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Five Thoughts on The Walking Dead’s “Out of the Ashes”

By | September 21st, 2021
Posted in Television | % Comments

Alexandria is starving. The party they sent out to find food is fractured, either hunted by mercenary cults, or possibly joining them in the case of Daryl. And that’s if they weren’t processed by The Commonwealth. With all these new threats rising, it’s easy to forget that many of the old ones are still lying in wait. Things start at a baseline level of awful on The Walking Dead, so it’s all a matter how much worse it can get.

**SPOILER WARNING** for how much worse it can get.

1. Wait… is That a Zombie with a Knife?

This episode opens with a dream sequence, showing Aaron escorting Gracie through a forest, as old enemies rear their heads. These include the familiar “W” of the Wolves, and a walker mask evocative of the Whisperers. It’s an effective sequence showing the pair wander through pale, dead trees as we can see the bright and saturated red forest behind them. The cinematography and atmosphere that have made this season stand out visually are on display as long thought defeated foes murder Aaron in imagined woods. This not only sets up Aaron’s insecurities about protecting Gracie, but foreshadows a reveal later in the episode. Because as awful as failing to protect your adopted daughter can be in your nightmares, waking up to find walkers have penetrated the walls of the city is even worse.

2. I Guess They Weren’t All For Moving Grain

The walls have been breached in Alexandria. Walkers have entered the town and killed at least one. The breach weakened the wall as a whole. Foot shortages have already made the people irritable. Now the few bits of security they have left are fleeting. This is also where we find out that some of the horses Carol found ended up as awful jerky. While investigating the damage, the group comes across a herd of walkers moving in a circle. They quickly realize the herd is being herded. And in the middle is a man wearing a mask that looks particularly similar to one we saw at the start of the episode. Lydia recognizes him as a guy named Keith. Then gets to watch as Aaron tortures the poor guy with one of his herd. Ross Marquand is an underappreciated talent. And seeing him shakingly furious, to the point where Carol has to kill his torture walker, was a nice display of his skills. While Keith swears the Whisperers are gone, our crew soon learn that Connie may be alive.

3. “That’s the Commonwealth way!”

There’s a lot of goofy stuff in this season that doesn’t quite work tonally, but also absolutely does on its own terms. And introducing us to the Commonwealth with a cheesy tourism video absolutely falls into that category. Eugene, Yumiko, Princess, and Ezekiel are all placed in an official-looking office, flags behind them, watching a video on a rolling classroom TV car like it’s Mr. Wizard day in third grade. This doesn’t feel like Walking Dead, but I’m weirdly okay with them dropping a random Tim and Eric sketch in the first ten minutes of the episode. While it’s transparently sinister to us the audience, only Eugene seems overly unnerved by it. Ezekiel is cautious, but wants to investigate further. Princess is just excited to see if there’s a mall, since she was assigned retail duty.

Each of them were assigned a job and lodging, with the exception of Yumiko, who received a special letter from the local government. One that makes the Commonwealth henchmen more than happy to help her find her brother. And when she finds him, he’s working at a 1950s bakery downtown. This despite being a trained surgeon. But he’s quite content with his bakery. And with his new home. When Yumiko asks if this place is really as good as it seems; even if he’s a little worried someone might hear he has other skills. Hawaii Five-0 star Ian Anthony Dale sells both the joy of his current life, and the fear he may get caught with equal commitment, even if we only get flashes of the latter.

Time to do crimes

Elsewhere. Eugene and Stephanie go on a cute ice cream date, taking in the “creature comforts” he forgot he missed. While there’s still some doubt as to whether or not this is the real Stephanie, she does agree to help Eugene commandeer a radio. This doesn’t go well, and the gang learn they have no rights as non-citizens. At least until the host of the previously mentioned video shows up and gives them a pass. Also, their plan involved Princess trying to seduce Mercer in hilariously awkward ways.

Continued below

4. “In Spite of You

After barely surviving their run-in with Pope’s crew, Maggie and Negan have no choice but to partner up to finish their mission. Negan trying to get Maggie to trust him doesn’t go well. Maggie bluntly states that if she survives, it’ll be in spite of him. More of the same from the last few episodes. The performances are great. The tension is great. You know this pairing is going to explode at any moment, and it almost does. Jeffery Dean Morgan brings enough pathos to the role to make you wonder if Negan really does just want to help. That moment may come before the end of the series. And it may come, like this episode, after an argument on supplies. And might end with the sudden arrival of Gabriel, like this did.

5. Judith Grimes Teaches the Blade

We’re introduced to Judith as she’s teaching the other kids how to sword fight. Then we immediately see her trying to stop bullies from messing with the corpse of Negan’s son. They’re cruel to her, at least until she pulls the sword. But it still affects her. She walks away nearly in tears, even after pointing a sharp weapon as the little creep. Sometimes the kids’ dialog can be a little awkward, in the same way most dialog written for kids by adults is. But Cailey Fleming is an exceptional young talent who handles the role well. She’s able to transition from put-on leadership to insecure ten year old with ease. For all the scenes of her training children in sword place, we have others where Rosita has to comfort her after bullies (possibly) break her handprint boards. For as bonkers as this season has gotten in the span of a few episodes, you need the touching moments about fingerpainted wood. And Fleming has the abilities to handle them.


//TAGS | The Walking Dead

Chris Cole

Chris Cole lives in a tiny village built around a haunted prison. He is a writer, letterer, and occasional charity Dungeon Master. Follow his ramblings about comics and his TTRPG adventures on Twitter @CcoleWritings.

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