The Walking Dead - S7E2 - The Well

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Previously on The Walking Dead, “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be”

The Walking Dead - S7E2 - “The Well” | Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Lennie James, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Sonequa Martin-Green, Norman Reedus, Alanna Masterson, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand

If you were hoping to see how the folks at Alexandria will react to the events in the premiere, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. This week, we’re introduced to The Kingdom, home to the men who assisted Morgan and Carol in the season six finale.

The Kingdom is a thriving community with crops, a choir, security, cobbler at every meal, electricity, and movie night. It’s ruled by a man called King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and his pet tiger, Shiva. If you think it sounds ridiculous, you’re not alone. After resting for two days, Carol gets her first tour and sit-down with the king and she is not impressed. Since she’s not in any condition to leave immediately, she bides her time by stealing weapons, perfecting her Susie Homemaker act, and watching for an opportunity to bounce. Carol gonna Carol.

The Kingdom may look as though it’s running smoothly, but it’s not without sacrifice. Morgan soon learns that the Saviors also demand weekly offerings from their community. Like Alexandria, they don’t have the numbers or the means to do anything but go along. This means delivering 8 hogs one week and fresh produce the next. They do fill the bellies of the hogs with walker meat beforehand. It’s not like Negan will die from trichinosis from eating it, but I approve that petty.

Only a select few in The Kingdom are aware of the shakedown by the Saviors. Ezekiel is worried that if everyone knows,  they’ll want to fight and he knows they can’t win. It will be interesting to see how Alexandria takes the news of their indentured servitude since we know Rick won’t lie to them about it.

There was a question of whether or not Morgan was willing to kill again since saving Carol’s life by killing a Savior. While it’s clear he still doesn’t like, it appears that to him, it’s an easy habit to fall back into. When one of the Saviors tries to start shit at the drop-off, Morgan quickly draws the gun he was given. He says he doesn’t have all the answers, so it sounds like Morgan’s inner turmoil is something the show will continue to explore. Finally, he admits that he shouldn’t have taken away Carol’s choice and doesn’t go after her when he discovers she’s slipped out.

Carol is stopped by Ezekiel on her way, and he calls her on her act. He challenges her and cautions her not to run away from life. Since her mask is shed, Ezekiel drops his. He goes from a guy who stayed at Renn Faire and played a shitton of Skyrim before the ZA to a former zookeeper who admits to living up to the expectations of the people in order to keep them feeling safe. Also, he believes people are less dangerous when they’re comfortable. He uses Shiva as an example. He saved her life at the zoo before the ZA and rescued her from starving to death after it. This is why, he says, she hasn’t shown any aggression towards him.

Carol’s like, “Cool story, bro. Can I go?”

He allows it, and Morgan escorts her out of the community the next day. But Carol is not done being followed by black men trying to save her. She’s settled into an abandoned house when Ezekiel comes knocking with his pet tiger.

Why is he trying so hard to convince Carol not to be off alone? We just have to take his word for it when he says, “It makes me feel good.”

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