The Walking Dead S11 E14: "The Rotten Core" Review
[WARNING: Major spoilers for The Walking Dead seasons 1-10, spoilers for season 11.]
I don't know what else to say other than "wow." Despite all of the ups and downs this final season of The Walking Dead has gone through, I don't think I ever anticipated an episode that felt like both a bottle episode, and like an episode that holds important implications for the plot going forward. Presented in a simplistic way but carrying undercurrents of what the show's endgame will look like, "The Rotten Core" presents a multitude of storylines that, while not converging just yet, imply that the existence of the larger connective tale will soon emerge for all our major characters.
To start, let's talk about the compound housing the new group from the previous episode (whose name I cannot remember for the life of me, but that's not too important anymore since they're being kicked off the rooftop by a Commonwealth soldier). Those who aren't currently imprisoned and aren't currently being sentenced to death are hiding inside the apartment complex below, alongside a smattering of our heroes who have come to realize something sinister is going on within the Commonwealth. As if people getting flung off rooftops for not knowing where a weapon cache they didn't steal is wasn't proof enough something is wrong. The episode deals with our heroes--namely Aaron, Gabriel, Maggie, and a newly-discovered Negan--trying to defend this new group from the Commonwealth's sudden authoritarian turn. At the same time, interpersonal conflicts with characters begin their resolution, though they happen in unexpected, well-crafted ways.
This part of the episode was all-around well done. I thought Toby Carlson acted as a good antagonistic presence throughout, with many of his moments some of the most memorable of the episode. On top of that was the general mood of these parts, as it reflected a hopeless situation that, despite all odds, our heroes were determined to see through to the end. I enjoyed some of the character interactions alongside the buildup to the grand, karmic final act. This is probably the strongest The Walking Dead has been since the "Here's Negan!" episode last year, and it shows with every passing minute. This is the kind of stuff I watch the show for, because despite the plodding nature of some episodes or nonsensical occurrences to get characters out of ridiculous situations, it's times like these that the series shines brightest. Times where things don't look like they can be resolved so simply, requiring our characters to push through blindly in hopes of having it their way in the end. I loved the presentation here and, while it seems like it may not return in such a manner for a while, I am glad to have seen that the writers still know how to make a solid hour of television shine.
But even though this part of the episode was strong, it was the other storyline going on at the same time that had me at the edge of my seat. In this sub-plot, we see Daryl and Rosita tasked by Sebastian--son of Commonwealth leader Pamela Milton--to raid a seemingly empty house in order to get him cash. It's more of a background established idea here, but it seems the Commonwealth runs on US currency, which is why a lot of talk regarding inequality despite the new world order being established has become a major conflict this season. It's also why Sebastian wants Daryl and Rosita to loot a random house in the nearby town, ensuring that he has money after his mother cut off his allowance due to his recent reckless behavior. This storyline of the episode was the best part of Season 11 Part 2, as it showed not just the greed rampant throughout the Commonwealth, but also the lengths that Sebastian is willing to go to in order to skirt around his mother's rules. His exploitation of her soldiers for personal gain reflects this, as it's soon revealed Daryl and Rosita aren't the first lives he's put in danger.
Their storyline with Sebastian also appears to tie into the overall plot by the end. Such developments also indicate another character within the Commonwealth's ranks is poised to become more prominent in ways that accentuate the shifting changes in how The Walking Dead presents its antagonistic groups. As I said in my review of the previous episode, The Walking Dead has started to embrace the idea of villain groups--in particular, the Commonwealth--having more nuance and inner conflict that paints them in a morally gray area. I really enjoy this change from older seasons where everyone was evil (barring Woodbury, of course). It feels like a necessary step forward, as it showcases how not everyone within a single group can be good or evil. A lot of that has felt missing from the series since around Season 5-6, so to see it come back as the driving force behind the major conflict gives the show a more potent presentation of the apocalypse. I think it's important that this is the case, as it sets the stage for a much better conflict than anything we've seen thus far.
This episode of The Walking Dead is the strongest one presented in a while. With a good amount of action, character moments, and plot twists that were both satisfying and unpredictable, it feels like this penultimate episode of Part 2 may be some of the show's best work in a while. I know I say this every time a gemstone pokes its way out of the rock, but I do hope to see more writing and presentation quality like this for the final 10 episodes that are left. It may be wishful thinking, but at the very least I do believe the quality will be fine on account of the last two episodes having a lot of good in them. So long as that same level of quality can be maintained until the end of the show, I think the series has potential to end on a high note. It's just a matter of how things are presented--and where the series will leave our heroes as the finale of Part 2 draws to a close.
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