Lint, I agree completely. My point about Andrea was exactly that: in her case, the "package" of actor and character makes each line so unappealing, vs. exactly the opposite with Carol.

There's a certain amount of sarcasm in my remark

There are many famous locations, each cooler than the last. The comic series does a masterful job of expanding the geographical and personal scope of the story, introducing us to larger and larger landscapes and bigger and bigger conflicts.

In other words, the same kind of bullshit scene that dragged down Season 2 (like their lugubrious farmhouse "debate" about the captured guy in the barn, with Hershel in the Dale role).

You know who else did that? SHAKESPEARE!

Also, Carol doesn't strut around "like a bantam rooster" (as somebody put it two weeks ago, here) or strip down to a thong or do any of the other things they make Andrea do in order to sell the concept of "sexy tough girl to be reckoned with."

I think you're being too harsh. The "formula for the show" is the Zombie Apocalypse. The two elements you name are de rigueur for ZA stories.

All this "figuring out who will die based on external/behind-the-scenes logic" is addictive but ultimately no fun.

Very good points. I had forgotten a lot of that earlier stuff (mostly because Andrea wasn't featured as much as she is now, and because of the miasma of Season 2 made all the characters look irrational. You're right.

What's interesting about the Andrea character is that it's a complete misfire, but for totally trivial and preventable reasons.

I'm still enjoying the show, but it's getting what I think of as "network show pacing" rather than "cable show pacing."

Yeah, I thought that was a really nice touch.

Doctor Smith… (cracks up)

Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

COMICS SPOILER WARNING(S)

Nearly everything in that movie is wonderful. It's ahead of its time.

I think everybody complaining about the season's pacing and its apparent structural deficiencies needs to realize that three independent "wild-card" chess pieces have been placed on the board:

It's almost like it's a metaphor for American foreign policy or something.

Kate was so pretty that it rattled the fillings in my teeth when she was on camera. I couldn't think ill of her. She makes Andrea look like Linda Hunt.

Doesn't count because that's a full-on "above the title" starring role.