[el ess A]

Online they're "reruns" and sometimes they play "webisodes" of stuff, and extra material, here and there to keep people's interest.

AMC knows it's tough to compete for the younger male market for TWD during football playoff season plus they don't shoot a typical 24-26 episode season as it is. So they strategically set it up the way they do so to get them into late spring for a season ender. They get that people DVR stuff, but what they base their ad rates on is "live" Dead viewership numbers (ironic?).

And luckily, they're trying to fill that space in the summer with "Fear TWD".

Although there's no one overtly discussing "stuff and thangs" considering the longevity of the show, there will likely be an end to it somewhere. Because to date, right now, Negan is the baddest baddie to be up against Rick. Once his story arc shows up on the show, what's next? Is it downhill from there?

******MORE (potential) SPOILER TALK TO FOLLOW*****************************:

Here's my take on why I think Daryl might meet Negan's Lucille instead of Glenn (which we do not find out who for sure until next season). Dwight (hasn't been named that on the show yet, but everything points to him as such) has a crossbow in the comics. He now has Daryl's. Plus, Norman Reedus (Daryl) has landed a new motorcycle show (6 episodes) about riding across America.

If he's starting to branch out, then he might be seeking to leave TWD. The motorcycle shows upcoming have already been filmed, so it shouldn't affect his TWD status in the near-term. If he does get more offers and other projects, doubt he'd be able to get them in without getting "split up/lost" on the show for a while or taking the easy way off the show. Would be tough to see him go, but that's show business. They have strayed away from the comic book direct conversion activities before...

There was a scene from 2 show's ago episode that was to be done at the end of the episode (but never aired) to show Dwight being beat up and allegedly tied to a chair. It shows from the POV of a perp to have an iron in a fire getting it hot and the camera goes to black as it nears his face, but all you hear is screams on the black screen to end the episode.

Dwight from the comics has the hot iron thing done to him due to him not being 100% subserviant to Negan. Negan rules by fear and intimidation to keep things in line and picks out women and other men's wives to be in his harem (although he dispises rape). He's a dictator.

Dwight never fully pledges allegiance to Negan in his heart, and actually ends up helping Rick take him down later. That's why we saw his little troupe on the run and the rest of the gang trying to find him as he's trying to leave the Saviors. That's likely why he did not seem interested to go back with Daryl, as he knew it was just a matter of time before the Saviors would find him in a nearby community. He and Honey were going to get as far away as possible.

Will the TV show follow this path? I dunno yet, but if you think the Termites from Terminus were brutal, wait until you see what the Saviors can do for non-compliance with the rules.

One more thing- I thought it might be too difficult due to makeup, but in the next half, Carl's going to be joining the Governor in keeping an "eye out".