The Walking Dead S08E02 Review: The Damned

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Carol Ezekiel The Walking Dead The DamnedThe Walking Dead gave us a action-packed episode in “The Damned,” with a few emotional punches thrown in for good measure. The plan to take down the Saviors is in full effect, with three simultaneous attacks intending to take down several Savior outposts. Some exposition regarding each team’s objectives would have gone a long way to make the episode easier to follow. “The Damned” is about the tension and strategy of war, but it also addresses the moral conflicts engendered in armed conflict. Continue reading

The Walking Dead S08E01 Review: Mercy

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rick maggie The Walking Dead MercyIn The Walking Dead Season 8 premiere, “Mercy,” war has come. Alexandria is no longer on the defense, but has joined with the Hilltop and the Kingdom to take the fight to the Saviors. The quote, “May my mercy prevail over my wrath,” shared first by a stranger then repeated by a red-eyed version of Rick at the end of the episode establishes the struggle of whether mercy or wrath will drive the characters’ actions. The Walking Dead continues to explore how shifting morality influences conceptions of hope and freedom while forging a new society.

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The Walking Dead S07E16 Review: The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

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Eugene Negan The Walking Dead First DayThe Season 7 finale of The Walking Dead, “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life,” is not the end that some had hoped for, but rather the beginning of a new chapter. Director Greg Nicotero and writers Scott M. Gimple, Angela Kang, and Matthew Negrete take the viewer on a twisted path following a series of reveals, with an emotional ending that feels satisfying. “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” looks back of the season and the series, yet the story leads to a new beginning— the start of a war we can expect to play out in Season 8 of The Walking Dead. Continue reading

The Walking Dead S07E15 Review: Something They Need

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walkers The Walking Dead Something They Need“Something They Need” brings together some missing pieces as we head towards the season finale of The Walking Dead. There’s a lot of violence against walkers, but only one human casualty in the penultimate episode of Season 7. “Something They Need” was written by Corey Reed (“Forget,” “Now,” and “Service”) and directed by Michael Slovis (“Thank You”). Continue reading

The Walking Dead S07E14 Review: The Other Side

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Sasha Rosita The Walking Dead The Other SideIn “The Other Side,” The Walking Dead provides an opportunity for fans to mourn Abraham and Glenn, alongside the characters who loved them. When Simon and the Saviors arrive unexpectedly at the Hilltop, Sasha and Rosita head out on their mission to kill Negan, while Daryl and Maggie hide in the root cellar. As the conflict with the Saviors intensifies, “The Other Side” reveals more about how different characters have been affected by recent events. Continue reading

The Walking Dead S07E13 Review: Bury Me Here

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Morgan Jerry Ezekiel The Walking Dead Bury Me HereIn “Bury Me Here,” The Walking Dead begins and ends with Carol and Morgan. Both find themselves exactly in the positions they’ve been avoiding as the agreement between the Kingdom and the Saviors starts to unravel. Ezekiel has been desperately clinging to the arrangement with the Saviors in order to keep his people safe, while Richard has been looking for a way to undermine the one-sided agreement. “Bury Me Here” serves as the death knell for the tenuous peace Ezekiel had brokered for the Kingdom. Continue reading

The Walking Dead S07E12 Review: Say Yes

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michonne-rick-plan-the-walking-dead-say-yesThe Walking Dead gives Rick and Michonne some much-needed alone time in “Say Yes.” For a bit there, it even feels like time stands still for these two lovebirds. They share some sweet and funny moments while out on their run, but at the end, reality finally sets in. While Rick and Michonne take a moment to enjoy their time together before the war against the Saviors begins, Rosita simply can’t wait any longer. “Say Yes” is directed by Greg Nicotero and written by Matthew Negrete.

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The Walking Dead S07E11 Review: Hostiles and Calamities

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dwight-eugene-the-walking-dead-hostiles-and-calamitiesThe Walking Dead returns to the dreadful Sanctuary in “Hostiles and Calamities.” After being taken by Negan, Eugene learns that the Sanctuary offers both extreme danger and unusual reward. Eugene isn’t the only one trying to negotiate a difficult situation at the Sanctuary, as Dwight finds himself dealing with the aftermath of Daryl’s escape. “Hostiles and Calamities” was directed by Kari Skogland (“The Next World”) and written by David Leslie Johnson (“Swear,” “Triggerfinger,” and “Chupacabra”). The Walking Dead reminds us that life at the Sanctuary is complicated. Continue reading

The Walking Dead S07E10 Review: New Best Friends

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rick-jadus-the-walking-dead-new-best-friendsThe Walking Dead finally gives us the reunion we’ve been hoping for in “New Best Friends.” The focus is on the Kingdom and a new Borg-like group known as The Scavengers, making for a very interesting episode. A war with the Saviors is on the horizon; it’s just a matter of who will join and when. “New Best Friends” shows us that the enemy of my enemy might be my friend, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Continue reading

The Walking Dead S07E09 Review: Rock in the Road

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carl-jesus-the-walking-dead-rock-in-the-roadThe Walking Dead midseason premiere, “Rock in the Road,” reveals that the revolution will be televised, eventually. Every overthrow requires alliance building, the amassing of resources, and mobilization. Now that Rick has decided they must fight, the preparation begins, but with mixed results. Continue reading