Publications
Partners
I am certain all The Walking Dead fans were like kids in a (somewhat twisted) candy store. The wait for episode 1 of season 7 was intense. The days leading up to the premiere were agonising at best. But the wait was rewarded with probably the most emotionally draining writing, directing and acting experience in television in years.
I had a very strong feeling about who would be the victim(s) but seeing it happen, I wasn't prepared. I could sense each and every character's fear and anguish. The blood drained my body as the bat started its horrific battering of victim number 1. I appreciated how this character's fearlessness and pride was portrayed as the blows ended this life. I was left feeling breathless.
The torture and murder of victim number 2 was almost too brutal to watch. I felt the intense fear, the absolute heartbreak from all the survivors. I felt as if I were there. I wanted to grab the bat from Negan and give him some of his own medicine but this was wishful thinking. Once again the last words uttered by this soul held true to the character's nature. In the violent and horrific death homeage was paid to a person all fans of the show have come to love. This death left me hollow and crying. The suffering before the last breath was almost too much to handle and I felt numb by the end of it.
The rest of the episode kept me going on a mad rollercoaster of futility, hatred and fear. Negan's cruelty has no end and as a friend said to me, it was like coming face to face with true evil for the first time. Rick and the survivors were broken down and left battered and burnt. I couldn't help but feel utterly helpless at the end.
That said onto my next point of discussion. A lot of people feel that this episode was total overkill. My eldest daugther (she's 20) ended up leaving the room only to come back later and say: "Mom, that scene still haunts me. I don't think I can ever watch The Walking Dead again." To a certain extent I agree but I also took a few steps back and considered the 'reality' behind it.
Scott Gimple said he created this graphic novel because he got tired of traditional zombie movies. He wanted a story line where there was no abrupt end. He was tired of an ending where everyone either dies or gets flown away in a helicopter going heaven knows where. He wanted to create a world that showed the struggle for survival, the humanity (or lack thereof) that would most likely follow. He needed to show the true extent of man's inherent cruelty. It proves my point of view that the worst monster in this world is man himself. People were upset by these brutal scenes because we are so comfortable 'knowing' about the reality of life yet it's so 'nice' to not SEE what really happens. It's easier to believe humans can't be this horrific towards each other instead of 'experiencing' it first hand. We read stories about brutal murders and sympathize with the victims and loved ones. Well, at least as long as we don't have to visualize exactly what got inflicted.
All in all this episode of Walking Dead is what writing and not only movies, but also television is all about. It was real, raw, gut-wrenching and totally devastating. The acting was absolutely out of this world and in my books some of the best in television history. Andrew Lincoln gave us the best performance of a lifetime. Seeing Rick BEGGING Negan for mercy, seeing him cry and affirming the horrid things Negan gets him to agree to gave me such huge respect for Andrew as an actor. His acting abilities are first class and Emmy worthy.
Queue Jeffrey Dean Morgan (I'm a HUGE fan). I was carefully optimistic about seeing him in a role completely opposite from what we've become accustomed to. NOTHING prepared me for what he gave. His acting is the best I've seen in years. I can hear my dad say that if an actor can act that cruel it says a lot about his personality. I disagree. For people to develop such an innate and burning hatred towards a character in under an hour takes an acting ability beyond what 99% of actors have. Jeffrey held nothing back. He immersed himself in this role with such passion and drive it became hard to distinguish between Jeffrey and Negan at times.
All in all 'The Day Will Come When You Won't Be' will go down in television history as one of the most brutally honest and emotional events ever. And I for one hope we get to see some form of justice inflicted in the future.
