Things finally get going in an incredible episode
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Online Editor
The Walking Dead: “No Other Way”
Season 11, Episode 9
Airdate: 2/20/2022
After a so-so episode 8, “The Walking Dead” does a great job mostly closing the loop on the Reapers story in “No Other Way.”
Simply put, this was the best episode of the Walking Dead that’s been produced since before COVID-19 shut down the world. Things that have been dragged out for 8 episodes finally reach an abrupt conclusion in this ninth episode, and unlike the quick resolution to the Whisperer arc last year, this doesn’t feel nearly as jarring. Jarring, however, perfectly describes the twist in that flash-forward at the end of “No Other Way.” More on that later.
This was also actress Lauren Cohan’s best outing since her return to the show, and Maggie is arguably the most interesting (and important) character in “No Other Way.”
Her quest for food is ultimately a success, but her erratic and desperate actions led to the deaths of all but five members of her group. In the end, Maggie got what she wanted, but she couldn’t let go of her anger, and took out the remaining Reapers after Daryl and Father Gabriel had them pinned down and forced them to surrender.
Her actions also had the unintended effect of upsetting virtually everyone, and basically disgusting Negan so much that he chooses to leave the group of his own accord. Up to that point, Maggie and Negan had gotten along surprisingly well, and the latter even saved the former at one point. But Maggie took what Negan said in “Promises Broken” and applied that to the current situation by killing all of the Reapers (except for Leah, who managed to get away).
And that was enough to disgust the former Savior leader, who probably saw a little bit of the old Negan in Maggie than he would have liked to remember. I also think that he realized just how wrong he would have been had he done what he said that he should have in that clearing.
Above all else, Negan is a man of his word, and he makes the choice to leave in part because Maggie demonstrated that her word means nothing with her actions. While I wouldn’t go as far to assert that he has the moral high ground here, it’s also a fairly logical assessment.
Maggie’s troubles are far from over, as literally minutes after her group returns to Alexandra, the Commonwealth finally arrives at the community’s gates. Lance Hornsby himself has accompanied Eugene back to Virginia, along with a large number of Commonwealth soldiers.
While Lance offers to help the community rebuild, he also begins to offer them another option: joining the Commonwealth. In the next episode, “New Haunts,” we find out who in the group took Lance up on the offer. Maggie wasn’t one of those people.
But the end of “No Other Way” flashes forward six months, where Maggie is at the gate of Hilltop, facing down a full-blown Commonwealth militia… headed up by Daryl Dixon himself.
We won’t know how that came to be for at least a few episodes. Until then, it’s going to be a heck of a ride getting there.
STRAY OBSERVATIONS:
– In the comics, the Hilltop was rebuilt in record time following its destruction by the Whisperers, and while Maggie reclaims the land, that doesn’t look to be the case this time around.
– My guess is that Maggie just isn’t a big fan of big communities anymore after her failed off-screen exploits with Georgie.
– Leah lives, and I’m not exactly sure why.
– How did Lydia save Aaron again? That physically made no sense.
– Where the heck is Virgil? The dude could barely move and that whole floor was flooded with walkers.
– This probably isn’t the last we’ll see of Negan, and it’ll be fascinating if we get a substantial post-group journey from him.
– Also, RIP Alden. You may not have been hung up on that cross but you did at least get to take a Reaper out off-screen before you died.
– Seriously, Father Gabriel is such an awesome character. He’s the best murderous preacher that’s ever been on AMC (I said what I said). And it’s been thrilling to watch his journey from weak coward to top-tier sniper.
