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Reviews
The Walking Dead: On the Inside (2021)
The Walking Dead returns to its horror roots
It's been a long time since TWD really felt like a horror show. We all remember Rick's first encounter with walkers in the series premiere of "Days Gone Bye", the first attack in the Atlanta camp in "Vatos" and the highway horde in "What Lies Ahead". As The Walking Dead evolved toward the terrifying human presence, horror has taken a smaller place in the series.
There is no doubt that The Walking Dead has always been dark, intense and frightening in many ways, where we have seen some of the worst humanity can do. Angela Kang has nevertheless returned to the real horror we have not seen since early season 2. First with The Whisperers introduction, and now this treasure of a horror masterpiece, "On The Inside".
Writer Kevin Deiboldt does an excellent job of building a creeping fear for the audience. Kevin Carroll makes a brilliant performance as the previously isolated and unpredictable Virgil, and Lauren Ridloff delivers a memorable performance as the strong, independent and deaf Connie. Their chemistry on screen and incredible acting skills are for me the highlight of "On The Inside". Great side plot with Daryl, Leah and The Reapers also helps to elevate the quality of the episode.
I also praise the concept of including feral humans who have been away from humanity for so long that they have forgotten what it means to be human. They live in the walls, move like animals, have only fragments of their old language and treat others as prey. While this is by no means my type of episode, this is without a doubt some of the most disturbing stuff I've ever seen on The Walking Dead, and it deserves all the praise in the world. Final score: (9.4/10).
The Walking Dead: Acheron: Part I (2021)
A solid start to the final season
A classic season opener from Angela Kang; lays the foundation for how the season develops, subtle hints for future storylines plus some cool sequences with "team family".
The dark and slightly frightening tone feels different and fresh, especially liked the shifts between Acheron and the Commonwealth. I already feel that I dislike how the Commonwealth behaves as a society, and I suspect that they will be shown as a greater threat in the TV version versus the comic book version.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan steals every single scene in the role of Negan, I always feel that something is at stake when he's in focus. The fact that Maggie is back makes it all the more interesting, in one moment I'm Team Negan, while in the other I'm wondering why I even let me think I was.
I would still like to agree with some critics of this episode, it could easily aired as a double premiere, and I felt that it was cut a little too abruptly. I really also expected that at least one person would not make it out alive from the military base, but I choose to believe that a lot of stuff is going to happen in part number two. All in all, a very solid premiere. This season looks promising. (8.6/10).
Fear the Walking Dead: USS Pennsylvania (2021)
This is why I'm still watching Fear
I loved this episode! Especially liked the setting by including a nuclear submarine in the series. Another good, unique addition to this universe. One of the things I have appreciated most about this season is the story itself, which is still very interesting. The End Is The Beginning group is completely erratic and unpredictable, making the experience intense and entertaining.
I think the writers are doing right to focus on the disagreements between Morgan and Strand. While the people always looked to Morgan, and saw him for the good man he is, he has never been the perfect leader. Deep down, I think he has always known that. Still, ever since he arrived in Texas, he has felt the urge to make up for his sins. Strand claims he looks after the group's best interests, but there is a high probability that Alicia is still his main priority. How will the events of this episode effect their friendship moving forward?
John Dorie Sr. Entry into the series has been good. He has a completely unique aura that fits into the show's western feel. Actress Keith Carradine should have a lot of credit for this, but there is something about his dark past and backstory around Teddy Maddox that spices up the story in a way that makes it even more exciting towards the finale. And as for the finale, it can not come out fast enough! The scene when Teddy and Riley launched the MIRV missile has to be one of my favorite moments from this show. They don't have much time left to figure out what to do next...
Fear the Walking Dead: Mother (2021)
The calm before the storm
It is about to really escalate towards the end of this very interesting season, where Alycia Debnam-Carey makes a brilliant appearance in another good and intense episode.
We get a reunion with some old friends, where Cole, Douglas and Vivian make their first appearance since the Dell Diamond days, back in season 4. Things have changed a lot since then, and Alicia has to make tough decisions to get the vital information about Teddy's scary plans. I'm very excited about what awaits her in season 7, and I think we will see a stronger Alicia who has grown a lot through everything she has experienced over the past year. I have no doubt she will survive in that bunker, and eventually become the leader figure like her mother was.
I also liked that we got a deeper insight into Dakota, as well as Teddy's past. A completely uninhibited, manipulative and fearless serial killer who has spent the last thirty years on death row. What a wonderful addition to the series, brilliantly played by the very talented John Glover. I'm excited about the upcoming duel against John Dorie Sr and I'm really looking forward to the two remaining episodes where the nuclear submarine finally comes into play.
Fear the Walking Dead: In Dreams (2021)
Visually appealing episode, pitch-dark ending!
One of the strongest stories to come out of this universe so far. Fantastic cinematography, solid writing and twists along the way that will shock you. Karen David delivers a memorable and impressive performance as Grace, her best episode so far.
Michael Satrazemis is on the top of his game for the twelfth installment in the so far glorious and critically acclaimed sixth season of Fear. It alternates between scenes from the present and dream sequences that make the experience something fresh and something you have not seen before on this show. In my opinion, an absolutely brilliant and dark episode that leaves a strong impression, and which I will remember for many years to come.
9.6 / 10.
Fear the Walking Dead: Handle with Care (2021)
Great set-up episode with a deep-dive into Daniel's character
Really enjoyed this episode, I had been waiting for a Daniel story for a long time, and this one didn't disappoint. Some beautiful cinematography, but the writing itself is what makes this episode for me. I suppose that should come as no surprise, considering Powell wrote strong episodes such as "The Calm Before", "Remember" and "Internment" from the main show. Initially I was a little confused, but the writers took me on an enigmatic journey that made me think and reflect strongly on various factors and skeptical, but curious about some of the characters in the settlement. It definitely worked out pretty well in the end.
I liked that they continued to build on Daniel's PTSD subplot from 2A, his disturbing past is catching up to him, and he probably has an idea of what's coming. Hopefully this storyline will provide a satisfying pay off. Just to be clear, Daniel is NOT suffering from dementia as June confirmed his problems are psychological, not pshysical. Still, I keep coming back to the idea that she's being set up by someone from the inside. Could it be Wes, Luciana or Charlie? Is Strand playing mind games here? There's something fishy about the way he asked him to join him for Lawton. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
Even though I've grown to love the anthology format, I kinda liked that there were more people in this episode than usual. It's good to see the group working together, but there's definitely some internal differences and disagreement within the groups which makes the whole thing more interesting moving forward. I hope they'll continue to develop characters like Sherry, Sarah, Luciana and Wes, as I believe there's potential to give them better storylines in the future.
Lots of tension between Salazar and Strand, in some ways it reminded me about an OG Fear episode, and that's most certainly not a bad thing. The episode also works well as a setup for what's coming next. The End is The Beginning seems like a much larger threat than Virginia. Can't wait to see where they go from here, and I'm looking forward to an Alicia centric episode next week.
And hello, Skidmark!
Fear the Walking Dead: Things Left to Do (2021)
Best episode of the season so far
This episode had it all. Action, emotions, high intensity, and incredible acting. Lennie James and Colby Minifie were phenomenal! In my opinion, "Things Left to Do" tops 6x01 and 6x04 in the battle for the season's best episode so far.
I had my eyes glued to the screen throughout the whole episode, and 45 minutes went by very quickly. I would especially like to highlight the scene where Morgan argues with himself as to whether he should behead Virginia, or prove to the group that they are above such actions. What a wonderful scene, and it was at this point that I realized that the old Fear I knew was finally, officially back. For the first time in several years, I felt that I had no idea what was going to happen next.
As always, Strand is a character that is very interesting to follow. You never know exactly where you have him, but it remains to be seen if he has good intentions for the group this time. The End Is The Beginning lurks in the background, and when June completed what Morgan failed to do, it topped an already fantastic episode with an insanely exciting angle on what to expect next. (9.5/10)
Fear the Walking Dead: The Door (2021)
Shocking, brilliant episode!
Finally, Fear The Walking Dead is back with the highly anticipated 6B, and it all starts with a bang. Andrew and Ian hold nothing back in a glorious, emotional midseason premiere, one of the best episodes so far.
The episode begins with a suicidal John Dorie who struggles to adapt to an increasingly dark reality. The writers do a great job of making you feel the depression and hopelessness of the likeable cowboy, and you realize that not everyone is born for this cruel world. Morgan makes a valiant attempt to talk John out of his dark place, and this is where the episode really makes you feel all of your emotions. In an epic bridge scene, they clear out a bunch of walkers with the help of an unstable Dakota, played by Zoe Colletti who delivers a sensational performance, one of the best I have seen so far in the series.
John Dorie finally finds out that it was actually Dakota who was behind the murder of Cameron. This leads to a dramatic situation between the two, and what follows was completely unexpected for me personally. In an attempt to keep the secrets to himself, Dakota shoots John. Ice cold. A reality check that no one is safe in this universe. Michael Satrazemis knows how to direct an episode, this whole sequence was so incredibly well-done, not to mention the beautiful cinematography!
I also have to give the showrunners credit for having the balls to make such a decision. I'm sure this was not easy, but trust me, this opens up a world of potential, interesting possibilities for the series in the upcoming episodes. How will June react? Will it once again trigger a frightening response from Morgan? Will Alicia have guilt for trusting Dakota? Do we even know Dakota, is she really a psychopath? And not least, can the two groups coexist in the future after this? I'm incredibly excited about the way forward. This bodes extremely well for the rest of 6B. (9.5/10).
The Walking Dead: Here's Negan (2021)
One of the best episodes of the entire series
I had waited many years to see Negan's backstory, and for this reason I had sky-high expectations. But they delivered. They delivered far above what I expect. Although I've enjoyed the last couple of seasons, it's been a while since The Walking Dead really left me speechless. When the episode was over, I just sat there for two minutes and reflected on what I had just witnessed. "Wow", I said to myself.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan delivers his best performance to date as Negan, accompanied by Hilarie Burton as Negan's cancer-stricken wife Lucille. These two worked so incredibly well together, a true joy to watch. We follow Negan in a series of flashbacks, some of which take place before the apocalypse begins. These scenes provide a lot of depth to Negan's character, and give a better understanding of why he became the person we saw during All Out War. The scene where Negan sings "You Are Beautiful" has to be one of the most emotional I've ever seen, such a powerful moment. Not to mention his amazing monolouge towards the end of the episode after he took out a whole MC gang all by himself.
The dialogue is perceived as good and realistic, the music choices and soundtrack are strategically very appropriate for the thematic angle and the cinematography is brilliant. It was also cool to see Laura again, who was one of Negan's most trusted lieutenants in The Saviors era. I do not think I am alone in believing that a sequel to "Here's Negan" is highly desirable in form of a miniseries, or as a part of the Tales of The Walking Dead anthology series.
The end of the episode makes me ask myself whether Negan will return to his true self, or if he is becoming a critical resource and leader figure as we enter the series' final season. If this episode does not make you excited, hyped and ready for season 11, then I do not know what will. 10/10 - a perfect end to season 10.
The Walking Dead: Diverged (2021)
An emotional, deep and intelligent episode filled with symbolism
Prior to the episode, I had heard that "Diverged" received mixed reviews from the media. Well, let's just say I'm of a completely different opinion in this case. Heather Bellson, who has previously written "Them", my favorite episode from The Walking Dead, once again delivers an episode that hits me right in the heart. While this is not the most progressive episode in the show's history, there are some exciting things to tackle in terms of deeper meaning and symbolism. Let me reflect on some of the points and details I noticed from this beautiful, but different episode.
1) These moments with Jerry, where Carol tries hard to pretend that everything is ok, but Jerry immediately understands what's going on. Carol has always been good at blending in, faking her mood and playing a role/character. This scene symbolizes a facade that after a long time is about to crack.
2) In the scenes where Carol gets extra depressed and thoughtful, the soundtrack is played from the season premiere where Daryl and Carol talk about leaving on the bike to New Mexico, which is repeated on several occasions in the episode. This may be an indication that Carol is mainly thinking about an escape from reality, moving on, and is ready to start a new life with Daryl.
3) The rat Carol hunts in part of the episode symbolizes that her deepest desire to fix everything, and first and foremost her most important friendship. Later, towards the end of the episode, Carol throws off a scarf that symbolizes that she is finally moving in the right direction to achieve inner peace, and begins to understand that she may no longer need to fix everything.
I have now seen the episode for the second time, and now realize that this episode was necessary to get to the bottom of Carol and Daryl's problems, and the development in this story will play a significant role for the eleventh and final season. This is not an action-packed and shocking episode, but gives you the opportunity to sympathize with her, and get to know Carol (and Daryl) in a different way. I've really appreciated these character development episodes, it has been a welcome break from the non-stop action in the last couple of seasons. Allowing the story to breath a little is not necessarily a bad thing, especially considering we're getting closer to the end.
Yes, my job here is done, and have now tried to explain the importance of following this episode closely. I will now make myself a café cortado, and hopefully avoid reading constructive feedback such as "garbage", "filler" and "boring". Have a great day, Johnny!
The Walking Dead: Splinter (2021)
An ambitious, different and story progressive episode
I was pleasantly surprised by the previous episode with Gabriel and Aaron, and this is once again the case in a roller coaster of an episode with Princess in the lead role. Paola Lazaro delivers a brilliant performance, one of the better performances I have seen in recent times. The episode takes place right after the end of 10x16 "A Certain Doom".
Something I have really appreciated in these bonus episodes so far is the writers' ability to go in depth with several of the characters. This time, the mental aspect is in focus, an interesting angle that makes one reflect on whether Princess is mentally stable, what she has experienced earlier in life and what is actually going on. It's just like you as a viewer are present in Princess' head through the actions of the episode, and it feels scary but entertaining at the same time.
All in all, a great fast-paced and creative episode where a new ruthless group was introduced. I look forward to follow this story further into the summer.
The Walking Dead: One More (2021)
A dark, but really entertaining episode
I'm not going to lie, I'm a big fan of dark and character driven stories. This one was a textbook example of how to do a dark episode a success, without forcing through clichéd overdramatized back stories. The combination of realism, humor, madness and reflection, helped to make "One More" an incredibly good viewing experience for me.
A big tribute to Robert Patrick's guest appearance is in order. The same goes for Seth (Gabriel) and Ross (Aaron) who both make very solid performances. Despite strong development throughout the season, I was still very surprised that Gabriel took the chance and killed Mays. This changed quickly when I realized what a monster Mays actually was, the ending was completely wild. Fantastic episode. Can't wait to see what's going on with Eugene, Princess and co. meeting up with The Commonwealth next week. Until then!
The Walking Dead: Find Me (2021)
A visual piece of art with a deep dive into Daryl's character
"Find Me" is a visual masterpiece of an episode, starring Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in search of his missing brother. In a more or less spoiler-free review, I will focus on the most memorable experiences I am left with after just over three quarters of an hour with many impressions.
The episode follows Daryl for several years, primarily in the six-year period that was left out between 9x05 and 9x06. Daryl resorts to extreme means and sacrifices a safe life among the colonies to search for Rick, and refuses to give up on him until he has found closure. In parallel with scenes from the present with Carol (Melissa McBride), we're served quality dialogue with a lot of emotions involved. It is precisely through the dialogue where the episode shines the most, combined with the brilliant cinematography that was abnormally outstanding and prominent this time. A new acquaintance is also made, answers to some questions are given and we get a deeper insight into Daryl's character.
All in all, an interesting and necessary episode that one would like to last a little longer. I am left with several questions, but I have faith that Angela and the crew will continue the development of Daryl also in the future. I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did. Until next time!
The Walking Dead: Still Gotta Mean Something (2018)
The most underrated episode of The Walking Dead?
First of all, I've been a fan of the show since the start, and I've mostly enjoyed every season. Season 8 is probably considered the weakest season by the majority of fans, but the second half is way better than its first half.
"Still Gotta Mean Something" is one of my favorite episodes of The Walking Dead, so why isn't rated higher by fans, you may ask. Well, maybe they don't understand the message the writers are trying to send? I honestly don't know, but I will try to explain why.
The episode is dark, very dark. Rick and Morgan team up to kill the escaping saviors from Hilltop after Henry accidently let them out during the previous battle. Rick is only driven by revenge at this point, so he leaves Hilltop doing what "savage Rick" does best. Kill people with zero hesitation. The murder jacket from season 5 is back, and together with a mentally unstable Morgan in clear mode they're both doing some very morally questionable actions.
"I'm giving you my word". The way Rick lied to the saviors, still sends me shivers down my spine. By the end of the episode in a heartbreaking scene, Rick finally opens Carl's letter which turns out to be extremely important for Rick's vision of the future. 10/10.