Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 9 episode 3: “Every Life Counts”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 9 episode 3, I almost felt like I was playing a game of “Clue,” as Rick and the others try to figure out who is responsible for Justin’s death.  Was it Daryl with an arrow in the woods?  Seems too obvious, especially since we know that Daryl is not one for hiding his true intentions.  I’m not sure there is a candlestick lying around, but someone should be able to get to the bottom of this.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Warning Signs,” tensions continue to run high between the communities, as everyone learns that former Saviors are being targeted.  Meanwhile, Rick tries to have a nice day off with his family, but quickly learns that the bridge is not the only thing in danger of collapsing, as friendships are tested.  My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 9 episode 3 are:

5

“Thank you for you.”

In the beginning of the episode, Michonne confides in Rick and tells him that “everyone isn’t all in yet,” recognizing that Maggie and Daryl are still angry.  Rick tries to stay positive and tells her that “they’ll get there…just like we did,” but does he really think so?  Richonne has a beautiful moment together, as they spend the day with Judith and Rick once again takes a moment to thank Michonne for everything she has done.  Rick tells Michonne, “I can think of another way to build for the future,” implying that he is ready to have another baby.  After last night’s episode, we know that Rick Grimes has only two more episodes remaining.  I guess this would be a way for the famous Rick Grimes to live on, creating a legacy after he is gone.

4

“Us means all of us.”

Well sure it’s a nice sentiment, but I’m not sure that the communities can continue to sing “Kumbaya” when people are turning up dead or missing.  After discovering that Justin is dead, tensions continue to run high, as everyone begins to point fingers at each other, assigning blame and escalating the situation.  It’s only a matter of time before this turns into a riot, but can Rick continue to keep the peace?  When we see walker Justin headed out to the woods, there is a message written on a house that says, “Final Warning.”  This is not the first time we have seen writing on the wall this season, but our culprits don’t seem ready to step out into the open just yet.

3

“I need to honor them.”

Since we know that Rick’s time is limited, it has given us the opportunity to finally understand what is going through his mind, as he is more inclined to share than he used to be.  Rick talks about not killing Negan, even though he may have initially wanted to, reminding us that “every life counts.”  Rick talks about remembering everyone they have lost before and he feels a need to honor them and to build life, rather than take it.  It’s “us or the dead,” but I’m not sure that everyone else is ready to embrace this outlook on life.  However, I can absolutely appreciate where Rick is coming from, as he desperately tries to keep his future going, holding on to even the smallest glimmer of hope in the middle of all this darkness and chaos.  Will anyone try to continue this vision after Rick is gone?  I’m hoping so, but it seems like the people closest to Rick are not necessarily on board yet.  Will it take Rick’s death for them to finally see it all or will all be lost once he is gone?  We’ll have to stay tuned to find out.

2

“I lied to him for you.”

As things continue to escalate, blame is thrown Anne’s way, but Gabriel lies to Rick and tells him that she was with him all night.  Gabriel desperately wants to see the good in Anne, but he is no fool either.  He follows Anne/Jadis back to the dump and discovers that she is talking to someone over the radio.  Anne had spotted the mysterious helicopter and we know that they have another place to go, but I’m not sure we got too many answers here.  Anne/Jadis tries to ask the man over the radio if he was responsible for taking the people, but is told no.  Anne is informed that she needs to provide him with an “A,” but what really is an “A” or a “B?”  After trying to get Gabriel to go with her willingly, Gabriel says no and explains that he cannot betray Rick and the others.  Jadis decides to take him with her anyway against his will, commenting that she didn’t realize he was an “A.”  So if it is not predetermined, does it have something to do with someone’s moral compass?  If Gabriel just agreed to abandon his friends and go with her, he would be a “B,” a follower.  But since he stood up to her, he is now considered an “A,” a leader?  I’m just guessing here, but I’m looking forward to a further explanation about everything we just witnessed.  The Walking Dead tends to stretch things out as long as they can, but I’m looking for some concrete answers now.

1

“Why do they get this future and Glenn don’t?

As the game of “Clue” continues to escalate, Rick speaks to Daryl and tells him that the wound resembled an arrow wound.  Even though he doesn’t believe that Daryl did this, he still wants to find out the truth.  Daryl asks Rick why the former Saviors get a chance at this future when Glenn, Sasha, and Abraham will never see it.  While Rick is trying to honor everyone who died with his new future, Daryl has a different idea on how to do this.  We eventually learn that some of the Oceanside people, followed by Cyndee, are responsible for Justin’s death.  They are looking to get their own form of justice and Maggie and Daryl carefully listen to both sides.  Maggie and Daryl ultimately decide to walk away as the next former Savior is killed, which now creates a much bigger divide.  It’s one thing to have the communities on edge, but Maggie and Daryl are like family to Rick.  Now that they have chosen a different path, everything is about to change.  Maggie comments that they gave Rick’s way a chance and that they are off to see the Wizard…no wait to see Negan.  I thought I’d throw that in there especially since Rick was reading “The Wizard of Oz” to Judith.  Now that everything has changed, it’s only a matter of time before Rick gets caught in the crossfire.  Stay tuned for Rick’s last two episodes!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The Walking Dead below in the comments section.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

**I would love it if you would take a moment to check out my Whizbuzz Book page via the link below for everything you need to know about my new book, The Search for Alice, including my author bio page and links to my website and social media sites!  Thank you!

My Whizbuzz Book Page

Stay up to date on upcoming premieres of horror TV series @ 12nightsofhorror.com/horror-series-coming-soon

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available!  If you enjoy fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery, then this might be the book for you or someone you know!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I hope you enjoy!

When Kallie Bennett, a jaded teenage girl plagued by her alcoholic mother and her peers molded out of sheer bubble gum perfection, chases after Alice in Wonderland herself, she ends up lost in her own version of Wonderland, which forces her to face her utmost fears and introduces her to familiar characters with a dark twist. Among these characters is Ches, a gorgeous vampire with a conflicted conscience, who becomes Kallie’s guide and blossoming love interest. She also crosses paths with Queen Hartley, a manipulative witch who has the power to strip away one’s memories and imagination, which brings a bone chilling new meaning to “off with their heads.” In The Search for Alice, Kallie starts to realize that her Wonderland is just as frightening as her own reality and that she cannot always run away from her problems. She must figure out a way to defeat Queen Hartley and return home before it is too late, but she soon learns that escaping Wonderland means leaving Ches behind forever.

Want to read more?  You can click the link directly below for a free preview.  Thanks for your support!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice Cover

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 9 episode 2: “You’re not Saving the World Rick. You’re just Getting it Ready for Me”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 9 episode 2, I realized that restoring a bridge is not just about connecting different places.  While you may be able to get to point B easier from point A, it’s not that simple when it comes to building a bridge between groups of people, especially when these people do not agree on everything.  So do you keep trying to build it anyway or do you sever the link before it becomes too much to handle?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “The Bridge,” the communities attempt to work together to restore the bridge, but not everyone is on the same page.  Meanwhile, Jesus and Michonne try to get through to Maggie and Daryl continues to clash with Rick.  My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 9 episode 2 are:

5

“Mother Goose?”

Even though everyone is trying to create a new beginning, one cannot ignore that the world is still filled with death and despair.  Sometimes these episodes can get a bit heavy and Tara provides some much needed comic relief.  Tara is the “eye in the sky” and tries to radio over to Rick when she sees a potential threat of walkers headed their way.  Tara hilariously refers to Rick as “Mother Goose,” but he does not seem to be too fond of the code name.  I like the code name; however, and it’s nice to see someone take a minute to have a good laugh.  Thanks Tara!

4

“It’s about the small moments.”

During the episode, we continue to see some heartwarming moments between Carol and Ezekiel.  Ezekiel reminds Carol that it’s about the small moments and that he is not giving up on their fairy-tale just yet.  Even though Carol will be leaving his side for a while, Ezekiel understands that it is just “goodbye for now.”  Later on, Carol asks Ezekiel if he still has the ring and agrees to wear it, but she doesn’t want him to make a big production.  Ezekiel tries to get down on one knee and says that he has a speech prepared.  Carol had me laughing out loud when she responds, “I’m sure you did and you can read it to me later.”  Carol and Ezekiel are as different as they come, but there is something endearing about them so far, even though I’m still not shipping them just yet.  However, the writers are making it difficult for me because these moments are heartwarming for sure.

3

“I think some decisions are too big for one person to make.”

We learn that it has been a little more than a month since Gregory was executed and Maggie is refusing to let the wife of the man who attacked her visit him in his cell.  Michonne expresses her concerns again and Jesus tries to get through to Maggie, explaining that they need to have some kind of common law system in place.  Jesus and Michonne think that Maggie is a good person, but Jesus makes an excellent point when he explains that “good people can disagree.”  Maggie eventually has a change of heart after letting the man’s wife visit him and having a heart-to-heart talk with him as well.  Later on, she tells Michonne that they can talk about common laws, but she will still do what she thinks is right by her people.  When Michonne asks her what has changed, Maggie talks about her own father and says that he had a drinking problem too.  He deserved a second chance, but she reminds Michonne that Gregory had way too many chances and she’s absolutely right.  Maggie further explains, “Some people can be redeemed, but others can’t.”  When Michonne asks her who gets to make that decision, Maggie says that they will need to figure that out.  I’m glad to see that Maggie is willing to listen to the people around her while still maintaining her strong leadership and beliefs.  I have a feeling that we will definitely see some more differences in opinions; however, and we will have to stay tuned to see how far that escalates.

2

“Are we though?  On the same side?”

Tensions are continuing to run high, especially when some of the former Saviors get upset when they are told what to do.  Daryl clashes with one in particular and Rick has to break up a fight to keep the peace going.  Daryl has been trying to get through to Rick, but Rick has been trying so hard to keep his new world going.  Does that mean that he is willing to sacrifice his friendship with Daryl, however?  That doesn’t seem to be the case, as Rick is later confronted with the very same man after Aaron is severely injured because of this man’s negligence on the Walkie.  Rick tells him that he has met men like him before when he was a cop and we finally get a glimpse of the bad-ass Rick Grimes that we all love so much.  Rick tells him to leave the camp and warns him, “If I see your face again, stitches won’t fix what I do to you.”  Rick stands up for Daryl here, but he also recognizes that not everyone is on board with the new world he is creating.  While Rick doesn’t believe in executing others, he is willing to banish them to get his point across.  While I appreciate what Rick is trying to build here in his community, he also needs to remember that not everyone has the best intentions and he has to protect the people around him.  Don’t lose that edge just yet Rick.

1

“You’re not saving the world Rick.  You’re just getting it ready for me.”

Rick has been talking to Negan about how they are building and growing as a community.  He tells Negan that they had a bad day, but that they all came together at the end and that was their choice.  In a previous moment, Aaron tells Rick that “it’s not the end of the world anymore” because Rick changed it and he’s glad to be a part of it.  Aaron has just lost his arm and is still happy to be a part of the world that Rick is creating, giving Rick some hope and encouragement that he is doing the right thing.  After Rick tells Negan about the day, Negan responds, “That’s a really pretty picture you paint there Rick.”  Rick tells him that he will never see it and loses his temper when Negan brings up Carl.  Negan reminds Rick that everything will eventually fall apart and he will be right there waiting in the wings.  We know that there are still some Saviors who believe in Negan, but is there another threat present as well?  At the end of the episode, the man who attacked Daryl is talking to someone on the road back and is attacked.  Who is this new threat?  We’ll have to wait and find out, but Rick needs to remember that he should never underestimate Negan, even if he is behind bars right now.  Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The Walking Dead below in the comments section.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

**I would love it if you would take a moment to check out my Whizbuzz Book page via the link below for everything you need to know about my new book, The Search for Alice, including my author bio page and links to my website and social media sites!  Thank you!

My Whizbuzz Book Page

Stay up to date on upcoming premieres of horror TV series @ 12nightsofhorror.com/horror-series-coming-soon

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available!  If you enjoy fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery, then this might be the book for you or someone you know!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I hope you enjoy!

When Kallie Bennett, a jaded teenage girl plagued by her alcoholic mother and her peers molded out of sheer bubble gum perfection, chases after Alice in Wonderland herself, she ends up lost in her own version of Wonderland, which forces her to face her utmost fears and introduces her to familiar characters with a dark twist. Among these characters is Ches, a gorgeous vampire with a conflicted conscience, who becomes Kallie’s guide and blossoming love interest. She also crosses paths with Queen Hartley, a manipulative witch who has the power to strip away one’s memories and imagination, which brings a bone chilling new meaning to “off with their heads.” In The Search for Alice, Kallie starts to realize that her Wonderland is just as frightening as her own reality and that she cannot always run away from her problems. She must figure out a way to defeat Queen Hartley and return home before it is too late, but she soon learns that escaping Wonderland means leaving Ches behind forever.

Want to read more?  You can click the link directly below for a free preview.  Thanks for your support!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice Cover