Monsters

I admit that this wasn't one of the best episodes, but it's weird how the rating is so low. This episode mostly suffers from how it doesn't make many new revelations and can come off as filler. It's still a good episode because the atmosphere and characters are great. Here we have Maggie allowing Gregory to go back into their community as well as a fight between Jesus and Morgan. If you're thinking that I'm only saying know most of these plot points because the episode of "The Talking Dead" discusses them...well you'd be right. It's hard to keep up with all the characters okay?

While it was pretty brief, this really did have some graphic violence in it. Daryl is as cool as ever and I want to tell you something about him. He was created just for the show and wasn't in the comics. The funny thing is that he's portrayed so well in the show that the actual creators have said they don't want him introduced as the character is so well established in his own continuity. Luckily, we get some fights with the walkers as well as the saviors. This season is moving kind of slow, but it's still good. ***

This is embarrassing. Did everyone forget how guns work? In the last 3 episodes no one reloaded a gun, not a single time, apparently there's at least a thousand bullets in every magazine now. It's utterly embarrassing how badly written these last 3 episodes were, now I finally remember why I stopped watching this show four years ago, they turned a show about harsh survival into a show about street gangs. I guess I'll watch this season for the sake of story hoping next seasons are better.

One of the things that I think this show has struggled to over the last season and a half is decide how to deal with sending characters off when the time is right. When the info for the episode states "unintended consequences", I naturally thought that there would be at least 1 major death. Eric was of some importance, considering he's Aaron's boyfriend, but I guess I just didn't feel a serious emotional connection to him. So in a way, I guess the episode was a letdown in terms of consequences (with deaths). Other than that, this was another fast paced episode that moved the Savior conflict along a little bit more. But why are we waiting 3 episodes to see what happened to Father Gabriel?

So I guess bringing Morales back didn't turn out to be anything more than a brief but important cameo. He did seem to get inside Rick's head by claiming that he's a changed and violent man since they left Atlanta. I have a feeling, especially seeing the reactions to Daryl's kills tonight, the idea of killing vs letting the Saviors live is going to be the main theme of the season. To me, it sure seems like we are gearing up for a Rick and Daryl fight. And perhaps that's not a physical fight but more of a yelling match featuring the two, but it's still something that could be a pivotal point in the season.

Speaking of pivotal, it looks like Carol, Ezekiel, and crew got ambushed at the end of tonight's episode. Now see that could lead to some actual consequences next week. But it is about time the Saviors take back one of these wins that the Alexandrians keeps on getting. And to be honest, the whole idea of trying to keep all of these Saviors alive is not exactly the smartest idea. So I definitely don't blame Morgan and Co. for not agreeing with the rest of the crew. And actually Morgan did a little more than not agree, he full blown fought Jesus. Who knows if that was even Morgan under there, considering he seemed to be under a sort of trance.

Overall, it wasn't the emotional breakthrough episode that I thought persay, but there were some nice moments, especially with Rick's continuing internal conflict about the group's ultimate plan going forward. Maybe next week will be that big week.

7.2/10

Ezekiel and his troops travel through the woods on the way to a Savior outpost. They kill several groups of enemies along the way, and sustain no casualties. After they arrive, Carol helps to sweep the compound, leaving no apparent threats. Suddenly, though, heavy gunfire comes from the main building, cutting down the Kingdom's soldiers.

Meanwhile at the office building outpost, Rick is held at gunpoint by Morales. The two men converse, discussing how their lives have changed and criticizing each other's choices. As Rick tries to get through to the man, Daryl sneaks in behind him and kills him with a crossbow bolt to the head. When Rick asks Daryl if he knew who it was, Daryl say yes, but it doesn't matter. Suddenly, the Savior reinforcements Morales called arrive, attacking the building in force.

Elsewhere, the combined Hilltop and Alexandrian forces are escorting about 30 captured and shackled Saviors who had surrendered after the battle at the satellite outpost. Morgan and Jesus argue, as Morgan still believes that all of the Saviors should be killed. This eventually leads to a fight, after which Morgan leaves the group. Jesus proceeds with his plan to take the prisoners to the Hilltop.

Gregory, having stolen Gabriel's vehicle and fled from the Savior Sanctuary, returns to the Hilltop, where he is questioned by Maggie as he stands outside the locked front gates. The man, ever a politician, insists that he had not meet Negan in secret, but instead had acted purely in the interests of the Hilltop community. Even though Maggie knows that he is lying, she eventually allows him to enter. Just afterward, Jesus arrives with his prisoners. As planned, he talks Maggie into allowing the Saviors to live. They are to be locked up in several trailers at the edge of the community.

The Survivors manages to defeat the Savior reinforcements, and he takes the baby girl he'd found and gives it to Aaron, who is grieving after his boyfriend Eric succumbed to his gunshot wound. Aaron promises to return the child to the Hilltop. Rick and Daryl then question a surrendering Savior, who tells them that the guns they are seeking have been moved to Gavin's compound. Daryl shoots the man anyway, much to Rick's shock.

"Monsters" delves into the ethical and moral dilemmas that permeate the fabric of "The Walking Dead." This episode seamlessly continues the intense action from "The Damned" but shifts its focus slightly to examine the consequences of the characters' decisions and the blurring lines between right and wrong. The title itself serves as a thematic exploration of what it means to be a monster in a world where the lines between hero and villain are increasingly ambiguous.

One of the episode's most poignant narratives involves the moral conflict within Ezekiel as he leads his group in the fight against the Saviors. His unwavering optimism and belief in achieving victory without loss come to a head in a tragic climax that challenges his ideals and the realities of war. This contrast between hope and despair is a recurring theme, exemplified by Ezekiel's journey from confident king to a leader confronted with the harsh consequences of his choices.

The dynamic between Rick and Morales reaches a crescendo, offering a moment of reflection on how far Rick has come and the man he has become since the apocalypse began. The resolution of their encounter, swift and brutal, underscores the season's exploration of survival at the cost of one's moral compass. This theme is further explored in the interactions between Jesus and Morgan, as they clash over the treatment of Savior prisoners. Their conflict represents a broader debate within the group about mercy, justice, and the necessities of war, highlighting the internal struggles that complement the external battles.

"Monsters" also revisits the theme of redemption through the character of Daryl, who takes a pragmatic but morally questionable stance in the fight against the Saviors. His actions, particularly towards the end of the episode, serve as a stark reminder of the personal toll the conflict has taken on each character, forcing them to confront the question of whether the ends justify the means.

In sum, "Monsters" is a powerful examination of the moral complexities of war in a post-apocalyptic world. It challenges characters and viewers alike to consider the cost of survival and the sacrifices necessary to maintain one's humanity in the face of relentless adversity. The episode adeptly balances action with introspection, pushing the narrative forward while delving deeper into the emotional and ethical landscapes of its characters.

Before this episode had even come out users had rated it a unfair 6.4/10 just because they can't stop submitting their one star reviews.

The one star reviews are absolutely pointless because not one episode of the walking dead should deserve less than a 6 star rating because of the amount of work done for the special effects and make-up as well as the acting.

Most one star reviews come from males aged under 18 who blindly tag along with the negativity surrounding the show just so other under 18 males can agree with their reviews. The negativity which is mostly based on unreal expectations is dominating the review section of each episode.

The one star reviews need to stop and IMDb users need to just watch the show and enjoy it without searching for flaws and writing an unfair and dishonest review

Monsters may not have been the best episode of the walking dead or even better than average but it was still an hour of entertaining television nonetheless.