The Strolling Useless got here to the top of Half 2 of the three Half ultimate season with “Acts of God” written by Nicole Mirante-Matthews and directed by Catriona McKenzie, whose different credit embody Supernatural, Shining Vale, and The Republic of Sarah. This was a fairly good cliffhanger with Hornsby seemingly profitable by taking up all of the communities for the Commonwealth however dealing with an rebellion brewing at dwelling within the Commonwealth. Whereas the cat’s away, the mouse will gnaw on the infrastructure! The one true “act of God” within the episode would look like a swarm of locusts – however their significance isn’t ever actually made clear. Symbolically, the could be seen because the Commonwealth that merely gobbles up every part in its path.
The episode opens at night time outdoors the closed gates of Hilltop with a crowd of walkers and strikes in to an unknown corpse and Hornsby (Josh Hamilton) stepping in its brains. There’s one thing occurring in the home, however nobody else is seen. Hornsby seems to be very sad.
The episode as soon as once more does a time bounce to 19 hours – and one act of God – earlier, beginning outdoors the open gate of Hilltop with no walkers seen. Hershel (Kien Michael Spiller) and Maggie (Lauren Cohen) come out along with her asking him if he has every part, and him telling her that he’s not a child anymore. He doesn’t wish to go and desires to assist, however she tells him its solely momentary. They’re joined by Marco (Gustavo Gomez) and Elijah (Okea Eme-Akwari).
We get a gradual movement shut up of Hornsby tossing a coin to resolve which group of troopers goes the place. I cherished this picture of how tied to cash Hornsby is and the way careless of these underneath him. It’s no marvel he stored telling Daryl (Norman Reedus) to place his helmet again on. He by no means thinks of them as individuals, not to mention people. They’re disposable and replaceable instruments. A trooper asks in regards to the assignments, and Hornsby will solely say the trooper will know quickly sufficient…
Eugene (Josh McDermitt) wakes as much as discover Max (Margo Bingham) studying. She’s clearly spent the night time and it’s confirmed when Eugene says he thought that they had a stunning night time. YEAH!!!! Actually loving these two collectively. He asks what she’s studying and he or she tells him stuff on physics – which makes his little nerd-heart (and ours!!!) glow. Eugene tells her that she’s essentially the most outstanding human he’s ever met. He brushes her hair again from her face as she denies it after which says thanks, wanting up at him shyly. She kisses him, after which tells him she has to prepare for work. Eugene asks if she’s having second ideas about what he requested her to do – and assures her that it’s okay. Max is apprehensive about what is going to occur after. She’s apprehensive that upsetting the cautious established order will break every part.
From there, we get Daryl actually breaking down a door as he, Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) assist the troopers clear a home – nonetheless in search of the weapons. Aaron needs to interrupt off, however Gabriel needs to simply get via it and get again dwelling. Aaron tells him that there isn’t a getting via it, they’re in it till they discover a manner out or struggle their manner out. Daryl agrees, saying they hold heading north till they’ll break free. They’re interrupted by a trooper desirous to know what they’re speaking about. Daryl tells him that they want a break.
Daryl tries to distract the man by asking in the event that they’ve checked Charleston but. There was a rumor about weapons on a roof there. They’re attacked by walkers popping out of the wall, and Romano (Matt Bushell) results in bother when his arm goes proper via one. He’s a little bit freaked out and smashes its head to bits. He will get a examine in from Hornsby who tells them to maneuver to the following location. As they transfer off, Gabriel tells Aaron and Daryl they should watch their backs and Daryl agrees.
As Maggie, Elijah, Marco, and Hershel stroll via the woods, the sound of the locusts will increase. Hershel is apprehensive about Maggie, and he or she tells him she’s tremendous, however everyone knows she’s not. Cohen is superb on this scene. And I sort of love how TWD finds good youngster actors and introduces them to filming by having them largely be silent and/or background in scenes earlier than regularly introducing them to heavier scene work like this. Spiller is clearly benefiting from this method. Maggie IS clearly troubled, and tells Hershel that every part she does and has completed is in order that they’ve selections. She clearly doesn’t need him to evaluate her harshly for the issues that she has completed. And she or he is aware of Hershel isn’t going to love the place they’re going, however tells him that it’s the proper selection…. For now. Hershel smiles at her as acknowledgment that he understands. They’re met by Lydia (Cassady McClincy) who leads them to an previous Whisperers hideout.
Hornsby is with Leah (Lynn Collins). He’s yammering, and he or she’s clearly barely listening. We get an in depth up of her eyes – and Collins does an awesome job of useless, shark eyes. She has a single goal: revenge. Hornsby is wanting ahead to doing his job with out interference – and he or she will get the scalp of the girl she hates – everybody wins! Properly, not everybody… we lastly get to see Hornsby with out the faux smile. Hornsby seems to be involved in regards to the locusts, however Leah laughs. Are the locusts an emblem of God? Those that are involved are involved in regards to the morality of what they’re doing? Hornsby fingers Leah a small digital camera (?) and insists that he has to see when Maggie is useless. Leah is joyful to oblige.
The hiding place is a gap within the floor. Lydia tries to open the “roof,” but it surely’s caught. I cherished that when once more Marco pushes Elijah to go assist her. On the backside of the opening, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Annie (Medina Senghore) lookup. Negan says ‘hello, child’ to Hershel – who is just not impressed.
Maggie fills Negan and Annie in on what’s occurring. Annie asks if Maggie’s positive Hornsby is coming. She tells them his military was 5 miles from her gates and asks Negan for his ideas. Negan tells her that he has no drawback taking care of Hershel, however he’s not risking his pregnant spouse to avoid wasting shithole that isn’t value saving. Annie tells him don’t – that means don’t be merciless, however Maggie agrees. Hilltop may not be value saving, however the persons are. Maggie tells him that the factor she began with Hornsby isn’t going to finish till she ends it. Negan says he thinks she’s succesful, however that Hornsby is set to get her, so he’s coming along with her. Maggie says no; she needs them to stick with Hershel and the others to maintain them secure till it’s over.
Negan factors out that Maggie doesn’t belief him – as she’s asking Annie to guard the others. Maggie says she’s beginning to belief Negan!!!! And right here we see them laying the groundwork for the brand new sequence… As so many predicted, Maggie tells Negan she’ll always remember that he saved Hershel at Riverbend – saving the son helps to make up for Glenn. Negan tells her, “You have got massive balls, Maggie Rhee. I’ve bought you, and I’ve bought the boy.” Negan, Annie, and Maggie lookup on the locusts, and Negan says “If that isn’t an indication from the Man upstairs.”
Hornsby checks in with Romano, who tells him they’re simply ending the second location. He tells them to complete and are available again. Daryl says tremendous – and takes the lead with Gabriel and Aaron. They head right into a junk yard or previous parking zone filled with automobiles. Daryl, Aaron, and Gabriel are within the middle with the troopers on the skin. It’s Daryl who takes the primary shot, but it surely’s fairly clear it’s an ambush. It appears that evidently Gabriel and Aaron are each winged. It is a terrific motion sequence! I cherished Gabriel sneaking up on a trooper and taking him down by stabbing him within the leg. He then will get the man’s gun. Naturally, the noise has attracted walkers.
Romano is badly injured and is crawling to get away. Daryl finds him and rolls him over, asking the place Hornsby is. Walkers are coming – and Romano is freaking out. I cherished how this dovetailed with the quick scene in the home the place we first see his concern of being eaten, bitten, or turning. Daryl noticed it too and offers him a selection – a fast bullet to the mind or eaten and turned. Romano offers up Hornsby, saying he’s about 10 miles out as a result of he wished to “clear the sector” first. That’s guarantee that Hilltop isn’t getting assist from anybody else. Gabriel factors out that Hornsby needs solely allies. Hornsby checks in, and Daryl tells him that Romano isn’t there anymore. Hornsby is just not joyful…
It’s completely jarring to go from pictures of bloody Romano being eaten within the destruction of that graveyard to the pristine, clear inside of Pamela’s (Laila Robins) workplace. She’s engaged on a speech, and Max is chewing her nails in nervousness of what she must do. Pamela’s speech is in regards to the historical past of the Commonwealth, describing how they survived whereas outdoors the apocalypse was occurring – it’s one thing else for Max to fret about. In the event that they destroy the Commonwealth, what occurs to their bodily security?
Pamela notices Max isn’t herself and appears genuinely involved. Max assures her she’s tremendous. She understands the pressure of all the time presenting a robust entrance, and if they’ll’t present it to one another, who can they present it to? Max once more says she’s tremendous – and as Pamela returns to her workplace, Max brings up the excess from Founder’s Day – $50,000! Pamela is happy. Max suggests utilizing the cash to start out a scholarship fund for the much less lucky households – she’s even put collectively a proposal. Pamela tells her that she loves her “out of the field pondering” – BUT, any cash has to return into the occasion. Max removes her by reminding her of a 5 o’clock dinner she has. Max tells her that she’ll be leaving quickly too.
There’s a short shot of issues heating up at Hilltop with Maggie, Elijah, and Lydia getting ready for battle. It’s a pleasant solution to underscore that what Max is doing can be to carry down the Commonwealth – or at the very least blow up the corruption.
Max might have put her coat on to depart, however she’s at Pamela’s submitting cupboard eradicating the paperwork Eugene requested for when Sebastian (Teo Rapp-Olsson) barges in – clearly drunk. He needs to speak to his mom and desires to know if she’s offended with him as a result of she retains dodging him. Max tells him that she’s at a piece dinner, however she will get phrase to her. Sebastian isn’t impressed. Max tells him she’s simply on her manner dwelling, and he switches to rambling about how she’s all the time working, and noticing the file underneath her arm, he remarks she even takes it dwelling along with her. Max drops the file and Sebastian affords to assist. They each stoop to select it up and he or she will get it, saying she’s all the time clumsy after too many afternoon coffees. Sebastian goes quiet and appears severe earlier than saying “poor man’s drug.” Max is terrified, after which he explains caffeine earlier than leaving.
At Hilltop, troopers (all in black) transfer via the shell of the home. There’s a lightweight in the primary room, however after they open the door, it’s been rigged to blow. The plan is to recuperate their weapons and comply with their path again to the camp and finish it. After all, the true drawback is that the Commonwealth has extra troopers… however we’ll ignore that for now… Marco and the others get up – and Leah shoots him behind the pinnacle. I actually, actually hate that the present has these loyal actors who get a line as soon as in a blue moon. We get to know simply sufficient about them to wish to know extra. Simply as they begin to get extra strains – the present kills them. Aaarrgghhh!
We get some good crispy walkers as Hornsby arrives on the scene at Hilltop. He steps in Marco’s brains – and we’re again to the start scene. They’ve solely misplaced three males. Hornsby calls Leah and desires to know what’s occurring. She tells him she’s doing it her manner and the troopers have been simply collateral injury.
Daryl, Gabriel, and Aaron discover Leah’s camp – and Daryl is aware of it’s her. He means that they break up as much as cowl extra floor.
Maggie sends Lydia and Elijah to the others, telling them she’ll lead Leah away from them.
Again within the Commonwealth, Max has introduced the file to Eugene, Connie (Lauren Ridloff), and Kelly (Angel Concept). They’ve additionally been joined by Magda (Nadia Hilker). Taylor Davis and the girl Rosita tried to assist are on the listing – and Kelly has counted over 200. Connie isn’t prepared to jot down about it but. She wants extra proof – and they should crack the code of the numbers related to the names. Till they know extra, she’ll write about Sebastian’s heist. Kelly factors out that when individuals discover out that Pamela’s not on their aspect, they’ll begin to query every part in regards to the Commonwealth.
There’s a knock on the door and everybody panics, however Magna says it’s okay, she’s requested Ezekiel (Khary Payton) to come back. He’s been attempting to spherical up extra individuals for the trigger. He has a community of individuals prepared to assist get the phrase out – able to journey at daybreak. Max declares “let’s journey!”
Again within the woods, Leah and Maggie stalk one another. Maggie quietly takes out a walker. Maggie sees Leah first however misses. She manages to tag her within the leg with the second shot, however Leah will get the drop on Maggie and knocks her out.
Maggie involves in Leah’s previous cabin, tied up and sitting in a chair with Leah sitting in entrance of her. Leah tells her that she’s waited a very long time for this. Maggie understands the need for revenge. She tells Leah she understands what she needs. Killing her could be too straightforward – it’s why Maggie didn’t simply kill Negan when she got here again. Rick and Michonne wouldn’t let her kill him at first. Cohen is totally sensible on this scene. I additionally cherished the way it was shot – going backwards and forwards between the 2 ladies. Maggie is aware of that Leah needs her to undergo. Maggie tells her that it received’t take away her ache. However Leah isn’t Maggie. She tells Maggie that by the point she’s completed, everybody that Maggie loves can be useless. And now it’s Maggie’s flip to be shocked – and determined.
Hornsby in the meantime is making his personal manner via the woods.
Maggie does get it. She took Leah’s household, so she takes Maggie’s. Because the locusts could be heard within the background, Leah tells Maggie that nature has a manner of caring for issues. Maggie tells her that it’s not nature or destiny – it’s them. She tells her that she killed her individuals as a result of it was what she wished. She tells Leah to do it – she’s been attempting to maintain her eyes laser-locked on her personal, in order that she might work her fingers out of the ropes. Leah seems to be like she’s about to tug the set off when Maggie will get free and slaps the gun out of her hand. The 2 struggle. Knives are pulled and each get in a superb slash. It’s a brutal terrific struggle. Simply because it seems to be like Leah is about to win and stab Maggie within the coronary heart, Daryl exhibits up and shoots her behind the pinnacle. He was by no means going to decide on her over Maggie.
Maggie barely has time to course of it earlier than Hornsby and the troopers are on the cabin. Daryl manages to shoot Hornsby within the face – he’s going to be carrying prosthetics for the remainder of his run on the present! Hornsby finds Leah’s useless physique and declares, “Now we take all of it.”
Gabriel and Aaron be a part of Daryl and a really bloody Maggie. Negan’s group get out of the hiding gap with Hershel firmly connected to Annie. Max – all in white – good guys put on white! – places the file again. Pamela is available in with an enormous pile of newspapers/flyers with the large headline “Pamela Milton is Mendacity to You.” Max seems to be suitably shocked – which she is that Pamela appears to have scooped up all of them. If that’s the case, that scuttles their plan.
The episode ends with Commonwealth banners being unfurled at Alexandria, Hilltop – and most shockingly – Oceanside. The residents at Oceanside have all been rounded up and positioned in cuffs. Hornsby tosses his coin, however the episode ends earlier than we discover out what he’s deciding. I discovered the Oceanside scene most stunning due to their historical past of getting escaped Negan’s try to subjugate them solely to fall prey to Hornsby’s. One small ray of hope right here is the place is Luke (Dan Fogler)? And Jules? Fogler, after all, has been off taking pictures Incredible Beasts – however there’s been no rationalization of the place he is been within the present…
I believed this was a fairly nice phase finale. Nice performances by Cohen and Bingham. I’m additionally actually having fun with the villains – Collins offers a terrific ultimate efficiency and Hamilton and Rapp-Olsson make me love hating them. The locusts have stopped now that the Commonwealth has seeminglys received every part. A number of balls within the air – the place are our heroes going to go? All their allies have been taken over. Are Luke and Jules main a faction of Oceanside? Did Pamela cease the phrase from getting out? Can Ezekiel’s secret community keep secret AND get the phrase out? How at risk are Connie, Kelly, and Ezekiel? What about Rosita – she’s the whistleblower in any case – or will they blame all of it on Daryl, who can’t come again now? Who’s going to take care of Judith and RJ? How will they really feel about dropping one more dad or mum determine? I think that Carol will merely proceed as she has been taking care of them. How is Hornsby going to promote all this to Pamela? Can’t wait to see the spin he places on it. What did you consider this a part of the ultimate season? What do you assume will occur within the ultimate half? What are you hoping for? Let me know your ideas within the feedback beneath!
