Spoilers Ahead

So, as I half-watched the latest ep of TWD, I knew ol' Benny was going to get it. I mean, all the talk about his future, his brother (?) wanting to be like him, and all the optimism...I literally said out loud, "He's a dead man." And sadly, it was true.

Not sadly for the character because...who cares? But sadly for the viewing experience. I mean, why do all that? Do they think they are building up a character at the last minute so viewers will be more shocked? Because I think it has quite the opposite effect. Had they not had all the 'tells' and then he got killed, I would have been more impacted. All the foreshadowing just lets us get there before the writers, which is foolish and a wasted opportunity IMO.

Also, ever time a "good guy" dies, I always wait for the final mercy: a knife to the skull before they turn. I noticed in this episode they just hint at it showing someone (Morgan in this case) maybe cleaning and sheathing their knife. I think showing the 'final blow'...especially as an act of honor/mercy is quite compelling and would be at the heart of a good post-za group. In thinking about it maybe it's because the show has been so deceitful in the past about when people die...like if you do the knife ritual, we know we won't see them again: dead or alive. #randomrant