SQUAWKING DEAD: [Episode 204] Season 11, Episode 19 of The Walking Dead, "Variant"

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It seems like our group is finally evolving to their final Pokémon form by #EugenePorter doing the right thing for the right reason (to save #MaxxineMercer from the fate he would've otherwise been spared had he left #TheCommonwealth), #TWDPrincess fighting for better than the best of a bad situation, and #MichaelMercer's soul nearly succumbing to the fate of most in his station - having the rules not apply to them.

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David Cameo:
Rachael Burt:
Sherrandy Swift:
Bridget Mason-Gray:

First Impressions

Dave loved the emotions brought forth in this episode, especially the humor and calmer moments.
Sherrandy says that Eugene Porter trying to square-up to Daryl Dixon is one of the funniest moments on the show.
Rachael says this episode has everything: She laughed, cried, cheered, and screamed. She thought it was so good she almost didn't notice that her favorite character, Carol Peletier, wasn't even in the episode.
She then admits that the conversations between Aaron & Lydia, Michael Mercer & Juanita "Princess" Sanchez, and Rosita Espinosa & Eugene were among her favorites in the entire series.
She adds that Aaron's mention of Eric Raleigh made her particularly emotional as it made her think about his loss and, by extension, everyone else we have lost in the series.
Dave says that Paul "Jesus" Rovia was particularly omitted during Aaron's conversation with Lydia. Then adds that the Rosita/Eugene conversation made him think of Abraham Ford and Sasha Williams.
Aidan's Aside: Dave goes on to talk about the scene in season 8 episode 7 where Daryl rams a garbage truck into the Sanctuary. The person with him in that scene was Tara Chambler, not Rosita.
Sherrandy found the episode to be somewhat dull, on first watch; however, on second watch, she enjoyed it a lot more. She was waiting for a big moment to happen that never came.
Everyone agrees that public discussions and trailers ruined the hype over the (re)introduction of variant walkers.
Have your discussions about the show on social media influenced the way you perceive the show? What about attending conventions and meeting the actors in person?
How often do you rewatch episodes from the TWDU, if at all?
Do you take notes while watching episodes, like our SQUAWKING DEAD hosts or like TWD super-fan Yvette Nicole Brown?

A New Kingdom

Dave said that seeing the variant walkers reminded him of the Tales of the Walking Dead episode featuring Dr. Chauncey Everett.
Could a variant walkers ability to twist doorknobs be a remnant of their living counterpart's muscle memory?
What's your take on the way walkers are evolving?
Bridget mentions a podcast called We're Alive that features intelligent zombies, which she finds incredibly scary. It looks like this is TWD's attempt at MWSA = Making Walkers Scary Again.
Sherrandy says that Lydia should have known the variant walker wasn't a Whisperer after living so many years among walkers as one.
Could variant walkers have killed off the remaining Whisperers we saw earlier in the season?
What happened to The Oceanside community? What do you think will happen when Aaron and co finally reach it?
Is Aaron's determination to reach Oceanside born out of his affinity towards them as a result of his journey with Enid during Season 8?

Relationships in the Commonwealth

Dave was ecstatic to receive more scenes wth Teo Rapp-Olsson, even if it's of him as a walker!
Will we continue to see walker Sebastian Milton?
Sherrandy says she would love to see Sebastian bite Pamela Milton.
It's clear that she is mourning the loss of her son, but what is Pamela's mindset towards The Commonwealth and our survivors as a result?
What does Pamela have planned for Lance Hornsby?
Where is Shira? Could she attempt to switch allegiances to save her own life? Will our survivors allow her to?
If people like Dwight can be redeemed, can someone like Shira? If she she is allowed to redeem herself, will that (classically) lead to her death?
Will Mercer finally relent and figure out a way to save Eugene? Or is it a lot more complicated than it looks?
Sherrandy points out Michael James Shaw's (AKA Mercer) awesome facial expressions in this episode.
Dave says that the way Eugene saves Maxxine (Max) Mercer is by doing the right thing, while her brother, Mike, tries to save her by doing the wrong thing.
Dave then talks about how the way Mercer physically and verbally responds to Princess in the last scene hit him on such a deep level, it brought forth some memories from his days in theater.
Sherrandy said her favorite scene of the episode was the Mercer/Princess scene, especially the moment where she says, "It could be better."
Rachael says it is depressing to witness such a happy character reveal such a dark past.
This episode made Dave realize how similar Ezekiel Sutton and Princess are.
Is there a possibility that Mercer won't do the right thing?
Bridget mentions that, as an actor, you want a scene like the one Paola Lazaro has with MJ Shaw in their last scene.
"Fuck [it could be worse]! It could be better. It should be better."
What was your immediate reaction when Pamela slipped her hand in Lance's pocket?
What is the true nature of the bond between Pamela and Lance? Is there a romantic entanglement? Is there an unspoken struggle of power? Something in between?
Bridget compares the relationship between Pamela and Lance to that of Andrea Harrison and Phillip "The Governor" Blake.
Why did the writers leave Jesus out of the conversation between Aaron and Lydia? Even though it wasn't explicitly stated, were Jesus & Aaron actually in a romantic relationship?
Does Lance get-off on risk-taking behavior?
Bridget points out the growth in both the characters of Eugene and Daryl, noting how gradually - but vastly - these two have changed over the years.
Bridget says Eugene giving himself up for Max shows far he has come from the days of All Out War, when he turned on our survivors and joined Negan Smith.
Who do you think has had the most significant character development over the course of the series?
What do you think of the idea of a Kingdom 2.0?
Do you think there a specific reason why the variant walker keeps going after Jerry?
Like Dave, did you mispronounce or forget Rosita's daughter's full name, Soccoro Espinosa?
If there was an election at The Commonwealth, who would receive your vote? Would you might've considered Sebastian, up until the point Max exposes him?
Who are the people that took Rosita at the end of the episode?
Could the men that take Rosita away be Lance's? Could they be Pamela's jackboots?
On that note, who do you think Rosita was calling out to when the door had opened?
How many Austin Powers movies do you think it took for Teo Rapp-Olsson to get into his walker make-up? Don't understand that reference? Check out our last episode!