"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.

"Crossed" At THE WALKING DEAD

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 7 Crossed on Seat42F.

Not a lot happened on last night’s THE WALKING DEAD on AMC. Sometimes, the show does slow-burn, character-heavy episodes that don’t advance things a lot, but this episode, “Crossed,” is not that because no one is featured for very long. It has the full cast in it, so the action is split between many different settings, not allowing a lot of time for anything to happen to anyone. I hate to say this, because I have no specific complaints about what does play out on screen, but that makes this hour my least favorite of the season, though it is still the best series on television overall.

“Crossed” is really part one of a two-part finale, which has been built up to over the past few weeks. I think it would have benefitted from airing as a two-hour finale, rather than splitting the story over two nights. That way, the big showdown could be in the same installment, making it feel worth it to go through the slower parts. But in a mere seven days, we’ll get that conclusion.

The most central story in “Crossed” finds Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Daryl (Norman Reedus), Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman), Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green), and Noah (Tyler James Williams) heading in to Atlanta to rescue their people from the clutches of Dawn (Christine Woods). They disagree about how to do so, though. Rick wants to go in and slice throats, whereas Tyreese and Daryl favor capturing a couple of Dawn’s officers and trading hostages. Outvoted, Rick gives their plan a chance.

It’s interesting to see how the power structure on THE WALKING DEAD frequently shifts. Rick is the undisputed leader, but some of the group try a lot harder than Rick to hang onto their humanity. It’s a testament to Rick that he listens to those people, and even though the plan doesn’t seem to be going as smoothly as one might hope, he’s not a dictator who changes course at the first sign of trouble. Bob’s legacy lives on in those who support peace and diplomacy over violence.

Of course, not everyone is a part of the group and will see things that way. Father Gabriel’s (Seth Gilliam) subplot this week finds him ripping up floorboards to escape the church. The fact that he struggles mightily with the first Walker he encounters and can’t bring himself to kill it may send him scrambling back to the safety of the group; at least, I hope so. It’s telling, though, that he thinks he must sneak out of the church, rather than walk out the front door. It’s good that Rick is tough, but he needs to be careful about how he presents himself, lest he continue to scare off new recruits.

Back in Atlanta, Sasha allows herself to be comforted by Tyreese, then softens towards a prisoner, Bob Lamson (Maximiliano Hernandez, the Marvel franchise), who appears to be cooperating. This lets Lamson get the drop on her and escape. Will that harden Sasha’s heart again and remove what trust she is gaining towards others?

I hope not. Lamson could seriously hurt or kill Sasha, but he doesn’t. He merely knocks her unconscious and escapes. He’s afraid, and justifiably so. Surely, she can see that point of view and not blame him too harshly?

Lamson gives me an idea about an alternate climax than a bloody battle. Noah proclaims Lamson one of the good guys, and that judgment seems reasonable. Might some of Dawn’s people join up with our group? Maybe even Dawn herself? Hear me out. While Dawn rules in a brutal fashion, she is trying to keep people alive. If she sees there’s another way and can unload from herself that heavy mantle of responsibility, maybe she can get along. Unlike other groups, the hospital people aren’t totally evil. They don’t torture and usually don’t kill. Noah might not want Dawn to join up, but that seems the best outcome, even if it’s iffy that Dawn will give up what she sees as a safe haven. Unless that haven is destroyed, of course.

We actually do see a little of Dawn’s softer side in “Crossed” when she gives Beth (Emily Kinney) the keys to the medicine cabinet, allowing Beth to help Carol (Melissa McBride). Instead of resenting the prisoner who almost escapes, Dawn seems to have developed respect for Beth, finally seeing her as strong, a characteristic Dawn respects. That is the thread of hope in her that makes me believe a peaceful resolution is a possibility. As long as Rick doesn’t go in guns blazing, that is.

Elsewhere, Eugene (Josh McDermitt) remains unconscious and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) doesn’t move. It takes Maggie (Lauren Cohan) to get through to Abraham in a tough love approach. Abraham has lost hope and he surely feels guilty for hurting Eugene. But amazingly, he does want to live. THE WALKING DEAD so far paints him as someone who might become somewhat suicidal once his mission is taken away. I’m glad that doesn’t end up being the case once he has to take a long look at what that would mean.

Tara (Alanna Masteron) says it best when she points out that one can’t blame Eugene too much for using the one tool he has at his disposal to stay alive. Glenn (Steven Yeun) seems to agree with her, and Maggie covers Eugene from the sun, so the group isn’t abandoning Eugene. Rosita (Christian Serratos), perhaps accidentally, proves Eugene’s usefulness in the skills he taught her. Eugene screwed up big time, but it doesn’t appear he’ll be abandoned, nor does he really deserve to be.

So what’s next for the mid-season finale? I assume at least one main character (Sasha?) will die and the hospital plot will be over. But THE WALKING DEAD has proven over and over again that it’s not predictable, so the only logical thing to do is to hold tight and wait to see what happens.

THE WALKING DEAD’s mid-season finale airs next Sunday 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.

THE WALKING DEAD - "Four Walls and a Roof" Review

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 3 Four Walls and a Roof on Seat42F.

This week’s installment of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD is an emotional rollercoaster. Much of the series deals with finding morality in a much-changed world, debating what values can be held onto and which must be dropped to survive. What defines a good person in this new age? It’s surely not the same as what modern viewers are used to. This most recent hour, “Four Walls and a Roof,” finds many characters struggling to find that line.

First, a quick recap of events: Bob (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.) delights in telling his kidnapper-cannibals that they have eaten tainted meat, revealing he has been bitten by a walker. Gareth (Andrew J. West) and the others are disgusted, but have a new plan. They drop Bob back at the church to enrage Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the group, luring a strike force away from the main contingent. As soon as Rick et al. leave, Gareth and his men sneak in to finish off those left behind. But Rick is smarter than that and doubles back, brutally ending the Terminus survivors once and for all.

The scene in which Rick, Abraham (Michael Cudlitz), Michonne (Danai Gurira), and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) savagely beat several of the Terminus guys to death, including Gareth, is stomach-turning. Fans might expect a triumphant moment of enemies being defeated, but that’s not what “Four Walls and a Roof” delivers. Instead, it’s an ugly side to these characters. Yes, Gareth and his followers are bad people and cannot be trusted to be set free again, so no one is arguing they don’t deserve to die. But the method of execution seems more cruel than necessary even if Rick’s excuse of not wanting to spend bullets makes sense, and there’s poetic justice in Rick fulfilling his promise to Gareth involving the red-handled machete.

Of course, this leaves hanging the question of if it’s safe to eat someone who has been bitten, with the diners dead before digestion completes.

Does this mean Rick and the others are bad people now? Even some of their friends look away in disgust, uncomfortable with what they are seeing. Yet, no one defects from Rick because of this. Everyone agrees it is necessary. This is where the line between right and wrong gets blurry, and one wonders if humanity can be held onto.

Bob provides that string of hope for the audience to keep liking our group. He tells Rick how awesome it is that Rick takes him in, making him a part of the family. Some other marauders are only looking out for themselves and would not allow anyone new to join them. Rick and his friends rescue Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) as recently as last week, proving they haven’t completely gone to the dark side. They only murder those who deserve it. Rick should keep looking for others to save.

One cannot say Gareth is redeemable. There is a certain charm to him, and his chilling oratory makes much more sense than it should. He is wronged in the past, and much of his killing is done to keep his people alive. The difference is, he slaughters those who have done nothing to him. And he is fine with using people and creeping them out in a sadistic manner, drawing an A on the church like the one on the train car in which he imprisoned the group. Gareth crosses the line of decency, and that’s why he must die.

In fact, we actually look down on the characters whom cannot kill someone like Gareth. Father Gabriel reveals his cowardice, hiding in the church as his parishioners are devoured, and that makes him pathetic and detested, not a man to look up to as he cannot kill even a walker. Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) leaves a Terminus guy alive in a cabin, and that paints him in a poor light, even if he is able to spare Sasha the pain of taking Bob out, only proving he can kill walkers, not humans. Those who cannot step up the plate the way Rick does seem doomed to perish, sooner rather than later. Brutality, as hard to stomach as it is, is a necessary part of this world.

Still, without that scene in “Four Walls and a Roof” in which Bob tells Rick what a good man Rick is, Rick balancing his baby daughter on his hip, it would be hard for the heroes of THE WALKING DEAD to come back from this. There has to be good mixed in with the bad. Rick has to have a moral line about who is judged worthy of being put down, and we have to know he won’t do the same to whoever they meet next. Justified or not as killing Gareth’s band is, it’s hard to watch a good man do it, and that is part of why this series is the best drama on television.

The only thing that bothers me about this episode is when Abraham takes Eugene (Josh McDermitt) and Rosita (Christian Serratos), along with Glenn (Steven Yeun), Maggie (Lauren Cohan), and Tara (Alanna Masterson), off on their own. His goodbye to Rick is great. Glenn and Maggie’s decision to join up makes sense. But why can’t Abraham wait? It’s clear that Eugene wants to. The immediate threat of Gareth is gone, so there’s no rush to move on, right?

I guess Abraham is a man on a mission who suddenly feels his mission has been delayed too long. I get it; I really do. He is out to save the world. But the group would be so much stronger if he’d just give Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) a day to get back. The fact that Daryl shows up soon after the others leave makes it all the more groan-worthy. It’s true that Abraham has no way of knowing the wait would be so short, but still…!

Speaking of Daryl, who is behind him in that final scene? If it’s Carol, why doesn’t she come out? Is it Beth (Emily Kinney) and a group of other captives Daryl has rescued? I want to know more about this right now!

“Four Walls and a Roof” is a fantastic episode, made all the better by setting it inside of a church, which is, as one character says, just “Four Walls and a Roof.” It really plays to the strengths of the series, and both significant deaths are affecting, in different ways. Seven days is a long wait for the next installment.

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

"No" More Waiting for THE WALKING DEAD

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 1 No Sanctuary on Seat42F.

AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD spoiled much in their previously released trailers (too much if you ask me), but that did not detract from the excitement of last night’s season five premiere, “No Sanctuary.” When last we leave Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the gang, they are trapped in a train car at the mercy of some wicked cannibals. To no one’s surprise, “No Sanctuary” is the story of how they escape from confinement and how Sanctuary falls. But there are a few unexpected things along the way.

The most surprising element of the episode to me are the flashbacks to Mary (Denise Crosby), Gareth (Andrew J. West), and the others trapped in their own train car. We learn from Mary, just before she becomes zombie chow, that Sanctuary’s mission used to be straight forward and as promised. Then, some jerks took over and raped and murdered the peaceful people. We don’t yet see how the group took back their home, but we now know what has hardened them.

West is a main character this season, which means there’s more story to tell here. Considering the glimpses THE WALKING DEAD gives us of Gareth’s past this week, it’s likely there will be more of these before he (SPOILER!) catches up with our heroes in the present timeline. I can’t say that I’m excited Gareth is sticking around, at least for now, but this is an arc I didn’t expect to see told, and so am intrigued by where it might go.

Is this along the same line the heroes struggle with, finding what is acceptable to survive and what one can live with doing? Gareth is logical and cold, but not overly cruel, unlike The Governor. He’s dispassionate about what he does to his prisoners, and so perhaps can eventually be forgiven, as he’s probably just trying to keep those he cares about safe and fed. Maybe he’s not as much of a monster as he first appears to be.

At the start of the episode, Rick and the others prepare to escape their car, making homemade weapons. This is the confrontation many have been waiting for all summer, a brutal, hand-to-hand scuffle with crude tools. But it doesn’t come. Gareth is too smart for that and drops a gas canister in from the ceiling, taking only four of them out to the slaughter house and not giving the others a chance to fight back.

This leads to a very tense scene in which one or more of our core people could die. There is a moment where it looks like Glenn (Steven Yeun), at least, will bite it, and I found myself racking my brain for memories of the trailer. Is Glenn shown in it? I thought so, but I started to have doubts. THE WALKING DEAD expertly puts our people in these situations where one wonders how it can possibly work out, and many times, it doesn’t, so the suspense is real and it’s hard to trust that the writers will keep our favorites alive.

In fact, there are no casualties among the group in the escape from Terminus. This is acceptable because of the way everything plays out. Rick is able to cut his bonds and free his friends. Carol (Melissa McBride) causes chaos from the outside. Many of Gareth’s people are taken by surprise and slaughtered by Rick and company or by the Walkers that invade. Only in a frantic situation such as this, could our people, single-mindedly focused on fleeing, survive without losing anyone.

“No Sanctuary” also takes time for a bit of character development. Rick really wants to go back and wipe out any remnants of Terminus out of revenge. Everyone else disagrees, but he is adamant. That is, until he sees baby Judith. Then, his human side comes out again. Rick has to turn himself into a monster to protect everyone, but his reaction at being reunited with his infant proves there’s still a compassionate side to him, as does the way he hugs Carol, whom he once banished.

Carol has definitely earned her place back with everyone else. At the start of “No Sanctuary,” she tells Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) she won’t be staying when they catch up to the group. Yet, there is no sense that she’s leaving at the end. I think Rick’s warm welcome and Daryl’s (Norman Reedus) sweet excitement have changed her mind and let her know she belongs with them. It would be hard to lose her again, one of the best characters on the show, resourceful, caring, and a realist.

Tyreese is the anti-Rick this week. While Rick is seemingly monster until he’s not, Tyreese looks like a wimp. He doesn’t want to kill anyone and allows himself to be baited by the Terminus man he and Carol capture in the woods. This is a beaten Tyreese, one who regrets past actions. But like the captive says, if Tyreese can’t tap into his inner killer, he’s doomed to die. In the end, Tyreese finds the tough side of himself, which comes out so he can protect Judith, the most noble of causes. Thank goodness Tyreese has not been permanently neutered.

Now, everyone is off to the next place. Will it be to D.C., where Eugene (Josh McDermitt) certainly seems prepared to wipe out the Walkers? (Fans of the comic book have reason to doubt him, but the show sometimes chooses its own path, so who knows?) Or will they go somewhere else? And what is Abraham (Michale Cudlitz) hesitant to talk to Rick about?

But wait! If you sit through the entire ending credits, so it appears the episode is done, we get one more surprise: Morgan (Lennie James) is following the group! In the comics, he rejoins Rick and the others after the prison and stays. Might THE WALKING DEAD finally be bringing this fan-favorite, who appears in the pilot and a single season three episode, back in a big way? Show runner Scott Gimple promises the brief glimpse is the start of something, but Morgan’s return is a well-kept secret and no one seems in a hurry to tell us what it might mean going forward.

My only complaint about this is that it’s likely many viewers missed it entirely. We’re used to sitting through the end credits of Marvel movies and such for a stinger, but not so for a television show. It’s a cool precedent, and one THE WALKING DEAD probably won’t use often, as seldom is the payoff worth it like it is in “No Sanctuary.” Hopefully, those that missed it will hear and catch it online. It gives us yet another reason to stick around and watch TALKING DEAD, to ensure we don’t miss anything.

“No Sanctuary” is a terrific return. It’s action-packed, full of great character moments, and contains a number of surprises that even the most ardent fans won’t see coming. The show delivers this sort of installment consistently, and that is why THE WALKING DEAD is my favorite series currently on television, despite much stiff competition.

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.