The Walking Dead S8E12: The Key
Maybe it’s the fanboy in me, maybe it’s the excitement at some genuinely good episodes so far this half-season, or maybe it’s just a simple fact, but I thought this episode was really good. It was pretty short on action save for a short chase between Rick and Negan, but it more than made up for that in plot development in the form of solid dialogue. We have Simon plotting against his benefactor, we have Rick and Negan wrasslin’, and we have a new group that doesn’t seem to be completely stupid!
It’s hard to decide with which of those items to lead this review. Without question the most surprising of them would be the reveal of a new group (the Georgie’s?). Maggie, Michonne, Enid, and Rosita spy a crate with a message just outside of Hilltop. It’s a request to meet them at a specific location and to bring… music albums. The women of Hilltop rightly prepare for a trap, but instead they find a seemingly peaceful woman, Georgie (Jayne Atkinson), accompanied by two companions, ready to trade the albums for her knowledge. Georgie spoke of a desire to get people to believe in one another again. To exercise trust in one another again. This was an encounter which immediately stunk of some kind of zealot luring people in with talk of knowledge and peace only to rule over them eventually.
As the episodes unfolds however, it appears that this offer is genuine. Maggie is prepared to steal all their food and send them on their way, but Michonne uses Carl’s final words as inspiration to convince Maggie to trust them. “We can’t give up on who he wanted us to be”, she says of Carl. This is an inspiring sentiment that I thought rung true with human relationship in general. Think of how many times we hear people offer words of comfort regarding the loss of a loved one, and that they’re “looking down on us”. Specifically, think of one of the motivations to follow after Jesus; it is to walk as he walked (1 Jn. 2:6). When we do that we are being who Jesus wants us to be. Such sentiment often inspires the best to come out in people, and it did in Maggie. No sooner does she decide not to take their food than does Georgie offer it all freely, on top of giving Maggie the knowledge she referred to; a book of historical plans for building windmills, aqueducts, and various other medieval human achievements. This is offered in full trust that Hilltop would one day be able to return the favor. Trust between strangers. Though it seems like we never see that on this show, it actually wasn’t all that long ago when Carl trusted Siddiq and brought him into the group. Trust inspires trust, and Georgie is sowing those seeds in Hilltop.
Let’s talk about Simon now. He has to be a leading candidate for most improved character of the show. A guy who appeared as a straight up lackey for Negan has begun to think for himself. Perhaps the most interesting thing is that he’s pitching his ideas for the group to the one person who has already betrayed the group; Dwight. I was a little surprised the Saviors weren’t aware that Dwight had betrayed them. As I recall, there was a woman who witnessed his betrayal and got away. If there is a weakness to this episode it would be that apparent plot-hole, but I’m willing to admit I may have missed something. By the time Simon fully revealed his intentions to Dwight, it sounded like Simon wanted to move on and find new people to “save”, which Negan refused to do. Had Dwight known that when Simon said “move on”, he actually meant kill everyone at Hilltop instead of threaten them, Dwight surely would not have agreed. As it is, Simon has rallied the troops behind a message of uncertainty around Negan’s fate and the desire to obliterate the people that have resisted them continuously. Simon almost makes Negan look reasonable. Almost.
Finally, the struggle between Rick and Negan actually came to blows this episode. When a fight and revelatory dialogue between the two primary foes is the least significant thing in an episode, it’s usually a sign of a very good episode. Rick spots the saviors headed toward Hilltop, and notices Negan in a car by himself. He takes the opportunity to ram him, causing the car to overturn, and chase him into an abandoned building. They arrive in a position where they cannot see each other in the dark rooms and hallways of this building, but they can hear each other. This makes for some intriguing moments of dialogue. Rick reveals that the scavengers are all dead, and Negan realizes that Simon lied to him. His reaction to this almost leads one to believe he is saddened at the loss of an entire community more than he is angry at being lied to. Negan offers a new deal, in honor of Carl, to allow Hilltop to only handover 25% of all their goods to the saviors. This offer comes just before Rick finds Lucille (Negan had dropped his bat). Not that Rick was in a mood to even consider such an offer, but finding Lucille emboldens him and he presses Negan all the more. The two men wrestle and break a handful of walkers free, leading to a moment for Negan to escape with Lucille back in his grasp.
At some point after this, Negan either passes out or is knocked out by his designated driver; Jadis. No doubt she believes he was behind Simon’s actions to murder her entire community. The episode ends with her driving him along the road, holding a gun to his head. This closing shot provides an interesting turn from a big picture theme the episode is touching on; the differences of leadership dynamic between men and women. Allow me to explain…
Think of the interactions only between male leaders in this episode. Simon is undermining Negan, and propositioning Dwight to join him in claiming leadership and power over the saviors to inflict more violence against Hilltop. Rick and Negan literally duke it out and escalate the war between their people. In every instance of male leadership, the men are in a struggle for power and plunging their communities further into warfare. Now, think of the interactions only between female leaders. Maggie and Michonne have a conversation about whether to take the bait of the message in the crate. Georgie is offering knowledge and peace. When Maggie becomes inclined to steal Georgie’s stuff – a very Negan thing to do – Maggie makes an emotional plea for trust. Before tensions rise too much with Enid, Michonne sternly warns her to back off. And to top it all off Georgie not only gives her knowledge, but all the food she has with her to Hilltop in an act of trust.
By the end of the episode the message is clear; women are leading in peace with a mind toward a flourishing future, men are leading in violence with a mind toward dominance. Michonne summarizes this contrast perfectly, “to get to our future it’s going to take more than just fighting”. Here’s the real question; Is this contrast just a happenstance of how the male characters have been driven to these actions, or are the writers and creators making a statement about the natural leadership qualities of men and women? And how do Jadis’ actions with Negan align with that? I’m already over 1,200 words, so I’ll leave that one to you to consider and comment below.
My Rating: A
Whatever my feelings are toward the worldview behind the male/female leadership dynamic in this episode, in hindsight you can see the seeds planted to get to this point to make such distinct contrasts over the course of an episode while maintaining compelling story lines. All of Dwight’s scenes at the beginning carried the curiosity of whether they know he is a traitor. That interest morphed into wondering how far Simon might take his bloodlust and desire to lead. Rick and Negan’s conversation was far better than their dialogue on the phone after Carl died. And the introduction of Georgie’s group – henceforth called the Georgie’s until someone comes up with a better name – was the most satisfying group introduction since maybe the saviors themselves in season 6, or perhaps Tyrese’s small group all the way back at the prison. And even though Georgie’s words and deeds feel quite naïve for this world, it remained believable!
