Walking Dead Episode Reviews

[lunabee34]

I gotta admit; I am truly surprised they killed Carl off. I thought he was safe. However, I think the show gave him a fabulous send off.

Carl is so brave in his final moments. I love that he spends his last moments playing with Judith, making hand prints and taking photos--leaving something behind for Judith to hold and see and know that Carl loved her. I was gutted at the thought that Negan had destroyed their hand prints and was relieved and gutted all over again when Michonne finds them intact in the following episode.

I really like the reveal that the moments of future fantasy spread throughout the whole season are Carl's hopes for what a future could be like--peaceful with everyone redeemed. I think Carl sees Negan in this fantasy because Rick is Negan--could be, has been. At first I thought Negan is just a bully, just a narcissist who wants a harem, who wants to control people, who's capitalizing on the misfortune of others. But Negan's drunk his own Kool-Aide. He truly believes he's saving people; I mean, he's the other stuff, too, but he truly believes he's the only thing keeping it together. Negan is Rick is Negan is Carl if he doesn't deliberately walk down another path.

The kid killing the Savior was important; if humans don't stop warring each other, if they don't find some way to make peace, then the next generation of Negans is in training. When Carl urges Rick to lay down arms, to find a way to stop fighting, I don't think he's suggesting that they should live like slaves or bow to Negan; I think he's more in line with Jesus, that when it's done, when Negan is dead and no one is enslaved anymore, there's got to be some way for Negan's men who survive to be forgiven and rehabilitated. There's got to be more than instant suspicion and murder of strangers. Carl is right to welcome Sadiq, not because Sadiq is a doctor and they can use one, but because being kind to a stranger and working together and being a community is right. Negan blames Rick for Carl's death, says that Carl was doing something stupid, but he wasn't. Carl is right and the grownups are wrong. "Sometimes kids gotta show their parents the way."

I was a little disappointed that Carl didn't get real goodbyes from Daryl and Tara and the other long term characters (although Daryl clinging to Judith broke my heart). I am always mystified when everyone isn't hugging and saying, "I love you," at death scenes (looking at you, Daniel and Jack; staring out into the middle distance is weird, Jack; hug your BFF; most wasted death scene opportunity ever). But he did tell Judith he loves her ("you will beat this world") and I love yous were exchanged among Carl, Rick, and Michonne. I just about lost it when he tells Michonne she's his best friend.

No parent should have to dig a child's grave. I almost couldn't watch those scenes. And Carl killing himself so neither of his parents would have to was so moving. I legit cried so much during this episode that my eyelids were super swollen the next morning and putting on eyeliner was an extra special challenge.

I loved everything with Carol and Morgan and Ezekiel. I loved the woman from the Kingdom telling Carol the Saviors don't stand a chance against her. I loved Ezekiel's revelation that capitulating to the Saviors was to save the Saviors' lives, and he won't do it anymore.

Neegan and his men are so stupid; destroying Alexandria is dumb, dumb, dumb. It's a ridiculous waste.

Last week's episode was not as amazing as the episode where Carl died, but it was still good. I am so glad the trash people are dead. I have hated every second they've been onscreen. The whole bizarre speech pattern stuff really gets on my nerves; I do like that at the end, in her extremity, Jadis finally talks like a normal person in complete sentences and with pronouns.

I think Negan is about to have a Simon problem or else Simon is about to have a Negan problem, but I am so ready for Simon to buy it. In a way he bothers me more than Negan does because he's such a Negan knockoff LOL.

I have no idea whether Aaron is trying to commit suicide by staying behind at the commune or if he truly believes he can convince them to fight. I think Enid is going to really lose it when she realizes Carl is dead, and so will Maggie.

I like that Negan is genuinely remorseful that Carl is dead; he genuinely liked Carl. I mean, his reasons for liking Carl are pretty creepy, but the affection is genuine.

They need to end this show on a high note--defeat Negan, start rebuilding and end it. Even though I think this would be awesome, I know the 15-34 male demographic doesn't want to watch infrastructure rebuilding, so if they're going to keep the show on, it'll be another human bad guy. And I'm just done with that. How many iterations of rapist murderer bad guys can we have? I was already done with it before Negan, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan is just such a fucking awesome actor and Negan such a good character that I'm still hooked. IDK I wish they would end it now before it becomes NCIS or SPN or any number of other shows that should have gone out earlier on a high note.

Comments

[kore]

Man, I am still being denied my unshaven JDM in black leather because I am too much of a wuss to watch this by myself and T is still noped out.

"Did you hear they killed Carl?"
"Nope."
"Do you care they killed Carl?"
"Nope."
"Is it still all over for you because they killed Glenn?"
"....basically. It was going downhill before then, though."

SIGH

Maybe Negan can have a change of heart and participate in the rebuilding, LOL. "This is my sledgehammer of renewal, Lucille!"

[lunabee34]

*dies laughing*

No seriously.

*dies laughing*

because it's _wrong_'

[kore]

"No no, we need to NEGOTIATE with these people for their timber. We can't just 'kill them and take it all' anymore."

"But it used to work!"

"IT DID NOT WORK."

"It sort of worked!"

"IT DID NOT WORK. YOU ADMITTED THAT."

"It would have worked if -- "

"We're not doing this again! Just go along and WATCH how they negotiate for the timber."

Re: because it's _wrong_'

[lunabee34]

And he takes his turn in the daycare and he's leading the new MeToo movement in New Alexandria. *snort*

I wish they'd let his harem turn on him rather than Rick killing him.

Re: because it's _wrong_'

[kore]

Oh Jesus, Negan with kids. "And this is how you kill someone with -- " "FINGERPAINTING. You're supposed to be fingerpainting!"

I just got less and less interested (by proxy) as it got more and more about The Story of Rick Grimes. I don't like the actor and I don't think he's that compelling. (When he was watching T kept muttering about how Rick was "worst leader ever.")

Re: because it's _wrong_'

[lunabee34]

Yep. After season 1, my problem with the show has always been a problem with Rick Grimes. I hate the way he treated Lori (and influenced Carl to treat Lori). I hate his man pain and the way he makes terrible decisions.

Once some of the other characters got bigger roles like Carol and Maggie, then I could mostly just roll my eyes at Rick and enjoy what was going on around him.

But after season 1, Rick has always been my least fave part of the show. Which means I am Watching It Wrong, I know! I've always said that Rick dying is A-OK with me. LOL