Gilbert Speaks on the Walking Dead S11 E23

As each episode of The Walking Dead brings us closer to the finale, I sit in dread of which of my favorite characters will die. We know which ones will go on to live in spin-offs, but what about the ones that are left behind. The Walking Dead cast, and crew have become family to me, and so the title of the episode is so fitting of this review.

Family With Spoilers

In this week’s episode of TWD…Judith (Cailey Fleming) has grown to be a pint-sized warrior, but like Carl and Rick…she is looking to the future. She wants a brighter future for her little brother, and also for the other children. When the protective Daryl tells Judith to stay behind with the kids, she says no, and after a most adult conversation between the two…Daryl agrees to let Judith come on the mission. Judith takes her talisman weapons (Michonne’s sword and Rick’s gun) but leaves Rick’s hat with RJ (Antony Azor) and that my friends frightened me a bit. That hat is her only connection with her dad. That hat is almost a magic shield…and if Team Daryl hopes to break into the commonwealth, they are going to need all the magic they can lay their hands on.

While Pamela is having her own issues with the new and improved walkers, Mercer is doing all in his power to set things right. He is gathering faithful troopers, and with Eugene safely hidden, he can now concentrate of the walker horde…but Pamela is one smart cookie and has a spy working for her. Who is this mysterious B17 that Pamela is trying to reach?

Negan and Maggie need to work together, but even though Negan offers, Maggie shuts him down. Later, Maggie overhears Ezekiel and Negan talking and I believe she has seen the light. People can change. Isn’t it strange how we have gone from hating Negan to rooting for his success? This was a character arc that set the world upside down.

Team Aaron

Aaron and his team, which include now includes Luke and Jules, are trying to escape the horde heading towards the Commonwealth. Most of them make it inside the trailer, but not everyone. Lydia is seriously wounded and is forced to make a decision. Also, are there a few whisperers still alive…and are they also hiding within the horde…or…and this is really scary…are the climbers also regaining the power of speech? Who said, “Get to the trees.”

Conclusion

Things are not going well for any of our comrades. Team Daryl is ambushed by Pamela’s soldiers and Pamela shoots Judith. Lydia loses part of her arm to save her life. Mercer is betrayed by Pamela’s spy, Vickers…maybe? She doesn’t look to happy when Pamela decides to leave the citizens abandoned while she saves the estate.

Daryl swoops Judith up in his arms and he and his team try to escape the horde that has broken into the commonwealth and Pamela’s soldiers. Judith calls Daryl, “daddy” before passing out.

I have, over the years, come to think of The Walking Dead cast as family. They have encouraged me to keep going even when life threw some nasty hand grenades at me. Carol, Maggie, Michonne, and Rosita have reminded me that women are true warriors, especially when the men get it wrong.

I don’t know what is going to happen to my Walking Dead family, especially who lives and who dies in the final episode…but even when the world tires of zombies and TWD universe…I know that the actors and crew did their best to remind us that even during an apocalypse…good people can survive and that the unselfish love for humanity can make us better than we are.

See you, for the series finale.

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Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S10 Finale

All good things come to those who wait in a pandemic isolation mode. Yes, like most of my fellow TWD fans that are trapped inside a time loop with no escape until the election…we were left to wonder what had happened to our favorite Team. The wait was well worth it, and we were awarded a few surprises.

A Certain Doom

There was a lot to worry about all season especially with the writers messing with our Ninja Queen, Carol. Don’t mess with Carol! She is a strong woman and we don’t break easily.

Team Hillside, Team Alexandria, and Team Oceanside have their plans, but so does Beta. The children must be protected. I love how Daryl has taken the role of father over Little Kick-ass Judith and her little brother. You fight harder when you have children to protect.  Team Daryl, having taken a gore and guts bath, slowly make their way through the horde…but the Whisperers are in that horde. Beatrice has the backpack with the Radio Shack electrical equipment that is needed to lure the horde away.

Lydia and Negan

We have been given glimpses of what Negan was like before the apocalypse, but the memory of his bat cutting down Glenn and Abraham still stings. Even if I don’t usually believe that people can change their ways, I think Negan has turn away from the Dark Force because of two young girls.

Negan has always had a soft spot for Judith because she is smart and sassy, and she stands up to him. Judith is viewed as a pintsized fellow warrior. Lydia is different. She is vulnerable, abused, and not welcomed by the others because of Alpha. Negan is protective of Lydia. Negan is the father figure who gives Lydia Alpha’s face mask. Lydia and Carol are a different matter. Carol is unwilling to open her heart to the girl because of what Alpha did to her family…but Lydia’s need for forgiveness, and maybe a mother figure, is putting chinks in Carol’s titanium armor. Carol tells Lydia that the girl must “Find her own way.”

Rock On

Lydia is a big help to the Team archers as she points out the hidden Whisperers among the horde. As each Whisperer is shot down, the horde does the good old fashion gore and guts buffet…which we haven’t seen in a long time. If you have walkers…you need the gore. Beta is also a good leader and pulls his people in a closer circle which causes poor Beatrice from Oceanside to get killed. Carol, at first, keeps moving but then returns for the backpack. Lydia, wearing Alpha’s mask comes to the rescue.

Backpack rescued, Team Daryl is able to lead the horde away from Team Gabe and towards a cliff with the song Bringing Down the House…but rascally Beta soon puts a stop to that. The decision is made for Carol and Lydia to tag lead the walkers to the cliff, while Daryl and Negan go after Beta and his people.

Conclusion

There were many surprises: Lydia saving Carol before she jumped. I think Carol is going to adopt Lydia. Carol needs to teach Lydia how to be a warrior, and Lydia needs to teach Carol how to open her heart and forgive.

Negan and Daryl worked as a tag team in bringing down Beta. Although Negan was surprised with Beta’s identity, Daryl couldn’t give a damn. Beta actually got what he always wanted. He happily lived among the walkers, and now, he is one.

Gabe is rescued from Whisperers by Maggie, and her very own masked hooded Ninja. Who is this stranger? He has the same moves as our beloved

I saved the best for last. Connie is alive and meets Virgil. Team Eugene accompanied by Princess are still on their search for Eugene’s true love, Stephanie…what they encounter are storm troopers right out of Star Wars. Are they part of the group that Jadis belongs to? Is Rick there? Who is that masked man with Maggie? I can’t wait for the next season.   

Gilbert Speaks on “The Walking Dead” S10 E04

The good folks of Alexandria are scared. They have every right to be, but poor Negan gets the worst of it. Did we ever think we would feel sorry for Negan? On this episode of The Walking Dead, Hilltop deals with safety issues, while Judith imparts some wise wisdom on Michonne.

Gilbert Speaks on “The Walking Dead” S09 E13

In this episode of The Walking Dead, Daryl fights Beta while Ezekiel receives a threat from a new enemy. Who are the Highwaymen?

Gilbert Speaks on “The Walking Dead” S09 E12

On this week’s episode of “The Walking Dead” Lydia is back with Mother Dearest, who is suspicious of her daughter’s loyalty. Michonne must make a decision about sending a delegation to the Kingdom. Will her conversations with Negan help with this decision? Will Eugene’s chart help Gabe and Rosita’s baby dilemma?

Gilbert Speaks on “The Walking Dead” S09 E10

The dead are not dead, at least when it comes to dealing with the Whisperers. In this week’s episode of The Walking Dead, Tara and a Hilltop search party set out on a daring mission to find Jake and Alden. Let’s hope the guys haven’t met the same fate as their horses.