Review: #TheWalkingDead S11 x 14 THE ROTTEN CORE #TWD

 Previously: Review: 11 x 13 Warlords

'I mean, I liked 'em before.'

- S 11 x 14  THE ROTTEN CORE -

Directed by Marcus Stokes

Written by Jim Barnes and Erik Mountain

In TWD world every scene, every piece of dialogue is relevant, and Daryl and Carol arranging to meet up for lunch so that Carol could tell him more about her 'side thing' was no different - thank goodness she was waiting in the diner wondering why he didn't turn up, eh?

Still can't get used to Daryl and Rosita being dutiful Commonwealth cops, but of course it puts them in a good place to find out what's going on - though when Colonel Vickers walked past and ticked Daryl off for being late, I silently shouted out, 'You don't speak to Daryl Dixon, Slayer of Whisperers, Master of Dog and Protector of Children, in that way!' 

The Daryl-doughnut-cop-stereotype scene will be included in many a 'Best of Daryl Dixon' article in months to come, I am sure.  Classic moment.  Want to see it again?  His face... 😂😂

Not to mention the wonderful putting down of Silly Sebastian, who was boasting about the way 'I handle myself with rotters.' Not a word that Daryl could have got called out for, but the way he said it spoke volumes. 'Oh yeah, yeah, it's good stuff' 😂😂 .

=

...Sebastian totally missing that at this stage in the zombie apocalypse world, dealing with Walkers is just part of a day's work, and anyone who can't do the head-knife thing at a moment's notice is already dead - unless they've been completely shielded from the monsters by Mummy.

His plan in which Rosita and Daryl must risk their lives was so sick, in a world where, Commonwealth apart, bank notes have become just pieces of useless paper.  Something of no intrinsic value at all - like how Slimeball Sebastian views people's lives.  I hope Pamela will soon find out what he's been doing, and what became of poor April, whose last moment of hope before the needless snuffing out of her life was a few exchanges with Rosita in the dark.

Not to mention how he waved away the deaths of others he sent to do the same job, like they were just collateral damage.  Pamela seems fairly decent - I hope I'm not wrong.

(Incidentally, I love Rosita's Spanish lilt when she says her own name :)

So Carol and Mercer arrive to save the day after the malfunctioning alarm alerts the Walkers, and the party has to 'gut up and go' (love that!) once again...

... though this time it is not to reach a van to get them and their friends out of the city in which they're trapped, or to save themselves and those they love from the herd in Alexandria...

...but to collect a bag of old bank notes so that Sebastian Milton can live in luxury.  Mercer was top stuff again in this, and now he's fully aware of the rotten core, surely he will take an active part in cutting it out - eventually.  I was surprised when he took out Alves and Castle, though.  Seemed like it was a heat of the moment decision, born of utter disgust and fury.

Back at the Commonwealth when counting up his spoils, the faces of Daryl, Rosita and Mercer said more than any words - Seb's not very good at reading the room, is he?  Or maybe he just doesn't care; he considers himself above everyone else, after all.

While this was happening, Carol was busy doing one of the many things she does best, i.e., being her sweet self in order to find out information, such as whether or not Hornsby was involved in Seb's plan ... that one word, 'Finally', when she revealed that they'd retrieved the cash, gave away his involvement in the scheme.

*

Meanwhile, back at Riverbend, Toby Carlson's insane rampage continues, as he and his men kill anyone who won't give up the location of the weapons they haven't got.

Lots of good Negan moments - that nice little 'Hey kiddo', when he saw Lydia again, the revelation of his new relationship status, and the scenes with Hershel. That conversation between the two of them, when Hershel asked him if he was a bad man and he said that he used to be - there's always remained the question of whether or not he really is a reformed character, but maybe it's been answered now.  

Many of us have thought that Negan would, at some point, save Hershel's life, but I didn't expect it to happen this early (though indeed there are only 10 episodes left!) - I wonder if he will do it again, more dramatically, in such a way that Maggie and Hershel will (sort of) forgive him.  There's a way to go with that, yet.

The conversation with Maggie and Annie was an important one, what with Annie being pregnant - I wonder if it will go some way to help Maggie move past you-know-what.

Every episode there is one important, profound and sometimes prescient piece of dialogue, and this week it came from Lydia, when Gabriel told Negan that where they live now is different. 

'No it isn't.  They just want to swallow up other communities. They're like the Whisperers.  They just wear different masks.'

*

As for Carlson, there's nothing like seeing a loathsome worm get the death he deserves, though I was surprised to see him leave us so soon.  A refreshing surprise to see that it was Aaron the Idealist who took the shot, without any hesitation whatsoever.  Worth another watch!

As they know Riverbend is no longer safe, I imagine they will gather their supplies and go off to Hilltop with Maggie - including Negan and Annie?  I can see her and Maggie becoming friends ('we bonded over how to raise a child in a devastated post-apocalyptic world - Negan Junior was brought up on mashed turnips'), though I wonder, somehow, if Annie will last the course.  Don't know why, just a feeling.  Like losing her would be Negan's final penance.

Next week shows Aaron and Gabriel not being believed about whatever story they cook up between them ... and, finally, we find out what that 'six months later' scene from 11x09 No Other Way is all about.

Then there's the Wicked Witch of the East, of course ... Leah.  Your guess is as good as mine.

Looks like Mercer is taking off the pumpkin-coloured spacesuit 

- could the rebellion be about to start?

Review: #TheWalkingDead S11x12 THE LUCKY ONES #TWD

 Previously: Review: S11x11 Rogue Element

             S 11 x 12  THE LUCKY ONES

Directed by Tawnia McKiernan

Written by Vivian Tse

An epic episode in which as much was conveyed by words unsaid and masterful foreshadowing as it was by action and dialogue.  Huge round of applause to all involved ... it's left us with so much to think about.

First, to the main story, at Hilltop: after watching this, I am one hundred per cent Team Maggie.  Despite finding her too stroppy and self-important over the last few seasons (though it was understandable that Hershel Greene's daughter died and was born again as a different version of herself after she lost Glenn), right now I think she's doing absolutely the right thing.  Loss and heartbreak can bring out strength and resilience, and it seems this is what has happened with Maggie.  Despite the hardships she and her friends will continue to experience, her intuition tells her she's made the right decision for her and Hershel Jnr, and anyone who wants to stay with her - and for the future of Hilltop.

That was a great little sequence at the end, as the Milton contingent were leaving - Maggie saw Daryl fall into line like a good soldier, heard Mercer tell him to remember that they're always watching.  This consolidated in her mind what she'd been thinking since Lance unwittingly echoed Gregory by suggesting that she was 'in over her head' - as she said, he doesn't know her very well.  You don't tell Maggie Rhee that she can't do something.  Hershel Snr would be proud of her.

It was surprisingly good to see how she and Pamela Milton related so well (more echoes of Deanna, and Georgie), though Pamela's view of 'restoring the natural order' was revealed to be at odds with Maggie's.  Maggie said that Pamela's idea sounded like an autocracy, which of course it is; Pamela idea all the small communities should come under one umbrella means they would then have to be governed by someone, or a series of someones.  The opposite of Maggie's aim: fair, equal, communities free to live life as they wish, trading where and with whom they want to.  

What with Lance's grandiose suggestions of universities and concerts, her face said that she wasn't sure she wants a return to pre-Fall days for Hershel, anyway.  

This was reiterated when Mercer commented how hard it must be for kids at Hilltop, and Daryl pointed out that Hershel is a different kind of kid, who grew up on the road; Mercer was thinking of himself as a child, and what he would be missing, not the children who have only known the world since it changed.

Then there was Rosita saying to Eugene that she missed going outside the walls and the freedom they used to have, even though she thinks being at the Commonwealth is the right thing 'for now'.  Our people seem to share the same belief: that it is only temporary, and when the time is right to return home, they will be able to do so without encountering resistance.  Is it only Maggie who can see the worst case scenario?

'Everything costs something'

*

As for Daryl: falling in with rules and regulations is so opposed to his innate personality that he can only be doing so for the sake of others, particularly Judith and RJ.  Like Rosita and Carol, he appears to be walking the quiet middle ground and biding his time, despite any reservations. 

Maggie: 'Why do you trust these people?'

Daryl: 'Who says I do?  When did I ever?'

But ... do not forget that 'six months later' scene at the end of 11x09 No Other Way.  I had to check it out again after seeing this episode - if you watch it again (below, only 39 seconds long) you'll see that it's quite worrying, given what we now know!

On a lighter note, I like how Daryl has become something verging on matey with Mercer; Daryl seems more open and vocal now, like he was in the early seasons before he started communicating in grunts.  I'm waiting for Mr Pumpkin-Coloured Space Suit to reveal more, as he does every episode, little by little...

'Commonwealth ain't perfect, bro ... don't get too comfortable.'

(btw, when Mercer asked Daryl what he did before all this, I so wanted to hear him say what he said to Beth back in 4x12 Still: 'I was no one.  Nothing.  Just a redneck asshole with an even bigger asshole for a brother'! 😄 )

*

And so to Alexandria:  What was Aaron getting people to hide, when the Milton-Hornsby crew first showed up?  Telling one guy to put a plant in front of a particular window?  Maybe he's scared that it will end up like the Saviors, with them having to give half of what they produce, in return for the help.  Or maybe it's weapons.  Hmmm...

Best case scenario, they've got it all worked out.  Daryl, Carol, Aaron, Rosita, Gabriel - they've put contingency plans in place.  This seems possible, as we never saw the actual exodus to the Commonwealth, how it took place and what happened when Daryl and co left.  Is Aaron just playing the game, to get what they want?

Was nice to see that photo of Deanna and Reg in Deanna's old sitting room, which still looked just the same.  And that Pamela knew her.  I wonder what Deanna would think if she could see them all now.

It's notable how Lance told Aaron that, as far as help for the communities was concerned, it was 'all or nothing' (which was, I believe, the original title of the episode), but this didn't seem to be the case when he talked to Pamela.  I can't see Aaron allowing that little 'worm' to retain the upper hand for long, though.  He stopped being the open, trusting Aaron of Season 5 a long time ago. 

As for the curious partnership of Milton and Hornsby - on the face of it, Pamela seemed refreshingly above board at the beginning of the episode.  She said that the former Alexandrians will be free to return to their communities when they want to; when Lance said that the three communities were perfect for what they're envisioning, she replied, 'What you're envisioning', implying that it was his show and she was just an observer.  In contrast, Lance's power-crazed eyes were doing overtime this episode, never mind the little Walker shooting display at the end and his avowal to rule the world bring more and more people in.

 

Later, though, when they were packing up to leave, their conversation was a mass of complicated undercurrents: she said 'You've been ambitious our whole lives' - what 'whole lives'?  Are they related?  And when she suggested that his desire to rule over Alexandria, Hilltop and Oceanside meant that his work at Commonwealth might suffer, she threatened 'consequences'.  Does she have a hold over him that we don't know about?

Talking of hidden complications, Mercer and Max's flashback scene showed that he was only angry with her about the radio thing because he feared for their safety.  He remarked that contacting a 'rogue' community was 'dangerous for everyone, especially for me and you'.  Why?  Is it just because Milton and Hornsby are scared of takeover by outsiders, or is there something else afoot?  His use of the word 'rogue' doesn't exactly imply a live-and-let-live attitude towards other communities, generally.

I'm so pleased that Max and Eugene have finally got it together, after a shaky start, and she seems lovely.  Interesting to be on her side of the conversation that we heard in Season 10, and see how she's just like him, in her interests.  If ever there was a couple you want to make it, it's these two.

And finally...Ezekiel and Carol. I was amused by how he sussed out straight away that she had been 'up to something' in order to get his surgery pushed up the list.  Because we weren't around for most of those six years during the time jump, it's easy to forget how close they were for a long, long time, and, thus, how well he knows her.

A few other things I'm wondering about:

• I read that Negan returns in the next episode - will he find his way to Hilltop, or back to Alexandria?  I really hope he's not going to team up with skanky Leah!
• So Rachel is running Oceanside, but what happened to Cyndie?

• What happened to Hilltop's Eduardo and Kal?
• ...and where is Alexandria's lovely Scott?  He was mentioned a couple of episodes ago, but he hasn't been seen since S10.

Is Pamela Milton looking for answers in the seas of Oceanside?

A couple of other bits and pieces:

• Jerry talking about medical bills - depressing to think they would exist again.
• I love Elijah's face - he looks kind of noble, honourable, strong, but in a quiet way.  And Carol and Rosita just get more beautiful every episode!
• I came across two leaked photos online the other day - they're of Episode 23, and put my mind at rest about a couple of things.  Obviously I won't put them on here, though, because we don't do spoilers!

It's all getting better and better, isn't it?  

Next week: Warlords