That is the "casual audience" that watched because it was hip and trendy to do so. I'd rather the show get back to to the violent nature of the comics myself and drop half it's audience. It would still have better than average ratings.

The writing, especially the recycling of the same story elements, is what is ruining things.

I was with you right up there. Again, it's the comics that are driving that element. Governor, Negan, then to the next comic based big bad...

The point I was making is that even if the first four seasons were great, they were still not as great as the comic.

The difference is the comics don't keep changing character's motivations back and forth, back and forth like what is going on with Morgan and they have done with Rick numerous times. It also doesn't constantly dwell, and keep coming back to, the "should we kill people" theme.

The thing the comic does right is create a universe around ALL of the characters, not just those that are being featured. When Glenn dies in the comic, it is out of no where. The show teased his death for two years before it happened like it was an Easter egg!

As others have said, the series really started to lose steam when they singled out characters for 8 episode arcs, such as Bob or Beth. It slowed the focus of the entire plot down way too much.

I don't read the comics, but I know it was an integral part of them. And as much as I hated it, and it has cost me some of my love for the show, I do understand it. Glen's death has driven the last two seasons, and it changed the people of Alexandria forever.

Glenn and Abraham's deaths made sense plot-wise, but unfortunately there were no actors/characters that could fill the void. It's cool and all to follow the original comic book, but if a major plot point (and the accompanying gore) drives away a large part of your audience, maybe you should rethink.

And I'll reiterate my stance that the "all-out war" storyline worked great in the comic book. For television, it's turned into a boring snooze-fest.

I totally agree that there has been a huge void left, obviously with Glenn, but also with Abraham, who was such a delightful character. There have been so many times when I would be watching and suddenly realize anew that Glenn's sweet nature and Abraham's wild one are no longer there. I haven't been so affected by a loss since Hershel.

I'm going to disagree a bit with their following the comics. Please bear in mind I haven't read them, I chose not to. But my understanding was that the first couple or three seasons followed the main outline, but deviated a great deal in the stories. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

I remember watching TTD and hearing Gimple say they were going to more closely follow the comics in the seasons following three, even though the flu story line wasn't in them.

Is this constant moral questioning still a thing in the books, or have they finally come to terms with the harshness of their existence?

And, finally, I'm a newbie. Is there a way to like or agree with the posts on here?

It's really pretty close. The tv show follows the plot of the comics in broad strokes, but often differs in the details. Frequently, the major deaths are switched up, and it introduces some things that aren't in the comics (Daryl, Carol might as well be an original character, the disease during the prison arc), but it follows it in the big picture. I'd say it follows the source material much closer than other series like True Blood, Preacher, and Game of Thrones.

Did the comics 'fake kill' Glenn, prior to his actual death?

Ghost World?

[/QUOTE]

Did you answer the newbie question and I just don't see it?

There is no like or agree function here. Would be nice if there was.

I think the Morgan switch is perfectly fine and in character. You guys just aren't paying attention. Way back in the season 3(?) episode "clear" we see crazy kill happy Morgan where he even tried to kill Rick. Then the flashback episode that was entirely dedicated to him seeking peace through a nonkilling zen master and his struggles with that. Then his struggle with killing people for the entirety of two seasons to finally having to kill someone to save Carol which he very reluctantly did to him having to witness the death of that kingdom kid that he took under his wing. So yeah there's been plenty of story arch for Morgan going all terminator this season. This show has plenty of faults story wise but this isn't one of them.

Also consider the alternative. If everyone is kill happy like Daryl now where would the tension be? It would be like a 2 hour action movie stretched out over an entire season or two. There has to be some conflict otherwise there would be no show. But I can't say that the writers are writing that conflict very well.

but what was wrong with it? i mean thats his character and he was like this in the comics. nothing wrong it.