Talking Dead 708 recap: Hearts Still Beating

Talking Dead was the perfect amount of catharsis after tonight’s midseason finale episode of The Walking Dead,“Hearts Still Beating.”

Talking Dead had plenty to discuss after The Walking Dead midseason finale. Host Chris Hardwick was joined on the couch by creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman, Norman Reedus, and special surprise guest Austin Nichols.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, The Walking Dead fans were more upset at losing Spencer’s hotness instead of losing Spencer as a character. Most of the comments coming in were about missing how cute Spencer is but that he was a bad dude who deserved to go. But hey, that’s not a bad way to go. Austin Nichols said that in watching the season over again, he realized that his character was “a douchebag.” For his death scene, getting the shot right was really important, since he had to get hit just right in order for the innards to spill out appropriately. The knife had a razor blade attached to it so there was some real danger there. Fortunately, Jeffrey Dean Morgan hit his mark perfectly and the shot was perfect. He also got to die and play a Walker, which was even more special.

Norman Reedus is happy to be back with his group again. He said that this season was hard for him because Daryl has been “stripped” by all of the things that have happened to him. Being split from the group has been hard. The hug he shared with Rick was genuine, and in a clip Andrew Lincoln says that he’s always happy to be working with Reedus again and that it was a great reunion. Reedus reveals that he and Lincoln tear up when they’re shooting scenes from afar. Handing Rick the gun was symbolic of Daryl telling Rick to start fighting.

Robert Kirkman says that Michonne’s speech was meant to inspire Rick. She never lost her way the way Rick has, and he says in a lot of ways she’s a stronger character that Rick. The fact that she killed the woman in the car was an act of pity in a lot of ways.

Reedus says that in the back of Daryl’s mind, he’s hoping that Maggie forgives him. In a poll, 91% of the fans surveyed say that they still prefer Daryl over Negan, even though, as Hardwick points out, many fans find Negan hot. Reedus shared a story of one of the on-set pranks that are common among The Walking Dead cast. Andrew Lincoln took Reedus’ motorcycle and put a sex doll on it and put it on the boat in the middle of the lake. So in terms of retribution, “he’s due,” Reedus says.

The clip of the midseason premiere shows Daryl and Rick talking about whether or not they need the numbers if they’ve got the right ammunition. Rick says they would do much better if they had another group to merge with, but for now they should head back because the Saviors will know Daryl is missing. Jesus steps up and says they don’t need to rush back to Alexandria because he stole one of their radios so they can listen in to the Saviors and keep track of them. With a smile, he tells Rick that it’s time to introduce them to King Ezekiel.

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The Walking Dead and Talking Dead return February 12, 2017.

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