Things were going so well for The Walking Dead allies. They’d brought war right to Negan’s doorstep. They’d cleared scores of his outposts. They’d even taken numerous Savior captives. And they did it, as King Ezekiel loudly proclaimed, without losing a single soldier. But endless winning isn’t sustainable. First Aaron lost Eric to Savior gunfire. Then the weapons cache Rick and Daryl were desperate to locate slipped through their grasp. And finally, King Ezekiel saw his entire army mowed down in a matter of seconds. There was no joy in Mudville (and this time it didn’t have anything to do with a bat).
We begin with a flashback of the Kingdom preparing for battle. In near silence, King Ezekiel oils his dreads, gets dressed and, most importantly, dons his King persona. His soldiers say goodbye to their loved ones: an aged father, a young son, a baby girl. They are no longer just faces in a crowd. They are individuals with vibrant lives and bright futures. King Ezekiel gathers his subjects for a rousing speech. His words give them courage and unite them in their mission. They will win. They will return victorious. They converge on their King and we’re gifted with an aerial shot of a jubilant group embrace. And then we’re back on the battlefield. The group embrace is now a pile of dead bodies. These individuals, with lives and backstories, are now pieces of meat, their futures extinguished.
A hand reaches out from the bottom of the pile. King Ezekiel survived! He looks around the battle zone, his heart breaking with each lifeless body he discovers. He did’t lose a single soldier. He lost them all. As the corpses of his people reanimate, the King fights his own internal battle. He did this. He tricked these people into believing a zookeeper was a King. His hubris led to this carnage. Wounded, all he can do is crawl from body to body, each death an additional burden on his soul. Just as Ezekiel is ready to give up, Alvaro arrives to protect his King. Ezekiel doesn’t thinks he’s worthy. To him, the King is dead. Luckily, Alvaro doesn’t see it that way.
Inside the compound, a group of Saviors disengage the weapon that wiped out the Kingdom army. They’re in a frenzy. The Sanctuary has put out an alert: Negan needs help. Unfortunately, none of them scheduled a visit from Carol. Hiding in the ceiling panels, she takes out a foursome with one swipe of her automatic. Her cover blown, Carol races through empty hallways, one step ahead of the remaining Saviors. She watches them load the weapon cache Rick and Daryl were searching for into a Jeep. Now it’s on her to keep those weapons from reaching the Sanctuary. She starts a five on one gun battle. The noise draws walkers that bounce against the fence.
Alvaro guides a limping King away from the Kingdom walkers. A shot rings out and Ezekiel loses his last remaining soldier. A grinning Jeffrey Dahmer takes Alvaro’s place. Negan has put a bounty on King Ezekiel’s head. The serial killer Savior is downright gleeful over his lucky find. After trudging along just ahead of the walker horde, King Ezekiel drops to the ground. He’d rather be eaten by walkers than let Negan use him against his people. Jeffrey Dahmer scoffs. He hits the grieving King where it hurts, calling him a meaningless con man in a costume. He vocalizes all of the fears that have been plaguing Ezekiel since the Kingdom massacre. A lifeless shell of a man, he allows Dahmer to lead him away. They reach the fence of the outpost in time to hear Carol’s shootout. When Dahmer can’t open the gate, he decides getting King Ezekiel’s head over the fence will be easier than his whole body. Ezekiel braces for the killshot. Instead, Dahmer splits in half. It’s Jerry and his battle axe to the rescue!
Jerry is intent on protecting his King. Ezekiel tells him he doesn’t have to call him that anymore. Jerry, looking more serious than we’ve ever seen him, Disagrees. “Dude, yes I do.” The war isn’t over. The Kingdom still needs it’s King. Jerry tries to break the gate chains to no avail. He even uses his battle axe as a lever but only manages to snap the head off. Now they’re trapped and down a weapon. As the approaching horde stumbles closer, Jerry and Ezekiel stand side by side, with sword and axe handle raised to fight as long as they can.
Getting low on ammo, Carol concocts a plan. She gives herself up, playing weak and scared. A Savior advances to take her into custody and she grabs him. With a knife to his neck, she orders the other guns down. The problem is, Saviors only have loyalty to Negan so they shoot at both of them. Carol uses the Savior’s body as a shield and manages to hit the switch that opens an automatic gate. The Saviors are so focused on Carol, they don’t see the walkers lurching behind them until it’s too late. The last two Saviors hide behind their Jeep. Carol warns them they’re not leaving with the guns. And she means it, until she sees Jerry and Ezekiel trapped against the fence. Now she has to decide: save her friends or keep weapons of mass destruction away from Negan. As Carol runs to Jerry and Ezekiel’s aid, the Saviors drive away with the weapons. Ezekiel is terrified that the guns will get to Negan. Carol hears the familiar whine of a motorcycle and knows those weapons aren’t going anywhere.
Rick and Daryl chase the Saviors in the Jeep. The back drops down and a Savior has a machine gun pointed straight at them. Daryl slides off the side of the road but Rick continues. He grits his teeth, flares his nostrils and drives in a zigzag pattern. The Jeep hits some walkers and the impact sends the shooter sliding. Rick sees his opening and speeds up. His truck engine gets hit but Daryl is right behind him to shoot the gunner. Now it’s Rick versus the driver. Rick jumps from his truck into the Jeep. He stabs the driver, sends the Jeep off course and jumps out just in time. Daryl finds him climbing up the embankment. Mission accomplished: they got the guns.
Carol and Jerry lug a wounded King Ezekiel along the train tracks. The King is broken in body and spirit and he wants them to abandon him to his fate. They refuse to even consider it. They enter the forest and come upon a creek full of walkers. Ezekiel doesn’t see how they can get through it carrying him and begs them to save themselves. At this point, they’re not even listening to his protestations anymore. When it looks like they’re going to be swarmed, Ezekiel offers to distract the walkers so they can get away. Jerry refuses. Ezekiel is his King, after all. “No I’m not!” Ezekiel screams. The Kingdom is just a fantasy. The gully full of walkers, that’s reality. Ezekiel has lost everything that mattered to him. He can’t fake it any longer. “I ain’t no King. I ain’t nothing. I’m just some guy. Some guy who found…” He’s interrupted by Shiva, jumping into the gully. She does the job that Ezekiel wanted to do: she distracts the walkers so the others can escape. And just like Ezekiel was going to, she does it by offering her life. As Ezekiel howls in pain, the walkers devour Shiva. Now the King has lost everything.
The Kingdom gates swing wide to welcome Ezekiel, Jerry and Carol home. A crowd gathers, desperate for news of their loved ones. Ezekiel looks at them silently. For the first time since they’ve known him, The King doesn’t have the words to comfort his people.
Next week: With war raging all around him, we get a close look at Negan and the lives of the Saviors during the conflict through a familiar set of eyes.
You seriously do the best Dead recaps, Lady C. And fast, too!
What does it say about me when I was hoping Ezekial would sacrifice himself to save Shiva?
Carol is a true badass. That’s all.
Enjoying the Rick and Daryl Roadshow, too.
Finally to Negan next week. Show’s picking up now.
Thank you for the great recap, Lady C. 🙂
I was upset when Rick’s horse was devoured by walkers way back when. I was upset when the horse Daryl was trying to rescue was caught and eaten by walkers. I was more upset when Eastman’s goat was found being devoured by a walker because we had gotten to know and love her gentleness, BUT there are just no words for how I feel about that horrific scene of what happened to Shiva. I don’t care that she wasn’t real. I don’t care that the writers were following what happened to her in the comic books.
I cried over the death of a ‘fake’ cat. I get that her storyline was coming to an end much like the end of the Kingdom as we knew it, but I still hate what happened to her and how it happened.
Yes, Ezekial has now lost everything except the loyal Jerry.
I walked out of the room when the walkers started going after her and were piling on. Couldn’t stand to actually watch it
I still haven’t watched it all either. When I saw them piling on I grabbed a pillow and put it in front of my face as I hit the mute button.
I could have handled her death better had she been shown shot in the massacre. To show what they did was disgusting IMO. Especially the actual eating of her. When I peeked around the pillow I saw ‘that’ scene and thought I was going to be sick. It didn’t help that my Maine Coon girl was sitting watching me scream and then cry which scared her 🙁
The writer was on Talking Dead later but I was so angry I blurred out whatever it was that he said about Shiva’s horrific death.
So far I just am not real thrilled with this season at all. Except for the Rick and Daryl gun run. But even watching those two do their thing does not help with how I feel about this episode.
Me either.
I now hate the fat comic book boys who killed Shiva off.
They should hire someone who actually has some talent and can make WD about more than eating pets and the ridiculous fast forwards and flash backwards artsy crafty and endless cliff hanging crap.
Screw them….I am not watching WD any more.
I was literally cryin’ like when Glenn was killed too.
I thought it was overkill when Glenn died and funny…that eye though!! omg!! That was bad makeup, bad writing and I could no longer feel anything for him. I hated it for Maggie. I HATED that Abe died. Abe should have been around longer as well as Sasha. That bothered me but Glenn’s death was funny. lol
I’m still a little numb.
Another outstanding recap Lady C.
Thanks for the recap Lady C….I’m kind of disappointed with the episodes so far…but I’m a fan so I’m going to keep at it…looking for to next week for the negan scene…and I cried for the Tiger.
I saw what was about to happen, muted the tv and hid my face. I was already crying for poor Shiva, I did not need to see that to make it worse. Goddamn you, TWD.
2 things I like about this episode: carol in beast mode and the chase for the WMD. Carol is smart and has been through a lot. I would have thought she would have had everyone hide first and sneak into the building instead of doing it alone and everyone celebrating another victory in the open. ugh. I was screaming “HIDE”…who didn’t know that fight wasn’t over?? I think that m30 or whatever type of gun it was would shoot through vehicles though. They wouldn’t have been safe but at least it would have put some “oh shish” in there. They didn’t stand a chance out in the open and it was extremely frustrating. Can one pet be safe on the walking dead?? just one?? jeez.. I get CGI is expensive but ask AMC for a raise. Great recap Lady C!! Thank You
You know, Pam, I was just thinking the same thing last night. Have we EVER seen a dog or cat. I don’t think so. I saw dogs recently on an Indian reservation on Fear of the Walking Dead which I totally enjoyed this past season. Much better than WD so far and there is supposed to be a crossover episode next year. Maybe Abe in Houston I read working in a store. Would love to see him again. Missed him on the 100th episode Talking Dead show. Other ‘dead’ were there. Even Glenn on video.
Anyway, back to the pets. With the writing so far this season, I don’t want to ever see a pet on WD. If the walkers didn’t get them, then some nut would probably kill them for sport.
Agree about the CGI. Surely the series is popular enough to absorb the cost for one tiger. But, if Ezekial is no longer ‘king’ in his mind, then Shiva would really not have the place she once had, but still could have handled seeing her laying in the field shot rather than the excess gore they showed of her death. So very unnecessary.
At first I didn’t understand why Carol didn’t shoot to help her and then remembered her saying she was almost out of bullets. Totally enjoy her as Carol the badass. Her casserole days are long gone 🙂
I watched fear for the first season. I might have to catch up on demand. I have heard people say it was better than twd. I want me some ABE BACK!! God I loved that man and we just got to know him!! He was showing his soft little underbelly with Sasha. There was so much hope before Negan. I guess that’s why this show really ticks me off sometimes.. Yeah, the cat scene was sad and really unnecessary. THEY NEED A RAISE AMC. Gosh the ratings are the best on sunday nights. You would think it would be a no brainer.
I liked Abe as well. I had to go back and watch the last two seasons of Fear as well as Z Nation on SyFy to catch up on both. Fear is much different than WD, but great acting. The gal playing the mom is much like Carol and has gone from a mild mannered school counselor to a ‘kill or be killed’ mom. She’s got more guts than a lot of men on the series.
Supposedly Abe was from Texas and hints were dropped at the end of Fear that they were going to TX. There will definitely be a crossover with WD on Fear next season according to what I saw on Talking Dead after the season finale of Fear.
I thought the Governor was pretty creepy and corrupt on WD, but this whole Negan storyline is wearing thin. Rick had the chance to shoot him in the first show when Gabriel dragged him off and now we have to deal with Gabriel being in the trailer with Negan surrounded by walkers….wonder how long that will go on? They need to do something to get my interest again or I’ll pass the Sunday nights and wait for the great recaps by Lady C which are usually better than watching the show itself anyway.
Carol was mild on her first season but the mom KILLED A FRIEND on the first season. lol She adapted way too quick for my taste but the talking dead said that something harsh had happened in her background storyline that made her tough. Carol I can’t say I liked until this season of the walking dead?? The first time she stepped up she killed two sick people…in a non Hershel way. The second time she stepped up was lizzy…ugh…neither made her a bad ass and I just wish she would have shown human emotion during that time. It’s the writing. And I can’t even say what I thought about terminus it was that bad. A bottle rocket?? really?? And then Alexandria…ugh…she started feeling all this guilt ABOUT EVERYONE. I can’t relate and it was a bit late for emotion or sorrow or guilt…that should have happened AFTER LIZZY…a little more time at the grove… but this season she’s a badass which is how she should have stayed after terminus. The writer’s on the walking dead suck sometimes. lol I like carol this season though. It suits her and it’s too late for guilt. That should have been hashed out season 4.
I’m catching up on Fear though girl!!! You got me excited for Abe!!