Title: The Walking Dead “No Tomorrow Yet”
Air Date: March 6, 2016
Network: AMC
Genre: Serial Drama, Horror
The Walking Dead episode 12 begins like many other episodes – slow and tedious. We get a glimpse of Carol back in the Alexandria pantry looking through rations. This is the first scene we have in a while that shows the group struggling for food. Food would seem as something hard to come by and unfathomably valuable in the apocalypse. With rations getting low and down to canned squid and split beans, the theme of famine for the large group back in Alexandria fuels the events of the episode. I was once again not surprised by the opening scene providing a metaphor for the events to come. Carol kills a walker and gets all bloodied in her nice blouse. I felt this opening was uncreative and that perhaps The Walking Dead is beginning to recycle too much content.
With the fire still smoking from last week’s events at the Hilltop community, Rick informs the residents of Alexandria that they are going to confront and attack the Saviors. This is the event that ignites the main theme of the episode – Become a killer, or be killed by one. The theme feels fresh and raises the neck hair of many long-time characters.
Rick informs everyone during the church meeting that the Saviors, led by Negan, would have found Alexandria sooner or later and that they would kill some of their group then try to force them to be under their control just like the Hilltop Community. He suggests that taking care of them now will, at least, secure a future of food and recourses from Hilltop and save the two groups lives in the process. He offers that if anyone is opposed to standing up now and say something. Of course, Morgan stands and voices that we offer the Saviors a choice – surrender and live, or fight and die. I feel this is ridiculous and agree with Rick when he proposed that this will give up their advantage of striking them first. Morgan once again voices that “with life there is opportunity”. I can see many viewers and fans of The Walking Dead sympathize with Morgan’s ideals. But I am not one of those people and feel that these personal codes are far too conservative in the dog-eat-dog world of the zombie apocalypse. Its decided they will kill them by an overwhelming vote. Rick exclaims “We don’t all have to kill. But people going to stay here do have to accept it.”
“Lets talk about Carol…”
I was shocked with Carol in this episode. Over the course of 6 seasons, I have seen Carol become one of the toughest and most capable members of the group. Perhaps one of my favorites. From being a domestic abuse victim, having two girls die under her watch, and saving essentially the entire cast from Terminus, she could give Rick a run for his money on ruthlessness. And in the first 25 minutes, all of her character development is jerked back like a dog leash, choking us in the process, and directed another direction. We see this greatly when in her bed at night before the raid on the Saviors, as she tallies up the people she has killed to 18. It seemed cheesy and forced that she has a sudden realization of being a murderous, violent woman. Even as one of the groups best fighters, she decides to stay back from the fight and protect a pregnant maggie. In one fell swoop, I watched Carol become weak and burdened with guilt after 6 seasons of killing. Throw in a random romance with an Alexandria resident (exactly what happens) and you have a real confusing turn for one of the shows strongest characters.
I am glad to not see the end of Abraham’s and Sasha’s romance. He admits to Rosita that when he met her, he believed she was the last woman on Earth, and knows now she is not. As much as I am team Sasha, I hurt for Rosita. She seemingly has been great match for Abraham until now. I believe after last weeks episode when Abraham discussed with Glenn his desire to start a family Abraham came to the conclusion he wants the same thing. Even if he did not vocalize it.
Random romance continues on The Walking Dead as Denise and Tara again out of nowhere proclaim love for one another. Almost as sudden as Rick and Michonne. Their relationship feels rushed and almost as if the writers are receiving external pressure to include more gay relationships on The Walking Dead. However, I easily could be wrong and just lost in the romance haze that is currently sweeping through Alexandria.
It almost seems as if The Walking Dead is about to slow down into a lull, but then the action picks right up. Most participate in the raid of the Savior’s camp, but the group seems divided. I myself feel I would go along with it, but feel remorse about having to take the lives of sleeping would-be enemies. Glenn and Heath specifically are faced with the decision of killing two men in their sleep or letting them live. This is one of the best scenes for Glenn’s character growth in a long time. I can imagine Glenn feels this was a line he would never have to cross, regardless of the turmoil he’s been through. Steven Yeun (Glenn) superbly portrays a moral struggle while hovering with a knife over his victim. Like everyone else in the raid, he commits to being a killer.
There is more to Glenn killing this man than meets the eye. Glenn for me has always represented the good of the group. Level-headed and fair, he has been a character to gravitate to as a nice guy and loving husband. But this scene reflects that even the best of men, put in the worst of circumstances, will commit atrocities to survive. Rick and the group have become very dark, faintly resembling the group they once were. If Glenn’s scene is too subtle, the next scene will ensure you get it as Rick guns down 5 men without batting an eye.
Gabriel kills his first man while quoting a passage from the Bible. This is the character I’ve been wanting him to be since he was introduced. A saint in the apocalypse serving righteous justice to the dead and the living.
No Tomorrow Yet has a tedious first half and is uncomfortably paced with Carol’s change of character and romance from left field. All is forgotten when we are presented with a violent gunfight paired with a suspenseful score during the battle. Some characters became or accepted themselves as killers in this episode, making for a dark turn for Rick and the group. I anticipate a division coming, and it will take a toll on the group – a toll that will be paid in blood.
- Acting/Characters: Carol was an extreme disappointment this week. Her character backpedaled multiple seasons worth of character development. Many characters portray the internal struggle of taking others lives’ incredibly well.
- Story: The Story drags its heals for 30 minutes, then takes off like a dragster.
- Cinematography: The setting and music used for the raid were well done. The set and tone made the violence tense and nerve-racking.
- Organization: Story is linear and does not trail off from the main theme of the episode.
[review]
