Those who detest single-campus episodes (our word for those episodes that focus entirely on one group and never check in with the others, sometimes erroneously referred to as "bottle episodes" but that term doesn't really apply to most episodes described as such) should've been happy that we spent time in both Alexandria and at The Hilltop this week. Granted, it was all done in the context of the story of Maggie and Sasha at Hilltop, but you at least got to see Andy's sweet, sweet
In this episode we are establishing that Maggie is going to become the leader of Hilltop. She starts by having a miraculous recovery to a life-threatening condition in relation to her pregnancy within a few days of arriving at Hilltop... the writers probably shouldn't have tried to go there since they needed her to be involved in the action. Practically having just woken up, in the middle of an attack orchestrated by The Saviors, she climbs atop a FEMA trailer and starts directing the other players in a not-too subtle attempt to establish her authority and problem-solving skill. Later, Jesus basically states that Gregory isn't fit to lead but that he isn't either... hinting that someone else would be as if raising his paddle to nominate Magsters right then and there. Wait, don't we need a flag-waving convention for that?
Meanwhile back in Alexandria, Carl again spies Enid sneaking over the wall. She starts off on foot toward The Hilltop to check on Maggie, and when she gets in a sticky spot with a walker Carl suddenly shows up in a car to run it over. We'd ask when Carl learned to drive but he did do quite a number on the car trying to run down that walker. Again the pair set off on foot but quickly find a backpack containing roller skates... and off we go on a pre-teen date straight out of 1986; the only things missing was a Journey song and a mirror ball. They roll down the road holding hands and eventually share their first kiss outside the walls of The Hilltop Colony, hidden from view of The Saviors who are there to collect supplies.
Aside from establishing Maggie's authority for her upcoming story line, we establish Carl's disdain for living under The Saviors' rule and his determination to take action on it. He climbs into the back of the truck loaded with things specifically obtained for Negan himself, and is later joined there by Jesus who is taking the opportunity to find out where Negan lives (at the behest of Sasha, an effort she specifically doesn't want Maggie to know about). We end the episode with the two being trucked off to their Negan-filled destinies while inside The Hilltop, Sasha, Maggie, and Enid sit down to a tasty dinner.
This episode was all about laying the groundwork for the remaining story lines in the season. The reviews are very mixed... from declaring this to be one of the worst of the season so far to excitedly proclaiming this episode to be the best. This episode does tax the hell out of the viewers' suspension of disbelief thanks to a number of very convenient coincidences and a bit of over-reaching, but if you can get past that, you will be pleased at the amount of forward progress we've made in the story. It might have come off awkward to some but it will help ensure later episodes can keep barreling forward on the tracks that were laid.
Next week we catch up with Heath and Tara in an episode many fans are already dreading. There will be lots of dialogue between the two characters as they deal with failing on their supply run and their personal aftermath of the outpost ambush. We also presumably get to find out how Tara ends up on the beach shown in the sneak peek. The general consensus is that these two characters aren't compelling enough to focus an entire episode on, so we'll have to see what we end up with next week!
Happy Thanksgiving to all our US fans! Stay safe, don't drink and drive or debate the election results, and for heaven's sake don't support stores who force their poor employees to work on a major holiday by being open on Thanksgiving Day... just save it for actual Black Friday (it will be okay, we promise)!
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