‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ Recap – ‘Become’

3/25/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Danai Gurira and Andrew Lincoln as Michonne and Rick Grimes in Episode 105 of ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ – ‘Become’. (Photo Courtesy of Gene Page/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.

It is definitely safe to say, that the hit AMC series, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, is offering up some of the most ambitious storytelling for the franchise in years. For not only is the show taking the time to put Rick Grimes and Michonne through the wringer emotionally and challenge them in ways they’ve never been challenged before, but the series is also eager to examine core aspects of our world and society that the franchise hasn’t dug into before. Such as what is creating the wanton madness that people seem to be succumbing to, and how we can stop that on a more personal level in our lives.

Which would be plenty for the audience since we could pour over that for months and years on end. But this ambitious series isn’t even remotely done with its examinations regarding the troubles of the world right now, and its possible fixes, as evidenced by last night’s tale. For ‘Become’ was a story that flat out pondered upon, what would us everyday folks need to do, to push back against the lies, and the rhetoric that are happening at the highest level, and put a stop to it? Because it is not enough to change one heart and one mind at a time, we need this to end, so we can finally move forward in this, the 21st Century, and well… what it offered regarding that was fascinating.

After that is… we enjoyed the wonder of a love story. Because this episode picked up a little while after last week’s tale, wherein we came to learn that Rick and Michonne had made some strides in their voyage east. For they made their way to Wyoming and clearly, they were reconnecting as a couple. For the laughter was returning to their relationship, as were the endless smiles that spoke to a connection that only true love can provide. Plus, as they healed emotional wounds and reconnected, they also discovered how to be heroes again. For while in Wyoming they found a lovely place to say the night near the national park, and while there… they found people in great peril.

Which meant, our heroes swooped in to offer rescue, and lessons as well. Because sadly, heroism and a meal weren’t appreciated by this group, and they turned their weapons upon Rick and Michonne. Which was a stupid mistake of course since they are the best of the best in the world of the dead. So, they humbled them, stepped aside, and went back to healing their love and well… that was when quite the surprise came into play. In that, they were not alone at their quaint little cabin. Because a stranger followed them through the night and knew exactly how to evade the traps and warnings that Rick and Michonne set up to enjoy a good night’s rest, all because the Warrant Officer of the Civic Republic Military wanted to complete her mission.

Danai Gurira as Michonne in Episode 105 of ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ – ‘Become’. (Photo Courtesy of Gene Page/AMC.)

For Jadis could not let them escape and could not risk the truth about the CRM getting out, even though Rick and Michonne wanted no part of it. So, she turned her weapons upon our heroes and paid quite the price for offering up a grandiose explanation as to how she found them, why she chased them and how perhaps… death would serve their families well. Since she stated it would keep Alexandria and every other community that way a secret. But it was a price so dire that Jadis, the woman who outright killed Huck and committed atrocities untold, went on the run and enlisted the help of those renegades in the woods to try and trap Rick and Michonne and fulfill her plans and well, that’s when the lesson at hand came into play.

Because the little cat and mouse game that Jadis played at a nearby museum/makeshift shelter, wherein Rick and Michonne spoke to morality and standing up against tyranny put Jadis on a unique path. Wherein she reflected upon how she visited Father Gabriel in secret, where she could be Anne and speak freely about her crimes, and those chats helped her to understand in the midst of the chaos surrounding her… that she was choosing an ideology over anything else. An ideal instead of what was actually right. And pondering upon those lessons from her love, put her in a tough place, where she began to waiver and began to question if Rick and Michonne had the right perspective. But for a time… it seemed as though she would only side with the Civic Republic Military.

But a bite from the monsters she created in this instance, combined with the cunning nature of our heroes and an idea from Michonne, changed her perspective. For Michonne correctly pointed out what we’ve known about the CRM for some time now, how it is not the way and needed to be destroyed. Which was what Anne needed at the end, and she offered Alexandria freedom, along with a blessing to destroy the CRM from the inside to finally bring the right balance to the world. All of which taught us… that to end this madness we first must all make a choice, and really decide which side we want to be on, with an open and clear mind. So, we can see what Anne saw here in her final moments, specifically… that she committed to evil in the name of fear, from the promise of greatness that would never come, and once a fair number of us have done that and picked the right side… comes the hard work.

For not everyone will see things as we do, which means… we have to rally. We must do whatever it takes to showcase the lies and the wrongdoing of those who are making evil promises under the guise of protection and prosperity. For the truth will set us free and while that is easier said than done, those are fine lessons to learn here, the kind that may indeed come to fruition during next week’s finale, since Rick and Michonne are ready to teach the CRM the ultimate lesson in humility. But while we anxiously await to see what that battle will look like; we can celebrate another amazing tale from this series. One that reminded us just why we love Rick and Michonne so much, saw the return of Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel, and it gave a proper sendoff to Jadis/Anne and Pollyanna McIntosh deserves a round of applause for her work here. For this was a great send off, and she will be missed within the fabric of the franchise as the years roll along. And now that Jadis has found her redemption, and the stage is set for a final showdown with one disgusting villain, all we can do now is sit and countdown the minutes to the end of this incredible season of storytelling. Until next time.

Watch ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’

0 Comments