Posted Sunday, March 25, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
An idea Eugene planted in Negan's head in a previous episode was put into action at the Hilltop. Dip all the arrows and bullets in zombie blood, injure the Hilltop citizens, have them unknowingly turn and kill other Hilltop people.
The injuries may have looked survivable but in reality, they "turned" folks in about 30 hours while everyone was conveniently slumbering. It looked like maybe a dozen were impacted. Courtesy of the script writers, none of the major players has been hit although little Henry disappeared after his crazy plan to try to kill whoever murdered his brother backfired.
Simon's efforts to get rid of everyone at the Hilltop was ill-conceived and failed as well. He didn't have the manpower or firepower. And didn't care about the fate of the 38 prisoner-of-war saviors Fortunately for Simon, again courtesy of the script writers, he, Dwight and several Saviors survived and got away. (There is an echo of Donald Trump in Simon, who says the organization "prizes those who don't get captured." Right, John McCain?)
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
The only real "name" character that succumbed immediately was Tobin, a very minor Alexandria character who dated Carol ever so briefly. He was able to forgive her for leaving him and being just an all-around nice dude before dying. "You don't owe me anything," he said kindly. Of course, Carol had to stick the knife in his skull after he became a walker. (Tara got hit by an arrow, too. Will she die as well? She didn't appear sick yet after 36 hours so maybe not? It's possible Dwight did NOT dip his arrow in walker blood on purpose and shot her for "show" to keep Simon from killing her.)
Otherwise, the logistics of what happened was a bit infuriating. Nobody was on call inside the house or even awake all night. After the first Hilltop resident turned and attacked someone, that somehow didn't wake anybody? You'd think the sound of a walker would wake up somebody.
It wasn't until one stumbled downstairs that the big guys (Rick, Michonne, Ezekiel, Daryl, Maggie, et. al) awoke to save the day.
In other words, this was a tedious, implausible episode, even by "Walking Dead" standards.
And to show that not every Savior is god awful, Alden kept being reasonable and even stayed behind after Henry left the gate open and most of them escaped. Presumably, he will become useful down the road. And yes, former Hilltop leader Gregory who had been trapped in the P.O.W. pen got the heck out of the Hilltop.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Earlier, it appeared the Simon attack was a basic failure although he managed to escape.
"I wanted them dead - all of them," Maggie intoned. "Negan most of all."
"Yah...me, too," Rick said.
The Hilltop residents were impressed with Maggie's work. Maggie told Dianne she had purposely lured Negan to Hilltop with the "package" of the dead Savior in a box earlier but was hardly rejoicing.
"I don't know if that makes me a good leader," she said. "My regret is that Negan isn't in that pile of bodies."
Yes, her Negan obsession is far from over. And he wasn't around. We still don't know what Jadis has in store for him.
But this is just episode 13 of 16. There is more war to come.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
ODDS & ENDS
Morgan is taunted by the ghost of Gavin, who had been killed by Benjamin. He feels responsible and guilty for Henry's blood lust. "The Walking Dead" has used ghosts in the past to illuminate a character.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
That poor surly nurse Dana we had never seen before who had a few lines with Siddiq? She dies, of course. She didn't have time to teach him much after all.
Tara continues her debate with Daryl over Dwight. Tara - who came over from the Governor's side - is now more forgiving of Dwight than Daryl, seeing how it's possible to change loyalties. Daryl is eventually going to kill Dwight. It's inevitable.
TALKING DEAD
Jason Douglas, who played Tobin, showed up with Alanna Masterson. "He's been a bellwether for the Alexandria community," he noted (and one of the last known survivors from Alexandria now.)
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