Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 8 mid-season finale, I thought about how Dante said, “We are selfish, we are brutal,” but can you really say that all kindness is gone from humanity? Our characters are proof that a glimmer of goodness still exists, but let’s hope that glimmer is enough to get them through what comes next. Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.
In last night’s episode, “The World Before,” Alpha’s plan involving Dante is revealed, as Rosita makes a shocking discovering of her own. Meanwhile, Carol continues to hunt down leads on Alpha’s horde and Michonne and Judith meet a new stranger.
My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 8 mid-season finale are:
5
“You have a special place among us.”
After the shocking reveal in last week’s episode, we now learn more about Alpha’s plan involving Dante. Dante was the one who painted “Silence the Whispers,” he tampered with the drinking water, and even smothered poor Cheryl with a pillow.
Alpha wanted to use paranoia to push the group into bad decisions and Dante apparently wants a public reckoning to be heard now, but I’m not sure that our group is willing to listen to anything he has to say…
4
“I cannot die!”
Rosita is the one who discovers what Dante has done, as he tries to attack her as well, but our girl Rosita kicks some serious ass and stabs him. I felt so bad for her when she had to put down undead Siddiq before he began snacking on poor baby Coco and this event clearly traumatized her. I can’t say that I blame her.
Rosita finally gets some well deserved screen time during this episode. For a while now, she has appeared in transitional and filler scenes, but she now steps into the spotlight, going beyond the gates to take out some walkers to channel some of this rage brewing inside of her.
Eugene shows up and saves her, as reality strikes her with the possibility that she can die, which now scares her more than anything because she doesn’t want to leave baby Coco behind. This moment of vulnerability was truly moving, as it developed Rosita’s character even more.
I thought Rosita showed so much strength and emotion in this episode and I would like to see her channel this in future episodes to really embrace the warrior within. Perhaps this is the wake-up call she needed and romance may not be off the table for her and Eugene after all…
3
“Do we deserve a second chance?”
Well, apparently Gabriel doesn’t think so. Gabriel really takes Dante’s betrayal hard and starts studying old video tapes of him, clearing blaming himself for thinking that he was a good person. This is not the first time we have seen Gabriel face an internal dilemma, but he almost shuts down completely here and even keeps his distance from Rosita, holding on to his guilt.
Gabriel speaks with Dante and decides to go crazy on him, killing him in his cell. While I understand Gabriel’s actions and motive, I started to wonder if perhaps Alpha’s plan is working, as paranoia and guilt are now conquering the goodness that they have all been working so hard to achieve.
How will this impact Gabriel’s relationship with Rosita? Will he have doubts about his decision? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like a darkness has emerged within him and I don’t think this is going to be the last time we see him tap into it.
2
“My mercy prevails over my wrath.”
After a fun library adventure with Michonne, Judith, and Luke, they stumble across a stranger who saves Luke and then runs away. To quote Luke, “Who does that?!”
When they reach Oceanside, they stumble across the stranger again, as Michonne and Judith make an incredible tag team. We learn that the stranger’s name is Virgil and he claims he is just trying to go home to his family.
He talks about mercy and this clearly strikes a chord with Michonne, remembering that both Siddiq and Rick used to say something similar. This sparks something within Michonne and she agrees to help Virgil by taking him on a boat back to the island where he lives, Bloodsworth Island. Apparently, this is some kind of fortified island and he agrees to give Michonne weapons, which would definitely help them create an advantage against The Whisperers.
Michonne tells Judith that she will see her soon and says she can reach out to her on the Walkie whenever she wants, but you have to wonder if this is the set-up for Michonne’s departure on the show?
Perhaps she will find evidence here that Rick is still alive? Either way, I’m anxious to find out more about this island. Let’s hope that we can trust Virgil.
1
“You want her dead so bad, you don’t even care what happens to you.”
Carol continues to act first and think later, but Daryl tries to talk some sense into her. He tells her that he feels like he is talking to a ghost and reminds her that he is the one she should confide in. Daryl tells her that she has to try and that Alpha isn’t worth it and that they have a future, which was a heartwarming moment to witness.
It seems like Daryl gets through to Carol, but she immediately shifts gears when she spots Alpha across the tree line, running straight for her without thinking once again.
Carol’s need for revenge now endangers the rest of her group, as they all end up trapped in some kind of cave surrounded by Alpha’s walker horde.
In a previous episode, Lydia reminded Carol that her mother thrives on manipulation and that’s exactly what she did here.
Will our characters be able to make it out of here alive?
They are certainly in a dangerous situation, but it looks like Gamma (formerly known as Mary) might be switching sides to help our group.
Overall, I thought this was a solid mid-season finale, but I would have liked to see some screen time for both Negan and Lydia, but it looks like we will be catching up with them more when new episodes return in February! Stay tuned!
I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories & thoughts on The Walking Dead below in the comments section. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
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