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This review was made possible by screeners for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live premieres on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, February 25 at 9:00pm EST. New episodes are released on Sundays.
Since 2003 from comics to their ever expanding television universe, The Walking Dead has been a pop culture phenomenon. While some fell off in Season 4 or 5 of the main title series, a lot of others stuck it out until the end. Yes, all ELEVEN seasons. I use the word end lightly here, because it directly spun off into three new series. The Walking Dead: Dead City which follows Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon which follows Daryl (Norman Reedus) and now The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, the long awaited once movie turned limited series which follows Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira).
Since that bridge blew up in Season 9 with Rick on the other side, the biggest question is where did he go? Odds are he’s still alive with him getting on that helicopter, but where is he? What is the difference between an A person and a B person? Don’t worry, we get these answers and then some. But in classic The Walking Dead fashion things never go the way you think they will, and we love it for that.
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
Yes, we finally see where that helicopter took Rick all those years ago and we get to see a brand new society. Rule under the CRM (Civic Republic Military) certainly flourishing, but not without its strict guidelines to ensure that it continues to flourish. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the CRM in the universe, as they were first introduced in The Walking Dead Season 8 and also appeared in Fear The Walking Dead Season 5, 6 and 7.
While Rick is stuck in this system of law and order his main goal is still to escape and get back to his family. Even if it’s the last thing he does, that is easier said than done. We all know he is beyond stubborn and determined, but we are introduced to a new side. One of complacency.
We pick up right where we left off with Michonne, on the search for Rick. Fueled by love and pure determination to reunite her family. Remember she left behind her children to reunite with the love of her life. A love birthed from the enormous collective death this world has been plagued with. As you could have guessed, the journey itself isn’t easy and isn’t always traveled alone.
NEW FRIENDS… AND FOES
Possibly the strongest aspect of The Walking Dead is character development. The series has an incredible way of bringing in new characters and having you connect with them instantly. In a post-apocalyptic world far beyond the one we know, it’s rooted in humanity. That goes for our main characters’ allies and enemies. That’s the soul of The Walking Dead, why it works so well. Why the main series went on for over a decade and spun off into countless new series.
The first three episodes of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is a triumphantly violent return to form. Packed to the brim with emotions, twists and zombie killing gore. An exploration of love and hope and both drastically affect each other. This series goes down a path that is very unexpected and I can’t wait to see how it concludes.
