OK, that was an improvement
on the previous season seven episodes. The
Walking Dead, I think, works much better when they can check in on several
plots per episode, rather than having several one-story spotlight installments
in a row. It’s more propulsive and more like the structure of comics, where
there are several balls in the air at once. I wonder what this season would
have been like if they’d interspersed stories throughout.
One downside to the
structure of this season is that we didn’t get to see much of strong characters
like Carol. Not that she had too much to do so far. She’s basically achieved
the dream life of the post-zombie apocalypse world: She has a cozy home and plenty
of food, and she puts her feet up and reads by the fire. This is pretty much
the best it can get and there’s no point in constantly running for running’s
sake. I also liked the checking in on Maggie and her copping a ‘tude and making
that idiot at Hilltop give her his apple.
Some of this episode seemed
to be structured like “Who Shot JR?” A few of the characters got into scenarios
where they could kill Negan, including Michonne and Rosita. When Rosita had
that monologue about every other person in the cast having some sort of
defining trait or role, didn’t she seem to be telling the audience that she has
no real character?
After that surreal pool
game (at least they didn’t try to have any symbolic billiards, like a lingering
shot of an 8-ball), straw man Spencer winds up gutted, conveniently clearing
the board of anybody who really opposes Rick. Poor Olivia gets shot and Negan
is still enough of a dick to make fat jokes even after the woman is dead. Eugene
gets kidnapped by the Saviors, who probably realize they can exploit someone
capable enough to make a bullet.
That whole bit with Rosita’s
bullet missing Negan and hitting Lucille was ridiculous, as was his tantrum
that the apparently pristine bat wrapped in barbed wire has been irreparably scarred.
Does Negan actually think Lucille is a person? His obsession with that bat has
been annoying me for weeks. I hope she picks a fine time to leave him.
I thought Rick and Aaron’s
zombie battle in the lake was novel. I didn’t understand why Aaron started
stuttering when the Saviors confronted him about the “you still lose” sign. I
was saying, “Just explain it! Out with it! It was an innocent mistake!” It was
kind of funny to see Rick get home to Alexandria and see what kind of trouble
the kids got up to in his absence. The pool table is outdoors and there are
intestines all over the driveway.
The reunion at the end was
hopeful. I liked Darryl crying in Rick’s arms. Rick has the motivation to lead
again but he should step aside and let someone else give it a shot. Maggie,
Michonne and Carol are more than capable (but of course they’re holding Carol
back to be the deus ex machina again).
Season seven wasn’t that
great overall but had a few good moments.
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