document_title: The Walking Dead (TV series)

question_text: what season are we in of the walking dead

question_tokens: what season are we in of the walking dead

text: The Walking Dead (TV series)

text: Series overview

text:
Season
Episodes
Originally aired

First aired
Last aired

1
6
October 31, 2010 (2010-10-31)
December 5, 2010 (2010-12-05)

2
13
October 16, 2011 (2011-10-16)
March 18, 2012 (2012-03-18)

3
16
October 14, 2012 (2012-10-14)
March 31, 2013 (2013-03-31)

4
16
October 13, 2013 (2013-10-13)
March 30, 2014 (2014-03-30)

5
16
October 12, 2014 (2014-10-12)
March 29, 2015 (2015-03-29)

6
16
October 11, 2015 (2015-10-11)
April 3, 2016 (2016-04-03)

7
16
October 23, 2016 (2016-10-23)
April 2, 2017 (2017-04-02)

8
16
October 22, 2017 (2017-10-22)
April 15, 2018 (2018-04-15)

text: The Walking Dead takes place after the onset of a worldwide zombie apocalypse. The zombies, colloquially referred to as "walkers", shamble towards living humans and other creatures to eat them; they are attracted to noise, such as gunshots, and to different scents, e.g. humans. Humans that they bite or scratch become infected and slowly turn into walkers as well. It is revealed early in the series that all living humans carry this pathogen, so that if they die from any other cause, they will also turn into walkers. The only way to permanently kill a walker is to damage its brain or otherwise fully destroy the body, such as by cremating it.

text: The series centers on sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes, who wakes up from a coma to discover this apocalypse. He becomes the leader of a group of survivors from the Atlanta, Georgia region as they attempt to sustain themselves and protect themselves not only against attacks by walkers but by other groups of survivors willing to assure their longevity by any means necessary.

text: Season 1 (2010)

text: Sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes wakes from a coma discovering a world overrun by zombies. After befriending Morgan Jones, Rick travels alone to Atlanta to find his wife Lori, his son, Carl, and his police partner, Shane Walsh, encountering other survivors. The group travels to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), but find from the sole remaining CDC member that no cure exists for the epidemic.[20][21]

text: Season 2 (2011–12)

text: Traveling from Atlanta, Rick's group takes shelter at Hershel Greene's farm while they search for Carol's missing daughter, Sophia. Tensions between Rick's group and Hershel's family worsen after it is discovered that Hershel has kept friends and family turned into zombies, including Sophia, in his barn. Shane and Rick's friendship becomes increasingly unhinged when Lori reveals that she is pregnant, and Rick is forced to kill Shane in self-defense. Carl then shoots Shane in the head after he reanimates. The noise draws zombies, forcing Rick's group and Hershel's surviving family to evacuate the farm.[22]

text: Season 3 (2012–13)

text: Eight months after fleeing Hershel's farm, Rick's group finds a prison, which they clear of zombies to make their new home. Lori dies in childbirth, and Rick becomes withdrawn. Meanwhile, Andrea is rescued by Michonne and the two discover Woodbury, a fortified town led by a man known as the Governor. He learns of Rick's group at the prison, leading to conflict between them. Rick's group eventually raids and destroys Woodbury, but the Governor has Andrea ultimately killed and escapes. Woodbury's citizens live with Rick’s group at the prison.[23]

text: Season 4 (2013–14)

text: Several months after the Governor's attack, a deadly flu kills many of the population at the prison. The Governor finds his former right-hand men and kills them, taking over their group and destroys the prison. Rick's group are forced to separate and flee, but not before Hershel and the Governor are killed. The survivors divide, face their own trials and meet new faces before finding signs pointing to a safe haven called Terminus. One by one, they reunite at Terminus, but all the group are captured for some unknown purpose.[24]

text: Season 5 (2014–15)

text: Rick discovers the residents of Terminus engage in cannibalism, but the group manage to destroy Terminus and reunite. Some are injured and kidnapped to Grady, a hospital run by corrupt cops and doctors. When the remaining survivors regroup, they are approached by Aaron, inviting them to join a fortified community called Alexandria. They are initially welcomed, but Rick's group realize the residents have not faced the zombie threat directly. Morgan, who has been searching for Rick, arrives and is shocked to see Rick killing an Alexandrian, who has been abusing his wife, in anger.[25]

text: Season 6 (2015–16)

text: The residents of Alexandria put more trust in Rick's group to protect the town better. A group known as the Wolves use a zombie horde to attack Alexandria, and many lives are lost before the living regain control. While recovering, they learn of a community called the Hilltop, who offer to help trade supplies if they can end the threat of the extortionist Saviors led by a man named Negan. Although Rick's group decimate one Savior outpost, they are later caught by Negan, and forced to swear loyalty to him.

text: Season 7 (2016–17)

text: Negan murders Glenn and Abraham to coerce Rick's loyalty. Rick initially submits, but Michonne persuades him to fight back, and recruits a community called the Scavengers for help. Meanwhile, Rosita and Eugene make a bullet to kill Negan. When this fails, Negan forcibly recruits Eugene as a Savior. Separately, Carol and Morgan befriend Ezekiel of the Kingdom, another community, while Maggie and Rosita rally the Hilltop. Negan, the Saviors and the turncoat Scavengers attack Alexandria, but it is repelled by Sasha's sacrifice and the aid of Kingdom and Hilltop soldiers.

text: Season 8 (2017–18)

text: Rick, Maggie, and Ezekiel rally their communities into war against Negan and the Saviors. Losses are heavy on both sides: many of the Kingdom soldiers are killed, Alexandria falls to a Savior attack, and Carl is bitten by a walker. Before euthanizing himself, Carl convinces Rick to end the war and restart society anew. Negan attempts to wipe out Rick and his allies, but Eugene disrupts his plan and his neck is slit by Rick. Against Maggie’s wishes, Negan is spared and imprisoned in Alexandria, ending the war.

text: Season 9

text: In January 2018, the series was renewed for a ninth season, which is planned to premiere in late 2018. It was announced that showrunner Scott Gimple would be promoted to Chief Content Officer for both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, while current writer and co-executive producer Angela Kang would take Gimple's role for The Walking Dead.[14] Most of the cast's contracts had to be renewed for the ninth season and beyond, and most of the cast did re-sign;[26] the notable exception is Lauren Cohan who plays Maggie Greene. Cohan had sought a pay increase from AMC given her high demand from other networks; while she had signed onto star in a new series for the ABC network, this contract would still enable her to participate on The Walking Dead in a limited role.[27]

text: Work on the ninth season's production started around March 2018, following the conclusion of editing of the eighth season finale.[28]

text: Future seasons

text: Executive producer David Alpert said in 2014 that the original comics have given them enough ideas for Rick Grimes and company over the next seven years. "I happen to love working from source material, specifically because we have a pretty good idea of what Season 10 is gonna be", Alpert said. "We know where seasons 11 and 12 [will be]... we have benchmarks and milestones for those seasons if we're lucky enough to get there."[29]

text: Cast and characters

text: The list below contains those that have been credited within the show's title sequence and those who are credited as "also starring". Recurring and guest stars are listed on the individual season pages.

text:
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes: The series' protagonist and a former sheriff's deputy, who is the leader of the main group of survivors. He becomes a more cold and calculating leader over the course of the series.
Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh: Rick's former police partner and close friend. (seasons 1–2; special guest star season 3)
Sarah Wayne Callies as Lori Grimes: Rick's wife, who has an affair with Shane when she believes Rick is dead. (seasons 1–3)
Laurie Holden as Andrea: A former civil rights attorney and member of the original Atlanta group of survivors. (seasons 1–3)
Jeffrey DeMunn as Dale Horvath: An older member of the group, who owns the RV with which the group travels. He is often the voice of reason within the group. (seasons 1–2)
Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee: A former pizza delivery boy, who saves Rick's life. He begins a relationship with Maggie Greene, and over the course of the series, becomes an integral member of the group. (seasons 1–7)
Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes: Rick and Lori's young son, who is forced to mature and learn to survive in the deadly new world. (seasons 1–8)
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon: The group's primary hunter, who becomes a key member of the group. (season 2–present; recurring season 1)
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier: Originally a meek housewife, she overcomes domestic abuse to become a strong and empowered woman capable of making difficult decisions. (season 2–present; recurring season 1)
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene: The eldest daughter of the Greene family and who begins a relationship with Glenn. (season 3–present; recurring season 2)
Danai Gurira as Michonne: A katana-wielding, quiet, but fierce woman who joins Rick's group. (season 3–present)
Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon: Daryl's racist and volatile older brother. In season three, he is the right-hand man to the Governor. (season 3; guest seasons 1–2)
David Morrissey as The Governor: The antagonistic leader of the town of Woodbury. He is ruthless, paranoid, and dangerous. (seasons 3–4; special guest star season 5)
Scott Wilson as Hershel Greene: A veterinarian and farmer, who maintains his faith and acts as the group's primary moral compass. (seasons 3–4; recurring season 2)
Emily Kinney as Beth Greene: A soft-spoken teenage girl, Hershel's younger daughter, and Maggie's younger half-sister. (seasons 4–5; recurring seasons 2–3)
Chad L. Coleman as Tyreese Williams: Tough and compassionate, he places an emphasis on moral reasoning. He struggles to cope with the immoral nature of some of the group's survival tactics and finds it difficult to kill in defense of the group. (seasons 4–5; recurring season 3)
Sonequa Martin-Green as Sasha Williams: Tyreese's fiery younger sister and a former firefighter, who is the group's sharpshooter. After several personal losses, she suffers from PTSD. (seasons 4–7; recurring season 3)
Lawrence Gilliard Jr. as Bob Stookey: A former army medic and recovering alcoholic, who develops a close relationship with Sasha. (seasons 4–5)
Michael Cudlitz as Abraham Ford: A former military sergeant, who is on a mission to bring a survivor to Washington, D.C., to find a cure for the walker virus. (seasons 5–7; recurring season 4)
Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler: A former police academy student and ally of the Governor's before joining Rick's group. She serves as a primary supply runner. (season 5–present; recurring season 4)
Josh McDermitt as Eugene Porter: A man who claims to know a cure for the walker virus. He is weak and inefficient when dealing with walkers, but is very smart. (season 5–present; recurring season 4)
Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa: A tough, focused, and a very capable survivor and also Abraham's girlfriend. (season 5–present; recurring season 4)
Andrew J. West as Gareth: The cannibalistic leader of Terminus, who captures and coerces Rick's group into submission. (season 5; guest season 4)
Seth Gilliam as Gabriel Stokes: A priest, who joins Rick's group. He lacks experience of walkers and struggles with his faith in the new world. (season 5–present)
Lennie James as Morgan Jones: The first survivor Rick encounters in season one. After suffering a psychological break, he comes to peace with the world around him. (seasons 6–8; recurring season 5; special guest star season 3; guest season 1)
Ross Marquand as Aaron: An Alexandrian recruiter, who brings Rick's group to Alexandria. (season 6–present; recurring season 5)
Tovah Feldshuh as Deanna Monroe: A former Congresswoman and leader of Alexandria. (season 6; recurring season 5)
Alexandra Breckenridge as Jessie Anderson: An Alexandria resident, who develops a relationship with Rick. (season 6; recurring season 5)
Austin Nichols as Spencer Monroe: Deanna's son and a guard of Alexandria. (seasons 6–7; recurring season 5)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan: The psychopathic leader of the Saviors that he rules in tyranny. (season 7–present; special guest star season 6)[30]
Austin Amelio as Dwight: A ruthless and reluctant member of the Saviors. (season 7–present; recurring season 6)[30]
Tom Payne as Paul "Jesus" Rovia: A member and scout for the Hilltop Colony. (season 7–present; recurring season 6)[30]
Xander Berkeley as Gregory: The selfish and arrogant leader of the Hilltop Colony. (season 7–present; guest season 6)[30]
Katelyn Nacon as Enid: An isolated teenager in Alexandria, who forms a bond with Carl. (season 8–present; recurring seasons 6–7; guest season 5)[31]
Khary Payton as Ezekiel: The "king" of a community known as the Kingdom. (season 8–present; recurring season 7)
Steven Ogg as Simon: A high-ranking member of the Saviors, serving as Negan's right-hand man. (season 8; recurring season 7; guest season 6)[31]
Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis ("Anne"): The impassive leader of the Scavengers. (season 8–present; recurring season 7)[31]

text: Darabont connections

text: The series features several actors whom Walking Dead developer Frank Darabont has worked with previously, including Laurie Holden (Andrea), Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale Horvath), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier), Sam Witwer (the dead soldier in the tank where Rick hides in "Days Gone Bye"), and Juan Gabriel Pareja (Morales). All five appeared in his 2007 film The Mist, along with Thomas Jane, who originally was set to star in the series when it was pitched to HBO. Jane was later in talks with Darabont to possibly guest star on the series as of fall 2010,[32] but with Darabont's departure,[33] it is unknown whether the guest spot will happen or not. Laurie Holden also appeared in the 2001 film The Majestic (as Adele Stanton, Jim Carrey's character's love interest), which Darabont directed. DeMunn has also appeared in several of Darabont's films; in addition to The Mist and The Majestic, he appeared in The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Green Mile (1999). It was planned that Witwer (Private Jessup in Darabont's The Mist) would reprise his "Days Gone Bye" role in the original conception of The Walking Dead's season two premiere[34] and in a webisode,[35] but both plans were discarded.[36]

text: Production

text: Development

text: On January 20, 2010, AMC officially announced that it had ordered a pilot for a possible series adapted from The Walking Dead comic book series, with Frank Darabont and Gale Anne Hurd acting as executive producers and Darabont writing and directing.[37] The entire series was pre-ordered based just on the strength of the source material, the television scripts, and Darabont's involvement.[38] In January 2010 a review of the pilot episode's script attracted further attention.[39] The pilot began filming in Atlanta, Georgia on May 15, 2010[40] after AMC had officially ordered a six episode first season.[41] The series' remaining episodes began filming on June 2, 2010 with Darabont serving as showrunner.[42][43] On August 31, 2010, Darabont reported that The Walking Dead had been picked up for a second season, with production to begin in February 2011. On November 8, 2010, AMC confirmed that there would be a second season consisting of 13 episodes.[44] He would also like to include some of the "environmental elements" that take place during Volume 2 of Kirkman's book.[45]

text: Crew

text: The first season writing staff consisted of series developer and executive producer Frank Darabont (who wrote/co-wrote four of the six episodes), executive producer Charles H. Eglee, executive producer and creator of the comic book Robert Kirkman, co-executive producer Jack LoGiudice, consulting producer Adam Fierro and Glen Mazzara, all of whom contributed to one episode each. Along with Darabont, who directed the pilot episode, the remaining five were directed by Michelle MacLaren, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Johan Renck, Ernest Dickerson and Guy Ferland.[46]

text: On December 1, 2010, Deadline.com reported that Darabont had fired his writing staff, including executive producer Charles "Chic" Eglee, and planned to use freelance writers for the second season.[47] Kirkman called the announcement "premature" and clarified that Eglee left to pursue other projects when Darabont decided to stay on as showrunner, and no definitive plans had been made regarding the writing staff for season two.[48]

text: [Chic Eglee] was brought onto The Walking Dead with the idea that Frank was going to work on the first season and then go off and do movies [...] Chic didn't want to be second-in-command on a show when he's used to being a top dog, and so he decided to go off and do something else, which is something that happens and is not a big deal.

text: On December 3, 2010, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd commented: "It's completely inaccurate. [In] the writers' room, there are people that have set up other projects that will be their first priority if their own series is picked up as a pilot or if it's a series. I think [Eglee] just decided that he wants to run his own show." She revealed that it would be likely for the show to return in October 2011, as Darabont and Kirkman planned on mapping out the next season early in 2011. She also confirmed that, "every one of the principal cast is signed up for multiple seasons."[49] In July 2011, series developer and showrunner Frank Darabont stepped down from his position as showrunner for the series, over unclear circumstances (see Lawsuit below).[50]

text: Executive producer Glen Mazzara was appointed the new showrunner in Darabont's place.[51] New writers joined the writing staff in the second season, including co-executive producer Evan Reilly, producer Scott M. Gimple, story editor Angela Kang, and David Leslie Johnson. New writers in the third season included producers Nichole Beattie and Sang Kyu Kim, with Frank Renzulli contributing a freelance script.

text: After the conclusion of the third season, Glen Mazzara stepped down from his position as showrunner and executive producer for the series, per a mutual agreement between Mazzara and AMC. The press release read, "Both parties acknowledge that there is a difference of opinion about where the show should go moving forward, and conclude that it is best to part ways."[52] Scott M. Gimple succeeded Mazzara as showrunner for season four,[53] with new writers joining the writing staff, such as Curtis Gwinn, Channing Powell, and Matt Negrete.[54] In January 2018, it was announced that, upon Gimple's promotion to the newly created position of Chief Content Officer of the entire Walking Dead franchise, that Angela Kang would replace him as showrunner beginning with the forthcoming ninth season.[55]

text: Writing

text: The television series generally tends to follow Kirkman's comic series across major characters and plots; for instance, events of the premiere episode of the seventh season correlate to events in issue #100 of the comics.[56][57] The show does not attempt to go step-by-step with the comics, and has leeway in the narrative. In particular, the show's writers, along with Kirkman, often "transfer" how a character has died in the comics to a different character in the show. For example, in the fourth season, where Hershel Greene is beheaded by The Governor in the standoff with Rick's group at the prison; in the comic, Tyreese is the one who receives this fate.[56] Some of the television characters, like Carol, have far outlived their comic counterpart, while others that have already been killed off, like Sophia and Andrea, remained alive for some time in the ongoing comic series.[57] In addition, the writers have included characters wholly novel to the series such as Daryl Dixon, which producer Gale Anne Hurd says helps to create a new dynamic for the show, and keeps the audience guessing from what had already been established in the comic series.[58]

text: Music

text: Bear McCreary was hired to compose the score for the series. McCreary stated that the main theme was based on his viewing of production designs for the opening title sequence. Instead of doing a full theme song as with his earlier works, McCreary chose to use a simple, repeating motif from the strings section.[59]

text: It repeats over and over, and in fact in the pilot episode, you start hearing it before the main title begins, and this is something that continues episode to episode. You hear the main title music before the main title begins, so you know it's coming. That, to me, was the little hook – that little thing that, whenever you hear it, it takes you to the series.

text: Soundtracks

text: Four soundtracks for The Walking Dead have been released to date. The Walking Dead: AMC Original Soundtrack, Vol. 1 was released on March 17, 2013.[60] The second volume was released on March 25, 2014.[61] Songs of Survival is a soundtrack for the third season and it was released on August 27, 2013, by Republic Records as a Walmart exclusive for the special edition release of the third season.[62] Songs of Survival, Vol. 2 is a soundtrack for the fourth season and it was released on August 26, 2014, by Republic Records as a Walmart exclusive of the fourth season release.[63]

text: Makeup

text: Greg Nicotero is an executive producer and the key special effects makeup artist on the series. Each walker is put through "zombie school" and is taught how to move like zombies. There are three levels of zombie makeup: Hero, Midground, and Deep Background. Hero zombies are featured walkers and are completely made over from head to toe. Midground zombies get highlights and shadows on the face, but do not get close enough to the camera to require full makeup. Deep background zombies often wear masks and are only meant to be used as a backdrop.[64]

text: Filming

text: The Walking Dead is mostly filmed in Georgia.[65] Since 2002, the state has offered a tax incentive for large film productions to drive producers to the state and bolster its economy.[66]

text: The first season was filmed primary in Atlanta, though required a great deal of coordination with the city to shut down streets and parks for film.[66] Production for subsequent seasons moved mainly to Riverwood Studios (doing business as Raleigh Studios Atlanta), a plot of land approximately 120 acres (0.49 km2) outside of Senoia, Georgia. Some existing buildings were used here, such as a subdivision that is used by several families that serves as the Alexandria Safe-Zone, while other buildings are constructed as sets, such as the exterior shots of the main Hilltop mansion, the trash heaps used by the Scavengers, or Father Gabriel's church. Sets are torn down when no longer needed; the church, after its use in the fifth season, was removed and its spot used for the iconic setting for the first meeting between Rick's group and Negan in the seventh season. The property includes sound stages constructed for interior shots, which then may be reused; the interior sets for the prison during the third season were reused to serve as the buildings and sets for the Savior's Sanctuary in the seventh season.[67][68] In July 2017, AMC purchased the studio lot from Riverwood for $8.25 million.[69]

text: Some scenes are shot outside of the studio. Woodbury, during the third season, was filmed in downtown Senoia. Other exceptions include the Kingdom, which is filmed at the former military base Fort McPherson, now converted to studios for Tyler Perry.[67][68]

text: The series is completely shot on 16 mm film.[70] David Tattersall was the director of photography for the pilot episode with David Boyd as the director of photography on the remainder of the episodes. Production design is done by Greg Melton and Alex Hajdu. The effects team includes veteran special effects makeup designers Greg Nicotero and Toby Sells,[71] special effects coordinator Darrell Pritchett, and visual effects supervisors Sam Nicholson and Jason Sperling.[72]

text: Marketing

text: The Walking Dead debuted during the same week in 120 countries. As part of an expansive campaign to advertise and heighten anticipation for the premiere, AMC and Fox International Channels coordinated a worldwide zombie invasion event on October 26, 2010. The stunt involved invading 26 major cities within a 24-hour period, starting with Taipei and Hong Kong, and ending in Los Angeles for the U.S. premiere.[73]

text: The show's official website released, just prior to the San Diego Comic-Con in 2010, a motion comic based on Issue No. 1 of the original comic and voiced by Phil LaMarr.[74] The site also posted a making-of documentary primarily about the first episode, as well as a number of other behind-the-scenes videos and interviews. In the documentary, comic series creator and show executive producer Robert Kirkman as well as artist Charlie Adlard say they are pleased with how faithful the show is to the comic and remark on the similarities between the actors and the comic's original character drawings.[75]

text: Action figures of characters from the series were created for release in November 2011 and have continued throughout the years with eight line-ups. The figures, which are manufactured by McFarlane Toys, are designed to resemble the actors on the series. Figures created to resemble the characters as drawn in the comic book were released in September 2011.[76]

text: Green initiatives

text: With a primary objective of reducing the environmental impacts of film and television productions, including The Walking Dead, producer Gale Anne Hurd has directed the cast, crew, production team, suppliers, and bloggers about her shows to adopt the Doddle app to make the production almost paper-free; this works by digitally transmitting interactive call sheets and other intra-team and team-supplier communications (such as directions, images, menus, and updates) to people's cell phones and tablets. Hurd said of using Doddle: in addition to conserving paper, "It's also easier, and it's better for security. People are less likely to leave their smartphone or tablet lying around for someone else to pick up."[77][78]

text: Hurd describes additional steps taken to increase efficiency and cut production costs: "If you use vehicles that get better gas mileage, that are electric or hybrids, you're going to pay a lot less in fuel. If you use compact fluorescent bulbs, you're going to save a lot of money in utilities. If you recycle even your own sets, and use them again, that's going to save money. You don't have to buy new lumber. So there are cost savings, absolutely."[77] Additionally, the production team aims to reduce vehicle idling, which decreases carbon dioxide emissions.[77][78][79]

text: Hurd also cuts down on plastic waste by personally using a refillable, stainless steel EcoUsable water bottle and promoting its use among her colleagues. She shared: "on a lot of my projects I give them as crew gifts before we start production, and have water stations available, but you can't force people to use them."[77]

text: Franchise and spin-offs

text: Webisodes

text: To date, four web series based on The Walking Dead have been released via AMC's website–Torn Apart (2011), Cold Storage (2012), The Oath (2013)[80] and Red Machete (2017).[81]

text: Motion comic

text: In 2011, AMC debuted an animated comic book version of The Walking Dead novel's beginning, featuring the voice of actor Phil LaMarr.[82]

text: Talking Dead

text: A live after-show titled Talking Dead premiered on AMC on October 16, 2011, following the encore presentation of The Walking Dead's season two premiere. Talking Dead features host Chris Hardwick discussing the latest episode with fans, actors, and producers of The Walking Dead.[83]

text: Fear the Walking Dead

text: Fear the Walking Dead is a companion series to The Walking Dead, developed by AMC. AMC started development of the show around September 2013 and committed to a two-season broadcast by March 2015.[84][18][85] Fear the Walking Dead was first broadcast on August 23, 2015,[19] and is renewed for a fourth season.

text: Fear the Walking Dead features a different set of characters, developed by Kirkman. The series starts at the onset of the zombie apocalypse, and follows several people that escape Los Angeles as the military attempts to quarantine the city, and seek refuge along the west coast of the United States and Mexico. The fourth season of Fear the Walking Dead will feature a crossover with The Walking Dead, specifically through the character Morgan Jones (played by Lennie James) during events between the first and second season of The Walking Dead.[86][87]

text: Parodies and spoofs

text: Due to its popularity, The Walking Dead has inspired dozens of parodies and spoofs featured on YouTube channels like Bad Lip Reading and TV shows such as Saturday Night Live[88][89][90] and Mad TV.[91] Bad Lip Reading made a widely viewed parody involving Rick and the Governor, entitled "La-Bibbida-Bibba-Dum".[92] The series' cast was shown the parody at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2013, and David Morrissey—who portrays the Governor— reacted by saying he now understood why so many people would walk up to him on the street and blurt, "Hey, La-Bibbida-Bibba-Dum!". Until seeing the video, he had wondered, "what's wrong with these people?"[93] The Walking Dead has also been represented as a live comedy performance by English comedian Dan Willis at the Edinburgh Festival.[94]

text: Release

text: Scenes from the pilot were screened July 23, 2010, as part of the San Diego Comic-Con in 2010.[95] It premiered on AMC on October 31, 2010, and premiered internationally on Fox International Channels during the first week of November.[7][8] Almost two weeks before the official premiere on AMC, the pilot episode leaked online.[96]

text: International broadcast rights for the show were sold and announced on June 14, 2010.[97] The show airs on Fox International Channels in 126 countries in 33 languages. The fifth season debuted its first part on October 13, 2014.[98] The second part premiered on February 9, 2015.[99]

text: Home media

text: The first season DVD and Blu-ray was released on March 8, 2011.[100] A three-disc special edition of the first season—featuring new featurettes and audio commentaries—was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 4, 2011.[101] The European versions of the first season DVD and Blu-ray are edited for gore, with cuts to episode two ("Guts"),[102] episode three ("Tell It to the Frogs"),[103] episode four ("Vatos")[104] and episode five ("Wildfire").[105] Until eOne/WVG re-released the first season in D-A-CH in a Special Uncut Version on DVD and Blu-ray on May 31, 2013.[106]

text: The second season DVD and Blu-ray was released on August 28, 2012. It was also released as a limited edition Blu-ray, packaged as a miniature zombie head designed by McFarlane Toys. Special features include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, webisodes, and several featurettes.[107]

text: The third season DVD and Blu-ray was released on August 27, 2013. It was also released as a limited edition Blu-ray, packaged as a miniature version of the Governor's zombie head aquarium tank designed by Greg Nicotero and sculpted by McFarlane Toys. Special features include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and several featurettes.[108]

text: The fourth season DVD and Blu-ray was released on August 26, 2014. It was also released as a limited edition Blu-ray, packaged with a tree-walker designed by McFarlane Toys. Special features include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and several featurettes, as well as extended episodes which are exclusive to the Blu-ray.[109]

text: The fifth season DVD and Blu-ray was released on August 25, 2015.[110]

text: Syndication

text: MyNetworkTV acquired the broadcast syndication rights to the series, premiering on October 1, 2014.[111] The version that airs on MyNetworkTV is edited to meet broadcast television standards.[112]

text: Reception

text: Critical reception

text:
Season
Critical response

Rotten Tomatoes
Metacritic

1
89% (24 reviews)[113]
82 (25 reviews)[114]

2
83% (22 reviews)[115]
80 (22 reviews)[116]

3
89% (32 reviews)[117]
82 (19 reviews)[118]

4
86% (30 reviews)[119]
75 (16 reviews)[120]

5
90% (31 reviews)[121]
80 (11 reviews)[122]

6
78% (23 reviews)[123]
79 (10 reviews)[124]

7
60% (11 reviews)[125]
N/A

8
71% (13 reviews)[126]
N/A

text: All seasons of The Walking Dead have been well reviewed by recognized critics, with an 89% approval rating for the series to date on Rotten Tomatoes.[15] For the first season, 24 Rotten Tomatoes critics gave it a positive review, with an average score of 7.49/10. That site's consensus states, "Blood-spattered, emotionally resonant, and white-knuckle intense, The Walking Dead puts an intelligent spin on the overcrowded zombie subgenre."[113] Metacritic scored the first season 82/100 based on 25 critic reviews, 23 of which were positive, two mixed, and none negative.[114] Heather Havrilesky of Salon.com included the show on their list of 9 new TV shows not to miss, giving it a grade of "A", with the author saying, "A film-quality drama series about zombies? Somebody pinch me!"[127]

text: For the second season, 83% of 22 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes were positive, with an average score of 8.09/10. The site's consensus states, "The second season of The Walking Dead fleshes out the characters while maintaining the grueling tension and gore that made the show a hit."[115] Of 22 Metacritic critic reviews, 18 were positive, four were mixed, and none were negative; their average score was 80/100.[116] Early criticism of the show focused on the slow pace of the second season, particularly the first half. Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly, described the series as "a nighttime soap", comparing it to "a parody of a Samuel Beckett play" that had very little sense of direction and few appearances of walkers.[128] Nate Rawlings of Time's online entertainment section noted that "the pace during the first half of this season has been brutally slow. [...] They've tried to develop individual characters, but each subplot meant to add a layer to a character has been quickly resolved."[129] Later reviews from other critics, such as Scott Wampler of Collider.com, recognized the increased quality of the second half, stating it "seemed far more intense, more interesting, better written".[130] Recognizing the overall season, Kevin Yeoman of Screen Rant offered praise saying "the writers succeeded in unshackling themselves from the intermittent monotony brought about by the serial nature of the show".[131]

text: The third season had 89% of Rotten Tomatoes' 32 critics giving it a positive review, with an average score of 8.12/10. The site's consensus states, "The palpable terror and visceral thrills continue in the third season of The Walking Dead, along with a deeper sense of the people who inhabit its apocalyptic landscape."[117] Metacritic's 19 critics rated the season 82/100, all of whom gave a positive review.[118] Verne Gay of Newsday claimed that the third season premiere "doesn't disappoint" going on to say that there are "spots where you will yell out at the screen, 'Oh, my God, that just didn't happen.' Yes, the new season is that good", concluding his review by giving the season an A+ rating.[132]

text: For season four, 86% of Rotten Tomatoes' 30 critic reviews were positive, with an average score of 7.66/10. The site's consensus states, "Consistently thrilling, with solid character development and enough gore to please grindhouse fans, this season of The Walking Dead continues to demonstrate why it's one of the best horror shows on television".[119] Metacritic scored the season 75/100 based on 16 critic reviews, 13 of which were positive, three mixed, and none negative.[120]

text: The fifth season had 90% of Rotten Tomatoes' 31 critic reviews rating it positively, with an average score of 7.88/10. The site's consensus states, "Thanks to a liberal dose of propulsive, bloody action and enough compelling character moments to reward longtime fans, The Walking Dead's fifth season continues to deliver top-notch entertainment."[121] Metacritic scored the fifth season 80/100 based on 11 critic reviews, all of which were positive.[122]

text: For season six, 78% of Rotten Tomatoes' 23 critic reviews were positive, with an average score of 7.35/10. The site's consensus states, "Six seasons in, The Walking Dead is still finding ways to top itself, despite slow patches that do little to advance the plot."[123] Metacritic scored the sixth season 79/100 based on 10 critic reviews, nine of which were positive, one mixed, and none negative.[124]

text: For the seventh season, 60% of Rotten Tomatoes' 11 critic reviews rated it positively, with an average score of 6.97/10. The site's consensus is, "Increased character depth and effective world-building helps The Walking Dead overcome a tiresome reliance on excessive, gratuitous violence."[125]

text: For the eighth season, 71% of Rotten Tomatoes' 13 critic reviews rated it positively, with an average score of 6.9/10. The site's consensus states "The Walking Dead's eighth season energizes its characters with some much-needed angst and action, though it's still occasionally choppy and lacking forward-moving plot progression."[126]

text: Ratings

text: The Walking Dead has the highest total viewership of any series in cable television history, including its third through sixth seasons, during which it averaged the most 18- to 49-year-old viewers of all cable or broadcast television shows.[9][10][11] Total viewership for its season five premiere was 17.3 million, the most-watched series episode in cable history.[133] In 2016, a New York Times study of the 50 TV shows with the most Facebook Likes found that like most other zombie shows, The Walking Dead "is most popular in rural areas, particularly southern Texas and eastern Kentucky".[134]

text:
Season
Timeslot (ET)
Episodes
First aired
Last aired
Avg. viewers
(millions)

Date
Viewers
(millions)
Date
Viewers
(millions)

1
Sunday 10:00 pm
6
October 31, 2010 (2010-10-31)
5.35[135]
December 5, 2010 (2010-12-05)
5.97[136]
5.24[137]

2
Sunday 9:00 pm
13
October 16, 2011 (2011-10-16)
7.26[138]
March 18, 2012 (2012-03-18)
8.99[139]
6.90[140]

3
16
October 14, 2012 (2012-10-14)
10.87[141]
March 31, 2013 (2013-03-31)
12.40[142]
10.75[143]

4
16
October 13, 2013 (2013-10-13)
16.11[144]
March 30, 2014 (2014-03-30)
15.68[145]
13.33[146]

5
16
October 12, 2014 (2014-10-12)
17.30[133]
March 29, 2015 (2015-03-29)
15.78[147]
14.38[148]

6
16
October 11, 2015 (2015-10-11)
14.63[149]
April 3, 2016 (2016-04-03)
14.19[150]
13.15[151]

7
16
October 23, 2016 (2016-10-23)
17.03[152]
April 2, 2017 (2017-04-02)
11.31[153]
11.35[154]

8
16
October 22, 2017 (2017-10-22)
11.44[155]
April 15, 2018 (2018-04-15)
7.92[156]
7.82[157]

text:
Season
Ep. 1
Ep. 2
Ep. 3
Ep. 4
Ep. 5
Ep. 6
Ep. 7
Ep. 8
Ep. 9
Ep. 10
Ep. 11
Ep. 12
Ep. 13
Ep. 14
Ep. 15
Ep. 16
Average

1
5.35
4.71
5.07
4.75
5.56
5.97
N/A
5.24[137]

2
7.26
6.70
6.10
6.29
6.12
6.08
6.62
8.10
6.89
7.04
6.77
6.89
8.99
N/A
6.91[143]

3
10.87
9.55
10.51
9.27
10.37
9.21
10.43
10.48
12.26
11.05
11.01
11.30
11.46
10.84
10.99
12.42
10.75[143]

4
16.11
13.95
12.92
13.31
12.20
12.00
11.29
12.05
15.76
13.34
13.12
12.61
12.65
12.87
13.47
15.68
13.33[146]

5
17.29
15.14
13.80
14.52
13.53
14.07
13.33
14.81
15.64
12.27
13.44
14.43
14.53
13.78
13.76
15.78
14.38[148]

6
14.63
12.18
13.14
13.34
12.44
12.87
13.22
13.98
13.74
13.48
12.79
12.82
12.53
12.69
12.38
14.19
13.15[151]

7
17.03
12.46
11.72
11.40
11.00
10.40
10.48
10.58
12.00
11.08
10.42
10.16
10.68
10.32
10.54
11.31
11.35[154]

8
11.44
8.92
8.52
8.69
7.85
8.28
7.47
7.89
8.28
6.82
6.60
6.66
6.77
6.30
6.67
7.92
7.82[157]

text: Awards and nominations

text: The Walking Dead was nominated for Best New Series by the Writers Guild of America Awards 2011[16] and Best Television Series Drama by the 68th Golden Globe Awards.[17] The show was named one of the top 10 television programs of 2010 by the American Film Institute Awards 2010.[159] For the 37th Saturn Awards, the series received six nominations—for Best Television Presentation, Andrew Lincoln for Best Actor in Television, Sarah Wayne Callies for Best Actress on Television, Steven Yeun for Best Supporting Actor in Television, Laurie Holden for Best Supporting Actress in Television, and Noah Emmerich for Best Guest Starring Role in Television.[160] The series was nominated for Best Drama Series by the inaugural 1st Critics' Choice Television Awards.[161] The pilot episode "Days Gone Bye" received three nominations from the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards—for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series and Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series[162] and won for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special.[163] For the 41st Saturn Awards, the series received its highest number of nominations, with a total of seven, including for the show itself, Andrew Lincoln for Best Actor on Television, Norman Reedus for Best Supporting Actor on Television, Emily Kinney and Melissa McBride for Best Supporting Actress on Television, Andrew J. West for Best Guest Star on Television, and Chandler Riggs for Best Young Performer on Television.[164]

text: Lawsuits

text: Darabont's departure as showrunner in July 2011 during the second season came as surprise to many, as it came shortly after the season's premiere and a few days after that year's Comic-Con, where Darabont helped to promote the show.[165] It was speculated that he was unable to adjust to the schedule of running a television series.[50] However, The Hollywood Reporter reported that AMC had fired him. There had been reported difficulties in the production of the second season, including disputes over planned budget cuts and executive meddling, and it was known that Darabont and AMC had several discussions relating to these factors. However, neither Darabont, AMC, nor the cast nor crew of The Walking Dead spoke about the reasons for his firing.[166]

text: In December 2013, Darabont and his agents from Creative Artists Agency (CAA) filed a lawsuit against AMC in a New York court, citing breach of contract. A central part of Darabont's lawsuit accuses AMC of denying him and the CAA the promised profits from the success of the series, based on how AMC had used vertical integration in producing and distributing The Walking Dead.[165] As stated in Darabont's filing, he had initially entered into a contract with AMC to have a third-party studio produce the show, from which he would have obtained 12.5% of that entity's profits, after standard deductions. AMC wanted to produce the show in-house, and for the first season, Darabont's lawyers had been assured that Darabont would be protected from self-dealing fees by having AMC commit to imputed license fees equivalent to those of other independent studios, with Darabont earning profit from that. Darabont's suit contends that when the show's popularity took off, AMC presented a license fee deal to Darabont around February 2011 that used "an unconscionably low license fee formula" such that AMC could report the show running at a loss and ensuring that Darabont would never see any profit from the show; as an example, the suit references statements in 2012, following the second season, that AMC claimed the show was running at a $49 million deficit, despite being one of the most popular shows in broadcast.[165] Darabont's suit contends he was fired just at the start of the second season so that AMC would avoid having to pay him.[165]

text: Initial discovery phase hearings were held in 2014. Darabont's lawyers sought to gain information from AMC on their other shows, specifically Breaking Bad and Mad Men, to obtain a "fair market value" for The Walking Dead. AMC asserted it had done no wrongdoing, had already paid Darabont $3 million upfront for two seasons, and was able to properly set the imputed license fee that worked into the profit formula for Darabont. The network resisted the request to provide otherwise confidential information on the other shows.[167] The court granted Darabont's lawyers access to the requested information as part of the discovery phase.[168] Darabont described "crisis-level problems" during the show's production while under deposition, claiming that AMC had cut the per-episode budget from $3.4 million to $3 million while keeping the tax credit offered by the state of Georgia for filming there, effectively reducing the production budget by 25%.[169]

text: In August 2015, Darabont requested to amend his original complaint that AMC further reduced his profits from the second season as his firing mid-season meant he was not fully vested in the season, allowing AMC to reduce the profits paid him. Darabont's amended request points out that he had written and produced all the episodes in that season already and was entitled to the proper profit share.[170] The judge granted this amendment in February 2016, partially influenced by concerns raised in Darabont's deposition.[171]

text: At the end of the discovery phase in September 2016, Darabont's lawyers stated they are seeking damages of over $280 million; AMC stated they will "vigorously" defend against the lawsuit. If the case does go to trial, it is expected to occur during 2018.[172] Summary judgement statements were completed in July 2017.[173] While waiting for summary judgement, Darabont and the CAA filed a second lawsuit against AMC, based on further evaluation of material from the discovery phase. The second suit contended that AMC purposely manipulated some of its licensing fees that should go to Darabont, such as revenue from digital sales and from overseas markets.[174]

text: In August 2017, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Charles Eglee, Glen Mazzara and David Alpert filed similar lawsuits against AMC, citing breach of contract over profits owed to them as a result of AMC's vertical integration. As with Darabont, each had been given a certain percentage of the show's profits based on if the show was produced by a third-party, but when it was transitioned to AMC Studios, their share was dramatically reduced. The Hollywood Reporter estimated that if the four seek similar damages as Darabont, the lawsuit could be as high as $1 billion.[175] The suits, filed separately in Los Angeles and New York City, will be consolidated into a single case to be heard in a California court.[176] Kirkman and the others said that despite the lawsuit, they will continue to work as "partners" with AMC to assure continued success of The Walking Dead and its spinoff series Fear the Walking Dead.[177]


document_title: Knit cap

question_text: what is a hat with a ball on top called

question_tokens: what is a hat with a ball on top called

root

text: Knit cap

text: Construction[edit]

text: Most knit caps are tapered at the top. The stretch of the knitting itself hugs the head, keeping the cap secure. They are sometimes topped with a pom-pom or loose tassels. Knit caps may have a folded brim, or none, and may be worn tightly fitting the head or loose on top. A South American tradition from the Andes Mountains is for the cap to have ear flaps, with strings for tying under the chin. A special type of cap called a balaclava folds down over the head with openings for just the face or for the eyes or mouth only.

tag: p

text: Some modern variants are constructed as a parallel sided tube, with a draw-string closure at one end. This version can be worn as a neck-warmer with the draw-string loose and open, or as a hat with the draw-string pulled tight and closed.

text: History[edit]

text: Balaclava[edit]

text: The pull-down knit cap was known in the army of the British Empire as an Uhlan cap or a Templar cap. During the Crimean War, handmade pull-down caps were sent over to the British troops to help protect them from the bitter cold weather before or after the battle of Balaclava.[1] The cap became popularly known a Balaclava helmet or just balaclava among the soldiers.[2]

text: Scandinavian tophue[edit]

text: In Scandinavia, caps resembling a typical knit cap with a pom-pom has been in use since the Viking period and possibly earlier. The term (Danish tophue, Norwegian topplue, Swedish toppluva) means "top cap", and refers to the pom-pom. The Rällinge statuette, depicting Viking fertility god Freyr shows him wearing a pointed cap with pom-pom.[3]

text: Early caps were probably sewn or made with nålebinding, but were knitted from the 17th century onwards, when knitting became known in Scandinavia. Inspired by the phrygian cap of the French revolution, it became largely ubiquitous during the 18th and 19th century. It is still found in many of the Scandinavian folk costumes for men.[4]

text: Canadian tuque or toque[edit]

text: The precursor to the modern tuque was a small, round, close-fitting hat, brimless or with a small brim known as a Monmouth cap. In the 12th and 13th centuries, women wore embroidered "toques", made of velvet, satin, or taffeta, on top of their head-veils. In the late 16th century, brimless, black velvet toques were popular with men and women. Throughout the 19th century, women wore toques, often small, trimmed with fur, lace, bows, flowers, or leaves.[5]

text: The term tuque is French Canadian. Some etymologists think it probably comes from an Old Spanish word (toca) for a type of headdress — specifically, a soft, close-fitting cap worn about 500 years ago.

text: The word tuque is similarly related to the name of the chef's toque, an alternate spelling from Middle Breton, the language spoken by Breton immigrants at the founding of New France. In Modern Breton, it is spelled tok, and it just means "hat". In Old Breton, it was spelled toc.

text: The tuque is similar to the Phrygian cap, and, as such, during the 1837 Patriotes Rebellion, a red tuque became a symbol of French-Canadian nationalism. The symbol was revived briefly by the Front de libération du Québec in the 1960s.[6] It is considered outerwear and is not commonly worn indoors.

text: In Canadian English, knit caps are also known as a tuque (pronounced /tuːk/; also spelled touque or toque), a word closely related to the French word toque, originally referring to a traditional headwear and now used for a type of chef's hat (short for toque blanche, meaning "white hat"). Toque is also commonly used across northern New England as well, especially among the working class.

text: The word is also occasionally spelled touque. Although this is not considered a standard spelling by the Canadian Oxford Dictionary,[7] some informal media polls have suggested that it is the preferred spelling by many Canadians.[8]

text: In some sections of Canada, a tuque with a brim on it, commonly worn by snowboarders, is nicknamed a bruque (a brimmed tuque).[9]

text: British bobble hat[edit]

text: A bobble hat or bobble cap is a knit cap that has a yarn "bobble" or pom-pom upon its top. It is similar to a watch cap; however, such a tuque does not have a bobble on its top.

text: Bobble hats were traditionally considered utilitarian cold-weather wear. In the early 21st century they were considered popular only with geeks and nerds. A surprise rise in popularity, driven initially by the Geek-Chic trend saw them become a fashionable and, with a real fur bobble, luxury designer item.[10][11][12]

text: In the late 20th century, in the United Kingdom they (like the anorak) were associated with utilitarian unfashionability or with older football supporters, as they had been popular in club colours during the 1960s and 1970s.[13][14] Along with the pin-on rosette and the football scarf, the bobble hat was seen as traditional or old-fashioned British working-class football regalia.

text: In popular culture[edit]

text: Knit caps are common in cold climates, and are worn worldwide in various forms. They have become the common headgear for stereotypical dockworkers and sailors in movies and television. Bill Murray wore this type of hat in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, possibly as a parody of the red tuque (or Phrygian cap) worn by Jacques Cousteau.

text: Famous media characters to sport a knit cap are the SCTV characters Bob and Doug McKenzie. Michael Nesmith of The Monkees also wore this hat in his television series, as did Jay in the films of the View Askewniverse, Robert Clothier's character "Relic" in the long-running Canadian TV series The Beachcombers, and Hanna-Barbera's character Loopy de Loop wore a knit cap as well. Michael Parks wore one as James "Jim" Bronson in the popular series "Then Came Bronson". Robert Conrad also had worn one in his role of coureur des bois in the epic TV series Centennial. Bruce Weitz's character Mick Belker wore this hat throughout almost every episode of Hill Street Blues.

text: Characters in the animated series South Park, including Eric Cartman and Stan Marsh, usually wear knit caps. Jayne Cobb from the TV series Firefly wore an orange sherpa knitted and sent him by his mother in the episode "The Message". The character Compo on the British TV show Last of the Summer Wine is almost always seen wearing a knit cap.

text: The guitarist for the Irish band U2, The Edge, is also known for wearing a knit cap while performing, or during interviews. Tom Delonge, former guitarist and vocalist of the pop punk band Blink-182 is also known to wear a knit cap during live performances. Rob Caggiano, music producer and former guitarist for thrash metal band Anthrax, is often seen wearing a black one. Lee Hartney from The Smith Street Band is regularly seen in a black knit cap, even during an Australian summer. Canadian Daniel Powter also wore a blue knit cap during the music video for "Bad Day". Knit caps are also worn commonly by hip hop artists. Masao Inaba from Revelations: Persona wears one.

text: Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier wore a toque over his helmet during the sixth annual National Hockey League Winter Classic on January 1, 2014.

text: One of the more notable wearers of the tuque was Jacques Plante, the Hall of Fame goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team throughout the 1950s. During the 2003 Heritage Classic game (which was played at temperatures below −15 °C (5 °F)), another Canadiens goaltender, José Théodore, wore a tuque on top of his goalie mask.

text: A 1984 Québécois film about an enormous snowball fight has the French title La guerre des tuques (The War of the Tuques).[15] A town in Quebec is known as La Tuque, named after a nearby hill that resembles a tuque.

text: During the 2000s and 2010s, the bobble hat remains popular among many celebrities,[16] including American rapper Eminem and Dappy from British-Cypriot group N-Dubz.[17]

text: Santa Claus is often shown with a knitted cap or a sewn cap following the typical Scandinavian style knitted cap with a pom-pom, a trait he has inherited from the Germanic/Scandinavian tradition. The Scandinavian tomte is likewise usually depicted with a red knitted cap, such a cap is also used as a national symbol (sometimes negatively) in Norway.[18]

text: Other names[edit]

text: This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

tag: table

text: Other names for knit caps include: sock hat, knit hat, poof ball hat, bonnet, sock cap, stocking cap, tossel cap, “skull cap”,ski hat, toboggan (Southern American English), burglar beanie, watch cap (American English), woolly hat, snookie, sugan, or chook.

text: In parts of the English-speaking world, this type of knitted hat is traditionally called a "beanie", but in parts of Canada and the US, the word "beanie" is used to denote a completely different, less floppy, cap that is not knitted, but rather made up of joined panels of felt, twill, or other tightly woven cloth (see Beanie (seamed cap)).

text: A knit cap is commonly referred to as a "watch cap" by members of the United States military, as it is the head gear worn while "standing watch" on a ship or guard post. The term "snookie cap" is also frequently used in the US military.

text: A knit cap with ear flaps is often called a bobble hat, toboggan, or sherpa.


document_title: Japanese militarism

question_text: when did the militarists take over the civilian government of japan

text: Japanese militarism

text: History[edit]

text: Rise of militarism[edit]

text: The military had a strong influence on Japanese society from the Meiji Restoration. Almost all leaders in Japanese society during the Meiji period (whether in the military, politics or business) were ex-samurai or descendants of samurai, and shared a set of values and outlooks. The early Meiji government viewed Japan as threatened by western imperialism, and one of the prime motivations for the Fukoku Kyohei policy was to strengthen Japan's economic and industrial foundations, so that a strong military could be built to defend Japan against outside powers.

text: '--Transition of Japanese Militarism'

text: The Japanese society and government have always prided themselves on having a strong military figure in the world. They were a militaristic powerhouse, but the thing was that this put such a strain on their economy and other aspects of their nation. Their nation never really was able to flourish because they were in such a total war mindset. Their businesses and companies were producing things that would help them win the war, but not help their country strive. Their nation’s economy was never able to rise, because consumers were not buying things, but they were helping with the war effort. In the World Wars, Japan was a super power with resources and weapons that could win the war single handedly, but them winning the war was not going to help them flourish economically and socially as a nation. It was not until their transition away from a militaristic state that their nation really flourished. Japan had such a strong military, but their militaristic state ways, put a social and economic strain on their nation, as although they had so much potential to strive at a nation, it was overlooked because of their government and military.

text: The rise of universal military conscription, introduced by Yamagata Aritomo in 1873, along with the proclamation of the Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors in 1882 enabled the military to indoctrinate thousands of men from various social backgrounds with military-patriotic values and the concept of unquestioning loyalty to the Emperor as the basis of the Japanese state (kokutai). Yamagata like many Japanese was strongly influenced by the recent striking success of Prussia in transforming itself from an agricultural state to a leading modern industrial and military power. He accepted Prussian political ideas, which favored military expansion abroad and authoritarian government at home. The Prussian model also devalued the notion of civilian control over the independent military, which meant that in Japan, as in Germany, the military could develop into a state within a state, thus exercising greater influence on politics in general.[1]

text: Following the German victory in the Franco-Prussian War, the Army Staff College and the Japanese General Staff paid close attention to Major Jakob Meckel's views on the superiority of the German military model over the French system as the reason for German victory. In response to a Japanese request, Prussian Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke sent Meckel to Japan to become an O-yatoi gaikokujin.[2] In Japan, Meckel worked closely with future Prime Ministers General Katsura Tarō and General Yamagata Aritomo, and with army strategist General Kawakami Soroku. Meckel made numerous recommendations which were implemented, including reorganization of the command structure of the army into divisions and regiments, thus increasing mobility, strengthening the army logistics and transportation structure with the major army bases connected by railways, establishing artillery and engineering regiments as independent commands, and revising the universal conscription system to abolish virtually all exceptions. A bust of Meckel was sited in front of the Japanese Army Staff College from 1909 through 1945.[3]

text: Although his period in Japan (1885–1888) was relatively short, Meckel had a tremendous impact on the development of the Japanese military. He is credited with having introduced Clausewitz's military theories[4] and the Prussian concept of war games (kriegspiel) in a process of refining tactics.[5] By training some sixty of the highest-ranking Japanese officers of the time in tactics, strategy and organization, he was able to replace the previous influences of the French advisors with his own philosophies. Meckel especially reinforced Hermann Roesler's ideal of subservience to the Emperor by teaching his pupils that Prussian military success was a consequence of the officer class's unswerving loyalty to their sovereign Emperor, as expressly codified in Articles XI-XIII of the Meiji Constitution.[6]

text: The rise of political parties in the late Meiji period was coupled with the rise of secret and semi-secret patriotic societies, such as the Genyōsha (1881) and Kokuryukai (1901), which coupled political activities with paramilitary activities and military intelligence, and supported expansionism overseas as a solution to Japan's domestic issues.

text: Japan felt looked down on by Western countries during the late 19th century. The phrase fukoku kyōhei (rich nation, strong army) was created during this time and shows how Japanese officials saw imperialism as the way to gain respect and power. [7] With a more aggressive foreign policy, and victory over China in the First Sino-Japanese War and over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, Japan joined the imperialist powers. The need for a strong military to secure Japan's new overseas empire was strengthened by a sense that only through a strong military would Japan earn the respect of western nations, and thus revision of the unequal treaties.

text: Economic factors[edit]

text: During the 19th century, Great Power status was considered dependent on resource-rich colonial empires, both as a source of raw materials for military and industrial production, and international prestige.

text: Due to the lack of resources in Japanese home islands, raw materials such as iron, oil, and coal largely had to be imported. The success of Japan in securing Taiwan (1895) and Korea (1910) had brought Japan primarily agricultural colonies. In terms of resources, the Japanese military looked towards Manchuria's iron and coal, Indochina's rubber, and China's vast resources. However, the army was at variance with the zaibatsu financial and industrial corporations on how to manage economic expansion, a conflict also affecting domestic politics.[8]

text: Independence of the military[edit]

text: Also forming part of the basis for the growth of militarism was the freedom from civilian control enjoyed by the Japanese armed forces. In 1878, the Imperial Japanese Army established the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff office, modeled after the Prussian General Staff. This office was independent of, and equal (and later superior) to the Ministry of War of Japan in terms of authority. The Imperial Japanese Navy soon followed with the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff. These General Staff offices were responsible for the planning and execution of military operations, and reported directly to the emperor. As the Chiefs of the General Staff were not cabinet ministers, they did not report to the Prime Minister of Japan, and were thus completely independent of any civilian oversight or control.

text: The Army and the Navy also had decisive say on the formation (and survival) of any civilian government. Since the law required that the posts of Army Minister and Navy Minister be filled by active duty officers nominated by their respective services, and since the law also required that a prime minister resign if he could not fill all of his cabinet posts, both the Army and the Navy had final say on the formation of a cabinet, and could bring down the cabinet at any time by withdrawing their minister and refusing to nominate a successor. In reality, while this tactic was used only one time (ironically to prevent a General, Kazushige Ugaki, from becoming Prime Minister in 1937), the threat always loomed large when the military made any demands on the civilian leadership.

text: Growth of ultranationalism[edit]

text: During the Taishō period, Japan saw a short period of democratic rule (the so-called "Taisho democracy"), and several diplomatic attempts were made to encourage peace, such as the Washington Naval Treaty and participation in the League of Nations. However, with the beginning of the Shōwa era, the apparent collapse of the world economic order with the Great Depression starting in 1929, coupled with the imposition of trade barriers by western nations and an increasing radicalism in Japanese politics including issues of domestic terrorist violence (including an assassination attempt on the emperor in 1932 and a number of attempted coups d'état by ultra-nationalist secret societies) led to a resurgence of so-called "jingoistic" patriotism, a weakening of democratic forces and a belief that the military could solve all threats both domestic and foreign. Patriotic education also strengthened the sense of a hakko ichiu, or a divine mission to unify Asia under Japanese rule.

text: Those who continued to resist the "military solution" including nationalists with unquestionable patriotism, such as generals Jotaro Watanabe and Tetsuzan Nagata and ex-Foreign Minister Kijūrō Shidehara were driven from office or an active role in the government.

text: A turning point came with the ratification of the London Naval Treaty of 1930. Prime Minister Osachi Hamaguchi and his Minseito party agreed to a treaty which would severely limit Japanese naval power. This treaty was strongly opposed by the military, who claimed that it would endanger national defense, and was portrayed by the opposition Rikken Seiyukai party as having been forced upon Japan by a hostile United States, which further inflamed growing anti-foreign sentiment.

text: The Japanese system of party government finally met its demise with the May 15 Incident in 1932, when a group of junior naval officers and army cadets assassinated Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi. Although the assassins were put on trial and sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment, they were seen popularly as having acted out of patriotism and the atmosphere was set where the military was able to act with little restraint.

text: Growth of military adventurism[edit]

text: Japan had been involved in the Asian continent continuously from the First Sino-Japanese War, Boxer Rebellion, Russo-Japanese War, World War I and the Siberian Intervention. During the term of Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi from 1927 to 1929, Japan sent troops three times to China to obstruct Chiang Kai-shek's unification campaign. In June 1928, adventurist officers of the Kwantung Army embarked on unauthorized initiatives to protect Japanese interests in Manchuria, including the assassination of a former ally, warlord Zhang Zuolin, in hopes of sparking a general conflict.

text: The Manchurian Incident of September 1931 did not fail, and it set the stage for the Japanese military takeover of all of Manchuria. Kwantung Army conspirators blew up a few meters of South Manchurian Railway Company track near Mukden, blamed it on Chinese saboteurs, and used the event as an excuse to invade and seize the vast territory.

text: In Tokyo one month later, in the Imperial Colors Incident, military figures failed in an attempt to establish a military dictatorship, but again the news was suppressed and the military perpetrators were not punished.

text: In January 1932, Japanese forces attacked Shanghai in the First Shanghai Incident, waging a three-month undeclared war there before a truce was reached. The civilian government in Tokyo was powerless to prevent these military adventures, and instead of being condemned, the Kwangtung Army's actions enjoyed considerable popular support.

text: Inukai's successors, military men chosen by Saionji Kinmochi, the last surviving genrō, recognized Manchukuo and generally approved the army's actions in securing Manchuria as an industrial base, an area for Japanese emigration, and a potential staging ground for war with the Soviet Union. Various army factions contended for power amid increasing suppression of dissent and more assassinations. In the February 26 Incident of 1936, the Army's elite First Infantry Division staged an attempted coup d'état in yet another effort to overthrow civilian rule. The revolt was put down by other military units, and its leaders were executed after secret trials. Despite public dismay over these events and the discredit they brought to numerous military figures, Japan's civilian leadership capitulated to the army's demands in the hope of ending domestic violence. Increases were seen in defense budgets, naval construction (Japan announced it would no longer accede to disarmament treaties), and patriotic indoctrination as Japan moved toward a wartime footing.[3]

text: In November 1936, the Anti-Comintern Pact, an agreement to exchange information and collaborate in preventing communist activities, was signed by Japan and Germany (Italy joined a year later). War was launched against China with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident of July 7, 1937 in which a clash near Beijing between Chinese and Japanese troops quickly escalated into the full-scale warfare of the Second Sino-Japanese War, followed by the Soviet-Japanese Border Wars and the Pacific War.

text: Despite the military's long tradition of independence from civilian control, its efforts at staging a coup d'état to overthrow the civilian government, and its forcing Japan into war through insubordination and military adventurism, the military was ultimately unable to force a military dictatorship on Japan.

text: Under Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro, the Japanese government was streamlined to meet war-time conditions and under the National Mobilization Law was given absolute power over the nation's assets. In 1940, all political parties were ordered to dissolve into the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, forming a one-party state based on totalitarian values. Even so, there was much entrenched opposition from the government bureaucrats, and in the 1942 general election for the Japanese Diet, the military was still unable to do away with the last vestiges of party politics. This was partly due to the fact that the military itself was not a monolithic structure, but was rent internally with its own political factions. Even Japan's wartime Prime Minister, Hideki Tōjō, had difficulty controlling portions of his own military.

text: Japan's overseas possessions, greatly extended as a result of early successes in the Pacific War were organized into a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which was to have integrated Asia politically and economically—under Japanese leadership—against Western domination.

text: Opposition to militarism[edit]

text: Despite the apparently monolithic national consensus on the official aggressive policies pursued by the Imperial government in the first part of the Shōwa era, some substantial opposition did exist. This was one of various forms of Japanese dissidence during the Shōwa period.

text: The most organized open opposition to militarism was from the Japanese Communist Party. In the early 1930s Communist activists attempted to influence army conscripts, but the party was suppressed during the mid-1930s within Japan.

text: Personal opposition included individuals from the fields of party politics, business and culture. Some notable examples include:

text:
Hara Takashi, a commoner and liberal thinker of the Rikken Seiyūkai, had become prime minister in 1918 with the rallying cry of "Militarism is dead." Three years later, however, Hara was assassinated.
Kijūrō Shidehara followed a non-interventionist policy toward China, attempting to stabilize its relations with Great Britain and the United States. The term "Shidehara diplomacy" came to describe Japan's liberal foreign policy during the 1920s, and was assailed by military interests who believed it was weakening the country.
Baron Takuma Dan, director of Mitsui Bank, was an important opponent of Japan overseas interventions and was known for his pro-American views. He was murdered on March 5, 1932 in the League of Blood Incident.
Minobe Tatsukichi, a respected professor at Tokyo Imperial University declared the emperor to be a part of the constitutional structure of Japan rather than a sacred power beyond the state itself in 1935. His constitutional interpretation was overwhelmingly accepted by bureaucrats until the 1930s. In the increasingly militant 1930s, these ideas led to attacks against Minobe in the House of Peers and his resignation from that body.
Saitō Takao, a graduate of Yale University was a member of the Rikken Minseito party. On February 2, 1940, he made a speech in the Diet in which he sharply questioned the prosecution and justification of Japan's "holy war" in China. He was expelled from the Diet on March 7, 1940 and his speech also led to the creation of the League of Diet Members Believing the Objectives of the Holy War by Fumimaro Konoe.
Admiral Sōkichi Takagi, an opponent of Japan's decision to declare war on the United States, was asked by Navy Minister Shigetarō Shimada to compile a report analyzing Japanese defeats during the Pacific campaign of 1942. His analysis convinced Takagi of Japan's inevitable defeat. Believing that the only solution for Japan was the elimination of the Tojo-led government and a truce with the United States, Takagi began planning for the assassination of Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō before his removal from office in July 1944.
Kanō Jigorō, creator of Judo and founder of the modern Japanese educational system, member of Japan's Olympic Committee, and de facto foreign minister for Japan was a staunch opponent of militarism. Concerned that his Judo school, the Kodokan, would be used as a military training center, he obtained a promise from the Emperor that it would not be. Alternate sources list different causes of death, and some consider his passing to be suspicious.

tag: ul

text: Japan attacking Pearl Harbor[edit]

text: The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor happened on December 7, 1941. The reasons behind this attack has been motivated as a result of anger that has been fueled by the Japanese people against the United States and their past rocky relationship. Japan had plans to take over other Asian countries, which resulted in the US to strip any war materials and resources to be sold to the Japanese and froze all assets and bank accounts in the US. The US fleet moved from being stationed in California to be moved in Pearl Harbor to somewhat control Japan's aggression and imposed on an embargo of essential materials, because Japan was trying to take over and control more territories. [1]

text: Post-war[edit]

text: Despite efforts to totally militarize Japanese society during the war, including such measures as the National Service Draft Ordinance and the National Spiritual Mobilization Movement, Japanese militarism was discredited by the failure of Japan's military in World War II and by the American occupation. After the surrender of Japan, many of its former military leaders were tried for war crimes before the Tokyo tribunal, its government, educational system revised and had pacifism written into the post-war Constitution of Japan as one of its key tenets.

text: While many[who?] believe that nationalism is on the rise, due to the country's economic downfall and increased push to revise article nine to assist in international peacekeeping operations, many[who?] also believe that it has very little to do with militarism in general. Others[who?] are concerned that the public showings of respect to war criminals enshrined along with the war dead by the political leaders is a worrisome new development bringing a new dynamic to the region.[2]

text: Timeline[edit]

text:
1931: Hamaguchi dies and Wakatsuki Reijirō becomes prime minister (April 14). Inukai Tsuyoshi becomes prime minister (December 13) and increases funding for the military in China. Mukden Incident occurs.
1932: After an attack on Japanese monks in Shanghai (January 18), Japanese forces shell the city (January 29). Manchukuo is established with Henry Pu Yi as emperor (February 29). Inukai is assassinated during a coup attempt and Saitō Makoto becomes prime minister (May 15). Japan is censured by the League of Nations (December 7).
1933: Japan leaves the League of Nations (March 27).
1934: Keisuke Okada becomes prime minister (July 8). Japan withdraws from the Washington Naval Treaty (December 29).
1936: Coup attempt, the February 26 Incident, crushed by Hirohito. Kōki Hirota becomes prime minister (March 9). Japan signs its first pact with Germany (November 25) and occupies Tsingtao (December 3). Mengchiang established in Inner Mongolia.
1937: Senjūrō Hayashi becomes prime minister (February 2). Prince Konoe Fumimaro becomes prime minister (June 4). The Sino-Japanese War starts with the Battle of Lugou Bridge (July 7). Japan captures Peking (July 31). Japanese troops occupy Nanking (December 13), beginning the Nanking massacre.
1938: Battle of Taierzhuang (March 24). Canton falls to Japanese forces (October 21).
1939: Hiranuma Kiichirō becomes prime minister (January 5). Japanese forces suffers a military defeat at Battles of Khalkhin Gol against Soviet forces (September 15). Abe Nobuyuki becomes prime minister (August 30).
1940: Mitsumasa Yonai becomes prime minister (January 16). Konoe becomes prime minister for a second term (July 22). Hundred Regiments Offensive (August–September). Japan occupies French Indochina in the wake of the fall of Paris to the Germans, and signs the Tripartite Pact (September 27).
1941: Japan and Soviet Union signs a non aggression pact (April 13). General Hideki Tōjō becomes prime minister (October 18). Japanese naval forces attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (December 7) (see Attack on Pearl Harbor), prompting the United States to declare war on Japan (December 8). Japan conquers Hong Kong (December 25).
1942: Singapore surrenders to Japan (February 15). Japan bombs Australia (February 19). Indian Ocean raid (March 31-April 10). Doolittle Raid on Tokyo (April 18). Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4 – 8). Sanko sakusen implemented in North China. American forces in the Philippines surrender (May 8). Japan defeated at the Battle of Midway (June 6).
1943: U.S. victory in Battle of Guadalcanal (February 9). Japan defeated at Battle of Tarawa (November 23).
1944: Tojo resigns and Kuniaki Koiso becomes prime minister (July 22).
1945: U.S. bombers begin firebombing of major Japanese cities. Japan defeated at Battle of Iwo Jima (March 26). Admiral Kantarō Suzuki becomes prime minister (April 7). Manila massacre. Japan defeated at Battle of Okinawa (June 21). U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6), and on Nagasaki in the same day that USSR entered in the War against Japan (August 9). Japan surrenders (September 2): Allied occupation begins.


document_title: Bright (film)

question_text: who plays the orc gang leader in bright

question_tokens: who plays the orc gang leader in bright

text: Bright (film)

text: Plot[edit]

text: In an alternate present, humans live in uneasy peace with orcs, elves, centaurs, dwarves and other races after they fought for thousands of years. In Los Angeles, veteran LAPD police officer Daryl Ward has been involuntarily partnered with Nick Jakoby, the nation's first orcish police officer. Jakoby is faced with prejudice by humans for his race, and by orcs for his position as an officer. In addition to the pushback from other officers, Ward is ambivalent towards him after an incident where Ward was nearly killed by a shotgun-wielding orc and Jakoby had apparently let the assailant get away. While driving back to the station, a previously detained human Shield of Light devotee tells Jakoby in Orcish that both officers are in a prophecy and that Ward is blessed. While Jakoby is booking the devotee, Ward is approached by Internal Affairs who say they believe that Jakoby put his racial loyalties before his partner in allowing the orc assailant to get away. Ward is pressured to try to have Jakoby confess on tape so they will have publicly acceptable grounds for a firing.

text: That night, Ward and Jakoby respond to a disturbance at what turns out to be a Shield of Light safe house; inside are a number of smoldering corpses, and the still-living torso of an elf woman embedded in a wall, indicating magic was used. They apprehend the lone unhurt survivor, a young elf named Tikka in possession of a legendary magic wand who apparently only speaks Elfish. As Jakoby puts it, a wand is like "a nuclear weapon that grants wishes", and can only be commanded by a 'Bright'—a person with the rare ability to use magic. If a non-Bright touches a wand, they will explode from the raw magical power.

text: When four officers arrive as backup, their racial prejudice cause them to try and coerce Ward into killing Jakoby and lying about the incident, telling Ward he will be spared in return and allowing them to steal the wand. They allow Ward to decide and he goes outside to Jakoby, holds him at gunpoint, and begins questioning him about the orc that had shot him. Jakoby admits to letting the suspect escape, though the reason being was that he had mistakenly cornered the wrong suspect. Jakoby had lost the original orc in the crowd and had instead caught up with a young orc who was spray painting a wall, not the orc who had tried to kill Ward, but he knew the other officers would not believe it and so let the kid go. During this confrontation, the four officers secretly plan on killing Ward after he kills Jakoby. As they approach Ward to hear his decision, Ward suddenly decides to believe Jakoby and kills all four officers. The incident, however, attracts the attention of the local human gang Altamira, and the two flee, under heavy fire, with Tikka and the wand. Leilah, a member of the ominous group Inferni and owner of the wand, arrives at the safehouse minutes later, searching for the wand and Tikka.

text: After a pursuit, the trio flee through the territory of the Fogteeth Orc clan, causing a violent confrontation between the gang and the clan. Finally cornered in a strip club, the gang's disabled leader, Poison, wanting to regain the use of his legs using the wand, threatens to burn the building down unless the officers give up the wand. As Jakoby and Ward pull out their weapons to give a final stand, the Inferni appear and the ensuing fight gives the trio the opportunity to escape again. Going to ground in a service station, Ward contacts his friend, Sheriff Deputy Rodriguez, who he hopes will help them in protecting the wand. Rodriguez contacts Kandomere, an elf working for the federal 'Magic Task Force'; dedicated to securing, containing and protecting magical objects. Kandomere tells Ward that he will be safe from prosecution for killing his fellow police officers, if they can keep the wand out of wrong hands. Before Rodriguez can bring them in, Leilah's henchmen attack the trio, killing him.

text: Ward, Jakoby, and Tikka run into the Fogteeth Orc clan again and are dragged before its leader Dorghu. Enraged at the chaos they are causing in his neutral territory, Dorghu has Jakoby and Ward beaten and tortured to reveal the location of the wand. Dorghu orders his son, Mikey, to kill Jakoby after failing to get an answer. However, Mikey reveals that he was the orc that Jakoby allowed to escape and thus refuses to kill him. Dorghu sends his son away and kills Jakoby himself, who falls dead into a deep pit. As he prepares to kill Ward as well, Tikka produces the wand she had magically hidden and uses it to resurrect Jakoby, revealing that she is a Bright, leaving herself incapacitated. The cloaked clan priest pronounces this to be the will of the Prophecy, causing the clan kneel to Jakoby and allow the trio to go free. Realizing that the two officers can now be trusted, Tikka speaks to them in English for the first time. She explains the Inferni's plan to resurrect The Dark Lord, an ancient mythical figure who will rise from the dead and take over the world. Once a member of the Inferni herself, Tikka had been protected by the Shield of Light and fled with the wand.

text: The use of the wand causes Tikka to become ill with black streaks appearing all over her body. She says that the only way to save her is to place her in a magic pool back at the Shield safe house. They return to the safehouse, but are ambushed by Leilah and the remaining Inferni. The trio successfully kill the Inferni, but Leilah is resurrected by a magic spell. Just as Ward places Tikka in the magic pool, Leilah hangs Jakoby and knocks both Ward and Tikka out of the pool. Leilah unsuccessfully tries to convince Tikka to join her (revealing they are sisters). Jakoby breaks free and shoots the wand out of Leilah's hand, but runs out of ammo before he can kill her again. Leilah is about to kill Tikka when Ward picks up the fallen wand and is revealed to also be a Bright, using the wand to kill Leilah with an explosion that sets the building on fire. In the ensuing commotion, Tikka disappears and the injured Ward and Jakoby flee from the building, but Ward falls behind and is trapped by an explosion, causing Jakoby to have to return and save him. After rescuing Ward, Dorghu and his clan appear and perform an ancient orc ceremony signifying to Jakoby that he is now "blooded" - an Orcish status only achievable by an act of great bravery.

text: Ward awakens the next day in a hospital room to find Jakoby at his bedside and himself restrained as he is an "extremely dangerous" Bright. As Kandomere appears, Ward understands (but Jakoby does not) that Kandomere wants to contain the incident, and gives him a fake statement as to what happened, denying the use of magic. In a public announcement before a crowd, Jakoby and Ward are honored by the city for their actions against the 'extremist group' Inferni. Ward smiles as he spots Tikka moving through the crowd in disguise.

text: Cast[edit]

text:
Will Smith as Daryl Ward, a human LAPD officer.
Joel Edgerton as Nick Jakoby, the nation's first Orcish police officer, who is partnered with Daryl.
Noomi Rapace as Leilah, an Inferni elf seeking control of the magic wand.
Lucy Fry as Tikka, a young Inferni elf who is in possession of the magic wand.
Édgar Ramírez as Kandomere, a high ranking elvish federal agent with the US Department of Magic's Magic Task Force.
Ike Barinholtz as Pollard, a corrupt human LAPD officer who seeks to steal the wand for himself.
Happy Anderson as Hildebrandt Ulysses Montehugh, a human federal agent who works under Kandomere in the Magic Task Force.
Dawn Olivieri as Sherri Ward, Daryl's human wife and Sophia's mother.
Matt Gerald as Hicks, a corrupt human LAPD officer.
Margaret Cho as Ching, a corrupt human LAPD sergeant.
Brad William Henke as Dorghu, the imposing leader of the Fogteeth Orcs gang.
Jay Hernandez as Rodriguez, a human LACSD deputy.
Veronica Ngo as Tien, an Inferni elf enforcer working for Leilah.
Alex Meraz as Serafin, an Inferni elf enforcer working for Leilah.
Joseph Piccuirro as Brown, a corrupt human LAPD officer.
Enrique Murciano as Poison, the wheelchair bound leader of the human Altamira gang.
Scarlet Spencer as Sophia Ward, Daryl and Sherri's human daughter.
Andrea Navedo as Perez, a human LAPD captain and Ward's superior.
Kenneth Choi as Yamahara, a human LAPD internal affairs detective.
Bobby Naderi as Arkashian, a human LAPD internal affairs detective.
Cle Shaheed Sloan as OG Mike, the Wards' human neighbor.
Chris Browning as Serling, a human questioned by the US Department of Magic's Task Force.
Joe Rogan as himself

text: Production[edit]

text: Described as "a contemporary cop thriller, but with fantastical elements", the film is directed by David Ayer and stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton, with a script penned by Max Landis, which Ayer rewrote.[2][3] Netflix officially picked up the film for a $90 million deal with filming beginning in fall 2016, making it the most expensive Netflix film to date.[6] Noomi Rapace entered talks to join the cast in May 2016.[7] Landis stated in an interview that official production was expected to begin in September 2016, but that they'd already shot a small part in Los Angeles.[8] Ayer's frequent cinematographer, Roman Vasyanov, was confirmed to be working on the project.[9] On October 15, 2016, Lucy Fry was added to the cast.[10] On October 17, 2016, Andrea Navedo was added to the cast.[11] On October 20, 2016, actor Brad William Henke was cast in the film.[12] On November 1, 2016, Kenneth Choi and Dawn Olivieri were cast in an unknown role and the role of Smith's wife, respectively.[13] On November 9, Édgar Ramírez was confirmed to be added to the cast.[14] That same month, Alex Meraz, Matt Gerald, Ike Barinholtz, and Enrique Murciano joined the cast of the film in undisclosed roles.[15][16][17][18]

text: Filming[edit]

text: Photos from the set were first published in November 2016.[19][20] Filming was completed by February 4, 2017.[21]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Critical response[edit]

text: Bright received criticism for its screenplay, cinematography and excessive focus on social commentary.[5] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 27% based on 89 reviews, with an average rating of 3.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Bright tries to blend fantasy, hard-hitting cop drama, and social commentary—and ends up falling painfully short of the mark on all three fronts."[22] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 29 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[23]

text: Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 1.5 out of 4 stars, saying: "Bright is basically a tired buddy-cop movie dressed up in bizarre trappings ... It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s not nearly as self-deprecating and funny as it needed to be."[24] Writing for Rolling Stone, David Fear gave the film 1 out of 4 stars, criticizing the script and incoherent action scenes, writing: "This combo of gritty cop procedural and fantasy is a dark, dank, dumb-as-hell mess."[25]

text: David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film an "F" and called it the worst film of 2017, saying: "There's boring, there's bad, and then there's Bright ... from the director of Suicide Squad and the writer of Victor Frankenstein comes a fresh slice of hell that somehow represents new lows for them both—a dull and painfully derivative ordeal that often feels like it was made just to put those earlier misfires into perspective."[26] Ayer responded enthusiastically to Ehrlich's review, claiming that he desired for the film to receive "a strong reaction either way."[27]

text: NPR's Chris Klimek wrote: "Critics have already lined up to pillory Bright as among the year's worst releases. Don't believe the clickbait. Lazy but not boring, this Net-flick is perfectly, stubbornly mediocre, and less a chore to sit through than either of 2017's Vin Diesel vehicles."[28]

text: Audience response[edit]

text: Several publications noted that while critics were harsh on the film, viewers seemed to enjoy it more and gave positive reactions on social media.[29][30][31][32] Netflix announced that the film had been viewed more times in its first week than any of its other releases.[33] According to Nielsen ratings, about 11 million American viewers streamed Bright within the first three days of its release, with 56% of the audience being male and 7 million being between the ages of 18–49.[34] Netflix CEO Reed Hastings noted that: "The critics are pretty disconnected from the mass appeal...[they] are an important part of the artistic process but are pretty disconnected from the commercial prospects of a film. If people are watching this movie and loving it, that's the measurement of success."[35]

text: Soundtrack[edit]

text:
Bright: The Album

Soundtrack album by Various artists

Released
December 15, 2017 (2017-12-15)

Genre

Hip Hop
pop
rock

Length
42:50

Label

Atlantic Records
WEA International

Producer

Alex da Kid
Dan Smith
Mark Crew
David Pramik
David Phelps
Grey
Louis Bell
Linus Wiklund
JMIKE
AC
Andrew Bolooki
Paul Judge
Marshmello
Viruss Beats
Steve Aoki
DJ Khalil
D. Sardy
Casey Bates
Charlie Andrew
Joe London
DRAM
Gabriel Niles
Zach Crowell

Singles from Bright: The Album

"World Gone Mad"
Released: November 21, 2017[36]
"Home"
Released: December 5, 2017[37]

text: The soundtrack, titled Bright: The Album, was released under Atlantic Records on December 15, 2017, just a week before the official release of the film on December 22, 2017.

text:
Bright: The Album[38]

No.
Title
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Length

1.
"Broken People" (Logic and Rag'n'Bone Man)

Dan Priddy
Mark Crew
Alexander Grant
Rory Graham
Sir Robert Hall II
Nicholas Steele
David Pramik

Alex da Kid

3:32

2.
"World Gone Mad" (Bastille)

Dan Smith

Smith
Mark Crew

3:16

3.
"Home" (Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors and Bebe Rexha)

Sam Nelson Harris
David Phelps
Robert Gillies
Richard Baker
Pramik
Jacob Hawkes
Charlie Snyder

David Pramik
Phelps

3:22

4.
"Crown" (Camila Cabello and Grey)

Kyle Trewartha
Karla Cabello
Sarah Aarons
Michael Trewartha

Grey
Louis Bell

3:21

5.
"Darkside" (Ty Dolla $ign and Future featuring Kiiara)

Jeremy Coleman
Linus Wiklund
Nayvadius Wilburn
Tyrone Griffin Jr.
Kiara Saulters
Jonnali Parmenius

Wiklund
JMIKE
AC
Andrew Bolooki

3:53

6.
"Danger" (Migos and Marshmello)

Chris Comstock
Quavious Marshall
Kiari Cephus
Kirshnik Ball
Paul Judge

Judge
Marshmello

3:34

7.
"That's My Nigga" (Meek Mill, YG and Snoop Dogg)

Shawn Carter
Andre Young
Melvin Bradford
Scott Storch
Robert Williams
Calvin Broadus Jr.
Eric Gamzoyan
Keenan Jackson

Viruss Beats

3:19

8.
"Smoke My Dope" (Steve Aoki and Lil Uzi Vert)

Steven Aoki
Symere Woods
Bobby Turner
Kenneth Smith

Steve Aoki

3:22

9.
"FTW (Fuck the World)" (A$AP Rocky and Tom Morello)

Thomas Morello
Khalil Abdul-Rahman
Rakim Mayers

DJ Khalil

2:23

10.
"Cheer Up" (Portugal. The Man)

David Sardy
Casey Bates
John Gourley

D. Sardy
Bates

2:46

11.
"Hares on the Mountain" (alt-J)

Traditional

Charlie Andrew

3:48

12.
"Campfire" (DRAM and Neil Young)

Joe Spargur
Shelley Massenburg-Smith
Roget Chahayed
Gabriel Niles

Joe London
D.R.A.M.
Niles

3:40

13.
"This Land Is Your Land" (Sam Hunt)

Woody Guthrie

Zach Crowell

2:34

Total length:
42:50

text: Charts[edit]

text:
Chart (2017–18)
Peak
position

Australian Albums (ARIA)[39]
85

Canadian Albums (Billboard)[40]
13

Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[41]
92

Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[42]
18

German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[43]
97

New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[44]
24

US Billboard 200[45]
48

US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[46]
28

text: Sequel[edit]

text: In December 2017, Netflix ordered a sequel.[47] The following month Netflix confirmed they were moving ahead with the sequel, with Smith and Edgerton reprising their roles and Ayer directing and writing the script.[33]