Valar Morganlis!
By Matt Fowler
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
Whoa. Still shaking here.
Now that was stunning. One could certainly argue about the timing and placement of “Here’s Not Here,” considering the controversial “death” from last week’s episode and the way showrunner Scott Gimple possibly under-anticipated the amount of buzz it would create from those who were able to spot the subterfuge. But I don’t think that takes away from this superb chapter and the performances of both Lennie James (read our interview with him about tonight’s episode) and John Carroll Lynch (who was spectacular here playing the exact opposite of the psychos he’s now portrayed on two seasons of American Horror Story).
Nor does the placement of “Here’s Not Here” take away from the fact that Gimple himself wrote a tremendous stand-apart episode. One that really helped shed some new light on Morgan who, in all honestly, became somewhat of a frustrating element during the siege back in the second episode of the season, “JSS.” Mercy is something we easily scoff at on The Walking Dead. It often gets in the way of action while feeling wickedly impractical and illogical.
Tyreese’s refusal to kill someone who was a clear and present danger put everyone at risk last year, so the show’s stance on the humane treatment of others, especially those out to do harm, seemed rather clear. Even last weeks’ episode featured the Wolves who Morgan let go returning to try and kill Rick in the RV. And while Rick handled them, the whole incident brought the herd down on the RV while also possibly disabling it. So to see mercy and peace handled here, this week, in such an in-depth and meaningful way was a revelation. And one that now makes me retroactively appreciate everything Morgan was doing back in “JSS.”
We want to hear it.
Not that I can say that I totally agree with him, but I understand his decisions now. I get it. And I also now understand Morgan’s disappointment in discovering the man Rick had become. Not that Morgan can’t relate to doing terrible things (even worse, crazier things than Rick, in fact), but I now get Morgan’s sadness over seeing a man who was once good (and who’d once tried to help him when he was down) morally crumble and compromise a bit due to the pressures of the new world.
Of course, it’s also entirely possible that Morgan built up an unrealistic “idea” of Rick in his head. A heroic impression that perhaps no man, under these zombie-riddled circumstances, could live up to. And the “the new world is gonna need Rick Grimes” note didn’t exactly help quell that notion. That being said, Morgan still doesn’t outright lecture people. Much. Maybe a few words here and there, but he just sort of lives by his own code. A code – a way of living – that’s directly responsible for helping him up and out of his crazy, depressed suicidal rut.
As you know, I’m one of the conspiracy coddlers out there who doesn’t buy that Glenn is dead. I also didn’t think we’d get a hard “yes” or “no” answer right away. That it might take a few episodes (I have some comic book-related reasons for thinking this). But now that there’s a big question mark after the word “death” here, drawing out the Glenn resolution doesn’t bode well. We’ll have to watch Maggie grieve (again) and then listen to everyone argue about whether or not they should head out looking for him. The whole works. So on top of loving “Here’s Not Here” for what it was as a story, I liked that it didn’t take place at all in the current storyline (until the very end).
And while I’m retro-applauding Morgan’s “JSS” choices here, I’m glad he didn’t kill that Wolf at the end. Back when I reviewed the episode, I stated something to the effect of liking that Morgan may have been finally pushed too far at the end and had been forced to take a life. Now I’m eating those words. That’s how powerful “Here’s Not Here” was. It now has me actively rooting for Morgan to not kill people. Because of what the aikido code means to him. And what it meant to Eastman. And how Morgan killing may lead him back down that dark, “Clear” path.
We want to hear it.
Given that final scene though – with Morgan and the Wolf he spared – one can see that the show’s not letting Morgan off lightly. It’s not totally backing his play. Morgan keeping that crazy guy alive, despite it being necessary for his own therapy, isn’t a smart move. And Morgan even knows it. How does Morgan’s code hold up against the Wolves? Against a legion of “Crighton Dallas Wilton”s? These are the evil and unredeemable savages that now roam the landscape. And that Wolf’s calm words about killing everyone he sees – his retort to Morgan’s entire tale – were truly chilling.
Now, to Eastman – Morgan’s unexpected mentor in all things peace, love, and understanding. A man who we assumed had things figured out, zen-wise, before the zompocalypse hit. But it wasn’t until he tried to turn himself in for murder (starving to death the man who killed his family for 47 freakin’ days) and then walking through 30 miles of walkers to retrieve his daughter’s wall-drawing that he decided to honor the lessons he’d learned in aikido. Eastman’s biggest life tragedy happened before the world fell apart and nothing he’d faced since then probably came close to matching up, horror-wise. Walkers and all. So his code of conduct worked for him, under his very specific secluded circumstances. And thusly, it worked for Morgan too. Morgan, who taken to doing nothing in life but – essentially – being a quasi-Wolf.
We want to hear it.
I loved the way the reveals came in this one. How everything was answered over time. The cell in the cabin. How Eastman lost his family. The fact that he actually did kill Crighton. It was all expertly played. And I loved not being there for Eastman’s suicide. We saw his grave marker as Morgan left the compound and that was enough. I did up a Top 10 Waking Dead Episodes piece before this season started and if I were to ever update the list, “Here’s Not Here” would most certainly be near, or at, the top. Morgan’s become one of the show’s centerpieces this year, and for a good reason. He only appeared briefly in the five seasons before this, but each time he was present, the episode was markedly stronger and more engaging.
We want to hear it.
“Here’s Not Here” did the unthinkable. It got me actively rooting for a merciful mindset within the backdrop of an undead apocalypse. Again, it’s not practical in the cases of large scale chaos and danger, but as a form of restorative therapy it made for some wonderfully emotional moments. Like, Eastman said. Aikido’s about redirecting. And everyone “redirects” in different ways. This is one way to dust yourself off and move forward. It’s not for everyone. But I’m very grateful that it’s for Morgan.
“Here’s Not Here” was a thoughtful, powerful episode that had me just tearing up at the idea of Morgan embracing life again. Just watching him train and twirl that stick with Eastman. It also helped me look back at Morgan’s actions in “JSS” with a newfound appreciation. And the idea of whether or not Morgan’s code can hold (or should hold) in the face of all the dangers Alexandria faces is a very interesting avenue to explore.
