The twin story strands of the first part of Acheron continue in the second component of this two-part season opener. There are some missteps in terms of pacing and plot beats. But there’s a good sense by the end of the episode that the dramatic terrain and key lines of conflict for the show’s endgame have been fleshed out. Matters build to a moment of vindication for one group and a closing vista that is genuinely terrifying for the other.
Down in the Metro tunnels things have gone bad. Members of the party have deserted taking vital supplies with them. Daryl and Dog have been separated and are lost in the tunnels. The main group are trapped in a zombie-infested string of carriages. And after being abandoned by Negan, Maggie is fighting for her life as the undead close in. Elsewhere, Ezekiel, Princess, and the others continue to undergo interrogation by the assessors of the Commonwealth and try to choose between the options of escape and integration.
Daryl’s solo adventure through the empty tunnels is infused with a strong sense of melancholy (as well as ever-present danger). He uncovers the detritus and abandoned belongings of survivors who sought sanctuary underground. It’s a means for the producers to sketch out what promises to be a recurring theme of the final season: the struggle between the haves and the have-nots amongst those who’ve made it this far in the zombie apocalypse.
The claustrophobia, noise, and dark corners of the subway carriages the main group are trapped in are all well realised on screen, as their chances of escape narrow. Negan’s abandonment of Maggie in the cliffhanger ending to Part 1 is swiftly resolved, as she crawls her way to escape along the tracks and rejoins her compatriots. It’s not the first time that The Walking Dead has skimmed over the means by which a character escapes what appears to be certain death. But there was anyway no real prospect of losing Maggie this soon after Lauren Cohan’s return to the series. The confrontation that follows is one of the episode’s highlights, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan on fine form with Negan aT his most unrepentant and accusatory.
Director Kevin Dowling then risks the episode slipping off the rails. Immediately after the showdown with Negan, the return of the youngster Gage confronts Maggie with a choice about whether to sacrifice or save the deserter. It’s a dilemma that mirrors Maggie’s own experience at the hands of Negan in a way that lacks both subtlety and credibility. Maggie then recites a long monologue about savagery, suffering, and retribution which, while it’s a chilling story that’s well delivered, it puts the breaks on the action and allows the tension underground to evaporate. What the sequence does do is reinforce the sense that Maggie has become hardened and brutalised by countless harrowing experiences.
Events above ground in the Commonwealth holding tank continue to challenge Eugene, Princess, and the others. There’s a lightness (in every sense) to things happening here in contrast to the darkness in the subway tunnels. Yumiko’s determination to track down her brother inspires her to turn the tables on her interrogators, analysing their identities and motivations in order to prove her worth to their community. While Princess’ zany and upbeat personality continues to lean as close as the show dares towards comedy, it’s Eugene’s efforts under pressure that finally gets the group over the line and secures their acceptance. Under the investigators’ spotlight once more, Eugene must mix truth and lies to convince his accusers of his good intentions without exposing Alexandria’s existence to the Commonwealth. It’s a superb speech which Josh McDermitt completely nails and, in contrast to Maggie’s misplaced monologue, it’s a pivotal moment that builds the atmosphere towards an unexpected and seemingly joyful final revelation.
Back in the subway, things are rapidly pulled back on track through a series of thrilling battles with zombie tube passengers, and the heroic return of Daryl, in merciless warrior mode. These excellent sequences compensate for the earlier loss of momentum and pace. Two episodes below ground feels sufficient, so it’s a relief to have the group re-emerge into the nighttime streets above.
The contrast between the two cliffhangers with which the episode ends could hardly be starker. While there’s the promise (illusory or otherwise) of salvation, hope and human connection in the Commonwealth, many miles away in the abandoned streets of the city Maggie’s raiding party meets merciless opposition and the threat of being wiped out.
If the key target of the opening two-parter is to lock in the audience’s attention for the closing season of The Walking Dead, then Acheron hits it firmly between the eyes.
New episodes of THE WALKING DEAD – SEASON 11 premiere Mondays in the UK on DISNEY+/STAR
Read our previous reviews of THE WALKING DEAD below:
