As for Deanna using Rick and Co. to hold off what's out there, in the same way the refinery tribe uses Max to fight off the Marauders as they make their escape …Yeah, I definitely agree that's a big similarity between the show and the movie. So far, Deanna has obviously stated that Rick and Co. are part of the family…

Yeah, you're right that the tribe Max joins up with aren't really 'soft', in the sense of being weak/naive; some of them are - the 'women and children' types - but the ones who battled the marauders, like 'Pappagello' (the white-haired leader) or 'Warrior Woman'* - they were total sh*tkickers. So yes, in terms of…

That's certainly true, as far as it goes. But I think each of the leaders you name (i.e. not just Rick, but Daryl, Michonne, etc) share the same characteristics that made Max such an unique leader vis-a-vis the community that adopts him, They all share that hard-boiled strength that comes from living 'on the outside':…

And being a huge fan of Mad Max/Road Warrior, similarity=virtue.

Yeah, I wasn't criticizing; just pointing out the similarities, not just in terms of genre (i.e. post-apocalyptic/dystopian), but also in terms of specific storylines, character dynamics, etc. (Rick as Max)…

That first scene after the credits, where the town gates open and Daryl rides out solemnly on his dusty motorcycle… was I alone in experiencing Road Warrior flashbacks? Thematically and aesthetically, I suppose there's always been a certain kinship between the small-screen and big-screen comic book adaptations - each…

I too was confused/disappointed at the lack of explanation regarding Cuesta’s recusal, or lack thereof. The relevant line, from "The Penalty Box" episode, is pretty unambiguous. Dianne: "If we represent Cuesta, he'll have to recuse himself from any future cases we have before him". And for awhile there, it seemed like…

I remember this discussion coming up in a different thread, and someone theorizing that using "phone" as a verb (i.e, instead of "call") was an attempt by the writers to create a sense of shared Chicago dialect, even though actual Chicagoans don't like that. So maybe they just confused Chicago with Canada :-)

Re Phone vs. Call..
To me, having Cary reflect on this particular linguistic puzzle was a great example of the show was having a little inside joke/fun at it's expense, and nodding to it's most dedicated fans, who've always been quick to pounce and mock this longstanding TGW writers' quirk.