Of all of the horrible issues Victor Strand has performed all through his time shifting allegiances on Worry the Strolling Lifeless, appearing like he did not know Madison is likely one of the worst.
Worry the Strolling Lifeless Season 8 Episode 7 crammed within the blanks about what turned of the villain after his ill-fated tower imploded, and it was one other meandering episode of this once-hot zombie drama.
Pulling off such a reunion between Madison and Anton Strand was no simple feat, and for the primary time in a very long time, Madison felt just like the chief we left when Kim Dickens was unceremoniously written out of Worry the Strolling Lifeless Season 4.
Regardless of the makes an attempt from present showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg to repair the harm they triggered to the present and its fandom by discarding Dickens, Worry the Strolling Lifeless Season 8 has been a waste of time.
Till now, that’s.
Each time the sequence returns, I query whether or not I can get by one other season of questionable storytelling and straight-up character assassination from the individuals who clearly do not perceive the arcs from the primary three seasons.
I at all times return as a result of the present has a whole lot of potential and since, above all the things else, I am a completionist.
Even when I wrestle with the artistic selections, I nonetheless wish to see how issues finish.
The excellent news is that there are positively “the top is close to” vibes because the sequence refocused on the characters that ought to have been on the wheel of Worry the Strolling Lifeless Season 4 — and past.
It should have killed Madison listening to that Strand disregarded their bond and friendship to maintain up this ruse that he isn’t the villain we met on Worry the Strolling Lifeless Season 7.
Although we all know that he has shades of excellent, he’d nonetheless throw those that oppose him to the wolves to maintain up that ruse.
I can sympathize with Strand right here as a result of part of him was by no means actually totally invested within the tower. It was nearly like he noticed this chance to take the world by storm in a means it by no means afforded him earlier than.
Whereas many individuals would take that likelihood, I doubt they’d have been as cutthroat as Strand. His settlement operated on a tradition of concern as a result of he wished to maintain individuals in line.
It is such a juxtaposition to his five-star luxurious resort that now opens its doorways to just about anybody in search of shelter and sources.
He ought to have been open and trustworthy together with his new household if he wished to shed that persona and say goodbye to Victor Strand for good.
Had he performed that, it would not have led to this mistrust between him and his household.
Then once more, possibly it would not have led to Strand having a household within the first place. There are such a lot of variables on this apocalyptic sandbox.
The one redeeming high quality in Strand is that he went to assist Madison earlier than it was too late to present us a superb previous Victor-Madison team-up that jogged my memory of their enjoyable on the lodge on Worry the Strolling Lifeless Season 2.
Regardless of the unbelievability of this resort serving five-star delicacies, years into the apocalypse, Dickens and Colman Domingo offered each single one in every of their scenes collectively.
There is a cause why the followers have been clamoring for extra of them for years, and I am nonetheless shocked it is taking place after it appeared like Dickens was over the present.
Dickens did not must return after how she was handled, however I am positive she was excited in regards to the prospect of bringing Madison’s story full circle and dealing together with her greatest buddy once more.
Ever since she popped again up on Worry the Strolling Lifeless Season 7 Episode 16, Madison’s actions have been questionable.
She spent years of her life amassing kids for PADRE, and now, she’s attempting to reunite them with their dad and mom whereas concurrently attempting to construct this settlement that can maintain itself for the years to come back.
She wasn’t confused about why she was being focused by this group as a result of, in fact, she should have a wealth of enemies.
It might have been much more stunning if AMC stored Daniel Sharman’s return as Troy Otto underneath wraps as a result of that will have been one heck of a second to get followers speaking.
When Madison final left Troy on Worry the Strolling Lifeless Season 3 Episode 16, she’d bashed his cranium in with a hammer and let a dam explode on high of him.
Sure, Worry the Strolling Lifeless has gone full Days of Our Lives, and I am form of residing for it.
I assumed Troy was lengthy gone, however bringing him again as the ultimate villain is a superb solution to throwback to the years when this present wasn’t so inconsistent.
Unnerving shock registered on Madison’s face when she realized Troy was alive. She acknowledged that this man was out for revenge and would not enable her to go away that room alive.
However Troy is enjoying the lengthy recreation and will not kill Madison rapidly. As an alternative, he’ll terrorize her and her individuals till he will get the situation of PADRE.
It is arduous to imagine that in any case these years, Troy is in search of a house, so his schtick about that is simply lip service.
He desires to take what Madison took from him, and if he has to kill some individuals alongside the best way, it is simply par for the course to him.
One other stunning second highlighting how Strand has modified got here when he stated it was OK for Troy to bash in his brains to maintain the situation of PADRE out of Troy’s mouth.
Regardless of my qualms in regards to the sequence’ inconsistent writing, it appears like Strand has been redeemed in a single episode.
Perhaps there’s hope for Troy, too, however one thing tells me he’ll up his depraved video games within the title of inflicting Madison misery.
I am unable to say I am shopping for Troy’s admission that he murdered Alicia as a result of it is arduous to imagine the sequence would kill off the character off-screen.
Then once more, possibly Alycia Debnam-Carey wasn’t occupied with returning.
She endured seven seasons of the present and watched the present go from a diamond within the tough of The Strolling Lifeless universe to a caricature of itself.
Madison has been so laser-focused on her try to construct PADRE that she hasn’t thought of the larger image.
Who’s she doing this for? She’s now misplaced each of her kids; frankly, it is arduous to think about she’ll be capable to proceed this journey for for much longer.
Will she put all of her sources into killing Troy’s military, or will she buckle underneath the depth of grief?
It is an fascinating query that can take us into the ultimate 5 episodes ever.
As the ultimate midseason premiere, I am prepared to forgive the retconning as a result of the present is likely to be on the street to ending with grace.
All of that may change, as we have witnessed with the rollercoaster nature of the storytelling.
Worry the Strolling Lifeless has had dizzying highs and mind-numbing lows, so hopefully, we finish on a superb be aware.
What are your ideas on Troy’s return?
Have been you shocked by him admitting to killing Alicia?
Hit the feedback.
Worry the Strolling Lifeless airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.
Paul Dailly is the Affiliate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
