The Well

Honestly after the the emotional season 6 finale and first episode of season 7 I did not expect this...was not impressed by this episode

The previous episode "The Day Will Come Before You Won't Be" was surprisingly not bad at all, despite going too overboard on the violent tone. Am saying surprisingly, because it followed on from such a disappointing finish to the previous season, an inconsistent one but with many fine things. And because it opened the season where 'The Walking Dead' went notoriously downhill and felt like a completely different show altogether.

Despite a much lower rating here as of now, for me Season 7's second episode "The Well" was a little better and it is not hard to see why it was one of the best received episodes of the season by quite a large margin. It is a very solid episode, interesting for introducing one to The Kingdom and another new character, albeit a very different one compared to the previous episode, its more restrained and calmer tone being a welcome departure from before. While it won't be for all tastes and it's a long way from being 'The Walking Dead' at its best, "The Well" is one of Season 7's better episodes in my view.

It is certainly not perfect. It is a little too slow in spots, the episode being somewhat of a slow-starter and it is with the Saviors when it gets going, and bogged down by being a little too exposition heavy. Some of it being rambling (if not as much as Negan's dialogue in "The Day Will Come Before You Won't Be").

Other episodes did a better job at progressing the characters, with the introduction of Ezekiel being the most striking thing in this regard, and at moving the story forward (the episode is not complete filler though), the closest "The Well" comes to being that is other than the introduction to the Kingdom the hostility between the Kingdom and the Saviors.

However, "The Well" is stylishly photographed without trying to do too much, no trying-to-be-too-clever editing to be seen here, or being too static. Shiva looks great. The music avoids being too bombastic or being too low-key, being suitably haunting. Personally do prefer it when the direction has more tension, especially of the uncompromising kind, but did appreciate the sensitivity of it here. While the dialogue is not perfect, it is quite thought-provoking and intrigues enough, especially between Ezekial and Carol. Melissa McBride, Lennie James and Khary Payton are excellent throughout.

Although, like the script, the storytelling is flawed, there are things done well. The big scene between Ezekiel and Carol is particularly well done, great chemistry between the two, not too heavy-handed and really probes thought. Close behind is with the Saviors, that had intensity and a further sign of how dangerous they are. Carol and Morgan's story here is on the most part more interesting than in "Last Day on Earth", which didn't fit with the rest of the episode. It was great to have "The Well" focusing on two of the show's better regular characters and focusing on less characters than tends to be the case, am aware that fans had issues with Carol's development in the latter episodes of Season 6 but she is very well handled here and Morgan has come on a lot. Ezekiel is a colourfully characterised character, very intriguing and enigmatic.

In summary, well done if not top-'The Walking Dead' standard. Better than a lot of what came after though, which was a completely different story. 7/10

An injured Carol awakens with Morgan at her side. He tells her what has happened and where they are. They have been brought to a community called The Kingdom, a place led by "King" Ezekiel. Carol is stunned by the way things are run. She concludes that it's a ridiculous fantasy world, and she needs to leave.

She plays along, in order to keep people from becoming suspicious while she plans to escape with supplies. Before she can leave, Ezekiel catches her, and they both drop their facades. Ezekiel encourages her to embrace life, and suggests a plan that would allow her to simultaneously "go and not go." She takes residence in a cottage outside the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Morgan begins to bond with Benjamin, a young resident who is training to be a soldier. He also discovers that The Kingdom is being extorted by the Saviors, although it is being kept secret from most of the community.

"The Well" is a stark contrast to the season premiere, offering a glimpse of hope and humanity in the midst of the post-apocalyptic world. The episode introduces the Kingdom, a new community led by the enigmatic King Ezekiel. The Kingdom is a vibrant and thriving community, complete with its own unique culture and way of life. Ezekiel's larger-than-life personality and his pet tiger, Shiva, add a sense of whimsy and intrigue to the episode.

One of the most memorable scenes in the episode is when Carol is introduced to Ezekiel and is initially skeptical of his grandiose persona. However, as she spends more time in the Kingdom, she begins to see the value in Ezekiel's leadership style and the community he has built. The episode also explores themes of identity and self-discovery, as Carol grapples with her own inner demons and tries to find a sense of purpose in this new world.

The episode is also notable for its exploration of the relationship between Ezekiel and his people, particularly his relationship with Benjamin, a young resident of the Kingdom who looks up to Ezekiel as a father figure. Their interactions add depth to Ezekiel's character and highlight the bond he shares with his community.

I truly appreciate this episode. Watching the show a second time left me dreading the previous episode before getting there. It weighs heavy and despite acknowledging the significance of what occurred, it still hurts to see two amazing characters go out like that.

This episode is incredibly refreshing and such a welcomed contrast. Especially if one is binge watching the whole series.

This might come off as overthinking it but from a mental health perspective, it's even more important. Seeing something for entertainment worth can still be impactful. For better or worse.

The light hearted nature of the new characters and dialogue helps move the show forward. Even after something so dark.

So, thank you to the writers and creators for placing this here.

I'm not a huge fan of when Walking Dead takes a full episode off from 90% of the main cast to give us an episode full of backstory and exposition, but perhaps we needed that after last week.

The problem is that 'The Well' felt like a completely different TV show than what we have grown accustomed to with The Walking Dead. The setting shift to The Kingdom gave us a fresh view of life after the walker outbreak, and while it was an interesting episode, I couldn't help but wonder why we didn't at least get a little bit of a follow up to last week.

Tonight focused on Carol and Morgan as they made their new home in The Kingdom after Carol's breakdown last season. Their dynamic brings something unique to this show, so I appreciate spending significant screen time with them. With that said, it was even more fascinating watching both of their character's ideals get broken down this week by King Ezekiel. Carol came to grips with the town's ridiculousness and phony side by reverting back to her sneaky-sly self. Ezekiel wasn't having any of that.

My favorite scene came as Carol was ready to steal the King's crops and leave, but he proceeded to sit her down and have one of the better monologues the show has given us in a while (besides Negan's). Much like Carol, I found it hard to buy into his history at first with his pet tiger, Shiva, but Khary Payton's brought a lightening charisma to Ezekiel. A much needed change of pace.

It was nice to see Carol isn't entirely abandoning the life at The Kingdom, as Shiva and Ezekiel gave her a nice welcome home present, but it begs the question, just how much will Carol be involved with this season? And specifically, with the Alexandrians? But to me, the standout from tonight was Ezekiel's presence, who perhaps brings the exact opposite tone and feel than Negan did last week. Some interesting choices made by Walking Dead of late. I'm down.

+Ezekiel and Shiva

+Carol's reaction

+Breaking down Carol & Morgan's ideals

+Full-arc in one episode

-Still felt like I needed a scene with the main crew

8.0/10