[Warning: This essay contains spoilers for all of The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live through Episode 2.]
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live has done it again.
Quelling any lingering fears I may have had that the stellar premiere of the series was just a fluke, Episode 2 of this emotional, action-packed spinoff told Michonne’s side of the story with expert craftsmanship. The episode focuses on what happened after the end of her final appearance in Season 10, wherein she joined a mysterious, nomadic group walking across the country. Said group end up helping her in her mission to find Rick, with some members of the group becoming her friends. However, following a life-altering chlorine gas attack from the CRM, she is forced to reckon with the idea that she’ll never be able to reunite with her husband.
This episode was a roller coaster of emotions, made all the more prominent by its many impressive performances. Danai Gurira stole the show as Michonne, delivering the most layered version of the character the franchise has seen in years. Her optimism about finding Rick slowly turns into despair throughout the course of the episode, made all the more impactful by the horrors she has to endure throughout. Then, when hope finally springs back into her heart upon reuniting with Rick, she convincingly portrays someone who has been separated from her husband for years, finally getting him back. Lincoln, of course, clocked in a brilliant performance as Rick, who is now faced with the idea that he might actually be able to escape the CRM alongside the woman he loves.
But I would be remiss to talk about acting without bringing up Matthew August Jeffers’ performance as Nat. From the convincing anger and panic he displays in his first scene when he thinks Aiden and Bailey were left behind, to his very final moments in the show, Jeffers delivered a performance that elevated the entire series. Out of every new character introduced in this show, he will no doubt be regarded as one of—if not the—most memorable. His friendship with Michonne was well-developed and paced, alongside his development as he became a voice of reason in her quest. His character was furthered by a rather melancholic story that underscored the mixture of loss and triumph around 10 years into the zombie apocalypse. A story that impacts him, Michonne, and even Rick in the final act of the episode.
However, the primary focus for the majority of this episode was on Michonne. Viewers were treated to some incredibly well-executed scenes of her making friends with Nat and other people in the nomadic caravan who decide to join her on her quest to find Rick. And the episode does a great job at lulling you into a false sense of security. I was almost reminded of the tone of The Walking Dead: World Beyond for the first twenty minutes. Everything felt overly calm and peaceful for something that was taking place in the post-apocalypse. It actually got to the point where, for a few moments, I was worried the series would be veering into the more oddly wholesome/conflict-avoidant direction that World Beyond embraces.
Oh how wrong I was.
The tone of the episode darkens for the remainder as soon as Michonne’s ragtag group are hit with chlorine gas from a CRM helicopter. Previous spinoffs established how the CRM doesn’t take any chances with groups of people, willing to dispatch as many as possible to ensure the hidden safety of their community. To have that same mission statement established here in such a brutal, heartbreaking attack was a visceral way to toss unfamiliar viewers into the deep end of the proverbial Civic Republic pool. Multiple faces that had been welcome additions to the team die, leaving only Michonne and Nat as the remaining figures in the episode. The gas not only established how dangerous the militant group is, but also served as a convincing explainer as to why Michonne had been away from Alexandria for so long. Her and Nat recovered for one full year, unable to leave the confines of the building they were in. I feel like the fact they never encountered any Walker nor survivor trouble for that long is a little farfetched. Then again, perhaps it underscores the sheer brutality this area of the world has faced, from zombies and humans alike.
But the standout scene of the episode is when Michonne and Nat finally get to Bridgers Terminal, the final location listed in a note Michonne found possibly detailing where Rick last was. However, upon arrival, she discovers the location to be a former settlement on a cruise ship, its inhabitants both burned in piles and stripped of their shoes. This makes her worried because all she found of Rick’s on the boat back in The Walking Dead season 10 were his boots. An emotional conversation with Nat commences, where Michonne breaks down after he tells her that, yes, she can believe Rick is still out there while also going back to Alexandria to be with Judith and RJ. It’s a very powerful, emotional scene, which resonated even though Episode 1 already revealed she would find Rick soon. It shows how Michonne’s version of giving up wasn’t stopping her search for Rick, but rather deciding to let his legacy live on through their children. It’s the saddest we’ve ever seen her, and it both makes sense and is handled very well.
Then there’s the reunion scene. Taking a look at things from Michonne’s perspective, it’s clear her and Nat’s attack on the CRM helicopter was both out of revenge and to ensure self-preservation. Not wanting a repeat of the chlorine gas attack, the duo take down the helicopter, only to learn Rick is inside. The scene is very well done, as Michonne is at first shocked to see that he’s working for the group. However, once it’s clear he’s still the same Rick she loves—albeit beaten down by the number of failed escape attempts he’s made—the pair embrace. This scene feels like a defining moment for The Ones Who Live, as it underscores just how much of a love story this series is going to be.
It also underscores the bittersweet tone of the show moving forward, as it doesn’t take long for a surviving CRM solider to kill Nat. I have to say, given how much I loved him as a character, it was sad to see him die so soon. It feels like the show is running into a similar issue as Dead City, wherein the audience is introduced to fleshed-out heroes only to have them ripped away from us within the same episode their character development started to grow. I do hope the same thing doesn’t happen to Pearl in a future episode, as she’s someone whose character has plenty of room to develop as the series progresses—and hopefully bear more fruit than a bullet to the chest. Despite that being a personal irk, I feel like Nat’s death scene was done very well, and proved just how much the writing team behind the show can get me to root for their new characters, even if they’re not around for very long.
But the most surprising part of the episode was that, after Michonne was captured by the CRM, the story continued for another 10 minutes. There’s a scene where, under the moniker “Dana,” she provides a cover story that makes her seem meek and grateful. It’s a sharp contrast to how she introduced herself to the nomadic caravan at the start of the episode, revealing within just her character the core difference between As and Bs in the CRM. She also gets a scene with Rick where they make out like young lovers before laying the groundwork for an escape plan. However, some of how their conversation went does have me nervous. Michonne refused to tell Rick about RJ, their son together, until after they escape, making me think the information will come about during a highly-emotional scene. It makes me fear for both of their lives, especially since I feel as though the show isn’t going to be as satisfying if they’re unable to escape back home together. Then again, if this is both of their final run on the show, it could be even bigger a loss than just one of them not making it back.
Beyond those worries, though, is the ending that left me scratching my head. Rick is confronted by Jadis, who recognizes Michonne for who she is and threatens to tell Beale about her. However, it appears Rick and Jadis have some kind of deal together. While it’s unclear what this deal is, I believe it may explain why the rest of the higher-ups at the CRM don’t know where Alexandria is. Episode 1 indicated that, aside from Jadis, only Okafor was privy to that information. Given that he got exploded, it appears the former Queen of the Trash People is the only other person standing in Rick’s way. Her appearance here shows how loyal she is to the CRM, but also sets up a new obstacle for Rick and Michonne’s escape. One that will clearly play a heavy role in whatever happens over the course of the next four entries.
So far, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is proving to be a surprisingly epic entry in the franchise. Michonne’s side of the story was handled well, and the decision to keep it going beyond the pair’s initial reunion made me hungry for more. Given how borderline movie-paced these last two episodes have been, I have faith the series will be able to wrap up with a satisfying conclusion within the final four. And, given just how well-executed this show has been, I kind of want to see definitive closure happen by the end of episode six. It would be a bold move on AMC’s part to end their highest-rated spinoff with the one season it was advertised as, ensuring the most beloved characters in the series get an end to their story. And, given the quality so far, I acutally have faith they’re going to.
With four episodes remaining, I am very much looking forward to see how Rick and Michonne’s escape pans out.
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