Originally Posted by GDK:
“I found it a tough watch and I can't say I really enjoyed it, in contrast to most of The Walking Dead up to that point. It took an already brutal show to an even darker place. I hope it doesn't become the new normal for the show. I hope we see something positive emerge from this low point in human depravity.
Dramatically, though, it was justifiable, even necessary, to show the torture and brutality as the consequence of what "our group" did to some of Negan's group.
Our group cold-bloodedly killing men in their sleep last season was just plain wrong. It wasn't justifiable morally, even in terms of "allowing anything that's necessary to survive". Every other thing they did as the protagonists up to that point I felt was justified. But not that.
I found Negan's strategy in keeping the group alive, especially Rick, frankly unbelievable. He's got a large, powerful group already and strategically could have taken the lower risk option of killing them all. Perhaps he's only dealt with less well organised and less ruthless groups than "our group" so far. Granted he doesn't know the group as we do, but he is still taking a big risk in leaving Rick alive. I suppose we're meant to think he's a psycho and just "gets off" on torturing and murdering people and that overcomes his logical thinking. The Governor was a much more credible antagonist. I suppose there's a lot more of Negan to come. Perhaps that will fill out his character.
I found the way Negan was played quite variable. It drew me out of the story somewhat when some of the postures JD Morgan struck and the mannerisms and the chuckling to himself reminded me of "Mad Dog" Tannen in Back to the Future Part III.”
I agree to most of what you wrote. The killings that the group did before this was not justifiable in any way.
The group did not know who they were, for all they knew, the Hilltop could have been lying.
And even if they believed them, they should have just backed out and said that "ok, this is none of our business, bye bye."
I know they needed a doctor (and whose fault is that, Rick?) but I find it hard to believe that among all the people left in Alexandria, not one of them had any medical knowledge. Even a dentist would do in an emergency.
Maybe they should start searching for new people, like Aron and Eric did, instead of going around killing people.
Other than that, I loved JDM as Negan.
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