While I had of course heard the stories about Andrew Lincoln leaving TWD after all these years, I kept myself sufficiently in the dark to not realise as we embarked upon "What Comes After" that this would be "that episode". Cleverly, there were no real hints at the outset. So, as I write this just minutes after part 5 ended, I must honestly say that what transpired proved amazingly affecting. It was indeed moving, as is only fit for the departure of a key - the key - character in the show. They did him quite proud, while - in some weird sense - Andrew Lincoln also did his country (which is also my country) proud by effortlessly taking the lead in an American series. Good luck with whatever comes next, Andrew - and I must say I have liked several of your earlier roles (not least in "Afterlife" of 2005-6)
As Season 8 came to an end and I reviewed that dramatic final episode, I wrote somewhat prophetically about TWD metamorphosing (needing to metamorphose) into more of a "survival in the dystopia" kind of series, as Seasons 7 and 8 had rehashed much, and TWD in general was failing to recognise humanity's near infinite capacity to move on, to get over catastrophe. Something had to give, and I thus felt quite vindicated to see Season 9's first few episodes devoting themselves to just that - an attempt to build, farm, settle down, unite and live more peaceably.
In a sense I then feel a bit cheated, as basically the 4 episodes were a setting for Rick to get a new kind of leadership and peacemaker role, before heading off into the wide blue yonder. And - actually/meaningfully/quite devastatingly - he COULD NOT not keep those communities together no matter how hard he tried. That meant a need to switch to plan B and his exit, wounded, on a white horse, leading a gigantic combined herd of walkers to their mass deaths and to becoming food for the sharks somewhere downstream.
I suppose that was about as much as we could have expected, and it was genuinely heroic-looking and far better than nothing. Of course, this episode also featured a break and then a reconciliation with an ultimately-tearful Daryl (tremendous moment that, BTW). But this character is likely to look even more out of place in a Rickless world, and all the more so in a world that has jumped 5 years on. We also saw Maggie working out how she feels about Negan staying alive, and this again proved more impressive than it might have done, as did Michonne - of all people - ultimately ignoring Rick's wishes and letting Maggie do what she had to with Negan. Since Daryl had also rebelled against Rick, giving Maggie her chance to deal with Negan, getting Rick into a hole (literally) and basically giving rise to the circumstances that would get rid of Rick altogether, it is a surpisingly clear and sobering rebuke for Rick's peacemaking and trying to do right by Carl.
There is then a certain creative tension about, which was - after all - what we were very much looking for and in need of. And the jump into the future, while quite an outrageous thing to do, also responds further - definitively - to the criticism I among others offered regarding TWD getting stuck in a rut. So all credit for having the courage to do that. And to do that in episode 5 is dramatic indeed, so I can only say how glad I am to have no idea whatever of what episode 6 and beyond will bring...
I thought that would be the end of my review, but it could not be and I came back! Judith is 6 years older or whatever, Rick is still alive out there somewhere, but he has never got back to her and Michonne - now that is some kind of torture of sadness for all of us, and will need some very special explaining indeed...
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