Hearts Still Beating

While this season spends most episodes on separated storylines, they are finally intercut and mostly come together here that makes for a fairly intense episode that does a lot of dramatic heavy lifting towards the end and features a satisfying reunion.

Still not as eventful as other mid-season finales but does its job to set the rest of the story in motion and is a very well written episode with effective editing and excellent dialogue, not just emotional and intense dialogue but some hilarious lines too.

Season 7 is definitely and underrated season, and this episode is an example of why.

Rating: 88%

Despite not caring for Season 7 on the whole, to me it actually didn't start badly straightaway. The first three episodes were flawed but showed a good deal of promise. It was with "Service" when Season 7 began to stumble drastically and the season was very up and down (mostly down) ever since to the extent that at its worst it was like watching another version of 'The Walking Dead' that wasn't the one that impressed me so much when it first began.

While "Hearts Still Beating" is not a return to form for 'The Walking Dead' or great, it is still one of Season 7's better episodes and a big improvement over the previous four. After a general slog of a first part to the season, some momentum is gained pace-wise and narratively in "Hearts Still Beating". Which does better than "Sing Me a Song" at moving things forward, that episode did show signs of progression but could have done a lot more with its content which is something that this episode does better.

"Hearts Still Beating" is not perfect. Am in complete agreement with those that have panned the part with Rosita, that was utter idiocy and one of the most intelligence insulting moments of not just Season 7 (and the season had a lot of what the heck moments, this took the biscuit) but of the whole show as well. Spencer is incredibly annoying and overacted, to the extent that what Negan does with him is one of the few times where his point of view is oddly understood.

It is also a bit slow to begin with, some of the dialogue still rambles and Negan does dominate too much in spots.

Though thankfully not as needlessly long-winded and it doesn't sound anywhere near as awkward as it did in "Sing Me a Song". The pacing to me seemed a lot better, more urgency later on, and the focus more balanced with those that were wasted before being interesting here. There is not as much overlong filler as there was in the previous four episodes and episodes afterwards, not too long is spent on irrelevance and things do progress and makes one intrigued on what's to come. There is a return to uncompromising tension and it is great to continue to the multiple storyline structure, with a lot of content without being over-stuffed. Surprisingly the tone of the climax didn't jar, which was actually what was expected considering that it is the kind of ending that after so much tension and hard-hitting rarely comes off well in other films, episodes etc elsewhere.

Visually, "Hearts Still Beating", as usual for 'The Walking Dead' looks great. It is stylishly photographed without trying to do too much, no trying-to-be-too-clever editing to be seen here, or being too static. The music avoids being too bombastic or being too low-key, being suitably haunting. The direction has enough tautness while also being accomodating. The character interaction is natural and has intensity and the performances are all fine (didn't have a problem with Chandler Riggs this time). Andrew Lincoln and Jeffrey Dean Morgan fare best.

All in all, not a masterpiece but an improvement. 7/10

Actually i didn't noticed the final on Eps. 8 goes like this. Because i saw from the first episode that's Alexandria family very suffering after Negan did's. Loved the scene at the end of the episode who make our heart beating. Thanks for the Producer also the Writer who make this season become alive again. Snap out my hates at the eps.1 when the favorite character died. Now the tension of this season start to eager,as the Asia fans of TWD, i'm really waiting for the next episode. Hopefully it come soon. and make the scene become more eager. Never bore to watch this movie even some scene become bored there are another scene make this movie alive and alive.

The psychopath Negan is still in Rick's house shaving and eating with Carl, Olivia and Judith while Spencer gets closer to the Saviors. Carol is visited by Morgan and Richard that bring supplies to her. Richard asks Carol and Morgan to help him to convince Ezequiel to surprise and fight the Saviors before it is too late and The Kingdom is destroyed, but Carol refuses. Meanwhile Rick and Aaron scavenge supplies in a barge in a lake full of walkers. When they reach the barge, they find an ironic note congratulating them for winning. They return to land and while loading the truck, someone watches them. Daryl succeeds from escaping from his cell and tries to flee from the Savior's compound. Michonne is trying to find a way to defeat Negan and the Saviors. Enid learns that Sasha has a secret agenda and does not want Maggie to know. In Alexandria, the weak Spencer meets Negan and asks him to kill Rick and make him the leader his mother was. Rosita takes a decision that will affect the lives of Olivia and Eugene. What will happen to the lead characters? Will they succeed in their intent?

"Hearts Still Beating" is the best episode so far in this Seventh Season, with engaging segments. Richard is foreseeing the fate of The Kingdom; however, Carol and Morgan do not know the last events in Alexandria and refuse to cooperate. Daryl trying to escape from the Saviors is tense. The segments with Michonne and Maggie, Sasha and Enid are in principle not important. The journey of Rick and Aaron to scavenge for Negan and what they find in Alexandria is great, but the reunion of the old Rick and his "family" is the climax of this show. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Hearts Still Beating"

Daryl makes his escape, thanks to the key that was slipped under his cell door. He finds new clothes, has his first real food in weeks, and steals his bike back, as well as Rick's service revolver. Daryl kills a guard in the process, although the essentially harmless man is begging for him to simply walk away. Daryl then sees Jesus, who has been hiding in the compound all this time. The two head for the Hilltop.

In Carol's hidden cottage near the Kingdom, Richard, a soldier in the Kingdom's army, fails to convince Carol and Morgan to help him talk Ezekiel into fighting against the Saviors. Carol wants to be left alone, and Morgan thinks there's a peaceful way to cope.

As Negan continues his way through Alexandria, he is approached by Spencer, who wants him to kill Rick and make him the leader of the community. Negan, however, publicly chastises him for conspiring against Rick. He tells Spencer that the reason he wants other people to do his dirty work is that he "has no g*ts". Negan then slices Spencer open, spilling his guts all over the street.

Rosita steps out of the horrified crowd and takes a shot at Negan. Unfortunately, the bullet instead hits Lucille, Negan's bat. Rosita defiantly refuses to say who made the bullet, which leads to Olivia's death. Eugene, terrified that anyone else might die, confesses to making the bullet. He is taken by the Saviors.

Rick arrives at the scene and, partly thanks to words from Michonne, regains his will to fight. He meets Maggie and Daryl at the Hilltop, and they prepare for battle.

The episode follows Rick and the group as they prepare to confront Negan and the Saviors, culminating in a tense standoff between the two groups. The episode is notable for its intense and suspenseful action sequences, particularly the climactic showdown between Rick and Negan.

One of the most memorable scenes in the episode is when Daryl escapes from the Savior compound and reunites with Rick and the others, signaling the beginning of their resistance against Negan's rule. This moment is a turning point for the group, as they begin to fight back against their oppressors and reclaim their freedom. The tension builds as the various storylines converge, leading to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion that sets the stage for the second half of the season.

The episode is also notable for its exploration of the characters' relationships and how they have evolved over the course of the season. Rick's transformation from a broken and defeated leader to a determined and resolute fighter is particularly compelling, as he rallies the group to take a stand against Negan and the Saviors.