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 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.

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 S11 E20

On this week’s episode of The Walking Dead…we see the true nature of Pamila, while also seeing the power of friendship.

What’s Been Lost

On this 20^th episode of the series finale…we know for sure two things: our beloved Ninja warrior, Carol (Melissa McBride) is at her best while under attack…and that Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) has a decision to make: save Eugene or save the people that have been kidnapped per orders from Pamela (Laila Robins).

Pamela has shown her cards in this episode. Not only does she intend to keep Walker Sebastian with her (does she intend to feed other residents to Sebastian?), but she has given the order to capture all of Team Daryl’s people. Rosita, Ezekiel, the children…everyone! Luckily for us, Carol and Daryl avoid the capture, but now need help to find their people. Who can help them?

Connie (Lauren Ridloff) tries to persuade Yumiko to do the right thing, even Eugene (Josh McDermott) is resigned to his fate, but Yumiko knows that her people will die if she doesn’t follow Pamela’s speech for the press conference. Yumiko is supposed to announce that she will be prosecuting Eugene and Max.

Carol

After faithfully watching all eleven seasons of TWD, I have come to love Melissa McBride’s Carol the most. The evolution arc of this character is amazing. Carol went from abused spouse to a freaking Terminator, and I am loving every second of it. Although we learn later that even Negan and Ezekiel were overcome by the kidnappers…Carol was able to fight the Pamela’s assassins off and escape…later…she convinces Daryl to get help from Lance (Josh Hamilton).

Now, I always tell people that leopards don’t change their spots…and never trust a snake, but when Carol and Daryl go to rescue Lance, he is a pitiful sight to see. He is covered in his friend’s blood and Walker Sebastian is eyeing Lance as a tasty snack.  After they are separated from Daryl, Lance leads Carol into an abandoned tunnel where they are surrounded by walkers. He purposely led Carol into a trap, but our Ninja plays it cool. Daryl comes to the rescue as Lance and Carol are ready to be shot by stormtroopers.

Yumiko

I love when secondary characters are allowed to show their stuff, and in this episode, Yumiko comes through on the letter of the law. Yumiko follows one of Pamela’s henchmen to see if he can lead her to her captured friends, but she almost gets caught.

Conclusion

Pamela is desperate to keep the illusion that the Commonwealth is doing okay. She is planning a kangaroo court to execute Eugene, thus satisfying her revenge for the loss of Sebastian, and also to let the people think that justice is blind…but thank goodness for Yumiko. She not only reminds the people at the press conference that her brother is a wonderful surgeon, but then she breaks the news that she will be defending Eugene. Oh, Oh! If looks could kill. Pamela is pissed.

Let’s get back to the coin flipping Lance. He surprises Carol and Daryl with the news that the Commonwealth has a train. The hope was to use that train to travel between communities…or more likely to capture more people. Lance thinking that he and Carol or best of buddies, is surprised when he gets the news that he isn’t wanted anymore. With a sad puppy dog face, Lance walks away and we think that maybe he will turn his life around like Negan did and play nice….but hell no! Like a true rattlesnake, he tries to kill Carol and Daryl, but he forgot who he was dealing with. Ninja Warrior 1…Lance 0

The series ended on a sad note when we see our friends drugged and bound and on a bus heading to someplace very bad. Let’s hope that Carol and Daryl will save the day. At least Team Aaron is still safe…

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 E18

When people in authority tell you that everything is going to be okay…start packing your bags! On this week’s episode of The Walking Dead we realize that Max has had enough of Pamela and her sociopathic son, Sebastian. Will her actions cause a dangerous dilemma for Team Daryl?

A New Deal

In this episode, Carol (Melissa McBride) backs the wrong horse, and Daryl (Norman Reedus) realizes that it is much easier fighting walkers than raising a daughter. Judith (Cailey Fleming) is not happy. She misses Rick and Michonne and right now she doesn’t want to leave the Commonwealth. Can you blame this little girl? Her entire childhood has been surrounded by death. Now she is living in the Commonwealth where even though the idea of a safe community is mostly a fantasy, for our little Shit Kicker…it is the closest thing to normal.

Judith isn’t the only person unwilling to leave. Ezekiel Khary Payton) has a dream of building up another kingdom, and believe me, if Ezekiel oversaw the Commonwealth…this dream of a perfect democracy would ring true. Even Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is hesitant to leave the Commonwealth when he realizes that Annie (Medina Senghore) needs medical care for a problem with her amniotic fluid. Annie wants to go home. Lydia is in love with Elijah and gets approval from Carol before joining Aaron and Jerry on their trek to Oceanside.

Carol’s plan to rescue Sebastian (Teo Rapp-Olsson) as a leverage for supplies, food, and weapons for Alexandria, Hilltop and Oceanside, was sidetracked when Max decides that Sebastian is getting off easy.

While Lance rots in jail, he has his two assassins killing people and releasing a horde of walkers onto the Commonwealth’s festivities. I truly believe that Mercer should have allowed Daryl to kill Lance because this man is more dangerous than the Governor.

Max

I love the character of Max, played fabulously by Margot Bingham.  Max has seen too much corruption working for Pamela (Laila Robins), and she and Eugene have decided to pull a genuine “Independence Day” bombshell by using Sebastian as the fuse. Sebastian bristles at the speech Pamela has prepared for him, and when he tells Max his true feelings about the Commonwealth, he is unaware that she is taping him. I don’t know about you, but for me, I think Sebastian was trying to tell his true feelings at the festivities, but the crowd didn’t want to hear him after hearing that tape.

Conclusion

Never trust a person in authority who tells you that everything is okay. Did Carol really believe that Pamela would allow the other settlements to live in peace? Not while Lance is still alive. And…after what happened to Sebastian, all deals are off. The walkers can always be counted on to clean their plate. Too bad, Sebastian was the main course. This death will definitely unite Lance and Pamela against Team Daryl.

Judith, who at first, wanted nothing to do with Rick’s gun…soon changes her mind when the horde comes. Judith is a product of the apocalypse, and she will survive because she knows no other life. I don’t see smooth roads ahead for Team Daryl, there is nothing more dangerous than a mother who lost her child.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E17

I am a week late with my review…so sorry my little zombie snacks. I was busy playing with the great grands. But I am finally catching up and let’s just say that The Walking Dead is tying up loose ends with a big bang.

Lockdown

I’ve been reviewing The Walking Dead series for eleven seasons…that is a long time. The cast is considered family and, as such, I am dreading that last episode. Yes, I know there will be shoot offs from the original, but it is not the same.

I don’t have AMC+ so I am limited to watching the episodes as they come out every Sunday, but that said…let’s talk about Lockdown. Lance Hornsby (Josh Hamilton) has proven himself a worthy opponent. He is ruthless, and he is getting the job done even with the combined efforts of Maggie, Daryl, and Negan.

Pamela Milton (Laila Robins) runs a tight ship but that newspaper article about the missing people and Milton’s son has riled up the normally obedient townsfolk. Pamela is forced to put the town on lockdown…she is not playing around, either because she opens the gates to allow a few walkers to help with her stormtroopers attempts to disperse the crowd of protesters.

While trying to hide the children, Jerry and Carol dodge Shira and Roman. Mercer (Michael James Shaw) and Rosita (Christian Serratos) ride out with a few troopers to detour the herd of walkers coming their way…It is unsuccessful to say the least as the walkers practically rip troopers into tiny pieces. I have a question. These walkers shouldn’t be strong enough to rip a human apart. Am I correct on this?

Team Daryl send Negan to the Commonwealth as a Trojan Horse. I freaking love Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and I love Carol’s (Melissa McBride) expression when he tells her that he will soon be a daddy.

Conclusion

Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) bring the fight to Hornsby, but we are left with a standoff at best with all guns drawn and Daryl holding a knife to Hornsby’s throat.

We have been put through the wringer with every nasty, evil, antagonist in the past eleven seasons, but I have to admit…Hornsby is right up there with the Governor…and he is a worthy adversary. Negan once held that title, but a little girl named Judith (Cailey Fleming) turned Negan into a hero.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E16

Why do I feel that TWD universe is on a parallel path as the war between Ukraine and Putin? It sure feels that way in this week’s episode of The Walking Dead.

Acts of God

The season finale did not disappoint. I knew where this was headed. Maggie saw the demon in Lance Hornsby, and she didn’t bite the damn apple. Maggie knowing that Lance would return with the sole purpose of destroying Hilltop, Maggie, Elijah, and Marco take Hershel to a safe place. Negan and his tribe are hiding in an abandoned Whisperer hole in the ground.

Negan and Maggie have finally come to terms. There is a guarded respect between these two enemies. Maggie has trusted her child to Negan, and we all know that Negan is very protective of children. Maggie and her group along with Lydia plan to track down Lance….what she doesn’t know is that Lance has an extra ace up his sleeve.

While Maggie sets on her journey, Daryl, Aaron and Gabe are pretending to help the Commonwealth troopers search for apartment dwellers but they know it’s a trap. Lance wants them dead.

Back at the Commonwealth, the revolution is growing, and Max must risk her life to get information from Pamela’s files. Connie has a newspaper to put out, and they must find out what has happened to missing citizens.

Conclusion

Maggie lost another good friend, Marco, after Leah made her appearance on the scene. Was Leah’s hate so strong that she would trust Lance to allow her to live if she succeeded in killing Maggie?  Leah does capture Maggie with the intent of torturing her, killing her, then killing everyone Maggie loved…but at the last moment, after a well fought battle, it was left to Daryl to put an end to Leah.

Poor Daryl didn’t have much time to grieve for his ex-lover because Lance and his men had arrived at the scene. Daryl does get a good wounding shot in at Lance before he and Maggie escape and return to Negan’s hideout…but things will never be the same.

Lance is a corrupt, little man. He wants to conquer everyone who stands in his way. I almost thought that his boss, Pamela was different, but when it comes to greed or using extra money towards a scholarship for the poorer children at the Commonwealth…Pamela’s greed won out.

Lance had conquered Oceanside, Hilltop, and Alexandria. Maggie’s explosion at Hilltop did not kill the invader. It just made him angrier. The Commonwealth banners now drape the walls of the three compounds. The lives of the citizens of Oceanside all hinge on the flip of a coin.

Like I said in the beginning, The Walking Dead final season has been mirroring what is happening in real life between Ukraine and Putin. Lance wants to conquer and control his world, while Putin intends on taking over all of Europe and then some. I have a bad feeling that Lance won’t hesitate to commit genocide with that flip of a coin…and we have all witnessed the atrocities committed by Putin on the Ukrainian people. When a world leader resorts to the rape and assassination of infants…it’s time for that person to be put down. PERIOD!

Fortunately, in TWD universe, Eugene, Max, Connie, Kelly, Magna and Ezekiel are planning on taking down Pamela and Lance with their first headline. Let’s pray that NATO grows a pair of balls as big as Maggie’s and hits Putin with everything necessary to save Ukraine.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E15

I think I am reaching a point in my many years of watching and reviewing The Walking Dead, that I am totally exhausted and just want to see my favorite cast members make it out alive. I want to see Daryl and Carol together. I want to see Negan forgiven. I want to find out what happened to Rick and Michonne. In this week’s episode, Lance wants to hunt down the people who killed his troopers and stole his supplies…and this leads to him knocking on Maggie’s door.

Trust

Before I go into my review of S11 E15, I want to talk about Ukraine. Putin is the monster, the invader, the zombie that craves flesh and power. This week, Putin committed the worst crime a person can commit in a war: genocide of men, women, and children. The world morns for the people of Bucha, Ukraine.

While Ezekiel (Khary Payton) tries to lift the darkness away by organizing a secret hospital for the Commonwealth citizens who don’t make enough money to rate medical care, Daryl, Aaron and Gabriel try to bullshit their way through Lance’s questions on how they survived at Riverbend. Tricky Dick Lance is suspicious, and rightfully so. He knew how efficient Carlson was, but he begrudgingly accepts the story given by Team Daryl.

Josh Hamilton is an amazing actor, but he plays a despicable character, and he plays this character so well…that he sends chills down your spine whenever he smiles. Lance wants to go to Hilltop to see if the bad guys went there…so off they march to talk to Maggie.

Mercer (Michael James Shaw) is having his own melt down over the last atrocity that Sebastian got involved in. Mercer was forced to kill two of his own men. He wants to share his secret with Princess (Paola Lazaro) but he has to trust her first. A visit from his sister, Max (Margot Bingham) further stresses out Mercer. His sister wants him to do the right thing for the citizens of the Commonwealth. He needs to rat out Sebastian.

Maggie

Maggie was right about Lance and about the Commonwealth…she wants nothing to do with them even though Hilltop is suffering. When Lance and his Star War troopers show up at the gate. Maggie trusts Daryll and that is the only reason that she opens the gates.

Conclusion with Spoilers

Ezekiel, with support from Carol, convinces Tomi (Ian Anthony Dale) to do an appendectomy on a poor patient. Things get really hairy with Carol jumping in to be a scrub nurse, and Ezekiel taking the place of anesthesiologist by pumping oxygen into the patient. Things have to change, Tomi knows this, but his hands are tied because the poor can’t get proper medical treatment…just like America. You know I’m right. Ezekiel trusted Tomi to do the right thing, and Tomi did not disappoint. There is a special love between Ezekiel and Carol, although she jokingly reminds him that they are not getting together again. They still love each other, just in a different way.

Mercer finally breaks down and puts his trust in Princess. I love that Mercer and Princess are together. If anyone can help Mercer heal, Princess can…and if anyone can help Mercer deal with Sebastian…Princess can. Mercer’s sister Max is also placing her trust in a worthy person. Eugene will not let her down.

Lance made the mistake of questioning Herschel (Kien Michael Spiller). This boy has been born and raised during the apocalypse. He doesn’t fear Lance, and he doesn’t answer his questions…but Lance has his dad’s cap. Luckily Elijah (Okea Eme-Akwari) steps in, and this leads to a nasty situation with everybody pointing weapons at each other. Daryl drops the F word, and Lance knowing that he might lose…stands down.

The good news: Lance leaves without finding the biggest treasure at Hilltop…Negan and his team.

The bad news: Lance finds Leah and he wants her to work for him….

Like I said in the beginning…I am exhausted from the many years of war and losing beloved characters, but this is nothing compared to what is happening in the real world. Bucha is a real place with real people. They might not be fighting zombies, but they are fighting monsters…monsters much worse that any character from TWD.

Gilbert Speaks on The Walking Dead S11 E14

Oops I didn’t get to write my review for E13 because my 14-year-old Chihuahua needed extensive dental surgery…but after watching the Warlords…all I can say is Maggie was right. This week on The Walking Dead, Maggie, Lydia and Elijah help Aaron and Gabe while Daryl and Rosita are sent to rob a bank.

The Rotten Core

How cool is it that Negan saved Aaron and Gabe, right? Negan’s team are not the ones attacking the Commonwealth troopers…so who is? Negan has a new wife, Annie (Medina Senghore). I don’t know about you, but Negan is my new favorite TWD character. Maggie and Annie team up while Negan remains behind to protect his little community.

Toby (Jason Butler Harner) is a crazy bastard who although wasn’t looking forward to putting on his former CIA persona, has none the less, gone back to his dirty deeds with a hunger. After throwing a few people off the roof, he walkies Hornsby for an update.

While Team Maggie and Team Negan fight Toby, Rosita and Daryl are sent on assignment with Sebastian. He wants them to raid a farmhouse that has lots of cash and guns. Sebastian needs the cash, so he sends in Daryl and Rosita, but first they need to walk through a swarm of walkers. Sebastian did the wrong thing threatening Daryl and Rosita about their kids. I think Daryl should have used the knife, but he didn’t…no telling what Sebastian will do next. Daryl and Rosita make it through the swarm thanks to the zombie guts, but when they get inside, they are unable to get into the Panic Room because the generator is down. They learn that there is a woman locked inside.

April, who has two children, was forced to go on an earlier raid because she owed the Commonwealth money. In the process of getting the money for Sebastian, April got trapped in the Panic Room. There are some real scary scenes with Daryl and the generator walkers. The security alarm draws the walkers and there is no escape.

Conclusion with Spoilers

Okay, lets talk about the most important parts of tonight’s episode: the conversation between Annie and Maggie about Negan, and Negan babysitting little Hershel, and who was responsible for the dead troopers! Oh my God!

Negan is not only married, but Annie is expecting a baby. After Negan rescues Hershel from Toby’s men, Annie has to convince Maggie that Negan is not only a changed man, but that he will protect Hershel. Now it did get hairy there for a moment when Hershel pulled a gun on Negan, but Negan was able to convince him to wait until he is grown before taking care of unfinished business. I am hoping that day never comes around.

Toby is convinced that Team Negan was responsible for the ambushed troopers, so he goes postal of the Ian’s people. Working as a team, Maggie, Elijah, Aaron and Gabe make sure that Toby never bothers another person.

Mayor Miller is clueless to what Hornsby and her son, Sebastian, are doing to the poor residents of the Commonwealth. Daryl, April, and Rosita are rescued by Mercer and Carol, but April does not make it back to her children. Mercer is pissed about the people that Sebastian sacrificed for that damn money…angry enough to kill the troopers who accompanied Daryl and Rosita. Mercer has a plan and tells Daryl and Rosita not to fight the system…not yet.

The most unexpected part of tonight’s episode is the identity of the ambusher. It seems that Leah (Lynn Collins) has been a very busy bee.

Two more episodes to go before another mid-season break. How many of you are waiting for Carol to bake some cookies for Hornsby? She is playing that fool, and he took the bait, but we know our Carol.