Monday 25 February 2019

Review: #TheWalkingDead S9:11 BOUNTY #TWDFamily #TWD

Review: S9:10 OMEGA



First of all, if you stopped watching TWD in the first half of Season 8 because you'd had enough of the Negan war, I implore you to start watching it again, from the beginning of Season 9, because it's back, it really is!



Now, Bounty: finally, pre-titles, and later, when Daryl told Henry he had no idea what he'd had to do, we saw hints of what happened to divide the communities during the time jump.  Love the way this is coming out so slowly, a suggestion here, a loaded aside there.  Good but sad to see Jesus again - and I'm guessing I wasn't the only one who thought 'what has Carol done to her hair?' before realising it was a flashback... 

 

There was a good sense of the medieval mixed with the post apocalyptic present as Ezekiel took his crew out to gather slain elks for the coming fair, ending up with a search for a projector bulb at a desolate Walker filled cinema (which was showing The Silent Army - a nice touch!).  


At first I had that 'and yet I smile' feeling of dread, thinking that it was another brave but ill-fated mission headed by the ever-idealistic Ezekiel that would go horribly tits up - trying to lead a herd away with one boom box?  


Daryl would have had a much better plan! Remember the trip out to Big Spot 30 Days Without An Accident?  What you do is, you draw them away and come back when they've all gone...


That time when Zack guessed Daryl was a homicide cop....

I still find the King too corny (I'm with Daryl there), and don't find the banter between him and Jerry quite as endearing as many do, but they're both growing on me as time goes on.


Back to Hilltop, and I must just reiterate how terrific Samantha Morton is as Alpha.  Cassady McClincy (Lydia) is great too - and I give a big thumbs up to Earl and Tammy Rose; the less comic book-like characters always work better for me.  I need to totally believe in characters to care what happens to them; thus, Ezekiel, I don't give much of a monkey's about.


As real Walkers sidled up behind the Whisperers, we got to know more of what the latter are all about - Alpha gestured to the mother with the crying baby to give her up, and explained why to Daryl: 'To live with the dead means to live in silence.  If the mother can't quieten the child, then the dead will.  Natural selection'.  


Yet Connie saved the baby, and we were given an seriously frightening insight into her silent world, too, as she ran between rows of corn, unable to hear her pursuers, or to differentiate between Walker and Whisperer. 



Daryl's quandary about giving Lydia back in exchange for Alden and Luke was reminiscent of Rick's big dilemma when The Governor asked him to give up Michonne to stop the conflict.  I think Rick would have done exactly what Daryl did in this new situation - up to and including the insane mission at the end to go and get Lydia back.  Pure Grimes, that one.  Merle on the roof, anyone?

 Rick watched Michonne being her awesome self, and knew he couldn't do it after all....


The ever-daft Henry excelled himself this week, by trying to save Lydia (and, in doing do, risking Luke and Alden's lives), but Dog saved the day - hurrah for Daryl and Dog!  When Henry told Lydia 'People like that - Alpha - don't get to be sorry', I wanted to say, what are you going to do, then, rush into a big crowd of Whisperers and try to kill them all with your big stick?  Alas, it would seem that he is.  At least Daryl and Connie will be with him this time.


Award for tear-jerking moment of the week goes to Enid talking about Carl and JSS, closely followed by her reunion with Alden - yes, definitely 'new Glenn and Maggie' potential!  In third place is Tammy Rose and Earl with the Whisperer baby.


Great Daryl moments in this episode, and I'm so glad the writers haven't made him step into Rick's shoes too much, or started giving him Rick's sort of lines.  If you click HERE, you can see a short interview with him on IMDb, in which he explains why he didn't want that.  Oh, and at least we know they've still got all their guns, should they need them: 'We got enough fire power to light you up, here and now.'



Back at the cinema, the Kingdom group emerged unscathed, though I am sure the blue-eyed Walker who lurched towards Jerry had a decidedly Whisperer look about him.... were they where they do not belong, too?  

Oh, Ezekiel, you know what happens when you say stuff like, 'Maybe we've done losing for a while'.....

 









13 comments:

  1. Agree with you again, Terry! Daryl and Dog (who is one awesome canine) fixing Henry's mistake, and that was a terrific scene from Connie's perspective in the cornfield - and terrifying. Headed over to see Norman's interview on IMDb.

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    1. It's lovely! I love Dog, and wish someone would put Henry in the cell for good, and preferably gag him....!

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  2. I am loving this season (although to be fair, the only season I didn't love was the farm) and Alpha is something we have NEVER seen before--totally fresh. I am going to admit that I love The King...my dad was also an overly optimistic, consciously naive person and he was my hero...so every time Ezekiel is onscreen he lights me up a little bit. Another great episode.

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    1. Ah - I loved the farm (S2), though it was a bit slow. I admit to liking S8 least, at least, the first half. But I love them all... I'd be happy to watch each one over and over. I'm glad you love the King - it's good that we all like different characters! And your reasons are sweet :)

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  3. I am loving Darryl's rise & great to see more of him! Trying to love as much but not quite there yet. Your write gives insight to some of my questions,so glad to I read! Excellent as always, Terry!!

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    1. I know, I know, I am missing Rick so much too, but trying to be strong....!! Every time I post pics with him and Glenn in, though....

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    2. ....and Abraham!!! I am still sad about him, too.

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  4. Daryl & Connie romance? Henry is going to get someone killed soon.I agree the King is annoying & Carol & him have no chemistry at all. Daryl & Michonne scars? Connected to the whisperers or did I misread what Daryl hinted at?

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    1. I agree re Henry, and it's a pity it's not him! Nice idea re Daryl and Connie - I'd like that - and yes, re King and Carol. Always looks like she's really trying to convince herself.

      The scars - come on Andrew, you're not concentrating! During the 6 year time jump, there was a feud between the communities, which is why Michonne gets a frosty reception, and why Tara was sneaking out supplies, etc, to Carol and the King, in the flashback at the beginning. The scars have something to do with it, but we don't yet know what it's all about. It's been hinted at ever since the time jump (ie, from S9:6), but it's not yet clear what happened!

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  5. Not concentrating? Ha ha reminds me of being in school 😄. How many Whisperers do you think there are? Also there seemed like a total lack of a plan if a rival force turned up (haven't they learned) with Daryl & co winging it.

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    1. Loads....!!

      And yes - but you never know, maybe they're all cocked and ready to go in the upstairs windows of Barrington House :)

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  6. My favourite episode so far! The backstory that's feeding through is great, although I might need to carry a notebook and jot them down so I can remember lol. Loving Daryl's new role and yay for dog too! I'm a King and Jerry fan so was giggling like a kid at their bit - the boom box lip sync LOL genius!

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    1. I know, I'm dying to know what actually happened!!!

      Ah, yes, I did like the boom box thing! But I find the King and Jerry stuff a bit to determinedly cute and funny.... I dunno, like I said, they're growing on me!!!

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