The Walking Dead – Knots Untie

By starrymag | February 29, 2016

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

So since we last recapped, let’s refresh. Rick and Daryl went all “Dukes of Hazzard,” we met Jesus, lost the food supply, and “Richonne” (Rick & Michonne) happened! And if you’re like me, you noticed at the beginning of last episode (after watching the episode again) that Rick didn’t put his wedding ring on. (Alluding much?)

 

But now we’re back, and after meeting one of the two important characters for the second half of this season, let’s get to this monster of an episode!

 

“You can’t teach chemistry.”

 

So in Season 6A, there were hints of a Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) coupling. As this episode begins, we see these two coming through the gates after patrolling outside the walls of Alexandria. Abraham flirts heavily with Sasha and discusses his own reservations about Maggie being pregnant. When Abraham mentions that he’ll see her tomorrow on their watch, Sasha responds with that she is switching shifts for patrol and allowing Eugene to take her place on Abraham’s shift.

 

Taken back by her confession, Abraham reluctantly says goodbye as Sasha walks away, cutting to a scene of Rosita (Christian Serratos) in bed with him. Abraham is with Rosita, not Sasha, which creates a love triangle conundrum of sorts in his own mind. Rosita, who is oblivious to this new development, gives Abraham a necklace with a piece of brake light as the charm. Her reasoning? “I thought your neck looked a little lonely.” We’ll check in on Abraham later on.

 

“Babe, it’ll grow.”

 

Finally, a Glenn and Maggie scene after their action-packed reunion in the 6B Season Premiere. Maggie (Lauren Cohan) is outside preparing the open space for growing crops when Glenn (Steven Yeun) comes out to join her. Maggie looks forward to the idea of sustainability and growth within the community, while Glenn is more reluctant and a little nervous of the future. But Maggie, hopeful as ever, assures Glenn that there are only good things ahead.

 

In the distance, Glenn and Maggie catch Denise (Merritt Weaver) and Abraham running into a home as Jesus has left the building in search of Rick (unbeknownst to everyone) and they follow suit.

 

“Hi, I’m Jesus.”

 

After his rather grand entrance in the last episode, Jesus (Tom Payne) is in Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) house, waiting patiently for him and Michonne (Danai Gurira) to get dressed so that they can talk. Since he broke into Rick’s house, Carl (Chandler Riggs) finds Jesus on the stairs waiting and draws a gun. Almost immediately after that, Richonne makes their first public appearance, which Carl now witnesses.

 

As everyone else comes to the rescue, Jesus sits down with Rick and Company, explaining that he is part of a bigger community of survivors and was out scavenging for people to trade with. In the zombie apocalypse, it’s become more about trading supplies to keep communities alive and thriving. The group, astonished that there are more people, want to know more about this barter system and where Jesus is from.  And here, Jesus utters those words that we have been longing to hear for six seasons:

“Your world’s about to get a whole lot bigger.”

 

“Let’s chew up some asphalt.”

 

The group is ready to go on a road-trip. As Daryl (Norman Reedus) gets to fixing up the camper for their journey, Denise shows her gratitude to him by handing him a cookie (or what looks like it’s supposed to be a cookie) so that he keeps his strength up. Daryl is grateful, even though he thinks it’ll taste awful.

 

Carl and Rick have a father-son talk about Rick and Michonne’s relationship, which Carl is surprisingly okay with them together. When Rick tells Carl to drop Judith off with Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) before they leave, Carl tells his father that he would rather stay behind and protect Alexandria while the rest of the group goes out.

 

And so, Jesus leads the group to his home.

 

“We’re trying to build something.”

 

With Abraham on the trip and still conflicted about Maggie and Glenn’s choice, he makes an analogy to Glenn, asking when he was “pouring the Bisquick” (his metaphor for sex) did he intentionally try to get Maggie pregnant. Here, Glenn explains to Abraham how they want to create and grow from their circumstances, building towards something new rather than shying away from it. It’s obvious that Abraham still does not understand why, but for now he’ll pretend to understand what Glenn is saying and leave it at that. (And advise Glenn that he’d rather be cautious than hopeful.)

 

After their conversation, the scene cuts to Rick and Michonne in the driver and passenger seats, where Michonne sees an overturned car on the side of the road. As it turns out, that overturned vehicle upsets Jesus, since his people were in that car and he asks that they pull over to find them before continuing the trip. Seeing a nearby building where the group potentially went to hide, Rick handcuffs Jesus, has Maggie watch him at gunpoint and the remainder of the group go in search of the scattered crew.

 

“We’re with Jesus. Let’s go.”

 

Once Rick, Abraham, Daryl, Glenn and Michonne make their way inside, they take out any walkers and come across the missing members of Jesus’s community. Once all are accounted for, the trip continues.

 

In the camper, Glenn and Maggie meet one of the rescued community members, Dr. Harlan, who happens to be the resident doctor and was an obstetrician before everything started. With Maggie’s pregnancy, the doctor is more than happy to offer services to the expecting couple.

 

Meanwhile, in the front of the camper, Rick hits a patch of mud and the camper becomes useless. But it does not matter, because Jesus announces that they have arrived and with such pride in his community introduces the group to the Hilltop. (Yes, I may have cracked a joke or two about Jesus leading his group to the Hilltop. It’s rather funny having a character named Jesus on a show that airs on Sunday, right?)

 

And so, we’re introduced to another comic book reference: The Hilltop community.

 

“I like you people. I trust you. Trust us.”

 

As the group approach the gates to Hilltop, Jesus has to talk Rick down as the guards at the gate initially ask to confiscate their weapons. That empty threat made only because at Hilltop, they don’t have any ammo and resort to fashioning their weapons out of anything they can. The community is a more peaceful one, opposed to Rick’s group fighting style.

 

But the gates are opened to reveal a thriving community like Alexandria, yet different. Jesus ends up giving an impromptu tour of the compound, highlighting how the community was built around a landmark called Barrington House, a historic home turned museum. The world has definitely expanded with the introduction of another group of survivors.

 

“We can help each other.”

 

During the tour, we get yet another introduction of a comic book character: Gregory (Xander Berkeley). He is the leader of the Hilltop community. While Rick is ready to go back to Alexandria, Gregory pushes the group to go clean up and stay a while. Reluctantly, the group listens to Gregory and head further into Barrington House to wash up, but not without Rick telling Maggie that she will need to be the liaison instead of him. Maggie will remain calmer and more diplomatic in this situation, while Rick advises her he would consider brute force.

 

Once freshened up, Maggie goes downstairs into Gregory’s office to discuss how both communities can work together. After thanking Maggie for saving the members of Hilltop after the crash, Gregory puts on the used car salesman charm. Despite mentions of Glenn, Gregory starts to flirt with Maggie and talks about how they can help each other if Maggie’s group is willing to work for their food. Maggie, a little put off by the attitude, doesn’t agree to Gregory’s terms.

 

With no deal reached and Gregory unwilling to back down from his offer, Jesus assures Rick and his group that he will talk to his leader and convince him to change his mind.

 

“You ever think about it? Settling down?”

 

While Maggie is in with Gregory, Abraham and Daryl are sitting outside of those office doors. Abraham, who clearly is still grappling with the decision of who to choose, starts to engage Daryl in a discussion about the prospect of a future. Daryl, who obviously does not engage in romantic relationships, doesn’t quite know how to answer Abraham. What we do know about Abraham from Season 5 flashbacks is that he had lost his wife and two sons in the zombie apocalypse.

 

It’s obvious that Abraham is still having difficulties in his decision of Sasha v. Rosita, but unable to come to terms with who is right for him. What it comes down to is the future and what will make that future worth his while.

 

“Negan.”

 

As Jesus continues to talk to the group, more Hilltop community members return from their mission, minus a group member. Everyone, including Rick and Company, head outside to see Ethan, one of the returning members, running up. Ethan’s brother, Craig, has been taken hostage by Negan and his group, The Saviors.

 

Gregory asks Ethan what it will take to get Craig back and in turn Ethan delivers a message from Negan by stabbing Gregory. It’s obvious that Negan wants Gregory dead and has advised his community members to finish the task as an exchange.

 

A fight breaks out as the men who just returned go against Rick’s group. Rick tackles Ethan, who tells Rick that death is the only way to save his brother, before Rick stabs him in the throat. Another community member tries to go after Rick, but Michonne gets protective of her man and knocks her down without breaking a sweat. (Remind me to NEVER mess with Michonne.) Abraham ends up on the ground, being possibly choked to death before Daryl steps in and disables the attacker by bending his arm back. In that moment, Abraham looks almost at peace, like he has finally made a decision. And in case anyone is wondering who, the brake light necklace Rosita gave him ends up forgotten on the ground.

 

“Who is he?”

 

After the brawl settles, Jesus sits the group down and explains to Rick who Negan is. When the Hilltop community was first formed, Negan and his Saviors showed up, killing a 16 year old boy named Rory by beating him to death and formed a reluctant alliance. The Hilltop agreement was that half of everything was given to Negan in order to keep the peace. Otherwise, the consequences would be the destruction and overtaking of Hilltop.

 

When the question comes up of how many men Negan has, Jesus is not sure, saying that at one point he saw him with a group of 20 men. As Daryl and Abraham listen to this, Daryl is convinced that Negan tells a great story and that they can beat him. When him, Abraham and Sasha were confronted by the Saviors, they left them in pieces using a rocket launcher. This prompts Daryl to barter for the group, asking for “food, medicine and one of them cows.” In turn, they will take care of Negan so that he no longer bothers them.

 

“It’s gonna cost us something.”

 

The group waits patiently for Jesus to return from his conversation with Gregory after this new proposal. When he does return, Gregory requests Maggie to meet with him instead of Rick. Maggie walks in Gregory’s bedroom, where he lies in bed heavily medicated, but alive. Where at first Maggie was reluctant to strike a deal with Gregory, she is ready now. Hilltop can offer them the sustainability that they have needed at Alexandria. And in exchange, they will offer protection. But not without a price.

 

While Gregory mulls over this development, Maggie demands half of everything – especially since Negan already asks for half and will keep taking more and more until nothing is left. If Hilltop is willing to give half of everything, Alexandria will work with them. The agreement is made and the group will be leaving with food for their return trip as a pre-paid exchange for taking care of Negan.

 

As Rick and Michonne get onto the camper, both agree that they have to fight and win. It’s inevitable for Alexandria to continue working and their world to work on a larger scale.

 

Meanwhile, the scene cuts to Glenn and Maggie with Dr. Harland, who is taking an ultrasound of the baby. When the group is on the camper, Glenn and Maggie pass that ultrasound around to Michonne, Daryl and Abraham, reminding them that this is what they’re fighting for: the future.

 

The Final Verdict:

 

This is an episode driven by dialogue with a touch of action. More than anything though, the story drove forward in HUGE ways!

 

I appreciated the love triangle between Sasha, Abraham and Rosita, even though it’s really not necessary for the show to thrive. But it does give us Abraham having to dial down on his aggression and focus on actual issues. He did lose his wife and sons in this post-apocalyptic world, so now we see him grappling with feelings for two women and the choice he will have to make. It does seem like he leans towards Sasha when that necklace is left on the group, but we shall see. This triangle has the potential to get ugly.

 

Also, props to Abraham for making Daryl a little uncomfortable with the relationship talk. We all know Daryl is not one for romance, so the conversation is lost on him. Although, I will admit that I’d love to see a new character come in at some point, maybe a few seasons down the line. Hey, even in a world filled with walkers, everyone deserves a little love.

We’re also granted another episode where Negan is mentioned, but not seen. Yet we are witnessing his reach. He’s violent, ruthless and expects results. Daryl doesn’t seem intimidated by him and why should he? The Saviors in that 6B Season Premiere were blown to bits!

 

Jesus has started to grow on me a little bit. He’s a community man, always trying to work towards the best solution. In a way, I get a sense that he and Rick are not too different from one another. Both are passionate about making this working relationship work.

 

Rick and Michonne threw us all for a loop last week with their relationship, but I applaud the writers on keeping the romance as low-key as the characters. We see sweet little moments like hand-holding and protective Michonne, but it’s not gratuitous. This is a show about a world in the zombie apocalypse. I’m glad that the writers keep their focus on the story of survival rather than make it hook-up central.

 

And, of course, I can’t forget Maggie and Glenn. I feel that the pregnancy instills in the both of them a sense of hope, a future to look forward to. Maggie lost so much in prior seasons (her father, her sister, her home and her faith) that I’m proud to see this new and improved Maggie Greene. She’s ready to throw down the gauntlet and negotiate Alexandria’s future. And when Rick says to her “Deanna was right about you,” it hit me right in the feels! Overall, one powerful episode that gives us humor, action, drama and just a touch of romance.

 

 

Join me for next week’s recap as the search for Negan begins!