The Walking Dead – Not Tomorrow Yet

By starrymag | March 8, 2016

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

Last week, the group followed Jesus to The Hilltop. (Yes, I was waiting to say that.) We met Gregory, we saw Maggie step up in Rick’s place as leader for a bit to negotiate a deal for food and Negan’s reach started to come into view. Last night’s episode definitely amped up that scary factor, with a touch of romance. The hunt for Negan is on!

 

“These are the best beet and acorn cookies I’ve ever had.”

 

The episode starts off with a music montage of Carol (Melissa McBride) going through the pantry, having to pick through the slim choices of food. She picks up items like water chestnuts and beets, grimly resigning to the idea that she needs to make it work for whatever she’s concocting. Carol is in the process of going through all items when an idea strikes her: go out into the forest for some acorns. And like a farmer going out into the garden, Carol forages for acorns, kills a walker along the way and returns to her kitchen. She has come up with roasted acorn and beet cookies to distribute to the community. In an effort to continue looking the part of clean-cut community member, she coordinates a mother-like ensemble to wear during the distribution of food. Have to keep up appearances!

 

With cookies in tow, Carol starts handing them to the community members, purposefully stopping at Tobin’s house last with a batch of cookies for him. Tobin (Jason Douglas) is at first reluctant to try Carol’s cookies, but then relents and is pleased with the results. There is an air of flirtation between Carol and Tobin, but before the flirtation continues, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the group return with the food for Alexandria. And as quick as they return, Rick calls for a town meeting.

 

“You don’t have to carry that.”

 

Carol is standing in Alexandria’s graveyard when Morgan (Lennie James) approaches her. They haven’t spoken since the incident with the Wolves, but Carol has kept his secret about not harboring the Wolf (Benedict Samuel) that took Denise (Merritt Wever) hostage when Alexandria was being overrun.

 

Morgan assures Carol that it’s not her place to keep this secret, that it’s his burden to carry. But Carol will help protect Morgan anyway, because the truth would hurt him and Denise. As the conversation ends and Carol walks away from Morgan, we see that she is standing in front of Sam’s grave and has placed a cookie there for him.

 

“Where there’s life, there’s possibility.”

 

At Rick’s meeting in the church, the townspeople have gathered to hear about Negan and the deal that was struck with The Hilltop for their supplies. Rick explains to his group that in order to keep Alexandria working, they need to work with The Hilltop and carry through with their end of the deal in defeating Negan and The Saviors. It will require bloodshed to do this, but Negan and his group (as evidenced by prior episodes) are not good men.

 

While Rick is explaining this to the group, Morgan sits quietly in one of the back pews, conflicted about the plan to resort to violence. When Rick asks if anyone objects to the plan, Morgan steps up, saying that if Negan and the group know through words that they can beat them then fighting won’t be enough. Rick doesn’t agree, arguing with Morgan that fighting is the only solution.

 

Aaron (Ross Marquand) chimes in, knowing that if the Wolves are any indication of what’s out there, that while he doesn’t like it, blood will need to spill for the community. The plan to go after Negan is set, with or without Morgan’s acquiescence.

 

“You’re something else to me.”

 

As members of the group prepare to go out, we see the couples of Alexandria preparing. With Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Glenn (Steven Yeun), there’s the conflict of whether or not Maggie should be going on this trip. She’s pregnant and protecting their child is on Glenn’s list of priorities. Unfortunately, Maggie feels responsible for the group needing to take care of Negan as it was mentioned in the negotiations, so she wants to go.

 

Carol is in her room, writing in a journal. She’s documenting the number of human lives she has had to take. And we get to see that tally: 18 people total. While trying to sleep, Carol becomes restless and finds her way outside, cigarette in hand. During her walk, Carol finds Tobin on his front porch and they continue their banter from earlier. Tobin explains to Carol how she is a “mom” to the community, always making sure everyone is taken care of and doing the things a mother would do to protect. When Carol asks Tobin if he sees her like that, he admits that she is more to him and they share a kiss.

 

Denise and Tara (Alanna Masterson) are preparing for Tara’s two-week departure with Heath (Corey Hawkins). It’s during this time that Tara admits to Denise that she loves her and wishes she could come with on their trip. Denise, a little taken back by Tara’s admission, reminds her that she’s the only doctor in Alexandria so she can’t leave. And as to Tara’s confession, she’ll give her an answer when Tara returns from the run.

 

“When I first met you, I thought you were the last woman on Earth. You’re not.”

 

Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) is packing up his gear when Rosita (Christian Serratos) sees that he is taking more than needed for their trip, even cracking a joke about it. It is here Abraham tells Rosita he is leaving for good, effectively breaking up with her. (From the prior episode, Knots Untie, we saw Abraham come to that conclusion when the necklace Rosita gave him was left on the ground.)

 

Rosita becomes furious, wanting to know why Abraham came to this decision. In an almost cold and callous manner, Abraham explains to Rosita how when they had initially gotten together, she was the only woman left. But now, with finding new people and Alexandria thriving, Abraham is realizing that there are other choices. When Abraham leaves, Rosita sees Eugene (Josh McDermitt) come to the door outside the bedroom, snacking on one of Carol’s cookies and commenting on how good it is. Frustrated and hurt, she slams the door in Eugene’s face.

 

“They want Gregory’s head, right? We’re gonna give it to him.”

 

During the couples’ montage, Rick and Company are in discussion with Andy from the Hilltop community. Andy is drawing them a map of Negan’s compound so that they can infiltrate with minimal chaos.

 

In order to get to The Saviors, Rick devises a plan that entails killing a walker that resembles Gregory, so that they can deliver Gregory’s head as Negan had requested. This would enable the group to get through the front door of the compound without alerting the others and take out Negan and his group.

 

The group may not have a lot to go on, but as Daryl (Norman Reedus) points out in that moment: “We’ve done more with less.” And so, the plan is set for the compound raid.

 

“I’m still who I was, I think.”

 

Before arriving to the compound, the group exits the vehicles to scout for a walker head that resembles Gregory. On this trip, Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) has finally started showing more of a backbone, as evidenced by his presence. He assures Rick that he is ready and willing to start fighting and that he has him to thank for showing the path.

 

Carol has come on this trip and when Rosita walks over to her, they discuss Morgan’s stand at the meeting. They know that the fighting and killing has to occur in order for the rest of the group to eat and survive. And even though they know that Morgan harbored the wolf, continue to keep his secret from the others.

 

We cut to Heath and Glenn who are out taking out the walkers to locate a head for their plan. Both Heath and Glenn are nervous because they have never taken a human life before, only the walkers. Glenn shares with Heath that it’s a nightmare he has, that this will change things having to cross that line.

 

Once all “candidates” are assembled, Rick, Glenn and Andy choose the walker head that most resembles Gregory (Xander Berkeley). Andy advises Rick that the nose looks off, to which Rick punches the face a few times to make it look broken. And since Andy would be the one delivering Gregory to The Saviors, as he was in the group that returned after Negan took Craig (a Hilltop community member) it would be believable that Andy fought him and in turn broke his own hand fighting. (In Knots Untie, Andy broke his hand during an altercation with Rick and his group.) Here, Andy tells Rick that Negan is not as scary as he is and walks off.

 

Glenn confronts Rick about his fears of Maggie needing to be on this mission with them, as he does not want her here in the first place, especially with a baby on the way. Rick tells Glenn that it was her choice. But Maggie will stay back with Carol while the rest of the group goes in.

 

“We take’em out.”

 

The plan is in motion. Andy comes out with Gregory’s head as two Saviors greet him at the gate. Their language is crude, their attire dirty and weapons poised on Andy while he produces the goods promised. When one Savior goes in to retrieve Craig, Daryl comes up behind the other Savior and slits his throat. They quickly remove the body so that when the other Savior comes out, it does not cause any alarm.

 

When the Savior with Craig (Myke Holmes) emerges, Michonne (Danai Gurira) effectively puts her sword through his chest and Craig is now safe with the group. And then, the group goes into action as they enter Negan’s compound, ready to finish the job.

 

The group begins entering rooms, stabbing the Saviors in the head to kill them and prevent them from turning into walkers. When Glenn and Heath go into a room, Glenn struggles, but effectively makes his first kill, crying as he completes the task. Before Heath can take care of the other Savior in the room, Glenn makes the decision for Heath and kills the second guy as well. The room is cleared, but not before Glenn and Heath notice various Polaroids on the wall, various individuals with bludgeoned heads.

 

“So you know what you’re fighting for.”

 

Father Gabriel waits in the car with Tara and Jesus (Tom Payne), keeping watch over the door while the group is in there. Tara (Alanna Masterson) asks Father Gabriel if he’s still a priest, to which he replies he is. Tara then explains that she feels bad that she blurted out that she loves Denise. Father Gabriel asks her if she does, indeed, love Denise. Tara admits that she does, which prompts Jesus to let her know that that is why they’re fighting.

 

Inside, Abraham and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) come across one of the Saviors, but they’re too late as he pulls the alarm and chaos begins. With the handful of the group outside, they get ready to fight – Maggie and Carol included as they hear the alarms from their lookout and go to help out.

 

Tara, Father Gabriel and Jesus prepare to go in and fight as well, ready to help the others as any Saviors try to flee the compound.

 

“If it wasn’t us, it was gonna be you.”

 

Inside absolute chaos has begun. The group is scattered in the compound, fighting off all the Saviors that have woken up and started to return fire. The madness happening indoors has escalated to a full-fledged fire-fight. The group starts taking out the Saviors in a blaze of gunfire, while any Saviors that have decided to flee the compound are being dealt with as efficiently as possible.

 

Glenn and Heath manage to find their way to the weapons and close the door behind them. Both grabbing a gun, they make Swiss cheese out of the door. When they open the door they come across gunned-down Saviors. The good guys have won the battle.

 

While outside, Father Gabriel comes across one of the Saviors that has been injured. The injured Savior taunts Father Gabriel by telling him that him and his group are dead. And while in the past Father Gabriel was very scared to defend and kill, he effectively takes out the taunting Savior while reciting a Bible verse. The fight is over.

 

“I just wanna know which one of them is Negan.”

 

With the fight over, the group is ready to head home, preparing to get into their cars. Heath and Tara head out for their two-week run. The group lets out a collective sigh and wonders which one of those men was Negan.

 

Just then, a man on a motorcycle comes out of the compound, which captures Daryl’s interest. Daryl shoots down the rider and tackles him to the ground. The rider has Daryl’s bike that was stolen from him earlier in the season, which raises more questions. Daryl, now furious, demands answers and gets them in the form of a female voice over the walkie-talkie, threatening to hurt a “Carol” and a “Maggie” if Rick and his group don’t stop what they’re doing at that moment.

 

Rick, trying to be diplomatic, is ready to cut a deal for Carol and Maggie. Apparently, Negan’s group is stealthier than originally imagined.

 

The Final Verdict:

 

This episode was jam-packed with more action and moving storyline than I could have ever imagined! First off, Carol getting a romantic storyline was refreshing. I know so many people are disappointed that it wasn’t Daryl, but I love that Tobin was the man in question. Tobin’s character always seemed to be into Carol, ever since their initial meeting in Season 5. Carol needs a man who was not like her ex-husband and Tobin embodies those things. He’s a fighter, but not in the way Carol is. He acknowledges that Carol is strong and he likes that about her.

 

This was also a Glenn-centric episode. That struggle in having to take a life really resonated with Glenn, so much so that he refused to let Heath make that same decision. And the face that Glenn makes when he makes his first kill was heart-breaking. You see him having to make this decision that truly breaks his own “moral compass.” Glenn has made it a point not to kill anyone until now, but I wonder what will happen in the future because he has crossed that line.

 

And Abraham…His break-up with Rosita was brutal, but necessary. From my prior recap, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I never imagined Abraham would be so cold in how he ended things. Rosita truly loved him, even if he didn’t love her in the way that she needed. Of course, leave it to Eugene to be himself during this moment, even if Rosita can’t handle it. I truly hope that she moves on from Abraham. Perhaps Spencer?

 

Father Gabriel was another welcomed surprise. He moved on from his scared persona and truly embraced the need to defend and thrive. His fighting style of quoting Bible verses while ending the life of his enemy, I can’t wait to see this new and improved Gabriel keep going.

 

All in all, this episode embodied the insanity of the amped-up back half, with showing our favorite characters in more human light. They’re breaking up, getting together and fighting to protect their families. It’s refreshing to know that to our characters, there’s more than just fighting to stay alive. There’s fighting to have a life.

I can’t wait for next week as we find out who’s the other end of that walkie-talkie….and the fate of Carol and Maggie! As this season progresses, I am convinced the writers are doing everything in their power to make sure that each and every one of us is coming out of every episode shaking and in dire need of therapy.