Theory about Walking Dead this season - and who is likely to go.

[Baitball Blogger]

On Talking Dead on Sunday, the actor who plays Father Gabriel leaked that there would be hard losses on Walking Dead this season. I have a theory about the people that might get written off. I see the writers trying to move Jeffrey Dean Morgan into a redemption role. There is a definite father - daughter relationship developing between him and Judith. So I see people that were closest to Glen and Abraham being in jeopardy of getting exit cues. The ones that would be top on my list are the ones who already have a safe place to land:

1) Danai Gurira - Michonne. With her huge role in Black Panther, Danai is probably getting bombarded with acting offers. I don't think Rick will ever return to Walking Dead, at least not in time to make a reunion meaningful with Danai and I just don't see her being a grieving widow forever. She is a warrior, and she is just beginning to realize that she is failing at her mom role because she hasn't been around Judith long enough to keep the girl safe from Negan.

2) Loren Cohan. With her new show, Whiskey Cavalier, she might be ready to leave. If she stays on the show, she will never accept Negan so they might be at each other's throats into perpetuity - unless Negan saves Glenn's child.

3) Father Gabriel. It's too obvious. Rosita is part of a quad-angle. You have Eugene pining for her love and Father Gabriel is in the way.

Those are the only ones that seem to make any rational sense. I now see that the loss of Jesus made sense. Because they were going to come in contact with the Whisperers eventually, and this really woke everyone up.

[Moostache]

1. Maggie (Loren Cohen) is already gone...

She has not appeared since the time jump and while the door is technically still open, Loren Cohen the actress is not an active member of the cast any longer...

As for the show, it has lost so much steam and flipped roles for so many comic book character arcs that is starting to feel adrift as they work the story outlines into the remaining cast (and likely contract situations).

I still watch, but I am not finding myself anticipating Sunday nights the same as I did 3-4 years ago...kind of natural with these kind of episodic shows...

[Baitball Blogger]

3. This is a transition period.

There was foreshadowing in Alpha's comment when she kept asking if there was any sign of trade. I think she fears the settlements coming together because it would signal the end of her control over people who she has convinced that such thing is impossible.

The next stage will involve making safer places to live and surviving in groups in a zombie world. Rick Grimes is already in a place where civilization has a foot hold. And this season we will see the three settlements come together to fight a common enemy, and set up trade.

Finally, Fear the Walking Dead will be the transportation means that will bring all three WD franchises together.

That's my guess.

[hlthe2b]

6. all "three" franchises? You mean the comic books with the two shows?

[Baitball Blogger]

8. I see three plotlines or story arcs of the same show developing.

Maybe the word, "franchise" is the wrong word.

Rick Grimes will resurface, but I thought that would happen in a movie. You think he's going to come back to the Walking Dead show?

[hlthe2b]

12. Probably movies, but if TWD ratings drop over the next season, who knows?

[hlthe2b]

2. The entire tone and tenor of TWD has changed so much.. There are a few characters I really don't

want to see "go" (e.g., Daryl, Carol, and probably Negan (mainly because Jeffrey Dean Morgan is so eminently watchable), Judith--because hell we need one kid to survive, right? But frankly, since they killed off so many of the best characters (permanently or at least temporarily in the case of Rick), TWD is losing its luster for me.

I still watch, but-- much like Fear the Walking Dead when they killed off the entire S1 original cast except for Alycia (and especially after they killed off the Kim Dickens character), it just doesn't seem so worth it.

I'll hang in there and watch TWD, but if I have something else to do on Sunday, it won't be "mandatory" real-time viewing in the future.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. I too think it was a mistake to kill off Kim Dickens.

[lynintenn]

7. I feel exactly the same

In the past I would never miss an episode and could mot wait for the next. Now I don't make a point of being in front of the television on Sunday evenings. The alpha is totally unbelievable character and has ruined the show. My children stopped watching TYWD last season and I will eventually go.

[Autumn]

5. Danai Gurira is leaving the show during season 10. I can't see any redemption for Negan,

at least not in my eyes. I see Daryl and Arron taking on the leadership rolls.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. Yes, and the blue prints were given to the King from the Kingdom.

So, these two settlements are going to come together.

[Autumn]

11. I think that they have to. I think that all three should be together.

Strength in numbers.

[Bayard]

10. They're always killing off somebody

The loss of Glenn was horrific. And Rick.....I mean come on! He was the central character since inception.

I think Negan is going to come to the forefront again, as a somewhat good guy with a mean streak if necessary. They had him come back after his escape for a reason. If Michonne is leaving, I can see him adopting Judith. Michonne would never allow contact if she were alive, so that doesn't look good. That may be his redemption and turnaround as much as anything. Never anything mentioned about her and Rick's kid, but it still looks to be a baby in the blurry shots. Again, don't see how that happened with the 10 year time gap.

Yeah, I can lose Father Gabriel, but never Daryl or Carol. I think Eugene and Rosita will get together. When did she get pregnant by the doctor? I never miss an episode, so how did that happen?

Rick is supposed to come back as a guest in a few movies.

[NewJeffCT]

13. Michonne (and maybe Maggie) will have limited roles

in season 10. Not sure about Maggie, but they've been pretty clear she's still alive. That could be the intro to the Commonwealth story line from the comics. Danai is transitioning off the show - not sure if she'll be phased out like Maggie (and, Rick, to a lesser extent) or if she'll be killed off like Carl.

I think Danai is going to join Andy Lincoln in some of the Rick Grimes/Walking Dead AMC movies

I read online somewhere that Carol/Daryl is maybe the endgame now since everybody thought it was Carl before.

I think Negan/JDM will be a show leader if the show goes beyond season 10 - Negan plays a key role in the battle against The Whisperers in the comics.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Carol and Daryl as the endgame?

You mean, as a couple, or as a casualty shocker?

Would love to see Grimes and Michonne back together again, but what happens to the Judith-Negan arc in that case? Unless she assigns Negan as the guardian ad litum?

Can't imagine the changes in the plotline to see that dynamic.

[NewJeffCT]

15. as a couple

I believe.

Robert Kirkman has hinted that Carl is the "endgame" in the comics, meaning he is the original character that survives until the end of the series. So, many thought it was going to play out similarly on the show.

Also, in the comics, spoiler alert:

scroll down for the spoiler:





Ezekiel is killed in the Whisperers War in the comics, so I'm not sure if he'll be around to stay with Carol

[Baitball Blogger]

16. The Whisperers came off better than I expected.

When you described them from the comic books, it turned me off. But we first really meet one in the way of Lydia, and it's the classic story of being under the power of an abusive, cultish parent. What I think sells the Whisperers as frightening foes is the actress, the precog from Minority Report. Samantha Morton. Very believable. The whole group seems to be caught between the zombies and her autocratic leadership.

They are also pumping up the actor who plays Beta to make it even more interesting.

Since the Whisperers are going to bring the three settlements together, they work to drive the story forward.