Generally, I’m not a big fan of time jumps. I hate the
feeling of missing out on potentially important developments concerning my
favourite characters or couples (you hear that OUAT season 4? Those six
fictional months were really important to me), and it’s even riskier when
there’s such a big jump that characters invariably have to be recast with
actors who will fit their new ages better. You can tell me that it’s the same
character all you want, but if the new actors’s not good enough, I simply won’t
feel about them the same way ever again. On the other hand, I will admit that
sometimes it’s worth to have a time jump for all the new mysteries such a big change
could bring (wait, when did that
happen? Why are they not talking to each other? Oooh something BIG must have
went down, I can’t wait to find out what!)… except when you have insufferable
showrunners who handwave it all away with „oh you know, time has passed, people
change, you’ll get used to it”… and then that’s another whole new kind of
feeling fucked over. So with all that said, I’m happy to say that I really
enjoyed The Walking Dead’s first
post-time jump episode! By jumping forward a whopping six years, I was spared
from having my heart broken from watching Michonne’s fresh grief over Rick’s „death”,
which I appreciate a lot. Moreover, the only character who had to be recast was
Judith, and her new version is wonderful so far, and there was even a little bit
of mystery peppered in, although this is not necessarily the kind of show where
I expect that sort of thing. So it was great! Overall I’m still surprised by
how much I’m loving this season, and I’m a bit sad we only have two more
episodes to go before the winter break.
So what happened during those six years? Well, we don’t know
everything yet. What we do know is that the bridge Rick blew up was never
rebuilt, and the survivors are still seem to be living in the same separate
communities as before, except that I think Alexandria and the Kingdom merged
into one. It was never outright stated but they at least have a council now
with representatives from both of those communities, so it might just be the
case. Meanwhile, something bad must have happened at Hilltop, because we’ve
been told that „nothing’s been the same there since…” Since something.
Obviously they really want us to think that Maggie died, but nah. I’m not
buying it yet. I’m sure she, Hershel, Jesus, and Enid (was anyone else
significant living at Hilltop, I can’t remember) will appear in the next
episode, and so will Tara and the rest of Oceanside, also conspicuously absent
this week. Living outside all the communities is Daryl, but I don’t think it’s
been the whole six years since he’s been out there. And if you, like me, were hoping that this
time gap would be the perfect opportunity for him to finally cut his hair, or
at least clean himself up a bit, you will be disappointed. He still looks
pretty disgusting, and considering all the glorious new hairdos that Michonne,
Carol (!) and Eugene (!!!) were sporting, he really has no excuses left
anymore.
The main conflict of the episode rested on the new group of
survivors who we’ve already seen in the last moments of last week’s
installment. Judith decided to bring them all home which got them in trouble
with Head of Security Michonne, as it is against the rules to bring new people
in just so. At this point a council was convened to determine what should be
done about the newcomers, and just as they’ve managed to convince everyone that
they were not a threat to Alexandria’s safety, Michonne revealed their leader
Magna’s prison tattoo, which was a dealbreaker for her. Now, even though it was
technically up to the council, the group decided they don’t even want to stay
anymore and would instead keep trying their luck out in the wild. Then, just as
the hour was coming to a close, Michonne changed her mind, urged on by Judith
(reminding her that Rick would take them in, obviously), and decided to send
the group to Hilltop, where they’re sure to be treated well. So that’s what
makes me think thtat next week’s episode will be a Hilltop-centric one.
Speaking of Judith, she’s pretty much the best. Adorable, kind,
funny and fearless, she’s basically the perfect person to continue Rick and
Carl’s legacy. Her asking still-imprisoned Negan’s help in solving some math
problems was one of the many highlights of this episode. I’m still not sure
what to make of this new and improved Negan, or to trust that he won’t become a
threat ever again. I don’t think Jeffrey Dean Morgan was made a series regular
just to appear for a few seconds every week, so I’m sure there’s more to come
for him, and soon. But right now, I’m content with watching him banter with
Judith, since he clearly cares about her in his own twisted way.
Other highlights of the episode include the revelation that
Gabriel and Rosita are a thing now (damn Gabriel, he really has his way with
the ladies!), Carol dispatching some Sanctuary mooks (why are they even still
around?) who threatened Henry, by using her trusted old method of setting them
on fire, Michonne and Rick’s baby son (!!!), and finally,the Whisperers. They
haven’t been officially introduced yet but just as Rosita and an injured Eugene
were hiding in the mud from a herd of walkers, you could hear them whisper. That was a surprise for me
because I thought they wouldn’t appear until episode 8, but I liked this little
tease a lot. I can’t wait to see what other surprises these six years have brought
at the other communities.
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