The Walking Dead S06E11 Review

SEASON 6 EPISODE 11 - "KNOTS UNTIE"

*Spoilers ahead* for those who haven't watched the episode yet

Hi everyone! I hope this is not too long, but I have many ideas and reflections I want to share with you guys about episode 11 that I just watched this minute!

First, I think the whole episode was trying to build a new hope. There was this important talk between Abraham and Glenn for example about Maggie being pregnant (a very important discussion given the risks Maggie is taking, if we consider Lori’s fate for instance). But, beyond the risks, this baby is also a symbol of hope: the symbol of a new start – the “new world” Rick was talking about. It’s the hope to rebuild civilization again: a hope that Jesus and the Hilltop also represent (trade, but also farming, agriculture, Harlan the doctor who has medicine …). The question we may ask ourselves now is: Was Abraham embodying the voice of reason or will Glenn prove him wrong? Only the future will tell us ...

On the other side, this hope for a “new world” is also accompanied with the image of possible future threats. At the beginning of the episode, for instance, Abraham uses the expression “Brave new world” which refers to the famous novel by Aldous Huxley, and which could be interpreted as foreshadowing some future threats… Among these possible future threats, there is of course Negan, but I also think we could add Abraham’s behavior. Indeed, the beginning of the episode very much highlights his attraction for Sasha (he thinks about her while being in bed with Rosita for example!). So, to me, he is going to cheat on Rosita with Sasha (because in the comics, he does cheat on his girlfriend but I don’t remember with who?). Anyway, this might cause some troubles in the community and bring up new tensions…

What the episode was also trying to do, in my opinion, was presenting Carl as a grown-up. For example, he sits at the table next to the other adults when they have a talk with Jesus; he takes care of the community while Rick’s gone…

One thing I also really liked was the small talk between Denise and Daryl. Daryl is in fact a very mysterious character. He doesn’t speak very much. He pushes people back and avoids any kind of bound or friendship (maybe to avoid getting hurt?): for example, when he didn’t admit wanting to find Sophia etc… Denise kind of helps him to open to people.

As for the hilltop, it really looks like the hilltop of the comics and like what I imagined, though it seems less impressive and smaller. It is very well organized. The fact that they have no ammos, and that Rick’s group has no food shows that the two communities are different, but they complete each other and they’re going to depend on each other.

The fact that they added this part when they saved Jesus’s friends also (I’m not sure, but I don’t think it was in the comics) facilitated the trust. Jesus and Rick more easily and quickly trust each other.

Maggie’s bargain with Gregory is also deeply significant. It shows how Maggie is emerging as a new leader. She is following Deanna’s steps. There was a clear competition between Maggie and Gregory and she clearly won. She knows how to impose herself. The fact that Gregory wants to talk to Maggie (instead of Rick), but also the fact that Gregory and Maggie are in competition: all of this is very coherent with the following of the story (if they follow the comics… but I don’t want to spoil anyone).

The scene when Rick killed Ethan (and looks at the others’ surprised face and says “what?”) was also very well done. It really shows the discrepancy between Rick’s state of mind and the Hilltops inhabitants who cannot fight and don’t know the outside world as well as Rick does.

The final bargain (food in exchange for getting rid of Negan) really emphasizes Rick’s strength : his group is a group of fighters who know how to defend themselves.

Finally, when Jesus mentions Rory’s death (the 16-year-old Negan killed to threaten the Hilltop) was also very important. It foreshadows the season finale and Negan’s arrival. Now everybody knows it’s going to be awful, and Michonne even pronounced the word “war”.

Mia L.

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