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The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 1 Review

Posted in AMC shows, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Warning Some Spoilers Below:

by LaTaeya Lane

TWD: The Ones Who Live, directed by Bert and Bertie Ellwood and starring Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, continues the epic love story of the famous Colt Python slinger Rick Grimes and the Katana Sword-wielding Michonne. This story takes place in two different locations, as our main characters face a multitude of challenges, obstacles, and interesting circumstances along their journey to find each other. Rick’s journey to the CRM started after he blew up the bridge outside of Alexandria; Jadis found him near death on the edge of the river. Then we see Rick riding off into the world of the unknown in a helicopter with Jadis in tow.

Unsatisfied with their search efforts, Michone found herself going out to find Rick, feeling in her heart that he was not dead. She set out to expand her search beyond the borders of their walled community. On her travels, she ran into a man named Virgil in connection to a mysterious boat. The boat contained Rick’s Boots, a cell phone with an etched photograph of her and Judith, and a message written in Japanese, which were clues to prove that Rick was alive.

Their journey to each other leads them on a path to a much bigger and broken world.

Rick finds himself in a community held against his will and does everything he can to reunite with his love, Michonne, including attempting to escape several times.

Episode 1 takes us inside the CRM as we see the life that Rick Grimes is living. He tries to hang on to the love and life of his past while his hope for finding his family and the future he envisions slowly fades away.

Rick’s newfound relationships appear to be established with great caution as Okafor (portrayed by Craig Tate) tries to push Rick into a major Leadership role within the CRM. During this recruitment process, we learn that Rick undergoes extensive Military training. We see Rick do everything from hand-to-hand combat training to Walker extraction and flight training. While receiving this training, he mentally resists the idea of being a CRM leader. He finds himself amid an internal rebellion whose purpose is to change the inner workings of the CRM.

Rick’s resistance leads him on a path of four failed escape attempts, with his last effort finally bringing his comic book character storyline to life with the mutilation of his left hand.

By the end of the episode, Rick tries to let go of the idea that he will return to Michonne and his family. As he tries to open himself to the possibility of a new future, unexpected firepower suddenly takes down a routine supply run with Okafor’s group in one of the very helicopters that he has learned to fly. He crashes into a nearby field. Rick escapes the aircraft to an even more dangerous situation. Rick’s protective mask is taken off to reveal his face, while the individual who killed the others in his group is shown to be none other than his one true love, Michonne.

They stare at each other for several long moments as their mouths are dropped in awe.

This episode was by far one of the best episodes that the TWD Universe has presented to us. The storytelling process and the spectacular cinematography have created a fresh take and a different perspective on how Rick’s adventure has continued through his long absence within the universe. The world of the CRM and the secrets they hold create a more detailed idea of the puzzle pieces that the CRM has left us throughout this time. Andy Lincoln’s portrayal of Rick Grimes is award-winning, bringing us back to when TWD was all about Rick since season 1, episode 1, Days Gone By. The entire production was done amazingly. The new Costume designs tell a story within themselves and add to the experience of drawing us into Rick’s life. The “what if “scenes with Michonne and Rick were captivating and very special. Seeing them engage with each other in a new way was magical. The supporting cast meshed well throughout the episode and did an excellent job blending their fresh take with Rick’s story.

It is going to be fantastic to see how this unfolds.

Episode 1 of The Ones Who Live was a great start to this new thrill ride, and I am all in!!!

Ten stars!!

L.L.

Check out the trailer below. The Who Live airs Sundays on AMC at 9:00

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The Walking Dead Season 4 Finale

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on March 31, 2014| Leave a Comment »

The season 4 Finale of the Walking Dead was a bone chilling episode that wanted me itching for more. After several disappointing episodes without Rick Grimes getting any kind of camera time, last night’s episode surly put things back on track.
Rick shares a very nice moment with Michone as they relax and sit by a fire. Surrounded by pitch blackness, the two are alarmed by a strange sound in the woods. Joe and guys from the mysterious house finally catch up to Rick. Clearly a similar scene taken right from the comic books, give or take a few changes, Rick looses his cool as Carl and Michone’s lives are threatened. Daryl comes out of shadows to vouch for Rick. He puts his own life on the line and is punished for not telling the “truth.” Rick and the others defend themselves and we see a side of Rick surface, which has been suppressed for very long time.
After a run in with the “Claimed” gang, and reuniting with loner Daryl Dixon, Rick and his crew find Terminus. Rick makes an important move by burrying some of his guns right off the property.
The crew seeks refuge, but within a few minutes Rick notices Hershal’s watch, Glenn’s riot gear and Maggie’s poncho. He demands to see his people and soon he is attacked and led to a containment unit. Once inside he discovers that Glen, Maggie,along with Sasha and some friends are captured as well. The official reunion was nothing but a questionable greeting, as the show ended with Rick saying that “these people don’t know who they are messing with.”
Now we are left to wait until October to find out what will happen.
Overall the finale was great, and I hope that the writers stay focused on Rick. They must not forget that this is Rick’s journey and that the experiences are being told from his point of view. In addition to the group being reunited,
There were some important flashbacks that showed Hershal’s impact and influence on Rick. It was nice to see him be part of the finale. It gave us a chance to remember him again, and it gave Rick a chance to open up and really embrace who he is as a person and keep the cycle and balance between humanity and survival.
Next Season! I’m counting it down!!
Now we just have to survive the wait!
L.L

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The Walking Dead Mid Season Premier

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 12, 2014| Leave a Comment »

WD

The Walking Dead, mid season premier didn’t have me on the edge of my seat like the finale did. Even though I was so excited to experience the journey with Rick and Carl, I couldn’t help but feel that the episode was pretty much uneventful.
I must admit that there were some very important discoveries made when it came to Michone. We learned a little more about her past and saw more of a vulnerability to her character, which was refreshing to see.
Rick suffers from some potentially life threatening injuries when he had his battle with the governor. As he and Carl try to manage to pick up the pieces after the war, the emotional war of battling loss and the father and son relationship they had, meets even more challenges.
They move on foot scavenging for the basic necessities of life. Carl makes an attempt to try to protect his father by assuming a leadership role, but Rick does his best to try to keep Carl’s childhood innocence alive.
I was so excited to see what had happened to everyone else that left the prison, but unfortunately the episode on focused on Rick, Carl, and Michone.
Rick’s injuries soon get the best of him and he slips into a coma. At this point I wasn’t really nervous for him because Rick has been going nonstop since Atlanta. His body just shut down, and after everything he has been through, he is after all-human.
Rick needed to rest, and was in desperate need of medical attention.
An angered and frightened Carl feels that he is ready to let his father go, and states that he can survive alone and tells Rick that he can die. He ventures off on his own to find food in a neighboring home and quickly faces a Walker scare that almost gets him killed.
Carl’s bravery is unprecedented. He retreats back to where Rick is and soon believes that Rick will die. A torn Carl tries to handle the situation and Rick slowly comes out of his coma.
Michone follows the trail left by Rick and Carl, as she manages to begin her own journey alone. Her emotions go awry as she reminisces over the life she once had and copes with what life has become. While she pushes on, she eventually finds her way back on the steps of the house where Rick and Carl are.
Predictions:
I think that Michone will take care of Rick, to help him get back on his feet. Now that we know that Michone was a mother, her closeness with Carl is better understood. She had a son and knows what’s it’s like to have that mother-son bond. Michone will fall in love with Carl and Rick and with the feeling and ideas of what family represents. Michone is going to give the Grimes boys a sense of family again. Once she walks back in their lives her presence will give them hope to find the others.
I’m so curious to find out where the second half of this season will take fans.
Episode Bonus: The opening scene, where Michone goes back to the prison to find Hershel as a Walker and surprisingly all that is left is his head. I thought that was a great way for fans to officially say goodbye to Hershel.
Happy Reading
L.L.

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Walking Dead season finale: rant and recap

Posted in Fantasy literature, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on April 1, 2013| 1 Comment »

Last night’s episode of the Walking Dead season finale was a total disappointment. Last week’s episode with Merle should have been the finale. I really thought that Rick and the group were going to leave the prison. There is no way that they can rebuild their lives there. The battle with the Governor’s group at the prison was uneventful. I don’t understand why Maggie and Glen were the only one shooting and how no one got killed when the Governor led his people deeper into the prison.
Everyone made a big deal on Twitter when Carl shot the Woodbury boy but I agree with his character. He was doing what he had to do. You can’t trust them and who is to say that he was not going to shoot Carl and Hershal. Carl has had to deal with a lot that children usually don’t have to deal with in these times, so if he goes too soft now he could get killed. I like the point he made to his father when he mentioned Dale.

The whole thing with Milton and Andrea annoyed me. She was so stupid when she stopped trying to free herself to talk to Milton. She knew that the Governor had injured him enough that he was not going to survive. Andrea spent too much time on nonsense.

I was not impressed with the make-up job that was done on Milton. His transformation should have been done in stages and more dramatic.

After the Governor and his gang retreated from the prison he goes mad and shoots his men when one of them speaks up stating that they will not participate in a slaughter. The Governor and his two right hand men walk away.

Rick and his group believe that they have defeated the Governor and they go back to Woodbury to find Andrea. They run into a survivor and she tells them she witnesses the Governor kill in cold blood. Rick,Glen, Michone and Daryl go back and stumbles upon Tyreesse. He learns that the Governor is psycho, and questions the whole situation involving the Governor, which should determine his place in season four. Andrea kills herself because Walker Milton bites her. Rick returns to the prison with the Woodbury survivors. What a big mistake, there are too many weak people that Rick is now responisble for even though he claims that he is not the group’s leader, he is more so now than before. I guess the new people will be the new victims in season four. More people have to die. I thought WD season four finale was going to go out with a bang! ANNOYING ANDREA IS FINALLY DEAD! YAY I hope that the new season will be a promising one. I still can’t get over how bad the episode is.
Embracing Something New
L.L

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