The Walking Dead Review: Episode 806 – The King, the Widow, and Rick

TV Description: With things looking up for Rick and the group, an argument breaks out at the hilltop; the consequences of the decision are life versus death.

[Warning: Spoilers Ahead]

PREVIOUSLY ON THE WALKING DEAD

Negan and Gabriel talk about their pasts and their sins in a walker-surrounded RV as the herd floods the sanctuary. In the fortress the lieutenants, including Eugene and Dwight, discuss how to stop the invading walkers and who is the traitor among them. Eventually Negan and Gabriel escape and get back into the safety of the sanctuary, ending the troubles among the lieutenants and workers. In the last scene of the episode though Gabriel is discovered sick in his cell, begging for Eugene to help him get a doctor back to the Hilltop.

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Before I really go into the episode, I just want to say that I think the title of this episode is not fitting for what happens here. The King (Ezekiel), the Widow (Maggie), and Rick don’t have very much screen time in this episode and their actions aren’t very big or long this episode. The characters who move the story in The King, The Widow, and Rick are actually Carl, Michonne, Rosita, and Carol. So what do your three leaders do this episode? Well Ezekiel is still depressed over the loss of his people and Shiva, Maggie has to deal with the Savior prisoners at the Hilltop, and Rick gets captured by the garbage people (which I’ve learned the fans call, “Heapsters”) after they reject his new attempt to sway them to his side. But beyond that bad title, the episode isn’t too bad. The action is minimal and it’s mostly just a calming episode before the tension grows in the last two episodes of this first half of season 8.

Maggie has the longest time of the three leaders on screen as we watch her decide what to do with the Saviors, talk with Aaron and Enid, and lock up Gregory in the new cage. That last one was a bit of bother to me because while many distrust Gregory (which is understandable), I’ve learned that a little mercy and forgiveness can turn an enemy into a useful ally. He might not be the best fighter, but Gregory could be a useful advisor with his harsh beliefs and his possibly cunning. But still, a bit harsh how they throw him into the cage with the other Saviors. Still, I guess there more reasons to lock him up than leave him free. Even with all this though Maggie is more than ready to kill any of the Saviors that step out of line. So far only one of them is being rebellious and that of course is Jared (Ooooooo, how I hate him). The other Saviors actually do things to stop Jared from causing trouble, which does look like there is good reasoning in some of them. Maybe some of them could join Rick’s rebellion.

We know at least one person who will be joining Rick this episode: The Muslim man from the first episode of this season, Siddiq. Carl, after somehow getting out Alexandria, finds him in the woods killing a walker he got into a rather clever trap. This new character was instantly likeable, with a great personality, strong acting from his actor, Avi Nash, and interesting additions to him such as knowing exactly how many walkers he’s killed since the apocalypse began (237 to be precise), believing in killing the dead in order to free their souls, and most of all how he’s that example of a person who’s been out on his own for too long. We see him as cautious, nervous, and surprised by Carl’s generosity in inviting him to Alexandria. With new characters, especially like this, we’d expect them to try and kill one of the main characters when their back is turned. Siddiq though is different, fighting with Carl as a team and amazed that Carl would consider saving him when he’s just a lone, insignificant guy. With his appealing personality, beliefs, and expert trap-building skills, Siddiq might become a very valuable asset to rebellion and the cast of the show.

Just when we think though the fight with the Saviors is over for this season (or at least until the Saviors are able to free the sanctuary), Michonne and Rosita, for some reason, decide to go out hunting for them and through luck stumble upon a small Savior compound with a machine that could ruin their plans against the Saviors: A truck full of loud speakers. I was worried, really worried, that the Saviors were going to get back to the sanctuary and use the music to lure the herd away, especially when Michonne and Rosita fail to kill one of the Saviors and watch them drive off with the truck. Just in the nick of time though Daryl, in a badass entrance, smashes into the truck with a garbage pickup. True it’s definitely not as epic and hilarious as Rosita blowing up one (just one) of the Saviors with a rocket launcher, but it was still awesome! However, I knew Michonne and Rosita were going to live and their fight with the Saviors was cluttered, pointless, and stupid, especially since both are still really injured from the season 7 finale. After this save though all three of them, along with Tara who was with Daryl, head to the Sanctuary to finish off the Saviors. Part of me worries though they are actually going to ruin the plan with their meddling and release the walkers back onto the world instead of having them finish off Negan. Daryl’s attitude just screams trouble for him, Rick, and the rebellion.

Originally we were expecting Carol to join up with these four, but then she got herself a little stowaway: Henry, the little brother of the recently deceased Ben. This kid, seeing Ezekiel all broken and with no men, goes out of his way to try and perfect the use of the staff on some walkers when Carol saves him and takes him back to the Kingdom. It might not sound very exciting, but Henry shows that even though he’s really young he’s determined to help out the king and the Kingdom. It’s rather admirable. After returning Henry we see Carol finally confront Ezekiel and I have to say that this is a sad scene. Just seeing Ezekiel sitting on the floor next to his throne and holding Shiva’s chains in a way that felt like doing so would bring her back was just heartbreaking. His spirit is broken and no matter how Carol tells him that tiger or no he’s a hero and inspiration to the Kingdom, Ezekiel won’t get up. My god I really want him back to his old self! Karey Payton is just epic as Ezekiel and I miss him showing off his thespian charm, even if it can be annoying at times. With him out of commission and Maggie reaching the latter half of her pregnancy, who’s going to lead everyone?

Certainly not Rick at the moment, since he’s been captured by the Heapsters. This was the worst part of this episode as going alone into the base of a known enemy is really, REALLY stupid. It’s no wonder that their leader, Jadus, rejects Rick’s offer, there’s no force to back him up. Even with the pictures of the dead Saviors there are no agreements to join Rick though, Jadus just straight up says no. What also felt weird and interesting with this interaction is the way the Heapsters spoke. We got to fully see in this episode the rather curious way the Heapsters speak, using as few words as possible. Too bad though their rejection means they’ll all be wiped out soon. They could have joined society and been social with other communities, but nope, they want to lone people rolling around in trash and doing naked metal sculpting. I’m not kidding on the last part, that’s first clip we actually see of the Heapsters this episode and it made me roll on the ground, laughing my head off. The end of the episode ends with Rick almost naked in a shipping container, probably waiting for death or rescue. Though of course he'll be saved in the next episode, I can guarantee it.

Overall Analysis

This is a great calming episode for the show, especially after all the action we’ve had and after last week’s controversial episode (or at least for me). It was pretty good, but definitely had some flaws in it. There is not too much action, but there is some good character scenes, especially with Carl, Siddiq, and Maggie. However we also had Rick, Michonne, and Rosita doing really stupid things that make all three feel invincible in a world where anyone should be able to die. So not the best episode this season, but definitely not the worst. As long as they don’t go back to how the first few episodes of this season went, I think we can call this season passable.

My favorite scenes this episode have to be the ones with Siddiq and Ezekiel. Those were powerhouses of character, with both trying to bring hope to a characters in states of unease and uncertainty. Carl and Carol, especially Carol, just nail it on the emotions and dialogue, making their interactions just so memorable. Maggie too was fantastic, making choices that most leaders would have a hard time choosing between while still having both resolution and unease about the outcomes of her decisions. As I said before, this episode was a good calm before the storm. And there will be a storm, especially with Daryl’s reckless choices.

In other news, on the Talking Dead episode after this one we learned that Morgan will be the character crossing over from The Walking Dead to Fear the Walking Dead. I was rather surprised and nervous about this because I was expecting either Abraham, who was in Texas and close to the location where left off in season three during that period of the timeline, or Tobias, the lone kid from the first season of Fear that has gotten a big following due to him being prepared for the infection just as it starts. Looking into it though there could be some good story to Morgan in Fear. We won’t see him with his signature staff, but we will see him before his reappearance in season 3 of The Walking Dead. He might have lost his son before then or after, but either ways he’ll be dangerous and have some mental instability about him.