Posted Sunday, November 5, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV talk blog
War is ugly, with or without zombies. Do you kill a person who gives you intel after promising him freedom? Do you off people who surrender? Do you just kill someone you used to be friendly with, no questions asked? And if your loved one is a zombie, should you just leave him behind? (Okay, that last one is very specific to this show but you get the gyst.)
This episode shows that Rick's group is not in clear consensus about the rules of battle.
And yes, the amount of firepower expended on "The Walking Dead" continues to boggle the mind.
But despite that quibble, it was an engaging episode with a reasonable mix of humor, violence, pathos and ethical quandaries.
Let's see where everyone stands:
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Daryl vs. Rick
Morales has a gun to Rick's head at the start of the episode. But good news: Negan doesn't want him, Maggie or King Ezekiel dead. So Morales gabs away while Rick tries to get him on his side with sentimentality.
"We're not the same guys we used to be," Morales said. "You're a monster... What's left of my people. They're coming. We'll get you to Negan. Or we won't. Either way, we'll settle your s***, peaches."
Rick says many of his folks are gone, including Andrea, Lori, Shane and Glenn. (What? How about T-Dog???) "Are you Negan, too?"
Morales said he lost his family and his mind. The Saviors saved him and made him feel like he was "worth a damn... Yah, I'm Negan. To make it this far, this long, I had to be. I had to be somethin'. Just like you."
And he keeps going: "I'm the one holding the gun. That doesn't make me any worse than you Rick. That just makes me luckier. Let's face it. If it wasn't me, if it was you holding the gun, I'd be brains on the floor."
Plus: "Somewhere along the way, Officer Friendly died along with them. Just like I did. With them."
In a few seconds, Daryl comes along and kills Morales with not a whit of sentimentality. "I know who it was," Daryl says. "It don't matter. One bit."
Later, a Savior shoots at them. Rick promises to let him go if he provides intelligence because he provides his word, he keeps it. The young man does, telling them that the guns used to be at this house but was moved to a different location. Daryl then shoots him dead, much to Rick's surprise. But Rick does not protest. He isn't going to fight Daryl, who is in total kill mode.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Jesus vs. Morgan
The debate over what to do with the Savior prisoners of war continues between Jesus and Morgan.
"You know how dangerous this is and who these people are," Morgan says to Jesus.
"No matter what they've done, they're people," Jesus said. "We'll find another way. Maggie will find another way."
"You really think she won't want them dead?" Morgan says. "We're here now to do the same thing they do. But we go on... We're the same... Everybody turns." (Yes, he implies that although they are alive, they "turn" into war monsters as opposed to zombies.)
In an interesting twist, Morgan goes crazy and starts attacking Jesus. Jesus fends him off. “I know I’m not right but it doesn’t make me wrong," Morgan says.
Then Morgan leaves. He's gone. Will we ever see him again? Again?
Gregory vs. Maggie
Gregory drives to the Hilltop after abandoning Gabriel, who is now in a trailer with Negan. (Yes, remember those s***in' pants? Worst line ever?)
But Maggie won't let him into the compound. He begs. He pleads. He apologizes. He's really pathetic, as usual.
Maggie eventually relents, saying killing Gregory isn't even worth it. "Not yet anyway,
Then Jesus shows up, minus Morgan, with the POWs. She is not pleased. Jesus yet again pleads for their lives. What to do? What to do?
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
King Ezekiel's crew vs. the Saviors
King Ezekiel's uber confidence appears to be rewarded throughout the episode as they seem to kill off huge hordes of Saviors without a single death. But in the waning seconds of the episode, that is not the case. They are in an open field and survivors at the outpost start mowing them down. His underlings pile on top of him like Secret Service agents and we are on to episode four...
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Aaron and Eric
Poor Aaron. His boyfriend Eric suffers the first real casualty of this season of anybody folks might care about. Eric was never a big player on the show but he was sweet and clearly caring about Aaron, who is heartbroken. To fill the void, Aaron voluntarily takes the baby of the father Rick had killed named Gracie to the Hilltop. Oddly, nobody chooses to knife Zombie Eric and give his body a proper burial.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Cool walker scene
It has become increasingly difficult for the producers to come up with new ways to bring on walkers. This time, we have a horde rolling down a hill yet still dexterous enough to get up once they hit bottom. It was more amusing than frightening but good imagery. Too bad more of the walkers didn't just chew up the Saviors.
Grade: B
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