his smoking - I didn't realize they tied it in to Billy's death. I really wish they'd given the show one more year. I know the ratings were terrible but it sounds to me like the show was pulling itself together.

I knew about Shields but not the others. I wish I could see Judy.