The Walking Dead Season 6 Episode 11 starts with a whimper but is leading up to a big bang. Relationships are cemented as Carl (Chandler Riggs) accept Rick's (Andrew Lincoln) new relationship with Michonne (Danai Gurira). Abraham finally chooses his lady love. Glenn and Maggie see the ultrasound image of their baby. Jesus (Paul Rovia) and his Hilltop Community turn out to be a flock of sheep. But Rick senses a danger ahead and prepares his group to start taking the war to Negan, the Savior leader who demands that everyone follow him.
GQ is frustrated that the episode, a lull compared to its usual action-oriented zombie-chasing shows, has become too soft. It describes that some of the scenes are "awkward." Abraham gets all softy on Glenn and Maggie who are having a baby. Also, Jesus, the outsider captured by the community, breaks out of his prison and creeps into Rick's room where he finds the ex-sheriff and the katana-wielding Michonne in bed. So do the rest of the gang a few minutes later. Carl is surprisingly comfortable with it.
There are no hungry zombies in this ep, and the Hilltop Community where Jesus brings them to is a sheltered village of farmers who don't know how to fight. Their leader, Gregory IXander Berkeley, would rather see half of their produce given to the mercenary Negan instead of fighting. He also is stabbed by one of his men, on Negan's orders, and it is Rick who steps in to save the day.
Forbes also agrees that the episode is uneven. But finds it interesting at Rick's decision to attack Negan before he sends his goons to extract protection money from Alexandria. It's true that he and his friends had survived child-eating cannibals, the monster Governor, and hordes of zombies running over their town. But this overconfidence just might lead to his undoing.
Still, the stage is set. Rick and his band of mighty warriors are covertly venturing into Negan's territory to study him and take him down. Michonne tells Rick at the end that the strategy will cost them big-time.
The Verge isn't happy with this turn of affairs as well. Negan isn't set to appear until the finale, but with six episodes to go, the war that Rick is aiming for may turn out to be one long hunt or a protracted guerilla mission.
Stay tuned next week to find out.
