Tell-Tale TV Panel: The Walking Dead Season 6

Well guys, we survived another season of The Walking Dead, which is more than we can say for whoever Negan killed.

As we attempt to patiently wait to learn who died, let’s take a look back at how the season did overall. You can join the discussion by leaving your thoughts in a comment below.

Our panelists are:

• Lyra Hale, senior writer for Tell-Tale TV
• Sheena Bosket, staff writer for Tell-Tale TV
• Becky Peters, staff writer for Tell-Tale TV

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rank the season overall?

Becky: There were some really, really strong episodes this season, but there were also some really weak ones. Overall, I think I’d give it a 7 out of 10. The Walking Dead at it’s worst is still better than a lot of what we see on television nowadays, so, I can’t really justify giving it too low of a rating…

Sheena: I would give the season an 8. Rick and Michonne finally, finally got together! I’ve been waiting for that ever since the two of them started getting close. Negan was finally revealed, which I really appreciate.

Andrew Lincoln and Lauren Cohan put in tour de force performances this season as usual. The cinematography in the scene where Carl got shot was simply breathtaking. Truly. The cinematography in a lot of movies isn’t that good. The only reason I’m not giving the season a 10 is that they didn’t reveal who Negan killed…which I’ll be discussing in the next question.

Lyra: I’m with Sheena. I’d give the season an 8. I’d give it a perfect 10 if it wasn’t for that ending. After months of build up I felt like the rug was pulled out from underneath us! I was left sitting there, heart at my throat, staring at the TV. Not a good feeling at all.

Besides that, I’ve really enjoyed how the Ricktatorship and the Alexandrians have become one. They’ve realized that they only way they can do this is to buck up and work together.

And then there’s Carol. My BAMF of a woman has finally reached a point in her life where she’s cracking under the pressure. It’s a natural progression of a woman who hasn’t faced the sadness and heartache of her past.

What was the season’s biggest mistake?

Becky: I honestly think they played it safe this season, what with not really killing off any significant characters, the multiple death fake-outs, and then that bull$#%t cliffhanger at the end of the season…

That being said, if I had to pick one specific thing, I’d say their biggest mistake was putting off revealing whether or not Glenn was alive or dead for as long as they did. They dragged it out for too long, and, by the time they concluded that plotline, fans had already figured pretty much everything out themselves, and, honestly, a lot of the suspense and anxiety over it had died down by the time the truth came out.

Sheena: Not revealing who Negan killed. Period. After everything those sadists Scott Gimple and Robert Kirkman put us through waiting to see if Glenn was alive, they owed it to us to reveal who Negan killed.

Lyra: Agree again with Sheena. I understand that they need to keep us on our toes. But we didn’t need this ending. I would’ve been more relieved if I spent this summer mourning my favorite and wondering how they’re going to survive without him. They’re taking away my time to mourn, and they know it!

What worked really well this season?

Becky: Keeping Negan faceless until the finale. I think having him be a specter rather than a living, breathing being that our heroes could fight for majority of the season made him that much more imposing and intimidating. Evil without a face can’t be defeated. You can’t kill an idea, or a mindset, and that’s what Negan was to The Saviors.

“We are all Negan.”

Chills, dude.

Sheena: I love the romance between Michonne and Rick as I said. I loved watching them touch each other lovingly. But I would have enjoyed their relationship even more if they had been shown kissing more and being more affectionate in general.

Lyra: The Alexandrians coming together worked really well. That one scene where we got a shot of every one of them killing walkers and defending their home, after Carl got shot, was powerful. They’ve changed, and there’s no going back. The world that they were clinging to is gone.

What was the biggest surprise of the season?

Becky: It wasn’t a good surprise by any stretch, but I was honestly shocked that they didn’t actually show whose head Negan bashed in that finale. That was such a massive, massive mistake on their part, and I just could not believe that they missed out on such a potentially profound moment.

They could have wrecked this fandom, but nope. Totally dropped the ball.

Sheena: I agree with Becky here. I totally expected to find out who died. I believe most The Walking Dead season finales have involved a death, and this one did, but we just don’t know who it was.

As loyal as The Walking Dead fans are and considering how much money these fans have made AMC, Scott Gimple, and Robert Kirkman, we deserved at least that much.

Lyra: I’m going to try something different and say that the biggest surprise of this season is that Glenn didn’t die. I’ve been waiting for it, my comics close at hand, and certain that he had run out his usefulness. Everyone expected his death not to happen, and that was the reason I was sure it was him.

Plus, everything was going to well for him (in a way). He had a home, a wife, a child, a new lease on life. All things that lead to death. I love the actor but still want this death to happen.

What did you think of this season’s big bad?

Becky: I can’t tell if I’m biased because I’m such a huge Jeffrey Dean Morgan fan, or if he really is as cool as I think he is, but I absolutely loved Negan and The Saviors.

I love, love, love that we never actually saw Negan’s face until the season finale because of how imposing and intimidating that air of mystery and suspense made him. He was a myth instead of a man. Ugh, I just loved everything about him. Loved him!

Sheena: I think Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s portrayal of Negan is INCREDIBLE. They couldn’t have casted this role more perfectly if they tried. Even though he only had one scene this season, I was completely captivated by him and forgot anyone else was even there. I CANNOT WAIT to see what he does next season!

Lyra: Negan was the most terrifying big bad that The Walking Dead has ever had. He’s done this by becoming the boogie man that we fear from a distance.

He was the whisper in everyone’s ear, the promise of pain and hurt always intertwined with his name. Negan became a legend formed out of our fears more than anything. That’s what made him scary as hell when he first stepped out of the RV.

The Walking Dead returns October 2016 on AMC.