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.

Never "Forget" THE WALKING DEAD

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 5 Episode 13 Forget on Seat42F.

Coming off of last week’s episode, in which the characters try to “Remember” who they were before the collapse of civilization, this week’s installment of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD makes the time to “Forget” the past few years. The members of the group try to settle into a normal life in Alexandria. To help with that, Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) organizes a mixer in which the newbies can meet their neighbors. This doesn’t go well for everyone, but it’s a start.

Coming out of “Remember,” Daryl (Norman Reedus) is the character I am most concerned with finding a place for in the new world. At the start of the hour, he makes a plan with Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Carol (Melissa McBride) to steal some guns just in case they need to fight back, singling themselves out as the protectors of the rest, who are being urged to adapt to the new circumstances. But then Aaron (Ross Marquand), either on his own accord, as he claims, or under Deanna’s orders, because that woman is smart, asks Daryl to be his new recruiting partner. And Daryl finds his place.

Daryl is someone who longs very much for acceptance, even if he’ll never say it out loud. He’s not the type to display his emotions too freely, but he definitely feels them deeply. He needs the extra invitation Aaron offers in order to relax a bit. His self esteem is beaten down over many years, and now it’s still just a little fragile. But unlike the horse the men track, Daryl has a brain and doesn’t necessarily run from those who want to help him. Aaron approaching Daryl as he does, praising his skills, offering him a position in which he can make a contribution but not lose who he is, is the perfect way to handle Daryl. Daryl is so committed to making Alexandria work that he refuses to take a gun from Carol at the end, which might be a good thing.

Now, Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) is the problem. She shoots up pictures of the family whose house she now lives in. She stays away from the group, and has an outburst at the party. Deanna does reward her with the solitary look-out duty she wants because she knows Sasha is trying, but the fact that Sasha just wants to hide away isn’t good, and Deanna doesn’t seem willing to let that stand. Sasha must try harder.

Most of the rest of the group enjoys themselves at the party and blends. The Alexandria residents are friendly enough, and this is their home now. Maggie (Lauren Cohan) has a place in a new government. Michonne (Danai Gurira) even hangs up her sword after some sage, drunk advice from Abraham (Michael Cudlitz). This really is a place they in which can make a fresh start.

But there are still dangers brewing. Rick and the others are justifiably concerned about the lack of security in Alexandria. The walls keep out the Walkers, but as our people know all too well, the Walkers aren’t the biggest danger out there. Having people walk the perimeter and staffing the clock tower will help, but they’re still vulnerable. Plus, Rick is trying to start something with Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge), a married woman, since he sees himself as king of the land, and I think Abraham might have an alcohol problem, so those are likely problem spots, too.

Finally, there’s Carol. She plays nice better than anyone, offering cookies, compliments, and smiles. However, she’s dark, the person most concerned with getting the guns, and she isn’t as invisible as she thinks, her kindness attracting too much attention. Carol threatens a boy who catches her taking the guns in a very chilling scene that I can’t help but think there will be repercussions for. Carol can’t keep up the charade forever, and I think the people of Alexandria will feel incredibly betrayed when they find out she’s lying to them. “At least she didn’t kill him” is not an excuse the residents are going to accept. This Carol is necessary outside the wall, but she may not be within, if the group really does want to join Deanna’s people.

“Forget” is about forgetting the past, but more than that, it’s about the future. From issues petty to large, The Walking Dead gang has changed, for better or for worse. This is a new chapter for them, a new life, and it won’t be easy to adapt, even if it seems so for some. There is also a balance of adapting too much and growing soft, leaving them vulnerable to others. Hopefully, this will not happen, but that is always a danger. It’s incredible to watch the meaty, dramatic, character-driven moments this new setting provides, and to see the various way in which individuals handle it.

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.

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.

"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 - "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.

"Departure" of Another ARCHER Season

Article first published as TV Review: 'Archer' - 'Archer Vice: Arrival/Departure' on Blogcritics.

FX’s Archer ended season five this week. Subtitled Archer Vice, it is a huge, splashy showdown, and a return to normalcy. The dictatorship in which the team is hiding collapses into itself, and probably would have even if the U.S. government hadn’t been bearing down on it, which it is.

At the same time, Lana (Aisha Tyler) goes into labor, of course, dividing the attention of Archer (H. Jon Benjamin), who has made the effort to become a doula and wants to be supportive in this situation. Archer and Lana’s romantic arc has been more funny than sweet. They are definitely in love with one another, but Lana is a tough broad, hating to allow any emotion to crack through her hardened exterior. Archer, by contrast, is an immature man-child who can be faithful, but tends to not act like an adult most of the time. Luckily, both have slowly gotten better, keeping enough of those cores to stay true to the characters and remain funny, but also exhibiting a level of growth over the course of the past few seasons.

This comes at an opportune time because Lana’s baby is also Archer’s. Not the result of a sexual hook up, Lana learned a cache of Archer’s sperm was frozen and she took some to make her child. It makes sense because, despite their issues, Archer is a fine physical specimen, and he’s someone Lana cares about. But one gets the sense in this episode that Lana did not intend to tell Archer the truth until she does, a raw moment for her after giving birth, and seeing that Archer is trying to be there for her.

Can these two move forward as a couple? Maybe. Archer doesn’t have to worry about the messy baby wrangling on set, being an animated series, and clearly the writers are going to find fun ways to use the infant, such as when she holds up a single finger to put Archer off while breast feeding. Archer is not a procedural and usually not stuck in any type of mold, so season six could find new territories to explore when two top spies have a baby on the hip.

It does look like they will return to being spies. In this season finale, Malory (Jessica Walter) blackmails Special Agent Hawley (Gary Cole, Veep) into cooperating, thus ensuring ISIS, absent during almost the entire thirteen-episode Archer Vice run, will return to form. It has been kind of cool to leave ISIS, this season being a big ol’ road trip with our favorite characters, who are always best when forced to spend lots of time together. But it will be great to get back to the office, as Archer is as much a workplace comedy as it is espionage adventure.

While I do note that Archer does kowtow to convention, this final episode of the season, more than most, actually doesn’t. A shoot-out as a regime falls and a main character giving birth at the same time feels very sitcom staple-y. Huge events are always mashed together inconveniently, especially at the close of a year. Yet, Archer‘s trademark humor and charm remains firmly in place, so while the story may seem dumbed down a smidge, the characters and dialogue do not.

The focus this week is on Malory, Archer, and Lana, all of them wrapping up their various threads, but that doesn’t mean the supporting players are ignored. Cheryl (Judy Greer) discovers she doesn’t have a chip in her brain, and her country music stardom, which she is likely to give up because she gets bored easily, comes from within. Pam (Amber Nash) gets a few last cocaine jokes in, but her withdrawal symptoms are starting to show, indicating a break away from the new her, too. Cyril (Chris Parnell) loses his position of power. Krieger (Lucky Yates) gets and protects a biological weapon. Ray (Adam Reed) has a few nice ne-liners, and recurring guest stars Slater (Christian Slater, Mind Games) and Juliana (Lauren Cohan, The Walking Dead) don’t go out quietly. The ensemble is well served.

Which means all there is left to do now is wait impatiently for another batch of one of the most consistently funny and original comedies on television. While no premiere date has been announced, Archer should be back in early 2015.

"A" Great Cliffhanger for THE WALKING DEAD

Article originally written for Seat42F.com

The season finale of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD, while not featuring very many main characters for most of the run time, still manages to be both satisfying and intense. Simply titled “A,” it tells a revealing, character-focused tale of a small group, while introducing us to the menace of Terminus at large, and bowing out on a heck of a cliffhanger, something this series has never really done before.

“A” begins with Rick (Andrew Lincoln) looking pretty bad, bloody and sitting alone outside a vehicle. Over the next twenty or so minutes, we see flashbacks of Hershel (Scott Wilson) teaching Rick how to lie down his weapons and become a farmer at the prison, a glimpse of happier times, and also see why Rick becomes determined to save Carl’s (Chandler Riggs) soul, a boy more interested in guns than Legos. It provides a missing chapter that not only feels appropriate to examine now, but allows a glimpse of the whole cast together, including those that are no longer living.

We soon find out why Rick is ruminating on this as he, Carl, and Michonne (Danai Gurira) are attacked by Harley (J.D. Evermore) and his gang, a scene taking place prior to messed-up-Rick. All looks hopeless for our heroes in this confrontation as Daryl’s (Norman Reedus) attempt to talk Harley down gets him beat up, a gross, fat man intends to rape Carl, and Rick and Michonne are disarmed and on their knees. Then Rick head butts Harley, tussles for a moment, and rips Harley’s neck open with his teeth, providing the distraction Michonne and Daryl need to take care of the rest of the group.

In this moment, Rick becomes a monster. Getting his hands on the fat man, he not only executes him, but keeps brutally stabbing long after the guy is dead. I can’t say it’s animalistic, as animals are not that cruel, but it goes far beyond what we would think someone with humanity would be capable of. And because Rick worries Carl will see him in a poor light, and that Rick is setting a bad example for Carl, Rick sits outside the truck and thinks back to how he’s raised his son in the past. Has he done enough to protect and nurture Carl’s moral compass?

The thing is, though, Carl doesn’t see Rick as a monster. It appears he does at first, especially when Rick lets a random stranger be torn apart by a pack of walkers without interference. So Michonne tells Carl the full truth, finally, about her rage and the terrible things she did when creating her ‘pets,’ showing why she gets Rick and still has confidence in him, no matter what she witnesses. Carl understands this, as it soon becomes clear, and is just worried that he won’t live up to his father’s example.

This section of “A” is one about holding onto humanity. Michonne did it, having been saved by Andrea and the group. Rick does it, telling Daryl they are brothers as they sit outside the truck, reunited. And now Carl shows that he’s a whole person, too, acknowledging that Rick did what had to be done and that Harley and his men deserve what they get, but also being a vulnerable, caring individual.

In this murky world, sometimes the line between good and bad gets blurred. I think what the first half of “A” does is present a type of person that can survive, but can still be looked up to. The brutality shown is only done in protection of loved ones, not gratuitously. So, at the end of the day, Rick remains the hero everyone, including Carl, can admire.

The back half of the hour finds the four reaching Terminus. Scouting the perimeter, they can’t see anyone, so aren’t able to judge the settlement. Sneaking in the back door, they find Gareth (Andrew J. West) and rest engaged in harmless activities. Allowing themselves to be searched, Rick and company are permitted to keep their weapons, further reinforcing that Terminus is the sanctuary it promises to be, its inhabitants offering welcome.

However, it takes very little time at all for Rick to notice something’s up. No sooner does Mary (Denise Crosby) hand him a plate of food than Rick sees Glenn’s (Steven Yeun) watch, Maggie’s (Lauren Cohan) poncho, and other clues that his friends are present. Rick reacts, grabbing one of the residents, who is soon killed, and then Rick and the others are herded through some creepy spaces and, ultimately, into a rail car where they find everyone in the cast who arrived here last week.

As seemed obvious last week when the others reached Terminus, it’s all a trap. It seems too good to be true, and it is. The happy façade is presented to lure people in, where they are captured and locked up. From glimpses during the herding sequence, it appears the people of Terminus are cannibals, eating those they can catch. Rick and his friends will be livestock for them, and there isn’t a shortage of such, given the voices heard coming from shipping containers. It’s frustrating that Rick follows the path their bullets encourage him to go down, but there isn’t an easy escape option presented at this time.

The thing is, despite losing their weapons and being in a cage, Rick doesn’t lose heart, nor should the viewers. We have seen in “A” what Rick is capable of, even without weapons. And now he’s in a place with most of his comrades. They’re a pretty large group, and the Terminus guys have to enter that car some time to make them come out. Rick will be ready for them. His final line, the ending of the episode, exudes inspiring confidence and determination.

It seems odd that this bleak situation makes for an uplifting cliffhanger, but it’s true. At least everyone is together, and united, they can succeed. It will be a long summer while we wait to see this happen, and there could very well be casualties among our main contingent. At least for now, though, they are locked up among friends.

There remains some questions and wild cards in the scenario. Is Beth (Emily Kinney) in Terminus, a victim or intended meal? What will Carol (Melissa McBride) and Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) see when they get there? Even if they find Rick’s buried guns, they have a baby with them, making any type of assault difficult, should they see enough clues to attempt attack. Still, “A” is a good place to end things, and a great season finale.

THE WALKING DEAD will return next fall 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.