The Walking Dead: A Return to Some Sort of Form

SPOILERS AHEAD

The last two mid-season finales have been either massive anti-climaxes or full on f**k-ups. The latter, the murder of poor Beth, was the first time the show took things too far for me. Yet it drew me back in, as it often does and now we’re at this point. Two Glenn deaths, one real and one fake, more misery and then some later.[[MORE]]

This episode was first and foremost, a return to form for the show since last season and the best episode since the season premiere. On The Walking Dead’s terms anyway. You can’t really put it alongside better dramas as it won’t win. But, in its own nihilistic way, when the show is good, it holds its own for the people who’ve stuck by it all these years.

The last seven episodes have been a slog, with no need to split the episodes amongst different groups (as this episode so adequately proves can be done in one) and apart from some decent stuff with Daryl and Carol, it’s all been fairly rote. It’s all just been stuff to make Negan seem worse than worse when we’ve already been given plenty of proof at the beginning of the season.

It would’ve been smart, surely, to give him some backstory, make him human instead of a cartoon villain. Yet I can’t fault the writers for going for one final stab at making us scared of him as a concept rather than a non-ridiculous person.

‘Hearts Still Beating’ was most certainly the best episode the show has seen in a while. Not just because it had tension, action, blood, guts and the whole shebang. Yet, crucially, I felt it had nuance and character work that was sorely lacking from the previous seven episodes of seen it all before.

Yep, two people got knocked off. The deaths were shocking, as in they were sudden, but they were clearly the most obvious candidates. I would’ve bet safe money on Spencer getting it and the extra kill was only to get another surprise.

I fell for it too. I was scared for Rosita. She’s not been the show’s most well-developed character but damn in that moment I didn’t want her to die. She tried to point blank shoot Negan!!! As a moment of sheer ballsiness, this is her taking a stand and it would’ve worked if Lucille didn’t happen to get in the way.

Perhaps that was worse. Negan loves that bat and shooting her was just enough of a motivation for someone to die with the unfortunate Olivia getting the bullet. Also, Eugene admits to making the offending item and replaces Daryl as Negan’s captive. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.

Still, I frickin’ admire Rosita and her resolve in this episode. Her scene with Gabriel in the church helped to flesh out her motivations somewhat and when Negan stood over her, a wounded Lucille in his hand, I prayed that she would be spared.

I also held out hope that Aaron would survive. Mainly because I think he’s still got more to give as a character but also the last thing the show needs is to brutally kill one of the shows few remaining gay characters for shock value.

Essentially, then, this was all build up to the final scenes as Rick and co. arrive at the Hilltop, reunite with Daryl (daaaw) and essentially start up a revolution.

I must say, despite all the show has done to keep viewers away, I’ll be damned if that final scene of them all smiling and ready to stand up to their oppressors wasn’t a little moving. And hooray for Michonne. She convinced Rick to fight back. For them, for Judith, for everyone.

After travelling to find that they were, indeed, all outnumbered by Negan and the Saviours, it was perhaps even more exciting to see her convince Rick to fight back despite it. With Daryl back amongst them, Maggie leading the Hilltop and Morgan (and maybe Carol) about to convince Ezekiel to join the revolution, it’s very clear where the rest of the season is heading.

If only they can keep it up. I want this show to be good. I really do. Yet, it’s just been tough. It’s not that I’ve had any particular problem with Negan (although I did find him the most menacing this week, particularly his rage at the injury of Lucille) but he’s been fairly one note, as of late.

Still, this season has done some things right. I’m enjoying the small touches. The little developments and strengths for the female characters. In particular, I liked when Sasha and Rosita shared an affectionate look, after all, their disagreement over Abraham felt forced for so long.

So, maybe the show still has some life left in it. This wasn’t the episode to bring people back but it worked for people like me who are still trying to get along with it amicably.

As with the deaths of Spencer (hooray) and Olivia (eh) I can see what’s coming in the future, yet, as with this episode, I was still in suspense. I still recoiled when I thought Rosita was going to die and I still have a soft spot for this group of characters.

As much as the show tests my patience, I’m invested in seeing these people reach the end of the line and maybe that’s the shows best trick. It makes us care even when we don’t think we can anymore.