THE WALKING DEAD Messes "Up"

Article originally published as TV Review: 'The Walking Dead' - 'Heads Up' on Blogcritics.

I was wrong.

I have to start my review of this week’s The Walking Dead episode “Heads Up” with that statement because of how vehemently and often I had asserted that Glenn (Steven Yeun) was dead. When last we’d seen the original cast member, he is lying on the ground, seemingly being ripped apart by a huge crowd of Walkers. I was sure he could not have made it out of the alley alive. “Heads Up” reveals that apparently he did.

Now, I’m torn as to how much to go into the way Glenn is brought back, because I run the risk of sounding like sour grapes. I do think, however, that the way The Walking Dead orchestrated his survival is as unrealistic as the show has ever been. Usually, it’s a series that stays as grounded as possible, despite the central, highly unrealistic conceit of a zombie apocalypse. But in this case, they break that trend and go into superhuman territory.

A popular theory floated on the internet and by friends of mine in the wake of his ‘demise’ is that Glenn is safe under Nicholas’ body and manages to crawl under a dumpster, waiting out the Walkers until they leave. I dismissed that scenario because there are a LOT of Walkers in the alley and there is no realistic way they would only tear at Nicholas. They would have ripped into Glenn as well, if not immediately, as soon as they’d eaten their way through Nicholas. Instead, the crowd isn’t so tight that Glenn can’t slip between their legs and under the dumpster, which makes no sense given what viewers previously witnessed. It also doesn’t make sense that within the very small space, in which Glenn is able to maneuver, Walkers don’t crawl under and get him. He can’t defend all sides at once, and there’s enough of them that he should not be able to fight them off, especially not for the day or two in which he’s hiding.

If The Walking Dead had presented a believable way for Glenn to make it out, I’d readily admit I’d been fooled by the shot of the pocket watch and the set up that left no doubt he should be dead. I’d heap admiration and respect towards The Powers That Be, happy to be proven wrong. That would have been brilliant writing. Instead, I feel a bit let down by the show itself. The series failed to meet the high expectations I’d formed based its past excellence. So I am absolutely wrong, not because I misread the situation as it unfolded on screen, but because I trusted writing that did not live up to that trust, which is kinda depressing.

To make matters worse, shortly after Glenn gets out from under the dumpster, he comes across the Walker body of one of the Alexandrian party. This guy hadn’t even attempted to hide when he was attacked (not that there was any way he could have). He is smashed against a fence where a bunch of Walkers were pressed against him. How is enough intact to be recognizable? This makes no sense for the world of The Walking Dead. He would have surely been devoured or at least completely unrecognizable!

Thankfully, the rest of “Heads Up” is up to the usual standards of the show. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is starting to realize the Alexandrians are part of his family now, as some of his group, like Tara (Alanna Masterson), already accept. Carol (Melissa McBride) catches Morgan (Lennie James) hiding his prisoner, which is going to result in bad stuff. Morgan boosts the confidence of Dr. Cloyd (Merritt Wever) in a very sweet moment. Ron (Austin Abrams) is so plotting to make an ill-advised move against Rick and/or Carl (Chandler Riggs).

I think Michonne (Danai Gurira) realizes that Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) doesn’t plan to live long, and I will be surprised if she makes it past next week’s installment. And the moment with Spencer (Austin Nichols) on the wire teases that some of the things in the comic book will probably repeat on screen next week, though likely with some twists. These are all really great scenes that further character development and set up what is sure to be an exciting finale. Almost enough to make me forget the missteps at the start of the hour, and enough to keep The Walking Dead in my “favorite TV show currently airing” slot.

Plus, we get a really sweet plot between Glenn and Enid (Katelyn Nacon), in which our miraculously resurrected hero convinces the girl to come home, saving another soul and reinforcing that the reprieve he has been given is probably temporary, as the moral center of the show never lives long. Glenn’s impending death will right the mistake made, though I still doubt that (SPOILER ALERT!) Glenn will meet his fate the same way he did in the comics, as perfectly moving and disturbing as that is.

The Walking Dead concludes the first half of its sixth season next Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC.

THE WALKING DEAD Ups the Game "Again"

Article originally published as THE WALKING DEAD Review "First Time Again" on Seat42F.

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 6, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

The long wait is finally over, and THE WALKING DEAD has returned to AMC! In last night’s sixth season premiere, “First Time Again,” Rick (Andrew Lincoln) leads the people of Alexandria, including his own group, in corralling a giant herd of walkers. In flashback, the aftermath of last year’s finale is explored interspersed with the current crisis. There are tons of zombies, more than the show has ever shown before, there is death, and of course, things go horribly wrong.

The question of whether or not Rick will be accepted in Alexandria is laid to rest at the end of season five when Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) lets Rick kill Pete. But just because Rick’s authority is now established, seemingly second only to Deanna’s, and barely so, doesn’t mean the townspeople will go along with it. In fact, if anything, “First Time Again” finds many of them rebelling much more openly than anything we’ve seen so far.

The rabble-rousers are led by Carter (Ethan Embry, Once Upon a Time), but he is just the face that gives voice to others’ concerns. As noted in the first year, Alexandria has not faced what others in the post-apocalyptic world have faced. Without being cognizant of the dangers, they are resistant to Rick’s ideas of violence and putting oneself out there. Carter would prefer to continue to hide behind his walls, not realizing how lucky he’s been and that it’s not sustainable.

“First Time Again” does explain the luck Alexandria has seen so far. A large group of walkers are trapped, and their noise has drawn others in the area to them. The walls of the settlement aren’t being beaten down because there’s a convenient trap keeping the menace off of their lawn. However, the trap is full, and those captured will soon escape. Meaning, Alexandria’s luck is about to run out, unless they listen to Rick, who has a plan to resolve the crisis.

All of this sets up an interesting problem for Rick. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone in order to save the town, but if he lets the people stay soft, they will endanger everyone. Rick tries to make Carter strong by letting him face walkers, but Morgan (Lennie James, now a main character), who has become a pacifist, steps in to protect Carter, ruining the lesson. By the time Carter does screw up, it’s an almost-disaster, with Rick having to silence him before he draws the herd off-course.

Morgan’s position, one in which he protects people, is a valid one, but it’s also dangerous, given what happens with Carter. I do think it’s good to have someone like Morgan around to balance out Rick and remind Rick what they’re fighting to protect, as Rick gets too brutal at times. Yet, as fans of THE WALKING DEAD know, there isn’t always room for compassion in this new, harsh reality, and protecting a group is far removed from protecting only oneself. I don’t think Morgan will make the same mistake again soon, but neither will Rick simply execute anyone anymore, as he avoids doing in the storeroom, as that is going too far.

It will be up to Rick as to which tactics, other than execution, to use, as Deanna doesn’t seem to be making too many decisions these days. Numb after losing her husband, she listens to the lawman more than she ever has, and gives him a large amount of leeway in what he does. This is what Rick wants, and I’m sure he’s capable of handling it, but it does swiftly change the dynamic of Alexandria, and gives rise to Carter and others’ negative feelings.

Thankfully, not everyone is rebelling. Nicholas (Michael Traynor) learns his lesson after Glenn (Steven Yeun) spares him and wants to help out, probably now a loyal friend. Heath (Corey Hawkins, Straight Outta Compton) just returns home and meets our group in “First Time Again,” but having been outside the walls, he immediately sees the wisdom in what Rick stands for. Tobin (Jason Douglas) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) have already gotten on board, and so has Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge), even if she can’t be close to Rick as he’d like because of her teenage son, Ron (Austin Abrams), who understandably hates the former cop for killing his dad. So it’s not all bad.

Besides showing the herd, THE WALKING DEAD has black and white flashbacks to between seasons five and six, which is stylistic, but also interesting because it gives us chances for that character development that the show does so well. We see how Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) is no longer suicidal, Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Tara (Alanna Masterson) reluctantly accept Glenn’s decision to forgive Nicholas, and how Darly (Norman Reedus) disagrees with some of Rick’s decisions. This is all interesting stuff, and while not super important to the main plot, are the details that make the program so good.

The most intriguing scene to me is when Morgan calls Carol (Melissa McBride) out on who she truly is. I don’t think the Alexandrians have noticed that Carol’s timid housewife is a front, but Morgan does. Carol is kind of Rick’s secret weapon, hiding in plain side and providing intelligence on the ground. If Morgan sees through her, though, others will as well, and I wonder how Carol’s neighbors will feel about her deception.

Then, at the end of the installment, a horn blares and screws up everything. Suddenly, this giant herd of zombies is heading right for the formerly safe little settlement, and there’s no way their laws will hold up to a hoard this big. It promises the intensity the producers seemed to sell for the premiere, but I’m glad they waited to deliver it because it gives us time to get to know the people here more before they have to change forever, as Rick predicted.

“First Time Again” is an excellent mix of a lot of things. There is danger and compelling human drama and foreshadowing and moral complexity. It gives us everything one could want from THE WALKING DEAD except for those who long for big zombie attacks, but I’m sure that they’ll get more than enough of that next week.

THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

"Spend" Your Time On THE WALKING DEAD

Article originally written for Seat42F.

A lot happens in last night’s THE WALKING DEAD on AMC, “Spend.” Both the supply run team and the construction team run into Walkers and cowardice. But it’s not just outside the walls of Alexandria where trouble is brewing, as martial issues come out and the panicked declarations of one weak man may screw things up for everyone.

First, let’s start with the supply team, as that seems the most shocking. While picking up some needed parts for the town’s solar array, Aiden (Daniel Bonjour) makes a stupid mistake that injures Tara (Alanna Masterson) and kills him. Before he dies, he admits that the former members of the group that died did so because he and Nicholas (Michael Traynor) panicked. History repeats itself when Nicholas refuses to listen to Glenn’s (Steven Yeun) plan to get them out of a revolving door, and Noah (Tyler James Williams) is the collateral damage this time.

This save-yourself mindset repeats itself on the work site, where Tobin (Jason Douglas, Revolution) and his team are ready to abandon an injured Francine (Dahlia Legault, Actress Apocalypse). Lucky for her, Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) is a little more selfless and manages to save her. Tobin, realizing that the settlement’s policy of abandoning those in need may result in unnecessary casualties, eagerly cedes command of the group to Abraham, and tells Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) the change should be permanent.

I think we now see how Alexandria has survived so long, and why there is plenty of room for others to move in. Rather than uniting to stay alive, these people are cowards who run at the first sign of trouble. That works fine until you are the one who needs rescuing, and the population numbers will slowly dwindle over time. Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) group is tougher, knowing strength can lie in numbers. Even having been on the road and compromising their morals, they still have compassion for those in need.

This is exemplified in “Spend” with Eugene (Josh McDermitt). He begins the hour insisting he doesn’t do violence, but is forced to go on the supply run anyway. When things break down, he carries Tara, his best friend, over his shoulder and killing his first Walkers on their way to safety. Then, draws away some of the cluster from Glenn and company. He stands up to Nicholas, even if he needs Glenn’s help to stop him. The nobility and braveness of Rick’s group has rubbed off on Eugene, and it’s in this episode that he finally becomes a fully contributing member.

This will rub off on the Alexandrians in THE WALKING DEAD. We see at least one member of Tobin’s group rush to Abraham’s aide, not that the gleeful Walker-killer needs it, but still. It’s a spirit the fledging town needs, and one that is giving the people not just a want to survive, but a way to feel good doing it. It’s contagious, in the best of ways, proving the inclusion of the newbies will change Alexandria forever.

But how much change will Deanna tolerate? She puts Rick and some of his people in positions of power by choice, carefully strategizing what to give up to them. Letting Abraham take over the construction crew, not the first unexpected compromise she’s made since they arrived, makes her uncomfortable because that expands what she’s willing to sacrifice. She’s afraid they will take over and bend the morals and values of those who live there. The townspeople may be weak, but they’re still civilized in a way Rick and company are not, spared from losing their humanity. Deanna knows she needs our heroes, but if the cost gets too high, she may not pay it.

It’s into this doubt, which is blossoming even before she learns her son is dead, something not seen in “Spend,” that Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) pours fuel. Gabriel also lives in a sheltered life prior to Rick showing up, and he doesn’t spend much time out in the wilderness with them. He clings to them when he needs them to survive, but sees kinship in the Alexandria residents, and warns Deanna not to trust Rick, afraid of what Rick will do to the city. This is the wrong thing for Deanna to hear right now, and while I understand Gabriel’s perspective and love that THE WALKING DEAD shows varied personalities, this is the wrong move that will surely spell trouble.

As if that isn’t enough, Carol (Melissa McBride) thinks she discovers that Pete (Corey Brill, The Normal Heart) abuses and threatens his wife, Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge), and young son, Sam (Major Dodson, American Horror Story). Carol, having been abused herself, wants Rick to kill Pete, which Rick may be apt to do, considering he clearly wants Jessie for himself. But that won’t go over in the town, especially when things are so tenuous, and I can’t imagine Deanna would approve a death sentence. Plus, Pete is the town doctor, so he’s kind of necessary.

“Spend” has all of this and more. There is plenty of symbolism and foreshadowing, like a broken owl and a mall sign that says ‘big things are coming.’ This week’s episode is stressful because of the danger certain characters are in, but also because of the hints of what’s to come. Noah’s death, just when he declares his want to work with Reg (Steven Coulter, Banshee) on a plan for the future, is tragic. But with the little bits above tossed in, it spells a big, dark season finale. I assumed that this year’s ending may be the town and Rick’s group pulling together to be tested by an outside force. Now, I’m much more concerned about an internal implosion, which seems imminent.

THE WALKING DEAD has two episodes left in its fifth season, airing Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

"Remember" THE WALKING DEAD Only Gets Better and Better

Article originally written for Seat42F.

Our heroes on AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD enter the settlement of Alexandria this week, where they must “Remember” what it’s like to live as civilized people. This task is much easier for some than others, of course, but one wonders if those who can stay hard might not have the advantage in the long run. There are a few things that come across as suspicious in this town, and if Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and company can’t fit in, Plan B is to just take over the place.

“Remember” is an interesting episode because it’s hard to tell who the bad guys are. Fans of THE WALKING DEAD have been trained to be suspicious of anyone new that comes around, and the people of Alexandria have their share of shady characters. There’s Aiden (Daniel Bonjour, Midnight Movie), a self-proclaimed douche bag who almost gets Tara (Alanna Masterson) killed in his quest for revenge on a mindless roamer. There’s Pete (Corey Brill, The Normal Heart), the creepy, possibly abusive husband of kind neighbor Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge, American Horror Story). And then there’s Deanna Monroe (Tovah Feldshuh, Flesh and Bone), the Ohio congresswoman in charge, who seems nice enough, but is definitely keeping her eye on the newbies.

Pete and Aiden are jerks, clearly, but if there’s someone to worry about, it’s Deanna. Politicians have an untrustworthy reputation for a reason. Deanna presents only kind words and expressions towards the survivors, but she videotapes their initial interviews and stops by their house to check on them, which could be kind, but probably isn’t. Rick’s backup gun hidden in the woods goes missing, and I assume she has something to do with that, too.

But while Deanna is suspicious of our protagonists, as she should be, she may not be evil. She says they need Rick and his company, and I believe her. As several of our main players observe, the people of Alexandria are weak; they don’t know what it’s like to survive in this dark world. Deanna herself admits to being behind her wall the entire time. This town needs survivors like Rick to protect them, and so when she makes Rick a constable and Michonne (Danai Gurira) his deputy, it makes sense. She has to start to trust them, at least a bit, in order to keep order, even willing to let Glenn (Steven Yeun) deck her son, if that’s the cost of living.

The reason I’m not sure who the villain is, though, is because Rick becomes kind of bad guy-esque in “Remember.” He is willing to play by Deanna’s rules for now, but he casts a wary eye around, checking the perimeter and walking the streets at night. He isn’t the only one, Carol (Melissa McBride) putting forth a completely false persona in order to appear more harmless, though Deanna seems to be keeping a close enough eye on them to see through this. Carl (Chandler Riggs), too, is determined to stay hard, and Rick is confident that at least some of the group can. And if the Alexandria residents can’t do what Rick thinks is necessary, Rick is determined to take the town as his family’s own safe haven.

Rick is the other side of the coin from The Governor, a man who ran a settlement through manipulation and terror. I believe Rick is more straight-forward with his intentions, and he wouldn’t torture these people unnecessarily. But he can be cold when it comes to protecting his group. Alexandria is a place they can be safe, and if Deanna and her people don’t want to let Rick and the others do what they need to do, he’s willing to use force against her. This is the spirit that has kept him and the others alive, but it may not be the one Deanna completely wants from him now.

THE WALKING DEAD excels at presenting these moral quandaries in complex, authentic ways. Viewers are not likely to turn on Rick because they understand what he’s going through and know he’s not going to kill the others unless he has to. We all want Rick’s group to survive, and so we can sympathize with his position. But from our comfy, secure living rooms, it’s also hard to imagine what can drive a person to go so dark, even after witnessing events for nearly five seasons, and it makes “Remember” an uneasy hour to watch, in a good way.

Not everyone adjusts to the settlement easily. While most of the group presumably takes jobs and starts to settle in, Daryl (Norman Reedus) remains himself apart, skinning possum on the porch. He would never have lived in a place like Alexandria pre-disaster, and he doesn’t seem willing to do so now. Rick doesn’t chide him, though Carol says he should pretend, as she does. But I can see Daryl being a problem if Rick doesn’t take over. Certainly Deanna cannot allow someone like Daryl to live inside her walls for long unless he’s willing to adapt. Will Daryl be his own worst enemy? He suddenly seems like a character that could actually be written off, which would break the hearts of many a fan, myself included.

“Remember” is a fascinating, excellent episode of television. From the interviews, which say a lot about our people, to Rick’s cathartic shower-and-shave scene, to Carl interacting with other kids, including the standoffish Enid (Katelyn Nacon, Too Many Cooks), there’s a lot to digest. The installment begs re-watches, as the amount of new characters and the subtle ways our cast interacts with them likely telegraph much of what the next few episodes of the show will be. Alexandria is a major, major new chapter for THE WALKING DEAD, with “Remember” serving as a turning point for the entire series. It’s with great anticipation I await next week’s episode.

THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

THE WALKING DEAD Characters Reveal "Self"

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 5 Self Help on Seat42F.

This week’s episode of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD, “Self Help,” follows six of our survivors on the road to D.C. They don’t get very far, running into issues both man-made and Walker-inspired, but we learn a bit about a couple of the players, and a startling revelation ends the hour in a big way.

The entire reason this group splits off from the main one is Abraham Ford (Michael Cudlitz). Driven in his mission to bring Eugene (Josh McDermitt), who says he has a cure for the outbreak, to the nation’s capital, Abraham refuses to be patient and wait for the others. He doesn’t put up with any delays or detours, pushing on, even if the going is slow. This is a man who has blinders firmly in place.

One may wonder how Abraham got that way, and the initial reasoning seems to be that’s he a soldier who only knows how to take and follow orders, but that is far too simplistic an explanation. “Self Help” shows us how Abraham’s family flees from his brutality, only to die without his protection, taking Abraham to the point of suicide. He is strong enough to survive in this world, but his loved ones were not. Had Eugene not shown up with this cause when he did, Abraham would have no reason to live, everything he cares about being gone. The mission is all that is keeping him going, a shred of hope in a hopeless existence.

Sadly, this is stripped away when Eugene reveals that he is lying. Abraham reacts the only way he knows how, punching Eugene in the face. They are sort-of friends before this point, but Abraham justifiably feels betrayed. Eugene’s lies remove that thread to which Abraham is clinging, so Abraham has nothing left. Eugene could not have done anything worse to Abraham, even though Eugene saved his life.

Eugene reveals his motivation in “Self Help,” too, first in small pieces to Tara (Alanna Masterson), then to the group as a whole. He speaks of feeling helpless, knowing he couldn’t survive on his own. He had to find something invaluable to contribute, to make people want to take care of him. The lie, selfish as it might be, is his way of fighting for survival, something everyone understands. He is a desperate man, too, and his method of staying alive isn’t really that bad, compared to what others have done, especially when he confesses to those he trusts. Even the bus sabotaging, while potentially dangerous, doesn’t seem that bad in the face of everything else, especially since no one was seriously hurt.

I do think Eugene can take care of himself to a certain extent now. He finally stabs a Walker this week, stepping up in a way he has not before. He’s not the group’s strongest fighter by a long shot, but I think part of why he spills the secret is so he can begin contributing as he should. This people have been kind to him, especially the larger group, and he feels guilty for those who have died while he hid behind them. He’s connecting with them on a personal level, something that clearly doesn’t come easy to him. He’s a coward, but facing and owning up to his fears puts him on the path to becoming a stronger man.

What will the group do now? Hopefully, turn around and go back to the others. D.C. may still be their best hope of survival, and I assume that’s where they will end up, as they do in the comics, though Eugene’s confession comes later. But they all should go together. Without Eugene’s non-existent knowledge, the urgency is gone.

I also hope Abraham finds another reason to continue. Maybe his relationship with Rosita (Christian Serratos), which seems playful but sincere, not just about sex, could help? She may not be the love of his life, but he has to care about her, right?

This is the episode of THE WALKING DEAD I’ve had the least to say about in recent memory. Yet, I still feel it is a good, solid episode. It concentrates on only a few things, but it does them very well.

THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

New "Strangers" Among THE WALKING DEAD

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 2 Strangers on Seat42F.

AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD has conditioned us to be wary of any new face, as the group has been burned so often by “Strangers” in this post-apocalyptic landscape. That’s why, even as our group comes together more solidly, viewers are likely be nervous around the new cast member introduced this week, Father Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam, The Wire, Teen Wolf).

Fans of the comic book already know who Father Gabriel is, but that may not help them. While never yet introducing a comic villain as a hero or vice versa on TV, it’s bound to happen sooner or later, given the huge license the television writers take with the source material. Last night’s episode, “Strangers,” does a fine job of both introducing Father Gabriel, and making fans and characters alike suspicious of his intentions and back story. Could he really survive alone in the woods all this time? Why are there strange words written on the wall of the building? The car with the cross that kidnapped Beth (Emily Kinney) seems like it could easily be connected to him. These questions are not answered fully this week, but Gilliam already makes a strong impression with his memorable take on the character.

It’s pretty neat that our heroes still rescue Father Gabriel, despite what they’ve been through. Rick ignores a man Carl (Chandler Riggs) wants to help at the end of last season. Granted, that man is already being torn to bits and they likely couldn’t save him. But even after recently being badly betrayed by Terminus, they take a chance on this new guy, which is a sign their humanity remains intact, if skewed.

Rick’s “three question” test is usually a pretty good way to judge a person’s character, checking their attitude towards others. It doesn’t work on Father Gabriel. If he’s telling the truth, he hasn’t killed anyone, human or Walker. This makes him a very, very rare exception in a world where everyone kills to survive. Thus, he remains an enigma, which is an interesting new take for the story.

As Father Gabriel helps our people find food, the episode spends a lot of time smoothing out the dynamics of the group. The cast has spent quite awhile splintered, and only at the end of last week’s premiere, have they come back together again. This means no one knows that Carol (Melissa McBride) killed a girl. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) banished Carol previously; is that still a factor between them? Some may wonder why Tara (Alanna Masterson), who is seen with the Governor’s people, has joined them. Some characters have motivations that could pull them away from the rest. These are all burning questions that demand an answer.

“Strangers” starts giving us those answers, thankfully not making us wait weeks to deal with them. Rick and Carol have a lovely scene where Rick asks if they can all join Carol on the road. He doesn’t exactly apologize, but that is in the subtext of his words, and it’s obvious that he bears no grudge towards her. Can she get over the past and say the same? Well, the episode doesn’t tell us if Carol is mad or just no longer feels like part of the ensemble (it hints the latter), but she does try to sneak off on her own, so she isn’t fully integrated back in, at least not yet. Hopefully she will be soon.

Carol could be worried about what the others will think if they learn that she murdered a child. The only one that knows is Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman), who seems to have forgiven her, and has no desire to remember it, nor tell anyone. Carol’s guilt would be the only thing blocking her here, but that just might be enough to do her in, as she’s, at heart, a good person.

So Carol tries to flee, and of course it’s Daryl (Norman Reedus) that goes after her. They are besties, if not more, and it would suck to see them separated again. Daryl won’t be willing to leave the others behind, even for her, but he also isn’t going to let her go without a fight. Their side trip to rescue Beth when they see the cross car only forestalls this confrontation, but whether Carol chooses to stay or go, at least we can look forward to at least one more adventure together for the two of them.

Tara’s path is smoothed by the fact that she saves Glenn’s (Steven Yeun) life and he vouches for her. Everyone likes Glenn, so if he says she’s good people, they’ll accept her. End of story.

What’s weird is the love triangle that seems to be brewing between Tara, Glenn, and Maggie (Lauren Cohan), considering Tara likes girls but she’s eyeing Glenn. I guess maybe sexuality gets a little more fluid when the choices are so limited, and saving one’s life creates a bond that defies gender? Still, I can’t help but feel that this dynamic may end up like the version of Carol in the comics – a young woman who wants to insert herself into a couple (it was Rick and Lori on the page) just so she isn’t alone in the scary reality, which is an understandable emotion, but not one Maggie and Glenn are likely to be willing to help Tara satisfy (as Rick and Lori refused Carol).

Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) has a different problem than the others. He is accepted well enough, but he has a mission to complete: get Eugene (Josh McDermitt) to Washington D.C. to save the world. Most of the group is sympathetic, but now that they have in Rick the leader they’d always hoped for, they all defer to him and will stand by him. Thus, Abraham only has to convince one man, albeit a man who isn’t very optimistic about their outlook, making it a hard sell. Abraham is right to bide his time, waiting for a moment where Rick will be willing to consider it, and by doing so, Abraham gets what he wants. He’s a smart cookie.

Bob (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.) is the one with the cheery outlook on life in “Strangers.” He keeps spinning things positively, and always wants one more kiss from Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green). As a fan of THE WALKING DEAD, this signals his demise to me. He isn’t killed this week, but when he’s captured and his leg is amputated by The Hunters (Gareth (Andrew J. West) and his fellow Terminus survivors finally being confirmed to be this group), it’s not a surprise. No one is allowed to be so happy on this show. Bob’s cheeriness is his undoing.

There is a twist hinted at in “Strangers” concerning Bob. Remember, he leaves the church on his own volition and is crying when they find him. I think he was bitten in the basement, which I kept expecting to be revealed, but never was. What happens to people who eat the flesh of a man turning into a Walker? I think we’ll soon find out.

So much unfolds in one short hour, and so much of it is rich, character-driven stuff. THE WALKING DEAD is an excellent show because it can balance these dramatic moments with the action scenes, and by doing this well, “Strangers” is an excellent entry for the series.

THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

THE WALKING DEAD Is Good to "Us"

Article first written for Seat42F.
 

In the penultimate episode of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD this season, “Us,” fans finally get to see almost the entire cast in a single hour. True, three sit out, but at least there’s a happy reunion, and some lighter moments for other survivors, too, as the group begins to reform and reach Terminus.

The start of “Us” is Carl (Chandler Riggs) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) goofing off on the railroad tracks, a smiling Rick (Andrew Lincoln) looking on. The relationship between Carl and Michonne, a sibling-like bond, is definitely one of the highlights of the show, and it’s gratifying to see it aired out here in such an amusing exchange. These three will have dark times ahead, which we’ll get to, but for now, they’re about as happy as we’ve ever seen them since THE WALKING DEAD began.

Then we flip to Daryl (Norman Reedus), who isn’t playing well with others in Harley’s (J.D. Evermore) group. A man named Len (Marcus Hester, Banshee) takes it upon himself to bait Daryl, and while Daryl won’t conform to the rules of the gang, he also won’t rise to violence is Harley is around, keeping the peace. In the end, Len oversteps, and Harley has the others kill him for it.

At first, these guys seem only like bad news. But as “Us” plays out and Daryl shares a few conversations with Harley, they begin to seem not so evil. Yes, many of the members are unruly and impolite, but they live by a code, and that has kept them mostly alive. Even Len’s death is a penalty for a crime, not some cruel, senseless thing. Daryl is used to a more compassionate make up of people, but he can readjust to this personality set, given time.

But then we get the bombshell – Harley’s guys are the ones Rick encountered in the house a few episodes ago, and they are tracking Rick down to get revenge. Rick doesn’t deserve it, from our perspective, having acted out of fear in a scary situation. Harley, however, thinks otherwise, and his man Tony (Davi Jay, Treme) is ready to identify Rick when they catch up. If only Daryl knew who they’re after, he could take out Tony and save Rick, as while Daryl may be adapting to these people, he hasn’t shown any sign of loyalty to them, and can’t possibly turn on his former leader.

This means that Harley may not be so agreeable as he pretends to be. After all, Rick only struck after overhearing some dastardly plans. It could have just been Len and others blowing off steam, but at the same time, it could also mean that Harley is just putting on a face to suck Daryl in. Plus, Harley will never fall in line between another leader, thinking his strong hand is needed to keep order, so when these men reach Terminus, it won’t be pretty. This plot leaves a nifty cliffhanger for next week’s big finale.

A huge chunk of “Us” follows another group on their journey. Glenn (Steven Yeun) and his four companions come across the signs Maggie (Lauren Cohan) has been leaving and, seeing that they’re catching up, Glenn makes a concerted effort to push ahead faster. This doesn’t sit well with Rosita (Christian Serratos), who sees that Tara (Alanna Masterson) needs to rest, but won’t stop blindly following Glenn, who saved her. It also doesn’t fly with Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) because rushing endangers his charge, Eugene (Josh McDermitt). And so, at the mouth of a dark, scary tunnel that clearly has walker sounds echoing from it, Glenn and Tara part ways with the other three.

Look, it’s easy to get Glenn’s single-mindedness, but it’s making him stupid. Going around the tunnel would only cost a day (which ends up happening anyway), and at least he knows he’s on Maggie’s trail. Why can’t he put safety ahead of this obsession, satisfied with the fact that Maggie is alive and he’s getting closer? It’s not like the tunnel may be dangerous; it definitely is!

Worse, Glenn is putting Tara in danger and doesn’t see it. Not until Tara gets stuck in the tunnel, that is, and then Glenn refuses to leave her, even though it might cost them both their lives. Glenn does the right thing by her, but only after it’s too late. This version of Glenn is way too stubborn to survive long in the post-apocalyptic world, so it’s a good thing he’s shed before the end of the hour.

While Glenn is stumbling in the dark, Eugene has a change of heart and manipulates the others to the end of the tunnel, hoping to find their friends again. It’s arguable whether this is because Eugene has come to care about anyone else or because he knows they need a bigger group. Ultimately, Eugene convinces the others to go to Terminus to recruit and restock, but again, we still don’t know the socially awkward man’s intentions. I don’t think Eugene is a bad guy, but he is calculating.

Eugene and the others find someone other than Glenn, though – Maggie, Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green), and Bob (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.). We can assume, though we don’t see it, that Maggie is the one that insists Eugene’s van drive into the tunnel to save Glenn when he doesn’t come out. And just in the nick of time, they rescue Glenn and Tara from the walkers.

If this seems a little too easy a story twist, it is, but it’s hard to care when confronted with Glenn and Maggie in each other’s arms. They’ve both been so determined to find one another, and in this dark existence, every happiness is celebrated. Besides, sometimes coincidences do happen, right?

It’s also nice that Glenn claims to have met Tara along the road. Tara may feel the need to confess her real origins at some point, but Glenn is doing her a favor, not needing to explain herself for her actions at the prison, being only seen as a helpful savior. Tara, after everything she’s done for Glenn, deserves this break.

Then, this eight-member group (!) becomes the first to reach Terminus. It looks ideal, flower gardens and unlocked gates, and is staffed by a single woman named Mary (Denise Crosby, Ray Donovan, Star Trek: The Next Generation), who is welcoming. All this has to be too good to be true, though, right? A beautiful flower luring them in to a deadly trap? I mean, where are the guards and the barricades to stop the walkers? What is Mary’s agenda?

We have a lot left to get through in the final hour. Rick, Michonne, Carl, Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman), and Carol (Melissa McBride), currently in two groups, have to get to Terminus. Harley and Rick must have a show down, which Daryl will likely play a part in. We need to find out what has happened to Beth (Emily Kinney), if she’s still alive. Something tells me the season ender won’t just involve a happy reunion party at the new settlement.

Terminus means “end of the line,” and this is definitely the end of the line for this arc of THE WALKING DEAD. Terminus was also the original name of Atlanta, around which the story has taken place so far, and is likely to move away from after season four. So it’s all a very neat, fitting tie up to a heck of a good tale. Though I am glad the show will continue after this, beginning a new volume.

THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

THE WALKING DEAD "Claimed" My Love

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Episode 4.11 Claimed on Seat42F.


This week’s installment of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD, “Claimed,” bounced back and forth between two of the five groups of main characters. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) must deal with intruders while Michonne (Danai Gurira) is off getting supplies with Carl (Chandler Riggs), and trying to cheer him up in the process.

Meanwhile, Glenn (Steven Yeun) wakes up to discover he’s traveled hours from Maggie (Laure Cohan), but Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) isn’t willing to turn around, claiming they’re on a mission to save the world. It seems like, at this point, for every “good” group of humans our heroes come across, they find one equally bad. Most would say by now that Abraham, Rosita (Christian Serratos), and Eugene (Josh McDermitt) fall into the former category, while the men that Rick has to sneakily avoid are the latter. Yes, this world is one of shades of grey, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t those who can be friends, and those who definitely cannot.

Fans of the comic already know that Abrhama, Rosita, and Eugene are nice, but even if you only watch the show, “Claimed” seems to very strongly point in that direction, too. Abraham only hits Glenn when Glenn strikes first, and his earnest insistences to Tara (Alanna Masterson) that they are going to save the world seem sincere. Rosita chooses to go with Glenn and Tara when they leave, and Eugene only shoots at walkers and trucks, never pointing his gun at people.

The only sign that might worry some is that Abraham actually smiles while killing walkers, something that bothers Tara at first, but I feel like this can be explained away. Abraham is clearly a soldier, comfortable following orders and knowing what his job is. When he’s stopping the dead from hurting the living, he’s fulfilling a purpose, and thus, seems satisfied. Other moments, like when he follows Eugene’s directives as Eugene claims he’s smarter than Abraham, point to the same thing. So I don’t think we need to worry about Abraham turning out to be a psychopath, just dedicated to his quest, and it doesn’t look like he’ll really hurt anyone he doesn’t have to to fulfill it.

Eugene seems colder, but he never threatens our party, either, instead, following them after his ineptitude with a gun destroys their ride. He comes across as an anti-social braniac, sort of Sheldon Cooper with a mullet, which isn’t a bad thing. If he really knows what he claims to know (and comic book fans, let’s keep what we know about Eugene to ourselves because you never know which direction the show will go), then he is someone the protagonists should help out, once they find each other again.

The question posed in this half of the episode is, should Glenn help them stop the walker plague, or should he look for his wife? This is a tough decision, and one that has to be up to the individual. For Glenn, he has a very single-mindedness that Abraham doesn’t understand, even though Abraham is equally narrowly focused the other way. Abraham is right that the world is more important than one woman, but given everything Glenn has been through, he can be forgiven for not getting on board with the plan. Perhaps if the salvation was at hand, he might help, but his love for Maggie is too strong to travel several states away without any proof.

Alanna chooses to help Glenn, rather than go with Abraham and company, because she feels she owes him her life. She is a good person, as Abraham says she is, but she doesn’t believe it. She’s not approaching it from the standpoint that it’s what a good person will do. She just wants to repay the favor and try to make up for her part in the attack on the prison, which is fair.

Now the guys that Rick faces are, without question, evil. One strangles another for a better bed! I don’t think he killed the man, as there is definitely still breathing going on, but that’s still pretty awful. Their guns don’t look nice. And even if you argue the man Rick finds on the toilet only acts in self-defense when he grasps for scissors to stab Rick, the conversation overheard about terrorizing the woman who left the clean shirt in the house erase any doubts.

“Claimed” does a good job setting up the tension as Rick sneaks through the dwelling, knowing that Carl and Michonne will be home soon and likely walk straight into an ambush. We all know Rick is going to make it out alive, but I was still on the edge of my seat for most of the sequence. And Rick leaving the bathroom guy as a “walker bomb” is brilliant, something hard to see coming until it happens. It’s well-structured suspense.

Michonne does let her guard down a little too much this week. She is usually quite vigilant, and while it’s sweet she drops her emotional barriers to Carl, helping him work through the loss of Judith (who they don’t know survived) while telling viewers enlightening things about herself, she should still be more alert when heading back to the house. The fact that Rick has to run out and meet them, so close, while Michonne is still casually walking home, is disturbing. We like softer Michonne, a woman that can be a friend, not just a soldier, but only if she can still defend the group.

Wandering an abandoned building, Michonne comes across a family who has killed themselves. Setting aside the fact that they did it in a creepy girl’s room, rather than some place more appropriate, this is a sad, tragic event. It’s likely many people chose this way out when all the bad stuff broke lose, and it’s understandable. But these are not who our people are. Our people are survivors. Michonne has chosen life, not suicide, and here she sees a graphic representation of the alternative. Disturbing!

I’d like to predict the plot of next week’s episode. Looking at the previews, it appears only Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Beth (Emily Kinney) will be featured, finding out that it’s extremely difficult to try to survive by themselves on the road. Once they successfully maneuver around many walkers, they’ll spot the bandage that Rick so obviously dropped near the railroad and begin to track their friends to Terminus. Which means the other two groups, who weren’t in “Claimed,” probably won’t be seen again until the following week.

Some have complained about this fractured set up, but I like it. It gives the players more focus in the episodes in which they star, and shows us things about them, more than just why they’re still alive. THE WALKING DEAD excels at character-driven moments, and this new format, as temporary as we all expect it to be, with everyone surely making it to Terminus by the season finale, is a nice way to spend half a season. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating for the separation to be permanent. I’m just saying to enjoy it while it lasts.

THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

THE WALKING DEAD Catches Up With the "Inmates"

Article first written for Seat42F.

While the mid-season premiere of THE WALKING DEAD last week catches us up with three of the survivors, who eventually find one another, this week’s “Inmates” shows us what happens to everyone else in four separate vignettes. It doesn’t feel like everyone is shown tonight, but the hour really does get around to the entire remaining cast (save the ones that appeared last week), the holes being those who are dead and won’t be seen again.

First up is Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Beth (Emily Kinney). The opening narration is an entry from Beth’s journal, one of hope that the prison will be a permanent safe haven where the group can rebuild their lives. It’s heartbreaking to hear it now, Beth being apart from her sister, her father executed, and little protection to be found from the walkers and the elements. It’s a jarring juxtaposition, but one that reminds us of how great the loss they just suffered is.

Beth somehow hangs onto a little bit of hope, despite her grief, wanting to immediately go find the others. Daryl is less eager, having been hurt enough, likely still smarting from Carol’s (Melissa McBride) banishment. It’s up to Beth to spur Daryl on, though he seems more determined to protect her than eager to find anyone else as they trace what is very clearly a trail left by other humans.

Daryl and Beth’s differing attitudes, as well as those of the other players as the hour unfolds, show just how strong the character development is on THE WALKING DEAD. While in other stories most people would react in a similar manner to such a huge tragedy, and it’s hard for writers to always imagine those varying personalities, no two people in this show take the events the same. “Inmates” highlights this quality.

The second segment shows us those Daryl and Beth are following, backing up as they leave the clues the first two will find. Tyrese (Chad L. Coleman) has Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino) and Kyla (Mika Samuels) with him, as well as baby Judith, whose cries are a magnet to walkers. It’s no wonder, with the challenge of keeping these young ones alive, that Tyreese misses how psychopathic Lizzie has become.

From the casual stabbing of rabbits to the nearly smothering Judith to death to quiet her, it seems pretty clear that THE WALKING DEAD has unmasked the secret of the dead rats this week. Lizzie may be able to handle herself around walkers, but she is a serious threat to the group if she can’t keep her heartless impulses under control. One has to wonder if Lizzie and Mika’s tale will echo those of twin boys in the comics, which gets really dark and tragic quite quickly after the prison story.

At one point in “Inmates,” Tyreese leaves the three girls alone because he hears screams nearby and, after some quick words of advice, runs off to help those in trouble. Is this forgivable? Abandoning the trio, even temporarily, is extremely dangerous. They’re too little to really fight off walkers. Yes, Tyreese could be concerned his sister, Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green), is one of those in trouble, or he could just realize he needs help and hopes those screams will lead to other compatriots. But is it really excusable to leave the kids on their own, and just how bad would he feel if something happened to them? In this instance, shouldn’t his duty to protect them outweigh anything else?

Luckily, before Judith is smothered and the others are eaten, Carol, who watched the prison fall from afar, likely trying to decide how she could get back into the group before it was attacked, finds them. She doesn’t scold Tyreese, probably nervous that Tyreese knows why Rick (Andrew Lincoln) banished her, which it turns out he doesn’t. But while the dread of what will happen when Tyreese learns the truth hangs over this group, it’s just so damn good to have Carol back, and heartening that no one else we care about dies.

At the end of this vignette, Carol and Tyreese learn about a settlement that is offering protection and decide to take the girls there. Shouldn’t they have learned their lesson after Woodbury and the prison that any safety is temporary? But I guess in a super dangerous world like this, any promise of peace, no matter how short-lived, is better than life on the run.

Is this place connected to the three new characters we meet at the very end of the episode? Abraham (Michael Cudlitz, Southland), Eugene (Josh McDermitt, Retired at 35), and Rosita (Christian Serratos, Twilight) are good guys in the comics who lead our heroes to a bunch of settlements near Washington D.C. However, the city Tyreese and Carol are hearing towards is much closer, near Atlanta. Will the show go a different direction, or will this promise of a home be an empty one, freeing the characters up to begin their journey north?

But I’m getting ahead of myself because those three don’t show up until the final moments.

The third section finds Maggie (Lauren Cohan) single-mindedly determined to find Glenn (Steven Yeun), a reckless mission that soon endangers her traveling companions, Sasha and Bob (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.), when she insists on boarding a bus full of walkers to see if Glenn is among them. It’s as much luck as skill that lets these three dispatch the contingent, confirming that Glenn is not on the bus, leading to a terrific acting moment for Cohan.

Having everyone on the bus die provides a convenient way to get rid of the unnamed extras, though it’s horrible that the first evacuated, who should have been the safest, have all perished. THE WALKING DEAD has had to, and will continue to, struggle with how to balance the core group of players with a larger number of extras. Not everyone can be featured, and with the cast currently in a growing phase, likely soon to get even larger, it’s challenging to keep these actors all straight. The bus massacre, while maybe not necessary, is a way to contain the population shown.

Finally, we see that Glenn made it off the bus and is now trapped in the prison. While his plight seems scary for a bit, Glenn does know how to handle himself, and has the riot gear to help him escape. What he doesn’t count on, though, is finding Tara (Alanna Masterson) amid the chaos, and after a bit of hesitation, decides to rescue her on his way out.

It seems certain that Glenn would not have been so generous had Tara not been crying and scared in a cage. And it helps Tara’s case that her gun was completely full, showing that she didn’t fire at Glenn’s friends when her group did. This should make everyone else accept her easily enough, as they did others of The Governor’s former followers before her. None of what happened is Tara’s fault, and her obvious regret works in her favor.

It’s a little disappointing, though convenient, to learn that Tara’s sister, Lilly (Audrey Marie Anderson), is among those who perished at the prison. I guess everyone can’t be saved, but I don’t feel like her story was through, and I wanted to see the sisters adjust to the group. Now, Tara has no one, really, and will have quite the difficult time as an outsider.

Glenn is just as obsessed with finding Maggie as she is him, which is touching, a couple truly in love. He might be sidetracked a little, as Glenn and Tara are the ones who happen upon Abraham and company. But we’ll see.

“Inmates” is a great way to reintroduce all the characters, giving each time to show a bit of who they are, and setting up the next part of the story, which will certainly be concerned with trying to get everyone back together. I kind of hope it takes all of this run to do so, as it wouldn’t be realistic for everyone to find each other quickly. But it’s also likely, for ease of storytelling if nothing else, that our heroes will begin to reassemble as early as next week, which will be gratifying, too, as they miss each other and we root for them to reunite.

THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.