11x19 ‘Variant’

[Dee]

Eugene goes on the run, and Mercer is tasked to find him; Aaron's group faces a complication on the road.

[Dee]

Watching this episode I felt like the good old days of TWD have returned. Time for the characters to have more meaningful conversations, gripping story telling with plenty of suspense.

I’m painfully aware that we might lose some of our Team Family in these final episodes, and how much I can’t bare the thought of losing any of them at this late stage. We know a handful of them are bulletproof but I want them all to survive now!

What a wonderful episode for Rosita, she’s become my favourite female character. I really fear for her at this point, more so than Eugene, who I believe is truly indestructible. These heart-wrenching foreboding goodbye scenes are killing me.

Talking about Eugene, I really don’t think he needs to prove his bravery anymore, he’s been brave for a very long time. I think it wasn’t necessary to refer back to the “coward phase” at this point, he can still be brave and ready to sacrifice himself for the woman he loves now, without shading his character that has been redeemed over and over again since his initial cowardice, and that murky time when he was with Negan. We know Eugene always steps up when it truly matters.

Loved the scene with Princess and Mercer. She’s so great. Please let nothing bad happen to Princess. Mercer is bound to come good in the end, both his sister and his lover being a flaming beacon in leading him to do the right thing. We already know his heart is in the right place.

Loved the talk between Aaron and Lydia. He could have told a different story though with a more situation to Lydia’s … how after grieving for Eric he was just about ready to move on with Jesus, and how they should have acted upon their attraction sooner, before he died. It would have been nice to hear him talk about Jesus, but it was also lovely to remember his time with Eric and Lydia got the message. Sweet young love.

The new place they’ve found is fabulous. I’d love to live there. How they haven’t found it before though? And hell yeah to King Jerry.

Not overtly keen on the variant walkers at this late stage in the game. It’s been ten years since Season 1 when we last saw a walker playing with a door knob and able to lift something off the ground. They should have brought these more humanlike walkers back a long time ago, not in the last minute of the show. Not like I care all that much. I mostly glaze over the walker scenes at this stage as an apparently necessary token part of TWD episodes to kill a few. Jerry though…. He was a zombie slayer on fire in this episode. So now they’ve raised the game with the walkers as well as with the human threat - hooray


Pamela is pretty much on par with the Governor, what a sick punishment she’s dished out to Hornsby! Big callback to the Governor when he left a dead person in the room with Andrea who was tied to a chair, and then she had to fight him off when he reanimated. And she didn’t make it out alive from that room. Pamela is an apparently similarly twisted monster. Obviously she had something sexual going on with Hornsby too, that made this scene even more repulsive. Hopefully both of their days are numbered.

So all hell will break loose next week with our people in grave danger from Pamela’s wrath. Time for Mercer to step up.

Can’t believe we only have five episodes left…

[Lori]

Watching this episode I felt like the good old days of TWD have returned. Time for the characters to have more meaningful conversations, gripping story telling with plenty of suspense.

I enjoyed every minute (mostly) of this one as it threaded beautifully like traditional TWD. Now, I have some complaints about traditional TWD with the unsatisfying lack of fruition of A LOT - not just to my satisfaction but to nurturing the storyline.

I’m painfully aware that we might lose some of our Team Family in these final episodes, and how much I can’t bare the thought of losing any of them at this late stage. We know a handful of them are bulletproof but I want them all to survive now!

Me too! I was on the edge of my seat wondering what liberty they would take with bopping our folks!

What a wonderful episode for Rosita, she’s become my favourite female character. I really fear for her at this point, more so than Eugene, who I believe is truly indestructible. These heart-wrenching foreboding goodbye scenes are killing me.

The goodbye scenes get me even when death isn't eminent! Mz. Rosita has always been a favorite of mine. Such a tough little cookie with a beautiful stream of humanity and gentleness. I want to be her. (Except in a non-dystopia.)

Talking about Eugene, I really don’t think he needs to prove his bravery anymore, he’s been brave for a very long time. I think it wasn’t necessary to refer back to the “coward phase” at this point, he can still be brave and ready to sacrifice himself for the woman he loves now, without shading his character that has been redeemed over and over again since his initial cowardice, and that murky time when he was with Negan. We know Eugene always steps up when it truly matters.

Yup. No need to hearken back to blubbering and sniveling. Eugene and my bad self barely survived it.

Loved the scene with Princess and Mercer. She’s so great. Please let nothing bad happen to Princess. Mercer is bound to come good in the end, both his sister and his lover being a flaming beacon in leading him to do the right thing. We already know his heart is in the right place.

Princess was wonderful and I love how she is presenting now. Such a hurt soul but really giving person despite it all. And wise. And full of ethic. And worth stepping up for, Mercer. I have faith in him as well.

Loved the talk between Aaron and Lydia. He could have told a different story though with a more situation to Lydia’s … how after grieving for Eric he was just about ready to move on with Jesus, and how they should have acted upon their attraction sooner, before he died. It would have been nice to hear him talk about Jesus, but it was also lovely to remember his time with Eric and Lydia got the message. Sweet young love.

The new place they’ve found is fabulous. I’d love to live there. How they haven’t found it before though? And hell yeah to King Jerry.

Not overtly keen on the variant walkers at this late stage in the game. It’s been ten years since Season 1 when we last saw a walker playing with a door knob and able to lift something off the ground. They should have brought these more humanlike walkers back a long time ago, not in the last minute of the show. Not like I care all that much. I mostly glaze over the walker scenes at this stage as an apparently necessary token part of TWD episodes to kill a few. Jerry though…. He was a zombie slayer on fire in this episode. So now they’ve raised the game with the walkers as well as with the human threat - hooray


Pamela is pretty much on par with the Governor, what a sick punishment she’s dished out to Hornsby! Big callback to the Governor when he left a dead person in the room with Andrea who was tied to a chair, and then she had to fight him off when he reanimated. And she didn’t make it out alive from that room. Pamela is an apparently similarly twisted monster. Obviously she had something sexual going on with Hornsby too, that made this scene even more repulsive. Hopefully both of their days are numbered.

So all hell will break loose next week with our people in grave danger from Pamela’s wrath. Time for Mercer to step up.

Can’t believe we only have five episodes left…

Pamela - Snake Central! Even though sick, it was quite the scene and a huge window into just how depraved Pamela has become or perhaps has always been. Come on Mercer!

[Dee]

Yay! You’re catching up, Mz S!

Glad you enjoyed this one!