Welcome to this week’s edition of Dead Stuff ‘n’ Thangs, in which I write about my thoughts on the latest episode of The Walking Dead. I love the show so there won’t be any “the show isn’t as great as it used to be’ nonsense here, but I will be nitpicking when something stupid (in my opinion) happens. Let’s get started!
Season 8, Episode 3: “Monsters”
Airdate: November 5th, 2017
After everything that happened in episode two, it was torture having to wait until this morning to stream the latest episode on Amazon Video. But hey, not having to sit through commercials is a major bonus, so there is an upside to waiting a few hours.
Buh-Bye Morales!
It looks like Morales gets the prize as the character with the briefest return. (I’m not counting the time Rick was delusional and thought he saw Shane in Woodbury.) He was able to monologue long enough for us to find out he and his family never made it to Birmingham, the Saviors “saved” him afterwards, and considers himself to be no different from Rick—whom he called a monster. He doesn’t care that he once knew him, nor does it matter to Morales that Glenn was brutally killed in front of his pregnant wife. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We get it, dude. You’re a full-on Savior now. Rick tried to make you see how bad the Saviors were, but—unfortunately for you—Daryl wasn’t interested in chatting with a guy he barely knew several years ago.
I don’t think anyone was surprised when Daryl killed Morales—it’s the only possible thing that could have happened. I’ve seen many people describing this reunion with Morales as nothing more than the means to cause a morality conflict for Rick. I suppose it was, but Rick had literally just gone through that when he realized he’d killed Gracie’s father—which was far more impactful than trying to get through to Morales, in my opinion. Even though I’d always wondered what happened to Morales and his family, his brief return to the show was pretty pointless. I mean, Rick has spent more time with Eugene than he ever did Morales, but that didn’t stop him from turning on Eugene once he declared himself to be with Negan. So why waste time with Morales? Or in being upset when Daryl killed him? It doesn’t make sense, unless Rick was transferring the guilt he felt over killing Gracie’s father into trying to save Morales?
Goodbye Eric
Another predictable event was the death of Eric—poor guy never had a chance of recovery. He knew it, and so did Aaron, even though he tried to deny it. I’ve seen people commenting that the final scene between them fell flat, but I disagree. Eric used what were likely his final moments encouraging Aaron to get back into the fight, reminding him that he was needed there, not with him. Aaron’s grief and self-blame for Eric’s mortal wound—insisting Eric would never have been there if it weren’t for him—was a deeply poignant moment that most characters on the show don’t have the opportunity to have. For him to return and discover Eric was gone, and to see him newly-turned and shuffling off with other walkers in the distance was terribly sad, indeed.
I was surprised that Aaron took Gracie to the Hilltop. I assumed that Rick would take her back to Alexandria with him, because the stuffed rabbit in Gracie’s crib is the same one we see Judith (or was it Gracie?) holding in the flash-forward sequence in episode one. The rabbit was not with the baby when Rick brought her out, though… so much for assumptions, I guess!
Why Fight Saviors When You Can Fight Each Other?
I loved this scene! Morgan’s teetering on the precipice of sanity once more, and he does not agree with Jesus about taking the Saviors prisoner at all. He was willing to go along with it until walkers came rolling down the hill (how funny was that?!) and some of the Saviors—including that little weasel, Jared—managed to escape while the group was distracted by the walkers. Morgan pursued, and was able to shoot one of them before Jesus interfered and stopped him. Dude! Could you not wait two seconds and give Morgan time to put Jared out of everyone’s misery? Argh! I get why Jesus wants to take them prisoner, but I still say it’s the wrong call. It’s going to be Randall in the shed all over again: It’s too dangerous to let them go, but it’s just as dangerous to hold them prisoner and let them live.
A word of advice, Jesus? Never give a sharp, pointy stick back to a man on the brink of insanity. He might stab you in the throat with it before he remembers you’re his friend. Moving on…
Gregory Arrives at the Hilltop
Not seeing Negan and Gabriel for the second week in a row is ALMOST made up for by seeing Gregory’s return to the hilltop. He shows up driving Gabriel’s car, which Maggie calls him out on—after they make him sweat it out a bit outside the closed gate, only to open it up just enough for him to be seen.
I laughed so hard when Gregory tried to talk his way out of what happened at the main Savior compound and lied about Cal, not knowing he was right there listening to every word. (He deserved worse than a not-so-friendly gesture, though!) At first, I thought Maggie wasn’t going to let him in… and then I realized that (if he were alive) Glenn would said they needed to open the gate for him. I think that, more than anything else, is why Maggie allowed him to come inside. It’s what Glenn would have done.
I’m curious to see if she is willing to be so accommodating to the Saviors, however. Gregory certainly voiced his opinion, not caring that no one looks to him as the leader of the Hilltop anymore. But will Maggie feel the same way? Jesus thinks she’ll side with him in keeping them prisoner, but Tara—like Morgan— thinks she’ll agree they should be killed. I can easily see Maggie going along with either decision. She wants vengeance for Glenn’s death, and to stop the Saviors reign of terror… and yet, she wants to build a future worth having, too. Will it be her desire for vengeance or a merciful intention that decides their fate? Either way, it’s sure to cause drama of some kind.
When things are going your way, for goodness’ sake, don’t jinx it by talking about it!
As soon as Ezekiel spoke with such wonder about how they’d lost “not a one”, I knew some bad shit was about to go down. I wasn’t sharp-eyed enough to see whatever it was that Ezekiel saw, but the shooting started before I had time to wonder about it. I’d already forgotten that Rick and Daryl found out that the big guns were moved to another location the day before, but it didn’t take me long to realize Carol and Ezekiel’s group had found them. I was so shocked by it I didn’t look too closely at those who fell. The only thing I remember clearly is a group of men who covered Ezekiel to ensure his safety— likely at the cost of their own lives. What a cliffhanger!
What I’m Hoping to See Next Week
We’ve been left hanging long enough… it’s time to go back to Negan and Gabriel! They’re surrounded by walkers outside, and Gabriel is trapped inside with that (incredibly funny, occasionally charming) psychopath. Negan is still waiting to find out whether or not Gabriel had his “shittin’ pants” on. More to the point, it’s just not right to leave us hanging for TWO FREAKING WEEKS wondering what, if anything, Negan is going to do to Gabriel. Introduce him to Lucille? Stab him in the neck à la Rapey Davey? Or throw him outside with the walkers, like he did with Rick?
Not to mention… where the hell is Dwight? And Eugene? I doubt either one of them is dead, but I’d like to see what they’re doing. Well… I’m pretty sure Eugene found a hidey-hole to crawl into somewhere, but still. Where are they?
I’d also like to see what’s happening in Alexandria. What are Carl, Michonne, and the rest who stayed behind doing while the others are out fighting?
What’s going on at Oceanside? Will they join Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdom in the fight? And what about those double-crossing Garbage People? Are they lying in wait somewhere, ready to strike on Negan’s behalf?
And where did Morgan go after the fight with Jesus was over? I didn’t see him with the group that returned to the Hilltop. Is he going to become a lone assassin, or is he off to find Rick?
Going even further back… what the hell happened to Heath?
So many questions. I doubt most of them, if any, will be answered in the next episode. This season looks to move very slowly forward, time-wise, so I expect a long wait is in store for most of the things I’m wondering about.
Final Question
Why is Rick taking pictures with that Polaroid camera?
The Geeky Bibliophile 
I dont like bringing Morales back for like 5 mins. What was the point of that? I loved that Darryl didn’t give a rats ass who Morales was. Its US versus Them and Darrly took care of business. I think people are forgetting how venomous the Saviors have been. No mercy or kindness, in fact, they need to enjoy brutalizing people. So Maggie letting that lying scum back into the compound just galls me. big mistake.
I am not a Morgan fan, but he obviously needs to take a deep breath. YEs, Jesus was wrong, but hes not the enemy.
Rick needs to spot promising amnesty and start killing all.
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Daryl absolutely did the right thing. Morales got what he deserved–his fate was sealed as soon as he held Rick at gunpoint and called for the Saviors. Same goes for the guy he shot outside (the one Rick promised to let go in exchange for information). Rick needs to remember his mindset towards Gareth and the others from Terminus: “They don’t get to live.” It’s no different, because the Saviors will keep doing what they do to anyone they come across. Daryl gets that, and Rick needs to focus on that.
Did Maggie agree to hold the Saviors prisoner? If she did, it’s a mistake.They can’t be trusted, especially Jared!
I like Morgan, now that’s he’s gotten past his “all life is precious” crap… it was the wrong stance to take when there are so many people out there trying to kill you. Crazy Morgan is far more interesting, but he’s also unpredictable and potentially dangerous.I couldn’t help but cheer him on when he went after Jesus, though, because it seriously annoyed me that he wanted to take prisoners. It’s the humane thing to do, but it’s just not smart where the Saviors are concerned.
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