Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead Series Finale s11 e24

Well…I loved the walker themed commercials that ran throughout The Walking Dead series finale…but I truly feel that this finale should have been a whole two hours because it left me feeling like I got stood up on a blind date. Let’s chat!

Rest in Peace

In the finale episode, it seems that Pamela Milton (Laila Robins) was a nastier Governor than the original Governor. Her actions almost cost Judith (Cailey Fleming) her life. Daryl (Norman Reedus) faced down the horde of climber walkers to get our little Ass Kicker to the hospital inside the Commonwealth, but he was injured in the process. I have to say that Judith is truly a Grimes because she climbed off the stretcher and kept those walkers from making her and Daryl an afternoon snack.

Rosita (Christian Serratos), Eugene (Josh McDermitt), and Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) managed to save Coco and a few other infants from the walkers, but then found themselves surrounded with a drainpipe as the only escape available.  Rosita falls with her daughter in her arms…I want to tell you this one truth, nothing, and I mean nothing, will stop a mother bear from protecting her cub. Rosita, who was covered in walkers, jumped up fighting. She did manage to get her and the baby to safety…but she was bitten. Very sad, as was the death of Luke (Dan Fogler) and Jules (Alex Sgambati). At least Rosita had time to say goodbye to everyone, and she got to die in her bed.

Daryl saves Judith’s life by giving her his blood until Tomi (Ian Anthony Dale) could do surgery on her. Mercer (Michael James Shaw) is rescued by Princess (Paola Lazaro) and Max (Margot Bingham), and the big surprise of the night…Maggie and Negan made their peace. Maggie didn’t hold back as she told Negan what he stole from her and her son. There will be days when Maggie will find it hard to look at Negan, but there is a truce of sorts. Negan understood and his apology was heartfelt enough for Maggie (Lauren Cohan) to allow Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to help her take down Pamela.

Conclusion

Our group survives because that is what they do. They are the ones who live…right? Judith also admits to Daryl that she did not tell him that Michonne was looking for Rick and that the whole family was supposed to be reunited, because she didn’t want to lose him too. The love between Daryl and Judith made me cry. He is really a father figure to that little girl.

There is a one-year-jump at the Commonwealth where we find that Ezekiel (Khary Payton) is the new governor, and Mercer is the lieutenant governor. Eugene and Max have a baby. In Alexandria we seen that Ninja Carol (Melissa McBride) has taken over Hornsby’s job. Maggie is hinting that she wants to see what’s out there beyond their communities. Carol and Daryl say a tearful goodbye. Carol is also in charge of keeping Judith and RJ (Antony Azor) safe until Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) are found.

Before we go into the surprise ending, I need to rant about Carol and Daryl. It was nice to see that there are true feelings of love between these two warriors, but I am not the only one who wanted to see at least one passionate kiss between Daryl and Carol. I was hoping, like the rest of the entire universe) that Carol and Daryl would have rode off together…but Melissa McBride was not able to do the Europe thing where Norman Reedus will be working in the spinoff. NOT HAPPY!

I know there are spinoffs coming, but this series and the people who worked on this show for the last eleven years are family to me. I worry about them. Will they find other acting jobs now that the series is done? Will we see guest appearances as Daryl, Maggie, Negan, Rick and Michonne do their thing on the spinoffs? I don’t know.

Speaking of spinoffs, just when we thought that the series would end without us seeing Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne…we learn that Rick is being tracked by a CRM helicopter. He throws his backpack that includes his diary and phone onto an abandoned boat before capture. Michonne dressed in the best kick ass Ninja outfit and riding a horse has apparently found said diary and is now writing messages to Rick as she continues to search for him

I don’t know about you, my little walker snacks, but I don’t handle loss very well, and even though there will be new shows…it is not the same. I will still continue to write my posts on the spinoffs depending on which one I finally decide to choose as my favorite. I will not say goodbye to The Walking Dead. They are family, and I will drop in and visit, and…I will share my thoughts on the spinoffs with you my dear followers. WE ARE THE ONES WHO LIVE! Love you all.

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Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E22

My apologies for not posting a review last week. I was fighting a sinus infection…and I figured that this week’s episode would mirror what happened in E21. On tonight’s episode of The Walking Dead, we deal with Eugene’s kangaroo court, Team Ezekiel surviving a cruel warden, Team Aaron joining a walker horde, and Maggie desperately searching for her son. This post is packed with spoilers so don’t read until you’ve watched the episode.

Faith

I love how each episode in this final season starts with Judith’s memories. There are two storylines within this episode, and both have to do with good people taking a stand against tyranny. While at the labor camp, Negan tries to get Ezekiel to join forces against the evil warden (Michael Weaver). Ezekiel has too many bad memories when it comes to Negan, but in the end, Ezekiel agrees to work with Negan.

Back at the Commonwealth, the trial has begun, and if Yumiko expected a fair trial, she realizes soon enough that Pamela holds all the cards. Pamela’s tears over her son may be real, but she is definitely playing to the audience packed inside the court room. When Yumiko mentions the recording of Sebastian talking about the Lottery, Pamela claims it was fake. Yumiko pleads with Mercer to help Eugene and is surprised that Mercer already knows about the missing people. Mercer won’t budge in his duties, but Pamela doesn’t trust him and has one of the guards spy on Mercer.

While the trial is going on, Team Aaron (Lydia, Jerry, and Elijah) bump into Luke and Jules who break the bad news that Oceanside has been taken over by the Commonwealth. They decide to head towards Alexandria…but then notice that troopers are leading a huge horde towards the Commonwealth. Why would the troopers do this? Lydia comes up with the idea of blending in with the walkers via Whisperer style.

Princess recognizes another prisoner at the labor camp. Tyler Davis was the boy who tried to warn people about the labor camps. He is too afraid to help. Negan gets into a fight with the guards after he spots his pregnant wife doing heavy lifting. In the shuffle, he loses the escape plans. The Warden wants Negan to reveal the ringleader in exchange for Annie’s safety. Will Negan betray his friends to protect Annie?

Team Maggie have found a way into Alexandria to save their friends and to find the missing children. Maggie and Carol are both strong women, but when it comes to their kids…they are the proverbial grizzly bear mammas. It was really good to see these two Ninja warriors comfort each other. While Team Maggie work their way through the sewers, Negan is brought before the Warden again. While there, Negan notices that the Warden is a bastard even with his own men. Soldier 197 has a sick brother, and 197 requested a transfer to be close to his dying brother, but the Warden refuses….hmmm…I see a mutiny coming.

Conclusion and Spoilers galore

There are only a few episodes left, and believe it or not, I am not ready to say goodbye. Eugene, against Yumiko’s advice, gives a brilliant speech. He should have died long ago, he insists, but for the love and loyalty of good people. Although the judge is definitely owned by Pamela, the citizens of the Commonwealth are not and they don’t want Eugene to die. This might be why Pamela has ordered her men to bring in the horde. If the citizens get too angry, she can call for a lockdown claiming she is protecting them.

The ending of this episode had me jumping all over the place. Negan, to protect Team Ezekiel and Annie, tells the Warden that he is solely responsible for planning the escape. Negan knows that this is a death sentence, but he wants to protect Annie. Living up to TWD script for bad guys, the Warden decides to give the order for both Annie and Negan to be killed by a firing squad. Ezekiel, realizing that Negan protected him and the others, stands in front of Negan and Annie. One by one, all the other Alexandrian citizens join Ezekiel, but this only angers the Warden who orders them all shot.

Remember that soldier, 197, well this trooper is sick and tired of the Warden and the Commonwealth cruelty. He is not shooting a pregnant woman, but he does pull his gun on the Warden. The Warden, being the slime bucket that he is, grabs Kelly. Daryl saves the day when Daryl knocks out the Warden.

Team Maggie finds little Hershel, but unfortunately for Rosita, her baby is nowhere to be found. Desperate to find her infant she questions the Warden who laughs in her face…that is until Rosita shoves the walker into the Warden’s face. I guess it was too late for the Warden to understand that you never, ever mess with frantic mothers.

As for Team Aaron, there is a new walker on the scene, and it will be curious to learn if the new and improved walker, now referred to as Climbers, will know how to use Lydia’s knife.

This episode ended on a high note as Eugene is being escorted back to prison, Mercer is there with a message, “It’s time to fuck shit up!”

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S 11 E19

What in the knob turning, wall climbing walker shit did I just witness? Holy hell in a handbasket! Just when you think Team Daryl will escape the wrath of Pamela…the walkers up the game on The Walking Dead final season.

Variant

All things evolve…except for humans. We are doomed. That said, this week’s episode of TWD has Aaron (Ross Marquand), Jerry (Cooper Andrews), Lydia (Cassady McClincy) and Elijah (Okea Eme_Akwari) at a former site of a Renaissance Fair as they make their way to Oceanside. They have made a discovery that is frightening as hell. Walkers are evolving and fighting back. At first Aaron thought he was fighting a member of the Whisperers, but nope. It was a full fledge walker. If this apocalypse was caused by a virus (either manmade or alien) then this virus has the ability to mutate to survive. There are no vaccines for this nightmare.

Back at the Commonwealth, Pamela (Laila Robins) is looking to punish everyone connected to Sebastian’s death. She has arrested Max (Margot Bingham), but really wants Eugene (Josh McDermitt). Poor Mercer (Michael James Shaw) has a dilemma. His sister Max will not back down, and Princess is leaving him. Mercer is a good man in a bad situation. He wants to protect the Commonwealth, but he also knows that the rot from within must be destroyed. We got to learn about Princess’s abusive childhood, but this gal is not playing victim.

Pamela

The big question is this: Did Pamela and Lance have a thing going on? This episode hints at some hanky panky going on but Pamela is not playing nice now. Lance must now save himself from Walker Sebastian after Pamela dumps both Sebastian and a very dead Calhoun into Lance’s cell. Was Pamela involved in the dirty deeds of Lance and Sebastian? We do know that she has big shoes to fill with keeping up her father’s legacy…but legacies can create monsters.

Not everyone wants to leave the Commonwealth. Ezekiel (Khary Payton) wants to stay and change the Commonwealth for the better. Ezekiel is a true Pollyanna. Always seeing that silver lining around the darkest cloud.

Conclusion

Team Daryl is in big trouble. Eugene decides to save Max by turning himself in to the authorities. I loved the scene where Eugene wanted to duke it out with Daryl.  I also loved the fatherly advice that Aaron gave Lydia. Not only do we have the walker situation, but Rosita (Christian Serratos) has been kidnapped…along with the rest of the team. Who is behind this? It might not be Pamela.

I was surprised to hear Aaron say that the walkers return to a place that they remember, and that he had heard of walkers climbing walls and opening doors. This should be interesting if the walkers become smarter than the surviving humans. We shall see.

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.

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 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 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 E02

The war between Maggie and Negan! Who will be the last one standing? I have my economy size bottle of Tums ready for tonight’s episode of The Walking Dead.

Acheron Part 2

Acheron is separated into three separate stories in this episode. Maggie, abandoned by an angry Negan, is outnumbered by railroad walkers, while her comrades search a train. Negan lies when they ask, “Where’s Maggie?” Why the others didn’t go looking for her, I don’t know, but they sure don’t have the loyalty that Daryl has for Dog. Apparently, Daryl and Dog have found an underground tunnel with lots of telling graffiti. Daryl finds a ton of money with messages written on the bills. Dog finds a hobo walker before taking off, with Daryl hot on his trail.

The Commonwealth

Back at the Commonwealth, Eugene is worried about Ezekiel. He is missing. Yumiko is worried about her brother and wants to speak to the manager. The manager is surprised how much Yumiko knows about the Commonwealth just from observation. Yumiko was a lawyer, and she knows what questions to ask her interrogators. It worked. They offered her a cup of coffee. Princess asks to use the bathroom and is thrilled to learn that they have toilet paper. When Princess and Yumiko don’t return, Eugene begins to panic.

Negan

While Maggie’s team moves through the train, they hear morse code. It’s an SOS. Maggie is alive, and she is really pissed off. Maggie has to decide if Negan lives or dies, but they are interrupted by Gage who is trapped outside of the train. Maggie leaves the kid to die. Gage commits suicide rather than become a walker snack. I know we’re supposed to believe that Maggie is a great leader, but I haven’t been impressed with her leadership skills, yet. Maggie does tell us a story of when she and Hershel found an old man. It turns out this man was a serial killer before the apocalypse. There are much worse things than walkers out in the world, and Maggie admits to the others that she lost some of her humanity when she discovered what the man had in his house.

Conclusion and Spoilers

After walker Gage (Jackson Pace) and his band of railway walkers break into the car, Maggie and the others are outnumbered until Daryl comes to the rescue in his famous kick ass fashion. Love the hand grenade!

Poor Eugene is all alone, and he is a mess. He doesn’t know where his friends are. They could be dead. He faces the interrogators again and is told that they are being processed. Eugene talks about his radio chats with Stephanie. Josh McDermitt did an amazing job tonight with his character, Eugene. I think this is the first time we have ever witnessed Eugene under the bright and unblinking light of a true confession. Eugene admits to his captors what a loser he is, and that he doesn’t want to lose his friends

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Look, no one is ever going to forget how Glenn died. That said, I think Negan has proven to us that there is a good side to him. He is trying to do the right thing and I still say it is all because of Judith. Maggie is a survivor, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a good leader. When civilization circles the drain, it will take team work to survive, and that means trusting your enemy. Will Maggie ever trust Negan? Let’s wait and see…but for now…Team Eugene has been welcomed into the Commonwealth as citizens with Eugene meeting Stephanie for the first time. I like this guy Mercer (Michael James Shaw). Let’s home he doesn’t turn out to be a dick.

Team Maggie doesn’t fare too well. They head over to a supply depot and run into the Reapers.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S10E20

 

In case you are wondering if you missed my recap of E19 of The Walking Dead, One More…you did not. I just didn’t like the episode enough to write about it. I did not like last night’s episode either, and I am wondering if TWD universe is just throwing episodes out there until they premier the eleventh and final season. Let’s hope that I am wrong.

Splinter

This week, we get to concentrate on one of my favorite characters, Princess (Paola Lazaro). Princess, Ezekiel, Eugene, and Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) have been captured by the apocalyptic stormtroopers and are now separated and locked inside train boxcars.

What we do learn in this episode is that Princess hates small, dark places. She was abused as a child and has many a battle scar from her childhood. She has also grown close to her new friends even though she just met Team Ezekiel. She was hit pretty hard during the scuffle with the stormtroopers and may be suffering from a concussion because the rest of the episode has her talking to Yumiko through a crack in the boxcar. Princess is able to rip off a piece of rotted wood, but it earns her a splinter which we learn has something to do with the maltreatment and neglect she suffered as a child.

Stormtroopers

We are given no hint on who these Stormtroopers are, or what they want from Team Ezekiel. When they drag Princess out of her boxcar, the questions they ask make her suspicious. She only wants to know if Yumiko is okay, and if they are taking care of her injuries. She also pleads for them to take the splinter from her finger, but if we thought that they were decent people, that brutal slap to Princess shows us differently.

Princess

Paola Lazaro really made this episode worth watching. Her Princess was both brave and frightened. Princess had survived severe childhood abuse and neglect, but she had learned to deal with the abuse and fear by using tools such as repeating the names all the states to keep calm.

All through the episode, Princess displays her survivor abilities when she sneaks in and out of her boxcar via a broken plank to chat with Eugene (Josh McDermitt), who was locked up in the next boxcar. Princess may have been afraid of the Stormtroopers, and she may have wanted to run away…but she was loyal to her new friends. Princess refused to leave her friends, even when Ezekiel climbed down into her boxcar… not even when Ezekiel knocks out the Stormtrooper who delivered her lunch.

Conclusion and Spoiler

Nothing is as it seems. Princess is suffering from a mental breakdown, and the Stormtrooper that brought lunch was attacked by Princess. Ezekiel (Khary Payton) was a figment of her fear and imagination as was the broken plank. Our little Princess was hallucinating her conversation with Eugene, and Ezekiel.

***Embargoed for Dalton*** Paola Lázaro as Juanita ‘Princess’ Sanchez, Soldier Cameron Scott Roberts – The Walking Dead _ Season 10, Episode 20 – Photo Credit: Josh Stringer/AMC

Who are these people who hold Princess and the others captive? Why the ridiculous outfits? Are they connected to the woman that spoke to Eugene? I don’t know, but Princess does get to see her friends alive before a cloth bag is pulled over her head. I definitely liked this episode better than last week’s.

Gilbert Speaks on “The Walking Dead” S10 E06

Negan and the Whisperers! What could possibly go wrong with this situation? I still trust Negan to do the right thing, but in this episode of The Walking Dead, Carol and Daryl go on a mission and Siddig plays Sherlock Holmes.