The Walking Dead S7 Ep7 “Sing Me A Song”
Welcome ladies and gents to the only Walking Dead themed blog utilizing a 9 Deuce gimmick. Finally, we really got to delve into Carl and Negan’s relationship, and it was fantastic. We are all a little more upbeat after last week’s caTARAstrophe. I am joined by the esteemed panel made up of Raylene, Cece, Bob, Briana, Bits, and Kristi. I am your host, Kent, and if you see anything written in bold, rest assured it is me making some comment. Let’s get this party started!
On a side note, a new blog will be debuting this Saturday, so please keep your eyes out for it.
- What do you expect Rick and Aaron to find, providing that they make it to Leslie’s place?
Raylene: They will find guns, ammo, more food, and an underground bomb shelter. (The bomb shelter is a nice touch.)
Cece: A dead woman. (That’s the hope and the dream.)
Bob: Guns. And hopefully something new as it pertains to weaponry. (Now I am curious what you have in mind.)
Briana: Of course they’ll find the usual, food, some guns, ammo. Since Negan will be there waiting when they get back, unexpectedly as he is, it’ll probably be the mother load so they can watch it all be taken away… again! (But if you are correct, would Rick be smart enough to hide the guns this time around?)
Bits: First of all did I miss something? How did they know this place existed and why hadn’t they tried to work with this area before? And I mean really a boat full of holes? It would seem to me that Negan would’ve already taken everything from this person and place. (One thing that Negan doesn’t really do is have a Eugene. He doesn’t seem to keep many intellectuals, he has a lot of grunts. Eugene is smart enough to map things out and keep a running record of the ground that has been covered. Negan’s men don’t seem terribly interested in scouting, but rather getting other places to do that work.)
Kristi: I’m hopeful that they are about to find an arsenal in there. They need to start preparing for war.
Kent: Are they going to find much? It’s been built up, and they have to come back with something, right? I think that they find some weapons, hide them, and bring back some other random stuff for Negan. I also am unsure if it will be enough to satiate Negan.
- Should Carl keep the bandage on or off? Give me a yes or a no, and not a whatever he feels like or maybe response.
Raylene: Once it heals up completely Carl should leave the bandage off he looks more menacing that way.
Cece: Off. It does make him look a bit badass.
Bob: Off. It is badass and will always give others a moment of reflection and fear.
Briana: I think Negan has a point with the bad ass thing! I say keep it off! It’s seriously gnarly!
Bits: No. He should keep it on but def get an eye patch! (You get a comment for being the contrarian. Eye patches kick ass, less we forget the great Governor.)
Kristi: Keep it off! I like crazy Carl 🙂
Kent: I am guessing that it is not fully healed. I’d be afraid of getting some walker particles in there. And then what? You can really cut it out. Play it safe until you are sure it is healed, and then I’d cut the hair some so it is very visible to those who affront him.
- In theory, who has the best chance and or better plan to attack Negan: Michonne or Rosita?
Raylene: Michonne is a better fighter then Rosita but going into Negan’s turf she won’t be successful to get at Negan. It should be done from long range so perhaps that’s Rosita’s plan.
Cece: Definitely not Rosita. She’s too overzealous about things. She’s trying to go in guns blazing. It just won’t work. (While that is true, how stealthy can one be when the Saviors have a secure perimeter? I don’t think that there is a right or wrong answer per se, I am still unsure about stealthiness helping you unless you are Jesus.)
Bob: Rosita has a better plan because she is going to wait for an opportunity or create one. Michonne may have a better chance though since she is going all out to get to Negan. (That kinda sums up my thoughts. Both have opportunities, so it does come down to the plan.)
Briana: I think they’re both stupid! Do none of these people realize they can’t take him out one person at a time? They’re just asking to be picked off one by one! United is the only way to take him out! However, for the sake of the question, I’m gonna go with Michonne! One bullet for a pistol or a samurai sword, a pistol, and a hostage. I’m taking the sword! (You bring up a great point. Consider Merle’s attempt on the Governor. Merle had training and was way more skilled for this than either Rosita or Michonne. He had ammo and still failed while dealing with way fewer obstacles. The only realistic way is to have a sniper like they do in Sasha, or do to a suicide bombing style mission. Which…….I shouldn’t say anything more.)
Bits: Michonne has the drive more than Rosita. I think Rosita is an emotional mess and a mean girl. Michonne has skill, knows how to conceal her emotions and was a bad ass with the Governor and can do it again. (I absolutely would have bet my left testicle that you would go with Michonne. Good ole lefty! In a case like this, is skill more important than a risk taker?)
Kristi: I want to go with Michonne because she is my favorite but I have a feeling Rosita is about to F some stuff upon. I feel like she has endured more at the hands of Negan. (Rosita has a combination of crazy eyes and “Little Man Syndrome” with a dash of the “Why Me’s” working out for her at the moment.
Kent: I have to respectfully go with Rosita. Michonne isn’t accurate with a gun, so even if she ascertains some guns along the way, they are somewhat useless to her. We all love her sword, but the sword will lose a fight in Sanctuary. Rosita not only has gun skills, but she is running on some crazy adrenaline and drive at the moment. Like she doesn’t believe that Kevin Bacon was in Footloose level of stubbornness. Still, a solo gunner can’t be the answer. A suicide run is, and at the moment, Michonne is more calculated. If the idea pops into Rosita’s mind to simply get a big vehicle and just smash into Sanctuary, that can cause all kinds of issues. Also, I hate to say it, but Tara is still in play potentially, although not part of the question.
- What do you think Jesus is doing?
Raylene: Jesus is in Sanctuary trying to remain undetected to see where Negan lives and how his operation works.
Cece: Infiltrating somehow.
Bob: I think he is observing and infiltrating at this moment. I don’t think he has tried to free Daryl. I feel like the boot thuds leaving Daryl’s door are very un-ninja like. (I felt that note was left by Sherry or Dr Carson.)
Briana: I assume he got in the back of the truck through the vent on the roof to hitch a ride back to Alexandria! That’s the only thing that made sense to me for that little clip of him we got. On a side note, I was disappointed he wasn’t in more of this episode! I was looking forward to more Jesus! (I’m on board with everything that you said here. More Jesus would have been nice.)
Bits: Jesus is being Jesus. He is a sneaky bad ass and is planning to help break out Daryl and keep and “eye” on Carl… see what I did there! In the words of Vanilla Ice.. GO NINJA GO NINJA GO! (Pandering to my senses will get you everywhere, and Vanilla Ice does exactly that. I don’t think he is going to break Daryl out though, but I can see him attempting that feat.)
Kristi: I think Jesus is going to help Darryl and get some intel for the group.
Kent: I’m enjoying reading words like infiltrating and intel, and Go Ninja Go. I honestly believe that Jesus bailed. He came to get a specific bit of info, and he is either heading back to Alexandria, or my guess is that he is simply heading back to the Hilltop. Yes, that is boring, but who’s to say that he can’t have an adventure along the way?
- Should Eugene have made the bullet for Rosita, considering all the possible outcomes?
Raylene: No he shouldn’t have made the bullet because when she screws the shot up which she will it will not be her that gets the punishment and Eugene knows this.
Cece: No. As mentioned before, she’s not going about things the right way.
Bob: No. Negan will somehow know that Rosita didn’t make the bullet so more people are going to die. Rosita will be a wife or go to the “whore house” place.
Briana: I think he had to do it for her because it’s her and they have this bond over Abe and his death meant so much to both of them. But do I think it will have a productive outcome? No I don’t lol
Bits: Should he have made the bullet for Rositsa… No. Should he have made a bullet to prove that he is capable… Yes. He has big ideas.
Kristi: Hell yes he should have made the bullet! He needs to step up his game and grow a pair. His best friend was just murdered in front of him and hes too scared to do anything. Time to get off your add and be of some help to the group! (You were my last hope to have somebody wholeheartedly agree. You are the “gung ho Al” of the group, so this is no surprise. You want shit done. Still, I would be remiss to not mention that you are severely underselling Eugene.)
Kent: The answer is not easy. Negan likes to be challenged, but only by certain people. Carl can get away with it, but Rosita may not. With that comes repercussions of the bashed in skull variety. Still, I get that Eugene has that bond and he has loyalty to Rosita despite a lot of issues. Desperate times call for desperate measures. if you have faith that this crazy bitch can make a positive difference, then I say you take that chance. Otherwise, you say no. I feel like I would have taken a chance based on all of my decision making in every video game that I have ever played. My motto is: If you ain’t dyin, you ain’t tryin’.
- Favorite scene of the episode?
Raylene: When Negan said really your starving then immediately gives a insincere apologize to Olivia and offers to have sex with her. (It really was a treat.)
Cece: When Carl shows Negan the ‘grand tour’ of Alexandria. (It was nice to have some levity.)
Bob: Negan holding Rick’s baby. Haha, I laughed all the way through this whole episode but that was the cream. (What a great visual. We never get that in the comic because Judith dies in the prison. So this is all a nice new story possibility, and the music, it was tremendous.)
Briana: When Carl told Negan to jump out of the window to save him the trouble of killing him! I laughed out in surprise when he said that! Loved it! (I laughed as well. Really funny stuff.)
Bits: The moment when Daryl looks up at the top of the truck as it pulls away. I made some shout out loud… (I can totally envision this in my head happening. It makes me laugh.)
Kristi : When Negan brought Carl into the room to show him the power he had over his people. I know he is an ass but it was slightly impressive. (It was nice to see power and respect that Negan has. It added perspective to everything.)
Kent: I’m going to cheat and offer 2, because I can. 1. Jesus looking at Carl after the wave. It was really solid. 2. Negan walking barefoot on the carpet. I have no idea why this made me giggle so much, but the whole thing was the nice moment of levity compared to the rest of this season. Also, there was a Kent sighting for a second!!!
- Is Spencer an asset to Alexandria? Also, would Spencer be better off living someplace other than Alexandria?
Raylene: No Spencer is not an asset he’d be better off dead.
Cece: Hell no. He’s annoying, clumsy and gets in the way. He can live anywhere else as far as I’m concerned.
Bob: He is an asset because he still wants to be free. He is good right at Alexandria. (I am just happy that there’s one person who concurs with me.)
Briana: I really wanted to like Spencer. His family were such remarkable people and losing them really sucked because they were such great assets to Alexandria. But let’s face it, he was the last person of them that should have lived! He’s a total moron, he’s entitled like no other, he’s selfish, and he doesn’t actually do anything at all that gives him the right to have the ego he has! Would he be better off somewhere else, no. He doesn’t belong in this world. He only made it this far because of the fact that he lived in Alexandria. Ok I’ll hop off my soap box now! (Wellllll, I will say that Reg and Deanna are really missed in my opinion. They never had to die to move the show forward. As a matter of fact, if Pete would have just killed Spencer instead of Reg, that could have been interesting. )
Bits: I’m still undecided about Spencer. He’s still a pretty lame character to me. I can’t tell right now if he’s still looking out for himself or anyone else. However, I did notice that they made him pretty good looking this episode. Even his clothes are changing… hopefully he’ll get got soon. (You get a comment because that he’ll get got. Had you said he “gon’ get got” it would have been super sweet.)
Kristi: I am not a fan of Spencer. I do not feel like he is an asset. I really do not think he would be better off anywhere as his character is really pointless to me.
Kent: So I admit to asking questions that seemingly have obvious answers that tug on the current emotions. This being one of them. Yes, on the surface, Spencer is not a terribly likable person. But he’s also not necessarily a bad person. He brought back more supplies than anybody else has recently, in order to uphold the deal with Negan and buy time. That keeps the people of Alexandria alive. So when I read all of these comments against him, it feels like you want Negan to kill more Alexandrians. Without Spencer busting his ass, Negan would need something in return, aside from Olivia’s sweet ass. While Spencer has shown a spoiled brat aspect to him, he has also not been afraid to get his hands dirty. Remember when he was crawling across the rope? He didn’t have to do that. His attitude may be awful, but I think he actually has good intentions and more importantly the best intentions, in his mind, to help keep Alexandria up and running. Does that make him a bad guy? I think he would be better off just being a Savior because at least he would move up to a good soldier for Negan if he could curtail his attitude a bit. He’d be better appreciated, that’s for sure. Tara comes back with silly novelty sunglasses and gets a pass. Spencer goes out on his own, gets a bunch of supplies and reads Latin, gets hated on.
- Were you hoping to hear “Easy Street” when Daryl was placed back in his cell?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoQ4GidQP-k
Raylene: I was indifferent to hear the song although it wouldn’t have bothered me
Cece: Yes. And I’m disappointed I didn’t.
Bob: Nope, I had forgotten.
Briana: Surprisingly, yes! How can they put him back in his box without his tunes! Lol!
Bits: Without a doubt.
Kristi: I have actually forgotten about Easy Street, so no.
Kent: The responses were fairly split here, to no surprise. I love the song, so yes, very disappointed. Just remember, when you’re on Easy Street, it feels so sweet because the world is but a treat. We get to break out the good champagne while riding the gravy train when you’re on Easy Street. I don’t know about you guys, but gravy is F’N awesome!
- Name another song that you would have enjoyed hearing Carl sing.
Raylene: The piano has been drinking by Tom Waites (Great choice to suck up to me. Yes, I would have loved to hear this!)
Cece: I would have enjoyed like some classic rock or something. Maybe some ‘More Than a Feeling’ by Boston. (One of my 25 favorite songs and was played during the second half of season 6, so definitely sold!)
Bob: Swing low, Sweet Chariot. (Interesting to say the very least. It’s a song that would be easy for him, and is well known. I say that this is very practical.)
Briana: My Milkshake brings all the boys to the yard!! Haha! When he asked Negan what he was going to do to him and he was all “screw you! Seriously, screw you!” I was a little afraid for Carl so that song would have fit with my imagination of what was going down. (I’m upset with myself for not having thought of this one!)
Bits: Purple People Eater. One eyed, one horned… (Ridiculous, and now I want to see it.)
Kristi: Slipknot-Duality. “I push my fingers into my eyes” 🙂 (Look at you being all topical while promoting your particular style of music. Nice one!)
Kent: When I asked this question, I always knew that this would come back to Eminem. I just picture him rapping “Lose Yourself” from 8 Mile, and getting to that point where he says “Time’s up, over, blaow!” Also, he should have a hoodie over his head while doing it.
Bonus Deuce Deuce
- On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, how would you rate Negan as a leader using whatever criteria that you deem fit.
Raylene: Unfortunately I give Negan an 8 rating I don’t want to but his system seems to be working for him until a few over throw his system.
Cece: 10. He may not be a good person, but he has order.
Bob: 8, he rules by Machiavellian principles (The Prince) as well as a distorted Hammurabi’s Code.
Briana: I will go with an 8. I think he’s done an excellent job of keeping his crew together, fed, safe, content. All of the things you’d want in a leader except the fear aspect. Rick is one of his people, Negan is not. He is basically their Tyrant to Rick being a mayor. So even though his people have all they need for the most part, they still live in fear.
Bits: 10. He has a crew, wives, servants and people that fear and respect him. He is 100% living a new world dream.
Kristi: 9- He has pretty much complete control of his people.
Kent – I am surprised that there was at least one rebel rouser dismissing Negan’s tactics and leadership. I will give him a 9.2 and this video.
- Name a character who’s stock has risen, in your opinion, this half season. Name a character who’s stock has lowered.
Raylene: Father Gabriel has really improved for me. He is hitting every mark by giving Rick his pep talk, being quick on his feet with the graves during Negan’s visit, and putting Spencer in his place. Rosita and Michonne have dropped the ball. They all are gung ho to take Negan out even though they know how it will turn out: not well.
Cece: Carl, Rick.
Bob: Daryl’s has risen – I thought he was tough but man. He is tough. Negan’s has dropped. I feel like at any moment someone will kill him because… It just appears as though everyone hates him. A lot.
Briana: I’ll go with Gabriel for higher stock. He has completely become a part of this. In it for the long haul and willing to do whatever it takes to keep the group together. I loved his speech to Spencer and thought it went really well with his character and to show how far he’s come from the first time we met him. As far as losing stock, I definitely have to go with Rick. I think he will pull himself out of it but for now I’m just ashamed of him. He is not the man who bit a chunk out of a guys neck or killed his best friend to keep what was his.
Bits: Rick… Rick who? He is a back story for me. And for a character that has risen some would be Gabriel. I’m not a Gabriel fan but loved the conversation with Spencer.
Kristi: I think Gabriel is going to break out with something soon. Daryl is just annoying me this season. His weak s attempt at an escape really bothered me for some reason .
Kent: OK, I admit it. This was just an excuse to get people to praise Gabriel and Carl. The question on my mind is Gabriel’s longevity. It’s a well known rule that black men do poorly on The Walking Dead. Gabe has now made it 3 seasons, with no end in sight. Can he ride this wave? Does that mean terrible things for Heath? I also enjoy how one people has Daryl as rising and one has him as lowering. Daryl’s character has had a roller coaster of a season.. He got Glenn killed, he’s become the pee cleaner upper, and yet still maintained a lot of his best qualities that made Daryl so lovable in season 2. The fact that Rick is listed 3 times as sinking proves how brilliant the writers are, due to what is coming up. In this household, made up of me and my Pillow Pet Penguin named Butters, In Rick Grimes we trust. Hopefully this week will show the lengths that Rick is willing to go to keep things moving smoothly. Once again, do you want people to live or die? Father Gabriel is my choice for character rising with Aaron, Carl. and Spencer behind him. Carl was so high before the season, I didn’t have much room for him to rise. As far as characters whose stock has fallen, it’s tough because a lot of characters have only had an episode or 2 to shine. This leaves me with 3 choices, and none of them are Tara because she never had any stock. Judith has to be considered for how easily she was manipulated into getting picked up by Negan. Rosita also has to be considered because she’s become a crazy wild card without showing enough skin. My pick though has to be Olivia. Rather than sleep with Negan and step onto Easy Street, she slapped him really hard. Bad decision as there are not many good guys to have in Alexandria. You have Kent, Tobin, Gabriel, and Heath I guess. See my point?
- Do you think anybody will die in the midseason finale? If so, who and how? If it’s the one from the comic, don’t be a jerkwad and spoil it in totality.
Raylene: Spencer getting Lucille, Rosita getting herself shot, and the one guy from the Kingdom that got into a fight with Negan’s man during a drop off he’ll get into a fight again and get beaten to death. (Richard is that guy’s name.)
Cece: I really hope if anyone has to go, it’ll be either Spencer or Rosita. They’re both on my nerves. Mostly Spencer. And it would be cool to see him be burnt by the iron all over. (That’s twisted.)
Bob: The baby dies. How? Lucille. (That’s even more twisted…)
Briana: I feel like someone will but I honestly have no clue who! If I have to take a swing in the dark, I’ll say Rosita or Michonne. They both seem to be trying to take out Negan on their own and we saw how well that worked for Carl to go in guns blazing. The difference is Negan always had a fascination with Carl. Anyone else who’d done what he did would have been killed on site, no doubt. If Jesus hadn’t jumped off when he did, he would have killed him in front of Carl. But I lean more toward Rosita because I feel Michonne is more interesting and there’s more they can do with her character over Rosita. (Plus Michonne is probably female’s second favorite character behind Daryl. Gotta keep that demographic happy.)
Bits: Yes, someone will die- they need to keep their ratings up. Rosita and Spencer hopefully. She will try to take on Negan solo and Spencer will be following her and they both will be killed by saviors. (Yikes, we probably shouldn’t talk ratings. It’s getting bad….very bad.)
Kristi: I am thinking someone will die. I’m hoping its Spencer as he just bothers me. I’m also routing for Rosita to go down.
Kent: Basically, everybody is thinking that it will be Rosita or Spencer. The question then must be, is this too obvious? Everything is set up for Spencer to try to fulfill his legacy, at least in his own mind. Everything is also set up for Rosita to do something incredibly reckless and get herself and others killed. In the comic, her death isn’t terribly important, and she doesn’t add much to the story beyond this point, so she is totally killable. Then there are the darkhorses. Tara should be on a mission, and she is incredibly useless. Heath is a candidate for 24 reasons. Either you got that reference or you didn’t. What about Judith? I know that Bob mentioned it, and as I have said, if you really want to get Negan over as the big bad guy, killing Judith is a great way. But he already broke Rick. I suppose this only works if this happens with some other variables, which I will get to in the next question. I will say that Spencer and Judith are gon’ get got.
- Finally, give me a bold prediction. That means tell me something that has not been advertised, leaked, spoiled, or written in the comic. Something that you think will happen. Have fun with this.
Raylene: Negan will take Carl to live at Sanctuary with him
Daryl gets the iron (This would please me.)
Carol and King Ezekiel have a relationship (This would please me.)
Jesus is involved in more of a leadership role with the Hilltop
Cece: I think Olivia will finally come around and sleep with Negan. Ha! (Love it!)
Briana: I think Negan may decide he wants Judith. He seemed so comfortable and happy while holding her and the tears in Rick’s eyes in the preview tell me something major is going to happen. Judith is his greatest weakness. It’s a stretch but something super crazy has got to happen to snap Rick out of this insane submission he’s found himself in. (I concur and read your thing after I wrote mine out.)
Bits: Bold Prediction is- Carl will kill his Father. (If this happens, I owe you a Coke.)
Kent: OK, here’s a bit of fan fiction for you. Spencer fulfills his comic story arc. Rick comes back with supplies to see the aftermath of that. Then Rosita takes her shot, misses Negan, but kills Judith. Rosita escapes or flees and takes a vehicle and does a suicide run into Sanctuary as she is “Too Far Gone” after killing Rick’s daughter. That is the name of the episode in which Governor killed Herschel. Then of course Negan fulfills a similar story by bringing back Rosita’s dead corpse, and then Heath fulfills Denise’s comic arc. Probably not all this week, but it’s 90 minutes, so why not?
Finally, for your Kentertainment, this has been floating around the internet for quite some time, but Brian linked it to me, and it’s something for you to consider. I don’t know who originally came up with these, but all credit to them and AMC.
All of the pictures are the property of AMC, the producers, Robert Kirkman, and all of the other people who helped make this. I am simply using the images for review purposes.