I hope the saviors come straight back at them with greater numbers, in the very first episode, leading to everyone scuttling off into the woods in no more than pairs.

Hopefully each subsequent episode will then focus in individually on each of these pairing, giving us plenty of chat / background on each of the lesser characters. Then they could all come together again in the season finale, give each other big hugs, and plan to defeat the saviors...

@The Midi-chlorian Count That comment was sarcastic, I assume?

@jonnieblack said:

@The Midi-chlorian Count That comment was sarcastic, I assume?

😉

Actually, in all seriousness, what I'd like to see happen is something I'd mentioned in another thread a while back - I'd like to see a great character portrayal with Eugine shown, ironically through his cowardice and fearful, survivor instincts, evolving into the prime villain.

Kill Negan off in the first episode back and watch frightened Eugine scheme his way to filling the void. You could intersperse this storyline with a backstory episode on Negan showing that his rise to power had surprisingly followed a similar path...

Really though, they just need to get off the comic path asap - I think the last episode really showed the budget isn't there to bring the same scale to the show. Therefore they should just branch off and not even try.

They've definitely gotten to be too much like a network show, in having all the really significant developments confined to four episodes: premiere, mid-season finale and premiere, season finale. And the second half of season 7 should've been the All-Out War. Making us wait until October was a mistake.

I don't know anything about the Whisperers, so please don't tell me, but is their storyline good enough to sustain our interest week after week? Because defeating one bad guy and moving on to the next is going to become its own pattern. I'd like to see them get involved in a bigger scenario that reveals what's happening in the rest of the world. Governments would've retreated to sanctuaries after the ZA, presumably islands with military bases that were clearable. Plus there ought to be bunkers with lab facilities inside the country that use nuclear reactors for power and are still in operation. Suppose someone from one of those labs stumbles into Alexandria looking for help, after the rest of their team was eaten by walkers. They tell Rick and the group about what really caused the dead to walk and how they plan to put an end to it with their discovery (which they must get to a remote location somehow).

The season or two that follows would be one long road trip, going through all sorts of different areas, some basically wastelands and others where civilization is beginning to come back in a bigger way. Give us the grand tour of post-apocalyptic North America (and then beyond). You could have all sorts of intrigue involving the groups they encounter. Not being sure who to trust, some people helping them while others try to screw them over, maybe at the halfway point of their journey they discover that the people they're taking the cure to aren't who they claim to be over the radio. One grand sweeping story arc to end the series. Hey, maybe they could even hook up with the group from FTWD somewhere on their trip! Let them share the final leg together. I want to see TWD go out with a bang instead of a whimper!

@jonnieblack said:

@ScottLovesIsrael said:

@jonnieblack said:

I would like to see more development for Jesus and Heath. They could be fan faves if given the chance.

The actor who plays Heath is getting to be a big star in Hollywood, and was cast as the lead of 24 Legacy. I don't think he's coming back. And the card Tara found in the last episode Heath was in seemed to hint that he had fallen victim to the Whisperers (the next group of villains).

Aren't we a ways out from the Whisperers? I am not that far in the comics but I am aware of the basic storyline.

TWD is casting a couple of characters that most fans think will turn out to be Siddiq and Dante. They aren't in the comics until after the war with the Saviors, and shortly before the Whisperers debut. http://www.cinemablend.com/television/1652429/the-walking-dead-is-already-adding-characters-for-season-8

So I think the war could be over by the mid-season finale, with the second half of the season being the "A New Beginning" comics story arc. And the finale could end on a cliffhanger with Dante discovering the Whisperers after a battle with what he thinks is just a group of walkers, like the the way it happened in issue 132.

http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/Issue_132

@chrisjdel said: ...I'd like to see them get involved in a bigger scenario that reveals what's happening in the rest of the world. Governments would've retreated to sanctuaries after the ZA, presumably islands with military bases that were clearable. Plus there ought to be bunkers with lab facilities inside the country that use nuclear reactors for power and are still in operation. Suppose someone from one of those labs stumbles into Alexandria looking for help, after the rest of their team was eaten by walkers. They tell Rick and the group about what really caused the dead to walk and how they plan to put an end to it with their discovery (which they must get to a remote location somehow).

The season or two that follows would be one long road trip, going through all sorts of different areas, some basically wastelands and others where civilization is beginning to come back in a bigger way. Give us the grand tour of post-apocalyptic North America (and then beyond). You could have all sorts of intrigue involving the groups they encounter. Not being sure who to trust, some people helping them while others try to screw them over, maybe at the halfway point of their journey they discover that the people they're taking the cure to aren't who they claim to be over the radio...

You've basically described the plot to "Z-Nation," a weekly action/horror/comedy-drama/post-apocalyptic series on cable TV's SyFy channel on Friday nights: "The only known survivor of a zombie bite who did not himself turn into a zombie, and his blood contains antibodies that are mankind's last and best hope for a vaccine. A group must transport Murphy from New York to the world's last known functioning Centers for Disease Control research lab in California." The 4th season begins later this year. 43 episodes have aired, reportedly available on home video, on Netflix, and other places. SyFly claims you can watch all episodes free on SyFy.com, but it looks like they are lying. http://www.syfy.com/znation/episodes

I want Carol back 100 percent in her awesome form along with more of her, which it appears she came around at the end of season 7. I also want less contained character episodes, better character development by keeping things more succint, I want Morgan to be not crazy and be able to kill without going wacky do and get rid of his PC crap, I want Negan to stop talking too much, more Jesus, more Simon, I hope they keep Gregory around longer because he is such a good sleaze bag that grates me, I want Michonne and Rick to break up (maybe have Michonne cheat on Rick with Morgan), and Rosita to get her act together. I also want lots and lots of Ezekiel and he and Carol pair up. Oh, and Eugene. Love Eugene. We need more Eugene. I also hopes Simon switches sides because he is just a dirt bag but a great one! I can see him moving to whatever side is winning. I hope Dwight finds Sheri dead. We need more walkers and walker danger or perhaps a new breed of more intelligent walkers.

As far as deaths, I am okay with everyone dying except Carol. Eugene and Carol have the best character development lines.

Overall I really hope they get a new a show runner and better writers. I still love the show but Season 7 to me was overall really boring with some great parts.

I'm ok with all your suggestions as long as those stupid steam punk garbage eating people are never seen in the show again. I almost stopped watching because of them. I've played a lot of Fallout in my days and I almost expected them to wear pip-boys on their arms. And what was up with the language? Building a new world where words are unnecessary and trivial? They sounded like grunting cavemen to me. I've bought into a lot of stuff in TWD, but at that point it felt like they just scripted the comic straight off with no alterations.

@diadara said:

I'm ok with all your suggestions as long as those stupid steam punk garbage eating people are never seen in the show again. I almost stopped watching because of them. I've played a lot of Fallout in my days and I almost expected them to wear pip-boys on their arms. And what was up with the language? Building a new world where words are unnecessary and trivial? They sounded like grunting cavemen to me. I've bought into a lot of stuff in TWD, but at that point it felt like they just scripted the comic straight off with no alterations.

Sorry to break the bad news, but Jadis has signed on as a full cast member for next season.

After some more thought, I've decided that what I most want is an excuse to walk away from the show henceforth. Abe, Sasha, and Glenn are all dead and I really liked them as characters. The show seems to get worse and worse. I've been picking up issues of the comicbook and reading them lately, but that's just a hobby-type kick the show inspired in me. It won't last. Nothing can change the fact that this show is a real drain on me.

@jonnieblack said: Sorry to break the bad news, but Jadis has signed on as a full cast member for next season.

What does "full cast member" mean in the context of TWD? She'll be on the show until something kills her. Good, we need to see her die. Maybe Rick will introduce her to his favorite red-handled machete. It's name (since we're naming our weapons) is Gareth. Funny story behind that ... and we get to see the look in her eyes as she starts to realize Officer Friendly is a few rounds short of a full clip.

I read somewhere that the producers are promising the fans more action scenes in season 8. But since it is all out war between the communities vs The Sanctuary more action scenes come with the territory.