The Damned

For several episodes now, I've been fighting the urge to declare WD has finally jumped the shark. Well it has. The writing has gone to Hades. But for Negan (JD Morgan), there hasn't been a new character in several seasons now that could act his/her way out of a paper bag.

I'm a big fan of GOT and was a big fan of Breaking Bad. Both series got better over time. Walking Dead has been treading water since Terminus. Each episode relies too heavily on its fan base, not creative writing, compelling performances or inspiring plots. The special effects have become comical. I now believe it is too late to throw WD a life saver. With the current writers and sub-par cast, it is time to say R.I.P. to what was once an exceptional series. Shame on Scott Gimble!

After a relatively fast episode last week, we got an even faster paced episode this week. Literally a non-stop week of action as Rick & the gang attempted to take down another outpost of The Saviors.

After taking most of the beating last season, our group took the initiative and went after the Saviors before it was the other way around. I have to admit, it wasn't the easiest to watch the gang brutally plow through dozens upon dozens of living people like that. I think it's too optimistic to think that they can just hold everyone captive and not have some casualties. But at the same time, I'm glad we saw Rick look at himself in the mirror and re-think things a bit. Seeing Morales definitely brought back some thoughts about how the past used to be. So not only is the "familiar face" he runs into Morales, but it's also his own face in that mirror. To me, that was an extremely powerful moment. It's those moments that always win me over.

If there are going to be big deaths this year, I think it's smart to bet on Morgan. This whole "I can't Die" storyline is bound to end up with a devastating end to the great run of Morgan on this show. However, it's interesting that he's done a complete 180 from where he was at this point last year. In fact, it was interesting just to see the idea of life and death become so prominent in tonight's episode. I can only assume that this is a theme that will run through the rest of the season.

So while there was a ton of action, not a lot of things happened of significance. It felt very much like the first part of a two-parter, and maybe this whole season will have that feeling. As we draw closer and closer to our group taking down Negan, which is absolutely inevitable.

8.2/10

At a Savior outpost in an abandoned insurance office building, one of Rick's groups of combined militia attacks. They slowly cut down the number of Saviors, then watch as the dead turn and finish off the rest. During the attack Aaron's boyfriend Eric is severely wounded. Aaron rushes him away from the scene, as the man continues to bleed out.

Rick, Daryl, and others enter the building from another direction. They go from room to room, searching for the weapons armory. On one of the upper floors Rick has to kill one of the Saviors, then is filled with self-loathing when he realizes that the man had been guarding a baby. He is then caught unprepared, as another man steps out and holds him at gunpoint. It turns out that this Savior is Morales, who Rick hasn't seen since the earliest days of the outbreak. Morales tells Rick that he's called more Saviors on his walkie, and they'll soon be arriving.

Meanwhile, at the Satellite outpost that was once cleared out by the Survivors, another battle takes place. Morgan, Tara, Jesus, and others attempt to remove any resistance. Morgan and Tara want to kill any Saviors they find. Jesus, however, insists that they should capture anyone who is willing to surrender. Although angered by this approach, Tara resists the impulse to kill the Saviors who are gathered. In the end Morgan also relents, although this is put to the test when he sees that one of the survivors is Jared, the Savior who killed young Benjamin from the Kingdom.

"The Damned" propels the narrative forward by diving deeper into the multi-front war against the Saviors. The episode uniquely structures its narrative around several simultaneous assaults on different Savior outposts, showcasing the broad scope of the coalition's plan to dismantle Negan's grip on the region. This episode highlights the logistical and moral complexities of warfare in the post-apocalyptic world, as characters are forced to confront the reality of their actions and the implications of their decisions on both a personal and a communal level.

One of the episode's standout sequences involves Aaron leading an assault on a Savior outpost, resulting in a brutal and costly engagement that underscores the high stakes of the conflict. This battle is not only tactically intense but also emotionally draining, as it showcases the harsh realities of war and the toll it takes on the individuals involved. Meanwhile, Morgan's storyline offers a gripping exploration of the psychological impacts of violence. His journey from pacifism back to a warrior highlights the inner turmoil and moral dilemmas faced by those fighting for survival, making Morgan's character arc one of the most compelling aspects of the episode.

Another significant moment occurs when Rick encounters Morales, a character from his past, now aligned with the Saviors. This encounter serves as a powerful reminder of how the world has changed and how former allies can become enemies in the struggle for power and survival. The tension between Rick and Morales captures the theme of lost humanity and the transformative effect of the apocalyptic world on personal identities and relationships. The episode concludes with the sense that the war is far more complex than a simple battle between good and evil, setting the stage for further exploration of the characters' moral compasses and the lengths they will go to secure their future.

"The Damned" effectively advances the season's narrative by deepening the exploration of war's complexities and the moral ambiguities faced by those involved. It challenges both the characters and the audience to consider the cost of survival and the sacrifices necessary to achieve a semblance of peace in a world dominated by conflict.

Well, my last review was my most hated ever, but I'm going to keep on making reviews because I love this show and want to get my thoughts out. Anyway, what makes this episode so interesting is that it doesn't focus on a single character or even the same group of characters. This is what makes this show so great is that we get a great cast of unique characters that all contribute to the story well. It was interesting to see some fight walkers and others fight living people. They actually overlap as one scene features the formerly living people transform into walkers. The action's as good as ever.

Rick and Daryl are the most noteworthy but we get lots of great bits too. There's Carol and Ezekiel in one group and Tara and Jesus in another. They hold a guy hostage who looks a lot more like Jesus. We get a great opening as we see shots of the main characters' faces. That's also what we end on. It doesn't use the same angles however which shows how diverse the storytelling is. Most of the conflict is still caused by the humans which is why it's great to see how an apocalypse affects the still normal people. I did miss Negan though. ***1/2

Why are people hating this so much? It is 40 minutes of action. It is more action than the show ever had. I love the first two episodes of season 8