What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Six years later. Michonne says she’s there, and knows he’s still there too. It hasn’t gotten any easier. Days keep passing; the world keeps spinning. Years go by while they try to make sense of it all. Daryl fishes. A zombie rises out of the water, and he impales a zombie on his makeshift spear. Carol, now with long hair, smiles at a still sleeping Ezekiel. She looks at the wall, where it says, at times we crack, only to let the light in.
Michonne says they try to look ahead to a better future, but the truth is, the path has only grown darker. It’s harder to see. You can feel so lost, and so alone, and so desperate for something; anything that might show you the way. She rides into the woods, and goes to an old RV. She gets out a cigar box that has keepsakes in it. She looks at a four-leaf clover. She says, they’re surrounded by darkness. There are still flashes of light – she takes out a cowboy figure – calling to us. Not enough to light the way ahead, but enough to keep them going.
In the woods, Daryl sees a snapping zombie wedged in a tree that’s growing around it. A bird lands on it, and brings a worm to a nest of its young. Michonne says they keep trying; they keep fighting. Daryl continues on. Carol works in the garden. Michonne says, they keep dreaming. She puts the cowboy figure in her bag, and says that’s what she does, every second of every day – for him; for them. She hasn’t given up, and never will. She rides back to Alexandria.
A group looks for Judith, who comes out of the woods. Aaron asks if she’s okay. She says she heard them calling, and they needed help. The group she saved comes out, and she gives them water. For clarity’s sake, even though we don’t know their names yet, I’m going to use them. The leader is Magna – who I mistakenly called Megan last week – Yumiko, sisters Connie and Kelly, and Luke (who is also Eddie Redmayne’s sidekick in Fantastic Beasts). Luke says he can cook something fancy from roots and leaves, and Eugene says they make stew; more mileage for the masses. Luke asks if there are more of them, and Judith says, way more. Using sign language, Kelly says the sickos are coming for them. Eugene steps up and stabs several zombies in the head. Apparently, he’s learned some skills in the past six years. He says there are more on the way, and they have to get out. Judith says the group needs food, water, and medicine. Aaron says, come on.
At the Kingdom, Carol wonders if there’s any place not falling apart. Much as I do at my own kingdom. Jerry says their loyalty to her, calling her, my queen. Carol makes a face, and he says she’s married to the king, and mother to the price. She has to accept it at some point. She says if she doesn’t by now, it’s never going to happen. In a basement, a pipe is spewing water, and Henry is trying fix it. Carol takes the duct tape, and straps it around the leak. Jerry says they’re in the clear; nice work. Henry says they’re holding things together with plastic and tape; they need better tools. Ezekiel says they’ve discussed it. Henry says, he’s discussed it. He says he has to go or he’ll be late. Ezekiel says he appreciates Henry’s passion and honesty, but he’d best watch his tone.
Ezekiel watches as Henry practices weaponry. Carol says Henry isn’t wrong. The place is getting older. Henry is getting older. Ezekiel says there are others who would gladly train at Hilltop in his place; they need him here. Carol says this is Henry’s home, but Ezekiel needs him there. Ezekiel says he wants Henry safe. It hasn’t been the same at Hilltop. Carol says, sometimes you have to let cracks happen to let the light in. Ezekiel laughs.
Eugene says it’s in direct and flagrant violation of security protocol, and Rosita says she knows. They bring the new people to the gate of Alexandria. Judith promises they’ll be safe there. She takes Magna’s hand and leads them in. The newcomers are amazed. Judith says, this is Alexandria; this is home.
Gabriel comes out. A child runs toward Aaron, saying, daddy, but he tells Gracie to stay where she is. Siddiq sees the wounded Yumiko, and says he’ll take her to the infirmary. Michonne rides in, and asks if someone wants to tell her what this is. Eugene says, five unknowns, all clean, one in the infirmary. She looks them over, and pats Magna down. She says, all clean? and Eugene says, whistle worthy, clean as a-wise. Michonne asks why they’re there, and Aaron says it was his call. She says it wasn’t his call to make. Judith tells Michonne that she decided. They needed help. Michonne says she knows the rules; they all do. Aaron says, they’re here now, and one is badly hurt. Siddiq is checking her out. He says, no disrespect, but maybe they could decide together. Gabriel suggests that they bring it before the council for a vote tomorrow. Michonne agrees, and says to put them in holding. Luke does some sign language. Judith sees the cowboy figure on the ground. I think of John from the other show, and get confused for a millisecond.
Ezekiel gives Henry a hug for the boy, and shakes hands for the man he’s going to become. Henry says Ezekiel is acting like he’s not going to see him again. Ezekiel tells Henry to be respectful, responsible, kind, and considerate. Henry promises, and gets the carriage ready. Ezekiel thinks if they bring the communities back together as full partners, it will change everything, and Carol says, he’ll be fine. Ezekiel says. he sees the world as should be, not as it is. He’s a dreamer. She wonders who he gets that from. She says they could use more dreamers, and Ezekiel says they could use more people to pull them down. She says she has some ideas, and he’s sure she does.
At the town meeting, Gabriel says it’s been a long time since they’ve seen any new faces. They’re a fair community of decent minded people, but not Saul. He asks who the leader is, and Magna asks what makes him think they have one. Gabriel asks if they knew each other before. Luke tries to piece together who knew who first, and lists someone they’ve lost. He says there were others, but just he can’t finish. He starts to cry, saying, they didn’t make it. Aaron asks who they were before. Luke was a music teacher, and Magna a waitress at a truck stop. Kelly says Connie says she was a journalist, but she’s being modest. She exposed some sleazy politicians, and put them behind bars. Kelly was in high school, stressing about stupid sh*t. Gabriel asks who they are now. Magna says, a fighter. Kelly tells them Connie claims she’s his guardian angel, but it’s the other way around. Luke says he guesses he’s still a music teacher. Education never ends, not even the in face of monsters and mayhem. Gabriel asks what they did to survive, and Magna says what she had to. Kelly says Connie never gave up, and Luke says, nothing special. He doesn’t know what he did to deserve it. In the beginning, he was in the right place at the right time. He’s lucky he met the right people. Before, if you saw them together, you would say maybe they work together. They don’t have anything in common, except for breathing. Aaron thanks them. He’d like to vote, but Michonne has a question. As a community, they want to be kind, generous, and charitable, but as they know, decisions like the one they’re about to make can come with a heavy price. She walks up to Magna, and tells Magna to show her left hand. She asks if Magna get her tattoo at a truck stop, and Magna says, screw you. Michonne says it’s a prison tattoo. The four dots are the walls, and the dot in the middle is her; the prisoner. She did hard time. Magna says she can explain, and Michonne asks if she has nothing to hide. Magna says, nothing, and Michonne tells her to put the knife on the table. Magna undoes the buckle off of her belt, and it’s a knife. Michonne says she remembers; she knows they do too. She seconds the motion to vote, and walks to the door. Magna wonders if she can ask Michonne a question. Michonne says, no, and continues to walk.
Gabriel checks out the radio equipment Rosita says she thought he gave up, but he says he keeps thinking there are still people they don’t know about. He thinks Michonne is wrong. He thinks they’re good people. Michonne got a rise out of Magna on purpose. Rosita says they’ll be in Alexandria until Yuniko is back on her feet. Michonne has time to change her mind. Gabriel says, maybe. He tells Rosita that Eugene thinks if they went further out and set up a remote amplifier, it might boost their signal. Rosita says it would be a security breach. Gabriel says it would be like stumbling in the dark, but think who they might find; what else is out there. Rosita ponders this, and says she and Eugene will check it out. They kiss. I don’t think any of us saw that coming. He tells her that she’s amazing.
Michonne says she thought she was done with this talking and not hearing him answer, but she wants what he did; to protect them. Judith walks toward the room where Michonne is talking. Michonne says nothing else mattered except him. She knows this isn’t what he planned, what he wanted, but he wasn’t there. Neither was she. Judith is almost at the door, but decides to go back. The floorboard creaks, and Michonne sees her. Michonne says it’s almost time for her lesson. You know she has to be wondering how much Judith heard.
In the carriage with Henry, Carol says they’re not going to Hilltop. They hear screaming, and Henry jumps down. Carol tells him to stop, then runs after him. He goes down an alley, and sees some thugs bothering a woman. He yells, get off her! but as he gets closer, the woman draws a weapon on him, calling him her hero. Carol has followed, and draws her bow, telling the woman, drop it. The gate behind her slides shut, and they’re trapped. Savior Jed comes out with some other guys. He says he’s not good at math, but there’s more of them. He calls Carol boss lady, and salutes.
In another carriage, Eugene says Rosita must like Gabriel. She’s flattening security protocol to stand by her man. Rosita tells him to focus. He says there are more viable selects available to her. She asks if he has someone specific in mind, but he says, generally speaking. They stop the carriage stops, and Rosita says, fresh tracks. Eugene says luckily they’re going in the other direction, and they head to some water towers.
Siddiq tells Yuniko that she got a concussion, and she was dehydrated, but she’ll be back on her feet tomorrow. Magna asks if she should be, but Siddiq tells her that’s not for him to say. Magna watches Michonne and Judith practice fighting. Luke asks what Siddiq’s story is. Siddiq says he was a stranger someone took in. Luke says it must have been different then. Is there a reason things changed? Siddiq says there’s a reason for everything, and excuses himself.
The woman tells Henry that they didn’t stand a chance; she had them pegged a mile down the road. Jed comes back with the carriage and horses. He tells Carol, sorry for the inconvenience. They’ve been having a tough time since the Sanctuary went bust. Carol asks if they tried joining with another community, but Jed says that’s not his bag. She spared him back in the day, so he’s offering her the same courtesy. The horses for their lives. Henry can keep his stick, but everything else is theirs. Carol tells him, take it and go. He wants her ring first. I wonder why, since it can’t be worth anything. She’s about to take it off, when Henry whacks Jed with his stick. Jed knocks Henry down, and Carol shields him. She gives Jed the ring, and he puts it on. He says it was a pleasure doing business with her, and he meant to tell her, he likes what she’s done with her hair. Okay. Is this some SWF situation?
Judith does math homework near Negan’s cell. It’s a story problem involving airplanes, and Negan asks if she’s ever seen an airplane fly in any direction at any speed. She says, no, and he asks if she thinks she will. She says, probably not. He thinks the math problems should apply to the real world: from right here and now. She tells him some strangers were brought there, but her mom is making them move. He says her being her, she must want to help. She says she found them, and brought them there. Negan says when he was her age, he brought home stray dogs. His mom hated it, and he didn’t understand why. They were friendly and grateful. One day, he brought home the wrong. Judith asks if it bit him, and he says, not him. It killed the other strays, and almost chewed his mom’s ear off when she tried to stop it. It seemed as friendly and grateful as the others. Judith asks if he ever brought home another one, but he says he wised up. Judith says, look how great that turned out. She starts to leave, and he thought she wanted his help. She tells him, just with math. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a good or bad person on the inside. Numbers don’t care.
Eugene is up on a water tower. Rosita says, looking good, and he starts to come down. He sees a load of zombies headed their way, and calls to Rosita. She tells him to get his ass down now. He drops his bag, and he startles the horses (who seem to be the source of a lot of problems). They get spooked, and take off. He’s not even a third of way down, and the zombies are advancing. Rosita digs through the bed of a truck. Eugene’s foot slips, and the ladder falls. He drops to the ground, and Rosita runs back. His knee is messed up. He tells her he did a hard core U on the DL. She gets a crutch, and gives it to him. They go as fast as he can.
In their tent, Henry tells Carol that he doesn’t get it. She didn’t even try. She says there was no point, but he says, bullsh*t. There’s right and wrong. You stand up for what’s right, and fight what’s wrong. She taught him that; what happened? She says, him. Someday he’ll understand. She rubs her finger where her ring used to be.
Magna tells the others, sorry. Michonne set her up. She didn’t know how it would play out, and wanted them to have options. Luke tells her, hand over the necklace. She takes it off. It has pointy things hanging from it. She says they can’t just go back out there, without horses and supplies. How long will they last? Luke says, as long as they can; same as always. Magna says, that worked out great. Kelly translates Connie’s signing. She tells them not to be a-holes. Bernie would have wanted them to have this, but they’re fighting like always. She tells Magna, leave this woman alone. They need to get Yuniko and get out. If that’s their fate, so be it. Luke asks if they shouldn’t try to convince Michonne. Magna tells him not to start too. They need this; everything. Luke tells her there are little kids there. Save it for someone who deserves it. He takes a vote, and tells Magna, hand it over now. She gives him the necklace. He tells her to sleep on it. She might feel better in the light of day.
At the Savior’s camp, Carol tells Jed the stuff there belongs to people she knew. I don’t know how she did it, but it looks like the Saviors are tied up. And I don’t mean busy. Jed says they found it, and he didn’t do anything. Carol says he hurt her son, but she’s never going to see them again. She lights a match, sets the place on fire, and they burn alive. Alrighty then.
Magna watches Michonne through the window. She almost walks into the house, but sees a toddler run to Michonne. Instead, she goes to the door, and hands Michonne a knife, saying she missed one. Michonne thanks her. Magna says Michonne was right about her. She’s done things; terrible things. If she had all this, she wouldn’t trust her either. She walks away, and they have an exchange I couldn’t hear.
Michonne sees Judith on the steps, holding a gun. She says she’s supposed to protect those she loves, like her dad protected those he loved. Michonne thinks her dad would have been proud of what she did yesterday; her brother too. Judith asks, then why not help them? Michonne says she’ll understand someday. Judith knows Michonne talks to Rick; Carl too. She’s starting to forget their voices. They keep fading away. She hopes Michonne can still hear them. She runs upstairs, and the toddler runs to Michonne. She sees the cowboy figure on the floor.
Rosita and Eugene run as fast as Eugene can run, which isn’t very fast. He says he can’t keep on keeping on. He says there’s something he’s been working on telling her; something he’s been holding a long time. She tells him, shut up; they’re making it. She pulls him along.
Henry and Carol are back in their carriage. Henry is sorry about what he said, and thanks her. She says he’s safe. That’s all that matters. We see that Carol’s ring is back on her finger. Henry asks where she’s taking them, and she says, off the map. Daryl stands in her path. She says, need a ride, stranger? He smiles, and heads toward the carriage.
While Michonne gets dressed, we see an X scar on her lower back. She takes out Rick’s shirt, puts it on, and hugs herself. Judith sees Magna’s group outside, and says, sorry. Yuniko says if she’d known they were getting booted when she recovered, she would have hit her head harder. Connie says through Kelly that Magna had volunteered to hit her again. They thank everyone for their hospitality, especially Judith. Gabriel and Siddiq walk them toward the gate. Michonne rides up, and says, change of plans. She gives Judith the cowboy, and says she knows another place that might take them in. She’s going to escort them personally. Siddiq will be going to Hilltop with her, to keep an eye on his patient until they get there. Kelly signs what’s happening to Connie. Judith tells them, good luck.
Eugene and Rosita stumble along. They slide down a muddy embankment toward some water. They cover themselves with the mud. I say, holy! The zombies are so close, but walk past.
Next time, Eugene and Rosita are still on the run, a flare is sent up, more of the new people, Daryl, and zombies. Kind of like this week.
🔥 When it comes to Carol, it looks like the Saviors have met their match. – Talking Dead
🎭 Meet the New Cast…
And then some.
💖 Thanking Those Who Have Served…
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 