Yep caught up and then watched both 13 & 14 at the same time on Saturday night just gone. Think the penultimate episode should be available or up shortly - possibly tonight.
So firstly E13: What We Become.
Where what has been said is a Michonne stand alone. Still a great episode and credit to Danai Gurira for a pretty good performance, revisiting old haunts and a familiar face. I really enjoyed how they showed the perspective of how things may have turned out, had she turned her back on Andrea. It also gives us a greater perspective of how we see 'our' Survivors against the backdrop of numerous 'enemies'. We have for so long, backed our people; Rick, Carol et al. Whilst they portray one side of the coin to us, it's easier to view other groups point of view in this world - even those with slightly different angles and approach.
This also led me to think about how they filmed this episode. I wonder if they did get actors back for it, use previously unseen alternative footage or maybe they did that thing like they do with dead actors and can magically make them appear. Think it's called time sequencing, it may just be CGI but I thought it had a different name. Anyway, they take all known imaging/film and map it then "regenerate" a character and can even make them follow a script. I think I'll stick with unseen alternative footage that they then stitched together but it could easily be a combination. Would be fantastic foresight by the writers if they had filmed a "double life" for Michonne. Anyway I'll leave that to my little mind to ponder upon for hours upon end.
Back to the episode, which of course was mostly centred around Michonne tripping (anyone not up to speed will think "wtf have they done with TWD") and yes it felt very un-TWD and more like somewhere between LOST and The Beach. Yet it did all make sense in the end and paved the way for a Michonne movie, likewise with a Rick movie (which we all know they are working on. I have great hopes that they can become fantastic addons but stand out in their own right.). We now have a scenario of questions that might be answered; will she find Rick...if he was on that boat, why when he left in a helicopter...is it a plant from someone more sinister trying to lure Michonne to them...but what would their motive really be to do so...in the grand scheme of things our survivors are just a group of people who happened to survive but they are not important figures in terms of the USA or the World.
Definitely things to ponder there. So Virgil, living on an ex-naval island. I wonder if that was a slight nod in some ways to Thunderbirds or maybe Dante's inferno? Since what he puts Michonne through is likely as close a visualisation to hell one might imagine...unless tripping while already in an incredibly fragile state of mind is your bag then fill your boots. But maybe in a way he also showed Michonne that she chose the "right" path and by showing her the "what could've been" maybe it's some form of redemption. Which may mean she will find Rick at some point.
The Island consequently, I found out, is called Bloodsworth Island...hmmm desperate times and all that but if a random guy popped up and I was asked to follow them back, I don't think 'Bloodsworth' would have me dancing all the way there like Dick Van Dyke.
There's not much more to draw from the episode because it stuck very closely to that main plot and there were no other scenes; apart from Judith talking to Michonne towards the end. Like her or loathe her, poor girl was born with no Mother, her Father has disappeared presumed dead, she befriended a sociopath who tried to murder them all, is pretty much raising her brother single-handedly and now her adoptive Mother is off on an adventure to find her presumed dead Father. All at the age of about 10. Girl is mentally strong - lil' ass kicker is probably about right.
Oh one last thing, of course we get a hint of where Michonne is headed as she meets those two strangers who need saving. We get another throwback to her introduction as she once again dons two armless and mouthless walkers. Maybe the two people she meets are her replacements per se. She disposes of here new/old walkers and now has two living people. I don't know how that ties in but it looks like Michonne and friends are approaching some kind of army or infantry that are marching in formation to...somewhere.
Onto E14: Look At The Flowers.
This episode focuses back in the world we know and centers on the aftermath of Alpha's demise. At the hands of Negan and we open with Carol and himself. Carol pretty much double-backs Negan by not holding up her end of the bargain. Basically we get the reveal (which was kind of revealed at the end of E12) that Negan went incognito to do Carol's dirty work. Except Negan being Negan, he actually enjoyed himself while there a little too much. Potentially (but without going into too much side story) he forgot why he was really there because he was part of the Whisperers attack on Hilltop; so a bit of a flaw there but this is Negan and I'm gonna let that slide.
All in all he got the job done and then Carol (and Daryl) are both harsh about the length of time it took him to carry out Alpha's murder. Yet I'm with Negan here, yes he could easily kill her at any time but like he said "I wanted to come out of this with my head still intact!". Possible he didn't need to kidnap Lydia in this but if he was going to lure Alpha to exactly where he wanted her then this was guaranteed to get her there.
So Carol walks of telling Negan he's a "free man", which seemingly for the first time, leaves Negan pretty lost. He definitely needs a group - whether he is leader or not. As much as he likes to think he can go it alone. What is this?! Talking in sympathy for Negan?! Never thought I'd see the day!
Meanwhile at the safe haven where all the Kingdom/Hilltop lot are at we see Magna return with Yumiko (I can't warm to those too and it pisses me off because I think Luke (Fantastic Beasts guy) is a much better character, as well as Connie & Kelly compliment each other well but it seems like those three have been discarded somewhat), to Jerry's delight and then Eugene finally grows some balls to announce he's made contact with someone from outside their world.
It's a call out to bring together a team of people to join him on his comms mission, which culminates in three people who really have nothing else left in the world (romantically I'd say) and are all searching for something. Yumiko, is seeking some form of redemption, Ezekiel has lost Carol and has cancer but maybe he has thoughts that they may find somewhere with treatment? And of course Eugene who is leading his search/meeting with a wider community. All three have hope in some form and what comes next they probably don't expect.
We cut to Beta discovering Alpha's head on the stake as he struggles to come to terms that his leader is now gone. There's a theme in this that I didn't really consider while watching but it is of course leadership & guidance. Negan, Beta, Ezekiel etc. They all seem to be searching for that too. To be led.
There's a brief moment where Negan heads back to the hideout where he held Lydia but she is gone and Daryl appears about to kill him. Negan explains he has "Silenced the Alpha" and shows him her skin mask but Daryl isn't convinced - yet. But it does seem to be the start of some love/hate bromance. Similar to that he had with his brother Merle and also how his friendship with Rick started out. Albeit in different times. Negan says he can prove it Alpha is dead and he'll show Daryl her head. He also makes the assumption/mocks Daryl about his relationship with Carol. Classic Negan being a cunt.
Meanwhile Carol, having her alone time is haunted and mocked by Alpha's apparition and classic lines from past episodes are used by Alpha and has Carol spooked.
Back to Beta (no pun) and he now has Alpha's head in a bag. Seemingly unable to accept his "Alpha" is no more. Not sure where he heads to but it must be a place he either used to perform or jam because there are memories of his own past as he smashes up a guitar and rips a promo poster down. Doesn't look like we're going to get the country singer back any time soon. While there and a little calmer her takes Alpha out of the bag and has some kind of conversation with her. He blasts out what must be some of his old tunes and we get some kind of late night walker rave. I think that's homage to Night of the Living Dead as the scene was reminiscent of the cult horror classic. He later kind of thanks her, stabs her head and then sickeningly we discover he's stitched some of her face onto his previously torn skin mask. Disgustingly gruesome but awesome all the same. That stuff just feels normal now!
The trio of Eugene, Zeke & Yumi are somewhere on there adventure, though it's not certain where they are at first (I later remembered that in the comics it should be Pittsburgh but in the show, in the radio conversations Stefanie mentions Charleston, West Virginia so assume that's where they are headed or near to) they come across a bizarre set of walkers in a cage on the road? Some kind of old checkpoint maybe...I'm not sure but from there on in their journeys gets more weird but also intriguing. Even more so as they encounter more and more walkers chained and et up in everyday scenarios. It is a nice comedic touch that Ezekiel finds very amusing, and it's a moment of light relief in a world where everything has gone to shit. They're even in brightly coloured outfits for god's sake. On another note, it is nice to see them approaching a city and see that dynamic. I love the woods and countryside but there's only so many times you can have shots of skulking through the trees and foraging for water. So was refreshing to have desolate cityscapes and yes, the trio had reached Charleston.
Negan and Daryl still untrusting each other head to "Spike Hill" to find that Alpha's head has gone (we know Beta took it). Typical as this makes Negan look like he's telling porkies so Daryl understandably points his weapon at him. Ironically at that point a couple of Whisperers appear and point their weapons at Daryl. Negan is taking it all in his stride as the Whisperers confirm what Negan has been trying to say. In another moment of comedy, they kneel before Negan and anoint him as the new "Alpha". Incredible. Negan hysterical, Daryl in disbelief as they then tie him up. They seem to think Daryl is going to come to his fate but the continued smirk from Negan had me and I think Daryl too, believing he was toying with them. Why? Well for the audience that was easy to figure out. There's fuck all of a life with the Whisperers and Negan likes the finer things in life (yes even in this world), why would he sacrifice the doorstep of total retribution just to lose it all? As for Daryl I think he realises that Negan was telling the truth after all, even if the circumstances he's in are not ideal. It's the look from Daryl that says to the viewer "You're not gonna kill me after proving me wrong are you?" even if the actual line he delivers is "If I were you, I'd kill me" or to that effect. It's with that, he shoots the Whisperer to his side and then stabs the other one (I think). We then see the start of Daryl & Negan's 'friendship' as Daryl proclaims "Untie me then asshole". They then wait out to see if Carol turns up, for some reason but there is a mutual respect laid out between them.
Just before Eugene's gang get to the city we find that Ezekiel's horse has gone lame as well as been bitten. He puts the horse out of its misery but it mirrors his own thoughts. He's convinced otherwise and that he must continue with them.
We quickly head back to Carol of the Woods and she winds up in some shack, and still being haunted by Alpha. The roof of the shack caves in trapping Carol and Alpha's ghost taunts her, telling Carol to accept death so she can't hurt anyone anymore (kind of Carol's own struggle. She believes everyone she comes into contact with dies or gets into trouble). This is another mirror story but Carol isn't ready to die and chooses life, just as a walker is about to have a go at her ankle. She then heads back to Alexandria. Which we later see, with Daryl letting her back in through the gates.
There was a tiny bit with Beta, seemingly taking his new found status (I think he feels he is the Alpha now he has a part of her on his face) as leader and Whisperers (and mini horde) with him to his next plan of attack/vengeance.
It pretty much finishes up with Eugene and fellow intrepid explorers reaching the bizarre city of Charleston. As mentioned and like further back in the road, walkers are posed in everyday positions. Two enjoying high tea with purple feather boas. in part it reminded me of Westworld (the film) as at first, it felt to me like the chained up walkers were being controlled mechanically. Maybe they are? Just as they are getting used to these strange set ups, a new character pounces onto the scene, quite literally with the overly enthusiastic "OMG Hii!!". She is of course, adorned in very bright purple/cerise clothes.
So that was that, a double review (thank god that's over I hear you mutter, yeah me too). I know who the purple character is already, thanks to the comics but it annoyed me a little bit that official TWD & TTD socials revealed the name of the character almost immediately after airing. As if every viewer would know her name and character. That grates me a touch so I'm not going to say it until after the UK airing of E15 The Tower.
It looks like from the pre episode trailer that this new character will join up with Eugene & crew but for one, it definitely isn't the woman (Stephanie) that he's been talking to so that search continues and will be interesting how that arcs. Hopefully we see that get pretty close on E15. As for Beta again from all the trailers and promos he of course takes his mini horde to Alexandria, as he's seen a top the windmill (with a familiar face hiding behind) there. Which poses a big question, if Alexandria was safe where the fuck has everyone (inc Judith and kids, as well as Negan etc) headed to? I guess we'll find out once we've seen that episode.
As mentioned by Chubbs, this will be the last one until later in the year. Of course the circumstances have made it difficult but this make work in their favour. A bit like the GoT hiatus, this early pause may generate some suspense but I also fear that the S10:E16 (S10:SF) Finale will end up getting leaked earlier which would spoil it. But who knows, I'm not sure how much production has released of it so far but I'm sure there will have been pre post-production screenings of it to the industry and journos, critics etc. Let us hope they can keep it under wraps for until they have the airing date.
I'll be watching E15 in a bit tonight so will stick a review on around Tues or Weds after people have had chance to watch. In the meantime, there's plenty of nonsense to get stuck into above and after watching E15 I'm going to rewatch and catch up on FTWD, purely just to stitch in any crossovers and Easter eggs (perfect timing) that may led to a bit more info regarding Rick/Michonne and their future fate.
If you got here without skipping...I salute you. Cheers,
Bamboo