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Oct10

October 9, 2022 – Chaos At The Commonwealth, Dead Ending & Spell

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

The Walking Dead

When we last left, Daryl had a knife to Lance’s throat. In the meantime, Carol was trying to make a deal with Pamela, saying, if her son didn’t do what he’s accused of, someone did.

In a voiceover, Judith says, they’ve come too far; they’ve lost so much. We flash back over the last 10+ years, and she says, it’s hard to trust people when they can go at any time, but the people who go, the people who die, aren’t lost forever. She has to believe that. Remembering their voices is how we keep them alive.

In the tunnel, Mercer tells says, everyone, stand down. He comes forward past the troopers with Carol and Pamela. Daryl backs Lance up against a wall, the knife still to Lance’s throat. Pamela says, he heard Mercer; lower his weapon. It’s not just about him. She needs Lance alive. Mercer tells him, not here, not like this, and Daryl says, he’s choosing this POS? but Mercer says, if he was, Daryl would be down already. Daryl asks Carol what she’s done, and Carol says she made a deal for them. Daryl stares at Lance, making him unsure for a hot minute, then takes the knife away. But in a surprise move, Daryl stabs Lance’s hand through to the wall. Lance screams, and Daryl removes the knife, making him scream even louder. Daryl tells Pamela, don’t worry, he’ll live, and throws the bloody knife down.

Back at the Commonwealth, Carol tells Daryl, Maggie, and Gabriel that all slates will be wiped clean on both sides. They’ll be given supplies, water, and weapons; anything they need to rebuild. Then they’re free and clear. Gabriel says, they can just go home? and Maggie asks what Pamela is going to get. Carol says, Hornsby. He’s going to tell the people that he’s responsible for the people who died. He takes the fall. Annie says, they’ll have to talk to their people. It’s a lot to think about. Negan says, like how Lance killed most of their people, and Carol says, anybody else? Maggie says, the most important thing is that they’re together. She doesn’t want to go it alone anymore. She doesn’t trust them, but thinks it’s worth the risk. Daryl says, all right, and walks off.

Mercer guards Lance on a hill somewhere, Lance’s hands tied behind his back. Lance whines, but Mercer tells him, get used to it. Lance says, he thought they got along well, and Mercer asks, how many of his men has Lance gotten killed? Lance says he thought Mercer realized by now, they’re not his men. A couple of growling zombies toddle toward Lance, as Pamela watches, and Lance tells Mercer, hop to it. Mercer flips out an ax like a switchblade, and chops their heads off. Pamela tells Lance that he’s being transported to the Commonwealth where he’ll be put on trial, and he tells her, it’s just the two of them; she can drop the act. She tells him, it’s no act. He’s gone too far. He laughs, and says, it’s never been a problem before how he got the job done, but Pamela says, they’re not talking about the past; they’re talking about now. He can survive if he plays his cards right, but his life at the Commonwealth is over. Lance says, after all he’s done, his service to her, but she says, he served himself above anything or anyone else, trying hard to prove the world wrong. Lance says, she’s refusing to see that he’s made something of himself, and she says, he’s an angry, delusional little boy, trying to win a game he’s too foolish to realize he’s never actually been a player in. She starts to walk away, and Lance says, she still needs him. She stops, and he says, if something happens to him, certain alliances with stabilizing factors are likely to become a problem, but she doesn’t respond, and keeps walking. He says, whatever game she’s playing, he’s very much in it.

Pamela addresses the public, saying, Lance abused his position, and caused untold suffering, but their friends, allies, and dedicated armed forces made sure he was unable to escape. She promises justice will be served. The crowd applauds, and Stephanie tells Eugene that Lance is taking the fall. Pamela says, they’re going to be celebrating what makes the Commonwealth great – its people. They’ll rise above because they’re the Commonwealth. Eugene wonders if there’s nothing more they can do, and Stephanie says, he’ll be leaving; it’s not his problem. He says he’s still here, and she thanks him for everything he’s done. He says, if she ever considers a change of scenery, she can visit him. She’s shown him her home, now he can show her his home. She looks up to see Sebastian on a balcony, and says, maybe someday, but not yet.

Aaron tells Maggie, they’re going to make sure Oceanside is okay, and Maggie says, it’s going to take them a while to get everyone ready and get the supplies together. They’re headed for Alexandria  first. Aaron says he’ll see her there, and they hug. Carol asks if Lydia is sure she wants to go with Aaron and not go home, but Lydia says, it’s just a few more weeks on the road. Elijah comes over and talks to Lydia, putting his arm around her. When he leaves, Carol says, a few more weeks? and Lydia says,  sorry… She hasn’t forgotten Henry, Carol hugs her, and tells her, take happiness where she can get it, and never be sorry for it. Carol leaves, and Daryl asks Lydia if she’s okay. She says, she thinks so, and he says he never thanked her for saving Carol. Lydia says, she never thanked him for saving her, and they hug. Daryl tells her, be safe, and she says, him too. Daryl hands Judith a Rick’s gun, but she says she doesn’t want it, and hands it back. She says, her mom talked about the day she would hang up her sword for good; not because it was completely safe, but she wouldn’t need it. Things should be getting better now. Daryl says, they will be when they get home, but Judith wonders, how, when things are still broken? Shouldn’t they help the people here, like they did in Alexandria? He says, what they did in Alexandria was different, but Judith says, that’s just because he wants to run away. He tells her to stop, and Aaron, Jerry, Lydia, and Elijah head out in a wagon.  

Ezekiel is hauling some animals to the zoo in a wagon, and Carol says he doesn’t have to lug those anymore. He says he can’t disappoint the kids, but she says, someone else will do it. He tells her, maybe he enjoys the exercise. She says, he’s not coming. They’ve got plenty of medicine. He says, it’s not that. His place is here. They were all desperate for help, and he was desperate to make a difference. One last time. This place, these people, Carol, gave him a second chance to do more. So that’s what he’s going  to do. She takes his hand, and he says he’s helping the people of another kingdom before it falls apart. He lets some kids in, and tells her, we can all do that, then follows them.

In her office, Pamela listens to a tape from President Milton, reenforcing the Commonwealth’s mission statement, and Sebastian wonders why he has to hear this. Pamela says, there are certain things he needs to do if he’s ever going to lead. Stephanie/Max gives him a speech to read, and he says, it’s a privilege to be here, honoring the founding power of their great home. He crumples it up, and says, it’s crap, but Pamela isn’t having it. She tells him that he’s jeopardized their home enough with his stupidity. The public will see he has nothing to hide, and be reminded whose grandson he is. Show her. He picks the paper back up, and uncrumples it. He says he will, and she says she knows he will. Politics wasn’t her first choice either. He was born to lead this place. Stephanie/Max jets.

In an OB/GYN exam room, Annie gets a sonogram, and the doctor tells her that her amniotic fluid is high, but she’s in the right place. They caught it in time. She leaves, and Annie tells Negan, it’s going to be fine. Staying isn’t an option. There are people looking to them, and she can’t risk them; she won’t. Negan says he keeps hearing his dad’s voice saying, your life is not your own once you have kids. He always wanted to know what that meant. Now he finally gets to. Annie says, she hears Ian and Jesse, and the people they killed. They don’t need this place. It’s us now. Negan kisses her, and smiles.

Daryl packs, putting his gun in its holster, and picking up a HUGE knife. He grabs his angel wing vest, and puts it on. He’s ready to rumble. He asks RJ where Judith is, and RJ tells Daryl, he’s not supposed to say. Daryl checks Judith’s backpack, and sees it’s empty. RJ tells him, she said she wasn’t coming, and Daryl asks, where’d she go? RJ says he doesn’t know, and Daryl leaves.

We see a commercial for the 47 Walking Dead spin-offs that are coming up.

The Founder’s Day Celebration begins, and Daryl tells Carol, about this parenting thing, what would Rick do? She says, Daryl is the one who’s here, and he says, it’s weird being a parent. She says, when Sophia was born, she had no idea what to do. She just knew she loved her. She was so tiny, and looked to her for everything. He’ll figure it out. He says, yeah, but doesn’t seem so sure.  

Eugene follows Stephanie down a hallway, and says he’s not sure this is the best idea, but she says, there’s no choice. She has to do something. All the years she’s worked in this office, and she just went along with it, went along with Sebastian. He doesn’t know what it’s like to feel guilt like that. He says he’s fairly familiar with the burden of that kind of guilt, and she says she was proud of what they did. She thought they were trapped in the old world, so why shouldn’t they try something better? Thinking like that made her feel good, like they could change things. Now it’s all being erased. They have to try, no matter what, but he doesn’t have to be involved. He says he wants them to be safe. He can’t trust this man, but if she believes there’s an outside chance he can help them, Eugene will suck it up, and do his best.

They go to Lance’s cell, but Stephanie stays out of sight while Eugene does the talking. Lance says he thought Eugene would be gone, but Eugene says, not quite, and drops a bag through the cell door slot, saying, sustenance for conversation. Lance brings a candy apple out of the bag, and asks if it’s for all the times he got Eugene out of a cell. Eugene says he’s surprised Lance hasn’t gotten himself out, but Lance asks, what makes Eugene think he wants to? Eugene asks if there’s any assistance he can offer, and Lance says, weak play. If he wants something, ask for it. Stephanie listens as Eugene says, he’s looking for any damaging information on Pamela and her progeny, and Lance says, that’s a tough one. He’d love to help, but the irony is, Pamela is probably the only reason he’s alive. Some friendly advice. If they go after go after the Miltons, the Miltons will crush them. Things are just getting better for Pamela. They wanted her head, and now they’re dancing in the streets at the Founders Celebration. Eugene is better off making nice with Pamela and her sadistic sh*t of a son. He adds for Eugene to make sure he tells his girlfriend too. She’s great at hiding in plain sight, sitting next to Pamela. The last thing they want is to end up in a cell like his. They have to live with it unless they’re willing to burn the whole thing down.

Gabriel stands at the pulpit, and says, be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you. We see the pews are empty, and someone comes in. Gabriel says, He will not leave or forsake you. My last sermon. Rosita walks up the aisle with baby Coco, and says, not his last. He asks if she’s packed, and she nods. He says, the parishioners brought him food. They can enjoy Mrs. Brennan’s ambrosia on the road. She says, it’s all his, and he says he didn’t think he could come back to this, to Him, but he did. The people in the pews gave that to him. Rosita says, he gave them something too, and what he gave them will be here long after he will. He says he wishes they’d brought cotton candy instead, and they hear a sound from the back. They go into the sacristy, and Judith stands next to an open window.

A work crew goes into an enclosed lot, and a woman says, it’s the same every year. They set it up just to take it down, and don’t even see the event. A man says, as long as he hears the lottery numbers, he doesn’t care. He promises not to forget her when he wins. Shira and Calhoun, the couple who were hunting Jerry and the kids, come in, shoot everyone, and leave.

Daryl goes to the church, and finds Judith sitting on the floor. She says she wasn’t trying to worry him, and he says he knows. She says, she just… He says, wanted to be alone? He gets it. He had a spot like this when he wanted to hide and not go home. She asks where it was, and he says, he’d go to a river behind his house. He’d go there and wait until his dad went to sleep. She asks if he was alone a lot, and he says, yeah. She says she doesn’t mind being alone; sometimes she likes it better. He says, you have time to think, and she says, and figure things out. He sits next to her on the floor, and says, sorry about earlier. She says, it’s okay, and he says he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he’s trying really hard. He wishes things were like how she wants them to be. That’s the way they should be, but they aren’t. He has to keep her safe. He’ll hold onto the gun for a while, until she wants it, or not. Either way, she’s stuck with him. He asks if they’re good, and she says, they’re good. She asks if she gets to say bye to her friends, and he tells her to help him up.

Sebastian practices his speech, and says he sounds like a d-bag. Why he thinks that’s different from how he always sounds, I’m not sure. Pamela says, he’ll be great, and gives Stephanie/Max a tape recorder, for later. Pamela leaves, and Sebastian says, this is bullsh*t. She puts the recorder down on a credenza, quietly turning it on, and pours them both a drink. He mutters his speech to himself, and she gives him one of the glasses. She asks if he’s going to do it, and he says he doesn’t think he has a choice, but she says, they all do. He tells her, not according to his mom. This should be his brother; he’s the one she wanted. Sebastian is just the one who’s still here. She says, he could be more than that, and he accuses her of just being a lackey who’s getting him to do what his mother wants. She says she doesn’t just work for his mom; she’s a citizen. He shouldn’t just tell people words. They respect the truth. He says, the people don’t want honesty. They want to be told everything is going to be okay, so they can ignore what a mess this world really is. The Commonwealth is built on buying into bulls*t, and the desperate need to believe the American dream is still real; that they can rise above their station. It’s a friggin’ joke. The reality is, the poor will stay poor so the rich can do whatever the hell they want. There are no bootstraps to pull themselves up on. His mother even hand picks the lottery numbers. The people who Max thinks want honesty are just too stupid to see it. They’re pathetic. She says, it sounded like he believed that. Maybe he just chooses to be a spoiled a-hole. If everyone expects it, who’s left to disappoint? She picks up the recorder, and leaves.

Daryl, Judith, and Carol walk around the fair, and Daryl tells Judith to go have fun. She runs off to be with her friends, and Carol tells Daryl, nice work. Eugene is working a booth that sells lottery tickets, and Stephanie gives him the recorder. She tells him that she’s all right, and an announcer tells everyone to take their seats. The main event is about to begin. Everyone cheers and shouts, and Mercer precedes Pamela and Lance to the dais. Pamela waves to the crowd, and a wrestling bell dings. The announcer asks if they’re ready to witness a battle for the ages. We see a ring, and some wrestlers give the audience some WWE action. The winner (who was in the WWE IRL) starts to chant, Commonwealth, and the crowd chants with him. Pamela comes into the ring, and thanks the combatants. She says, to continue this wonderful day, her son Sebastian has prepared a few words. She gives Sebastian the mic, and he says, it’s an honor and privilege to be here to celebrate the… He lowers his notes, and says he knows a lot of them don’t think well of him, and knows he probably deserves it. It’s going to take a long road to earn their trust, and live up to his legacy. He doesn’t have the words to describe what this place means to him, but his grandfather did. So he humbly asks them to join in listening to the wise words of President Milton, the founder of the Commonwealth. The audience applauds, and Pamela nods to Eugene. So does Stephanie, and we hear Sebastian say, the Commonwealth is built on buying into bulls*t, and the desperate need to believe the American dream is still real; that they can rise above their station. It’s a friggin’ joke. The reality is, the poor will stay poor so the rich can do whatever the hell they want. There are no bootstraps to pull themselves up on. His mother even hand picks the lottery numbers. The people who Max thinks want honesty are just too stupid to see it. They’re pathetic. Sebastian launches himself toward Stephanie, who takes off. The crowd starts throwing things at Pamela and the troopers, some of them attacking the troopers. Pamela yells for everyone to remain calm, and Mercer tells the troopers, no firing weapons. Stephanie runs through the crowd, with Sebastian after her.

In his cell, Lance hears a whistle. He looks out, and Shira and Calhoun give him a hand signal. He takes a bite of the candy apple.

Mercer tells the crowd to back up, but it’s just getting worse. Bottles are being thrown, people are jostling toward them, and tons of people are running. By now the work crew has reanimated, and come onto the scene, and everyone changes course. A few are caught unaware by the zombies, and are feasted on. Sebastian grabs Stephanie, and Mercer looks out from the ring, and sees what’s going on. He radios, tango, tango, tango; all units to the square. He tells Pamela that he’s going to make sure the inside walls are secure, but she says she’s the governor; he’s supposed to protect her. He says, his job is to protect the Commonwealth, and he leaves.

Everything is chaos, and from where I’m sitting, it’s pretty exciting. Ezekiel grabs (I think) RJ. Daryl takes Judith’s hand, and they move quickly through the crowd, but get separated. Daryl is as panicked as I’ve ever seen him, as the crowd moves her along, and away from him. She gets to the side, and sees a zombie coming toward her. She freezes, and someone shoots the zombie from behind. Daryl grabs her, and says, let’s go. She tells him to give her the gun, and he does, saying, they’ll do this together, okay? They run, as Mercer walks against the crowd. He shoots a couple of zombies, and Judith shoots one. Stephanie is looking around for Eugene, when Sebastian surprises her. He says, she’s nothing, and pushes her into a zombie. The zombie grabs her, but she manages to keep it at bay, while Sebastian stands there acting like it’s a laugh riot.  Too bad for him, Eugene arrives, and doesn’t find it funny, pulling the zombie away from Stephanie, and shoving it onto Sebastian. Sebastian yells for help, and no surprise, the best he gets are looks of amusement. Eugene tells Stephanie, they need to go, and the zombie finally locks on to Sebastian’s neck, ripping it open. He dies a gruesome death, and we all relish the moment. Judith shoots the zombie, and Sebastian gurgles blood as we hear, they’re just to stupid to see it. The Commonwealth is built on buying into bulls*t, and the desperate need to believe the American dream is still real; that they can rise above their station. It’s a friggin’ joke. The reality is, the poor will stay poor so the rich can do whatever the hell they want.

Way to make a point.

Next time, Pamela says, they need to make someone an example to remind the people that actions have consequences; and an elite group of zombies has learned to open doors and climb walls.

⚰️ Built On Bullsh*t…

The actor’s feels about how Jerky McJerkface met his end. He was on Talking Dead tonight as well, and is, of course, the nicest guy. The bad ones usually are.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-sebastian-milton-death-teo-rapp-olsson/

🤸 Back Through My Lookingglass…

Visit again tomorrow for some soap and yachting on the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay leaving it looking better than you found it, and stay being desperate to make a difference. We can all do that.

Mar15

March 14, 2021 – Gabriel and Aaron Follow Maggie’s Map, Fun With the Dead, Nervous Norman & Spell

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

The Walking Dead

We hear Gabriel in a voiceover saying, the Whisperers took their toll, and they saw darkness, but they kept the faith. The righteous enter and are safe. They had moments of despair, but a miracle happened, and by the grace of their friends, they were saved. But they still have more work to do to rebuild their community, provide for their families, and save their souls.

Gabriel and Aaron are surrounded by zombies in a clearing. They hack away, covering the surrounding wildflowers in blood. They walk through the woods and come across some ruins. Gabriel looks at his map of possible food sources. I guess not this one anymore. Aaron sees several burned bodies that are nothing but charred bones now, and asks, what happened here? Gabriel says they’ll never know, and they keep walking. The see a decrepit zombie sitting up against a tree, and it pulls away, part of it staying on the tree. It doesn’t get far, since Gabriel slices it through the top of the head. Gabriel sets a timer, and throws it into a field area. When it goes off, a bunch of zombies rise out of the grass, and head off to who knows where. Gabriel looks at Aaron, and they follow at a distance.    

Near a road, they see more skeletons, and a line of cars. Aaron looks at a zombie in a van, and Gabriel opens another car. Aaron asks what he’s doing, and he says, he’s searching; there could be something there. Aaron slides open the van he’s been looking in, and they go through all the cars. Gabriel opens a trunk, and finds some cans of food, but he turns it over to see what looks like a bullet hole in it. He tells Aaron, two more.   

They try to smash into an old, boarded up casino, and zombie arms pop out. Gabriel hacks off an arm. Aaron motions for him to remove a board, and when the zombie emerges, Aaron stabs it in the head. They each take an arm to pull it out, but the skin comes off, and they fall back with skin arms in their hands. When they realize what happened, they quickly rid themselves of the skin arms, and I laugh my head off. Aaron sees a shopping cart hanging off the roof, and Gabriel climbs up. He sees a near-skeleton lying down, and another with a little more flesh on it, tied to post, moving around a little. He sees a skeletal couple lying on mattress. Aaron asks if he sees anything, and Gabriel looks at the couple and says, just a ladder. The camera pans out, and we see SAVE US written on the roof.

Zombie arms reach for Aaron, and he hears Gabriel hacking away inside. Gabriel opens the door, and comes out. Aaron says, anything? and Gabriel shakes his head. He sheaths his machete, and looks at his map again. He says, one more, and Aaron says they’ve been at this two weeks, and what do they have to show for it? He can’t. Gabriel says they have to see this through. Aaron says they can go back to the hunting ground, but Gabriel says, it’s spent; there’s nothing there. Aaron says, so is every other place on Maggie’s goddam map. He misses his daughter, and he knows Gabriel misses his too. Gabriel says, one more, and starts to walk. Aaron follows.

They walk through some mud, and Gabriel slips, tripped up by a hidden zombie. It rises, covered with mud, but Gabriel holds his machete point up, and Aaron pushes the zombie onto it. Aaron laughs, and Gabriel says, a little help? Aaron helps get the zombie off of Gabriel, and helps him up. The map is officially screwed, covered in mud like Gabriel. Gabriel says there was a water tower by their last location. They just need to head north until they see it. Aaron says he’s not doing this without a map, and Gabriel says, it’s only an hour. Aaron says he doesn’t care, it begins to rain, and Gabriel says, fine. They’ll follow their tracks back. It starts to pour.

They come out of the woods, and Aaron asks, is this on the map? We see a warehouse, and Gabriel says, no. 

They shine flashlights around inside the warehouse. Aaron bangs on something, but there’s no response. Gabriel closes the door, and they split up. Gabriel finds a pile of Bibles, and picks one up, finding a bunch of pages torn out. Aaron hears something from behind a door, and says hello? Gabriel looks in a file cabinet. Aaron says, hello? again. He says his name is Aaron. He’s a friend. Please don’t be afraid. Hello? He opens the door, and Gabriel hears yelling, and takes off. He runs to where Aaron is, and finds Aaron standing over a wild boar. He says, it came at him, and Gabriel smiles. I say, food! Aaron says, what? and Gabriel says, nothing. That was quite the scream. Aaron says, these things are vicious, and Gabriel says, clearly… hence the scream. Gabriel starts to laugh, and says, sorry, but doubles over. Aaron says, all right. Let it all out. Is he through? Gabriel shakes his head, and keeps laughing, saying, oh Lord! Aaron smiles, and Gabriel says, know what he feels like? Aaron says, what? and Gabriel says, dinner. And drink. He holds up a bottle of whiskey.

Aaron shows Gabriel a toy, and says, remember these? Gabriel says he remembers news footage of people trampling each other at toy stores to get them. Aaron says, Grace will go nuts. They sit to eat, and Gabriel pours them each a tiny bit of whiskey. Aaron says, that’s it? That’s all they get? Why? It’s just whiskey. Gabriel says, no; it’s not just whiskey. It’s perfection. It’s rare. This bottle is easily over $2000. Aaron says, the fact people would pay that much to get drunk was a huge part of what was wrong with the world. Gabriel says, it’s not to get drunk. Smell it. Aaron does, and Gabriel asks what he’s getting. What does it remind him of? Aaron says, maple syrup… vanilla… breakfast as kid. Gabriel says, take a sip. Let it sit. Pay attention to the finish, and how the flavor evolves. Aaron says, wow, and Gabriel says, exactly. Now eat, and the meat will taste even better. Aaron says, look, he gets that it’s rare and all, but they had a rough day. He holds out his cup, and Gabriel pours some more, but Aaron continues to hold it out.  

They play poker for bottlecaps, and Aaron says he’s out. Gabriel says, he has the whiskey. Aaron considers putting his cup in the pot, but folds. Gabriel says, many thanks, but Aaron wants to see the cards. Gabriel shows him what I assume is a really poor hand, and Aaron rolls his eyes.

Aaron asks Gabriel what God would think about him gambling, and Gabriel says, He’d probably okay it. Aaron says, a card shark priest. Did he get training in whiskey class at the seminary? Gabriel says, Reverend George was his mentor. He was a good friend, and a great teacher. His first class was at a boy’s funeral; Tony Franklin. He died of cancer. He was in his freshman year of college and he died. Everyone in town came, and Reverend George performed the service. He spoke, and said all the right things without trying; it didn’t look like he was anyway. They got in the car to go to the wake, and he just took off. He floored it the whole way, saying they had to get there before the others. He was running stop signs, saying a prayer each time, and Gabriel had his eyes closed the whole way. They got there and the Reverend headed for the liquor cabinet. He asked what the Reverend was doing, and was told to shut up. The Reverend snatched off Gabriel’s collar, pulled off his own, and started pouring. The boy’s father walked in, and the Reverend walked over to him with two drinks in hand, and just started talking. He talked to everyone; put them at ease, smiling and laughing. He told Gabriel, just be with them in the moment. Speak from the heart, and don’t worry what you think they want to hear. He tried, but he’s not as good as Reverend George. Later, the Reverend told him, real ministering isn’t preaching from a pulpit. It’s talking to people one on one, on their own terms, relating to them. He smiles, and says, that’s how he knows about whiskey. That’s how he knows about a lot of things. Aaron says Gabriel needs to start preaching again. He’ll be mad if Gabriel doesn’t. When he was out there, finding people to bring to Alexandria, it felt right. Helping people was right. They haven’t done that in a long time, and they’ve got to get back to it. Gabriel says he doesn’t want to preach anymore, and Aaron asks, why? Gabriel says, does Aaron really think things will go back the way they were? Aaron says he does, and Gabriel says, they won’t. The world isn’t built for the way they used to be. Aaron says Gabriel’s head is full of Whisperers, who and what they were, and it’s not most people. Gabriel says, evil people are not the exception to the rule; they are the rule. Aaron says he’s getting sober. After the next round, he’s going to climb up on the roof and jump off head first. Gabriel says he wants to perform last rights, and Aaron says, they’re back to him again.  

Gabriel snores, and an obviously hung over and/or still drunk Aaron gets up. Gabriel asks where he’s going, and Aaron says, to piss. Gabriel goes back to sleep.

Light comes in through a dirty window, and Gabriel wakes up. He doesn’t see Aaron, and walks around the warehouse, his machete drawn. He sees a man by the entrance, and the man asks what he was cooking. Gabriel says, boar, and the man asks, how was it? Gabriel says, it was good, and the man walks into the light. He removes his hood, and we see his face is scarred. He says he’d like a bite.

The man eats, and Gabriel introduces himself, asking the man’s name. The man says Gabriel came there with a friend, and Gabriel asks if he’s seen Aaron, but the man says nothing. Gabriel asks what he wants, and the man says it seems like Gabriel is the one who wants something. They broke into his place, ate his boar, and drank his whiskey. Gabriel says it didn’t look like anyone lived there, and he asks if Gabriel thinks the boar got in there by itself. Gabriel says they were looking for food. They didn’t mean any harm. The man takes out Aaron’s metal spiked ball hand, and tosses it on the table, saying, does this say no harm to you? Gabriel says they’re part of a larger group, more than twenty armed fighters. They’ll be coming if he and Aaron don’t get back. The man wonders if they’re joining the card game. He sits back, his automatic rifle in his lap, and asks if Gabriel thinks it’s loaded. Gabriel says, there aren’t a lot of bullets left, and the man lets a load of shots fly. He asks Gabriel if he thinks he made it. Gabriel doesn’t understand, and the man says his friend is in there, pointing to the wall he shot at. He gets up, tells Gabriel, easy, and opens the door. He says, still breathing… he thinks. Gabriel says he wants to see Aaron, and the man asks why he’s still wearing his collar. Gabriel says, probably for the same reason the man keeps the Bibles. Because the Word of God still matters. It’s a light in an otherwise dark world; a reminder that light is still in them… love, mercy, forgiveness. The man says, toilet paper, and Gabriel says, what? The man says, the Bible. He like the bent pages. Gabriel suggests that he read it instead of wiping his ass with it, and the man says he read it, cover to cover. That’s why he wipes his ass with it. He says, it must be hard preaching about something Gabriel doesn’t believe in, and Gabriel says he does believe. The man says, evil people aren’t the exception to the rule, and Gabriel says he was drunk. The man says, drunk is honest. There’s nothing left but thieves and murderers. Gabriel says, there’s still goodness, but you have to look for it, and he man asks who Gabriel is trying to convince, him or himself? He’s so close. Gabriel says, close to what? and the man gets up, keeping the gun on Gabriel. He kicks he door open, and drags Aaron out, tied to a chair and gagged. He puts Aaron at the table, and takes the gag off. He unties one of Aaron’s wrists, and knocks all the bullets out of a handgun. He puts one back in, and says, one round. One in six chances. He spins it, and shuts it, and says they’ve got a choice. Each time, they can aim it at themselves, or the man sitting across from them. The winner goes home.

Gabriel says, they’re not doing this, and the man says, then they both die. Aaron asks how they know he won’t kill them both anyway? and the man says, they don’t. Aaron says, they’ll make it right. They’ll get him a new boar. The man says, it’s not about the boar, and Gabriel asks what it is about. The man says, enlightenment. Go ahead. Gabriel looks at Aaron, and picks up the gun. He puts it to his own head, and pulls the trigger, but it just clicks. Aaron looks freaked out, and the man slides the gun over to him, saying, now you. Aaron follows Gabriel’s example, and asks why the man is doing this. The man asks what happened to Aaron’s arm, and Aaron says, it was crushed in a construction accident. The man asks who blinded Gabriel, and Gabriel says, no one. It was an infection. He wanted to hear someone plucked out Gabriel’s eye or chopped off Aaron’s arm? Why? To prove how evil man is? Does the man think he or Aaron will shoot each other? The man tells Gabriel, pick it up now, and Gabriel repeats what he did the first time, and the gun only clicks. Aaron takes the gun and cocks it, and the man asks if Aaron heard that. It makes a different sound when the chamber loads. It’s his choice to make.

Aaron says, they’re not thieves or murderers. They don’t kill each other; they protect each other like family. The man asks if family is supposed to mean something. He knows about family. When he was with his brother and his brother’s family on the road, he saved their lives more times than he could count. One day, he woke up to find his brother stealing the last of his food. His brother just stared at him, then came at him with a knife. Aaron asks, what happened? and the man says he handled it. He didn’t blame his brother, because his brother gave him something valuable that day. Gabriel says, his brother didn’t give him anything. He’s just trying to make sense of what happened. He walled himself off, believing everyone left out there was evil. It was easier to accept than the truth – that he meant less to his brother than a scrap of food. Aaron says, Gabriel… but Gabriel says the man needs to hear it. He knows about looking for meaning. Most times, there is no answer, no grand design, no enlightenment. The man’s brother ripped up his face, and he’s so hate filled, he can’t see. So he murders good people for what? To prove what? The man tells Aaron, pull the trigger. Him or you? Who’s it gonna be?

Aaron starts to point the gun at his own head, and  the man says, what about Gracie. Aaron wants to see her. He knows what he’s got to do. Aaron looks like he’s going to cry, or maybe throw up, and the man says, does he want to see his daughter again or not? Aaron says he does and the man says, then what is he waiting for. Three…  two… one… Aaron starts to put the gun to his own head again, the man says, stop. That’s who people are. Gabriel says, he was wrong. People are capable of more than killing each other. They still love and sacrifice for their brothers. His brother didn’t give him truth; his brother only betrayed him. If he punishes them for his brother’s sins, he’s no better than his brother. He wasn’t always like this; none of them were. But they have to remember who they were, and know who they are. The man says he knows who he is, and Gabriel says he does too. He knows people like the man, good people who’ve been broken by the world. He doesn’t have to be; there’s another way. They have a community of real people, people who were lost and found their way back. He can too. They can help if he lets them. The man says he doesn’t believe Gabriel, but Aaron says, it’s true, and puts the gun down. He says the man should believe Gabriel because that’s who they are. The man thinks about it, sighs, and picks up the gun. He sticks it in his waistband, and cuts Aaron free.

The man says, Mays. His name is Mays. Then, stunning all of us, but mostly Mays, Gabriel takes Aaron’s metal hand, and whacks Mays with it, presumably killing him, and spattering Aaron’s face with his blood. He tells Aaron, it’s okay. They’re good. Aaron says, are they? and Gabriel says they couldn’t take him with them. He killed his brother’s family. Aaron says, let’s just go.    

Wow. I’m so disappointed. Can we not have one episode where everyone plays nice? I want Z Nation back.

Gabriel says Mays heard everything they said. Where was he hiding? Gabriel opens a hatch, and sees a lantern. They walk through the space, which is flanked by steel shelving holding all kinds of supplies. The see a restrained man, who looks like your classic hermit, cowering in the corner. Aaron says, it’s his brother. They see the brother’s wife and child dead on the floor, and Gabriel says they’re not going to hurt him. The brother is obviously scared out of his wits, and Gabriel moves forward. He undoes the restraints, but the brother suddenly has a gun. Aaron tells him, drop it, and Gabriel says they just want to help him. The brother says, help? and Gabriel says, yes; get him out of there. Aaron asks if he wants to come with them, and Gabriel says, just put the gun down. The brother sees his dead family, and in possibly the saddest moment ever, puts the gun to his own head. Gabriel and I both say, no! but he shoots himself, falling next to his wife and child. I almost want to cry.

Gabriel takes the gun, and grabs some cans of food and other supplies. Aaron looks at pictures of Mays, his brother, and his brother’s family in happier times.

Gabriel and Aaron continue to walk. We see a water tower in the distance, and Gabriel says, the water tower. It’s the last place on the map. What does Aaron think? Aaron looks sad, as he has through a lot of this episode, and he nods. He says, one more, and they walk toward the tower.  

Next time, Aaron’s nervous breakdown (just kidding). Princess and the others are captured by stormtroopers, and plan an escape. Ezekiel says they don’t know these people, and they can’t trust what they don’t know.

⚰️ On the flipside, Talking Dead was one of the funniest ever. Seth Gilliam (Gabriel), Ross Marquand (Aaron), Robert Patrick (Mays/Mays’s brother), and writer & co-executive producer Jim Barnes were guests. The lot of them were hysterically funny, with Ross doing a spot-on imitation of Sly Stallone. Robert said Ross had entertained them throughout filming with impressions, and ragged on Seth for being a lousy priest through the entire episode. We also got some nice insight into Robert’s acting technique. He said when playing the brother, he didn’t have much to work with as far as character development went, but tried to incorporate what a rescue dog would have felt like; one that’s been abused, and was afraid of strangers. I thought it was a brilliant choice. Another tidbit we got was that the whiskey brand was named after Duane Jones, who played Ben in the original Night of the Living Dead. This was probably one of the best TD episodes of all time IMO.

🏍 Not So Smooth Daryl…

I’m not sure why he was so nervous. It’s not like there was human contact.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-norman-reedus-daryl-leah-find-me-interview/

🖇 Next…

Time to move on to my other job, and hopefully making up for that lost hour this weekend. Until we meet once again at the Hospital and/or on Deck, stay safe, stay looking forward to spring, and stay on Gabriel’s good side.