Yet we can still see their humanity and loyalty to their gods and oaths. They're not total bad guys. You can see why Uhtred admires them.

Right, but that point's been made over and over. The penitentiary was a prime example; no matter how prepared you think you are, you're never prepared. Why didn't Rick insist on armed guards? Video surveillance? All things within their capabilities.

Yeah, I like new Rick, but it doesn't appear that any of his advice has been taken at all. They had a sniper in the tower, but he didn't do shit, granted, everyone was out dealing with the zombie herd, but if I were Rick and wanted to attack Alexandria, that'd be exactly the thing I'd be waiting for.
Also, the wolves…

I was looking for Steapa casting, but nothing in IMDB. When reading the books this guy came to mind from the description:

Should their be experts and novices threads? Seems like there's a few folks who have read the series in here.

I liked the episode, but as ever, my problem with the show is that they've been in the zombie apocalypse now for years and still there are no guards on the walls. We have electricity and all kinds of gadgets, but no simple video surveillance. Enid was wrong, Alexandria is defendable, but you need to put the man hours…

He's actually Araporn, the bastard son of Arathorn, half-brother of Aragorn. He was kicked out of the Dunedain for smoking too much long-bottom leaf. He went on a bender, passed out onboard a silver ship which sunk, stranding him on the shores of Westeros. He's half Numenorian, half Stark, half Gondoran, and half gin.

I hope not. But there they were for a second. They were all the rage in the 70s so maybe it's just reinforcing the period?

“Am I dating Bradley Cooper? I don’t know how Hollywood works, but…”

I felt the opposite; dread. Like "this episode is going so well, I'm so excited season 2 looks like a real…wtf?!…Is that a fucking UFO?! NOOOOO, there's no sharks in Fargo! Whatever you do, don't jump it!!!" I hope that's the end of the UFOs, but I doubt it.

Just try to equate it to something you can relate to for someone of your age like, "it hit me right in the feels when those damn kids finally got off my lawn."

"The only highlight of the episode is seeing the Baroness interact with The Wolf–welcome back, Matthew Rhys!–the rebel leader who also turns out to be the Baroness’ half brother."

Jill is awesome? Nora is awesome, but Jill? She's just kinda there.

I can't believe Carter only lasted one episode. Ethan Embry is a pretty decent actor; not big name, but there are few big names in TWD that were big names before the TWD fame. Seems a waste to lose him after one episode (unless his ghost comes back to haunt Rick, though that seems unlikely given his new "I don't give…

Cornwell notes that in the books as at least one Ragnar dies in a pit of snakes and his son is in Ireland. He comes back later in the series I believe. Still, you can never have enough Ragnars imo.

I'm still working on the novels, but I loved the movies.

Excellent! I expect no less from the man who brought Richard Sharpe into my life. BBC should be Saxon-proud of this first episode. I look forward to the rest of the series. But I haven't given up on Kurt Sutter either. There's a porny charm to BE.

I'm so torn! Which fictional Ragnar do I choose? Apparently there are plenty to go around.

Awwww! The Coen Brothers made a move for my birthday. I feel bad. I didn't even get them cards.

Well he got the funding to do it. Obviously she doesn't believe in the project or she would have championed his cause. She said no without even asking.