REVIEW: THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE STARTS RIGHT WHERE WORLD BEYOND LEFT OFF.
THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE.
I had the pleasure of reviewing the first four episodes of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, starring Andrew Lincoln as “Rick Grimes”, Danai Gurira as Michonne Hawthorne, Pollyanna McIntosh as Anne “Jadis” Stokes, Lesley-Ann Brandt as “Pearl Thorne”, Terry O’Quinn as “Major General Beale” and Craig Tate as “Donald Okafor”.
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E1. Years.
If you have not seen The Walking Dead: World Beyond, prepare to be extremely lost. The Ones Who Live picks up pretty much right where we ended in season two of WB. Fear not, however, the time skips and different years are marked in text for the exact timelines.
TIMELINES ARE CLEARLY MARKED.
No more black and white for flashbacks or past scenes. No more guessing which is which and when is when. It’s a breath of fresh air to understand just what the hell I’m watching and when it is taking place in Rick Grimes‘ life.
While I can’t tell you specifically what Rick’s role is with the CRM, I can tell you whatever he is doing–he’s working up the food chain, but reluctantly.
Unlike Jadis, Rick has stayed true to his heart and he is constantly at war with himself and his feelings because of this. In fact, he has tried to escape from the Civic Republic Complex three times. Because, honestly? The CRM is giving off some Umbrella Corporation vibes.
THE CRM IS TERRIFYING.
As we know, it’s not a nice place. You can work there, you can live there, you can be as useful as they need you to be–until you’re not. And then you disappear. Either used in the labs to find a cure, or ultimately executed and forgotten.
FAMILIAR PLACES.
The research center in Ithaca, New York was overrun, so let’s just say this is a location not too far of a distance from the state. Tall skyscrapers and wind turbines. Exactly what you see in the trailer. Finally, a big event pushes him to the brink and he is forced to rethink all of his decisions.
PEARL THORNE BRINGS THE PASSION AND THE SASS.
A tough-as-nails character Pearl Thorne (played with swagger and emotion by Lesley Ann-Brandt) befriends Rick. Like Dennis Graham in World Beyond (Max Osinski), she’s wearing the same CRM jacket and even shares a bit of an alcoholic similarity to Graham.
THROWING BOTTLES.
And even more playful, Thorne is notorious for chucking her whiskey bottle at walls, so much that even Rick dodges once or twice out of habit. However, these two are deeply broken souls and will bond over tragedy and similar views.
They are both deep into a nefarious global organization and are trying to claw their way out. I very much believe they (Dennis and Pearl) must have worked together before all of the proverbial shit hit the fan.
We’re back in a big city, and across from the city could be safe haven of innocent people to look after. Or, it could just be an apocalyptic city that was very-well kept up. You will find out soon, dear reader. Can’t give away all the magic, right?
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E2. Gone.
Michonne is still on the hunt for her husband. How long has she been out here? Does she know who the CRM even are? We run into some familiar faces along the way, including Nat (Matthew August Jeffers) and a few more friends. Expect a death (or maybe more?) in this episode, but also expect to be relieved and happy near the end.
It’s a long episode and one might even say a filler one, but hang on. It may move slow, but there are a lot of details you need to pay attention to.
CRAIG TATE SHINES AS DONALD OKAFOR.
MEET YOUR SHANE 2.0
A less hostile version of Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal), Okafor is the sole reason for many of the new B’s (B’s are useful, A’s are experimented on, as seen in World Beyond.) to become a part of society.
OKAFOR SEES SOMETHING IN NEW RECRUITS THAT OTHERS DO NOT.
When he sees potential in people that could be soldiers, then he will take every risk he can to make it so. But is he truly a friend or foe? Fortunately, Donald is privy to the CRM’s evil-doings and he just might have a get out of jail free card in the mix.
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E3. Bye.
I’m sure you have noticed a pattern with the titles of each episode. Days Gone Bye. While I will admit, the title ‘Bye’ is a little ridiculous, it does have a meaning behind it for those that knew the show way back from when it aired in 2010.
Not to mention, it’s a rather bold nod to the comics. An old foe may return and a small flashback timeline may be given. Rick is clearly struggling with really not wanting to be there, but also trying to do the right thing.
If you dig Andrew Lincoln giving a lot of side-eye as Rick and having an inner mental breakdown, this is the episode for you. Andy gives it his all as the ever nervous but determined Rick Grimes. I especially loved seeing him interact with someone from his past in such a sarcastic way.
It’s almost like preschoolers arguing over who has the better lunchbox. And said foe is also struggling with their own inner-turmoil. Especially after all of the blood on their hands.
A long. Trail of bodies in their wake. Deep inside, there is still good there, but it’s cold and dormant leaving no room for love or emotion. Just mechanical and fighting to get to the top, no matter what the cost. A shocking ending is also revealed, which then leads into the next episode.
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E4. What We.
Now, I know that Danai Gurira is an excellent actress and director, but you can also add writer to that colorful resume of Beyonce-level skills.
She has proven herself again and again to be not just an emotional and passionate actress, but also a creative with a great eye for detail and subtle actions. This is a labor of love, this entire series. And you can tell Andy and Danai have put their hearts and souls into this entire show.
The episode’s pacing is a little slow, but the comedic element of Rick yelling at a temperature control A.i voice and being absolutely shocked by the existence of a roomba make it playful.
The CRM will once again foil someone’s plans, but the fans will get everything they have been dying to see since Rick was rescued from that bridge.
AND I LEAVE YOU WITH…
So, there were about two episodes where the pacing was kind of slow, but again–if you pay attention to detail and focus, you might just see a few thing that could answer some of your questions.
Once again, brush up on WORLD BEYOND. You will encounter familiar locations, the A and B variants (which also lead to S11 and Daryl Dixon in France, via the end tie-in with Dr. Jenner in the S2 finale.) We finally see and hear Major General Beale (Terry O’Quinn) and it is not what you would expect.
The ever familiar 28 Days Later made me envision Beale as a British man like the leader at the end of the movie. But as we saw that Elizabeth Kublek (Julia Ormond) was his partner in crime (until he jails her for treason), he isn’t so nice and polite as he seems.
TEN YEARS AGO THE LABS WERE STARTED.
Beale and Kublek start out trying to help people by having the world’s greatest minds trying to find a cure for the virus. Unfortunately, as the CRM grows–so does the pressure to find a cure. Eventually, people are trafficked in from many different locations, one notable one is Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) from the heaps.
JADIS STEPPED IN.
In order to keep her people safe, she trades unknowns to the CRM. In return, she receives food and supplies. But when her community is massacred, she uses Rick as a bargaining chip to get into the complex and rise above the ranks.
She is eventually introduced to Jennifer Mallick (Annet Mahendru) who is later known as “Huck”, and the two become close, starting a relationship of sorts.
AND THEN SHE DESTROYED WHAT SHE LOVED.
After Jadis climbs the social ladder, she no longer needs Jennifer and travels to the main HQ, while the other stays in Ithaca. Mallick eventually meets her husband Dennis.
By the time Jadis returns, jealousy overcomes her and she tries her best to sway Jennifer to the CRM’s side, even at the cost of Dennis’s pride.
After abandoning not one but two lovers in the past, Jadis attempts to take it all. But she is foiled by Mallick and stabs her fatally in the side.
The entire situation is the product of being brought in by Kublek to a gigantic mess that didn’t even have anything to do with Jadis. As revenge against Elizabeth, Jadis and Beale decide to arrest the grieving mother for treason.
ANNE.
We will see glimpses of Jadis being herself here and there. She is broken and vengeful, losing Jennifer and Gabriel really closes her off and you can see it, even as she continues to hit on Rick. Bonus: We also see Anne munching on french fries and talking about her love of onion rings.
“But onion rings? Now that’s livin'” – Anne.
A RECAP OF THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
Richonne, obviously. When? Where? Hmm.. Anne being Anne eating french fries and then shifting to stone-cold Warrant Officer Stokes. Rick’s deep-seated emotional issues, especially to an event he may have put in motion. Pearl’s sass and just being an overall badass.
The South African Michelle Rodriguez?
Danai’s witty and poignant episode, is laced with some spicy scenes and loud arguing. More labs. More helicopters. Specific locations to keep an eye out for. Keep brushing up on your spin-off knowledge or prepare to be LOST.
THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE will be premiering on AMC on FEBRUARY 25TH. Check your local listings.
About the author: Katie Harden is a professionally repped New York-based/bi-coastal musical theater, entertainment journalist, and indie film actress. She is proudly part of the Actor’s Equity Association and frequently interviews colleagues, friends, and celebrities, along with reviewing television and movies. Find her at the bottom of a can of Arizona sweet tea or in the ocean! @KHardenOfficial