‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Faith’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1122 of ‘The Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular moment in a story revolving around people who are oppressed that is supremely satisfying and enjoyable… is the moment when those very people, finally band together and decide to rise up against the evil that is oppressing them. For seeing that in print or on screen, just sends one’s spirit soaring. Since it reminds us that evil will never truly win the day and that people… are capable of stunning acts of good when they truly apply themselves to the right side or the right cause. But while that does indeed prompt us to perk up in our seats in the theater or lean forward as we watch this play out on television… or fist pump when we get to that page, there’s a fascinating twist when it comes to this particular moment.
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In that, we rarely see the true genesis point of rebellion. It’s always just this collective and unspoken decision, where people just suddenly seem to understand that evil bad, fighting good. Which in the end, cheapens the experience. Because then it’s just a push to get to the finish line and give the audience what they want… rather than really show them… what it is that really prompts people to rise up and fight against an injustice in the world and that is why this week’s episode of The Walking Dead, is of note. For ‘Faith’ a story that explores what motivates people to finally do the right thing, and what helps them to find faith in the cause and it accomplished these feats… by teaching us why people don’t magically and collectively decide to rise up. 

Because they had every reason in this tale to do so. After all, life was rough in Alexandria. Since everyone was breaking their backs to prepare the next stage of tracks for the Commonwealth, and everyone saw the cruelty on display. Since they had Annie, a pregnant woman, hefting rocks when that was the worst idea possible for a woman with child. Not to mention, beatings and fear were a regular thing at the ‘workplace’. But despite seeing that constantly and despite the fact that others here had even fought against the Commonwealth… there was no desire to rise up and fight. There was only fear. Fear of the raw power in front of them and fear that said power would end lives, including those of the heroes. 

Not to mention, things weren’t much better in the Commonwealth. Because while Yumiko was doing her best to defend Eugene in a court of law, it quickly became apparent that this was an outright sham trial. Since the judge only really listened to the needs of the prosecution and even putting Pamela Milton on the stand yielded no results regarding Yumiko’s plan to properly expose Pamela and motivate an uprising. Because while Pamela was indeed made the fool on the stand, by spouting utter nonsense and bulls*it as only a politician can do… which did indeed inspire fire from the gallery and in the streets. It still wasn’t enough. For the Army of the Commonwealth stood by their leader and inspired fear once again, the kind that would not bring forth justice and freedom.

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Which is where the central theme came into play. Because if seeing the trouble in front of people point blank isn’t enough to inspire… then different measures must be taken. Such as exposing the true cruelty and ugliness of the oppressor in a dynamic and powerful manner… through sacrifice. Which is what Negan did here. Because what he and others were trying to do wasn’t working, so he put himself in harm’s way in the hopes of finally inspiring everyone to see how cruel and disgusting the Commonwealth was and… it worked. Since the Warden also wanted Annie to die with her husband, and seeing a future family being put up for execution was enough for one soldier to lay down his arms, and with an assist from Daryl and his roving band of warriors… the point was taken, and inspiration and faith took root.
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But that’s not the only way that inspiration can come into play. Because sometimes all it takes to really make people understand that the right thing to do is to rise up and fight… is to call the right people to the carpet on their inaction. Which is what Yumiko did here. Because she knew that without Mercer, there would never be freedom or safety, just Emperor Milton’s little fiefdom, and that prompted her to stand face to face with Mercer, and point out the need to put an end to this madness for the sake of a better tomorrow… and that he needed to be part of that charge since so many believed in him… and wouldn’t you know it? Mercer listened. For shortly after an impassioned plea from Eugene, he was found guilty of a joke of a crime, and scheduled for execution, or so it seemed. Since Mercer made sure to free Eugene and let him know… that it was time to f*ck s*it up.

Which made… for such a satisfying ending. Because let’s be honest, these final eight episodes have been brutal in nature. Simply because the Commonwealth has beat our heroes to their knees, as evidenced by Maggie’s breakdown here and how others have started to falter under the weight of oppression. So, to see Negan inspire and see Rosita even go the extra mile to show the crowd how it’s done… alongside watching Mercer finally have his fill of this nonsense as well… was about as wonderful as it gets. And it would seem that the fight against Pamela is going to be quite epic in nature, since now all of Alexandria is ready to rise up, as will a fair chunk of the military and who knows, perhaps Aaron’s group, one now refreshed with Luke and his love… have something up their sleeves as well. 

Either way… this is it. We are now in the home stretch for this dynamic and iconic series and well, what better way to end it, than with a battle for the ages, one where perhaps at last, the past will be put to bed and tomorrow becomes the focus and where the show can finally answer the question… are we as a species worth saving? Which is going to make the wait for next week’s episode about as painful as it gets. Because this is something we’ve been waiting a long time for, and it will indeed be interesting to see… how our heroes take the fight to a place that is designed to be a fortress for a monster as the fight to free the Commonwealth finally gets underway. Until next time.   

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