Episode 11.07 titled "Promises Broken" is a direct follow-up to episode 11.05 and 11.06, the Reapers storyline and the Commonwealth storyline is continued in a major way. Episode seven follows Maggie and Elijah as they learn a new survival tactic from Negan; Eugene's group clears walkers to pay their fines; Yumiko interviews for an upper-class job; Daryl learns more about Leah and the Reapers; Gabriel encounters a man of God. I think the editing and pacing was perfect in this episode, so was the writing, Julia Ruchman whom penned the script of 11.07 did a great job. Overseen by Angela Kang, I'm really finding the overall writing to be excellent in this season. From the individual character arcs to the grander storylines.
Sharat Raju directed this week's episode and he has previously directed two episodes of Fear TWD, his direction and vision was overall quite great but not the best the season have given us. But a memorable one, Raju truly knows how to make it an immersive experience. The cinematography is truly breathtaking and incredible, the way it was shot with the sets, wow. Art and production design is brilliant. Though Sharat Raju wasn't the best director this season, he knows how to make an episode with a grand vision and I hope he'll direct more episodes. The close ups in dialogue is something I like and sadly isn't used that often, but should be used much more often. The musical score continues to amaze me, it's one of many things on the technical side of things that the show is doing a phenomenal job at.
There were a ton of great performances in this episode, from each storyline. Lauren Cohan's performance as Maggie Greene and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan were among the best, I have said it before and I'll say it again that the work they're doing is truly brilliant and it's the writing that makes it so good. It was nice to see more of Josh Hamilton as Lance Hornsby and Lynn Collins as Leah Shaw, two interesting characters with good performances. Two other brilliant performances in this episode are Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon and Josh McDermitt as Eugene Porter.
"Promises Broken" has lots of things that fans of The Walking Dead will like, but also some throwbacks to season 10 and the previous seasons. Episode seven is also faithful to the graphic novel regarding the introduction of Sebastian Milton which is the son to Pamela Milton, the governor of the Commonwealth. Sebastian Milton is played by Teo Rapp-Olsson and he's doing a great job at capturing the personality of Sebastian Milton. We are one step closer at meeting Pamela Milton. I'm really enjoying the Commonwealth storyline in how they're dragging it out as it felt a bit rushed in the graphic novel, the Reaper storyline was all about build up and making up a plan and I'm behind it 100% as it's smart but also how it fits into Negan as a character and how far he have come. "Promises Broken" aren't as action heavy as the previous episodes as it's a build up for the mid season finale and I think it was a great episode.
