The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
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InThe Walking Dead:The Ones Who Live,Rick and Michonne attempt to rescue each other.
After some tedious lies and deceptions, in Michonnes words, they needed a time-out.
Thats exactly what they get in one of the best stand-alone episodes in all ofThe Walking Dead.
What We opens on Michonnes last-ditch effort from the previous episode, this time with a kickin soundtrack.
This is where theyll stay for the next hour of television.
Were playing with structure this week, yall!
Most plays dont have helicopters (Miss Saigonbeing the exception).
Michonne wants to bring Rick home to their family and restore the man he once was.
This is how loved ones fight.
Unfortunately, theres no food, so they cant stay here forever.
Michonne changes out of her CRM fatigues and into clean clothes left by the former tenant.
She does this in full sight of Rick, too.
Look at your hot wife, Rick!
Look at who youre trying to push away.
He sees a scar on her lower back that wasnt there the last time they were together.
Shes been through a lot in the previous eight years, too.
There are two significant revelations in the living room fight.
First, Michonne lets slip that she and Rick have a son.
Even shes surprised by how she reveals this.
And Rick is so far gone mentally that he cannot have a normal reaction.
He asks for the PRB, which sets Michonne off.
She doesnt recognize him anymore!
Rick is going on about Dana drawing too much attention from the CRM.
Doyouthink we can do anything?
Do you still love me?
He says he never stopped.
Michonne hands the PRB over, I think as a test.
Its his decision to make now.
At that moment, the second significant revelation happens.
But Rick wont budge, and unfortunately, I get it.
Jadis is crazy enough to believe theyd survive a helicopter crash.
Im not going home, Rick says.
Michonne reminds him that he is the CRMs prisoner and joining them doesnt make sense.
It does sound ridiculous when you lay it out like that!
Michonne packs up and walks out of the apartment.
She doesnt believe hes being honest with her, but shes over it.
Or maybe shes just trying to shock Ricks system into waking up.
at your television Rick runs after her.
Outside the window, a spooky second CRM helicopter swoops into the frame.
Did Rick call it there?
It seems doubtful because it bombs the crashed helicopter Rick and Michonne were in and then departs.
The CRM takes destroying evidence of its existence to an extreme.
Maybe it shouldnt fly around with an identifiable three-ring logo on its helicopters?
Anyway, the blast damages the surrounding area including Rick and Michonnes building.
Rick catches up with Michonne in the lobby just as the windows break and walkers breach the shelter.
The two fight off walkers and take refuge in the buildings gym.
In the gym, the fight resumes for round two.
Both of them are convinced that the other doesnt understand their point of view.
Rick talks about Michonnes sacrifice to leave their kids and find him like its a choice, which hurts.
you’ve got the option to tell Michonnes heart is breaking.
The two of them leave the gym feeling defeated.
Even the way they kill walkers at this point of the story is petty.
They argue over who gets to stab whom, and Rick deliberately spills blood on Michonne.
They then return to the upstairs apartment, and Round Threebegins where they started.
But its not a fight.
It starts with a kiss and Rick and Michonne moving things to the bedroom.
Nothing like a near-death experience to help clarify a couples priorities.
Sorry to disappointthe puriteens, but this sex scene is quite necessary to the plot.
Theres non-verbal communication happening between them that I can only begin to decipher.
For one thing, Rick starts to have a panic attack with Michonne on top of him.
She holds his hand to her heart to calm him down.
Then, once Ricks breathing settles, they switch positions, which feels like another turning point.
Afterward, while lying in bed, Rick can finally ask about RJ.
Look at how much having sex accomplished!
Take that, discourse.
The building is crumbling, and Michonne has to get Rick to verbalize what the CRM did to him.
Its now or never.
His sacrifice might be to save her, but its hurting her too.
What did they take from Rick?
After being in captivity, Rick lost the ability to remember what Carl looked like, even in dreams.
Losing the memory of them is the worst trauma Rick Grimes has ever experienced, it would seem.
He tells her another thing we saw in the premiere: how he let himself die inside.
Hes not sure he can do that again.
I wont survive that, he says.
Michonne then presents him with a gift.
(All five love languages are represented in this episode, if you even care.)
Unbeknownst to Rick and us, she had Benjiro draw an iPhone portrait of Carl.
Michonne still remembers him and knows Carl wouldnt want his dad to shut himself off like this.
This and one final pep talk from Michonne are enough.
Theyre going home, she says, and he agrees.
Cut to a few minutes later, and Rick has exchanged his CRM uniform for a sensible sweatshirt.
They are also still horny, bless their hearts.
Michonne grabs Rick by the collar in an elevator after some particularly badass zombie fighting.
Thank you, failed sustainable community!
She loved him back to life.
Are you feeling good with two episodes ofThe Ones Who Liveto go?
Im a little worried that Rick and Michonne reconciled too soon.
It can sometimes be a harbinger of a tragic ending to come.
But maybe thats the walls Ive built around my own heart talking.
Lets take this win and hope for the best.
Sweet Nothings
What Weisnota bottle episode.
The back half of season ten is devoted to scaled-down character studies.
I have always respected that this massively popular franchise isnt afraid to get a little experimental.
Huge win for girlhood enthusiasts.
But, in fact, it is about a prisoner.
Its ironic, as Rick is kind of both.
