Photo Credit: AMC
It’s time for a moment of truth here. Ever since it was announced that Chad Coleman had been cast in the new Syfy drama The Expanse, I began preparing myself for the reality that Tyreese may not make it to the end of the season alive. In fact, it was highly unlikely. For me, this was a tough pill to swallow because Tyreese has always been one of my favorites. But, what I didn’t expect is that it would happen before 5B barely had the chance to get off the ground. The mid-season finale may have been somewhat predictable with the death of Beth Greene, but boy, did they make up for it in tonight’s premiere.
The episode begins in a very bizarre way. The group had just buried Beth and was trying to figure out what to do next. They finally decide to try and find Noah’s (Tyler James Williams) home, which is a fortified community just outside of Richmond, VA. At first I thought Noah’s home was, in fact, the Alexandra Safe Zone from the comics, but when he said they had only 20 people, I knew this was something different. The comic-book ASZ was much larger (at least 100 people), and so, wherever they were heading, my gut was telling me this was not going to be a good thing.
Then, all of the weirdness began, almost as if we were in a flashback or dream sequence. WTH? Was all of this from the point of view of someone who was dreaming or hallucinating? If so, who? Then, they drop the bomb right in our laps — Lizzie and Mica Samuels appear and still with their wounds from the episode “The Grove.”
It’s OK. It’s all better now — Lizzie and Mica to ?
Oh crap. They were speaking to whomever was hallucinating, and whoever was hallucinating was obviously dead or dying. I knew then that we were going to have a major death in this episode. Time to get out the Jack Daniels because this is going to suck, I just know it.
THE SHIREWILT ESTATES = COMIC-BOOK WILTSHIRE ESTATES
Very early on in the comic-book series, Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) group stumbled on a gated housing community called The Wiltshire Estates (this was even before they found the prison). Located off Highway 278, 20 miles from Atlanta, the suburban residential area was surrounded by a set of strong walls and a metal gate. The group initially wanted to settle there, but they were overrun the next day and forced to flee. In the process one of the survivors was bitten and killed. The Wiltshire Estates storyline was never used in the television series — well, until tonight.
Noah’s home turns out to be a very similar gated residential community The Shirewilt Estates. As I said, I had a bad feeling before they left, but as soon as I saw “Shirewilt Estates,” I knew with 100% certainty this was not going to end well. Just like the Wiltshire Estates arc from the comics, somebody wasn’t going to make it out alive, and I had a pretty good idea who that was going to be. Gulp.
A TEARFUL GOOD-BYE TO A BELOVED CHARACTER
Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
As most of us probably suspected, when they arrive at the Shirewilt Estates, everything is gone. I don’t think they were overrun by walkers but were attacked instead. Most of the homes had been burned, and there were piles of mutilated bodies around the perimeter close to the forest.
As would be expected, Noah is hysterical and immediately runs for his house, which prompts Tyreese to run after him. When they enter the home, they find Noah’s dead mother on the living room floor. Noah had said he had 2 surviving twin brothers, and so, Tyreese goes back to the bedroom area to look for other bodies.
He finds one of the brothers dead in the bedroom, and on the wall he sees several pictures of the twins — the **same** pictures we saw in the dream sequence of the opening scenes of the episode. Oh, no. OH, NO! All of what we saw was from Tyreese’s point of view, which means he’s the one who’s probably going to get bit.
Before Tyreese has any time to react, the second twin brother sneaks up behind him and bites a big chunk out of his left arm. I knew this was coming, but I still screamed and wanted to smash my fist into the television. However, as bad and horrible as this was, the next few scenes turn out to be the best of the entire episode, just some amazing writing.
At this point, Tyreese begins to hallucinate a whole parade of characters we have recently lost while he is laying on the floor bleeding and dying. Some of them like Lizzie and Mica are encouraging, saying it is OK to let go and that everything will be so much better afterwards. We get to see Beth and hear her sing again, using her soft voice to comfort and encourage Tyreese just like Lizzie and Mica. The one character that we got to see that really surprised — in fact, shocked — me was the Governor. There had been rumors that the Governor would be back this season in some form of flashback, but I never thought it would be like this. Of course, unlike Lizzie, Mica, and Beth, the Governor only taunts Tyreese and reminds him of how he’s a pussy by forgiving the person who killed the woman he was in love with. Just an amazing series of scenes and perfect in every way — the lighting, the music, the dialogue, everything. Kudos and plaudits to everyone involved.
Rick, Glenn, Michonne, and Noah finally arrive, they amputate Tyreese’s arm, but we all probably knew it was going to be too late. In order for something like that to work, you have to remove the limb immediately. In Tyreese’s case, several minutes had passed. He was a goner, and I knew it.
The way Tyreese went out and those final moments were especially moving. I loved the use of the radio in the episode, and I think this goes to show you that Scott Gimple is an immensely talented writer, a lot more than some give him credit for.
Turn if off — Tyreese
You sure? — Bob
Yes — Tyreese
The turning off of the radio was a symbol that Tyreese was done, that he was ready to let go. And, he died almost immediately after that.
ANOTHER FUNERAL BUT IT’S OK. IT WILL BE BETTER NOW.
The episode ends just like it began — with another funeral. By this time, I am stunned beyond belief, actually almost numb. It doesn’t happen that often, but every once in a while the writers of this show will sneak up behind you and completely blindside you when you least expect it. They certainly pulled that off in this episode, and it’s one that will be remembered for a very long time.
But, not all is lost, and there is still hope. Noah’s home wasn’t the Alexandria Safe Zone as some of us thought. But, Michonne made a very good point that while Eugene may have lied about the cure, he thought of Washington for a reason — a very good reason. If there is anything left standing, if there is any hope at all, Washington D.C. is their best shot. And, that’s where they decide to head next.
And, can you guess what? Alexandria, VA is less than 20 miles from Washington, D.C. Look it up on Google Maps — I’m not shitting you! And, you know who else is heading straight there? Yes, Morgan, folks! Next stop — Alexandria. And, yes, once Rick’s group gets there, things will be different.
It’s OK. It will be better now. Honestly. Just like Lizzie and Mica said.
Critic Grade — A+
The Walking Dead airs on Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
Check out our earlier article on Chad Coleman being cast in the new Syfy series The Expanse set to premiere this summer.
