Be warned! This review will cover aspects of the episode. Spoilers will lurk like groaning walkers...
After a resolution to the Rick Grimes story that turned out to be less an end and more the kick-off for a new chapter, the big question the show must answer is: what's life on The Walking Dead after Rick. And though it has always been about more than just the lawman-turned-leader, the void to fill is a considerable one. It's not one that Who Are You Now? adequately manages to overcome. Sure, we have the compelling likes of Michonne, with Danai Gurira as always acting the hell out of material that deserved another pass or two. But did the show truly need to saddle her with The Cowboy Toy Of Memory? This is not a series known for its subtlety when it comes to making points or expressing emotions, but that was particularly egregious. A much better example was her visiting the site of the bridge explosion, conveying in one shot more information than a hundred cowboys. The communities have not regrouped, for one.
At least we got to see her more actively involved in deciding who stays at Alexandria. With the time jump that ended last week's episode continued here, we're introduced to the new characters who will share at least some of the show's increasingly crowded screen time. We were tempted to agree with Michonne – do we really want new people around. Even if our reasoning was for one of sheer effort trying to keep them all in our head rather than security reasons. It was at least interesting to see what Alexandria has evolved into – employing a council to decide matters such as dealing with new arrivals. And there's more creative drive on show in sending the newbies elsewhere than just letting them in with no arguments.
Outside of that storyline, there was Carol, off on a supply run with Henry (Matt Lintz played the aged-up version of the stick-swishing lad). A little like the tale of Eugene of Rosita this week (see below), it at first seemed to serve little purpose, and indeed rarely came to life until the end. Yet again we see the Saviors struggling to keep things going, and here apparently roaming the pathways setting traps for unwary travellers (oh, Henry, have you learned nothing from your surrogate parents?). It honestly felt like a repeat of stories we've seen time and time again on the show, particularly where the Saviors are concerned, before wrapping up with Carol torching the group. So, yeah... she hasn't lost that side of herself, then. Oh, and Darryl in the intervening years has apparently become some sort of Aragorn, living by himself on the land.
As for Eugene and Rosita's run-in with a horde of walkers? It was mostly spent with Eugene trying to get up the "testicular fortitude" to admit he has feelings for her, even as she's with Gabriel. And then the fall, telegraphed like an episode of Casualty (ER for you American readers), leading to a close call with the walkers who have something new about them (see the end section)
The time jump might have introduced some new dynamics into the world (looks like the former leader of the Sanctuary really has become Unkie Negan to the older Judith, even if he's trying to teach her lessons about how the world should be that she already knows), but it didn't do much of anything to fix the series' essential issues. Some storylines had moments of flare and decent interactions, but it all mostly felt like what has gone before.
Who Are You Now? asks the question of the show and its characters, and while some of them have moved on, the show really hasn't. Sure, it wants to present us with new challenges as the communities deal with aging buildings, but the basics remain the same. And now it appears we're on the brink of meeting yet another big threat. Wash, rinse, repeat. Or growl, stumble, repeat, perhaps?
In summary
Highlight: Carol dishing out flaming justice.
Lowlight: Everything with Eugene and Rosita.
Kill of the week: Carol's Savior enemies.
Quote of the week: "Doesn't matter whether you're good or bad on the inside. The numbers don't care." – Judith could almost be talking about the ratings.
Zombie of the week: The walker trapped in the tree, part of the slightly obvious "life goes on" montage that kicked off the episode.
MVP: Danai Gurira for delivering those monologues.
The big question: Can the Walkers really talk now? Or is there some other reason? Comic book readers likely know the answer, but as TV viewers, we'll have to wait to find out.
Read this season's reviews
Read last season's reviews below...
The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 10: *The Lost And The Plunderers
The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 13: *Do Not Send Us Astray
The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 14: *Still Gotta Mean Something
The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9pm on AMC in the States and Mondays at 9pm on Fox.
