Josh Jackson and Jim Vorel review each week’s episode of The Walking Dead in a seriese of letters
Jim, For all our complaints about how things wrapped up the past couple of years, The Walking Dead knows how to kick off a season. For the eighth year in a row, the opening episode was full of energy, drama and lots and lots of zombies. Alexandria, the Kingdom and the Hilltop are united—with speeches from Rick, Ezekiel and Maggie to prove it. Rick has a plan that involves some nifty set pieces, and it’s gratifying to see the good guys get a rare win.
Driving vehicles that aspire to grow up to be extras in the next Mad Max sequel, our heroes have laid siege to the Sanctuary, but only after Daryl and Rick have assassinated all the lookouts, thanks to intel from their man on the inside, Dwight. Meanwhile, Carol, Daryl, Tara and Morgan have attracted a herd of walkers to the Sanctuary’s doorstep. It’s a solid plan that shows when the oppressed all rise up together, they can beat their oppressors.
That said, some of the frustrations we had with the show last season were back in full force. I can’t have been the only one screaming at my TV for someone to simply shoot Negan, who just walked outside fully exposed so he can monologue a bit too. You have the villain and four of his lieutenants facing a siege of protected, armed people who’ve been pushed beyond their breaking point. Surely someone brought a rifle with a scope? Or an automatic rifle that they’ve tried to aim? Rick Grimes suddenly became Rark Grames once he started spraying bullets aimlessly above everyone’s heads.
In addition to the Attack on The Sanctuary, we saw glimpses of two periods in the future, one shows a distraught Grimes presumably in the near future after some portion of the highly involved plan falls apart. And then much further in the future where a graying Grimes lives with his family in an Alexandria stable enough to hold a festival. Jim, I’m curious what you made of either of these and their connection to his revenge on Negan.
There wasn’t much time for human interest or character development except to continue the redemption of Father Gabriel Stokes, who once locked his congregation out of his church, dooming them to get eaten by walkers. Gabriel is not only Rick’s gun-toting confidante, but he risks his life to save the man who sold his people out to Negan, Gregory. Of course, Gregory betrays him, too, leaving Gabriel to seek refuge in the same trailer where Negan is hiding.
So Jim, what did you think of “Mercy,” the 100th episode of The Walking Dead? Did it feel big enough to hold that distinction, as well as the Season 8 opener? What’s going to happen in that dark trailer with Negan, Gabriel and Lucille? Did you need your shitting pants? Negan says you’re gonna? And, most importantly, where in the zombie apocalypse does one find a pair of shitting pants?
