@Drew007 said:

I am not sure why they did it that way to introduce the Whisperers, it felt unnecessary and out of character the way Jesus died. In fact, it felt kind of forced and a cheap way to introduce the Whispers. I am not sure what went down in the six years that Rick disappeared, however it seemed out of character for Jesus to try to be a Billy Bad Ass when in previous episodes he was the guy that preached about unity and not acting impulsive, trying to get Morgan under control. For that matter, it seems like everyone is not the same after Rick's disappearance.

Good thoughts. I get the impression that the death of Jesus is function of a few factors:

• actor Tom Payne's known frustration with the lack of exploring his character's potential very likely led to a rather hasty retiring of his character in one final "bad ass scene."

• numbers-wise, I bet the show keeps pairing down the lead actors in an effort to keep costs down. As characters grow in popularity, actor salaries skyrocket. With a fixed number of eyeballs/revenues coming in each week, checking costs by eliminating characters becomes ideal and bringing in relatively unknown newbies becomes fashionable/functional. I've no data backing this up, just speculating.

• drama-wise, if all our beloved characters never died, it'd become rather convenient/contrived. This is a stark new world, and there must be an ever-present sense of risk to keep the realism and dread in the audience. Loved ones die, it has to be that way, or this new world is no big deal.

As for the introduction of the Whisperers, I don't get it. I'm not into the comics, so all I have to go on is what's been shown on screen thus far, and I don't get how they are the ones roaming around yet are telling Jesus he is where he doesn't belong. And why bother roaming around? If they're on a supply run the instantly give away that they're not walkers. And why kill people just for the sake of killing them? Why have a mask on so tight that Daryl had to cut it off? Do they wear those stinking rotting things all day, even to sleep? Or do they cut them off and then stitch on new ones every day? Or....OMG, why am I even bothering to think about this drivel? It just seems so over the top, even worse than the Scavengers.

Rick's group has disbursed amongst a number of communities that just want to restore a semblance of normalcy, safety, peace, community - what is the big plan of the Whisperers? Aren't people tired of warring amongst the living? It just seems so absurd.

That said, the writing in this latest season has been...better than the last several, certainly a good degree closer to what it was in those first magical three seasons. But, for me, this Whisperers thing is silly, but I suppose some of my questions could be answered in the coming episodes.

@mechajutaro said:

The death of Jesus was unnecessary

You're a few centuries to late; Pontius Pilate might have benefitted from your insights

I appreciate you're trying to be funny but, seriously, the character has been around since season 6 - we're long past those jokes.

I did not see that coming. Jesus is still around in the novels. Who will be the new leader at Hilltop? Tara? Alden? Seems like a big character vacuum at The Hill going forward.

The actor Tom Payne was saying he was frustrated because Jesus is such a bad ass in the comics, but you don't get much of that on the show. He said he wasn't disappointed to find out about Jesus' coming death. I won't lie; I am disappointed. Jesus was so human, plus he could whoop ass.....

@Satch_the_man said:

The actor Tom Payne was saying he was frustrated because Jesus is such a bad ass in the comics, but you don't get much of that on the show. He said he wasn't disappointed to find out about Jesus' coming death. I won't lie; I am disappointed. Jesus was so human, plus he could whoop ass.....

I am disappointed as well. I do agree that he was underutilized on the show.

@jonnieblack said:

I did not see that coming. Jesus is still around in the novels. Who will be the new leader at Hilltop? Tara? Alden? Seems like a big character vacuum at The Hill going forward.

I'm thinking Daryl will find his way "back home" and work with Tara and Carol to fill the gap...OR, whatever the issue between Michonne and the rest will be put behind them and they may restablish closer ties between Hill Top and Alexandria.

AND, I think what brings them together will be jointly hanging Negan ... knock on wood...

@DRDMovieMusings said:

@jonnieblack said:

I did not see that coming. Jesus is still around in the novels. Who will be the new leader at Hilltop? Tara? Alden? Seems like a big character vacuum at The Hill going forward.

I'm thinking Daryl will find his way "back home" and work with Tara and Carol to fill the gap...OR, whatever the issue between Michonne and the rest will be put behind them and they may restablish closer ties between Hill Top and Alexandria.

AND, I think what brings them together will be jointly hanging Negan ... knock on wood...

We can only hope about Negan.

@Video-Store-Vagrant said:

they stole rick and released negan...theyre heading in direction that's gonna suck....negans gonna start putting his regime back together and in the absence of rick all the others will have to unite and shut negans shit down half started..kinda like star wars return of the jedi..

I'm not sure there are many of Negan's people left. The ones Carol burned seemed like last hangers on.