(Spoilers ahead)
Each week, we comb through the guts of The Walking Dead, much like a horde of hungry walkers, to bring you the episode’s best moments, surprises, and other post-apocalyptic curiosities. This week: Daryl blasts, Rick hacks, Carl lacks (an eye).
Season 6, Episode 9: “No Way Out”
Best fake-out: With all the talk about season six’s dark turn and the promise that “so many people die,” in the premiere, we thought both Abraham and Sasha weren’t long for this world right off the bat. Thankfully, Chekhov’s RPG, introduced not long before the midseason break, quickly saved both of our heroes and delayed Negan’s arc for at least a short while.
Worst fake-out: Based on the final scene of the midseason finale, we expected Sam’s freak-out-turned-massacre would happen within the episode’s first 10 minutes. When we saw that Rick and crew were totally fine, we were actually a little disappointed. Of course, patience paid off in an odd, macabre way.
Worst memory: While talking to Enid, Glenn rattled off the names of a few long-gone characters that impacted his life. But he forgot Beth, his sister-in-law, and T-Dog, an original Atlanta Camp companion.
Most hated TWD character: Sam, who now joins the special level of hell populated by Better Call Saul’s Chuck and Game of Thrones’s Olly.
Most child murders: Michonne might have killed a minor tonight, but our record keepers are telling us that the deaths of both Anderson children are truly on Carol’s head. It was her threatening words that finally caused Sam’s breakdown, which in turn got his whole family killed and Carl shot.
Closest to launching a rap career: Carl, having now been shot twice, is well-poised to enter the music industry . . . oh wait.
Most satisfying moment: Seeing the background residents of Alexandria finally rise up to save their town made us extremely proud. Rick’s speech at the episode’s end mirrors our feelings exactly—we didn’t think these Red Shirts would ever survive a single walker encounter, but now we’re looking forward to watching them mull around, slightly out of focus behind the main cast. . . at least until the next cull.
Leave Glenn alone! We’re pretty positive that Glenn’s fate will mirror his comic book storyline, but this show just will not stop teasing his death until then. We half-expect another dumpster situation next week.
Best exchange:
Enid: When I wanted to run, you said “That’s how you lose people, even after they’re gone.” What the hell does that mean?
Glenn: People you love, they made you who you are. They’re still part of you. If you stop being you, that last bit of them that’s still around inside who you are—it’s gone.
Enid: Who are those people to you?
Glenn: My parents; a man named Dale; Maggie’s father, Hershel; a woman named Andrea; a man named Tyreese. Who are they to you?
Enid: My parents.
Glenn: Then they’re still here, cause you’re still here.
Best kill: Michonne impaling Ron proved her loyalty to the Grimes family. Combined with kissing Carl’s forehead in the infirmary before being the first to join Rick in the walker battle and taking care of Judith at the episode’s close . . . Rick, your perfect match was right in front of you the entire time.
Most disturbing image: This.
(By the way, in case you missed it, Chandler Riggs tweeted this epic Snapchat.)
Episode MVP: Everyone. As Eugene said, “No one gets to clock out today.” Except the Andersons. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
And once again, where exactly does Rick fall this week on the calm/crazy scale?
