What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Alexandria is being rebuilt, and looking pretty good. Michonne teaches Judith to paint. She and Rick take Judith for a walk. Why does Judith look more like Michonne than Lori or Shane?
Two Alexandrians hang up a zombie scarecrow, but Daryl shoots it in the head with an arrow. Jesus kicks zombie ass outside. Aaron wants to learn, and Jesus says he teaches a class. Zombie Ass Kicking 101? Rick gets a group together to go to DC.
Outside, it’s quiet. A group of zombies meanders up the street, begins to gather. Rick and Michonne gallop by on horses and whack them in the head. King Ezekiel follows, along with some others on horses and a horse pulled cart. Daryl brings up the rear with his motorcycle dudes.
The group does a sweep of a museum. A lone zombie pops up from behind the desk. Oh, it must be government run. Rick says they have their lists. Circle back when they’re done, and be safe. They split into smaller groups. Maggie says it’s going to work. Michonne sees zombies roaming underneath them through a glass floor, and carefully walks across. A zombie plummets over the bannister of an upper floor. Although he’s impaled on something, Daryl finishes him off.
Downstairs, Rick’s group looks around in the dark. Siddiq gets caught under a tarp with a zombie crawling with spiders. He doesn’t like spiders. Apparently even less than he likes zombies.
A zombie ambles toward the chain of human evolution, and becomes the final frame in the display. Daryl helps Cyndie with a canoe, and asks if she’s all right. She was thinking about her brother. They were fighting in a canoe at the county fair. She asks if he has random memories like that. Daryl says most of his memories of his brother involve fighting. He had friends who fought with him, but they didn’t make it.
Rick’s group finds a crate where seeds are being stores. Anne remembered where they were from the days when she was teaching; she brought her class there. Rick tells them to take the lot. Gee, seeds aren’t that heavy; take them all. He wants to get back, and see if the others need help.
Michonne is surprised that Gregory called for an election. Maggie says he had one great idea, but he’s sore about the results. Michonne says, the rebirth of democracy – by that guy. Who’d have thought. Carol says she lives with a king. Maggie says, it works, but there’s something about a vote. She tells them that they have to help the Sanctuary, and Michonne says she’s glad Maggie won.
Rick, Carol, and some others try to get a covered wagon down the stairs, and over the glass floor, which is at the bottom of the staircase. They wheel it slowly off the bottom steps and across the glass. The glass begins to crack, but the zombies don’t notice them. Maggie helps bring down a vintage plow. As the carry it across the glass, it isn’t looking good. Rick says, no sudden moves; nice and slow. Rick, Ezekiel, and Carol take another piece of equipment across. The glass cracks some more, and Ezekiel falls through. The zombies come at him, and latch onto him. He’s tied to a column with a rope that’s rubbing back and forth against the jagged glass. Dangling, Ezekiel kicks at the zombies, who are pulling at him every which way. The others try to pull him back. I’m freaking out, and hopping around in my chair. Daryl tries to use the crossbow, but can’t get a clear hit. Somehow, they get him back up. Carol hugs him, and then kisses him. Whoa. Nothing like romance in the apocalypse. That was rough. I don’t like many characters on this show, but he’s one of them.
The caravan heads back out.
Daryl pikes a random zombie in the head as he drives past it. He circles back to get his pokey stick. A few guys discuss how Daryl never smiles. Ezekiel tells Carol that he was scared back there. Carol was too, but she’s glad he’s okay. He says it made him remember something he’s been taking for granted. You can’t wait on life. He asks her to marry him, and shows her a ring. She tells him, put that thing away; it will snag on everything. She told him not to ask, especially after something like this. He laughs, and says he’ll always love her. He’ll keep it until she’s ready.
They get to a bridge, but a herd has taken it out. Maggie needs to get back to baby Herschel. Rick says, keep an eye on the road. He tells Gabriel to take his group back to Alexandria. The rest will go to Sanctuary and Hilltop, stay overnight, then head out from there. Enid writes bridge out on the sign. Michonne tells Rick the horses can’t pull the wagon in the mud. Ken thinks they need a break. Maggie thinks they should come back, but Michonne isn’t so sure. Rick says they should swap out the horses, while they see what they can do about the trailers. Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Ezekiel pull the wagon, but zombies toddle out of the woods. They get the wagon past the mud, and Rick tells Daryl and Michonne to take care of business. They load the wagon up with the farm equipment. The horses get nervous and rear up. The plow falls out and breaks apart. Rick tells them leave the wagon. Ken runs back to free the horses, and gets bit. Making sad face.
Siddiq tells him be all right, but no, he’s not. They start to make a tourniquet, but it’s too late. He’s gone. I hate this stupid show. Maggie cries, and I get annoyed that she’s suddenly being a baby.
Back in Alexandria, Maggie visits Ken’s parents, Earl and Tammy. Tammy says she took their boy out there, and now their son is dead. And what do they have to show for it? A broken plow. Maggie tells her they got more than that, but Tammy says the Sanctuary will get it all. Earl tells her to calm down. She says she hates Maggie but asks what kind of man would let this go? Um… a realistic one? Maggie would like to arrange a funeral, but Tammy says they’ll do it, and Maggie is not welcome. Tammy voted for her, but they’re not friends. Gregory was the one who said he put Hilltop first. He’s a scoundrel, but he’s no fool. Their son is dead, and Maggie’s boy has no father. The Saviors eat their food, and take everything Hilltop has bled for. It ain’t right.
Maggie watches as the funeral happens. A guy sings, and says he’s going to miss Ken. The world was a better place for having him in it. They drink to Ken.
Rick and his group arrive at the Sanctuary. Eugene says they all have a well-compiled list that needs attention. Someone asks Daryl if he’s giving a speech, but he says it’s a bad time; they just lost someone. Michonne sees, Saviors save us! We are still Negan, written on the wall. Michonne asks who did this? and Daryl tells a guy to clean it up or paint over it. The guy says they’re running out of paint; they’re finding it all over the place. He doesn’t seem too eager to get rid of it.
At the funeral, Gregory eulogizes Ken, saying, Ken had a good heart; he wasn’t a fighter. He tended to the animals. Regular guys like Ken keep the place going. He’s remembered as a son, a friend, a shining example of Hilltop. The straight face of fundamental decency, even in tragedy. Rest in peace. Jesus says, that was beautiful. Gregory says, it makes think about what you have, and what you’ve lost. He’s grateful for what he has.
Rick shakes hands. Eugene says they need a boost until help comes. Rick says he came with farming equipment, and heirloom seeds. They’re going to look to the past to help them with the present. A dude thanks Rick, and everyone applauds.
Rick asks Daryl, what’s up. Daryl doesn’t want to be there; it doesn’t feel right. He’s always better out there. He always has been. Rick says Daryl put this place together. He kept the people in line. He can’t let the Sanctuary fail. Daryl says it will anyway. It’s a factory; nothing grows. They still need other people to provide. Nothing changed. Rick says they give willingly, but Daryl says, nothing lasts. The bridge is out, and pretty soon, it will take days to ride from one place to another. Everyone is everywhere. When they were a small group at the beginning, they could do anything. That was right, and what he knows. Rick asks if Daryl wants to come to Alexandria, but he wants to go to Hilltop to check on Maggie and the baby. Daryl says they’ll need someone to take his place if he leaves. Eugene is going to Oceanside. The Kingdom has their own problems, and they need help back home. They’re not together because things have changed. Daryl says, he changed them. He gets it. Carol watches. I can’t figure out why, for all his smarts, Eugene couldn’t come up with some kind of hydroponic farming or something.
Gregory offers Ken’s parents a drink. Earl tells Tammy to go ahead; he’s fine. She takes a slug of whiskey. I guess she has a few more slugs, because now he’s putting her to bed. He asks what he’s supposed to do. She wants to be by herself and sleep. He asks if he should leave, but she says, no. He covers her with a blanket, and kisses her. Gregory appears, and offers to sit with her.
Daryl passes a smoke to Carol, who puts it out, saying it will kill him. She says they don’t sleep. Ezekiel sleeps like a baby. Daryl thinks Ezekiel is all right, but he’s corny. Carol is glad she has his approval. Corny is nice, after what she went through with Ed. Daryl is happy for her. He says if anyone deserves happiness, it’s her. He doesn’t like not seeing her. She wants to take over the Sanctuary for a while for him. She says Ezekiel asked her to marry him. Part of her wanted to say yes. Daryl asks, why not? She doesn’t know. She wants to take her time with him. He asks if Ezekiel is coming with her, but she says, no.
Earl tells Gregory his son didn’t need to be out there. He didn’t need to die. Gregory says, no, he didn’t. Earl wants to know, where’s the justice. Gregory says Maggie thinks she’s above the law. The election was a joke. He asks who Earl thinks counted the ballots – her buddy Jesus. A lot of people aren’t happy; they’re just afraid to speak up. She does whatever Rick says, even if it’s not good. Earl doesn’t see what they can do about it. She decides. Gregory says Maggie’s priorities are set, and the decisions she made put his boy in the ground. He’s speaking plainly because he’s angry. He see their lives being treated as the price of doing someone else’s business. Earl says, she’s the leader, and Gregory says, she doesn’t have to be.
Rick washes up, and gets in bed. Michonne calls him the famous Rick Grimes. He tells her not to start. She says don’t let it get to his head. Not today for sure. She wouldn’t want to be Maggie right now. Rick says, no, and she asks if he saw the name on the wall, Did they do the right thing? Sometimes she thinks they should have killed him. Rick thinks about it a lot, but it wouldn’t have changed anything. They don’t want Negan; they want food. Michonne has been thinking maybe they need an agreement between the communities. This is what they believe; this is how they treat each other; this is what happens when they don’t. Rick feels like it’s the right time. She says they couldn’t before; they were always running and fighting. Rick thinks it could pull people closer together; it’s smart. He tells her that Daryl isn’t happy. He’s worried about things breaking down. Michonne says he wouldn’t say anything if it wasn’t important. He cares. Rick says, too much sometimes. Michonne says, if he’s worried, there’s a reason. She wonders what they do, and Rick says they need to fix the bridge. She adds, and get the people to agree to a charter. He says, not constitution? and she says, charter. He says, okay; tomorrow. He feels lucky that he found her, and Michonne says they both lost enough. It’s time they won a little. They get busy, and she calls him the famous Rick Grimes again.
Maggie pushes Herschel’s stroller. Gregory sees her, and says, tough night. He’s been there, and he’s sorry. He knows it hasn’t been easy. She won fair and square, and was a worthy adversary. The election forced him to do some soul searching. Maggie says, it’s hard, not knowing where your place is. He can have one if he wants. He tells her when they were burying Ken, he didn’t want to say anything, but it looked like someone defaced Glenn’s grave. It was probably an accident, or kids who didn’t know any better. He hopes it wasn’t someone angry about the election, but it’s probably no big deal. She can check it tomorrow. Maggie jets.
A hooded figure ambushes her. She struggles with him, and Enid comes running to help, but gets knocked out. A bunch of people grab him, and pull his hood back. It’s Earl. Gregory asks what happened, like he doesn’t know. Maggie says he tried to have her killed because he’s too chicken sh*t to do it himself. He says she wants to ruin it. He built this place. It wouldn’t exist without him. She’s just Rick’s lackey. Maggie says Rick is her friend and mentor. He says she can’t go back because you-know-who is still there. She can’t believe after all the chances she gave him. He tries to stab her, but she gets the better of him.
Carol says goodbye to Ezekiel. She tells him that she’s not running away. He feels like she is, and wonders if he pushed too hard. She say her friends need her help. She has a home to come back to, and that’s enough for her for now. Ezekiel says he’ll be content to move at her speed, calling her Lady Carol. They kiss, and he says it’s such sweet sorrow. Carol tells Jerry to take care of him for her, just for a little bit. Ezekiel and Jerry gallop off.
Rick, Michonne, and Daryl drive in to Hilltop. Rick holds baby Herschel. Maggie calls Herschel a little stinker, and Rick says he’s perfect. She thinks she’ll keep him. She puts the baby in the playpen. Rick says they’re going on runs again. She should visit Alexandria sometime. Judith talks about her a lot. He’s surprised she still remembers, but she does. He tells her that he needs her help in fixing the bridge. Hilltop is thriving; they’re better than anywhere else. She’s been generous, and given so much already, but he’s asking for more. The Sanctuary is still short, and the project will take a lot of people and supplies. He’s hoping she can be generous again. Maggie says, no more supplies without getting something back. If the Sanctuary needs food, she’ll give it to them, but in return, they provide the labor and fuel from their dead corn. Rick says, they’re barely holding on. Maggie wonders why he feels obliged to help. They surrendered, and weren’t killed. They can’t solve all their problems when there things here to deal. He’s sorry about what happened with her and Enid. She says she’s survived worse, but it has to stop. It changes now. She says it will be dark soon; it’s time to put the kids to bed.
It’s nighttime, and Gregory stands on a gallows, a horse underneath him, and a noose around his neck. Maggie says she doesn’t want to do this, but people need to understand, at Hilltop, the punishment fits the crime. She asks if he has any final words. Gregory begs for somebody to stop this. Killing him in the dead of night. She should be ashamed. It’s wrong. Maggie says she’s not ashamed. She nods and Daryl moves toward the gallows. Gregory starts wailing, stop! Suddenly, a couple of little kids are there. Michonne starts to run to the front, but Rick grabs her. Daryl slaps the horse, and Gregory hangs, swinging from the rope. Maggie tells them to get the children back in bed. She made this decision, but it’s not the beginning of something. She doesn’t want to go through it again. Rick looks at Ken’s parents. He tells Daryl to cut Gregory down. Daryl cuts the rope, and Gregory’s body drops to the ground.
Next time, rebuilding the bridge, Daryl wonders if they’re on the same side. Michonne wants rules, and Negan says they’re not saving the world, just getting it ready for him. Glad he’s still feisty.
👄 On Talking Dead, director Greg Nicotero said this season would have more of a Western movie feel, which was the original idea, with Rick being a sort of cowboy. They also talked about the new opening, and I watched that a second time. It definitely gives the vibe of a modern Western.
😞 Sad TWD News…
One of the characters I actually liked.
https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2018/10/07/the-walking-dead-scott-wilson-dead-age-hershel/
💍 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days – or as I like to call it, you all deserve each other – concludes its season next week. I have a lot to say about it, and am working on my dissertation as we speak. And luckily, just around the corner, are all new couples on 90 Day Fiancé, the original. This show has so many spin-offs, it could have its own channel. Which would be okay with me.
🎃 Because It’s That Time Again…
And because he never really dies.
http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/halloween/276659/halloween-a-legacy-unmaskedJax
🃏 Something Funny…
To make Monday less painful, enjoy this dude having fun with a scammer on CraigsList.
⛺ And Because I Can’t Leave It Alone…
The Cabin in the Woods. Never. Gets. Old.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 