"The Walking Dead" Stradivarius (TV Episode 2018) Poster

(TV Series)

(2018)

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7/10
So What Did We Learn Tonight?
sevenlilxenos19 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Cudlitz isn't too bad at directing. Maybe the mud bath for Rosita was his idea.

Daryl isn't very original when it comes to naming his pet, but still has good aim.

Aaron doesn't fight fair with a tin man arm. Jesus fights for a fair.

Are we just suppose to guess why Michonne and Mags fell out? OK I guess Lauren Cohan over valued her worth during contract renegotiations and they said fine, go find your greener grass were in a transition period right now so no problem.

Daryl should have all his boy scout badges. Sneaky Carol should cut her own hair.

At least Michonne didn't break Jimi Hendrix's guitar. Luke is about as useful as Eugene in a Walker fight.

Walker herds party hard. Does a slingshot's projectile really go thru a Walker skull? Does Magna like boys, girls or just ugly shirts?

Will Henry have a better shot with Dr. Enid than Carl did? Will Negan teach Judith how to pick a lock? Do Michonne and Daryl really like The X Men?

7.5
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8/10
The Walking Dead is Return!
cbatukilic24 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Finally good episode after good episode. I miss that feeling since 6th season. My fave character Daryl got more scenes. He have a pet! Walkers are talking! All the new guys are good. Michonne and Carol have a new haircut. Little Grimes is killing it! The new showrunner doing his job good. I'll miss Rick but I can handle with Daryl, Carol and Michonne. Luke was amazing tho. There is so much mysteries waiting to be solve. I LOVE THIS SHOW! 9th season is A W E S O M E! I hope they'll keep that line to end of season. And we meet a special kiddo in this episode. D O G <3
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7/10
A step down but still solid
TheLittleSongbird25 February 2024
'The Walking Dead' "Stradivarius" (2018)

Opening thoughts: Actually was incredibly impressed by all the previous Season 9 episodes and Season 9 on the whole was a massive improvement over the previous two seasons easily. "Stradivarius" having said that was a bit disappointing. Not that it is bad, it is actually still good with many things being great and it was wonderful to see development to a character that had not been properly focused on for ages. Just that all the previous Season 9 episodes were tighter paced and had more consistent writing.

Bad things: Getting the not so good things out of the way, for my tastes it was too slow for my tastes. Due to having a little too much content that didn't add very much, some of it dragged out.

Especially in the final act, which is rather contrived.

Good things: "Stradivarius" is primarily compensated though by two things. One is the character development for Daryl, who is at his most interesting here since what feels (and has been) a long time. Character development that actually progresses him and that is insightful and not dumbed down or contradictory. The other is Norman Reedus, who is outstanding in a performance that wrenches the gut in a tense and moving way.

Furthermore, it is a very stylishly and atmospherically made episode, with no signs of self indulgent gimmicks or showing off. The music is also full of atmosphere of the haunting and ominous kind, while also having emotion that is not spelled out. There are thrills and suspense when the episode is more eventful with little coming over as ridiculous or chaotic. The massive improvement in the writing obvious in the previous Season 9 episodes carries over into this one too. The previous two seasons had a lot of (too much) extraneous talk, long winded-ness and soap-opera, next to none of that is here apart from some long winded-ness early on but even that was done far worse in Seasons 7 and 8. Instead the scripting is tight and thoughtful on the whole, treating the characters and the viewer with respect.

On the whole, the story compels and has intrigue and emotion. None of the characters frustrated me, with none of the intelligence insultingly ridiculous and vague decision makings and motivations that plagued too much of Season 7 and nearly all of Season 8. The acting is very good, outstanding in the case of Reedus.

Concluding thoughts: All in all, good but not great.

7/10.
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7/10
Enter Whisperers
ThomasDrufke20 November 2018
We got to see a bit of the new Hilltop this week as Maggie has predictably moved on to be with Georgie and Jesus has taken over. Which, by the way, feels like it hasn't been all but maybe a few months since Maggie has left in show timeline right? But we got a sense of the new landscape, which also could have given us a hint as to why Maggie left, as Michonne mentioned she can't imagine what her reaction could be if she saw her. Also, it's shown that both Daryl and Michonne have that same scar on their back? It does make me wonder what could have gone down between that trio to cause this break up. We also got a glimpse into the Whisperers as Rosita heard them communicating at the beginning of the episode and the preview certainly shows that in greater detail. It was a weaker episode in that it was the first one that didn't feel like it made significant story progressions, but Michael Cudlitz still did a solid job in his first directorial efforts.

7.0/10
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9/10
Undeserved love:
jackbrown-4422120 November 2018
I've been a genuine fan since TWD came out of Robert Kirkmans' televised womb. This episode is starkly underrated. It's not getting the attention it deserves... I find myself genuinely excited for next week and the story momentum has been building and building. Like it or not this episode was actually really good :)
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7/10
The Talking Dead
claudio_carvalho20 November 2018
Rosita overhears the walkers talking and faints; she is rescued by Aaron and Jesus and taken to Hilltop to be under the care of Enid. They learn that Eugene is alone in a barn and organize a rescue team. Carol brings Henry to meet the lonely Daryl that now has a dog. Michonne, Siddiq and D.J. bring the five survivors to Hilltop in a horse-drawn wagon driven by D.J. but they are attacked by a horde of walkers and have to fight to survive.

"Stradivarius" is an above-average episode of "The Walking Dead" with two important revelations. The first that was seen in the ending of the previous episode is that there are talking walkers. The second is that Maggie is not part of the show. It seems that Lauren Cohan had problem to renew her contract since she required the same salary of the male protagonists. Michonne probably blames Maggie for the fate of Rick since the reason for his disappearance was her decision to go to Alexandria to kill Negan. It is sad to lose Rick and Maggie but life goes on. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Stradivarius"
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10/10
Amazing.
smarakpatra22 November 2018
This season has been so amazing. It grips you to your seat and keeps you thinking what is going to happen next. Good job.
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6/10
Stopped DEAD in it's tracks
agbarrow19 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The reveal of the whisperers last episode was the perfect opportunity to keep some momentum going through the plot but it was pretty much sidelined for some filler. Some positives I can see is how the presence of walkers is making for tense scenes again, as the question of whether they are actually whisperers was always on my mind. Additionally, I can acknowledge that some quality time has been spent on trying to flesh out some of the new characters and also bring the audience up to speed with characters who we haven't seen since the time jump like Jesus, Daryl and Tara. As a whole though there is no questions answered and no new questions that need answering, but the highlight is the tension built by the looming presence of the whisperers.
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10/10
Solid Character Development
jordanterry-4895820 November 2018
This episode is a bit slow compared to the past few episodes but still really good, this is a drama show after all not every episode needs to have a lot going on but this episode did a good job making me care for the new characters more and Henry is growing on me also, it's pathetic how people are rating the episode 1/10 just because it was slow, it's still well written and interesting, much better than the last 2 seasons, episode 8 looks like it's going to be great, but whether it will be or not people will still complain.. I'm giving this episode 10/10 because of the people giving it 1/10 lol people got nothing better to do on Sunday nights, if some of you people don't like an episode it's totally fine everyone is entitled to give their opinion but please be more realistic and give constructive criticism and rate fairly because giving episodes 1/10 is ridiculous
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7/10
At "Talking Zombies"
albertotranchilla-5815819 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The Whisperers ( Humans among the Dead ). Just watch the mid season finale and you understand.
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10/10
This season really makes me care for the characters again.
jackumssackumbenny19 November 2018
I think one of the biggest issues with the past couple seasons is I really lost feelings for a large majority of the characters, this season completely fixes that and has me caring again. I already love Maginas entire group, The former savior DJ who seems to be Michonne's right hand is really starting to grow on me and Siddiq is finally stepping up for a bigger part and becoming a favorite of mine as well. Overall this season really has been the best in years and I think it's safe to say it will remain that way with Angela Kang at helm.
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7/10
The episode explores the relationship between Carol and Henry, highlighting Carol's role as a maternal figure and also sets the stage for future conflicts and alliances
fernandoschiavi27 March 2024
Michonne leads Magna's group towards the Hilltop but is still distrustful of them. She learns from Siddiq that Maggie is no longer at the Hilltop and that her people still keep in contact with them. After stopping at Magna's former camp, they continue their journey. While Jesus and Aaron are out and about, they come across an injured and fatigued Rosita who informs them of Eugene's whereabouts.

Carol and Henry see Daryl's camp and convince him to come to Hilltop with them. Carol also asks him to mentor and watch over Henry while he's at the Hilltop. After they arrive, Daryl opts to go with Jesus and Aaron to look for Eugene.

Magna's group is ultimately accepted into Hilltop, but they are told by Tara that they must "earn their keep". Michonne and Siddiq learn from Rosita of what she and Eugene saw and how the rescue party is not prepared for it.

Daryl, Jesus, and Aaron find Eugene, who reveals that he heard walkers whispering to each other, suggesting that they are evolving. The whispering herd pursues the group and corners them in a cemetery. They are soon joined by Michonne, Magna, and Yumiko who provide their escape. However, while holding off the Walkers, Jesus is stabbed by a "walker" through the chest. After fending off the herd, the group discovers that the whispering walkers are indeed people wearing walker skins. The Whisperers suddenly surround the group. After his cell gate is accidentally left unlocked, Negan escapes from confinement.

"Stradivarius" takes viewers on a journey with Carol, Henry, and the group as they head to Hilltop. Along the way, they encounter a mysterious woman named Magna and her group. The episode delves into themes of trust and survival as the two groups cautiously interact. One of the standout scenes is when Carol confronts a group of walkers, showcasing her strength and determination. Additionally, the episode explores the relationship between Carol and Henry, highlighting Carol's role as a maternal figure. "Stradivarius" sets the stage for future conflicts and alliances, while also emphasizing the importance of trust and cooperation in this dangerous new world.

The episode also explores the theme of redemption, as Magna and her group are given a second chance at life within the communities. This theme is exemplified in Magna's interactions with Michonne, as she struggles to earn the trust of the group and prove her worth. This theme of redemption underscores the series' exploration of morality and the potential for growth and change, even in the darkest of times.
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2/10
I'm starting to forget why I used liked this show.
Siamois20 November 2018
Ignore fanboys crying about low ratings. This is the proverbial filler episode with no real plot development and constant hints about a conflict between two characters without telling us what is going on.

The acting is as usual poor. With the loss of many great characters along the way, The Walking Dead has slowed down the kill rate considerably but unfortunately, the characters being preserved are mostly weak. Like the awkward Jesus, whose very name was always completely ridiculous, now taking on a more important role at Hilltop.

Speaking of Jesus, we get to see a cringe-inducing scene where he wrestles in the mud with Aaron. It all ends in laughter and tickles. All that is missing is the Lord of the Rings music and a few hobbit houses in the background. Aaron now has a metal arm which he uses like that villain in the old Enter the Dragon 70s psychedelic classic. You can't make that stuff up.

I don't know who decided Carol should sport a new hairdo but the long hair aren't working. Melissa McBride's wig is laugh-inducing. You see a pattern here? Tickle fights, bad high school drama, people with metal limbs, bad wigs, bad acting... this used to be a bleak, extremely dramatic and mature series. It turned into an average action series with gore. Now it's turning into a boring, predictable soap that's involuntarily funny.

I can see TWD surviving for a tenth season. But it's done after that. And I'm done right now.
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10/10
If you can't stop whining, stop watching
jurirupertmueller19 November 2018
It's sad how much intolerance people have against the new season. I think they did the best they could to save the series given the fact that two lead roles already have gone to vacation. If you could not give it another chance just stop watching, but go on with your lives and stop ruining the ratings without even seen the episodes. The quality is obviously back on it's roots.
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10/10
My thoughts of the episode may change this.
davisond-7038118 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Havent even seen the episode yet but im giving it a 10 anyway for the trolls giving it a 1 when it isnt on t.v. yet.

Once again a great episode, 7 in a row it could be the best season. This is less of a filler episode and more of a build up imo. Abe's directing his first episode and he did a good job I think.

Eugene is missing and Rosita is terrified, She alerts Jesus and Aaron with a flare but before that they have a fun fight. Its explained that Maggie is with Georgie helping other communities, Daryl now has a dog, Carol and Henry visit him and we get some nice walker action and gore.

The main focus is Michonne getting Magna and her group to Hilltop that is now being ran by Jesus and Tara. We also get some nice walker action with them including head stomps, sling shots and lots of emotion and we get a creepy camera angle of someone watching them from the woods.....

Spooky!

The episode ends with Daryl, Aaron, Jesus and the Dog heading out to look for Eugene, A nice set up and overall another great episode and the mid season finale looks to be scary and awesome.
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10/10
More cudlitz directing please
muleobsolete19 November 2018
Michael Cudlitz AKA our beloved Abraham makes his debut as a director and delivers a fanstastic job with a fantastic episode. This season really has me loving the characters again and every episode tops the previous one.
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9/10
Another excellent episode leading to the midseason finale.
ohmap-977-66481019 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Everything done this season has been done with exceptional éclat! The acting, writing, and directing are better than ANYTHING else on television with the exception of perhaps Game of Thrones which I also like. Stradivarius was no exception to this rule , and provided forty-two minutes of chair gripping action, excitement, and drama.

The Walking dead is obviously starting to evolve from what it used to be; a page has been turned and we see new people and new situations and challenges.

The zombies seem to be evolving some over the years. Although I had drank a half bottle of brandy before the show started, I did hear a zombie say: where are they?
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1/10
The Walking Soap Opera. No Rick Part 2. Mediocrity Continues. New show, new Unrealistic Characters, Dumb Plot, add Zombies!
Bababooe19 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Market research for unrealistic mass appeal characters. Producing a show not for art/story/performance but, for mass commercial appeal, written at best by average talent passing stories that they or the network believe to reach the most viewers, rather than producing with a criteria of believable realistic characters. 95% of this show is human conflict, 5% zombie fx time.

So, they took Rick off the show in the lamest possible way. A sad joke. A cheap shot. Con on the viewers. Last few seconds of the prior episode Rick was impaled with zombies feet away. What a cliffhanger! Then a few seconds later they showed the preview. Unshamefully spoiling. Billed as Rick's last episode, we watch Rick not getting killed by the zombies. No. He un-impaled himself, got on his horse, not once but twice, then he blows up the bridge he wanted to preserve to unite the communities (for the memory of his dead son Coral!). Rick participated in a cheap disappearing act. Who can watch this and not question the logic? Mr. Spock not necessary. Then we are introduced to Jud Grimes, aka little wonder woman, saving single handedly a bunch of survivors.

I had a whole outline to tear this a new hole, but I got tired and bored. Then I noticed all the producer paid 10 star reviews with Best, Greatest, Masterpiece. So, I decided to post what I had and add this stupid note.

Good luck, and good night.

Ok, I'm back. Here's the breakdown takedown of this week's episode. Best part was the intro. Not saying much. Rosy alone in the woods, running scared, blood on her forehead, she collapses. Wow, we didn't get to see Eug screaming like a girlyman as he gets torn apart by the fake zombies. AMC, TWD music, Commercial.

Mic and Dr Sid taking newbies to Hilltop. Hilltop is showcased. Tara reports to Jes that he's been reelected leader, with the electoral college but losing the popular vote to a zombie. Jes got a letter from Mag. So, that's how Mag is written off. Mag is relegated from main character to notes on a page. Cheap? Yes. But that's TWD way. If you're not laughing, it's because it's sad. Carol, Dumb O'Henry and Dar go to Dar's camp. Dar's been living off the land, and we meet Dar's dog, Dog. Carol convinces Dar to go with them to Hilltop. Apparently after Rick "Blew Himself Up" everybody was looking for his body. Especially Dar, who wanted to put Rick's head on his mantle. It looked like a pretty big explosion. But people have nothing better to do than look for Rick's body. Wait, isn't there a legend of someone hearing a helicopter in the distance? Commercial.

Mic and the Caravan of newbies stop over at the newbies desolated last camp site. The newbies are constantly gabbing and signing to each other in code of some nefarious mystery. What could that be? The newbies want to take their weapons, but Mic says if you take the weapons you can't go to Hilltop. Makes sense. Aaron the one Arm attacks Jes off his horse, a lame fun fight breaks out. It's like West Side Story without music. Real lame. They find Rosy. Eug apparently wasn't torn apart by the zombies, he's hiding in a barn. So, there's a chance we'll get to see Eug torn apart by the zombies. Let's hope. Commercial.

Dar is O'Henry's OB1. Mic and Caravan at rest in a large industrial basement. Mic splits a newbies Stradivarius. I was hoping it would be his hands. Dar looking for Dog, O'Henry follows. Dar saves Dog from a mud bound walker. O'Henry saves Dar, and gets a scratch, while Carol Rambo looks on. Way to build tension and bonding. Cheap and low grade. Soap. Commercial.

Very Boring. 9:40, 40 minutes in and 24 more minutes of this!

Jes doesn't want to be leader of Hilltop. Same old stuff. Leader who has had enough. I just watched the first pilot of Star Trek, The Cage from 1965. Captain Pike, "Oh, I'm nowhere near 65 but I want to retire". Jes, "I hate listening to bad rock music on the turntable while everybody is working". Boo whoo! Let's give Jes a napkin. Tara peer pressures him into shutting the hell up, and says she's heading out to look for Dr. Eug. Read that again. Dr. Eug. Who made him a doctor?

Dar accepts O'Henry as his Luke Skywalker. May the force be with us.

Now here's some genuine trash. Mic and Caravan at the basement. Newbie with broken violin babbles nonsense that music was the only thing we had over the Neanderthals, falsely claiming that the Neanderthals were smarter and had better tools. Nonsense. This man's character may be a former music teacher, but he certainly did not study anthropology. The Neanderthals were dumber and had far inferior tools and skills than modern humans. Modern humans outcompeted and probably cannibalized Neanderthals. Neanderthals didn't know what hit them. This is no surprise. When one group of humans enter a new area, they kill and destroy what was there before. Music probably gave them social unity, and communication. That's it. Please get your facts correct. And I expect once you do, you will reedit this episode so you mitigate your embarrassment.

On cue, they are attacked by zombies and the newbies ask for their weapons, and they get them. Showcase of super skill. The last zombie to die conveniently happens to be the convict newbie's boyfriend, with a new wave haircut and ugly shirt. We get to see the tough chick convict newbie turn to drama, tears, and sadness. Lame camera zoom on dead zombie boyfriend. Way to show character development, tough chick melting in front of our eyes, with sad looks all around. Real Lame! They say it can only happen in movies and here's a prime example. In real life, you kill, you run scared, and you hide. Cheap and Stupid Manipulation. Commercial.

Mic and Caravan on the way to Hilltop. Mic is about to turn back to Alexandria. Dr. Sid tells Mic that Mag has been away for a while. Soap. Nobody told Mic that Mag's contract was up. Drip of info. Mic and Mag had a falling out, probably after Mag's dumb Kill No Kill pilgrimage to Not Kill Neeg, leading to Rick to not getting killed. A couple of Hillys show up and inform them that Rosy's hurt. Mic decides to go to Hilltop rather than turn back. Carol, O'Henry, Dar and Dog make it to Hilltop, and are informed of Rosy. Jes Dar Dog and Aaron head out to look for Eug. Commercial.

I don't watch the previous. I'd rather watch the train wreck as it transpires.

Another reviewer noted watching this show without Rick is like watching the Love Boat with only guest stars hanging out on an iceburg. I was no fan of Rick but, he was the show. We got a lame sendoff of Rick. And tonight we got an even lamer sendoff of Mag, a freaking note. Yes folks, Mag, one of the major characters has been written off with a note. We are down to Mic, Dar and Carol, and a bunch of secondary characters and god help us more new characters.

Writers, please write realistic characters and situations. Kill No Kill doesn't work. Mag wanting to kill Neeg, then doesn't. Rick kills the Savys after he gives them his word, then spares Neeg. Morg, Carol, Coral all the same Kill No Kill. And get your Neanderthal facts right. This is your profession. You have a budget. Do your job! Is it possible that with this low grade writing you are contributing to the decline of the viewer's intelligence? You have influence and a responsibility, not only for your wallet, but to society and art, not just entertainment. Last note, paying losers to post 10 star reviews makes you look even more pathetic.
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10/10
AMAZING
mrmodmaster18 November 2018
Great episode, tonnes of character development and oh my god doggo is so cute. cant wait to see whats in store next weeks episode
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10/10
Really loving the character development!
james-patrick-732-46346819 November 2018
This is the next chapter of TWD! They're setting us up for something huge!
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10/10
Solid episode setting up the Midseason Finale!
Splarke2219 November 2018
Michael Cudlitz did a fantastic job in his directorial debut with the material he was given! This episode was clearly complete buildup for the midseason finale & the big reveal with the Whisperers. This episode was pretty slow but had some great character development & interactions, along with us getting to see Daryl's dog! Super excited for next week's episode & the rest of Season 9.

Side note: This episode was rated a 6.8/10 before it even aired. Pretty sad how some people have such boring lives that they can't find anything better to do on a Sunday night than hate on TWD lmao. If you don't like the show, go find another one to watch instead of continuing to be obsessed with TWD.
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9/10
strong character development
jacklivi-1287019 November 2018
This what most would call a filler episode but too be honest everything this episode covered developed the new characters and the cast as a whole into a new set of story's and mystery while also keeping the creepiness of the "Talking Zombies" till next week !!
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1/10
What a FILLER
psA8920 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I think the 10 stars is the real troll here and i believe is from the family of writers. This episode should not even exist a violin and a dog and 5sec of talking zombies. A filler dialogs poor new casts end it in mid-season or go slower and slower filler after filler. The walking dead is end 2 seasons ago.
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9/10
Very good.
mpw-2350619 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed this weeks episode. There was seldom a dull moment, and I thoroughly liked all of the plot lines in this episode. I have very little to complain; except for two minor things. 1: what the hell kind of name for a dog is "Dog?" I love Dog and all, but that is a really dumb name. Not major, but dumb enough to have me thinking "really?" 2: Showing that Eugene is ok in the preview for next weeks episode was just not a good idea. That had potential to be an interesting cliffhanger but they just threw that out. To be fully honest, the marketing for season 9 has been quite bad, contrast to the quality of the show.
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