THE WALKING DEAD: Is It Done Disappointing?

Article first published as TV Review: 'The Walking Dead' - "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be" on Blogcritics.

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read this if you haven’t watch the season seven premiere.

I would like to start by saying that The Walking Dead is my favorite currently running show. I don’t state this lightly; I’m a television critic who has watched way, way too much TV, and so my standards are pretty darn high. Yet, this one has consistently explored human morality and complex character development in a way that surpasses just about any other on the air, despite the fact that it’s got a bunch of zombies, creatures I don’t particularly care for. So yeah, it’s a really, really good show.

Having said that, this is not going to be a very positive article, so I wanted to establish the place I’m coming from before I criticize, as a genuine fan that cares, not just some snobby critic who doesn’t know this program very well.

The episode itself, “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be,” is another excellent hour of the series, of which I have few complaints about when taken on its own. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) comes face-to-face with his most dangerous adversary yet, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and painfully has his worldview changed by said villain. There is some very tense suspense over whether or not Rick will either lose a hand or be forced to chop his own son’s, Carl (Chandler Riggs), off. The end is a perfect, moving capper that is sorely needed after the carnage. So it wasn’t this hour alone that has frustrated me.

My deep disappointment comes with two, in my opinion, spectacularly bad moves in last year’s run that dampen what should have been much, much more emotional scenes last night. These deal with the deaths of Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz), and while these are long-time characters I care deeply about, their passings were not all that affecting. I’ve cried over many characters on this show, but barely felt a thing for them watching last night’s episode. It had nothing to do with the actors, and everything to do with the way the show has treated the characters leading up to it.

I have no problem with the telegraphing of Abraham’s demise throughout last spring’s finale. It is a sweet send-off, just as surely going to come to pass as Glenn’s death under the dumpster earlier last year (more on that in a moment). So why in the heck would the show leave us on a cliffhanger instead, making viewers wait many months for confirmation of the thing we already all knew was going to happen?

Had this been a fake out, I might forgive it, but the sheer shamelessness of the lead up and unresolved story sucked. It just wasn’t necessary. Some members of the production have claimed that the death launches a new story so they had to hold it, but I disagree. I’ve had a night to think about it, and had they showed that it was Abraham who was beaten to death last spring, I don’t think it would have lessened the impact of this “new world order” story in “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be” in the least. If anything, it would have been more affecting because we wouldn’t have been run down by theories and debates and internet rumors all summer.

By the time it actually happens, as much as I adore Abraham and wish he didn’t died, I was like “yep, finally,” exhausted from the wait and reiterating my view for the number of people who wanted to know who I thought was dead and why over the interim. (I don’t say this with any ego; everyone I know who watches the show wanted to know everyone else who watches the show’s theories. Except me, apparently, who hates this kind of discussion.)

Now, let’s talk about Glenn. Last fall, The Walking Dead presented an hour that very clearly, though subtly, telegraphs his death next to a dumpster. When the production decided to do an about-face and reveal that dumpster death didn’t really happen, no plausible explanation for Glenn’s survival is given. The situation, as it is presented, does so with the flimsiest of excuses that is not anywhere near the narrative’s usual standards. (Read my review of that episode here.) Obviously, I’m still not over it.

So when watching Glenn pass last night, as disturbing as the actual sequence is (copied beautifully from the comic book), I didn’t care because he should already have been dead, and as far as I was concerned, The Walking Dead was just resetting their universe to right and moving on.

The idea of a second death at Negan’s hand is a solid one. That would have provided the surprise Abraham’s murder was lacking, and really given us a great start to the new year, something to talk about. Not to mention, Daryl (Norman Reedus) causing the second death will definitely provide some more guilt for the man who doesn’t need it. Unfortunately, Glenn is the one character in the lineup that this twist doesn’t work for, because he died at this point in the comics and he is just a correction to a bad plot line.

I do actually get the mindset that led to setting up last night’s story. The writers may have been excitedly talking about how they’d kill Abraham, defying comic readers’ expectations and making us think Glenn was safe, only to twist the knife in the back unexpectedly. Sadly, after the cheesy, unnecessary cliffhanger and Glenn’s ridiculous survival under the dumpster, there was no impact at all, at least not for me.

The saving grace here is that last night’s episode was as good as what I’ve come to expect from The Walking Dead, and it resolves and moves past those two major missteps from last year. Hopefully, they’ve learned their lesson and will go back to giving us nearly flawless entertainment without the gimmicks. If we have to go through the same cheese in season seven as those two huge miscalculations in season six are, I will have to rethink what my favorite show is.

The only other thing I’d like to add is that I think it’s absolutely ridiculous AMC will allow the level of gore we saw in “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be” and still won’t allow Negan to use his favorite word (which, by the way, has been filmed and will be uttered frequently in the DVD release of this season). Our priorities on decency standards in this country are pretty screwed up, am I right?

The Walking Dead continues its seventh season Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

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.

No "Thank You," THE WALKING DEAD

Article originally published as THE WALKING DEAD Review "Thank You" on Seat42F.

No one will be saying “Thank You” to THE WALKING DEAD after last night’s episode on AMC. With much of zombie herd closing in on Alexandria, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) works on a plan to redirect the walkers, while tasking Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Glenn (Steven Yeun) with getting some of their new neighbors home safe. Walkers may be slow, but they are persistent, and as Rick predicts, not everyone makes it home.

Early in the episode, Rick tells Michonne and Glenn that not everyone is going to make it and they have to understand that. This is kind of a running theme in THE WALKING DEAD. You may want to save everyone, but you just can’t. The world is too dangerous, and if you don’t know when to cut and run, you’ll end up dead, too.

Rick isn’t being heartless when he says this; he’s being realistic. I understand why Heath (Corey Hawkins) takes offense when he overhears these words, though. While Heath has left Alexandria to go on supply runs and recruit new citizens, he hasn’t faced anyone like the Governor, nor tried to protect a community of dependents under attack, so he doesn’t have full understanding. Heath’s arc in “Thank You” is an introduction to the harsh world he now lives in, which he only scratches the surface of prior to this.

Thankfully, Heath learns his lesson in time to make it home, but the whole group is not so lucky, some of his friends falling in order to teach him the truth. I am impressed with several of these new people. Annie (Beth Kenner, Battle Los Angeles) and Scott (Kenric Green, Let Me Go) ask to be left behind when they’re slowing the others down. David (Jay Huguley, Treme) knows he’s doomed, but just wants to get back to say goodbye to his wife. These guys may not be prepared for what they’re facing, but at least they’re trying and dying with dignity, not tearing others down along the way. And one of them, Scott, actually makes it.

Of course, not everyone is so heroic. Sturgess (Jonathan Kleitman, +1) takes off running, abandoning the group and getting himself killed for it. But the real detestable weakling in “Thank You” is Nicholas (Michael Traynor).

Throughout “Thank You,” I keep looking for Nicholas to step up. Glenn rescues him and gives him a second chance, and Nicholas has become a loyal student of Glenn’s. Yet, Nicholas keeps faltering over and over again in this hour, never acting quickly to do what needs to be done. My biggest worry as events play out is that Nicholas will die before he gets a hold of himself, as I’ve come to like him.

But then Nicholas kills himself in a moment of desperation and takes Glenn out with him, the ultimate act of betrayal and cowardice. Not only does Nicholas remove himself from the fight, but he robs our group of a good man who doesn’t deserve to go. It’s one thing to act stupidly or come to grips with your own limitations; it’s quite another if you hurt someone else while doing so. For this, Nicholas has ruined any chance he ever had of being remembered fondly.

Glenn’s death isn’t a huge surprise. He’s become the moral center of the show, and THE WALKING DEAD always kills its moral center. Always. Glenn is too good and gives people too many chances. I didn’t expect him to go at this point, in the penultimate act of the third episode of the season, but it just reinforces once again that anyone can die at any time on THE WALKING DEAD.

Now, in the Talking Dead after show, host Chris Hardwick didn’t confirm his death and a theory or two are batted around about how Glenn might miraculously survive. But I think the best thing we can hope for at this point is that someone finds a trace of him to confirm his fate. Glenn is gone, and as hard as that is, losing one of the original crew, we have to live with it.

Daryl (Norman Reedus) has his own crisis of conscience in “Thank You,” not sure what to do when Rick asks him to keep leading a portion of the herd away. Daryl’s instinct is to turn around and help his friends, protecting the town that gives him, as the sign says, a fresh start. This is a noble feeling, and one completely understandable. But it’s the wrong move, and when Daryl hears Rick possibly sacrifice himself for the greater good, he decides to stay on his mission. It’s the right call, one hard-earned, and may keep him alive longer than Glenn.

Speaking of Rick, our hero tries to make it to an RV to help redirect the walkers. After the longest mile anyone has ever run, or so it seems, he finds the vehicle, but is attacked by Wolves and he can’t finish the job. Rick won’t die here; he’s on the very short list of characters I think THE WALKING DEAD cannot kill, which currently includes only himself, Daryl, Michonne, and Carl (Chandler Riggs). Seeing him single-handedly fight off five Wolves proves Rick’s worth again. I don’t know how he’ll get out of this situation, especially feeling helpless when he realizes his attackers have come from Alexandria (the only place around with baby food), but he will.

And then the preview for next week’s episode shows us that it will be the long-awaited Morgan (Lennie James) flashback. I can’t help but feel this is an awful time to air this. Three weeks spent building up a giant herd, we need to see the resolution of that before taking a moment to catch our breaths. The only reason I can think of to do the Morgan flashback now, aside from artificially drawing out anticipation, which THE WALKING DEAD doesn’t tend to do (it draws it out, but authentically), is that Morgan will die in the upcoming battle and they need to get this in first. Considering Morgan’s pacifism and morality, that feels the most likely explanation. But I hope I’m wrong.

While I don’t want to say “Thank You” for an hour that killed off Glenn, this is yet another awesome installment of the best show currently on television. It has lots of action and death, but it all plays out around the complex character studies one has come to expect. Each development means something; nothing is gratuitous. That’s why this show is so, so good.

THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC. For those who DVR it, make sure you set for 90 minutes next week (does anyone actually still manually set the time?), as that installment will be extra long.

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.

THE WALKED DEAD Did "Conquer" Story and Ratings

Article originally written for Seat42F.

The central question of the season finale of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD is, what will the Alexandrians do with Rick (Andrew Lincoln)? After Rick’s gun-waving breakdown at the end of the previous episode, Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) is leaning towards kicking him out of the settlement, but she holds a town forum first to get opinions. As scary as Rick may have been in the moment, though, is he wrong, and do the people see that?

Rick’s contention is that the Alexandrians have been lucky thus far and they are not prepared to take care of themselves when that luck runs out. He and his people have been out in the world and have seen firsthand how bleak it can get and how cruel people can be. This darkness may not yet have touched Alexandria, but it will.

“Conquer” begins by showing us some of that evil that Rick is so worried about. Morgan (Lennie James) has been tracking Rick all the way to the D.C. area. Stopping for a little breakfast, he is set upon by two “Wolves,” people who ruthlessly take all they can, set traps of brutalized Walkers, and have no qualms at all about killing people that they come across. Morgan is able to deal with two of them and walk away, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still pose a threat, especially as we don’t know the size of their group.

Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) run into this same contingent on the road. They lose a man they are considering recruiting, distracted by one of the Wolves’ traps. Not prepared, they realize too late what is happening, and are soon stuck, finding an ominous note that bad people are coming. Thankfully, before the duo perishes, Morgan shows up and saves them because he’s just a good dude.

THE WALKING DEAD presents a world where two types of people survive. One type is the bad sort, like the Wolves or The Governor, but another is the kind that look out for others and stick together like a family. Morgan is an example of the latter, altruistic towards innocents, and not even killing the Wolves that attack him. Daryl and Aaron are, too, each willing to sacrifice themselves for the other before deciding to make a break for it together, which they thankfully don’t end up having to do.

Glenn (Steven Yeun) proves himself in the same category in “Conquer.” Nicholas (Michael Traynor) feels threatened, not understanding the gift of protection Glenn is offering him. Frightened, Nicholas strikes, luring Glenn outside the walls and shooting him, trying to kill him. Multiple times the two scuffle, Glenn tough enough to survive one idiot and a handful of Walkers. In the end, though, while Glenn could easily kill Nicholas, he does not, instead limping back to Alexandria together. Not many would spare Nicholas as Glenn does, likely seeing Nicholas the scared child that he is.

Nicholas will likely come out of this learning something about Glenn and having a new-found respect for him. He isn’t the only one changed by his encounter with Rick’s people, Tobin (Jason Douglas), Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge), and even Deanna’s husband, Reg (Steve Coulter), believing Rick should stay and maybe is needed to save them. The weaker in this world have to put their faith in someone, and those like Glenn and Rick are the types to earn that faith.

Which brings us back to the start of this review, and that is to Rick himself. His gun swinging does feel a little crazy, but “Conquer” gives us a little more insight to the sheriff. Despite Carol’s (Melissa McBride) assertion the two of them should continue their deception, Rick doesn’t feel comfortable lying to the others, especially Michonne (Danai Gurira). He’s worried Michonne won’t side with him against Deanna (though of course she says asserts her continued loyalty), but he thinks Michonne deserves to know what’s going on. Here, we see Rick’s nobility, and as he explains to her, he snaps a bit because he is totally frustrated at how blind these naïve people are, which is understandable. He refuses to apologize to the group, but he does offer to make them his family and teach them how to survive, being open and honest. This puts him firmly in the good column.

There is a slight snag in the neat ending, as Deanna orders Rick to execute Pete (Corey Brill) after an angry Pete accidentally murders Reg, a regrettable happenstance. This seems to be Deanna deciding in Rick’s favor and putting to bed the debate, but Rick murders Pete just as Morgan walks in, and Morgan is all about zen-like non-violence these days. Fans of THE WALKING DEAD widely love Morgan and wish him to be a part of the cast. Will Rick’s brutality, necessary as it is, scare him away? Will Morgan’s journey have been for nothing?

Two more intersecting subplots of note plays out in “Conquer,” making more obvious some of the internal struggles Rick and the others go through as they try to adapt to civilization again. In the first, Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) tries to literally bury her demons as she cleans up dead Walkers outside the wall. She’s at a very low point, even lying in the mass grave with them because she feels as dead as they are. Still, she is clearly trying to get better as she goes to Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) for advice and spiritual guidance.

The good father is in no position to counsel her, or anyone else who asks, for that matter. He hates himself so much for not saving his parishioners that he goes outside the walls and tries to commit suicide-by-Walker. When he can’t bring himself to do that, killing his first undead, he tries to goad Sasha into taking him out. I do think the emotional confrontation that follows, which they both walk away from, should be cathartic enough to help them begin to move on, but it’s very charged and it takes us into the depths of their pain.

THE WALKING DEAD packs a lot into this final hour and a half. All of the stories mentioned above are deeply personal and complex in their highlighting of personalities. We also see Maggie (Lauren Cohan) be set up as a spiritual healer, Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) and Eugene (Josh McDermitt) make peace, and Tara (Alanna Masterson) looks like she’s recovering. So much goodness, and still with pacing that doesn’t feel rushed.

“Conquer” does succeed in overcoming the strife of the past eight episodes, though, bringing everyone, Alexandrians and our group alike, which are now one and the same, into a common cause. This is super necessary, as we know the Wolves will soon be coming. Thankfully, Rick has a bigger group than ever to help fight those that are evil and give those that deserve to the best chance possible to survive. It’s going to be a hell of an exciting sixth season.

THE WALKING DEAD will return, likely around October, to AMC. The companion series, Fear The Walking Dead, which takes viewers to L.A. in the early days of the Walker outbreak, launches late this summer on the same network.

Just "Try" to Resist THE WALKING DEAD

Article originally written for Seat42F.

As THE WALKING DEAD begins last night on AMC, things are tense in Alexandria. With a person lost on both sides, Rick’s group and Deanna’s aren’t exactly happy with one another, especially when those that return from the supply run tell conflicting stories, each side blaming the other for what happened. Will they continue to “Try” to get along, or is this the beginning of the end of the happy town?

Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is the best representation of a wild person trying to go back to civilization. He is on edge because of what happens to Noah (Tyler James Williams), but also because Carol (Melissa McBride) keeps urging him to take out Pete (Corey Brill), who is abusing his wife, Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge). The evidence seems to be there, Pete’s son, Sam (Major Dodson), telling Carol bad things that Jessie doesn’t exactly deny. Still, Rick isn’t sure he should interfere, until he admits to himself his feelings for Jessie.

I love that Rick tells Carol she would still be here, even if her own abusive spouse, Ed, hadn’t been eaten by Walkers. Carol is a very strong person, someone capable of holding her own, and even giving back, as she does when arguing for Rick to take action against Pete. Jessie isn’t the same type. She will probably die if no one stops Pete. But what to do? Is she someone Rick should take care of? He decides yes, but admits he wouldn’t do the same for just anyone.

Rick is not part of the community yet. He isn’t interested in protecting all of these new people, seeing them as weak and not willing to do what’s necessary to survive. In “Try,” he tells Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) that they must separate Pete and Jessie, and if Pete doesn’t cooperate, kill him. Deanna says they do not execute and Rick better never suggest it again, which I think is her trying to assert the control she feels slipping away, enhanced by grief and anger at losing her son. But Rick knows what will happen if they let a bad guy escape be exiling him. He’ll come back, and there will be consequences. Rick has seen this before, Deanna has not.

All this leads to a town square brawl between Pete and Rick. Rick gets the upper hand, then rants at Deanna and the others, waving his gun around. He tells them they’re not safe, and that they can’t go by Deanna’s rules any more. It’s quite a speech, though it does come off crazy. I think Rick is just at his breaking point, knowing in his gut that Alexandria is not going to survive unless changes are made, but unable to make those changes. He hasn’t adapted, “Try” as he might, and this is a key moment for his character.

Which ends with Michonne (Danai Gurira) cold-cocking him. Rick may be right that Deanna’s way isn’t right, but Rick’s rules would take away much from the good civilization that is being preserved here. Not everyone wants what Rick wants in THE WALKING DEAD.

Glenn (Steven Yeun), for one, is looking for balance. He tells Nicholas (Michael Traynor) that he will not go out on any more runs, not because Glenn in threatening Nicholas, but because Glenn wants to save him. Glenn isn’t looking to punish; he’s looking to protect. He wants to build upon what Deanna has established, not tear it down.

Michonne also wants to hang onto the promise of a semi-normal life. She chases Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) out into the woods, alongside Rosita (Christian Serratos), sans police uniform and sword. Sasha is angry and needs to blow off steam, feeling guilty for telling Noah he wouldn’t survive, which only builds upon her struggle at losing Bob and Tyreese. As Michonne helps Sasha, though, it’s not anger Michonne feels. She remembers her past, remembers what it’s like on the outside. Not bringing her uniform reveals her doubts about fitting in, but not bringing her sword is a rejection of who she was. Michonne is reminded of what’s outside the walls, and after bringing Sasha home, she chooses Alexandria. This leads her to don the uniform and knock Rick out, as mentioned, to preserve the peace.

Carl (Chandler Riggs) is part of the fitting-in group, too. He tries to stop Rick’s fight. This is after he shares a moment and almost-kiss with Enid (Katelyn Nacon) in the woods. Carl realizes the danger, but like Enid, he also wants to live in a world where he can run and enjoy himself. Alexandria offers a chance at that.

What will happen next? Deanna seems very close to kicking out at least Rick, if not the group, knowing she needs them, but coming close to rejecting the price of their assistance. However, seeing Carl and Glenn and others “Try” to fit into Alexandria, witnessing Michonne exert control over Rick when it’s necessary, perhaps Deanna will be tempted to punish only Rick, leaving the others alone. If Rick’s people can help him find the middle ground, as they have done, the entire group stands a chance at making Alexandria a home. Will Deanna allow that to happen?

Outside the walls, Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) find mutilated Walkers with Ws carved into their foreheads. This continues a trend that started at Noah’s family’s neighborhood. Periodically we’ve seen scenes of disturbing brutality. I haven’t made a thing of them in my reviews because they’ve been minor foreshadowing in very full episodes, but in “Try,” it’s clear that THE WALKING DEAD is heading somewhere with this sooner, rather than later. Who is doing this, and what do they want? They surely won’t be friendly to the good people of Alexandria.

THE WALKING DEAD continues to masterfully balance deep character stories with larger plots, spooling out an arc patiently and artistically. Some of my fellow fans have mourned the loss of the hours focusing on one or two characters that were so brilliant last year, but I think the current structure matches what’s happening now better. THE WALKING DEAD has continuously shifted and morphed over the seasons depending on the needs of the story, and I think it is brilliantly continuing to do the same this year.

THE WALKING DEAD ends its fifth season next Sunday 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 Goes "The Distance"

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 11 The Distance on Seat42F.

The survivors of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD have gone “The Distance,” and now might they finally find rest? That’s the question posed at the conclusion of last night’s installment, but before the group gets there, they must first overcome the things they’ve relied upon to help them survive. That’s not easy, to be sure, but there are many hopeful signs that it can be done.

As “The Distance” opens, Aaron (Ross Marquand) is brought to the group. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) does not immediately welcome the stranger to their midst; quite the opposite, in fact, slugging him as Aaron tries to present his case. Aaron tells the group that he has come to recruit them for his settlement, but knows they will be skeptical of his offer. His approach is the best that can be made under the circumstances, likely usually delivered to smaller, more desperately wanting acceptance, people (though he should have just ate the applesauce without complaint, Rick’s demand and reason for it being obvious). When the little bits of proof he provides turn out to be true, he asks Rick what else it will take to convince him. Rick doesn’t have an answer.

Rick obviously can’t save everybody all the time, and the cast has suffered major losses along the way. But Rick is, by and large, the reason this many people have made it this long. He hasn’t always known what to do, going too easy on people for awhile, swinging to extreme Ricktatorship, and then swinging back the other way to peaceful farmer. But by the time they encounter Terminus, he is exactly the leader the group needs to survive out on the road.

Thankfully, Rick isn’t alone. Others around him have proven themselves in a variety of ways, as well as found ways to survive without him when everyone was separated. There isn’t anyone in this group who can’t hold their own any more, or has found a way to arrange protection, so Rick doesn’t have to be the sole decider, nor are they willing to let him be. Even while letting Rick be the figurehead, Michonne (Danai Gurira), Glenn (Steven Yeun), Carl (Chandler Riggs), beyond-the-grave Bob, and even Daryl (Norman Reedus) express support for following Aaron home. On the advice from his closest advisors, Rick has to at least give Aaron a chance.

Rick being Rick, he has to do things his way, though, and while that makes sense, it also causes mishaps, leading to the group losing a car and Glenn and Aaron almost getting eaten. Thankfully, they make it through this and Rick (and the viewer) finally start to have their doubts about Aaron’s honesty erased when we see him with his partner, Eric (Jordan Woods-Robinson, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1). As Carl tells Rick late in “The Distance,” just because he’s wrong doesn’t mean he’s not right.

Thus, with Rick’s hackles somewhat calmed, the caravan reaches Alexandria, Aaron’s home, and this is where the most damning piece of evidence to support Aaron comes to light. Rick and Michonne discuss approaching Woodbury and approaching Terminus, and how they are met with silence at the gates both times. As the group gets to Alexandria, the sound of children playing drifts over the heavily-reinforced walls. This is the first place encountered that not only might kids be safe enough to be kids, but they are allowed to do so. It’s not a guarantee that all is well, but Rick risks walking in with his infant in his arms, and that’s saying something.

Can Rick lay down his weapons and be a member of a community? It’s hard to tell. Soliders, especially generals, do not usually easily adapt to peacetime. Rick is nothing if not a general, and he even does what he does at Terminus, leaving a backup firearm hidden outside the gate, though notably only one gun is in his stash this time. Rick shows signs of easing up, but it won’t be a quick or painless conversion. It’s just nice that he gets the opportunity to do so.

Not that Rick is the only one who won’t accept Alexandria at face value. Even Michonne, the most vocal supporter of going there, gets suspicious when she catches Aaron in a lie and makes him answer The Three Questions. His answers mean nothing by that point, a dramatically intense moment in the hour, more about revealing Michonne than Aaron.

This paragraph contains SPOILERS from the comic, so you may want to skip it. At this point in the written THE WALKING DEAD, the group settles into Alexandria where they still are, more than fifty issues later. This is a fundamental shift from survival mode to the rebuilding of civilization, a clearly divided two halves to the series. While their challenges are not over, they become part of something much larger than themselves for the first time. For this reason, I want to relax and appreciate the calm. However, THE WALKING DEAD television series has done such a good job of making me not trust anything and often deviates in ways large and small from the page. Because of this, I still feel like Rick, optimistic, but very cautiously so, as they enter the gated community. Whether the series follows the book or differs greatly, both offer many fascinating new possibilities.

“The Distance” is yet another excellent episode of THE WALKING DEAD. It has the obligatory action sequences and walker kills, but by and large, it’s a character piece. We learn something about ourselves and humanity in general while watching it, and that’s why, in an extremely competitive field, it has edged out all others as my favorite currently running television program.

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

THE WALKING DEAD Are "Them"

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 10 Them on Seat42F.

THE WALKING DEAD on AMC is about a group of survivors who have done everything they needed to in order to survive. This week’s installment, “Them,” brings them to the end of their ropes in this regard. Starving, dehydrated, walking slowly after their vehicles run out of gas, our heroes are still sixty miles from D.C. but they might as well be six hundred. If something doesn’t break soon, they aren’t going to make it.

Things are especially hard for the survivors closest to those who recently departed. Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) is angry at her brother’s demise, which happens because of a careless accident, and she doesn’t know how to come to terms with that. Her erratic behavior endangers everyone when she abandons an easy Walker slaughter plan in favor of working out her anger with a knife. If Sasha doesn’t find a way to begin to move on, she may lose her own life or that of yet another person she cares about. Though, she tells Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) that they are not friends, so maybe she doesn’t care about anyone left.

Maggie (Lauren Cohan) has also lost a sibling, and also becomes self-destructive, though not at the expense of the others. Granted, Maggie has been a part of the group longer so maybe she cares more. She isn’t shut down and cold; her compassion won’t let her walk away from a Walker in a trunk, which Glenn (Steven Yeun) helps her dispatch. But reluctant to even sip water, Maggie isn’t doing well.

And then there’s Daryl (Norman Reedus). His instinct is to hide away, hard to do when the group is traveling together. So he keeps making excuses that he’s looking for elusive water. Carol (Melissa McBride) tries to help, telling him he needs to grieve, but like Abraham’s failure with Sasha and Father Gabriel’s (Seth Gilliam) inability to get to Maggie, Daryl rebukes her attempts. That is, until he purposely burns himself with a cigarette, and then the tears come in a very moving scene, which may just give him an advantage over the other two because he’s at least he’s facing his emotions.

These three are the worst, those personally highlighted in “Them,” but they are far from alone. Every character on this show has been similarly featured at one point or another because this life is not one they can stand much longer. Michonne (Danai Gurira) argues last week that they have to settle down to recapture their humanity. She’s right, as our group stumbling along looks almost no different from the Walkers trailing them. This leads Rick (Andrew Lincoln) to give voice to what fans have been saying for years: they, not the zombies, are The Walking Dead.

All of this builds into a fantastical storm, a metaphor for the pent-up feelings they all battle, and the group takes shelter in a barn. When Walkers push against the doors to get in, it’s Maggie, Daryl, and Sasha that first rush to hold off their attackers. Those left at this point want to live, and even when things look grim, the most desperate among them find a way to rally. Like the Walker Maggie finds in the barn who couldn’t turn her gun on herself, they will never give up.

At the end of “Them,” a new face enters their midst: Aaron (Ross Marquand, Down and Dangerous). Aaron has anonymously gifted them water, which they ignore for fear of poison, and now he wants to speak with their leader, whom he asks for by name. Maggie and Sasha, whom he first approaches, are naturally suspicious, and with good reason. This group has faced many a hostile person who disguises themselves as good. With Aaron skulking around and spying on them, how can they trust him?

Yet, that’s exactly what Rick and crew tried to do at Terminus, observe from afar before deciding to approach. It’s smart tactics, and doesn’t necessarily condemn Aaron as evil. If the series follows the books (SPOILER – though the series often makes different choices, so this may not really be a spoiler), Aaron is the catalyst that finally lets them flip from pure survival to rebuilding civilization, as well as basically doubles the cast size. He’s the start of the second half of the story as told so far; he’s a desperately needed savior. Will the Aaron of screen be the same, and how can they learn to trust him?

“Them” is a fascinating portrait of people on the edge, highlighting some of the themes often seen in the show in a more extreme, while still quiet, fashion. Having the weather match the mood is pleasantly artistic, and there are excellent performances from a number of cast members, including Gilliam, whose priest burns his collar. I find no flaw in the hour, and am stoked for the next chapter of the story.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

"What Happened" on THE WALKING DEAD?

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 9 What Happened and What's Going On on Seat42F.

Fans of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD eagerly anticipated last night’s mid-season premiere, wondering “What Happened and What’s Going On.” We get an answer to the strange title of the episode, some time after the events of last season. The group goes to Richmond, Virginia, where Noah’s (Tyler James William) mother and brothers were last known to be. But there’s been a cost to this journey, to this life, and there’s a fatal price for looking for hope in this place.

With Eugene (Josh McDermitt) now a known liar, the group lacks direction. Noah provides a little bit of it with a pipe dream, tales of a place protected by walls. It’s better than any other idea offered, so it’s understandable they would give it a shot. This, despite the fact that several of the characters don’t bother to buy into the hope at all. They are too jaded, have been disappointed too many times. They don’t see an attractive path left open to them.

Michonne (Danai Gurira) is not one of those. Listening to Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Glenn (Steven Yeun) debate if killing Dawn even matters, she reaches a breaking point. Of course taking a life matters. Of course one must try to hold onto their humanity. The guys may not agree in “What Happened and What’s Going On,” but at least Rick has the good sense enough to listen to Michonne’s concerns. Maybe he’s past caring, but he recognizes the wisdom in trying to do so.

Michonne is now the de-facto moral compass, which is a precarious position to be in. Those who have shouldered the mantle in the past tend to have a limited lifespan. I desperately hope Michonne’s days aren’t numbered, but I felt the same about Hershel and about THE WALKING DEAD’s most recent victim, and have been disappointed both times. Disappointed not because their stories aren’t fantastic; they are. Disappointed because I mourn for and miss those players. True, there’s no impending demise for her if the show echoes the comics, but ask Andrea, who is still alive in the paper version, how believing the TV adaptation will follow the books works out.

As THE WALKING DEAD returns this week, it’s Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) who tries to hold on. He offers to stay with Noah as Rick, Glenn, and Michonne hunt for supplies. And in Noah’s house, Tyreese is taken in by the photos of Noah’s brothers, innocents. It makes Tyreese remember his own family, his own father, and it saddens him.

Unfortunately, THE WALKING DEAD is cruel to those who take the time for such sappy reminiscing. Tyreese is bitten while distracted, and despite everyone’s best efforts to save him, it’s too late. Another moral compass gone, passing the torch to Michonne.

Tyreese is a beloved and fascinating character, and his death in “What Happened and What’s Going On” is worthy of him and of Coleman, who brings him to life so brilliantly. We see flashes of Tyreese’s past over the last few seasons. We see mementos of happier times. It’s almost a victory lap, a life flashing before one’s eyes, reminding Tyreese of what’s important.

As he lies bleeding, he’s visited by the ghost of many a departed friend and foe, including Bob (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.), Beth (Emily Kinney), Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino), Mika (Kyla Kenedy), Martin (Chris Coy), and The Governor (David Morrissey). Some of them are there to comfort him and usher him out of this life. Others are there to accuse him of wrongdoing and make him take stock of his situation. In the end, though, the comfort wins out, and while Tyreese fights if for awhile, we eventually see him go away peacefully, surrounded by those who care.

Not every death on THE WALKING DEAD is this pretty, but if there’s a soul that deserves this type of demise, it’s Tyreese. Out of the action, his passing is unexpected, but it also makes sense, given the type of guy he is. If it didn’t happen here, it would have happened soon enough anyway. Having all of those actors return makes it that much sweeter, lending importance to the passing, and delighting viewers who miss them. Yes, even The Governor is missed, if for Morrissey’s performance alone.

“What Happened and What’s Going On” is a way-stop on the way to D.C., the place where an ounce of hope might still remain. Still, it’s an important one. The Walking Dead skips over 500 miles of the journey, but I’m glad it chooses now to take a brief respite and deliver a compelling narrative.

Next week, they will go the last 100 miles and find something new. If the next stage is anything like the comic books, the show is about to change dramatically, and this hour serves as a fine transition between two distinct halves of a major series, starting to close the book on what the characters have been dealing with thus far.

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

Moving "Coda" On THE WALKING DEAD's Fifth Season

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 8 Coda on Seat42F.

The “Coda” on the first half of the fifth season of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD is a strong one. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) decides to go through with the peaceful prisoner exchange, even after one prisoner forces his hand by fleeing. But the meeting doesn’t go as planned, of course, and one of our beloved, long-time group members goes down.

Killing off a main character is an essential element of THE WALKING DEAD, but losing long-time performers must be done sparingly because there aren’t a lot of them left. Beth (Emily Kinney), who perishes during the hand-off, isn’t an original; she joined the cast in season two. Her loss is still felt severely, though, because not only has she been around awhile and is loved dearly by several other players, but she also has had a heck of a lot of growth recently into a capable combatant, someone who can take care of themselves in this bleak world. She did not start out that way.

Beth is introduced as a young, scared girl, and it takes a couple of seasons for her to even kill a Walker. She relies on others to protect her, even Daryl (Norman Reedus) when the two are separated from the main contingent after the fall of the prison. This season, though, in a couple of hours we see Beth prove herself against Dawn (Christine Woods), the brutal dictator of the hospital, and even kill a man who threatens her. And so when she dies stabbing Dawn to defend Noah (Tyler James Williams), she goes out nobly and heroically, not as a victim.

THE WALKING DEAD tends to kill characters after they’ve completed a journey. Whether it be Meryl’s redemption or Shane’s descent, there’s a way to predict who might be next based on past experience. The fans that thought Beth becoming tough might save her, myself included, have fallen for an avoidable trick the writers played, following an established pattern. Hopefully, like Beth, we’ll wise up in the future, and also hopefully, the writers will continue to stay a step ahead.

Beth’s passing will be rough on Maggie (Lauren Cohan), her last living relation. Maggie has to deal with the idea that Beth is gone amid much other chaos previously. Now, as the group reunites, she is given hope again, only to have it ripped away when she sees Daryl carrying Beth’s body. Maggie is tough, too, and I have no doubt she’ll be able to get through it. But I do think she may take inspiration from hearing Beth’s tale and it will harden her a bit more than she currently is.

Daryl will also be affected, having formed a bond with Beth. He feels responsible for losing her last season, though it isn’t really his fault. While he may take comfort in what he taught her, he may also feel responsible for trying to teach her how to survive. Had Beth stayed subservient, she could have survived the showdown. Though, she very likely wouldn’t have lived to make it to that point, so that’s moot.

Carol (Melissa McBride), too, will grieve (though I am incredibly relieved it isn’t Carol who is dead). Carol knows or will know that Beth saved her life. She owes the young blond, and will live with that spirit.

No one will mourn the passing of Dawn (except those who truly appreciate the excellent performance Woods delivers). She may have kept the hospital running, but there are other ways to go about that. Her own people don’t act to take revenge for her death, and let Rick, Noah, and the others walk away unharmed. If I were Rick, I wouldn’t trust that to last, given what happened with The Governor, and I’d get my people out of town. But I also highly doubt that the remaining cops will come after Rick, probably happy to dodge a blood bath and have a horrible person removed from their midst.

How horrible was Dawn really, though? Sure, she makes cold, calculating moves. But she does have respect for Beth in “Coda” and sees her as an ally. I think her facial expression in the aftermath shows she killed Beth by instinct, not on purpose. She is doing her best to keep things together; her best just isn’t good enough. When Rick kills Dawn’s fleeing man in “Coda” just because he runs, the similarities between the two become more clear, and the way Dawn’s people, except for Noah, don’t cling to Rick as a savior show they must not have hated her fully, or saw some kind of wisdom in what she built there. The leadership style of these two characters is different in small ways, not big ones, and this world only supports the kind of leaders who can make some very tough decisions.

Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) also shows us how others view Rick, having fled because he feared Rick’s people, who probably would have let him walk out the front door had he insisted. Out in the world, Gabriel sees evidence that the group has been honest with him and realizes why he needs their protection, which sends him right back to them. But had he not made that personal investigation on his own, he wouldn’t trust them, and it’s easy to see why.

Where does THE WALKING DEAD go from there? I’m thinking they have to travel to D.C. Not only does that happen in the comics, though they learn the truth about Eugene (Josh McDermitt) much closer to the capital, but it makes sense, Eugene’s lie being based on a logical assumption that if there is a cure, that’s where it’ll be. As I mentioned, given past history, it’s probably not a good idea to hang around Atlanta. Plus, Morgan (Lennie James) seems to be heading there, too, so if we’re lucky, he can join them.

“Coda” is an excellent mid-season ender, with some terrific character moments infused with grief and self-sacrifice. The death is well done, and the hour still has time to teach us a lesson without being too preachy about it. The dynamic and morality of our characters keeps changing, which makes for compelling television. I will be waiting with bated breath for its return.

THE WALKING DEAD will be back on AMC in February.