‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Out of the Ashes’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1105 of ‘The Walking Dead’.
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Over the course of its eleven-year run, the AMC series, The Walking Dead, has cemented itself as one of the finest horror stories to ever hit the airwaves and it accomplished this accolade, by way of outright quality writing. Because every single episode of this incredible zombie story, has featured scripts that draw us in and engage us by way of quality scares and fascinating commentary on our world or through compelling storylines that grow the characters in a unique manner. But above all else, where this series truly shines from a writing perspective, is in its ability to juggle multiple storylines. For this series does boast a massive ensemble cast of characters and every last one of them has been nurtured through 'B-side' stories and ironically, the push to give them all quality screen time and appropriate growth in doing so, was born out of the show’s desire to give the audience a moment to breath and process the terror they’ve just seen.
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If anything, that latter element of the series is of note today, simply because showrunner and head writer Angela Kang, decided somewhere along the way that the final season of this series would be the perfect time to take that particular strength to a whole new level by trying something bold and new with it. By say… seeing how many compelling and complete storylines the series could squeeze into a single episode. For the next episode of this epic saga, ‘Out of the Ashes’, offers no less than four complete storylines and believe it or not, this ambitious plan outright worked through and through. Since each one offered us something unique and dynamic and fascinating and each storyline found a way to grow the characters in a compelling and logical manner and well, of those four storylines, perhaps the best one to start with is the one involving Negan and Maggie.

For this is the first time we’ve caught up with them since their harrowing escape from the Reapers and when we meet up with them here, they’re amid quite the debate. Because they’ve reached the safe-house/rendezvous point that the others are supposed to join them at, but sadly… they are the only ones who have completed this leg of the journey. Which led to a fascinating and spirited debate between the two of them, as to whether they should take whatever supplies were handy and head home or wait for their friends, and well, that ugly debate made it clear that something incredible was happening between Negan and Maggie. In that, they were starting to figure out how to work together as a team and be honest with one another and use that honesty to push one another toward common ground, and that was fascinating to watch play out. Since Maggie’s disdain for Negan made it appear as though death was coming for the former leader of the Saviors at her hands. But now they know they complement one another and can use their differences to everyone's advantage and that really is quite incredible, and it was nice that this segment ended with more survivors of that assault, arriving at the safe-house.

However, while those two hashed out their differences in a spirited manner, back home in Alexandria, we came to learn that growing up without parents in the apocalypse is damn difficult, regardless of how strong one might be. For Judith Grimes really found herself missing her mother in this story, and the cruelty of other kids her age, made that longing worse, since she desperately wanted her mom to be there to teach those kids respect. But above all else… it put Michonne top of mind, and it left Judith worried that she would never see her mother again. But thanks to the kindness of Rosita, Judith found some temporary peace since Rosita helped her to understand how to keep the good memories of those, we love, alive in our hearts at all times and in the end, this plot thread was just sweet through and through. Since it took the time to remind us of the importance of family and how much they mean to us and guide us, and it was just lovely to see Rosita and Judith bond in this manner and see Judith find strength.

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Yet what’s wild is that the positivity of this episode didn’t end there, for there was also joy, to be found within the borders of the Commonwealth. For Eugene and his friends finally were allowed to walk within its walls and were assigned their new jobs in this strange place, and well… rather than go with the norm and become functional members of this undiscovered country, most of them (since Yumiko went to reunite with her brother) opted to do whatever was necessary to help their friends back home. Which meant they needed to communicate with Alexandria post haste and that allowed for Eugene and Ezekiel and Princess to come together and make use of Stephanie’s connection with Eugene, to distract all the guards, including Mercer, so Eugene could radio home. A plan that mostly worked since he was indeed able to make contact. But alas, they did get into some hot water over this, but Stephanie’s ties to the community might save them in the end, since she did call in a favor to the mysterious Lance Hornsby. The kind that will apparently keep the group from being exiled back into the world of the dead. 
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However, while it was nice to enjoy some positive and relaxed and fascinating character growth moments, what would an episode of this series be without some fine examinations on the human condition? A feat that was accomplished by way of Aaron and Carol’s storyline. For they took Lydia and Jerry with them back to the remains of Hilltop in the hopes of finding useful items to secure the walls of Alexandria and what they uncovered while they were there was difficult to say the least. For some of their own soldiers from the Whisperer War wandered about in this burnt-out husk, reanimated from death because everyone scattered following Alpha’s harrowing attack, never giving them the chance to be saved from this indecency. Plus, they also encountered something they didn’t expect to see… Whisperers. Yes, that’s right. Members of the enemy they worked so hard to defeat were herding walkers in this tiny little place and well, that revelation brought out the worst in Aaron.

Because he was terrified of seeing a ruthless enemy regain a foothold in this world and that motivated him to go to extremes to uncover whatever plans this offshoot group of Whisperers were cooking up. To the point where he outright used torture tactics and a walker bite to coerce answers that were never going to come out of his prisoner’s mouth. But what mattered more here, is that Aaron indulged so deep in the fear within, that Carol needed to step in and stop him, so that he wouldn’t begin to lose himself as she did and that thankfully pulled him off of the proverbial ledge. For he realized that this wasn’t him in the slightest and he was better than these kinds of actions and his decision to return to the light, paid off in spades. Because that Whisperer revealed, shortly after conducting surgery on his afflicted hand, that Connie was alive and out there, giving everyone hope that they could quickly find her. But before that search can begin, one must reflect upon the majesty of this storyline and how it hammered home that we cannot give into fear or anger, or we risk becoming that which terrifies us.

In the end however, this really was quite the ambitious TWD tale. Because this writer is hard pressed to think of another episode from days gone by that featured these many storylines in a single episode. But this one pulled it off. Because everything here was engaging and powerful and poignant and likely important for the future of this final season and well, a round of applause needs to be extended to writer LaToya Morgan and director Greg Nicotero, for bringing this complex vision to life in a seamless and compelling manner and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this particularly packed tale… it is definitely safe to say that we are all extremely excited and nervous about what comes next. For it would seem a reunion with Connie is in the cards at last since the group is ready to go get her and there might be hope for a better tomorrow for Alexandria. Since Eugene is fighting for them within the walls of the Commonwealth, and that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode a difficult one for certain. Since this is the first time in ages we’ve felt hope for this group, and if Daryl can figure out how to handle the Reapers… that hope can last. Until next time.

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