Walking Dead Recap: The New Deal Season 11 Episode 18

What the hell was that?

I’ve been making an attempt to course of my emotions about tonight’s episode of The Walking Dead, which feels prefer it was written by three totally different writers who not solely didn’t learn one another’s scripts but additionally hated one another. So when it comes to emotions about it, one of the best I can give you is “perplexed.”

“The New Deal” is one other complicated mess like final week’s part-three premiere, nevertheless it’s additionally extra boring—nearly impressively so, given there are solely six episodes left within the sequence. Most of it exists to say “capitalism is evil,” which I’m completely right here for, however is such an odd alternative for this goofy present in regards to the zombie apocalypse and the individuals who dwell in it to immediately make. Especially for the reason that dimwits dwelling within the Commonwealth completely can’t be trusted to manipulate themselves.

But first issues first. Last week’s episode ended with Daryl’s knife at Hornsby’s throat and Commontroopers leveling their weapons. Out of nowhere, Mercer and Governor Pam stroll into the sewer—sure, keep in mind, that’s the place they staged their ambush—and inform everybody to face down. Daryl actually, actually desires to kill Hornsby, regardless of the actual fact he would completely be shot for it, however contents himself with stabbing Hornsby by the hand.

Daryl, Maggie, Carol, et al. make a cope with Pam; they offer her Hornsby to be the scapegoat for Sebastian’s crimes, and Pam lets them depart the Commonwealth with tons of provides for Alexandria and Hilltop. Also, anybody who desires to remain on the Commonwealth can keep on the Commonwealth. It’s a terrific deal that Negan and Annie are usually not positive they need to take, provided that its troopers killed lots of people at their Riverbend group. The undeniable fact that this was accomplished below Hornsby’s orders, a person who has now been jailed for his crimes and the crimes of others, doesn’t appear to matter. But Negan additionally desires to remain within the Commonwealth so the pregnant Annie can have entry to its OB/GYN providers, which Annie refuses… as she’s receiving providers on the OB/GYN. Whose physician tells Annie her amniotic fluid was build up, which might have been fairly harmful if it had not been caught by the Commonwealth OB/GYN providers. Which Annie doesn’t need to use. But used. And clearly wants.

What?

I imply, what are we presupposed to do with that? It’s a microcosm of the fever dream that’s the Commonwealth storyline. Many persons are glad to see Hornsby pay for his crimes and get again house. Some individuals, like Judith, need to stay to assist the Commonwealthers within the struggle in opposition to Pam and the higher crust. Eugene and Max need Pam and Sebastian overthrown so badly they attempt to make a cope with Hornsby himself.

I do know I’m going to be repeating myself from final week, however I can’t assist it as a result of that is so rattling bizarre. Some characters assume Hornsby is the satan, and he’s killed lots of people and put fascist flags on Alexandria and the opposite communities, in order that’s nice. Some individuals need Sebastian to pay for his crimes, which he dedicated, in order that’s additionally nice. But Pam, so far as the characters know, has accomplished nothing incorrect however exploit the working class, which is each authorized now and within the Commonwealth. We the viewers know she enacted plan “B14” which can have despatched a zombie horde to the Commonwealth to justify some gentle martial regulation, even then, it’s value remembering the Commonwealth continues to be, by far, the nicest, most secure, and most luxurious group within the zombie apocalypse.

It’s not even shut! They have OB/GYN docs. They have skilled troopers defending the place. They have ice cream. What’s slightly gentle fascism in comparison with Negan randomly beating individuals to loss of life with a barb-wired baseball bat for taking a look at him humorous? There are murderers and cannibals and Wolves and Whisperers on the market, and the Commonwealth’s issues aren’t that dangerous as compared. But no, Eugene, Judith, Max, and extra imagine these individuals want socialism. Again, I like it, however following up “Woman who led a cult where they made masks out of real zombies’ faces” with “Capitalism” as the subsequent villain is unfathomable. (It’s additionally value remembering that every part within the Commonwealth appeared completely nice till the Alexandrians confirmed up.)

So Max pulls the outdated “secretly record an asshole in charge saying someone shitty about the people he’s in charge of,” which Sebastian falls for in seconds. It’s breathtaking, as his utter fury at being compelled by his mom to say a speech at Founder’s Day, the city celebration, to maybe win over the townspeople who actually needed to tear him aside a short time in the past. But perhaps he has some extent, given that when Hornsby is fingered for every part, those self same townspeople who needed to homicide Sebastian are enthusiastically applauding Milton for catching the “real” perpetrator.

So everybody’s thrilled at Founder’s Day, whose centerpiece occasion appears to be knowledgeable tag workforce wrestling match. Because the Commonwealth has skilled wrestling, too, and nobody is extra delighted by the occasion than wealthy snobs Pam and Sebastian. They snicker, they gasp, their jaws drop at what they see. It’s so, so bizarre. And it’s even weirder that Sebastian delivers his speech from the wrestling ring itself.

Of course, throughout the speech, Max and Eugene play the tape the place Sebastian manages to say each “the Commonwealth is founded on a lie” and “the poor exist to serve the wealthy elite” (I’m paraphrasing as a result of I can’t be bothered to rewatch it). The crowd immediately activates Sebastian and Pam, which begins fairly then escalates shortly when individuals begin throwing bottles at them. Again, the group doesn’t know Pam has accomplished something incorrect aside from committing the crime of giving start to an infinite douchebag.

Unfortunately, it’s at this actual second when a bunch of zombies seems in the midst of the sq., as Hornsby had his two goons from final week homicide numerous upkeep employees a bit earlier. Chaos erupts to a very comical diploma; the sq. ought to have emptied shortly, however as a substitute individuals appear to be operating forwards and backwards, which provides the zombies loads of time to eat an absurd quantity of individuals. Eventually, Sebastian manages to find Max within the throng, and tosses her within the path of a zombie in revenge; the zombie is straight away pushed by Eugene again onto Sebastian, knocking him down, at which level all of the Commonwealthers cease what they’re doing and silently watch Sebastian wrestle with a zombie for a surprisingly very long time earlier than being eaten.

Yes, the lights will dim in Cape Cod tonight, as Kingsley St. Buffingsworth isn’t any extra. But we have to do greater than mourn him, as a result of this scene is wild. All of the individuals who had been operating for his or her lives cease operating for his or her lives simply to observe Sebastian get eaten alive. There was an extended, very long time he might have been saved earlier than the zombie received a piece out of him. It’s very humorous, however the present clearly has no thought it’s humorous. The Walking Dead desires to make it a scene the place a villain will get his simply deserts, however as a substitute, all of the townsfolk appear to be monsters for willfully failing to assist a fellow human being from getting murdered, particularly since Hornsby was being efficiently blamed for all of the individuals Sebastian received killed. It means the Commonwealthers unanimously let him die only for being an elitist asshole. It’s hilarious.

In the top, nobody’s actually left town but, so actually this episode was solely about skilled wrestling and the loss of life of Kingsley St. Buffingsworth of the Cape Cod Buffingsworths that we so incessantly examine on the society pages. It’s not a lot, and it’s an actual bizarre strategy to spend the sixth-to-last episode of the sequence. The Walking Dead isn’t ramping up for the top, it’s idly wandering round and getting distracted by butterflies. So I repeat: What the hell was that?

Assorted Musings:

• There are different scenes on this episode. They don’t matter, nothing occurs in them, don’t fear about it.
• Aaron and his daughter Gracie had a tearful goodbye when he left to test on Oceanside, which doesn’t bode nicely for both of them.
• Hornsby takes a chunk out of a sweet apple in probably the most savage method potential, which TWD additionally desires to be sinister however is in actual fact hilariously bizarre.
• Why did the tape repeat there on the finish? Did Max edit it so it could play on the finish, or does she have a two-minute-long cassette?

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