What I’m Watching: The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead: Season 6, Episode 3 “Thank You” (B+)

I was going to comment halfway through this episode that it featured more deaths at the hand of walkers than we’ve seen in a while, which of course says more about the state of humanity than the state of the world. There was a fatalistic tone to this hour, spoken aloud by Rick when he said that they wouldn’t make it all back and confirmed by the several times that different groups of people got caught with no way out. Most of the Alexandrians, even the smart ones, didn’t make it, but the much bigger and more impactful death was that of one of the series regulars who’s been around since the very beginning. Watching Glenn get mauled to death by walkers, quite viciously at that, was especially devastating since it was Nicholas’ suicide act that caused him to be knocked down into the melee of walkers. Maggie is going to be crushed, and it’s not even a guarantee that she’ll learn of his fate since he’s now just one of a large group of walkers who may never be found. Michonne writing “You’re getting home” on her arm was a formidable display of courage, but that didn’t pan out either, as even his note got trampled and left behind. Rick pledging that they have to go forward for the people of Alexandria was also noble, but firing blindly when he saw people walking next to the RV after killing the man who had baby food was a sign that he has lost his humanity. Panicking when the RV wouldn’t start was a fearsome way to end the episode, and I suspect we won’t learn Rick’s fate for a while since we have to check back in on the misery happening at Alexandria.

What I’m Watching: True Blood (Season Finale)

True Blood: Season 7, Episode 10 “Thank You”

If I had to describe this finale in one word, it would be rushed, due mainly to the plethora of time jumps in the final few minutes that didn’t really have much of a point. But that’s not quite doing it justice, because there’s little about this finale that’s actually satisfying. The usual trope that a penultimate episode is better than the final hour is true here to be sure, but that doesn’t mean that was a perfect and fantastic installment. This episode contains just one bit of “action,” which was a rather ridiculous speedy execution by Eric and Pam of all their Yakuza pals which seems like it could have happened a few episodes ago. What took the focus of the hour was a spur-of-the-moment human-vampire wedding laced with awkward comedy since everyone there had a reason to feel uncomfortable. There’s nothing quite as generous as demanding a timely wedding because you’re on a clock to voluntarily meet the true death, but I suppose that Bill has done as right as possible by Jessica considering the nature of their first meeting. I am very pleased by how her character turned out given how things could have gone. No one else’s fate was too important, which is somewhat interesting with a large ensemble like this. Sookie proved to be terribly annoying right up until the end, taking a painfully long time to not use her light to kill Bill but to stake him instead. The flash-forward to everyone with kids and pregnant felt a bit too neat and happy, not quite right for this show. TV billionaires Eric and Pam seemed far too sterile, but then there was a dark ending to it all right before the final picnic scene. It’s strange to end on a shot of Sarah Newlin, who was a fantastic character who has pretty much just been tied up and abused for the past few episodes, completely miserable and hallucinating her dead gay vampire ex-husband. It’s a bizarre way to end, but I guess I couldn’t have expected anything different from this show. I just wish it been more even, emphatic, and exciting after so many years.

Series finale: B
Season grade: B-
Season MVP: Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica/Ashley Hinshaw as Brigitte
Series grade: B+
Series MVP: Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica
Best Season: Season 1/2
Best Episode: You’ll be the Death of Me (Season 1 Finale)