On first watch, expectations were not high for "Some Guy". Despite finding 'The Walking Dead' a brilliant show in its prime, the last three episodes in particular of Season 7 (which was a disappointing season generally) were big disappointments and disliked even more so the previous three episodes of Season 8. Which repeated the same mistakes of the previous season, while amplifying them and making more on the way. Having said all of that, a few of the Season 8 episodes were good.
"Some Guy" turned out to be one of those good episodes. It is lightyears away from being one of the best episodes of 'The Walking Dead', but is it better than the previous three Season 8 outings? Yes, a huge improvement and it is certainly a masterpiece compared to the near-monstrosity that was the previous episode "Monsters". "Some Guy" isn't perfect but it is easily one of the best of Season 8, one of the few good episodes of the season and the best since "Bury Me Here."
A perfect episode it is far from. Some of the action in the middle act is on the chaotic and silly side, with the chase scene being one of the most ridiculous in a while for anything and Carol's big scene could have done with a lot more tension.
Did feel too that some of the dialogue still comes over as too heavy on the talk, though nowhere near as much as with the previous three Season 8 episodes. Ezekiel's especially tends to ramble.
However, a lot is great here. It is the first episode of Season 8 to look good, it has a genuinely atmospheric look and it is one of the few Season 8 episodes where the photography, which tended to be disorganised and self-indulgent, wasn't a problem. Kudos too to the makeup and prosthetics, which are some of the most accomplished and creepiest in a while. The writing is not perfect but it is thought provoking and intriguing. The music is suitably ominous.
It is also the first episode of Season 8 where there is any forward momentum to story progression, so it feels like it's going somewhere rather than feeling like filler. It does have some tension and contains an incredibly movingly powerful ending that really stuck with me and broke my heart. It is the first time where Ezekiel isn't annoying and where it was easy to care for him, his character development was fascinating and insightful as well as really progressed his character. Can't fault the acting, with Khary Payton at his most gut wrenching making the biggest impression. Especially in his breakdown, that is one heart-wrenching breakdown. Melissa McBride also makes much of her material and Whitmer Thomas is chilling, more so than Negan has been in a long time.
On the whole, surprisingly good and a vast improvement over the previous three episodes of the season. 7/10.
