Margaux and I discuss last night’s talky episode of The Walking Dead.
Trevor: The Walking Dead is suffering from what I call Sons of Anarchy syndrome, where every single episode is overlong because the showrunners know that the network will never say no to them. “Sing Me a Song” was emblematic of this, and could have used a heavier hand in editing, but I actually kind of liked it. (It sucks that that’s the most enthusiastic praise I can summon for the show now; I remember at the start of season five when you had to talk me out of a five-star rating for “No Sanctuary.”) I think the episode’s success is due entirely to the unexpected chemistry between Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Chandler Riggs. What did you think of it?
Margaux: We’re in agreement that last night’s “Sing Me a Song” was actually kind of good, but I didn’t think it was because of Negan and Carl – both of whom could of exploded by the end and it wouldn’t of affected me one bit, it would actually make the show better. The episode’s biggest strength is something I’ve bitched about for the entirety of this season, they managed to cut between various storylines to keep the plot moving forward. And it for once, The Walking Dead didn’t have this plodding cloud hanging over everything. Even with the bloated run time (they honestly shouldn’t be allowed to have another 90 minute episode till they can prove they can manage more than one episode in a row of being called “oh, this is kind of, sort of okay”), things kept moving – with varying degrees of success, but that’s true of any ensemble drama.
Trevor: I agree that it was a much more focused episode, but I can’t believe we don’t agree about Negan and Carl! Man, I could have watched a whole episode of just their conversation in Negan’s bedroom.
Margaux: Yikes, no. Negan is like a black sheep uncle you’ve heard tales of, his mild sexism and utter badassness, and also his checkered past. Finally, BSU (black sheep uncle) shows up when you’re 12 or so and asks you: how old you are, if you’re down to find some sex workers, and can he borrow some money from you? That’s who Negan is. But Negan truly is the audience surrogate when called Carl a “serial killer in the making” in response to Carl telling him he murdered his Mom. Um, word Negan. Hella word.
Trevor: I will say this, though: I don’t think the writing here is doing Morgan any favors. As it is, Negan has two speeds: grin and threaten (with an unhealthy dose of fat-shaming jokes that don’t help the character). But I liked it anyway. Maybe I’m looking for things to like in this season, but at the end of the day, I don’t care because for once I enjoyed an episode of The Walking Dead more than I rolled my eyes at it.
Margaux: I almost feel bad for JDM (then I remember all the money he’s probably making and stop) because the way he’s written, he’s basically another Abe with all the cheese ball one-liners. Except he uses lethal force. But only when he feels like it? I feel like Negan was a more focused character in the comic books, and I hate to bring up that argument, but Negan has done a lot on The Walking Dead so far, but being scary isn’t really one of them – and that was quite literally the ONLY expectation I had for the character. I think the one moment that did work for me was when he hit on Olivia after he negged her, it played right into what lots women (and men) have said about JDM’s turn as Negan, he’s too attractive to be intimidating. It works for Jamie Dornan in The Fall, but that’s only because he has that whole “dead behind the eyes” things down pat.
Trevor: I haven’t read that far in the comics, but based on how the show turned badass comics Andrea into supremely frustrating television Andrea, I’m not surprised to hear you say that. One thing Negan does that I find very effective is making people hold his bat. It’s a solid power move.
Margaux: It’s consistently the best and most subtle power move, and it’s layered in an interesting way. Really thought Carl was going to be stupid enough to swing it.
Trevor: Okay, let’s switch gears and talk about something we might be able to agree on: Gabriel didn’t make me want to tear my eyes out! It’s so nice to see Seth Gilliam given something to do besides be the worst. I like that he never raised his voice to Spencer, and just calmly got out of the car. It was a quiet, nicely done moment.
Margaux: You know you’re fucking up in life when FATHER GABRIEL has to tells you you’re being a shit and then peaces out you, on the side of the road. He’d rather be around zombies then Spencer’s dumbass, and you know what, I dig it. I ship it. Whatever the kids are saying. Spencer has got to die soon, right? I mean, I felt like that SUPER awkward fight between him and Rosita was essentially Spencer eulogizing himself. It also smacked of divorced parents arguing at their kids birthday in front of the guests. Un-com-for-table.
Trevor: Spencer needs to look at the survival statistics for people who have spoken out against Rick (spoiler alert: it’s zero). I understand why he hates Rick, but his argument doesn’t hold water. Correlation isn’t causation and all that.
How did Eugene work for you? I gotta be honest, he is really grating on me. His robotic speaking style sounds like someone wrote a parody of a human, and is unfortunately in line with Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory, so I resent him for making me think of that horrible show.
Margaux: I feel bad for Eugene, and for the actor who plays him, they have no idea what do with him anymore other than to have other characters berate and yell at him, tell him he’s useless and a fool. He was gonna fix up a sweet ass boombox, that’s not useless! There is something to the bullet making storyline, but they hadn’t revisited it in sooooooooo long, I literally said, “OH YEAH, BULLETS!” when they go back to the…production facility (for a lack of a better word).
Trevor: I’ll give The Walking Dead points for picking that thread back up, because I was certain they had forgotten about it.
Margaux: Don’t give them credit for something THEY SHOULD BE DOING. They set up that plot point, not us, they SHOULD’VE revisited this sooner instead of wasting half a fucking season doing nonsensical one-offs NO ONE WANTED. I digress, carry on…
Trevor: It’s nice seeing the revolution fomenting so quickly, but I wonder if it’s going to lead anywhere, because, as I’ve said before: Jeffrey Dean Morgan is in the opening credits. He’s already said he’s going to stick around “for a long time.” So how long is this buildup going to be? I guess I should just focus on what I liked.
Margaux: “A long time” means his contract is already sealed for season 8, and we don’t know to what capacity “a long time” is. All I know is that I wouldn’t be mad at a Negan backstory episode, if anything, I think it’d go a long way to re-establishing his character as terrifying and unpredictable because this episode didn’t do that. Not at least till the very end, and even then, that was more creepy Hand that Rocks the Cradle type shit. Carl MOWED DOWN two of Negan’s men with a gun he shouldn’t have had in his possession, and he’s still breathing by episodes end. Which sort of rings a little false, especially in the face of Negan’s many, many rules that usually end with someone being dead. He doesn’t even cut off Carl’s dumb hair (my choice of punishment), all he does is make Carl expose his gross ass non-eyeball and shittily sing “You Are My Sunshine” while Negan practices his backswing. All funny, none scary.
Trevor: You and I are no strangers to disagreement (which I think makes for more interesting reviews – all six of you readers should tell me if you agree), but I think this is the first time where we both liked the episode, but for pretty different reasons. I still think it’s a four-star installment, if for no other reason than sheer watchability and surprisingly economic storytelling (still too long, though). Are you with me? As always, I’m open to debate.
Margaux: We have different definitions of “watchability” because to me, that means I’d watch again. And I honestly never, ever feel like revisiting any of the episodes with the exception of season 1, which I’ll fight anyone who doesn’t think that season is straight up flawless.
Trevor: Oh, Jesus, I’m not going to rewatch this either, but when it was on I enjoyed it. I need to clarify this: this is the last time you and I will ever see “Sing Me a Song.”
Margaux: Hahaha okay, we are on the same page then. Yes, this was watchable in the sense that I didn’t groan 3,455 times because suddenly everyone on the show forgot how to fight, or it was another goddamn morality navel gaze. So yeah, to that end, “Sing Me a Song” cleared that threshold. And I think they even set up some good intrigue with Jesus sneaking into the Saviors compound at the end and Daryl seeing him. Do you think he’s the one who slipped Daryl the note? By the way, if I have to fucking watching M.F. and goddamn forgettable wife share anymore pathetic smoke breaks, I WILL MURDER MYSELF.
Trevor: If that was Jesus who slipped Daryl the note, he’s got some girly-ass handwriting.
4/5
“Great
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