‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ Recap – ‘What We’

3/18/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira as Rick Grimes and Michonne in Episode 104 of ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ – ‘What We’. (Photo Courtesy of Gene Page/AMC.)

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

When we last settled in to discuss the phenomenal new AMC series, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, we talked at length about how the show outright surprised us. Simply by taking the time to feature what the franchise has not in some time, relevant social commentary. For this is a series that loves to explore the overall human condition and what makes us good, what makes us evil and what it might take for us to be a better species. So, to see ‘Bye’ ponder deeply upon modern concerns, such as how the world is currently being indoctrinated by the nonsense to make certain countries ‘great again’ was indeed quite shocking, and it led to an eye-opening tale.

One that really did explore how fear was the engine to this movement, since it is oft used to manipulate and transform everyday folks that lean on critical thinking, into terrified zombies that consume more lies and more fear. But of course, as zombie stories are wont to do, that really was as far as that exploration went. Largely because this subgenre of horror tends to lean toward having us figure out the solution through showing us the problem, and that is precisely why this week’s episode of the series, was just as shocking as last week’s tale. Simply because… ‘What We’ took the time… to offer up an answer as to how perhaps we pull people back from that fear.

A feat that this story accomplished by first informing us that Rick and Michonne survived that surprise bail out from the CRM chopper, by landing in a body of water, one that was next to a living complex that still had power and creature comforts. And once this duo was inside, dried off and comfortable, they were able to fire off a few jabs at one another regarding some of their more recent concerns before taking a little time to rest and collect their thoughts and gameplan what was to come next. Which for Michonne, involved talking some sense into Rick to get him home and that hope grew when a surprise was revealed at daybreak.

In that, the chopper they flew in on, didn’t see the second building in this complex, and crashed into it. Which meant, the CRM would think that Major Sergeant Rick Grimes and Co-Signee Dana Bethune were dead. Allowing for immediate freedom for the two of them, the kind that would indeed just let them leave and enjoy life with their family at last. One that Rick learned had grown, courtesy of his son, RJ. But oddly enough, a golden ticket to freedom and a chance to meet and hold his son and his daughter with his wife at his side, still wasn’t enough to convince Rick to leave and go home and live a true dream. He wanted to fire up his beacon again and that led to great conflict with Michonne, and rightfully so.

Danai Gurira and Andrew Lincoln as Michonne and Rick Grimes in Episode 104 of ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ – ‘What We’. (Photo Courtesy of Gene Page/AMC.)

Because Rick was being dumb, plain, and simple and that prompted Michonne to prepare to head home on her own and that... actually managed to light a fire under Rick. After all, he did miss her, love was there, and that prompted him to chase after her, amid chaos. Since the CRM came to destroy ‘the evidence,’ and that let in walkers and led to an epic, sass filled battle involving Rick and Michonne and the dead. One that ended with Rick standing by Michonne at the right moment, one that unlocked the feelings in his heart and amplified hers and that allowed for them to reconnect, physically, spiritually, and it also allowed for Michonne to finally reach the man she loved so deeply.

For after they found one another again, Rick once more hinted at returning to his beloved Civic Republic Military to invoke change. Which in turn prompted Michonne to use some of Nat’s wise advice to finally cut through the nonsense and understand why this place was more important to Rick than Alexandria and what he and Michonne and their family were building. Which brought about a powerful admission. In that, the CRM used manipulation tactics to basically help Carl and Michonne’s memories to fade. Which in turn made Rick believe he had done something wrong to lose those images of his boy, of his love and once those were gone and he was at his lowest and felt as though he had nothing left, they sucked him in. Made him believe he could prevent that kind of loss from happening to anyone else, and that… is how he transformed. But Michonne was able to change that, and help him to see Carl, see love again, and understand… that those we love are never gone when we honor them through the fight that is life. Which prompted Rick to leave this behind… and go home. With his love.

Which meant at long last, this duo was on the road and heading home and we had quite the powerful lesson in hand. In that, a lot of what we are seeing happen around us, is a dehumanization of sorts. Wherein the basics of what makes us great, our ability to care for one another, to embrace community, and decency is being washed away by fear and rhetoric so that an, us versus them mentality exists when it’s all just us, really. But it can be undone, it can be fixed. When we find a way to understand common ground and what matters again. Such as say coming to learn that the promises of a politician, should never dictate how we live our lives. For they are not the ones we live for, we live for us, we live for the betterment of ourselves and our families because that’s what will change the world and give us a society where the ones who live are happy and loved.

All of which brought about, a powerful story to say the least, one that also impressed beyond its messaging, via a brilliant script written by Danai Gurira. Because this was also a story about the power of love, of how we should also express that at every turn because love is understanding and kind and also brings about healing. Plus, we would be remiss to not discuss the incredible acting present here. Because Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira just let loose here and offered us moving and powerful performances that captivated us from beginning to end, and left us with tears of joy and sorrow, and wonder. Which makes this a perfect episode, plain and simple. One that encapsulated the best parts of the franchise, these characters, and even the zombie sub-genre and now that we’ve reached the end of this magnificent tale, it will be interesting to see what lies ahead, now that this unstoppable force is reunited and ready for the next chapter in their lives. Until next time.

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