I went into this episode sceptical that 65 minutes of all Morgan backstory could work, and was secretly hoping we'd possibly get a mix that allowed us to see some resolution to the Glenn issue ... ... however: consider me totally won-over.
A really cool episode - beautifully acted, shot, and written - and while it is a big old todger tease leaving us still no further forward regarding Glenn, in some ways it's the perfect time to have this episode:
1) We need a breather after three pretty full-on episodes that have escalated with each one. We need something calmer, particularly as a hell of a lot more shit is about to hit the fan in the remainder of the season.
2) We've only just got Morgan back, and as some have said, we're questioning his philosophy - so therefore it is the ideal time to deal with said philosophy.
I'm slightly surprised they dedicated an extended episode to it as those have usually been afforded to something more epic, but when you think about it that's more of an impression. 1x01 was epic in many ways - but it was also incredibly intimate and focussed primarily on a single character. 5x16 was surprisingly mild for the most part (albeit with some rather tasty moments thrown in), but it wasn't the grandiose spectacle we were kind of expecting. 6x01 is pretty epic - but it also cuts back and forth to, again, much more intimate moments. There's a lot of info dished out in all these extended episodes.
Had this episode been shorter, I'm not sure the progression of Morgan's mindset would have really been sold. If you thought he learned Aikido too quick, then cramming a complete character and emotional switch-about into a normal length episode would have felt nothing but rushed. They needed that time to show the gradual progression - and even after it all, Morgan still almost goes back to his old ways. Returning to his crazy camp was like a test of his newfound faith. It was interesting what Lennie James said on Talking Dead - that Morgan seeing the walker version of the young man he strangled to death was like a sign that Morgan's time to die had come, that Morgan was one of those people who wanted to die but could never do it himself, but always put himself in harms way to try and force an external force to snuff him out. So when Eastman kills that walker - and gets himself bit in the process - it's like robbing Morgan of the demise he'd been chasing for so long.
Of course, it eventually forces him to fully accept his new outlook on life. To be fair to Morgan killing hadn't done anything for him - he was bereft and suffering from PTSD (and is likely still struggling with its effects) - he'd been out there murdering walkers and humans alike. As we saw when he killed those two other humans, they were just desperate for human contact and help - they seemed like villains initially, but very suddenly things changed when the young man pleaded for his life and clearly these were good guys ... and Morgan murdered them both without a second thought. He was in an extraordinarily dark place - here he gained a complete spiritual overhaul, but he still feels he needs to pay for his past actions.
Some groovy walker effects too - I loved the one with the manky back which Morgan killed by shoving his death stick up into the base of the skull. That was nifty!
As for when we'll find out Glenn's fate? Possibly 6x05 - but probably 6x06 - or, hell, even 6x07 considering how things might be paced out with the walker herd approaching Alexandria. There's so much going on right now that you can't deal with it all simultaneously in every episode, but it also makes sound sense in terms of storytelling strategy. You want people to be excited and eager for next week's episode, you want to tease them along at an appropriate pace (I do feel the Sophia 'mystery' was far too strung out - and really only ever had one probable outcome). The Glenn mystery will be over fewer episodes than Sophia, but there'll also be a hell of a lot going on between 6x03's shock moment and us finding out if/how Glenn survives.
Another interesting tidbit from Lennie James on Talking Dead that stood out - he said that Morgan understands the consequences of his actions, but still believes he's making the right decision ultimately. Even without any interference from him, people in Rick's group have died, are dying, and will die. Some, not all, though.
I do think there's a chance for Morgan to change his stance and take on a more pragmatic version of his attempt at peace. Notice how he told the story to the Wolf in the hope that it would have the effect on him that Eastman's actions had on Morgan - and initially it seems like there might be some getting through - but then the Wolf clearly shows he's not going to change his code. I think the code aspect plays into Morgan's mind ... but then also note how Morgan locked the door. He thought about not locking it (as Eastman had done), but then opted to lock it. I think Morgan's methods are beginning to flex in the face of harsh reality ... however, if that Wolf doesn't escape and cause some trouble I'd be surprised (perhaps the final nail in Morgan's extraordinary search for absolute peace).
...
TWD 6x04 Memes:
|
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. [click for more]
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by ProfessorChaos
Bookmarks