Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E12

On last week’s episode of The Walking Dead, Eugene was betrayed by Stephanie, Mercer’s prisoner goes missing, and Carol plants herself into Lance’s inner circle. But who is the real monster at the Commonwealth? Is it Pamela or Lance? More importantly, what was that list of names?

The Lucky Ones

Well, well, well! In this episode, we learn that it was Pamela Milton’s assistant, Max (Margot Bingham) who had found some old radio parts and put a radio together. It was her who was speaking to Eugene all the time…She is Mercer’s sister, so you know that she is a good person. She was not behind the ruse but needed to keep silent in order to protect her and Mercer. She honestly doesn’t know what Lance and Pamela have planned for Alexandria and Hilltop. Eugene is not ready to hear the truth. I do hope that he reconsiders.

Lance (Josh Hamilton) and Pamela Milton (Laila Robins) go to visit Alexandria. Aaron greets her and takes her on a tour. Daryl confides in Mercer that he was once one of the leaders of Alexandria. Pamela asks about the former leader, Deanna and how she died. She is upset about the way Deanna died. Pamela next visits Rachel at Oceanside and learns that Oceanside will not honor the trade agreement unless Hilltop does. Is this the apocalyptic version of Brexit? Lance is not happy.

Pamela and Maggie meet for the first time…two powerful women standing their ground. I love this. Maggie wants to know why Aaron and Daryl trust Pamela, but they don’t…just feeling their way. Lance and Pamela ask Maggie to go hunting with them. Pamela is dressed up like a big game hunter. Pamela wants to restore the natural of order. Will Maggie take up her offer?

Ezekiel learns that he has a cancerous tumor, but even though he is on the list for treatment, he is puzzled as to how he got on that list. He questions Carol about it. He wants to know what Carol had to do to help him.

Conclusion

Rosita comforts Eugene on his and Stephanie’s breakup, but she is happy being a Cop and having a future. I am so relieved that Eugene didn’t rat out Max. Daryl was permitted to visit Alexandria and Hilltop without his Star War Trooper outfit, but Mercer reminds him that it was only to smooth out the visit. Food and supplies are offered to the communities and the troopers help fix the water tower. Pamela and Maggie protect each other against walkers, so will there be some trust between the two? Right now…I am trusting Pamela a lot more than Lance. While Lance talks to Maggie about the possibilities of growth, a swarm of walkers arrives with everyone fighting. Mercer puts a quick end to the fight. Thank you, Mercer. But in the end, Maggie turns down Pamela’s offer because…everything costs something.

My thoughts on this: Beware of the Trojan horse. If Commonwealth is doing so well, why force Team Alexandria, Team Oceanside, and Team Hilltop to join. I don’t trust Lance. I’m not sure about Pamela, but right now…I trust her a little more after this episode. Mercer’s warning to Daryl that they are always being watched, may have something to do with that list that was given to Connie. Not everyone feels like Maggie, and she loses a few members to the Commonwealth.

As for Eugene, he apologizes to Max. They talk. There is hope.

Please keep Ukraine and President Zelensky in your prayers. If Ukraine fall, so does the rest of Europe.

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Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E11

On last week’s episode of The Walking Dead, we learned that there is a revolution brewing…David against Goliath? In a week where the reality of the real world has crushed our global spirits because there is a real David fighting a dangerous Goliath aka Zelensky vs Putin…my heart was not on reviewing tonight’s episode, but maybe it is best to have the two worlds collide.

Rogue Element

Not everything is peachy fine at the Commonwealth even though Governor Pamela Milton wants everyone to think so. Eugene is in love with Stephanie, but when he tells her that he loves her…she vanishes. Eugene is in a panic and his only clue is a plumber who is anything but a plumber. Who is Roman Calhoun and why was he seen at the complex where Stephanie lived? Eugene would put Law and Order to shame the way he gathers evidence to find his true love.

Connie is also playing detective after the Tyler Davis incident. What did the ex-soldier mean that he was punished after Princess beat him up? Where is he? Connie finally gets Mercer to talk. The woman that Davis held hostage was Mercer’s sister, but she had nothing to do with his disappearance. If Connie is going to get Mercer to talk…she’ll have to get him alone.

Carol is doing her own investigation as she gets closer to Lance, who we realize isn’t all that happy with the Commonwealth and might be dealing opium on the side…but is also making sure to stock the local pond with fish. Carol lets Lance know that one of his lieutenants is robbing his staff…pocketing the raises that Lance designated for the workers.

Conclusion

I am really liking Mercer (Michael James Shaw). Connie (Lauren Ridloff) asked the right questions about Davis. Mercer knew that the man was in the hospital under guard, but when Mercer goes to check on Davis…he is gone. Davis was moved without Mercer’s knowledge or permission…who gave the order? Was it Mercer who slipped the paper of names under Connie’s door?

Eugene (Josh McDermitt) and Princess (Paola Lazara) get caught at Roman’s apartment building and things could have gone downhill for both of them, but Lance steps in to save the day. Lance (Josh Hamilton) not only listened to Carol, but he also gave Eugene and Princess a free ticket out of jail. Eugene, who was writing his first science fiction novel, has a new hobby…finding Stephanie…and boy does he! Oh my God! Stephanie (Margo Bingham) is really Shira and yes, she was using Eugene to get them to the Commonwealth, but hey! She loved reading the first few chapters of Eugene’s book. So, whose side is Shira really on? And is Lance the dark underbelly of the Commonwealth? What does this mean for Alexandria and Hilltop?

Okay, I am done talking about TWD, let’s talk about Ukraine. Right now, we need to send all our support to this country. Yes, the gas prices are going up, but take a bus! Walk! Carpool! Do what we need to do to pull away from reliance on Russian oil. I truly believe that we are already in World War 3, and like the walkers that just keep coming…Putin will not stop at Ukraine. To me, Zelensky is Rick Grimes, and he is fighting the Governor (Putin)…let’s be Team Daryl and stand by Ukraine.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E10

Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead _ Season 11, Episode 10 – Photo Credit: Josh Stringer/AMC

This week’s episode of The Walking Dead proves once again that there are no perfect societies. Every government is flawed. In fact, after reviewing TWD universe over the past eleven seasons, I have come to the dire realization that the only ones consistently working as a team are the walkers. The animated bags of flesh work as a hive to quell their thirst for human flesh.

New Haunts

Welcome to the Commonwealth where a normal life has somewhat returned. We get to see what Team Daryl has been up to after last weeks’ time jump. Daryl and Rosita are training to become soldiers while the other people from Alexandria adjust to their new roles. We have Carol baking cookies for the huge Halloween party. But we all know that our little Ninja Warrior is only playing the chameleon. Carol is worried about Ezekiel’s health…and rightfully so. Ezekiel’s thyroid cancer is taking his toll, but he is at the bottom of the waiting list for surgery. The only person who might be able to move Ezekiel up the list is Lance Hornsby.

Daryl, our apocalyptic loner, goes through all of Mercer’s (Michael James Shaw) team building exercises. We are learning more about Mercer, and it is refreshing to see that Mercer is a good commander. Rosita is more flexible with the training. Mercer is protective of Sebastian Milton (Teo Rapp Olsson) even though Sebastian the spoiled, entitled son of Pamela Milton (Laila Robins). This boy is clueless and would have been dead a long time ago if he wasn’t the son of the Governor.

This episode reveals that a lot of the Commonwealth people are not happy with the status quo. There is a huge separation between the haves and the have nots. Judith and her brother live with Daryl, and it is during the Halloween celebration that Judith realizes that they are poor. She makes friends with another girl who treats her to a heavy metal album, nice but useless because Judith doesn’t own a record player.  Later at the Halloween masquerade ball, we see that Yumiko has higher standing in the Commonwealth than her Alexandria friends.

Conclusion

The clues are there. There is a resistance group within the Commonwealth. They are angry with their situation, and they are silently preparing for a revolution. We are learning early in this season that not everyone is happy in the land of Oz, especially when Tyler (who was demoted after Princess kidnapped him in S10’s Splinter) attempts to force Pamela to hear his story. His demotion has affected his sister and her children who depended on Tyler’s paycheck. Even though it was Daryl who captured Tyler after Tyler released his hostage, Daryl allows Sebastian to claim the capture. Either Daryl is following Mercer’s advice about teamwork or, like Carol, is playing the chameleon.

Now for the good news. Carol has worked her charm on Lance by finding some great wine for the Ball. Hopefully this new alliance will help with Ezekiel’s place on the surgical list. And!!!! Mercer and Princess (Paola Lazaro) might have a thing going on. The way he looked at her before entering the Ball and the fact that he invited her to be his “plus one” for the party…most likely had social media blowing up. I know for the moment that Daryl and Connie (Lauren Ridloff) have a thing going, but I am a die hard for Team Daryl/Carol. We shall see what the future brings.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E9

They’re back! The Walking Dead has returned picking up where we left off so many months ago with Maggie, Gabe, Elijah, and Negan trying to escape the Reapers, but will Eugene be bringing unexpected company to Alexandria? Will Carol be baking up some of her apocalyptic cookies for S11 E9?

No Other Way

What we need to remember is that a show about the apocalypse was filmed during an ongoing apocalypse. Scary right? Maggie has been dealing with loads of internal struggles that have caused people to die, not intentionally, but shit happens when you can’t let go of revenge. Negan knows that it won’t be long before Maggie turns on him, but he has proven himself in my eyes. In a world where a virus has caused civilization to circle the drain, even good guys do bad things.

So many people died helping Team Maggie get the needed food for Alexandria, but while Team Maggie and Team Leah try to off each other, Alexandria is under siege by walkers. Judith and Gracie are trapped in a flooded basement and although Judith lives up to her nickname, “Little Shit Kicker” she is outnumbered until Aaron shows up for the rescue.

Maggie is out to protect her people, and will do anything to accomplish this, and I think that is what Negan was trying to tell her when he said that he should have killed them all. Negan was protecting his people, too. In a world of death, you will do unthinkable things to protect the living…your people.

Daryl wants to believe that people can change, Negan did, so why not Leah, but again, even though they love each other Daryl’s and Leah’s first duty is to their tribe. Even GOD has taken a back seat to the apocalypse when Gabriel and the Reaper Preacher chat about forgiveness…that is until Gabriel kills the preacher. I think Gabriel has decided that GOD should stay in the back seat from now on.

The fight scenes in this episode are amazing, but especially the ones between Carver and Team Maggie. Daryl decides to use Carver as ransom with Leah, but Leah has a sniper in her deck.

Conclusion and Spoilers

Maggie doesn’t believe in taking hostages, but after Gabriel scores with the sniper and changing Leah’s game plan, Maggie allows them to leave without Carver…but Maggie…gives new meaning to “holding a grudge.” She kills everyone and injures Leah who gets away.

Maggie can’t forgive, and Negan knows this, so he leaves, and that sucks because he saved Maggie and Elijah from Carver. It was a literal “Saved by the bell” moment. Maggie was too late to save Alden…but we knew this would happen. Daryl decides to let Leah live after finding her. They were lovers, after all. Sometimes you have to just let go and let live. I hope that Leah returns that favor in the future.

The happy ending with Team Maggie returning with the much-needed supplies, was turned upside down with the arrival of unexpected dinner guests…Eugene brought Lance Hornsby and a platoon of Commonwealth troopers to the gate. Hornsby offers sanctuary at the Commonwealth…will there be any takers?

Why is God’s name would Daryl join the Commonwealth? Why Daryl? Why?

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11

Ten years! Ten years that I have been watching and reviewing The Walking Dead for Biff Bam Pop and my blog. I have seen it all, and one of my biggest beefs…the way the Showrunners keep messing with the character arch of our favorite characters. It was the same with the S11 E08 episode. Join me as I rant.

For Blood

Let’s start with Daryl’s choices on this latest episode. Daryl has a soft spot for Leah, but he knows that her loyalty is with Pope. I would say that Pope is a worthy enemy. Not as crazy as the Governor, but he could definitely hold his footing with the Whisperers: Alpha and Beta. Pope’s weakness is Leah, and God. He trusts Leah, but I’ve always felt that Leah was just waiting patiently to take control of the group. Plus, whenever anyone fights a war because of religious reasons…you are guaranteed crazy as in the “Inquisition” style of crazy.

Pope played fabulously by Ritchie Coster is shocked when the horde of walkers appears to be walking in a fashionably order. When questioned, Daryl admits he’s seen this behavior before, and Daryl offers to go down and investigate because, in reality, Daryl knows that his friends are among the walkers. Instead, Pope sends one of his people, who of course, dies with the help of Team Maggie. This pisses off Leah who feels that Pope has too much heaven on his mind and is failing to protect his family.

Team Maggie

Maggie, Negan, Gabe, and the others actually bring down one of the compound walls protecting Pope’s people, while that distraction is going on, Maggie and Gabe are able to sneak into the compound with Daryl’s help. They need to get the food that Pope stole from her people…but Pope has a weapon that might bring all plans to save Alexandria to a halt.

Judith

Judith needs her sword, and she needs to go hunting with Carol. This little girl is a proven warrior. She has killed her share of walkers, and she tamed Negan. I truly believe that Negan thinks of Judith as his daughter. So why has the showrunners written Judith as afraid and unsure? I don’t get it, the same way that I don’t get why they have shackled Carol…playing her as some crazed, hysterical woman instead of the Super Ninja that she is.

With the walls of Alexandria falling because of a bad storm, why would you pick a house with a weak, thin cardboard door? Why would you keep the children and babies on the first floor? Why wasn’t the children barricaded upstairs? None of this makes sense. Yes, the Whisperers destroyed the walls, but there are enough abandoned buildings to pull up floorboards, doors, and whatever it takes to seal the perimeter. I do love Judith and the way she tries to protect the other children and bless Virgil for reminding Judith that she reminds him of Michonne.

Conclusion with Spoilers

I never expected Leah to kill Pope, but if Daryl thought that she did it for him, boy was he mistaken. She is loyal to her family, but she was surprised to learn that Pope was aware of Maggie’s involvement with the walkers. I don’t trust Leah because even though she killed Pope, she blames the murder on Daryl. I think Leah will be more vicious that Pope because she is willing to use that nasty hwacha on Daryl’s friends.

I am so happy that Carol and Connie are working together. The women on this show are strong, and if Alexandria is going to be saved, it will be because of the ladies. After seeing Rosita go Terminator on the walkers, I know that Alexandria will be saved by a protective mother bear.

I don’t know why the Reapers have never crossed paths with the Commonwealth but it is bound to happen and I have my popcorn ready for that showdown.

See you all in February 2022 when S11 E09 returns

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E07

On last week’s episode of The Walking Dead, Daryl covered up his friends’ hiding spot from the Reapers, but he may be in big trouble with Pope.

Promises Broken

In the world of TWD as it is in real life…it’s not what you know, but who you know. Unfortunately for Team Eugene, they have made one too many mistakes. Eugene and his team are clearing the surrounding area of the Commonwealth of walkers. The Commonwealth needs to expand. It’s hard work and a bit too much for Ezekiel. Luckily for the King, he is given IV fluids and antibiotics and bounces right back.

While Stephanie and Eugene continue the cleanup of refugee walkers who have the nerve to stumble on Commonwealth property, Yumiko makes an appointment to meet with Pamela Milton. Yumiko can’t wrap her head around her brother’s refusal to let people know that he is a successful doctor. Even though Tomi (Ian Anthony Dale) keeps assuring Yumiko that the Commonwealth is as much fun as a day at Disneyworld…that assurance goes up in smoke when Tomi is arrested.

Maggie and Negan finally shake hands and decide to work together to find food for Alexandria with the condition that Maggie doesn’t try to kill Negan. Gabe is called in as a witness to this deal. I don’t know if Maggie can keep her word, but for now, Negan is teaching her how to be a walker whisperer. With a huge horde following them, Negan and Maggie might be bringing the battle to the Reapers. I was curious about the holy man that Gabe spotted. Did the man know that Gabe was hiding in the woods? Does he belong to the Reapers?

We can’t forget Daryl and Leah (Lynn Collins) who are sent by Pope to hunt down Team Maggie. Instead, they find a man with a seriously wounded wife and a young son. Pope told Leah to kill any survivors, but Leah decides to let the man and child go free, while Daryl puts the wounded woman out of her misery. They now share a secret from Pope.

Conclusion

Spoiled brats! Oh yes, even TWD has their share of spoiled brats, and in this episode, we meet Sebastian (Teo Rapp-Olsson) the son of Pamela Milton (Laila Robins). Sebastian is the type of person that will put himself in danger, and when he is rescued from walkers by Eugene and Stephanie …insults Stephanie causing Eugene to react. That punch in the nose gets Eugene thrown in prison. I wonder if we will learn why Tomi was taken by the Storm Troopers.

This is the final season for TWD, and I have been writing reviews on this show for all 11 seasons, but I have to say that I am honestly enjoying this season. There will most likely be lots of death scenes involving some of our beloved characters, and who knows what will happen between Negan and Maggie, but over the eleven seasons…these characters have become family, and I am highly invested in their survival.  I don’t handle loss that well, so I am hoping that there are some happy thoughts at the end to not leave me bitter.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E06

What in the Nightmare on Elm Street did I just watch on the latest episode of The Walking Dead? Sometimes…the walkers are not the biggest problem to deal with.

On the Inside

In this episode, while Connie and Virgil find shelter in the woods, Kelly sets off alone to find her sister. Daryl is forced into interrogating one of Maggie’s team, but as scary as Daryl’s position is with Pope. Maggie’s team is not safe. I need to collect my thoughts because so much happened in this episode that I don’t know where to start, but start we must, and I’ll start with Daryl.

Pope is always looking to test his people for their loyalty, and this time he has Daryl take over the brutal interrogation of Frost. This is something that Daryl has to do to infiltrate, gain Pope’s trust, and eventually destroy the Reapers. After cutting of Frost’s finger, they are given a location to search for Team Maggie.  I was upset when Daryl not only beat up Frost, but then cut off his finger, but then I realized that Daryl and Frost understood, if only by eye contact, that the safety of Alexandria was more important than their very lives. With the confession that Team Maggie was hiding in a yellow house off route 283, Daryl is purposely antagonizing Carver, until Leah steps in.

What Carver and Leah don’t realize is that Maggie, Negan, Gabe, and Elijah are hiding. Daryl knows that they are hiding under the trap door, and does his best to distract Carver who wants to tear the house down. Although successful in his distraction to save his friends, Daryl returns to Pope to find walker Frost tied to a tree, and a grinning Pope claiming he got Frost to talk. This doesn’t sound good for Daryl.

Connie

I have to say that Lauren Ridloff did a damn good job with her character’s growth. Her expressions as she and Virgil (Kevin Carroll) find refuge in the scariest house since “The Haunting of Hill House.” Connie is frightened, and rightfully so. She suspects that they are not alone in the house even though Virgil has checked out the house. When one of your six senses don’t work, with Connie it is hearing…your other senses pick up the slack. Connie’s inner radar is screaming that they are not alone in the house, but Virgil chalks it up to her not sleeping for days. But Connie is wondering if it isn’t safer dealing with the walkers than what is hiding in the house.

Feral People

Every single horror movie that I had ever watched came back to haunt me after Connie sees an eyeball looking at her through a hole in the bathroom. She scratches on one of the photos hanging on the wall, “Not Alone.” Whenever the camera is focused on Connie, we have no sound, which is the perfect way for we viewers to experience what Connie is experiencing as finds a room full of human bones.

When we first meet the feral family that not only live behind the walls, but have turned to cannibalism to survive, we are instantly put into shock mode. These are not walkers that stumble around searching for food The feral people are famished from lack of food, and they are practically naked. What is very unsettling is the means of mobility that they use. They chase Connie on all fours, like wolves after prey. There is no reasoning with these feral people. All humanity is gone. They only know that they are hungry, and that food has somehow stumbled into their den.

Conclusion

Virgil risks his life to protect Connie because he felt that Michonne’s giving him a second chance should be passed on to others. The last scene in the feral house is scary. Connie and Virgil are overrun by ferals, but Connie thinks fast. Doing the old “smell like a walker” routine, Connie puts the walkers to work in fighting the feral people.

Greg Nicotero directed this episode, and damn, we are reminded how good TWD can be with the right direction. Lauren Ridloff, who has been away from the series until now, asked Greg Nicotero to arrange it so that when Kelly (Angel Theory) and Connie meet on the final scene, that the true emotion of these sisters reuniting comes through. It worked. The emotion of the sisters finding each other was heartfelt. The slingshot sisters are reunited!

I don’t know what Pope learned from Frost, but Daryl is in trouble. The good news is that Team Maggie now know where he is.

See you next week.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E05

Josh Hamilton as Lance Hornsby – The Walking Dead _ Season 11, Episode 5 – Photo Credit: Josh Stringer/AMC

When all you’re doing is fighting to survive each and every day…you are bound to have nightmares, and on this episode of The Walking Dead, Aaron has one hell of a freaky nightmare where he and Gracie are surrounded by all their former enemies: the Wolves, Saviors, and the Whisperers. Life is a struggle, but team Eugene, team Maggie, and team Aaron sure have their work cut out for them.

Out of the Ashes

I am going to talk about Judith (Cailey Fleming) before I go any further with the review of S11E05. This little peanut has been surviving the apocalypse since her birth. She is smart, resilient, mature, and lonely. Carl is dead, her father assumed dead, and Michonne is on some stupid mission that has made Judith and her little brother orphans. Judith helps the Alexandria community by teaching the other children how to fight, but the older boys tease her when she confronts them about playing with the dead. Their cruel words bring tears to her eyes.

Look, I was a teenager when my mother took off, I am in my seventies and it still bothers me, so when Judith cries because one of the boys had also broken the wooden plank that held her and Carl’s handprints…I feel for her. Thank goodness, Rosita (Christian Serratos) was there to calm our little Kick-ass warrior.

Alexandria

Don’t you hate when uninvited guests drop in unexpectantly? Jerry (Cooper Andrews) is taking care of business when he realizes that the walls have been breached again. How do these bags of bones still have the strength to push in the walls? I haven’t figured that one out yet, and apparently, neither have the showrunners. They walls go back up, but it is only a band-aid. Aaron and the others decide to head out to Hilltop to see if there is anything to scavenge from the ashes. While Carol, Lydia, Aaron, and Jerry head over to Hilltop, our little band of misfits are getting inducted into the Commonwealth.

Rocky Road Ice cream

The Commonwealth may be nothing more than a very bad Homeowners Association. A good friend of mine lives in a 55+ community where the bylaws are so strict that they would not permit her to have a ramp built for her husband who became totally wheelchaired bound. Her poor husband was trapped in the house. Criminal!

Team Eugene sit through a nifty commercial video that featured all the wonderful things about being a citizen of Commonwealth. They have law enforcement, schools, ice cream shops, bakeries, malls, and everything else needed to live the Utopian dream. Lance Hornsby (Josh Hamilton) may have been a used car salesperson in a former life because his video is definitely inviting. There is mention of a president: Pamela Milton. At the end of the video, Princess gets her two-dollar bill back, along with a job. Everyone gets a job except Yumiko who is invited to visit the state department for her job. They also get their assigned living quarters. Mercer (Michael James Shaw) may or may not be as bad ass as he pretends because Princess easily wraps him around her little finger.

While Yumiko heads to the state department, Eugene, Princess, Ezekiel and Stephanie tour the town and get themselves some ice cream. Eugene convinces Stephanie to allow him to contact Alexandria. Princess is put on watch duty as Eugene talks to Rosita, but only briefly (bad connection).

Yumiko located her brother, Tomi (Ian Anthony Dale) in a bakery. Even though he was surgeon before the apocalypse, Tomi is now absolutely happy baking cakes. He is enjoying his life as a baker, and the rows and rows of cookies, pies, and cakes attest to this joy.

Aaron

Ross Marquand’s Aaron has gone through a major transformation, and I feel that he is becoming “Rick” worthy. A true leader. After they arrive at Hilltop, Lydia (Cassady McClincy) realizes that the remaining walkers (former Hilltop citizens) are being herded. The group captures a Whisperer, who begs for his life and that of his family. But Aaron blocks out the pleas for mercy and uses a walker to get information from the man. This leads to the man being bitten.

Conclusion and Spoilers

I didn’t forget Team Maggie. Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) rest at an abandoned home where there is very little food to take back home. Negan wants to return to Alexandria, but Maggie wants to stay. They agree to wait until sundown. These two characters are both very powerful…and stubborn, but I think that Negan has a better sense of survival right now. Maggie was right about waiting because Gabe (Seth Gilliam) and Elijah (Okea Eme-Akwari) do show up and now the decision is made to wait for Daryl.

Unless you’ve ever been in a situation where you didn’t know where or when your next meal would be…you won’t understand how desperate the citizens of Alexandria are in. Hunger, and the constant threat of walkers and bad guys is enough to do real damage to one’s hope for survival. I think all these years of watching and reviewing TWD has made me more compassionate to the refugees who flock to our borders. They are hungry, desperate, and trying to protect their children. Instead of zombies, refugees are fleeing evil men doing evil deeds. Remember this the next time you push yourself away from the table, belly filled.

Alexandria is in danger. Hunger makes people do crazy things. Aaron allowed that walker to bite the Whisperer even though the man begged for his life. He would have done much worse to the man if Carol didn’t step in and tell him why it is important to keep your humanity in the worst of times. It was a good thing she did. They now know that Connie is alive.

Team Eugene was saved by the bell when Lance Hornsby steps in. Will they finally get to meet Pamela Milton? Will the children of Alexandria die from hunger before someone comes to the rescue? Where the hell is Michonne? Her kids need her.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E04

In last week’s episode everyone was worried about the whereabouts of our number one favorite person of TWD universe. This week we find out what happened to Daryl and Dog.

Rendition

Well, we finally find out who the Reapers are, and who knows Daryl. After being surrounded by Reapers, Daryl learns that his former lover, Leah (Lynn Collins) is an important member of the Reapers. The leader is called Pope (Ritchie Coster) who, along with his team is not only former military, but also a mercenary. This explains their ninja abilities to attack unseen. Pope is also a religious nut job, so there is that.

Pope wants to know who Daryl’s people are. Daryl denies that they are his friends which gets him waterboarded. When that doesn’t work because Daryl is the poster child for loyalty…Leah tries to sweet talk him into giving Pope the needed information. Finally, even though Daryl doesn’t tell the truth, Leah vouches for him, and Daryl is put to one final test. The test of fire.

Conclusion

In the final season of TWD, we are learning that walkers are not the real enemy. Pope reminds me of the governor…he demands complete obedience and heaven help you if you try to save your own butt. Pope shows his craziness when he kills one of the Reapers by throwing the man into a fire and holds him down until he is a crispy critter.

Ritchie Coster as Pope- The Walking Dead _ Season 11, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Josh Stringer/AMC

This was one of the better episodes for two reasons: Daryl might have gotten into a mess that he can’t walk away from…and we met a worthy enemy. I am hoping that Negan, having been a former dictator, will know how to deal with Pope and the Reapers.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E03

I don’t know…maybe it’s because we are battling our own apocalypse in real time, what with Covid and the rise of Nazi sympathizers within our own country…but I am waiting for one bright spot in the final season of The Walking Dead. In this episode, we get a closer look of the Reapers.

Hunted

In this episode, while we know that Team Ezekiel is safe from harm at the moment, Team Maggie is not doing well at all. After escaping the subway tunnels, they are ambushed by the Reapers. This new enemy is very organized, methodical in their attacks, and almost Ninja like in their sudden appearances and disappearances. This episode was directed by Frederick Toye of Snowpiercer, The Boys, Watchmen, and Westworld fame.

With the latest Reaper attack we lose a few of Maggie’s team (Cole, Duncan, and Agatha). Many are injured, the rest scattered to the four winds. Maggie is adamant about finding food for the colony and even though Alden is badly wounded, she insists that they continue on their quest. Negan disagrees, but with a big sigh, he allows Maggie to lead the way.

Gabriel

One of the most important character developments in TWD is that of Seth Gilliam’s Gabriel Stokes. We have watched this man of God go from cowardly to brave, to almost fanatical in protecting his friends. Gabriel is not only in charge of dividing the meager supplies to the starving people of Alexandria and Hilltop, but he must also muster up the townsfolks’ faith in a benevolent Creator, while at the same time losing his. After being injured during the ambush, Gabriel escapes and on his journey to find his team, happens upon a wounded Reaper who taunts him into praying for his sorry ass. But…Gabriel is fresh out of mercy and tells the Reaper, “God isn’t here anymore” before killing the man.

I don’t think that Gabriel has completely given up on God, but he sure as hell is questioning God’s whereabouts. Haven’t we all these last two years of Covid? I hope that Gabriel survives the series finale because he is the gauge, the weathervane for the mental health of Alexandria. He is the glue that holds the town together in the absence of Rick and Michonne.

Carol

Carol played deliciously by Melissa McBride is another study in a character’s growth. Carol is sometimes more dangerous than the many enemies Team Rick has ever had to fight. She too went from meek and weak to Wonder Woman status within the eleven years that TWD has been on air.  Carol, recently, has been played as a troublemaker by the writers and directors. I don’t know why they decided to play her as psychotic when that isn’t who she is. Big mistake. In this episode Carol in adamant about finding horses. They will need the horses to travel long distances to find supplies, but secretly she is hoping to also find Connie. Magna (Nadia Hilker) is afraid that Carol is giving Kelley (Angel Theory) false hope, but they and Rosita (Christian Serratos) go with Carol to find horses.

Conclusion

While Maggie (Lauren Cohan), Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and the injured Alden find shelter in a church, after barely escaping the warehouse full of Reapers…we get to check in on the children of Alexandria. As the wee ones play a game of Slap Jack, Judith (Cailey Fleming), Hershel (Kien Michael Spiller), RJ (Anthony Azor) and Gracie (Anabelle Holloway) talk about parents and life in general. These are pretty smart kids. They have to be in a world where you can instantly become a walker snack. It is Hershel, who has been on some very dangerous adventures with his mother, that teaches the children how to eat horse meat.

Horse meat? Yes, it seems that Team Carol, after finding a few half-eaten horses, finally locate some live horses. After bringing the horses back to Alexandria, Carol is tasked with the job of slaughtering one of the horses to feed the people of Alexandria. This is not something she wanted to do, but it is always our Carol who is assigned the dirty work that no one else wants to do.

Negan and Maggie are forced to leave Alden in the church, with the promise that they will take care of his child. I don’t know what happened to Daryl and we don’t know if Gabriel will catch up to Maggie, but I will tell you this…the Reapers are as dangerous as the Whisperers, but what they haven’t counted on is the teaming up of Maggie and Negan. The Reapers may have opened a Pandora’s box of big trouble. Let’s hope that Maggie and Negan don’t wind up killing each other before they destroy the Reapers.