Walking Dead Season 6 Review
Alright, so I know I didn't get around to reviewing each episode of this season and I feel bad about that. Sometimes life and ....cough...cough..... laziness gets in the way of things like this. I will say that this season is honestly one of my favorites of the series so far. Here it goes with my first overall season review of the show!
First off I have to hand it to the actors because the characters truly rocked it this season. Nearly every character had their own storyline and importance within the overall plot. This made for some great television moments such as the insane escape from death by Glenn and Deena's sacrifice after being bitten. These moments were some of the most jaw-dropping of the season early on. There were other moments such as Rick and crew attempting to maneuver a herd of walkers away from Alexandria. This started off the season with a bang and seeing each member of the cast banding together along with the inexperienced Alexandrians to drive off this threat was immensely entertaining.
Morgan being reintroduced to the group also was one of my favorite parts. I loved seeing him come back with a Bo staff in hand and kicking ass. Gone was the insane man who'd lost everything. He still respects Rick but sees that he's changed. The episode dealing with Morgan's friend and teacher Eastman was one of my favorites of the whole series. We get to see Morgan rise from a distraught and nearly insane shell of a man into a strong warrior ready to defend himself peacefully. Although his moral code of not killing is challenged he sticks through with it for the most part. Seeing him take the chance to save Carol and kill again was crazy. I'm very interested in seeing how this changes him as before he believed everything deserved to live.
Another thing I really enjoyed this season was the inclusion of the Alexandria survivors in the main plot. Sure, most of them served to be walker bait for the most part but some truly interesting ones came out of it. For most of the season we get to see Rick finally foster a relationship with Jessie. This is great as he's been single ever since Laurie thankfully died back in season 3. Others such as Heath and Aaron got some bigger parts as well. Aaron grew to really respect and even admire Rick's crew. This culminates in an episode where he and Maggie are searching for Glenn after many believe him to be dead. These character interaction moments allow these people to come together and evolve as people and friends.
I'm just going to say this and try move on as quickly as possible. I did not like how they handled Glenn's fake-out death. There's a number of reasons for this. My primary reason is that it did nothing for his character. Yes he failed to save someone (something which has been his primary character trait) but it didn't do much to him personally afterwards. He has a much bigger moment near the tail end of the season when he has to kill for the first time with Heath. We get to see his reaction to having someone's blood on his hands that isn't a walker. Every other character has killed people before but not Glenn. This loss of innocence for him elevates his character and provides huge charcter growth and depth. The fake-out death however? A big publicity stunt that many fans figured out way before the episode revealed his fate later on.
Another part to the season I didn't like had to do with Enid and the Wolves as a whole. They're built up to be this huge threat but are easily dispatched and then forgotten. Sure, we get character moments between one member and Denise but not before he's shot dead. They seemed like they would be more of an overarching threat this season but turned out to be nothing. They attack Alexandria and kill some people but are stopped eventually. Enid just bothers me because she has no purpose other than to be a possible love interest for Carl. She's weird and creepy and yes has a sad backstory but has done literally nothing else besides help save Glenn. She really needs something better for a storyline next season. Thank you Carl for putting her in a closet.
The storyline dealing with the Saviors and the Hilltop survivors was easily the strongest storyline this season. This season was about how much bigger Rick and his friends world truly is. The Saviors and Hilltop illustrate this masterfully. I've been waiting so long for the show to get to the point where they can finally showcase Negan and wow.....they knocked it out of the park (pun totes intended). The whole back half of the season he's teased throughout. He has loyal followers who say they're him or simply won't give him up. This of course culminates in one of the craziest scenes on the show as he captures our heroes and chooses to bash in the skull of one. In the comics sadly it's Glenn who bites the dust. Here, I'm not so sure. My money is on Daryl or Glenn. Daryl because he hasn't had much of a storyline this season and Norman Reedus is moving on to other projects soon. Glenn would keep with the comics and would definitely be dramatic and shocking as a death. Maggie would be alone as a mother and now widow as a result. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is outstanding as Negan as he pours so much charisma and love into the character. I'm very excited to see how the group deals with him next season.
The Walking Dead is easily one of top 5 favorite shows of all time. I've been thoroughly entranced through most every episode from the start. The reason and true strength of the show is that it deals with humanity first and foremost. How far will one go to keep his loved ones safe? Are you still the same person you were before if you take another's life? Does your survival mean someone else's demise? These moral quandaries keep the show relevant and strong each season. Season 6 is about survival vs. humanity. The survivors are brought a new challenge of their world expanding. Jesus says it best when he tells them they have no idea how much bigger their world's about to get. I liked this theme a lot because it finally challenges the status quo of our heroes always winning out in the end. There are small victories here and there this season but seeing most of the main cast tied up and ready for execution was terrifying to watch. We get to see Rick scared for his life and the lives of others for the first time in a long while. I give this season an overall 9/10. While I'm salivating at the identity of Negan's victim, Season 7 better freaking hurry up!
First off I have to hand it to the actors because the characters truly rocked it this season. Nearly every character had their own storyline and importance within the overall plot. This made for some great television moments such as the insane escape from death by Glenn and Deena's sacrifice after being bitten. These moments were some of the most jaw-dropping of the season early on. There were other moments such as Rick and crew attempting to maneuver a herd of walkers away from Alexandria. This started off the season with a bang and seeing each member of the cast banding together along with the inexperienced Alexandrians to drive off this threat was immensely entertaining.
Morgan being reintroduced to the group also was one of my favorite parts. I loved seeing him come back with a Bo staff in hand and kicking ass. Gone was the insane man who'd lost everything. He still respects Rick but sees that he's changed. The episode dealing with Morgan's friend and teacher Eastman was one of my favorites of the whole series. We get to see Morgan rise from a distraught and nearly insane shell of a man into a strong warrior ready to defend himself peacefully. Although his moral code of not killing is challenged he sticks through with it for the most part. Seeing him take the chance to save Carol and kill again was crazy. I'm very interested in seeing how this changes him as before he believed everything deserved to live.
Another thing I really enjoyed this season was the inclusion of the Alexandria survivors in the main plot. Sure, most of them served to be walker bait for the most part but some truly interesting ones came out of it. For most of the season we get to see Rick finally foster a relationship with Jessie. This is great as he's been single ever since Laurie thankfully died back in season 3. Others such as Heath and Aaron got some bigger parts as well. Aaron grew to really respect and even admire Rick's crew. This culminates in an episode where he and Maggie are searching for Glenn after many believe him to be dead. These character interaction moments allow these people to come together and evolve as people and friends.
I'm just going to say this and try move on as quickly as possible. I did not like how they handled Glenn's fake-out death. There's a number of reasons for this. My primary reason is that it did nothing for his character. Yes he failed to save someone (something which has been his primary character trait) but it didn't do much to him personally afterwards. He has a much bigger moment near the tail end of the season when he has to kill for the first time with Heath. We get to see his reaction to having someone's blood on his hands that isn't a walker. Every other character has killed people before but not Glenn. This loss of innocence for him elevates his character and provides huge charcter growth and depth. The fake-out death however? A big publicity stunt that many fans figured out way before the episode revealed his fate later on.
Another part to the season I didn't like had to do with Enid and the Wolves as a whole. They're built up to be this huge threat but are easily dispatched and then forgotten. Sure, we get character moments between one member and Denise but not before he's shot dead. They seemed like they would be more of an overarching threat this season but turned out to be nothing. They attack Alexandria and kill some people but are stopped eventually. Enid just bothers me because she has no purpose other than to be a possible love interest for Carl. She's weird and creepy and yes has a sad backstory but has done literally nothing else besides help save Glenn. She really needs something better for a storyline next season. Thank you Carl for putting her in a closet.
The storyline dealing with the Saviors and the Hilltop survivors was easily the strongest storyline this season. This season was about how much bigger Rick and his friends world truly is. The Saviors and Hilltop illustrate this masterfully. I've been waiting so long for the show to get to the point where they can finally showcase Negan and wow.....they knocked it out of the park (pun totes intended). The whole back half of the season he's teased throughout. He has loyal followers who say they're him or simply won't give him up. This of course culminates in one of the craziest scenes on the show as he captures our heroes and chooses to bash in the skull of one. In the comics sadly it's Glenn who bites the dust. Here, I'm not so sure. My money is on Daryl or Glenn. Daryl because he hasn't had much of a storyline this season and Norman Reedus is moving on to other projects soon. Glenn would keep with the comics and would definitely be dramatic and shocking as a death. Maggie would be alone as a mother and now widow as a result. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is outstanding as Negan as he pours so much charisma and love into the character. I'm very excited to see how the group deals with him next season.
The Walking Dead is easily one of top 5 favorite shows of all time. I've been thoroughly entranced through most every episode from the start. The reason and true strength of the show is that it deals with humanity first and foremost. How far will one go to keep his loved ones safe? Are you still the same person you were before if you take another's life? Does your survival mean someone else's demise? These moral quandaries keep the show relevant and strong each season. Season 6 is about survival vs. humanity. The survivors are brought a new challenge of their world expanding. Jesus says it best when he tells them they have no idea how much bigger their world's about to get. I liked this theme a lot because it finally challenges the status quo of our heroes always winning out in the end. There are small victories here and there this season but seeing most of the main cast tied up and ready for execution was terrifying to watch. We get to see Rick scared for his life and the lives of others for the first time in a long while. I give this season an overall 9/10. While I'm salivating at the identity of Negan's victim, Season 7 better freaking hurry up!