Variant

I can't get enough of Aaron and Jerry. The rest of this episode was crap. Who cares about all these new people we've known for five minutes? At least Jerry got his hero scene hacking walkers to bits! I'd watch a spin-off of him and his family and Aaron building a new Kingdom. Can we kill off the rest of these idiots now please? I'm so done with Lance and the stupid Commonwealth blah blah blah. The actors who play Eugene and Rosita are great but their stories suck hard. I like Mercer but give him something to do besides wander around scowling in a pumpkin suit. I'm so disappointed with this whole season. I'd really hoped we'd get back just a little of the Season One magic for the end. I guess all those writers/ directors are gone.

So TWD spins down the road to its ending. So what? Angela Yang should have been gone after season 9, the only season she did a good-though extended job on. OK, the pandemic had some effect on the show, but the pandemic didn't cause the silly, extended, unnecessary story lines. The pandemic didn't cause the mistakes such as: Letting Rick and Michonne walk (in one of the dumbest exits and episodes of the entire eleven years). Maggie returns and says nothing about yet another group of murderous morons who are there just to extend an unnecessary Darryl arc. They've obviously turned over the Carl arc to Judith, and I guarantee the final episode will have her as an adult, possibly as governor of the Commonwealth. They split Sebastian's character into him and Hornsby. But now, how, after eleven years of rotting (possibly longer in the timeline of the show) are zombies evolving? Oh, yes, we saw one or two in the first few episodes who were a bit more aware. But their brains are rotting. Rotting things don't evolve. This was a stupid idea in Land of the Dead and it's a stupid idea now. And why haven't they learned that all the spin-offs, including Fear have been trash? I'd like to say I'm going to miss this show, but it's passed it's due date and is time to go.

The premise of episode 11.19 titled "Variant": Eugene goes on the run, and Mercer is tasked to find him; Aaron's group faces a complication on the road. This episode contains some brilliant editing, transitions and pacing. Vivian Tse penned the script for 11.19 and I think it wasn't the same quality as the previous episodes but still good. Overseen by Angela Kang, the writing for this episode is mostly consistent of the previous episodes in Part 1 and 2 if not better. The episode uses the big budget wisely, making it brilliant both technically and the acting and so on, the camera work are brilliant and visually a great episode, an overall impressive production. Stunning looking episode.

Karen Gaviola directed "Variant" and she actually did a terrific job, though she's new to the show, Gaviola's vision and direction were great. The episode contains yet again superb drama with plenty of suspension and tension to keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat. There are plenty of great scenes in this episode and there's not one single bad performance throughout the entire episode. Scenes that are beautifully shot, scenes that are acted with such brilliance, and every other department and people working on the episode, terrific work. The close ups used, the attention to detail and all the shots in the nature, they nailed it on the camera side of things. The cinematography is once again breathtaking and incredible, just right for the show, the way it was shot and so on, simply brilliant. The sets were detailed and perfect, and so are the art and production design. I also found the effects to be fantastic in this episode, practical effects always makes it so more real, and The Walking Dead is known for their practical effects and they didn't let us down for this episode. Superb sound design and a musical score both gripping and dramatic. It's one of many things on the technical side of things that the show succeeds perfectly with.

"Variant" has lots of things that fans of The Walking Dead will like, it's a nice change with Aaron and the group being outside the Commonwealth walls again, giving us some season 4 and 5 vibes when our survivors were on the road. This was a more character driven and slower paced episode, the focus being on characters and drama, thus giving the actors more time to shine. But with the name "Variant" it's also the first time we see one of these smart zombies that haven't been seen since season 1. There were one specific scene involving Aaron and Lydia, a heart to heart conversation and the acting in that scene was so good from Ross Marquand, whilst in the Commonwealth Josh McDermitt gives us another brilliant performance as Eugene and possibly the episode's best performance. I also want to praise Laila Robins for her performance as Pamela Milton, her character is dealing with the death of her son, making her the last Milton if I'm not mistaken. There's a specific theme in this episode, a theme of loss. That's something the writers succeeded with, but there is too many conversations in this episode. I'm glad they're making it character driven though.

This episode kept the story going but not as much as I had hoped, there are only a couple of episodes left and though I loved the cinematography and direction and acting. Yet it gave us an action sequence which showed the new variant zombies or one kind of them. The scene was suspenseful from start to finish and honestly I haven't found myself on the edge of my seat like this during zombie scenes. I think this is just what the show needed, finally acknowledging what Frank Darabont did and wanted to keep doing. But that is the only thing I liked in terms of progressing the story, the Commonwealth arc went in the opposite direction that I wanted and thought would work best. I have read several reviews during this season and not many critics have liked the Commonwealth arc, I'm officially on their side now. They failed, unfortunately. There are also too many characters in the main cast, most don't have anything interesting to do and they then fail the characters, most of them. This was a good episode but far from the same quality as the previous two.

Another episode that smacks of filler despite being so close to the end now. This one begins with Eugene finding himself suspected (not without reason) in Sebastian's death and the consequences that follow. I was worried it was going to be the Eugene show again but thankfully he doesn't get an awful lot of screen time. We do get Darryl being badass in the woods which is a lot more satisfying, and I have to say that the Hornsby character has grown on me quite a bit over this season. The scene in his prison cell is relatively shocking but the rest is very much average, neither amazing nor particularly bad.

In the aftermath of the riot, Pamela orders Eugene's arrest for the murder of Sebastian, promising to pardon Max if Mercer cooperates. Concerned for his sister, Mercer mercilessly hunts for Eugene, but he is troubled by both Max and Princess' attempts to convince him that he is on the wrong side in the matter. After learning that Max has been arrested, Eugene turns himself in and takes sole responsibility for what happened, claiming that Max had nothing to do with the recording of Sebastian. Sebastian reanimates and a grieving Pamela has Roman executed and orders Lance to feed his corpse to Sebastian as a punishment. At the same time, Aaron, Jerry, Lydia and Elijah make their way towards Oceanside, but are forced to take cover at an old renaissance fair after spotting a herd with Jerry thinking that the fair might make a good location for a new Kingdom. At night, the herd attacks, led by what the group believes to be a surviving Whisperer, as it can climb, open doors and use weapons. However, Aaron discovers that it's actually just a walker. After putting it down, Aaron makes the troubling deduction that there must be other variants of walkers out there that are more dangerous than the usual roamers. Having developed feelings for Elijah, Lydia hesitates due to her love for Henry before taking Aaron's advice and starting a relationship with him.

Episode 19 of the eleventh season of "The Walking Dead," titled "Variant," plunges the audience deeper into the evolving chaos and challenges faced by the survivors. This episode intricately weaves a narrative that not only propels the plot forward but also delves into the psyche of its characters, showcasing their resilience and adaptability in the face of new threats. As the communities grapple with internal conflicts and external dangers, "Variant" introduces a fresh perspective on the undead threat, hinting at an evolution that could redefine the survivors' understanding of the world around them.

The episode is marked by its intense character-driven moments, where personal dilemmas and moral ambiguities take center stage. The survivors, now more than ever, find themselves at a crossroads, having to navigate the complexities of leadership, loyalty, and survival. Notably, "Variant" does an exceptional job of highlighting the emotional toll of the apocalypse on the characters, portraying their struggles with loss, hope, and the constant fight for a semblance of normalcy. These themes are encapsulated in poignant scenes that not only resonate with the viewers but also add depth to the characters, making their journeys more relatable and compelling.

Critically, "Variant" stands out for its innovative approach to the series' traditional narrative structure. By introducing the concept of a new, potentially more dangerous variant of the undead, the episode revitalizes the series' central conflict and raises the stakes for the survivors. This fresh threat reinvigorates the storyline, offering new challenges and dynamics for the characters to confront. However, while the episode excels in its thematic depth and character development, it occasionally suffers from pacing issues, with some scenes feeling either rushed or overly prolonged. Despite these minor flaws, "Variant" successfully balances action with introspection, making it a significant addition to the season and setting the stage for an intriguing buildup to the series' climax.