The Walking Dead Reaction: "Last Day on Earth" (6x16)

The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here: The Walking Dead season six finale. What did we think? How much did we cry? Let's find out.

This article contains spoilers. The Walking Dead is rated TV-MA and contains graphic content.

Jameson C. Smith

I expected a lot of tension and to cry a lot of tears. The episode was directed by Greg Nicotero, and one of the writers was Scott Gimple, and usually that means death and desolation of audience emotions. This episode started fast and kept me guessing about characters' fates the whole time.

Morgan and Carol
In the last two episodes, Morgan's storyline really came together. Everything he's been trying to say fell into place, and we see how it's affected other characters. I love how he refused to give up on Carol, much like Eastman refused to give up on him.

I feel like Carol's actions in the latest episodes finally began to make more sense and seemed more natural in this episode. I hated seeing her at the point of giving up on everything, but I hope to see her rally in the future and become stronger, just as she has through all the other tough stuff that's been thrown at her.

Negan
Gotta be honest: I didn't exactly hate him as much as I thought I would in this episode. As threatening as he has been all season, it was a strange contrast to see someone who acted so…composed. When the Governor was the big bad on the show, he was a terrifying presence on-screen. Negan, though, struck me as being a lot like Rick. For example, during the Atlanta hospital showdown, Rick was acting with a similar thought-process to Negan's: “You hurt my people, I hurt your people.”

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That being said, I was terrified for the characters in those closing scenes. I don't think we've seen Rick so scared since the prison fell (not even really when Carl got shot in 6x09), so there's definitely some fear for what the next season will bring.

That Cliffhanger
One thing that sets The Walking Dead apart from many shows is that the season finales rarely end on a cliffhanger. There are threads of stories to finish later, but the ending is usually pretty clear. When the camera switched to first-person and Negan took that first swing…

The show's decision to leave Negan's victim a mystery will have me building theories and questioning the safety of my favorite characters until the show returns in October.

Other Stuff and Things:
- The parallels to episode 4x16 were really cool.
- Eugene! Loved that he finally got a hero moment, though I hope he doesn't die.
- Rick and Maggie had several great interactions in this episode. MY FEELS.

- Great acting from the cast in those last scenes. It was obvious they were all really into their portrayals, and it made the scene that much scarier and nerve-wracking.

Sky Destrian

I gotta say, I'm a little disappointed. After the entirety of season 6 led up to this character death, to not find out the identity of who died was disappointing. When I sat down to watch, I was worried, but I was also relieved because at last my concern and wondering would be over. But instead, we have to wait six more months to find out. Six more months to theorize and be scared for our favorite characters, and unfortunately, I'm no closer to guessing who died than I was a couple episodes ago. At this point, it could be anyone.

I think it would have left more of an impact if we had actually seen who died. The entire build-up to that moment was amazing. My heart was beating really fast, and I was sick to my stomach. The choice to use eeny meeny miney mo and then mix up all the faces was perfect. But after all that, it was anticlimactic to not know who died. Now I'm not sure that the death will leave as much of an impact after we've had six months to wait. While I do understand what they were going for, the showrunners built up to the big death only for us to find out nothing in the end. It's a major disappointment to the fans, and I feel a bit like I've been played.

Additionally, I'm disappointed with where Carol's arc has gone. It's been confusing to me why she suddenly went from Badass to Person Who's Scared. If I had seen the moment that led her to feel that way--her breaking point--I might feel differently, but it was a bit unclear and seemed to come out of the blue.

I didn't like Carl bossing Enid around either, and I do hope someone realizes she's locked in the closet soon...

However, I can't leave without discussing the good of this show.

Rick and Maggie's moments in the back of the RV were so cute and heartrending. Eugene's idea to use the RV as a decoy and his subsequent goodbye nearly broke me.

I loved everything about Morgan in this episode. I'm so happy he was in this season, and it hit me just how far he's come. I loved his loyalty to Carol, and their friendship that's developing is one of my favorite things.

For some reason, this episode really reminded me of the early episodes of TWD. Morgan riding a horse reminded me of Rick riding the horse into Atlanta, and having Maggie in the back of the RV reminded me of the episode with Jim in it. (I cried at that episode. Oh boy, I had no idea what other pain awaited me.) I don't know if these parallels were intentional or not, but I really liked them. (And I'm glad Morgan's steed survived a better fate than Rick's.)

Let's talk about Negan. I actually really look forward to seeing more of him. His viewpoint, while evil, is still totally understandable, and it's shocking to see that he and Rick aren't that different. (The only thing that makes Negan more terrifying is, um, Lucille, whom I am not fond of at all.) His parts were spectacularly acted, and they made me both intrigued and terrified.

All the actors deserve a major kudos for their incredible acting, especially in the very last scene of the finale.

As a whole, this season wasn't too bad. It lacked some cohesiveness, and some of the episodes seemed to be filler episodes. Some of the writing was a bit sloppy, and some of the character arcs (read: Carol's character arc) came out of nowhere. However, we did get some solid moments. The highlights for me were the introduction of Jesus and Enid, Maggie and Glenn's pregnancy (though I hope the baby is okay!), Gabriel the priest becoming a badass, and getting to see more of Alexandria and the other colonies. This was a pretty solid season. 

All in all, I will continue to watch because I care about the characters. I just hope season seven is a little bit better.

Lastly, I really want to know who these people wearing sports equipment are. (Rumor has it they're a group from the comics called The Kingdom. I look forward to seeing more of them.)

Erinn Leach

The build of people and intensity along each route reflected my heartbeat as I watched last night's episode. What would have happened had the group chosen the first road? They probably would have ended up in the same place because of how smart the Saviors are. This second half of this season has been unrelenting and contains some of my favorite episodes of The Walking Dead.

I thought for one moment that we were going to lose Carol tonight. She's been in a downward spiral for a few episodes, and she's beginning to scare me because of her actions and her honesty. I understand where she is coming from. You can't surround yourself in ones that you'd kill for and expect to not have to kill anyone else, and killing without emotional repercussion can be terrifying.

I am having the hardest time getting over how masterfully demented Negan is and just hate him like a normal person. That and Jeffrey Dean Morgan was looking mighty fine!! The film appreciator in me is in love with the complexity of this new character and the struggle that he will cause the group to have. I have been waiting to see him on screen, and he was terrifying! Everything from his mannerism to Lucille was spot on with the comic book version. I can't wait for more, but maybe I shouldn't.

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Who was killed? I'm ruling out Carl and Rick because of the whole eyeball consumption thing. My comic book brain knows who got it on paper, but a few of the characters that were in the line up are already dead or non-existent so I'm unsure of who got it. I wish that Carol had a sound mind and could come up with another brilliant plan like she had back at Terminus. Either way, it'll be nerve wracking to wait to find out.

Have you seen "Last Day on Earth"? What did you think of it?

What did you think of season six? What do you look forward to seeing in season seven?

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Celebrating Tolkien Reading Day: Our Favorite Tolkien Characters

March 25th marks a momentous day in the realm of fantasy. For fans of The Lord of the Rings, today is the anniversary of Sauron's final defeat, the beginning of the Gondor new year, and the official Tolkien Reading Day. (You can read more about the special, literary day here.) In honor of such a celebration, we've decided to return to the heart of this fantasy epic: the characters. However, since it's Tolkien Reading Day, we've gathered around the table to share a metaphorical pint and to discuss our favorite Tolkien book characters. From Bilbo Baggins to Tom Bombadil to Yavanna, here is why we love Tolkien's characters.

Erinn Leach

Aragorn has remained my favorite Tolkien character ever since I first read the books as a pre-teen. Aragorn is, in my eyes, one of the greatest examples of a virtuous human being in fiction. In all aspects, he is a respectable man and deserving of his greatness. His relationship with Arwen Evenstar is an example of a couple that completely deserves each other and works in unity to strengthen each other. Their connection has empowered the final side of his personality that needed to be whole in order to become the greatest ruler to ever live. Who could say that they deserve power like that? No one but a humble fighter like Aragorn.

Another aspect of Aragorn that I respect is that he looks to his elders for wisdom and truth. He doesn't rely solely upon his personal knowledge; rather, he looks to the great minds of Elrond and Gandalf. Many characters in novels take a selfish route to greatness and feel that they can't ask for help because they fear looking "weak." Aragorn knows that it would be of no good to try to achieve his goals this way. He was guided by Gandalf back to the throne, which was rightfully his by lineage. Aragorn's road to the throne was humbling, and through this, he gained the trust and respect that he needed to become a great and powerful King. He rose from the bottom, among the wild rangers, looked down upon even by travelers. He lived years at the bottom and never complained about his toil.

The honorable personality that Aragorn releases into the world is one that I'll always adore. Each time I read his parts or watch the films, I come away from it learning ways to be a better person. Aragorn always inspires me to work for my dreams and live humbly while doing so.

Galahad Strange

Faramir is the second son of Denethor, Ruling Steward of Gondor.  Unlike his brother Boromir, Faramir grew up loving books rather than warfare and excelled with the bow over the sword.  Where Boromir is brash and bold, Faramir is quiet and deep-thinking, but you’d be hard-pressed to find two brothers more close.  After Boromir’s death in the War of the Ring, Faramir bore the brunt of his father’s ire and the burden of the command of Gondor’s forces.  The price of the strain was almost his life.  But when the Ring was destroyed and Sauron fell and peace came to Middle-earth, all the years of sacrifice and forbearance were repaid when he found love with Éowyn of Rohan.

I was very young when I was first introduced to The Lord of the Rings, no more than eleven or twelve, still dreaming about fairy tales and Prince Charmings. Then along comes the greatest fairy tale of them all.  I loved Faramir with all my little heart before I even understood what “love” meant.  I wept at the cruelties he endured and admired his strength of spirit and the goodness in his heart.  Most of all I wanted him to be happy, and I was overjoyed when he found Éowyn.

Anna Gensimore

I have been a fan of Tolkien's work since childhood; anyone who has met me can attest to this. His world and characters have taught me so much about facing adversity, making choices that you cannot see the outcome of, and preserving the dignity of others (even when it's hard). Considering those factors, these are the three that automatically brought something to mind.

Yavanna

Yavanna is featured in The Silmarillion; you should definitely read it if you have not done so already. She is one of the Valar, a being created by Eru to help form Middle-earth. Her name literally means "giver of fruits" as she was the one to bring things that grow to Middle-earth. Her story is a bit complex, but she's quite loveable. Basically, whenever Melkor or one of his agents destroys life or one of her creations, she is the one that never loses hope. This even leads to the creation of the Sun and Moon! Her husband Aule (also known as Mahal in Khuzdul) created Dwarves to aid him in industry. As the story goes, Yavanna started crying as she feared that her husband's creations would destroy all of her beloved trees. In response, Eru created Ents as a gift to her. She sent the Maiar Radagast to help save Middle-earth. She's kind of my favorite.

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Pippin

Peregrin Took is featured in The Lord of The Rings as a member of The Fellowship. At the beginning of the journey, Pippin, along with his cousin Merry, are in the equivalent of their late teens. He is still very much discovering his identity when the opportunity to go on this quest arises. His role is not just that of comedic relief, it is a coming of age journey. We see him grow from a curious (to a fault) young hobbit with noble intentions to someone with true grit, integrity, and an indomitable spirit. One of my favorite quotes from the series comes when Pippin is speaking to Beregond not long before the battle of Pellenor.

“No, my heart will not yet despair. Gandalf fell and has returned and is with us. We may stand, if only on one leg, or at least be left still upon our knees.”

I love the hope in his heart along with the care he has for nearly everyone he meets on his journey. In fact, you can read more of my opinions on this darling hobbit here.

Gimli

Gimli is from a long line of proud dwarves who have strong opinions about pretty much everything. His character growth is quite touching. As a member of The Fellowship, Gimli is forced to come to terms with his own shortcomings and prejudices in a way that many of the others did not have to. Dwarves, especially Durin's folk are notorious for not getting along with elves. Considering his family's past with Elf-king Thranduil, I find it wonderful that along his journey Gimli grows the closest with Legolas. Their friendship continues to the Undying Lands as a special exception is made for him (after life, dwarves normally go to the Halls of Mahal), and he is the only dwarf to reside there. Gimli is a wonderful example of letting his own experience shape his worldview instead of letting his culture shape it.

Anna Catherine

Smaug

Smaug is by far one of my favorite characters in The Hobbit. Every time I tell anyone that, they tell me, "But Tolkien's dragons are personifications of evil!" I know. I'm horrible. Let's move on. (I really, REALLY love dragons. I sometimes wish that I could have my own dragon. I also wish I could breathe fire and roast marshmallows.) Smaug is a grumpy dragon that yells ,"GET OFF MY GOLD" when little kids come to retrieve a wayward arrow. He wants attention, and he'll (unfortunately) seek it however he can, even if it means destroying an entire village. He knows that he terrifies people and uses his power to get whatever he wants. On the inside (no matter how many people tell me off), I think he's a little kid dying for affection, albeit a selfish little kid.

Legolas

The most beautiful of all the elves (next to his father, where his good looks came from). Majestic hair even in the thick of battle. Still looks young after hundreds of years. Dermatologists hate him. For real though, Legolas overcame the common thoughts and prejudices of his species and learned to be a good friend to everyone, even dwarves. He was stuck up at first, but he realized later that the fellowship was more important than his pride. (Also, I wish I was that skilled with a bow. Mad skills, yo.)

Ori

In one behind the scenes video, Adam Brown (Ori) and Graham McTavish (Dwalin) were having a conversation about Kili's appeal to the fans. "Aiden Turner is the 'hot one,' I suppose. If you like that kind of thing," said McTavish. Brown added, "But if you like knitted cardigans and knitted mittens, then I’m your fella!" That is why Ori is my favorite dwarf. He's shy and cuddly but has a bit of a wild side (as seen at the meeting at Bilbo's in the first Hobbit film). He doesn't like green food (can you blame him?) and would much rather the elves served something edible, like pork or bacon. He's loyal and will do anything for his friends.

Sky Destrian

Bilbo Baggins

When I was a kid, my dad introduced me to The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. It was my first venture into Middle-earth, and I've reread it several times over the years. The character that I love the most is obviously our good old Bilbo Baggins. He's the one who starts off The Lord of the Rings trilogy; he's the catalyst who sends things into motion by finding the Ring. He keeps the Ring, and it corrupts him (something I always hated). But I'll always know him as the Bilbo from There and Back Again. As a child, I remember loving him so much and feeling like I went on all his adventures with him. I was also impressed by his ability to stump Gollum with his riddles. He reminds me that no matter how small you are, how insignificant you feel, or how reluctant you are, you can always be a hero. He was the singular person who started my love for Tolkien and Middle-earth, and so I'll forever be thankful to this little hobbit. (Also, Martin Freeman made an amazing Bilbo Baggins. Just saying.)

Fíli and Kíli

When my dad first read The Hobbit to me, Fíli and Kíli were my favorite dwarves. I'm not exactly sure why, except that they were so youthful and fun that they reminded me of myself. I loved every mention of them throughout the whole book. I also pictured them both like variations of Dopey from Snow White, which is interesting because the dwarves were actually based off of the Snow White fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. At the end, Tolkien lets us know that Fíli and Kíli died in battle, and I remember being extremely upset.

In The Hobbit movie adaptation, I was extremely excited about the way the brothers looked. However, I'm still disappointed that they didn't get more development in the movie, and I wish we had gotten to see more of them. (Also, Fíli's hair and beard are my favorite thing.)

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Gandalf

If you ask me for a good example of a mentor in fiction, I'd definitely have to point you to Gandalf the Grey. He's an incredible wizard with immense power who took the form of a humble old man. He took on the Fellowship even though he probably didn't want to. He's the one who ties the entire Fellowship together, and without them, they'd probably be lost. In fact, they were lost without him when the Balrog took his life. One of my favorite character arcs in fiction is that of Gandalf's, in which he dies, then comes back as Gandalf the White. The moment where he reveals himself in the Forest of Fangorn is so touching. In general, Gandalf is one of my favorite Tolkien characters and one of my favorite characters of all time. His power, his goodness, and his courage are incredibly important to me, and I'll forever carry his impact in my heart.

Jaime Heller

When it comes to Tolkien, it's very hard to choose favorite characters. I want to gather them all together into a giant hug (you too, Boromir) and just cry. I love them that much. Tolkien is known for writing one of the greatest fantasy epics ever. And I think a lot of that comes from his fantastic cast of characters. Whether it's thirteen dwarves or the nine members of the fellowship or the random characters in between that help along the way, each character Tolkien brought to life is unique and important to the story. But still, there are some that seem go to beyond the normal "awesome" and reach a whole new level of epic. These three are, in my opinion, some of those epic, unforgettable characters.

Glorfindel

If you've read the books, you know who Glorfindel is. If you haven't, I'm sorry. You've been deprived of meeting the most badass Tolkien character created (with the exception of Eowyn). Glorfindel is one of the first elves Tolkien ever created. He's a pretty elf with blond hair, hence his name. Glorfindel literally translates to "blond, golden-haired." (Tolkien, I love you.) Glorfindel appears in several places during the entire history of Arda: The Silmarillion, The Book of Lost Tales, and The Lord of the Rings.

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He's most known for helping Frodo escape from the Ring-Wraiths in order to reach Rivendell during The Fellowship of the Ring. Yes, Peter Jackson replaced the epic Glorfindel with Arwen. Now, I'm not here to snub Arwen--she is wonderful in and of herself. But she. does. not. appear. in. the. books. Not truly. She's mentioned to be in Rivendell, but she doesn't say anything or do anything. Aragorn isn't falling helplessly in love with her every other second. We don't need Arwen in the books because we have Eowyn.

Ahem, sorry. I'm only enraged by this switcheroo because of how insanely awesome Glorfindel is. Not only did he help Frodo on the quest to, I don't know, rid the world of the evil lord Sauron, but he's done many other great things. First, he leads a lot of armies and defeats a lot of bad guys. He helped fight against Angmar during the Third Age. Second, he caused the Witch-King to flee just by his awesomeness, and he predicted that the Witch-King would not be killed by a man but someone else (that someone else would be Eowyn). Third, he fought and killed a Balrog. By himself. Okay, let's just pause here and relish in the glory of who Glorfindel is. He killed a Balrog. A Balrog. The big, fiery demon thing that took every ounce of Gandalf's power to kill. Gandalf, a Maia. Sure, Glorfindel did die after the fight. (I'm not sure anybody can quite survive that kind of ordeal.) But he didn't stay dead, apparently, because he came back during the Second and Third Ages.

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Basically, Glorfindel is the most badass elf to ever exist, and it's a crime he didn't appear in the movies. Peter Jackson, this is the one thing I will never forgive you for.

Tom Bombadil

Tom Bombadil is his own anomaly. I'm not sure if he's a man or some other kind of being. He's just... Tom Bombadil. He comes in during The Fellowship of the Ring and helps the four hobbits find their way through the Old Forest and Barrow-downs. He does not exist in the live-action movie version because... well, I assume they couldn't find anybody good enough to play him. (Except let's be honest, Brian Blessed would be a wonderful Tom Bombadil.)

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Tom Bombadil is his own being, and he lives in his own world of the Old Forest. He's mysterious and interesting. He sings to trees. He's married. He's possibly the oldest person in Middle-earth. Frodo almost gave him the Ring, but later, Gandalf comments that Tom Bombadil would have thought the Ring wasn't important and would have simply misplaced it. It has no power over him, which is an enigma as well.

Tom Bombadil is epic simply because he's Tom Bombadil, and he does what he wants. Your argument is invalid.

Samwise Gamgee

I can't discuss favorite Tolkien characters without mentioning my absolute favorite: Samwise Gamgee. Sam likes to hear stories and wonder about the world, but in truth, he's just a hobbit who loves to watch things grow. He embarks on a journey with Frodo by chance, it seems, and ends up becoming one of the greatest heroes. Tolkien himself said Sam was the chiefest hero--the true hero of the story. Without Sam, Frodo wouldn't have gotten far. Sam is loyal and trustworthy; he's brave and sweet. He doesn't give up when it comes to his friends or the fate of Middle-earth. He moves forward, he keeps going. He has to deal with Gollum and Shelob and hordes of orcs. But he does it; he pushes through in order to get Frodo into that terrible mountain to destroy the One Ring.

Samwise Gamgee makes me want to cry and laugh and jump up and down all at once. He will always be a favorite character due to his brave heart and simple thought process. He brings hope into the story when the characters are in the most hopeless of places. He gives great speeches, and he makes profound statements. (Seriously, just go watch this scene and cry.) Sam is the one who helps save the day, and he's the one who received the happily ever after. He doesn't give up; he keeps fighting and moving forward. I want to be more like Sam.

That there's some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.

Who are your favorite Tolkien characters? How will you be celebrating Tolkien Reading Day?

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The Walking Dead Reaction: "Twice as Far" (6x14)

The Walking Dead's season finale approaches, and each week delivers even more and more tension. What did we think of the latest installment? Let's find out.

Spoilers! The Walking Dead is rated TV-MA and contains graphic content.

Jameson C. Smith

This episode began with a feeling of dread and intensity and kept me on the edge of my seat until it was over. Despite the two previous episodes featuring high-danger situations and big conflicts, I found this episode to be more nerve-wracking and frightening.

The parallels.
I think I've mentioned before how much I love the parallels the writers work into the show.  Denise and Eugene faced big obstacles in this episode and fought their own inner battles to overcome fears and to prove they can handle the dangers of the world, not necessarily to themselves but to their peers (which was a different take than what we usually see). Denise and Daryl were developing what seemed to be an interesting friendship, and in this episode, we were able to see they actually came from similar backgrounds and how it influenced the type of people they became.

Denise.
Ever since she was introduced in the show, it's felt like there was more to her character than what we'd seen. I was looking forward to learning more about her, and while this episode delivered that backstory and character development, it also ended her story. I think her death was one of the saddest this season because it happened so suddenly. (I'd spent the entire episode expecting to see Abraham die, so Denise's death really surprised me.) I'm curious to see how it affects the other characters, especially Tara, Daryl, and Rosita.

Carol.
So when her voice-over started, I was afraid the words belonged to a suicide note. I'm not sure how I feel about what's happening with Carol this season. While it makes sense for her to question what she's done to survive and protect those she cares about, as well as what she's willing to do, the whole arc of that story feels sort of rushed? I'm terrified of what will happen to her outside the walls because she is one of the most well-developed characters of TWD. (Awe all know what that means…)

Other stuff and things:
Daryl got his bike and his crossbow back! That being said, I'm inclined to think his trip out of Alexandria may not be so much about finding Carol as it is about killing Dwight.

I'm curious about what happened to Dwight since we last saw him. Is he an independent threat or is he working with the Saviors?

Foreshadowing worry: Daryl carrying Glenn's iconic orange backpack. (While I don't read the comics, I know what happens to Glenn, so this makes me wonder if they're foreshadowing a different take for the show.)

Erinn Leach

Allowing the town's only doctor to go out savaging has got to be one of the worst decisions ever made on The Walking Dead. I thought that Denise was going to be eaten by a walker in this episode, but her ending was worse in my eyes. I'm assuming that her reason for the trip was that she needed to prove to herself that the can be independent and that she could tell Daryl and Rosita how important they really are. But we'll never know the real reason.

Denise had the least amount of character development that a main character has had so far this season. She had the moment with the Wolf and her relationship with Tara, yet it all seems like it was one huge slap in the face to Denise. She proved that coasting through this world isn't an option and that proving to yourself that you can make it on your own can be a dumb choice. Strange message, but hear me out. Proving that you have the strength to move on through hard times is an amazing feat, but risking your life in the process isn't. Especially in this world, relying on others for backup won't make you incapable of achieving greatness.

The baby shoe in the sink left me with unnerving questions as to what happened with the child. "Hush" was scribbled all over the wall, and that leaves me to believe that the walker on the ground was driven mad by the child's cries and drowned the baby in order to keep away the walkers. What was your take on this scene?

Jumping over to the Eugene/Abraham situation...I am super pumped about them making their own bullets! One point for brains! Speaking of the cranium, the lead covered walker was EPIC! Eugene gives his opinion on his new transformation, and I am so happy that he has the gonads to fight for the group now.

Dwight's gonads didn't do too well in this episode. After interrupting Denise's speech with an arrow, the episode takes a sharp turn. Thank you, Denise, for taking the arrow for Abraham. In the comics, it is Abraham who gets an arrow through the brains during this situation in the comics. I'm not ready to let go of our witty soldier yet.

Another point for brains tonight as Eugene's diversion results in the escape of our gang. For those of you wondering what happened to Dwight's face, you'll find out when the big bad comes into the story line. Now Daryl has his bike and his crossbow back! On the downside, Carol is gone again. I have no clue what is going to happen with her, and that terrifies me.

Sky Destrian

Ugh. I feel cheated. I wanted to see so much more from Denise. I wanted to find out who she was, discover what drives her, and get to know her better. And in this episode, we did. But we also got to see her die. 

Ever since Tara left for the supply run, I've been nervous for both she and Denise. The last conversation they had seemed primed for one half of the couple to die. I wondered if maybe Tara would die, but I had no idea it would be Denise.

This turn of events was a complete surprise. I kept expecting Denise to die during the beginning of the episode. She had two run-ins with walkers, and each time, I was holding my breath. I finally let myself relax when she started giving her speech to Rosita and Daryl. I thought that this would be an awesome development moment for her moving forward. I thought from here on out we'd see a newer, stronger, better Denise.

But... we can't.

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I feel cheated out of what I know Denise could have added to the show. I know I'm never happy about the deaths on this show, and sometimes lives are cut short. But in Denise's case, I feel like it was cut short much too soon.

For one, Denise provided valuable representation. She was one of the few LGBTQ characters on the show, and in a world where representation for the LGBTQ community is limited, that mattered. Additionally, Denise's death isn't the only one--she adds to the toll count of 146 dead lesbian or bisexual people in fiction. The amount of times a bisexual or lesbian character ends up dead has even created its own trope, and Denise is just one more example. Yes, The Walking Dead has killed plenty of non-LGBTQ characters, and I believe that on a show like The Walking Dead, no one should be truly safe. But representation is so limited and LGBTQ character deaths are so prevalent that Denise's death is still extremely aggravating. I wish we had a better reason for why she died, but currently, it just seems pointless.

Honestly, I loved Denise because I related to her. She had glasses, and she had a body type similar to mine. She was unnerved by what was going on around her, but she still rose above it and did the best she could. She cared for the citizens of Alexandria, and she cared, period.

But ultimately, she was a strong character, and I'm sad to see her go.

Rest in peace, Denise.

The rest of this episode was difficult for me to get into because it moved pretty slowly, but when the big moments happened, they wowed me. I loved Eugene and Abraham's character arcs, and Eugene defending himself by getting in a well-placed crotch-shot... well, consider me officially impressed. That's an iconic moment that will probably be remembered till the end of time. For me, it's right up there with Rick killing that guy by biting into his neck.

I'm really interested to seeing what will happen with Morgan and the prison he's building. The questions of morality are getting intense on this show. For example, if Daryl had killed Dwight way back when ("Always Accountable"), Denise wouldn't be dead. But, as my brother noted, Morgan wouldn't even be alive today had Eastman killed him instead of locking him up ("Here's Not Here"). There's truly no way of knowing whether you should leave someone alive or not, and that's a hard thing to face. I'm interested in the way The Walking Dead is tackling these issues head-on.

I'm so worried about Carol. I get why she's leaving, but like Jameson, it feels pretty rushed to me. I also don't want all her badass-ness to go down the drain. And let's face it: I just don't want to lose Carol, period. Here's hoping we don't.

We're only one episode away from the season finale, and I'm so nervous. Tune in next week to hear me say the exact same thing. Tune in the week after that to see me crying about the finale (probably). 

Have you seen "Twice as Far"? What did you think of it?

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The Walking Dead Reaction: "Not Tomorrow Yet" (6x12)

As we plummet towards the season finale of The Walking Dead, intensity mounts and brutality is the name of the game. What happened this past week, and how did we feel about it? Let's find out. 

Erinn Leach

Did anybody else have a hard time breathing during that episode? I know that my heart hasn't raced that fast in a while. Tonight's episode was a great build and is what we can expect for the rest of this season.

I loved seeing Carol fall into the role of Susie homemaker at the beginning of this episode. Carol is a character that I wish I had the ability to rescue from this television show. Not that the rest aren't worth saving, but Carol has endured so much to the point of resolution. I believe that she is one of few characters that knows who she is to the fullest extent of her abilities. Alternatively, by examining Carl, you'll notice that since the accident he has become a more mature person. He is far from being finished in his personality arc. It was also nice to see Carol have a moment with a man who respects her beyond her understanding.

What's up with Morgan? Will he last much longer? What in the world was he making at the end? These were all questions that lingered in the back of my mind during this episode. Too much was happening outside of Alexandria to give any attention to those thoughts though.

I also had come to the realization how mad outsiders must think Rick is. It just clicked tonight. I was thinking "Ricktatorship. Smashing walker faces. Storming into an unknown compound. Not flinching at the thought of killing living people. Rick really is a madman." My whole view on him switched. I definitely don't hate him, in fact I have a lot of respect for the guy. This isn't the world we live in, and the same rules don't reply. Rick is no longer a man that will waver from making hard decisions nor step down from inhumane actions. If the world went back to normal, humanity would be changed and he would know how to properly handle monsters. Not with the same level of violence, but he wouldn't allow his corner of the world to fall to what it once was.

Another moment that I thought was very deep was when Glenn saw the photos, let's call them trophies, that the now dead man kept pinned to his wall. Very disturbing to see, but our group needs to know how disgusting these people truly are. There is no redemption when you glorify images like that. Though killing a human is a pressure I couldn't imagine having, these people need to be stopped because they will treat our gang the same as the people in those photos. There needs to be good people left in this world.

I thought for sure one of our people would die; fortunately for my health, nothing happened. Maggie and Carol were kidnapped at the end, but my heart will deal with that trauma next week.

Sky Destrian

This episode was incredible. So much happened, and it was so intense. But despite the intensity, it had some really good, deep moments. These were the ones that stood out to me:

• Carol leaving a cookie by Sam's grave. I'd been a little peeved with Carol ever since Sam's death, since her voice-over is what played while zombies ate him alive. But this was the perfect resolution I needed to show that Carol still does have emotions. I'm also glad they didn't just have the Anderson family die and then forget about it. I'm glad we got a little closure.
• Carol overall had some shining moments this episode. I liked her description as the mom of everyone there, but I only hope the show's writers don't forget what a badass she is. (I'm a little worried that she and Maggie got kidnapped, considering they both are badasses. It's going to have to be plausible to me since Carol in particular has fought her way out of worse. We'll see how it all went down next week, it seems.)
• Glenn and Heath discussing what it would be like to kill someone. That was one of Glenn's best monologues on the show, and I felt every word of it deeply. I also felt so overwhelmed with feels when Glenn did have to kill a person. It touched me when he took on the burden for Heath, too.
• Gabriel finally becoming a badass. I've disliked Gabriel for almost as long as I can remember, but he had one of the best moments ever in this episode. I'm thinking I'll start to like him a little better now.
• I'm noticing a lot of religious symbolism. When Rick was talking to the group in the church, he was juxtaposed in front of the stained glass cross window. We also have Jesus (who bears more than a few resemblances to his namesake), and Gabriel's role in the community. There's also the fact that Negan's group is called the Saviors. I'm not sure what this is all leading up to, if anything, but I actually really love it.
• Let's talk about Abraham breaking up with Rosita. Honestly, I'm not overly happy with Abraham right now. What he said was so harsh, and I wish things had happened differently. Poor Rosita. (I do like Abraham and Sasha together, though, especially after seeing them fight together. Can you say Power Couple?)
• The morality of what Rick is doing. Like, oh my gosh. Rick (and his group) just killed a bunch of people. Living people, which are much different than walkers. While they had good reasons for doing so, this was a huge morally ambiguous decision. It's what people have to do now to survive. And that's what I like about it: The Walking Dead is taking us to very gritty and realistic places. I don't agree with what the group is having to do, but I realize that it's necessary. I'm just glad I'm not in the position where I have to do it.
• The whole plan to invade Negan's compound was actually pretty genius and thrilled me to my core. There were so many great, exciting action shots.
• When Rick punched the walker head... I'll admit it, I laughed. That was golden.
• Am I wrong in thinking that the photos Glenn saw on the wall are photos of people who've been violently killed by Negan? If this is the case, I hate it.

I'm pretty sure we're leading up to at least one character death, if not more. I'm concerned for Rosita, Tara, and Heath at the moment. I've been concerned about Glenn all season, but as of this episode, I'm concerned for Carol and Maggie too. Not only because they've been kidnapped, but because I feel strongly that the showrunners want to shock us with who they kill. While speculation is that Glenn will die in the season finale, part of me wonders if they're just throwing in a bunch of foreshadowing in order to throw us off the trail. I wouldn't be surprised if they kill someone other than Glenn but someone just as beloved. (Michonne? Maggie? Daryl? Carol?) I'm just worried about everyone. As the song from Hamilton says, "Stay alive..." 

This was a really solid episode with a perfect balance of danger and depth. I'm really looking forward to next week.

What did you think of "Not Tomorrow Yet"? Any predictions for the rest of the season and the season finale?

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The Walking Dead Reaction: "Knots Untie" (6x11)

The Walking Dead continues to ramp up the excitement in season 6B. The latest episode, "Knots Untie," was no exception. How did the episode live up to expectation? Let's find out.

Warning: SPOILERS!

Erinn Leach

Jesus has revealed his true self and is bringing our group hope. I don't think that his name being Jesus was an attempt to be cocky, rather a reflection of his personality. The group is starting to understand what a large development Negan's group is. It sounds like this may be a possible rise of a new government. It is hard to imagine an even larger group forming and creating a small scale autocracy. "Your world’s about to get a whole lot bigger" was a perfect quote to sum up this episode, from the revelation of the hilltop colony to the realization of the terrifying power that Negan holds.

Rick, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, Abraham, and Daryl's trip with Jesus to his community proved that they can't come into a new place without showing their raw personalities. Maggie was given the opportunity to negotiate a trade with Gregory (what a pompous jerk, right?!?). Maggie gave Gregory what for after Rick questioned what everyone was looking at when his face was covered in the blood of their possible allies. Now the gang must go take down a group that they know little about. I see a bloodbath on the horizon. 

I loved the beautiful moment at the end where we got to see Maggie's ultrasound. This baby represents hope, something that needs protecting, something impossible in this world, and that's just the beginning of what this unborn child represents.

Abraham struggled with deciding what woman he wants by his side in this world throughout this episode. I believe that there was huge symbolism in him facing death and losing the necklace in the process. Not only will he possibly leave Rosita, but he has new clarity as to what is most important. His pancake analogy just made me love his character more.

Overall this episode was a nice break from the intense moments we're used to. I also enjoyed that we got a break from the walkers. They're great, and this world is the way it is because of this disease, but it's very satisfying to see trading and civilizations in this show. We get to see things that were left behind when the world went bad. This show won't stop giving us what satisfies our love of twisted reality.

Have you seen "Knots Untie"? What did you think of it?

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