‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’ Recap – ‘Who Are You?’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 206 of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’.
​
Revolution is something that is downright synonymous with modern mankind and understandably so. After all, our history is wrought with dictators and despots who believe that their rule and guidance matters, above all things, and their desire to feed their egos and maintain their power, leads to unrest and fury from a populace that can only take so much mistreatment. Which in turn, brings forth the revolution in question, and reforms, and the hope that when the dust settles…real freedom and unity have been achieved at last and now a genuinely prosperous future can be formed. But alas, it seems as though revolutions are cyclical in nature and keep occurring around the globe or are being called for by someone… leaving one to wonder, what it would take to end them and bring real peace.

Obviously (and morbidly) the end of the world should solve that problem. Since the end of mankind would bring forth the end of our cycles and trappings, allowing for the survivors of the apocalypse to start over anew and do things right. But there is one franchise out there, now pondering upon the notion… that the end of everything wouldn’t end the need for revolution. No instead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond is genuinely exploring what could bring about revolution in a world where the dead have returned to life and mankind is near extinction and that is allowing for some powerful storytelling to take place. The kind that is indeed examining the cyclical nature of humanity, and as evidenced by this week’s episode, the true genesis of revolution and what truly lights the spark to bring it to fruition.

A feat that ‘Who Are You?’ accomplished by way of a bold gambit. Because Huck’s discovery, left everyone wondering exactly what the CRM was up to, outside of the obvious power grab that we now know is in play and that motivated the group to stay and investigate. But in order to make that happen, the Endlings would need someone on the inside to help them really explore the facility and the secrets it holds, and Felix thought the best person for that… was Huck. In part because she owed all of them for the hell, she put them through on the way to New York. But also, because Felix knew some part of her deep down… had questions about this and didn’t fully believe the lies that were being sent out to the remainder of the CRM and he pounced upon that angle, and worked it hard and for his efforts… he actually got Huck to their side.

In fact, he did such a good job of making her question the real intentions of the CRM, and the truth, that she risked life and limb to help him get some serious answers. Because she took the time to sabotage the power grid, all so that Felix could dig deep into the bowels of the facility and uncover its secrets and what he found was unsettling for certain. Since whatever medical data Huck discovered, is related to some kind of biological experiment. One that the CRM has been slowly stockpiling beneath the research facility and appears to be born out of the rotting flesh and blood of the living dead, and despite having quite the close call with both CRM security and the elements in this development area… this fact-finding mission was quite the success. Since now Felix can get the sample he stole, to Joe, and he can uncover what exactly the CRM is up to and why this compound made its way into the Omaha massacre.

---

But what matters more, is that this plot thread speaks volumes to what could bring forth a need for revolution at the end of the world, since once again… powerful forces are using fear and control to shape the future of mankind and of course, this episode also did a fine job of exploring what creates the spark for revolution. Which in this instance, relates to an understanding of the bigger picture. Since Huck finally understood that while humanity’s rebirth would be imperfect and mistake fueled, it deserved freedom and strength and a lack of fear and control and if she didn’t stand up to Civic Republic Military now, she never would and they could in fact, take over the world and bring forth a different kind of dark age and that was definitely a fascinating exploration to say the least, one that will undoubtedly take the show to new places in the weeks to come.

However, we would be foolish to not talk about the other unique surprise in this tale, specifically… Anne. Or Jadis as she once again likes to be called. For this story more or less filled us in on what she’s been up to since she escaped Alexandria’s borders with Rick Grimes in ‘What Comes After’ and as it turns out… she’s been about reinvention. Since she immediately saw the CRM as the perfect place to start fresh and forge a future that provided her with everything she never had in the old world and help her to build upon what she learned in the days after the end. Which is why she re-branded herself as Jadis Stokes. To keep the cunning nature of her roots at hand, since it was ‘Jadis’ that created a society unto itself, one that was able to do accomplish wonders at the end of the world, and to also remain rooted in the best parts of humanity, since her love affair with Father Gabriel Stokes taught her how to appreciate the beauty of the world and the power of connection and well… this reinvention of herself has clearly paid off in spades.

For she is a powerful officer in the CRM, one that now uses her charm and what she learned about connection from Gabriel, to root out corruption in this new society and she is indeed quite good at what she does. To the point where Huck was terrified of her arrival and even point blank asked Jadis if the whole reason for this visit, was to investigate her actions at the facility, adding a genuine bit of danger to what happened in this tale. But while that made for some fine drama, let’s be honest… what makes this sequence of events and the arrival of Jadis matter, is that it completely and utterly ties World Beyond to TWD, and it provides the fans with a genuine geek out moment. One that finally fills in some of the blanks from the time-jump that took place after Rick ‘died’ on the flagship show and, you cannot go wrong with Pollyanna McIntosh chewing up the scenery as only she can. 

But all fan service and geeking out aside, make no mistake about it, this was a critical episode. For this really was the ascension moment for the Endlings. Where they decided that revolution is going to be necessary to get what’s left of humanity out from under the thumb of this violent and concerning dictatorship and their decision to fight here, albeit in perhaps a less explosive manner than expected, deserves a round of applause. Since it really is something fresh and original to find within the framework of a zombie story, one that started out as a coming-of-age story and well, all this does is leave us eager for more. Because now, sides have been chosen and lines have been drawn and it will be fascinating to see how the Endlings rise up against an organization that cares little about humanity, and only about power. Until next time.

---