The Next World

Rick and Daryl go on a supply run where they find a truck with a large store of supplies. On the way back home, they run into Paul Rovia - though his friends call him Jesus - who tells Rick and Daryl that he was just running from walkers. Gunshots go off, but the two discover it was firecrackers, as Jesus steals their truck.

Just outside of Alexandria, Michonne catches up with Spencer, who she had seen sneaking over the wall. As they walk through the forest, Spencer won't say why he is out there, although Michonne notes that he has brought a shovel. Meanwhile, Carl and Enid are relaxing and reading nearby. A walker, whose face is left unseen, attacks the pair. Enid wants to kill it, but Carl refuses. Enid is angry, and also hurt that Carl won't discuss his reasoning with her. Soon afterward, Michonne and Spencer encounter the same walker. It is the reanimated corpse of Deanna, who Spencer sadly puts down. It then becomes clear that giving her final closure was the purpose of his search through the forest.

Rick and Daryl catch up with Jesus, and leave him tied up as they leave in the truck. Soon, though, Daryl realizes that somehow Jesus had escaped and is now hanging onto the top of the truck. As the truck slams to a stop, Jesus is thrown off, and Daryl and Rick fight with him. Unfortunately, while the struggle is going on the truck rolls backwards into a nearby pond. The truck sinks to the bottom.

That evening, Michonne tells Carl that she had seen him outside the walls, and asks what he was doing. He tells her that he too had wanted to put down Deanna. In the end, though, he couldn't go through with it. When Michonne asks why not, he explains that he felt that it needed to be done by her own family. He then tells Michonne that if he ever had to, he could put her down. She is touched.

Jesus, who was knocked unconscious immediately after saving Daryl from an approaching Walker, is taken back to Alexandria for questioning. Denise checks his head wound, after which he is locked in a storage room to keep him from again escaping.

As the night ends, Rick and Michonne sit having a relaxed discussion. They then realize that they have become too close to simply remain friends. They fall into a passionate embrace. The next day, as Rick and Michonne lie nude in bed, Jesus suddenly appears in Rick's room. He says they have to talk.

"The Next World" is a refreshing change of pace that follows Rick and Daryl as they go on a supply run and encounter a new group of survivors. The episode is notable for its lighter tone and humor, as Rick and Daryl embark on a road trip together and bond over their shared experiences. The episode also explores themes of trust and friendship, as Rick and Daryl must decide whether to trust the newcomers or treat them as a threat.

One of the most memorable scenes in the episode is when Rick and Daryl stumble upon a supply truck filled with food and supplies, a rare find in the post-apocalyptic world. This moment highlights the characters' resourcefulness and ability to find hope in even the darkest of times.

The first half of 'The Walking Dead's' Season 6 was rather inconsistent. The season started off brilliantly, with four superb episodes in a row. And then the season took a significant dip in quality with "Now", then improved step by step with the next three episodes before returning to disappointment with "Start to Finish". Luckily the episode starting off the second half saw a season and show return to form with one of its best episodes in a while in "No Way Out".

So after being blown away by "No Way Out", it was hard not to expect a lot of great things from the next episode "The Next World" (so this episode). Although this has a good deal to admire and it is still a more than worthwhile episode on its own terms, it was quite a big step down in comparison and had big potential to be even better. After such nail-biting intensity, it was interesting and appreciated to have a change of pace with a calmer and lighter episode. It mostly comes off well, but it is not completely successful.

It does have imperfections with the writing, which doesn't have the tautness seen in the episodes where 'The Walking Dead' is on top form. Some of it veers on awkward too, that may have been intentional but it went too far at times. Especially that for Denise and Eugene, the latter faring worst.

Not all the story works, some of it goes overboard on the silliness and the lapses in sense can frustrate, all cited in other reviews. Spencer's role to me didn't gel quite as well with the rest of the story/characters and didn't really serve much point.

Having said all of that, the production values in "The Next World", as usual with 'The Walking Dead' at this point, are top notch. The grit and audaciousness has not been lost. The music fits nicely and the direction lets the atmosphere and humour breathe while not losing the momentum too much. Most of the dialogue thought is thoughtful and the lighter tone was appreciated, and there are humorous moments light and dark that are genuinely amusing.

Most of the story also works quite well, the pace didn't feel meandering or anything despite the atmosphere being the complete opposite of the previous episode (quite a lot calmer). Personally didn't feel like it was too much of a filler episode and did feel that "The Next World" did a great job with the character relationships, not only are they interesting but there is a sense of advancement in story and characterisation and they also made sense. Most successful were Rick and Daryl, which had a lot of lovely moments, and Rick and Michonne, a lot of potential here. The acting is very good throughout, with the best performances coming from Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus, both excellent. As is Danai Gurira.

All in all, could have been a lot more but more than worthwhile still. 7/10

Watching this season so far, one thing has been abundantly clear to me, the writers are telling us a lot about Glenn and it doesn't look to good. Glenn's character has always been a little reckless and quick to take chances, but it seems like this season that has been turned up to full blast. Starting with just the last episode, "No Way Out", you have dear Glenn overly panicked about Maggie. Yes, the tower she was on was swaying and yes, in theory it could have fallen and she could then be bitten buy the mob of walkers below, but, in what universe is it OK for Glenn to draw them away from her only to attract them to him with no escape route on manner in which to defend himself? Lucky for him Abraham saved him this time, but there have been too many close calls.

We have the always popular martyr Glenn ideas that only he can do, that never turn out so well for others that go along with him and often times put him into a very precarious situation almost on the borderline of "Are you serious?" The dragging out and the way the scene was shot in "Thank You" led many to believe that Glenn had died when he fell from atop of the dumpster. His name was removed from the opening credits adding fuel to the speculation and it wasn't for several more episodes that we would learn the truth about his fate.

My theory; I think that they either want us to become so disgusted with all of the risks that he has taken that when the time for his real character's death to arrive, (yes, it's coming) that it would almost be some type of relief and that the attention would then turn to Maggie which would have to deal with the aftermath of not only his death but raising their child without him. Or, that we'd become so dismissive or possibly angry towards Glenn's character that as awful as the scene may go down, that he caused his own fate.

There's also the other idea floating around out there that it could be Daryl's fate at the end of season 6 that's so viscous, since he has some projects going on and another show of his own. All I know is that it looks very suspicious to me that Glenn's character has been taking as many risks as he has especially since Maggie is pregnant.

Rick and Daryl go on a supply run.

For me The Walking Dead (so far) is a very compelling and well made show, but due to the subject matter it is a stretch to say that I actually enjoy it. I experience it. This however, is a relatively calm and dare I say lighter episode than usual.

There is little bit of a time jump and some of the residents of Alexandra appear to be in a comparatively peaceful place which is satisfying to watch.

The scenes involving Rick and Daryl do have plot contrivances that portray the characters making stupid decisions. From the moment they make the big find, they should floor it back to Alexandria, stopping for nothing. However, what we see is humorous and entertaining enough to make me forgive the implausibility. I also enjoyed the awkward conversation between Denise and Daryl at the beginning very much.

For once I actually like an on screen romantic pairing. It works so much better in situations like this when characters have been through meaningful experiences together and the romance develops. Whether or not the writers will actually let it work out or doom it to a typically TWD miserable end, only time will tell, but it is a welcome break from all the death and brutality.

The other plot thread in the woods is fairly well done. Elements of it are a retread of previous themes involving Carl and his mother, but it leads on to more development for his character and another.

All actors are on great form, particularly Norman Reedus, Andrew Lincoln, and Danai Gurira.

As ever the cinematography and editing is spot on for the visual storytelling.

I can tell that there weren't that many actors featured but it still lead to an enjoyable episode that I wouldn't mind watching again any day of the week. This didn't feel like another boring, slow paced episode as this had me invested, interested, and intrigued just based off one new character. Also, Great choice, Rick. Definitely better than Lori👍.

8.9/10.