The Walking Dead: New Haunts (11x10)

I will say I found this episode refreshing on the level of different settings, different kinds of problems to explore than the usual. But at the same time, there was a bit of clunkiness to the script that I can't deny.

Cons:

So one of the conflicts here is your basic class divide. We see the rich and privileged part of the Commonwealth enjoying a fancy party, while the riffraff is left outside. We've got a disgruntled waiter holding a knife to someone's throat so he can have the opportunity to speak to the Governor. The dialogue here was just... so cliché. It sounds like the Commonwealth has a lot of pre-zombie-apocalypse problems, with the underclass having less access to comfort and virtually no access to luxury. That's interesting I guess, but is there anything unique that's going to be said with this?

Pros:

I like the sinister-ness of a community that seems to have its shit in order, but you can sense the cracks around the edges. It's cult-like, the way everyone is smiling and things seem to be going so well, and yet we know how weird and creepy they are about letting in new members, we know there are all these back-handed deals and rituals going on. I do enjoy the vibe quite a bit.

Pamela Milton, Governor of the Commonwealth, and her son Sebastian are perfect examples of this. She seems like she really cares, and he seems like an out-of-touch rich kid with a chip on his shoulder and a tendency for sadism. But what is hiding behind Pamela's outward performance of goodwill and prosperity for all?

We learn that Ezekiel is in line to get surgery that might save his life, but that his number is so far away on the list that he is unlikely to get surgery in time. Carol tries to do some bribing to get him moved up the list, but we have yet to see if it's going to work. Honestly, I was never totally sold by Carol and Ezekiel when they were a couple, but I do like the friendship they have here. That scene of them at the end on the couch together, drinking wine and reminiscing about their dead son, was honestly kind of moving.

I also like seeing how the kids are adjusting. Seeing Judith in a dress, making friends, learning about music and asking for an allowance, really showed the stark contrast between what you want for your kids and what the apocalypse reality has allowed thus far. I like that she seems to be settling in, that all the kids love the Commonwealth, and want to stay... and meanwhile Daryl is feeling some trepidation about things as he notices some of the more complicated aspects of this community. Seeing Daryl parenting Judith honestly warms the heart though, doesn't it?

Connie is a bad-ass reporter, and her sister is her interpreter, and it's so cool to see here asking difficult questions and chasing down leads! Honestly I'm excited to see where her story goes as the season continues. I also do enjoy that Daryl is continuing to learn some sign language to keep chatting with her. I find their friendship (or maybe romance?!) pretty adorable, all things considered.

There's a lot of weirdness going on, integrating the old and the new to the community. I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying seeing Rosita become one of the Commonwealth's soldiers... she's good at it, she's a good fighter and she knows how to correct for the weaknesses of her teammates, but obviously she's feeling very conflicted over the disparity in status between her and some of the other members of the community. It's like a city before the zombies, in all the good and the bad ways.

Honestly not a lot more to talk about here, I'm excited to check in with some other characters next week.

8/10