The Federalist: The Walking Dead’s Jaw-Dropping Return: A Beautiful Hallucination, Then Death.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

The Walking Dead’s Jaw-Dropping Return: A Beautiful Hallucination, Then Death.

Tyreese - RIP

This was a jaw-droppingly beautiful episode—a perfect example of the creative heights The Walking Dead can achieve at its very best.

From The Daily Beast:

The Walking Dead aired its most gorgeous, unsettling episode since ‘The Grove,’ with familiar faces, hallucinations, and a heartbreaking goodbye. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

After The Walking Dead’s midseason finale in December, showrunner Scott Gimple promised that things would get darker and weirder when it returned.

And holy 112-oz fudge pudding, he was NOT kidding.

The opening minutes of “What Happened and What’s Going On,” or “The One Where You Scream at Your TV a Lot,” had flashbacks, flash-forwards, hallucinations, and dead little girls. We saw a shovel dig up a grave and heard Father Gabriel read from the Bible during a burial service, which we all presumed was for Beth. Since, you know, Maggie’s sister got shot through the head in a deranged hospital accident just one episode ago. One. Episode. Ago.

The funeral wasn’t Beth’s—it was for Tyreese. Tyreese. Our heroic, conflicted, dear beanie aficionado, who refused to kill unless absolutely necessary (and sometimes not even then—hello again, Martin) and never deserved any of this. Slick move, Scott Gimple and friends: Lull us into a false sense of security after Beth’s death, then hack our hearts into a thousand pieces with the show’s most gorgeous, unsettling episode since “The Grove.” Well played! Jerks.

Tyreese finds the disemboweled body of one of Noah’s twin brothers in a bedroom. He becomes fixated on photos of the little boys on the wall, which show them sitting together smiling, or with their big brother at a game. Juxtaposed with the tiny, gruesome corpse still in his twin-sized bed, the photos are almost too much to bear for Tyreese. We dwell in the tragedy for a moment, glimpse a dark figure behind Tyreese, wait, oh my god, what is happening, TURN AROUND TURN AROUND WAIT NO NO NOOO!
Read More . . . .

Interview with actor Chad Coleman
Tyreese Speaks From Beyond The Grave

The episode was a spectacular reunion of long-passed characters, a crowning moment for actor Chad Coleman, and the best entry so far in what’s been the show’s strongest season in years. Coleman talked to The Daily Beast about Tyreese’s final episode, his favorite moments on the show, and what projects he’s going after next.

Hey Chad! So that episode was a big, bad dream and you’ll be back next week, right?

[Laughs] That’s very sweet. Thank you.

When and how did you get the news?

Three episodes prior to [that episode], Scott called me. He kind of teared up and when he teared up, I was like, “Oh shit, this is real.” I just kept saying, “Wow, wow, wow, wow.” And then I just sat for a moment like, “You know, I’ve done amazing work. You guys have given me amazing stuff to do. If it’s time to go, it’s time to go.” And then he proceeded to tell me how I was gonna go and I was like, “Can we just shoot tomorrow? Let’s go.”

So it was a total surprise?

Oh yeah. Yeah, I mean—well, I say “total surprise” because Scott did a good job of taking me off the path. I had a suspicion that maybe it didn’t line up completely. Like when my character lied, I knew something was wrong. When I lied and said I’d killed the guy [Martin, from Terminus] and I hadn’t…I knew something’s going on here. I wouldn’t have done it that way, but they did. They had to be speaking to a level of vulnerability, like, “You can only last so long.”

What was your reaction to the script? I thought Tyreese got the most beautiful, elaborate sendoff of any character so far.

That’s right, and that’s why I had nothing to say but “Bullseye, dude. This is amazing. This is an homage to the man.” If you don’t know who Tyreese is, or you didn’t know, you know now. I would say, “This is brilliant, man, this is poetic.” This is the way I wanted to go out. Everything was in there. I fought courageously to live and I went out in a somewhat tranquil and peaceful state. It was absolutely perfect, and with everybody coming back… This is definitely in the top five [Walking Dead episodes]. Along with “The Grove,” I think we got no. 1 and no. 2, but that would probably be too egotistical. [laughs] You can make a play for the episode where Scott [Wilson] gets his head cut off and you could make a play for Beth’s death being in top five.

It’s so weird to think that Beth’s death came just one episode before this. It was so abrupt compared to Tyreese’s death.

[Scott]’s a genius. He knows that [Beth’s death] was gonna jog the psyche to the point where [viewers] think ain’t nothing gonna happen. “Nothing can happen now, they gotta take a breather.” Yeah, right! “I know they gonna take a breather, they gotta slow it down now.” Nope! Got ‘em!

What was it like seeing all your old co-workers again? David Morrissey, Emily Kinney, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Chris Coy, and the girls, Brighton Sharpino and Kyla Kennedy?

I think it was my last day of shooting. It was big, big, tremendous hugs and tremendous gratitude that these folks were coming back to be a part of this monumental deal. If there was another character for me to play, it would have been the Governor.

Really? Why the Governor?

I love dudes that are just so charismatic and then take a sick turn. I find them fascinating. Even in real life, like Jim Jones, or Hitler—they’re a half-step away from brilliance, but there’s that fatal flaw.

What’s your take on Tyreese’s final moments?

He understood that death could be close, but he was gonna fight to the nail. But that couldn’t stave off the hallucinations; they were so strong, he thought they were real. He’s really fighting for his ideology, his core beliefs, the way he sees the world. Other people came back, just his consciousness, guilt, rage against those that would try to make him live any other way. There was this moment where Death was saying “come on” through Bob and the girls. In another sick way, it was like, “We got killed off too. It’s okay.”

Ha! “Welcome to the club!”

“Come on over, Chad! It’s cool, man.” I’m joking on that part, but just when they were gonna invite me like, “Come on home, buddy,” Rick and them were there, like, “Come on! We’re gonna fight for you!” That’s the way I saw that.

Full interview at The Daily Beast.com

The best damn show on TV is back with
15.6 million viewers on Sunday.

Rick is starting to look rough.
The Zombie Apocalypse is not treating him well.

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Thomas Pinckney, Federalist

Commissioned as captain in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army. After seeing much action, he became an aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates. He was captured by the British at the disastrous Battle of Camden in 1780. After recovering from his wounds, he was released in a prisoner exchange. In 1781 he fought under Lafayette in Virginia. Appointed by President George Washington to be the U.S. minister to Great Britain served as Envoy Extraordinary to Spain. The Federalist Party made him a candidate in the 1796 presidential election as the intended running-mate of John Adams. Served as Congressman and Governor of South Carolina. Served as a major general in the Army during the War of 1812.

Henry Lee III, Federalist

Major General "Light-Horse Harry" Lee fought at the battles of Paulus Hook, Guilford Court House, Eutaw Springs, Yorktown and the Whiskey Rebellion. Federalist Congressman from Virginia, Governor of Virginia. Father of Robert E. Lee. In 1812 Lee was attacked by a Jeffersonian mob of Democratic-Republicans while defending a Federalist newspaper from attack. Lee and the other Federalists were beaten and tortured by the mob over the next three hours. Lee was left partially blinded after hot wax was poured into his eyes. The men were left for dead. All were severely injured, and one Federalist, General James Lingan, died.

Frederick Frelinghuysen, Federalist

In the War of Independence he served in the New Jersey militia as an artillery captain, seeing action at Trenton and Monmouth. Attained the rank of colonel. Member of the Continental Congress. Served in the New Jersey General Assembly. Member of the New Jersey convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1787. President George Washington appointed him as brigadier general in the United States Army for the 1790 campaign against the western Indians. Commissioned major general in the New Jersey militia in 1794, during the Whiskey Rebellion. Elected to the United States Senate.

Stephen Van Rensselaer, Federalist

Van Rensselaer served in the New York Assembly and Senate. He served as the Federalist Lt. Governor under John Jay. In 1786, Van Rensselaer was made a major of the militia. As a Major General in the War of 1812 he led an army in an invasion of Canada and fought at the Battle of Queenston Heights. In 1813 Van Rensselaer was the Federalist candidate for Governor of New York earning 48% of the vote. A shift of only 1,800 votes would have made him Governor. In 1822 he was elected to Congress as a Federalist serving until 1829.

WILLIAM PATERSON, Federalist

James Hillhouse, Federalist

Hillhouse served as captain in Governor's Foot Guards in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, Congressman from Connecticut at-large, 1791–96, and a Federalist Party U. S. Senator from Connecticut, 1796–1810. He was the anti-slavery leader of the Congress in the early days of the Republic. After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, Hillhouse fought to bar the importation of slaves into the Louisiana Territory. "I consider slavery as a serious evil," he proclaimed, "and wish to check it wherever I have authority." Two of Hillhouse's amendments restricting slavery passed the Congress and were signed into law.

Oliver Ellsworth, Federalist

In 1777 he was chosen as one of Connecticut's representatives in the Continental Congress. Served at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia as a delegate from Connecticut. On June 20, 1787 he proposed the use of the name the United States to identify the nation under the authority of the Constitution. United States Senator from Connecticut. Ellsworth was the principal exponent in the Senate of Alexander Hamilton's economic program. In 1796 Ellsworth was appointed by President George Washington to be Chief Justice of the United States. Served as United States Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of France. Ellsworth was a candidate in the 1796 United States Presidential election, receiving eleven votes in the electoral college.

Robert Goodloe Harper, Federalist

At the age of fifteen, Harper joined a volunteer corps of Cavalry and served in the American Revolutionary Army. Harper was elected as a Federalist Congressman from South Carolina (1795 - 1801). In 1798 at a dinner in Philadelphia honoring John Marshall, a group of U.S. Congressmen were discussing a recent demand made by the government of France. French vessels had been plundering US ships in a piratical manner. French foreign minister Talleyrand said the attacks would be stopped if the US paid him $250,000 and gave France 50,000 pounds sterling and a $100 million loan. As toasts were made, Harper sent his own defiant reply to the French with this toast: “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute.” Harper served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of major general. He moved to Maryland and was elected as a Federalist to the US Senate. He was an unsuccessful Federalist candidate for Vice President in the 1816 election. He also received one electoral vote for Vice President in the 1820 election.

Jacob Read, Federalist

Alexander Contee Hanson, Federalist

Member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Editor of the "Federal Republican", a Federalist Party newspaper in Baltimore. Four days after the beginning of the War of 1812 a mob of pro-war Democrat-Republicans destroyed his newspaper office. The paper moved to another building where Hanson was joined by a group of armed allies. When that building was besieged by another mob, Hanson and his group fired, killing two. Hanson and his group surrendered to the militia and were escorted to jail. That evening yet another mob stormed the jail. Hanson was beaten and left for dead. Hanson was elected as a Federalist to Congress in 1812 and 1814. In 1816 he was elected as a Federalist to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate until his death in 1819 at the age of 33.

William Bingham, Federalist

As a merchant he brought full loads of munitions & guns for the war. Served as a diplomat for Congress to France. Bingham marshaled the Second Troop of Philadelphia Light Horse. He served in the Continental Congress, 1st Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, State Senator, and US Senator. Federalists agreed to hold preliminary votings at the Bingham Estate before propositions were brought before Congress publicly, thus creating unanimity among party lines. Alexander Hamilton sought Bingham as his mentor in managing taxes, tariffs, and in constructing a national bank.

Ezekiel Whitman, Federalist

Whitman practiced law in New Gloucester, Maine and in Portland, Maine (both communities a district of Massachusetts until 1820). In 1808 Whitman was elected as a Federalist Congressman from Massachusetts and served one term. In 1816 he was again elected as a Federalist to the US House serving from 1817 to 1821. In 1819 he was a delegate to the convention that prepared the constitution which led to Maine's statehood. In 1820 he was elected as a Federalist Congressman from the new state of Maine serving until 1822. Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court from 1841 to 1848.

David Cobb, Federalist

Cobb studied medicine in Boston and practiced in Taunton, Massachusetts. He was a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in 1775; lieutenant colonel of Jackson’s regiment in 1777 and 1778, serving in Rhode Island and New Jersey; was aide-de-camp on the staff of General George Washington; appointed major general of militia in 1786. Fought in the New York and New Jersey Campaign, the Battles of Springfield, Monmouth, Rhode Island and Shay's Rebellion. He served the Federalist Party as Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, President of the State Senate and Congressman.

Josiah Parker, Federalist

In 1775 Parker enlisted in the Continental Army. He was commissioned a major in the 5th Virginia Regiment in 1776 and became its colonel in 1778. His regiment served in Virginia under General Charles Lee and was transferred to George Washington. The regiment thereafter saw action at the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. During Cornwallis's Virginia campaign in 1781, the notorious Colonel Tarleton ransacked his home. He was elected to the First US Congress from Virginia serving for twelve years.

William Stephens Smith, Federalist

Smith married Abigail "Nabby" Adams, the daughter of President John Adams, and so was a brother-in-law of President John Quincy Adams, and an uncle of Charles Francis Adams. Served in the Revolutionary Army as aide-de-camp to General John Sullivan. Fought in the Battle of Long Island, was wounded at Harlem Heights, Battle of White Plains, was promoted to lieutenant colonel at the Battle of Trenton, fought at the Battle of Monmouth and Newport. He was on the staff of General Lafayette, became an adjutant in the Corps of Light Infantry, then transferred to the staff of George Washington. Elected as a Federalist Congressman from New York.

Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Federalist

John Rutledge, Jr., Federalist

Rutledge served as Congressman from South Carolina. A passionate Federalist, he supported Aaron Burr against Jefferson, founding the Charleston Courier (predecessor of the Post and Courier) to support his causes. Joining the South Carolina Militia in 1799, Rutledge served as commander of the Twenty-eighth Regiment in the War of 1812. He subsequently commanded the Seventh Brigade from 1816 until his death. Rutledge's life was fraught with controversy. Catching his wife (mother to his nine children) in a "clandestine visit" with Dr. Horace Senter, Rutledge challenged him to a duel, fatally wounding the doctor.

John Sergeant, Federalist

Member of the Pennsylvania state house of representatives 1808-1810; elected as a Federalist to Congress and served from 1815, to 1823. Sergeant was a strong backer of Henry Clay's American System and the Second Bank of the United States, and even traveled to Europe to negotiate loans to the Bank. He was a strong opponent of slavery who voted against the Missouri Compromise. In 1826 he was an envoy to the Panama Congress. Elected to Congress as an Adams candidate 1827 to 1829. Failing re-election he became legal counsel to the Bank of the United States. Sergeant was the Vice Presidential running mate in Henry Clay's campaign on the National Republican ticket in 1832. Elected as a Whig to Congress serving from 1837 to 1841.

John Laurance, Federalist

Philip Barton Key, Federalist

Key had been a Loyalist in the American Revolution. He served in the Maryland Loyalists Battalion as a captain. Key fought with the British Army from 1777 to 1781, until he was captured by the Spanish in Pensacola, Florida with the rest of his battalion. After the war he served as Mayor of Annapolis & member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Appointed a Federal Judge by John Adams. He was a Counsel to Justice Samuel Chase during Chase's Jefferson ordered impeachment show-trial in 1805. Elected as a Federalist to Congress from Maryland (1807 - 1813). Francis Scott Key was his nephew.