The Walking Dead S8E10: The Lost and the Plunderers

In one of the most curiously titled episodes of the season, The Walking Dead takes a new approach to returns from commercial breaks. Because you have to change it up every now and then, right? The show opens with Michonne’s name written largely on the screen, and what follows focuses largely on her. After the commercials, Negan’s name is on the screen followed by a scene focused largely on him. This continues for the entire episode and by the end of the third commercial break, I’m strangely curious who will be the focus next. This is a simple, yet interesting change-up that seemed to work, at least for me.

Following that third commercial break was Simon’s scene as he paid a visit to the Scavengers. Earlier in the episode, we sense some discontent from Simon. He expresses to Negan his desire for revenge on the Scavengers, and his desire to leave the area all together and seek out other communities to “save”. Negan will have none of that, and he orders Simon to get the Scavengers back in their ranks, killing only one of them per their usual warning. You can see the dissatisfaction on Simon’s face, and we wonder if he will follow through with Negan’s orders. This is an interesting development in the show. We know already that Negan has lost one of his closest confidants in Dwight. Now he appears to be losing Simon, though don’t expect Simon to warm up too quickly to Rick and Co.

This begs the question, is Simon the titular “lost”? Sure it could be in reference to people lost through death, of which this episode saw plenty. But I’m inclined to think it’s referring to Simon, in that Negan has lost him or that he has lost his way. With that interpretation, we could also say that Rick could be counted among the “lost”. He reveals to Negan that Carl wrote him a letter, and that letter indicates Carl desired peace between them all. Then, as if he didn’t care what Carl wants or even remember that he promised him he could make this world work, he threatens Negan. Rick is fully expressing his wrath in this moment. You could say his wrath is overcoming his mercy, which is exactly the opposite of what Carl dreamed about and what this season has hinged upon. In this way Rick is even more lost than Simon is.

Jadis also played a central role in this episode. In the post commercial focus on Simon, he instigates a confrontation with Jadis so he would find opportunity to exact revenge on this group of plunderers, just as he expressed to Negan he wanted to do. Jadis obliges, which resulted in the murder of her entire community, save for her. It’s clear that by the time Rick and Michonne make it there – also to secure the loyalty of this group – she wishes she were dead as well. Pollyanna McIntosh, the actress playing Jadis, is asked to express grief stricken frigidness in this episode and I think she does an excellent job. The shot of Jadis luring her now zombie-fied friends into the industrial trash compactor, then laying motionless nearby, was both haunting and depressing all at once. The only thing I can be sure of with her is that she’s not going away. There was too much teased about the landfill these people occupy; that is has solar panels, a helipad, etc. She’ll stick around, but it’s anyone’s guess what role she’ll play. My money is on her taking the helicopter they obviously have and ramming it into the sanctuary in hopes of killing Simon and Negan!

Oh yeah, Aaron and Enid are okay. The Oceanside ladies decided against killing them with the pitch forks they have left. Enid gives a somewhat moving speech to try and convince them to join the fight. When that doesn’t work Aaron decides to stay behind in hiding and – somehow – convince them to join. Because they’re obviously real trustworthy of men.

My Rating: B

Another solid episode, and it’s nice to have a couple in a row. Three if you count the midseason finale. I’ll say this though, if this theme of mercy over wrath is abandoned and Rick does in fact kill Negan, I’m out. This show has tested plenty of loyalties, and that will be what breaks mine. I want that theme fully explored and completely realized.