#RIPScottWilson ~ some great #Hershel moments. #TWD #TWDFamily #TheWalkingDead

 ~ RIP Scott Wilson ~

Thoughts on #FearTheWalkingDead... compared with #TWD! #TWDFamily

Anyone remember that show about a woman called Madison and her family and friends, surviving the zombie apocalypse in LA, Texas and Mexico?  Just wondered, because yesterday I finished Season 4, and felt like I'd been watching a different series from the one I started two months ago.

TWD obsessed though I am, I don't feel the same Fear The Walking Dead.  Then Morgan went off to join its cast, so it became a 'must'.  There were some great episodes earlier on, such as S2:8 Grotesque, in which Nick wandered off on his own towards Tijuana, and the episode in which Travis tried to stop Chris going off with those guys who killed him.  My problem with it was that I didn't really give much of a stuff about any of the characters apart from Nick and Madison.  I quite liked Strand and the stuff on the TEOTWAWKI ranch, but Alicia, Travis, Ofelia, Luciana and others left me fairly underwhelmed.

Then came Season 4.  Enter Morgan ~ and the show went from sunny to grey, with an almost completely altered cast.  I liked how the first half went back and forth in time to show how Alicia, Strand, etc had got to this point; it's a structure that's always effective, but it seemed a bit too neatly tied up.  Yesterday, though, I watched the final three episodes of S4, and came to this conclusion: it's the Happy Shopper version of the 'real' TWD.  It's just not so compelling.

Take, for instance, the two-character-only episode in the storm, featuring the so-cardboard-I'm-tempted-to-fast-forward-through-their-scenes Alicia and Charlie (also discussed on Teri Polen's blog).  Then compare it with the excellent TWD S6:4 He's Not Here, featuring Morgan and Eastman.  

....or the Rick/Carl ~ Daryl/Beth episodes of S4.  Or, of course, The Grove.  Triumphs of dialogue and characterisation, all. 

Afterwards, I went back and watched one of my favourites: TWD S5:9, What happened and what's going on, in which Tyreese dies, and I thought, this is just so much better.  Bottom line: I care what happens to these people, whereas even marvellous actors like Lennie James and Gareth Dillahunt have a job to make FTWD work.  

Don't get me wrong, I do like it enough to keep watching it, because, hey, it's TWD, but....several people poisoned with antifreeze for which the antidote is ethanol, and there just happens to be a tanker of it outside?  Then it's punctured with bullets and not one of them manages to stagger forward with a cup to collect some, despite having had the energy to despatch a whole load of walkers?  Carol would have sorted it out, no problem!  Or was this any more unlikely than Carol's saving the day at Terminus?  Maybe not, but that worked, while this just made me think, really?

I wondered if the whole 'escaping from the roof' thing was intended to mirror the fabulous TWD S1:2 Guts ~ but somehow, even though I'd only just 'met' Rick, T-Dog, Glenn, etc, when I first watched TWD, I cared more about what happened to them than I do about the FTWD grifter woman and her brother; I can't even recall their names.

I hope Morgan will save FTWD ~ if not, we will welcome him back to Alexandria, and he can bring John with him!

Talking of which..... yes, October 7th draws near!  I have watched the trailer but make a point of not reading spoiler articles; if you're an addict, you probably know more about what's going to happen than I do.  I still can't believe Rick's really leaving... I finished my TWD watching session yesterday with the last two episodes of S8, and got all damp-eyed about this, all over again.....

Sometimes you just need to listen.... #wwwblogs

Names and locations have been changed to protect privacy

This morning, I received an email from a friend of mine, Nina.  Sadly, Nina's husband died 18 months ago after a long illness that was a massive strain on her; they had been married for around 20 years and were as close as a married couple can be.  In the time since, Nina has had dreadful days, okay days and others when she feels optimistic about the future, as is the norm, and moved on with her life as best she can; she has coped admirably in appalling circumstances.

Nina keeps in touch with friends around the country, including me, to tell them what she's been up to and how she is faring.  Sometimes, as one does when responding to friends who have suffered bereavement, I make suggestions that might help, then worry that I have come across too 'school teacherish'.

However, after reading this, this morning, I feel I have nothing to worry about!  Nina wrote excerpts to me from her email from another friend, and provided, underneath, the answers she wanted to give but didn't.  She gave me permission to share on my blog, because parts of it made me laugh out loud this morning; I hope it will amuse you too!

A friend in need ~ not....

Nina: I recently had a friend reply to an email I sent her where I told her about my days out, cinema visits, walks and such like with friends. I told her I've discovered, after a jolly night with some mates, that JD & Coke doesn’t give me hangovers, and how my volunteering at the Community Shop was going. Her reply was bizarre! I’ve copied some of it here; the brackets are my thoughts. 

“You don't mention how you fill your days. 

What do you do aside from housework and shopping?”

(Um.... see rest of email....)

“You're drinking too much, but you know that.”

(Yeah.  That was, like, ONE night.  I didn't say I made a habit of shutting my door on the day and cracking open the Jack, every night)

“How much are you living IN the real world? Can you get yourself involved with helping others (foodbanks etc). It really does put your own situation in perspective.”

(She knows I helped at the community centre last Xmas day and she knows I do the community shop.  Also, losing my beloved husband is hardly a small thing to be put 'in perspective'.  Patronising, much!)

“I'm glad you have friends and that you get out socially. Are they always happy to see you?”

(Well, what can I answer to that?  They seem to be ~ should I ask them to fill in a friend satisfaction survey?

How happy were you to see Nina today?

a) very happy

b) quite happy

c) neither happy nor unhappy

d) not very happy

e) tried to hide but she saw me running up the stairs when she peered through the letterbox)

“How about getting a haircut?”

(How about getting one yourself, you rude cow?)

“How about coming to Cheltenham for a visit?”

(I DON’T FUCKING THINK SO!)

Sometimes, you just need to listen...... 

The Park on the 28th: September - Early Autumn #Trees

This morning I went for a walk in the park to think about stuff and things, as is my wont; it was such a beautiful day that I took my camera with me.  Whilst taking pictures, I had an idea.  On the 28th of every month, for the next year, I shall do the same walk and take photos in roughly the same places, to observe the changing of the seasons.  Whatever the weather (and lack of illness/incapacity allowing!), the photos will be taken on the 28th.  Here is September; enjoy!

The last morning in my late father's garden before the house is sold.... #WordlessWednesday

😊