The Walking Dead - Season 5, Episode 7 - "Crossed"

Blair Fink (Twitter: @BlairMFink, Instagram: @BlairFink)

Steve Bethel (Twitter: @the_lazy_gamer, Website: steveisthelazygamer.blogspot.ca)

"Pew! Pew!"

The Walking Dead, Season 5, Episode 7, "Crossed"

G.R.E.A.T.M. EXPECTATIONS

With the penultimate midseason episode we were obviously going into it knowing that it would be mostly a set up episode. With that said things seem to be setting up nicely. Rick's group is next door ready to come a knocking. Dawn is undoubtedly now aware that they are there (nicely done there Sasha, you idiot). Glenn's group has mostly recouped from the crushing blow from Eugene. So let's dig deeper.

I don’t have a lot to say about this episode because you’re right, Steve, it’s basically a table setting episode for next week’s midseason finale. All the pieces (in Atlanta, at least) are moving into place for an explosive confrontation. As ready as I was to call Sasha an idiot, I couldn’t do it. I really appreciated how they laid some groundwork that explained, as ill-advised as it was, her dumb move. She’s reeling pretty hard after losing Bob and feels compelled to transfer Tyreese’s compassion onto the cop. As long as the characters aren’t making out of character stupid choices solely to create conflict or further the plot, I’m fine with them being dumb once in a while. People are dumb and flawed. I’m just glad they’re not the same group of assholes making terrible decision after terrible decision they were in earlier seasons. It made me feel angry when they did dumb things then. Now, I feel more sympathetic to their mistakes.

I found the start of this episode to be very solemn. While everyone was doing the prep work to fortify there was no music. Which always makes it creepy, all you hear are the sound effects. Sasha smashing a pew still trying to work her shit out over Bob. Nails being pounded, organ pipes being dismantled. Fingernails scratching! Keep scrubbing preacher, that blood isn't coming off. Not off the floor or your hands. You'll burn for this.

Maybe this is a stretch but I thought the dismantling of the church parallels the unravelling of Father Gabriel’s defenses a little bit. He seems to be easing off some of his protests against violence (as evidenced by actually fighting the walker) and at least entertaining notions of defending himself.

G.R.E.A.T.M. Is this supposed to be indicative as to the power structure in this new group? Glenn leads, Rosita seconds? I felt that Glenn and Rosita were getting a little close this episode. They shared a few moments together that may cause problems down the road with Maggie. 'E' is still out cold. 'A' is totally lost. Perhaps when Eugene is back to the world of the living (dead) they might have more words with each other. Tara has always been a tertiary character while Maggie seems to be taking a bit of a back seat as of late. The conversation Glenn, Rosita, and Tara had regarding Eugene using the only skills he had to stay alive was interesting. Glenn wasn't so convinced though. Will that cause problems moving forward for this group if he does take the leadership role.

I’m not reading into the order of the letters at all. I think the team name that Tara proposes is awesome. While I haven’t been the biggest Tara fan, she lightened the mood this episode and it was great. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by the single focus episodes in recent weeks were you can really get invested in one story but it felt awkward jumping back and forth between storylines, mostly between the two converging Atlanta stories and then this stalled one. They weren’t going at the same pace and it was jarring to alternate between. That being said, it was nice to see Rosita get a little more backstory and development. She really needs it.

“I think we’d look super badass if we rolled our pant legs up to about…yay high.”

With Rick's group now in ATL we see some divide between the group. Rick hatches a plan to go the bloody route that he always does and gets static....by more than one person from the group. Maybe it's time to reconsider your tactics Rick, then again we'll see how the finale goes. Maybe Rick's way would have been better...time will tell. I think the cop trap was pretty well executed, other than the daring rescue. As they were driving away the first thing I thought was why doesn't anyone shoot out the tires? They unload on the car, it's only Sasha (who is actually a good shot) who takes out the tire at the last second.

It’s taken Rick longer to embrace the need to kill to survive but now that he has gotten more comfortable doing so, everyone else has gotten tired of it. I like how they haven’t been making a big deal of it this season but it keeps coming up here and there in minor confrontations.

Whatever happened at that FEMA camp was brutal, wether it was an explosion or a napalm strike, seeing those bodies burned up into the asphalt was pretty graphic. It did provide a hell of a fight scene for Daryl though, which I always enjoy seeing. Daryl gets him with the ol' zombie bowling ball head smash move. Classic. I was convinced Rick was going to blow him away, perhaps he is trying to turn a new leaf? Or maybe Daryl is his better side of judgement. Without Daryl would we have an even more brutal Rick? Daryl stops him from shooting the cop and seemed to be the one that convinced him to change the plan, Rick wasn't having any of Tyreese's subordination.

Outer turmoil! Inner turmoil! SO INTENSE! I get the feeling if Rick had to go solo he’d quickly devolve into a nasty piece of work. He stays sane with a little help from his friends.

I'm not sure where the preacher is going. I understand that he has too much blood tied to the church but where on Earth does he think he will go? He clearly isn't prepared for this world. I will say that the body slam he does to that walker was pretty impressive. We weren't sure about this next point in my house, but was there some significance to the preacher stepping on the nail? Some metaphor to Jesus and being nailed to the cross? Paying for his sins maybe? Either way is this the last we see of him? Or will Michonne and Carl go off on a (mis)adventure to go find him?

I have no idea what Gabriel’s plan is or if he even has one beyond getting away from these violent heathens who have invaded his sanctuary. I wasn’t sure about the nail (With his heart full of guilt and his foot full of nail, Gabe’s too unskilled to venture down any walker-filled trail) either. Was it just symbolism or do we see tetanus in his future? Better visit Grady Memorial. I hear they’re accepting new patients.

Everything these cops say to the group is shady....I don't know who to believe. One thing I do know for sure is that Sasha is probably the dumbest person in the world. Falling for that shit sob story. Helping this Bob isn't going to bring you peace with your Bob. Didn't that massive Tyreese big bear hug not make everything better? I'm pretty sure a bear hug from Tyreese would make anyone feel better. But really, how far is that cop going to get with his hands bound? Does he get out? Does he make it back to Dawn? Does the group catch him? From the preview for next week we see that Sasha is ok, which I hate when they do that.

Whoa. Whoa. WHOA. Cut Sasha some slack, man! People make mistakes and she’s having a tough time. Sure we saw it coming a mile away but Bob Lamson was a smooth talking, soft spoken, empathy inducing son of a gun. She’s also one of my favourite characters so we’re going to have a problem if you talk anymore trash about her.

Thanks for joining us and remember…

…with G.R.E.A.T.M. power comes G.R.E.A.T.M. responsibility.

QUESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

-I didn't touch on the hospital activity as I wasn't too enthralled by those scenes.
-I enjoyed the hospital stuff if only because I found Beth more captivating here than in her solo episode. It's as though since she got Noah out she realizes she is capable of a lot and is now getting. shit. done. Strawberry bribes!
-How are they going to get Carol out when she doesn't look like she is going anywhere soon?
-Carol is obviously faking it and will be going Rambo when the right moment presents itself.
-Abe's yoga game is strong! How long has he been in that pose? Perfect posture! That is discipline!
-I really enjoyed the performance of Maximiliano Hernandez as Sgt. Bob "Sasha Crasher" Lamson. It took me a while to place him: Agent Jasper Sitwell from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (he appeared briefly in multiple Marvel movies, in a few Marvel One Shot short films and in a few episodes of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
-Will the preacher come back? Or is he another one of those Morgan characters? Just gone…
-Gabriel will be back for sure. His arc isn't finished. He's been too one note so far: sweat, guilt, sweat, guilt. Let's see something else. Maybe he runs into the aforementioned Morgan? If not, when does Morgan show up?
-How will Glenn's group get in on the midseason finale episode?
-I have no idea. They seem so detached from the Atlanta narrative, both geographically and thematically. It's weird.

Blair's Rating: B+

Steve's Rating: 4 out of 5 zombie head bowling balls

Blair's MVP: Beth

Steve's MVP: Daryl

Blair's Deadpool Pick: Steve, for badmouthing Sasha Noah

Steve's Deadpool Pick: Maggie (bold call but I feel like they are phasing her out)

Steve is doing Movember again this year, so if you want to kick in a few shekels, head on over to his page: http://mobro.co/stevebethel121