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Father Gabriel goes Next-Level Stoicism, while Aaron assumes the burden of hosting both his and the padre's soul. While reacting to the shock, drama, and some funnies, we still had a lot of questions that begged answering.
CHRIS, from BMNY DeadCast Live, is BACK after a very long hiatus (both from SQUAWKING DEAD and his own channel) and we're honored to be the ones to ease him back into online life after a heck of an anniversary since the start of...stuff n' thangs.
A TON of preshow in the Unedited Episode Recordings for you to grab with MANY behind-the-scene takes that were definitely too hot to make the final cut! How do you get it? Buy supporting us, of course! And, best of all: you, too, can lend us your thoughts during our recording sessions! Click here!
We catch up with Chris from BMNY DeadCast Live: Been busy with COVID-19; vaccines; wearing masks; Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness
Chris’ impressions: Enjoyed the previous episode, as well as this one; agrees with Gabe’s actions
Beautiful Bloodbath
Sympathy for the Walkers: Too-Tired walker, next to the field of sleepy walkers
Stoicism: The endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint; like playing videos games as little boy; Gabe exhibits this throughout the episode
Why didn’t Gabe tell Aaron about the walker/bodies on the roof?
Father Gabriel changed over the 6 year time jump, but how? Why? Will we see it?
Gabe vs. Mays: Was Gabe right? Does GOD give him permission?
Was Gabe being genuine with Mays or saying what he wanted to hear?
Giving Father Gabriel a free pass because GOD told him to?
Did Mays kill the people on the roof or the burned bodies at the cottage?
Never "holster" your gun this way...
Negan gets redemption, but not Mays
Is Gabe touched by GOD? He keeps lucking out
Emotional moments: Aaron’s facial expressions
Duane Jones Bourbon: NOT MORGAN’S SON! An homage to Actor from Night of the Living Dead. Super Troll brothers (Kirkman & Gimple) at it again!
Foreshadowing with the Skelehorse + rider?: Blue scarf looks like the ribbon on Strand's hat (FearTWD S6); Evokes memories of Rick Grimes
Aaron’s a good shit: contains all the goodness in Gabriel/Rick
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WE'RE BACK covering THE WALKING DEAD, again! In it's own weird way, #TWDx has been a reflection of where we are in society: It's the longest season of #TWD and has gone through quite the evolution. So it goes, this episode deals a lot with "rebuilding", but also "acknowledging" the past and reconciling the two.
We cut out a LOT from this episode! "...but where can one get the raw, unedited episode recordings," one might ask? Well look no further: for these and the chance to lend your insights in future recordings - all while supporting this #podcast - Click here!
Lydia’s voiceover, picking right up where we left off; Maggie kills the Walker Whisperer/Last of the Guardians/The Endling
Poor Chandler Riggs & Meeting baby Hershel: a little anticlimactic?
Maggie’s stories to Hershel
WE LOVE COLE, played by James Devoti: Replacement Dante? Romance for Aaron (reminders of Jesus)?
Elijah & Maggie’s weird relationship.
#Kelijah: a romance between Kelly and Elijah? or Throuple: #kelijaggie
Carol & Daryl drama: #CARYL contingent loses their minds over upcoming episode; Forgot about #CARZEKIEL; Dave mends broken hearts; Don’t break their friendship, it might break us; SEPARATE the character from the actor.
Eating baby Hershel
Kirkman & Gimple totally yanking both ours AND the cast's chains; empty promises; Super Troll Brothers; Michael Satrazemis is Toad
Fans biting Norman Reedus
Is Leah in a flashback? Nobody wants to see Norman Reedus’ kiss face.
Real fans don’t abandon their show
Maggie’s people
Carol owns up to Maggie: Confesses she #ReleasedTheNegan, but Maggie totally understands.
Silence the Whisperers/Whispers Into Screams
Maggie Rhee vs Hershel's Mother: wanting to be Glenn's avenger for Hershel
Coming around on Negan: it’s undecided; living in a community after paying your debt to society; Lydia, "Carol’s actions, right or wrong, her plan worked."
Filming during COVID: using shadows to your advantage; holding a boom mic properly; does camera distance improve the overall performance?
Cole’s awesome knife/sword: Frodo’s Sting.
Did you hear Aaron in the beginning of the episode? He and Gabriel are headed somewhere.
Maggie sees Negan in the leather jacket: can he hang it up for good? Is there a world in which Negan is "responsible" for Hershel?
James Devoti as "Beautiful Man #1" & Kobra Kai joins the #TWDUniverse a la Okea Eme-Akwari
Georgie is definitely NOT with The Commonwealth: Maggie’s been all over the place and Georgie last left to a "city out west"
TWD/Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul spin off? How about The Stand?
Is the assassin part of The Reapers? "Pope" ("Mays") could be Rickard Patrick. The Assasin "Paiges" himself (not to be confused with "Otising")
Dave fixes the Season 11 trailer
Will Gabriel meet "Pope" in the next episode? How will that scene go down? Who named them The Reapers?
Kelly and Elijah connection: Kelly finally feels PART of Team Family (O.G. Cast); when Maggie realizes Kelly is deaf.
What are the priorities? The-Here-And-Now or The Future?
Dave & Rachael have some bones to pick: Artillery effectiveness after 10 years.
Possible Hershel/Negan relationship: being responsible for a life (taken); "Eye Under an Eye"; Will Negan be Neganing?
"You want it Darker" by Leonard Cohen (covered by Anita Lester): more than just an overall mood, is there foreshadowing? Leonard Cohen's dark/sober interview.
If you are the dealer / I'm out of the game / If you are the healer it means / I'm broken and lame / If thine is the glory then / Mine must be the shame / You want it darker / We kill the flame
Magnified, sanctified / Be the holy name / Feel the fire, crucified / In the human frame / A million candles burning / For the help that never came / You want it darker
Hineni, hineni / I'm ready, My Lord HINENI = "Here I am" in Hebrew
There's a lover in the story / But the story's still the same / There's a lullaby for suffering / And a paradox to blame / But it's written in the scriptures / And it's not some idol claim / You want it darker / We killed the flame
You're lining up to prisoners / And the guards are taking him / I struggle with some demons / They were middle class and dean / I didn't know I had permission / To murder and to mend / You want it darker…
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We stroll further down the (Greek) "River of Sorrows" as we highlight what true cowardice looks like and what it might take for larger communities to survive. There's a tremendous amount of both contrasting events and philosophies and we're getting pretty nervous about what might happen should they collide. And, either way, things are looking fairly grim (and, for #MaggieRhee, seems like it's been nothing but dark for so long).
WE CUT OUT SO MUCH from this episode! It ranges from yelling at one another, haphazardly, to facts and details that just weren't captivating enough to make the finally cut (but we're undoubtedly sure you more hardcore fans will appreciate). To get that (and so much more), while supporting this #podcast, head here: https://ko-fi.com/post/DOWNLOAD-NOW-Unedited-Episode-144-TWD-11x02-Ac-O5O4613I9
Meg returns to ATL for Power Rangers con: visited some filming locations from The Walking Dead with Carrie Sagel Burns of (now defunct) Atlanta Movie Tours
Callback to Season 1: Daryl Dixon finds a note written on $100-bill from a child to their father, that resembles Rick Grimes’ promise to radio Morgan Jones at dawn.
Easter eggs: Duane Jones Whiskey (🙄), and Gorbelli Foods Company (where Tara Chambler’s father worked)
Maggie Rhee’s horrific story and what happened with Mays family (in Season 10c, "One More") are examples of the norm.
What are Negan's "bad memories", exactly?
Is trust building between Negan and Maggie, in the way he returns her pistol?
AMC Premier vs. AMC+ player.
The sharpest knife in the world cut off Cole’s hand and became embedded in his leg.
Goodbye Gage; not a coward just a terrified kid. Maggie did the same thing to Gage that Negan did to her.
Maggie is a changed woman: emotionally disconnected, purely mission-driven.
Gage's self-disposal method was intentional.
Father Gabriel calling Gage a coward is super troubling.
Too Much Information: Terrified Eugene Porter is giving us Chunk from Goonies vibes.
Yumiko doing the assessing.
Will the real Stephanie please stand up? Margot Bingham was credited as the voice in the Season 9 finale.
"His people": Was Elijah a former member of The Reapers (judging from his mask/weapons)?
What’s the game plan, now that they're in The Commonwealth?
Where is Connie and Virgil? Luke and Jules?
Approximately 29 days since Eugene and Co. set out to get help.
The mural in the tunnel represents the fall of society (pre & post apocalypse).
What makes a settlement safe/secure, the facility, itself, or its dwellers?
Acheron: the river of woes in Hades.
The Commonwealth's caste system.
Meridian: possible Neutral Zone
Meg The Geek has recruited @Aidan_Atkin_ into the cult of I Quit!
The time Mercer referenced The Articles of Confederation, The Constitution of The United States of America, and The Universal Declaration of Human Rights to welcome the gang to The Commonwealth.
Aliza J points out the writers are addressing current events. Eugenes in Cages with space blankets.
TEOTWAWKI = The End of The World As We Know It: a reference to Fear The Walking Dead's 3rd Season, represented in the Subway Mural, as well.
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We always say The Walking Dead Universe allows you to be the person you were meant to be. This episode spotlights what The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live has been trying to show us the entire time: The Walking Dead Universe allows couples to Become what they were meant to be, too, in all their unique forms. Jadishad her day and - with the help of Father Gabriel Stokes - Anne Stokes found grace.
🎬We left so much on the cutting-room floor, including a zesty pre-show, tons of material in the middle, and an insiders-only post-show. Stream the raw version of this episode by either tipping us on Ko-fi and/or joining a membership tier on either Ko-fi or Patreon.
Why we didn't receive screeners for the final two episodes: Father Gabriel's Return! We had just talked about Suddenly Seth in our Instagram group chat, last week, with a bunch of attendees of The Camp. Seth Gilliam's nickname is derived from the several amount of times we've seen him just show up (like God, he's everywhere) at conventions and around Senoia, GA, but never officially invited as a guest.
Video Game Adaptations to TV and Movies: There's a character in Fallout whose background story is eerily similar to that of Father Gabriel's (and Fallout came out first). We go into why video game adaptations were classically bad and why they're starting to be good now: obviously The Last of Us on HBO and touching on the TV series Halo on Paramount+ a bit, as well.
The Execution of Father Gabriel's Introduction: Sherrandy loved the way they cinematically introduced Gabriel, from starting at his feet, the crunching of the leaves as he stepped, and the silhouette that kept you guessing. Beats introducing another new character they're just going to kill off in the same episode.
Appreciating World Beyond Flashbacks: because some of us really loved that limited series and the flashes to Anne "Jadis" Stokes' confidant, Huck, was validating.
The Tension Between Maintaining Your Own Humanity and Saving Humanity: It's something Dave brought up in the last episode, to blank stares (mostly). The show further explores the possibility that maintaining one's own humanity might come at the expense of future generations. Rachael chimes in that one can certainly do both, which is what Michonne says out loud to Anne when the latter asks if they are going to leave The Civic Republic Military be. This is also something that came up, frequently, during our World Beyond Season One recap with Brains Gone Bad and Aim for the Head podcast.
The Last Light and Portland: It seems unfathomable to Sherrandy that the Civic Republic would stand up to the CRM, once the truth of what they've done is revealed, since the military has all this might. Dave asks and answers his own question: what would be the point of wiping out The CR, unless they had a backup plan in the form of Portland, whom they are now dangerously close to (even though the kids in World Beyond have probably already warned them that they are moving against them). Or smaller settlements, sure. The point is, that would rid The CRM of the CR.
The Beauty of Jadis' Story and Redemption: Watching Anne's story with Gabriel and Richonne taking her first/final confession was moving. When she finally admits that she should've died an artist, while showing flashbacks of her making art in the heaps and zooming in on the portraits of hers she commissioned for Maggie Rhee took us all emotionally by surprise. It's relatable: the struggle of working hard to make amends and taking the easy way out and doubling-down. It's easy to forget her story arc, especially a character who is not in the comic book.
Lighthearted Moments with Rick and Michonne: Touching again on their care-free nature, this episode. Rick is making up for lost time by wanting to get souvenirs for the kids, replacing the 'M' pendant she lost, and preparing the booze for later.
Gabriel and Anne Stokes: Thus begins the great debate over the depths of their connection. Dave heavily argues, effectively, that near the end of the flashbacks with he and she, that he married her (and she accepted). Bridget merely thinks he has love for her, especially within the context of them bonding over how they the sort of outcasts of our group of survivors in Season 9 of The Walking Dead. Rachael sort of thinks the same and breaks even with Gabriel being in love with Anne, but not so much the reverse. Sherrandy thinks the kiss between them was more of a goodbye to what might've been. Sherrandy brings up a good question: how did they even find each other? Dave responds: they both were visiting the spot where Rick met his "demise" on the anniversary of its occurrence and decided to meet each other there on an annual basis.
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Gabriel and Rosita Espinosa: credit to Takeerah's spoiler-ridden live tweeting of this episode at 3am, she suggested that this may have been the reason why Gabe felt he could no longer be with Rosita by the time they made it to The Commonwealth.
I guess we finally know why Gabe and Rosita were broken up in season 11 #theoneswholive
— Kera (Noir&Nerdy, TWD TOWL Podcast) (@ConnieDixon4Lyf) March 24, 2024
The Importance of Choice, but Rolling It Back: Even though she was so close to staying and being her true self with Gabriel, Anne pulls away and commits to upholding the last light with The CRM; however, making that choice means having to waste Father Gabriel. In the end, she doesn't do that, which is a reciprocation of Gabriel gesture of faith and love in the form of what would've been Rick's wedding ring to Michonne.
Rick and Michonne Weren't Married, but It Doesn't Really Matter: Gabriel informs the audience that Michonne and Rick were never actually married. Everyone agrees that marriage in the zombie apocalypse just means being together and surviving. Dave only brings this up because a certain contingent of fans has suffered severe online harassment when anyone seems to make this distinction. Why Dave even brings this up in the first place is that, as podcasters, these are the kinds of distinctions we try our best to get right; however, on top of it not really being that important, the harassment we've seen has been a factor in why we've never broached the topic.
Hell is Repeating We Can Do Anything: Sherrandy revisits the trauma (a la Fear The Walking Dead's final season) of telling the audience, repeatedly, what Richonne is capable of (spoiler alert: everything). Dave thinks the writers are intentionally getting you to doubt them, especially when you consider the bittersweet lyrics of Tony Bennett's The Good Life playing in the background in the scene following the title sequence: the song basically alludes that nothing good lasts. The Walking Dead Universe often finds a way to make that happen.
Beautiful Storytelling and The Fragility of Survival: Rachael praises Michael Satrazemis' ability to direct a great story. Dovetailing from nothing good lasts and we can do anything, will Rick falter once he sees The Echelon Briefing? It seems like even strong-willed 'A's like Command Sergeant Major Pearl Thorne fall in line once they do. Moreover, the way the camera zoomed in on Anne's portrait of Glenn Rhee, TWD's heart, might be foreshadowing tragedy. Through much childish laughter, Rachael also thinks the geysers around Yellowstone National Park are a foreshadowing of pressure being built up that will explode in the next episode.
Calcified Walkers and Gorgeous Cinematography: One thing we know Satrazemis is great at is incorporating great b-roll and thoughtful shots into the narrative to create excellent visual storytelling. All of it reminds Dave of his younger days, traveling the countryside and sleeping under the stars on top of a picnic table near Green River. Sherrandy ties this to The Last of Us when Joel Miller finally reunites with his brother, Tommy Miller, in Jackson. The appearance and explanation of the calcified walkers (a product of their environment) was such a treat.
They Were Lucky: Michonne muses on their encounter with the three survivors on Three Pines Trail and how not only how one of them managed to get caught in a snare, but why she and Rick aren't more cautious. Dave thinks that these people may have belonged to either Omaha or Campus Colony and were lucky enough to be away from it when the CRM destroyed it. Rachael immediately thought of Carl Grimes and how, even after all these years, walkers can get you with a single bite. We also absolutely loved Will Brill's humor in his role as Dalton, one of the three survivors (accompanied by Red and Tina), who peed himself when faced with the possibility of retribution for trying to take all of Richonne's stuff.
Clearing Up Timeline Confusion:
The opening scene deliberately contained no time signifier to keep you guessing as to whether Jadis actually enacted her contingency. In reality, it is She and Gabriel's initial encounter 5 years after the bridge collapse (and Rick's departure from TWD). The tell is Gabriel's facial hair.
All of the prior points relates to the 3 years ago meet-up, all of which are fine. This is where things become confusing. In the 2 years ago meet-up, Gabriel says, The group we were in conflict with [THE WHISPERERS], they compromised our walls. Food is scarce. Children are hungry [The very end of The Whisperers War, moving into the bonus episodes of Season 10]. He then he proceeds to ask for help, which causes Jadis to check-out, he apologizes, and gives her the ring. Dave lays out several reasons why this time placement is wrong (the long time span from the first encounter of The Whisperers all the way until the Beta's demise at the end of the war was definitely more than a year, plus the ages of Coco Espinosa, Judith Grimes and RJ Grimes), but the most airtight evidence was when Michonne left, which amidst the final throes of the conflict and took a year to recuperate from the Chlorine Gas. Even the most generous interpretation of events doesn't place what Gabriel describes as happening two years ago, but one year ago.
Had he not mentioned it there, and said that they were starving in the One Year Ago meet-up, it not only would've been correct, but would've heightened the tension when Jadis pulls a gun on Gabriel to tie up a loose end after he loses his cool and asks for help once more.
Satrazemis' Love Letter to FearTWD: The Three Pines gift shop was eerily reminiscent of McNeill's Bait and Beer (what Sherrandy refers to as Bill's - Bill McNeill) which had several mounted fish which reminded us of the singing Big Mouth Billy Bass that John Dorie had in Season 4. The whole place had a take what you need, leave what you don't vibe that we got from that series.
Yellowstone National Park and Here's Why You're Wrong: After ribbing Dave for saying that Three Pines Trail/Cabins/Gift Shop was near Yellowstone in Wyoming, he discovered that it makes complete sense and provided a map with annotations for the final edit of the episode. One interesting tidbit is that Yellowstone is just north of Bridger-Teton National Forest, which is reminiscent of Bridgers Terminal in New Jersey, which is all a play on Rick's final moments on TWD.
It Could've Ended Here(?): Save for (arguably) Episode 3, almost every single episode in the series was a film unto itself and could've ended the season/series. Dave disagrees though because, like the geyser, there is too much build-up to not want the next episode. It is definitely an example of another cool thing each episode did: the episodes were constructed in a way where the end of each episode could've happened somewhere near the end, but just kept going to give us more great story.
Blessing This Marriage in Advance: Gabriel's yearly pilgrimage to the site where Rick "met his demise" was a holy one. He was making holy water from the waters that would've been beneath the bridge. If the ring is a symbol of faith and love, and we know prayer starts with intent, then Father Gabriel blessed their union way ahead of the ring reaching Michonne's finger.
Will it Wrap-up in Six Episodes? Bridget expressed tremendous doubt while Dave reminds everyone that the other spin-offs somewhat managed to do so while adequately setting up their already announced Sophomore Seasons.
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Anne's Death Parallels Huck's: Michonne manages to drive an axe into Jadis' side, similar to how Jadis shivved Huck's side during their final fight in World Beyond.
Saving The People From the People: This prescient National Parks sign's message plays out, in its various forms, throughout the entire episode, most notably in the way it foreshadows Richonne's decision to inform The CR (the people) of The CRM's dark machinations.
Red's Red Gun: Even the look of Red's janky colored red gun was humorous. We (really don't, but it's funny to) think they somehow found the bucket of nail polish the kids used in World Beyond to power the raft they constructed to cross the Mississippi.
Looking After Oneself: Along with the toothpaste and Jadis waking up the lovebirds up like Paul "Jesus" Rovia did in Season 6, these nods are a great entry point into the overall sentiment it tried to impart on our survivors, which is how you can't save everyone. You can try to leave no man behind, but sometimes you have to prioritize saving yourself. Michonne, in particular, tried to impart this wisdom to Heath and he learned it in the hardest way possible in the very same episode. It also reminds us of a great conversation that we had with Benjamin Scotford of Just Keep Walking podcast. But, in the end, what does it all mean? Are they telling us that one of them will be forced to save themselves?
Sippin' Whisky While the World Starves: We enjoyed the good life Rick & Michonne were having, but the 3 survivors they meet are a reminder of the state of folks out in the wild. It transported us back to One More (TWD 10x19), wherein a tipsy (ironically enough) Father Gabriel and Aaron were drinking Duane Jones whiskey just before they meet Mays, who is an excellent reflection of the state of people who are out there for a little too long.
Jadis' Already Has A Day: the transliteration (from Old French) of Jadis name. Today was that day: the very day that she and Father Gabriel we supposed to meet was where she met her maker(s). The end result, though, is that she left this world fused with all her selves and finally became who she truly was meant to be.
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Originally Recorded: 2022.12.05
Including your submissions (which overlapped with many of theirs): Rachael, Sherrandy, and Bridget discuss their TOP 5 favorite episodes of The Walking Dead!
🛑STOP LISTENING and stream the UNEDITED version! It not only contains the UNCUT version of this podcast recording, but also our upcoming discussion on the TOP 5 WORST Characters on #TWD + a hilarious BONUS video!
Carl Grimes dies and even though Sherrandy knew it was coming (she binge-watched The Walking Dead in order to catch up with us), she still had an emotional breakdown.
Rachael: No Way Out (6x09)
Alexandria Safe-Zone's walls are breached and whether they were survivors or the original residents, everyone came together to protect their home.
Carl's eye is shot out and he and Rick Grimes have a heartfelt conversation about the value of both Alexandria and even its softer original residents.
Eugene Porter & Denise Cloyd really step-up.
Daryl Dixon blows up The Saviors he, Sasha Williams, and Abraham Ford encounter on the road.
Carol Peletier gets into a row with Morgan Jones over refusing to kill one of The Wolves he captures. Bridget notes that although she doesn't agree with Morgan's idea, she really appreciated that it ended up bearing fruit when his captive shows compassion towards Denise.
It was hard for everyone to not choose episodes from the early seasons; however, Bridget chose this episode because of some of the inter-personal struggles between Carol and King Ezekiel Sutton, as well as she and Daryl, along with some of the ratcheted tension and battle tactics/sequences.
It also moved the storyline along quite a bit after not enjoying much of The Whisperers story arc.
You don't have to enjoy whiskey to appreciate the calm that is present throughout most of the episode, but combined with the terror and suspense at the end, it makes for a pretty incredible vignette.
Even the beautiful cinematography appropriately contributed to the mood it was attempting to establish.
The terrifying manner in which Rachael almost loses one of her not-so-favorite characters, Father Gabriel Stokes, even gave her pause.
There were even a classic horror twist at the end, discovering Mays' chained-up twin brother.
In a single episode, we run the gamut of what The Walking Dead frequently evokes: calm moments, humor, found-family, tension, suspense, and horror.
Bridget mentions that this episode brought her right back to Rick's parlay with Philip "The Governor" Blake, sitting across the table drinking whiskey.
Even though it was largely a bottle episode, it didn't feel like one and could've easily have been an actual episode of TWD, rather than one of the bonus episodes.
Rachael: Consumed (5x06)
Beth is kidnapped by the residents at Grady Memorial Hospital and Rachael loves the way Daryl's & Carol's relationship continues to develop, in many ways.
Bridget mentions that this episode, as well as the ones prior and post, were strong contenders for her own Top 5 because it's one of her favorite story arcs.
Bridget: Claimed (4x11)
This episode is where Carl and Michonne's relationship truly blossoms. Rick realizes that he can't be both Carl's dad and best friend, so watching their shenanigans really makes him happy.
Michonne's & Carl's goofy conversation about drinking soy milk was the kind of light-hearted moment that we needed, even as it brings them right back to thinking about baby Judith Grimes and her unknown, yet seemingly terminal fate.
This episode also gives us more of Michonne's background by way of further conversations between she and Carl, while they're out clearing houses and Rick rests.
And speaking of Rick, he doesn't get to rest for very long as we witness an extremely tense, stealthy take down of some of The Claimers.
Sherrandy was going to place this on her list because it showed the kind of kid Carl wanted to be and how Michonne could be the kind of person that could help him achieve that desire.
NUMBER 3
Sherrandy: Clear (3x12)
Mainly chosen to further highlight the sweet dynamic between Michonne & Carl.
The gang move back to speaking about the latter half of season 4, recalling other sweet moments between Carl & Michonne.
Carol is at her wit's end and just needs a win, after The Whisperer war created a rift between she and Daryl (as well as many others, still).
Carol and Daryl literally go their separate ways (metaphorically and actually) and it's not 100% clear whether they are OK by the end of the episode.
Even though Dog chooses Carol at the beginning of the episode, he runs home to Daryl at the end.
Jerry and Carol have the most endearing scene.
Rachael really lets us in on how special she believes Daryl's & Carol's relationship really is... romantic or not, they would die for one another.
She also reminded us that this was the episode Talking Dead invited her on to, where she got to ask Melissa McBride a question.
Bridget: Seed (3x01)
Chosen mostly because it was exciting to explore the prison as a viable stronghold.
In the same breath, Bridget also mentions a mall is another exciting location to explore; however, Sherrandy mentions that when they did this on Fear The Walking Dead (210 Words Per Minute, 5x10), they noted that there were too many entry/exit points for people to attack.
Even tough the gang is a well-oiled machine, out in the wild, they are road-weary and Carl almost resorts to eating dog food.
And then there's, of course, Beth & Maggie Greene singing The Parting Glass.
This is also the same episode where they meet the inmates, too.
NUMBER 2
Sherrandy: Pretty Much Dead Already (2x07)
Mostly because Sherrandy believes Shane Walsh was right about opening the barn and taking out all the walkers Hershel Greene had been collecting in there, all this time.
Seeing a timid walker Sophia Peletier mirroring the way she was in life really screws with out heads as variants are now a thing and walker senators may or may not contain memories of their formerly living selves.
What Sherrandy loved most was how The Walking Dead is not afraid to kill children or even characters we love.
Though it is super hard to side with Shane given his lack of tact, it is easy to take Shane's side in the rearview given all that we know, now.
In a way, Carol and Daryl are at their strongest: Daryl knows Carol is trying to hunt down Alpha, even though she is lying and says she's attempting to track down Negan.
Other than seeing Morgan on the toilet in FearTWD's The Code (4x11), Rachael thought it was amusing to hear Carol say she had to take a leak.
Of course, the hilarious banter between Negan and Beta is pure gold.
Bridget: Days Gone By (1x01, Series Premiere)
As much as the knowledge of the origin of Zombies scared Bridget as a child, watching zombie movies was something she loved. She compares Rick waking up in the hospital to one of the best scenes in the movie 28 Days Later.
She also watched 28 Days Later in theaters in her early teens while staying with her dad and was terrified during the entire visit! Sherrandy also shares a very similar fear of vampires as a result of watching Salem's Lot.
About 10 years after watching 28 Days Later, she was utterly hooked in the same way watching The Walking Dead's pilot episode.
In defense of Morgan, he and Duane Jones hold a dear place in her heart as a result of this episode, giving Rick a chance and showing him Mercy. Everyone else chimes in with their love as well, but qualify that they didn't like the changes in Morgan and definitely didn't like him on FearTWD.
NUMBER 1
Sherrandy: The Next World (6x10)
It's probably one of the funniest episodes in The Walking Dead Universe where some of the sequences could easily be sped up with Benny Hill background music behind it.
Simultaneously, Sherrandy loved the touching way Carl led a walker Deanna Monroe to Spencer Monroe in order for son to finally put down and bury mother. Carl's explanation to Michonne on why he did it was icing on the cake and showed the wonderful man he could become.
In the pantheon of episodes on The Walking Dead, this one made her laugh and cry the hardest.
and, come on, Paul "Jesus" Rovia standing at the end of Rick & Michonne's bed is absolutely gut-busting.
Rachael: Tell it to the Frogs (1x03)
As much of a dick-bag Merle Dixon is, watching him suffer while chained up on the rooftop got you feeling a little bit for him.
Watching Carl's worry over Rick not coming back, after being away from him for so long.
Now that Rick is back, there's an enormous amount of tension between Lori Grimes and Shane.
Rachael's favorite part is when Shane takes out his frustrations by beating the ever-loving hell out of Ed Peletier.
Bridget chimes in about the jokes the ladies were telling as they were doing the laundry, just beforehand.
It's also one of the first episodes we really get to see Carol and the origin of her suffering, which eventually turns into her strength.
Would Carol have become the same bad-ass person had Sophia lived?
And, to top it all off, Glenn Rhee zooming past Rick & Morales in the Dodge Challenger R/T.
Shortly after Beth's devastating passing, we witness one of the strongest characters on the show, Tyreese Williams, finally let go after all the suffering he's endured.
After Noah is finally free from the clutches of Grady Memorial, he encounters his walker brother in their old neighborhood who happens to be the one to bite Tyreese.
We also discover hints of yet another horrible group of people called The Wolves, who happened to be the ones who decimated Noah's hometown.
Tyreese's fever dreams reflect all the awful people he's encountered, the spoiled fruits of his mercy, and how upside down this world this world has become even when he's tried so hard to be a beacon for change.
ICYMI, the radio announcer voice at the end of the episode as the gang are driving frantically back to save Tyreese's life, is none other than Andrew Lincoln.
Bridget attributes Tyreese's passing to a choice - as much as everyone is trying their hardest to save him - especially after his fever dream of watching both people from his present and even notions of what the future might've held, be crushed. To have his delusions say that it's not only OK for him to let go but better for him to is this unexpected kindness that translates, in reality, to him forgiving himself for letting go after holding on so tightly to - not only life, but - humanity, all this time.
We're the ones who live: watching Tyreese let go with calm, while everyone around him struggles to carry him is what this show is essentially all about - we go on whilst carrying the memory and meaning of those who are left behind.
