Review: #TheWalkingDead S11x20 WHAT'S BEEN LOST #twd

 

Previously: Review S11x19: Variant

- S 11 x 20   WHAT'S BEEN LOST -

Directed by Aisha Tyler

Written by Erik Mountain

The basic theme of this episode was, as Judith outlined in that beautifully nostagic intro, all about what you'll do for the sake of your friends.  How far you will go, what you will risk ~ and the value of that person you can always rely on.  What better start than a brief reminder of the most enduring relationship of them all, that of Daryl and Carol?  All the way back to the farm, when their connection bloomed with the Cherokee rose.

Carol was at her unmatched best throughout, this week, escaping from the Commonwealth heavies at the beginning when she saw evidence that her friends had not, as per the deal she made, been allowed to return to Alexandria.  The deal that was never going to happen in the first place?  With or without Eugene and Max's actions, it all seemed a bit too straightforward. 

Then there was the saving of Daryl, who was in real trouble.  As Angela Kang said afterwards, he's no superman, he's a real person who can get into seriously deep water.  Wasn't it great to see Daryl and Carol working together again? 

The scene with the dead Commonwealth heavy turning Walker, then biting into the neck of Daryl's attacker, was a good moment; it's so easy, after all this time, to see the threat of the Walkers as minor in comparison with what humans can do to each other, but every so often we are reminded.

So Lance was the son of the Milton family's chauffeur.  I thought it was going to be something more complex than that, but I suppose with only four episodes left, there is hardly time to develop yet another backstory!

'He knows all the dark shit that goes on around here'

🏹🏹🏹

'This isn't going to be easy'

'When is it ever?'

Nerve-wracking scene when Carol and Daryl were helping Lance escape his cell and they were forced to split up ~ there was a moment or two of mournful music, and I feared that something awful was going to happen.  You could see written all over Carol's face how badly she didn't want to leave him there to 'figure it out'.

'There's always a path.  Always a way out' 

- Lance's words, but they were echoed by Eugene to Yumiko, later.  They're true for our people, anyway, and as long as Daryl and Carol are around.  I like how the clever and devious antagonists such as Negan (yes, I know he's not an antagonist now!) and Lance see that, as Mr Hornsby said, there is no one else like  Carol ~ she's always ten steps ahead.  Nobody sees the big picture as well as she does; yet again, she makes a deal with the enemy because she can see how it's the way to get the information she needs and, ultimately, to save her people.

She's the lone warrior, working out stuff for herself, doing what she knows is right and going that extra mile or twenty that others may be scared to walk.  Fearless, just like ... Daryl.  She works out a plan and goes for it, usually without telling anyone else what she's about to do.

I love how Daryl and Carol have become so in tune that, even in a life or death situation, they barely have to explain anything to each other.  Like in 10x08 The World Before, when they went off to find where Alpha kept her Guardians.  In 5x06 Consumed, when they went to Atlanta to rescue Beth.  They decide on strategy in just a few words, and get to it. 

Never was there a better illustration of this than when they stood together in the dark, after Lance had shown them where to find their friends.  They seemed almost 'as one' when they told him, quietly and calmly, that they would not kill him, but would just leave him out there to survive as best he could.  Reminded me of when Daryl sent Dwight off in 8x16 Wrath.  Both of them are fine with killing aggressors in a battle situation, but it seems like once they know someone, in whatever sense, it doesn't feel right.  They kill to stay alive and to keep those they love alive; they don't execute.

However, it was clear that Carol was ready with her bow as Lance walked off ~ yes, of course she expected him to turn around and try something!

🏹🏹🏹

So Pamela proved herself to be every bit as devious as Lance, but Yumiko played a blinder at the press conference, bringing everyone's attention to how much Tomi was valued and needed, by the whole community.  Inspired!  Perfect way of making sure Pamela would not be able to put him in danger if Yumiko refused to prosecute Eugene.  Clever!

I loved how she called Pamela's bluff ~ Pamela, having made such a big deal about justice in front of so many people, cannot now back down from giving Eugene a fair trial with a lawyer of his choice.  Clever again!

Bluff well and truly called

Earlier I was thinking the 'where are our people' (including Dog!!) question seemed a little vague, almost as though I'd missed something; the previous episode ended so suddenly, with Rosita being attacked just as she was going to take the children to board the Alexandria-bound wagon train that Carol found in pieces ~ we never saw them being taken away.

But the last horribly, wonderfully ominous scene made me realise why - we're as much in the dark as those on what looked like an old prison bus.  Fabulous suspense, perfect cliffhanger.  What's going to happen to them here?

To the children, Rosita, Connie, Dog and everyone else - and Ezekiel, under a sack and without his sesame seed bagels, being injected in the neck...

I daresay things will get a lot worse before they get better.  A fabulous episode, really cemented #Caryl together as they should be, and it looks like Pamela's regime is being held together by just a few threads.

Next week - a labour camp?  I've seen on Twitter that there's some worry, via spoilers, that Carol is going to become a victim of unrequited love (for Daryl).  Not sure I can see this happening ~ hope not!  There has to be a reason why he goes off on his own (for the spin-off), other than general Daryl-ness.  My guess is that all our guesses will be wrong, because TWD never fails to surprise us!