‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘The Calm Before’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

I will never forget the night of October 23, 2016. For on this night, I had gathered with a group of friends to watch the season seven premiere of The Walking Dead to learn exactly who was going to die at Negan’s hands and well, this ended up being quite the devastating affair. For I watched my friend Kerri burst into tears the instant Lucille came down upon Abraham’s head, and I also watched my best friend Shae storm out of the room once Negan turned his attention to Glenn and the uncomfortable nature of that evening, is something that one simply never forgets because we all shared in the horror of watching the show go to some supremely bold and ugly places.
 
If anything ‘The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be’, was a milestone episode in its own right, because it was really the last time the series outright chose to go to the darkest places imaginable within this universe, and while there were more characters to exit in the years to come, and more sorrowful moments, none of them were as uncomfortable or as jarring as that particular tale, until last night that is. For ‘The Calm Before’, once again brought the audience to some disturbing places and what made this story so jarring and so powerful, was the sheer fact that it pulled such a feat off in the most unexpected way imaginable, since this particular episode started out as quite the uplifting and joyous affair.
 
After all, this was it, the Fair was in full swing and a beautiful speech from King Ezekiel about unity and bringing Rick and Carl’s vision to life was only further enhanced by the fact that the leaders of all the major communities were finally able to meet and make peace, thanks to an earnest apology from Michonne, and they were also able to make a pact regarding the new threat waiting for them in the woods. Which meant at long last, the Charter that Ezekiel so firmly believed in, would finally receive the important and symbolic signatures that it was lacking and it was quite beautiful and inspiring to see everyone finally come together in this fashion and finally work together as one, and the wonder and awe of this tale didn’t end with this magnificent moment.
 
For shortly after the Charter was signed, we were treated to a solid look at the Fair and for the first time in a supremely long time on the series, we saw a taste of everyday life on display once again. In fact, it was jarring in all the right ways to see people laughing, and loving and enjoying themselves once more and there was finally a sense of community present on the show and it honestly felt as though I was watching a completely different television series for a moment there, since people were filled with outright joy and serenity and this was just beautiful to see, for this really was what Carl and Rick had envisioned all those years ago. But alas, these wonderful moments simply weren’t meant to last. For while people were enjoying a little fun for a change, a monster walked amongst them. 

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​Because Alpha had intercepted a wagon outside of town, and stole the clothes and the scalp of a woman who was on her way to the Fair from Hilltop and this new look, gave Alpha the opportunity to walk about the Kingdom without anyone noticing her or paying her mind, and while it was incredibly fascinating and unsettling to see her meander about the Fair unnoticed, and express disdain at the Kingdom’s way of life, we all knew she had come to this place for one reason, and one reason alone; to bring Lydia back to the rest of the Whisperers. But in a surprise twist, Lydia finally confronted Alpha about the abuse she inflicted upon her and told her mother to basically pound sand and leave her alone and dearest mother complied, fading into the night and that’s, when this episode took quite the downward turn.
 
Because Daryl and a small group that included Carol and Michonne had gone off to investigate what happened to the people of the wagon that Alpha attacked, and they quickly found themselves surrounded by the Whisperers and eventually, Daryl and Alpha had a little chat wherein she told him, this conflict was coming to its end, and that borders were now drawn between their two people and to know where that border started, his group merely needed to talk a walk north and what they found…was downright devastating. For while she was within the walls of the Kingdom, Alpha saw to it that ten people were kidnapped and beheaded, and had their reanimated skulls placed upon pikes to mark the Whisperers territory and the grand reveal of Alpha’s demented decision revealed that several prominent characters had met their end at the hands of the Whisperers and we were forced to unceremoniously say farewell to Enid, Tara and Henry…
 
Yet, while this is a series where people die and die often, it’s the deaths that happen in cruel fashion that tend to get to us and that’s precisely what made this ending so powerful and so unsettling. For that trio of characters, and everyone else who was placed upon those pikes deserved better, and even Negan knew better than to mess with children and teenagers, but clearly all bets are off when it comes to Alpha and this brand of cruelty and savagery more or less confirms that Alpha and her zealots have left their humanity completely behind and well, this is hands down one of the darkest moments the series has ever sent our way, one that rivals if not surpasses Negan’s cruelty and now we know just how far the Whisperers are willing to go when pressed and that makes them supremely dangerous and supremely terrifying.
 
But for now, there is a fragile peace and there are other concerns that come about from this devastating twist. After all, Hilltop is once again devoid of leadership and they will need guidance in the days to come since that small community will undoubtedly be left utterly shattered by their losses and I’m also worried about Carol to be honest. Granted, she’s as tough as they come and she’s endured some incredible hardships in her time on the series, but this is the second time now she’s lost a child, and the heartbreak present on her face when she realized that her surrogate son’s head was stop that pike, has me worried that Alpha has finally cracked one of the most hardened characters on the show. Either way, the darkness has returned when it comes to this series, and it may only get worse from here. For when an enemy doesn’t value life in the slightest and is willing to go that far to disturb and unsettle their foe, they’ll do whatever it takes to ‘win’ and that can only mean that more heartbreak awaits us in the future since Alpha has her first victory, and it is only a matter of time before she demands more…

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