Over its last two seasons, AMC’s The Walking Dead has lost what made the show enjoyable. Originally, the zombie apocalypse setting remained interesting because the human characters often made decisions that made them worse than the title figures they fought.
No conflict made that more apparent than that between protagonist Rick Grimes and the Governor. By Season 4, the Governor’s backstory had offered a semblance of hope that he could become something more than just a villain. Rick had made a speech to the Governor emphasizing that the survivors were not “too far gone” and that there was hope for all of them to live peaceably together.
Four seasons later, Rick’s prophetic words have almost become true for the show itself.
These last two seasons featuring a conflict between Rick and Negan should make a show captivating. But slow-moving episodes, a cartoonish, one-dimensional villain in Negan and poorly written dialogue have characterized The Walking Dead’s recent run.
Viewers and critics alike have not responded well to this direction. Declining ratings and poor reviews all but signaled the show’s turn in the direction of its deteriorating zombies.
But for at least one night, The Walking Dead regained some of its former glory in “Some Guy.” This fourth episode featured surprisingly thought-provoking writing and great acting from two interesting characters in Melissa McBride’s Carol and Khary Payton’s King Ezekiel.
Previous episodes struggled to blend flashbacks with the current storyline. Conversely, “Some Guy” deftly moves between past and present, mixing strong dialogue and tense action along the way.
Before going into more detail, one should note that spoilers lie ahead.
The episode begins in a familiar way, with Ezekiel monologuing in a Shakespearean manner. While these speeches make his character unique, they were never as meaningful as the showrunners likely intended.
This flashback speech leads into a present-day scene picking up after Negan’s forces launch a surprise assault on Ezekiel’s followers. Ezekiel emerges from a pile of bodies with an injured leg as his fallen comrades turn into undead walkers chasing him.
Previous episodes struggled to blend flashbacks with the current storyline. Conversely, “Some Guy” deftly moves between past and present, mixing strong dialogue and tense action along the way.
This episode features a discussion between Ezekiel and Carol about the decision to become a hero. Elsewhere, we get a thrilling car chase between Rick, Daryl Dixon and a group of Saviors.
Fittingly, by far the most climactic moment of the episode was the ending. With walkers closing in, Ezekiel offers to stay behind. He dramatically tells Jerry, his loyal bodyguard, that he wasn’t a king, but rather the episode’s titular “some guy.”
In the end, Shiva, Ezekiel’s domesticated tiger, leaps in and sacrifices herself to ensure the group’s survival.
The question becomes whether this episode will be a one-hit wonder in an otherwise disappointing season.
Undoubtedly, fans will be left disappointed that a memorable character like Shiva died. How could a viewer not shed a tear knowing the tiger who saved Rick and his son Carl in the seventh-season finale will no longer appear by Ezekiel’s side?
While it is far-fetched that a zookeeper like Ezekiel could domesticate a tiger, Shiva added some flair to the show. Besides rescuing Rick and Carl, she kept afloat a program struggling to establish drama between the human characters. Ezekiel’s love for that tiger established a bond that other relationships have often failed to emulate.
As stunning as the timing of Shiva’s comic-book ending is, “Some Guy” signals a potential turnaround for the oft-criticized show. For the first time this season, viewership increased from one week to the next.
The question becomes whether this episode will be a one-hit wonder in an otherwise disappointing season. Next week, the show’s trailer signals a return to the Negan story line who has appeared since the season premiere.
Usually, scenes with Negan are disappointing, as they repeatedly portray his wickedness. With Negan trapped in a van surrounded by walkers, viewers may see a different side of the villain forced to confront his own mortality.
The Walking Dead still faces challenges to regain its former glory. But “Some Guy” proved there is still hope for memorable episodes to become a weekly occurrence again.
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