The Walking Dead Review: JSS (Season 6 Episode 2)

This episode of The Walking Dead, “JSS” (or, as we like to call it, “A Carol in Wolf’s Clothing”), certainly doesn’t pull any punches — and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’re only two episodes in and this already feels like the beginning of one, giant, sixteen episode long finale. It’s unreal how fast this season is moving and how hard it is hitting — how big it is. Both episodes thus far have been packed with thrills and action of epic proportions, and it makes one wonder: if this is how ambitious they’re being with their episodes right out of the gate, what sort of masterpiece can we expect for the finale?

The episode starts slowly, deceiving viewers into believing that this is going to be one of those episodes. You know the ones: character building episodes. The thing with The Walking Dead is that the characters on this show are all so strong and so interesting in their own respective ways that no one is really groaning at the idea of a character-centric episode. We love these people — you’re damn right we want to get to know them.

But that’s definitely not to say that anyone is disappointed when the Wolves come flying in to hack a woman to bits while Carol watched through her window. It is so unexpected, so shocking, that it catches everyone completely off guard, setting in motion one of the most disturbing episodes of the show thus far.

Here’s the kicker: this massacre-filled episode is essentially zombie free. The Wolves enter Alexandria and begin slaughtering its inhabitants without rhyme or reason — seemingly without any real motivation at all, considering they clearly didn’t come for supplies or weapons. There’s nothing more disturbing than people who simply kill for the fun of it, for the sport — the ones who can’t be bargained or reasoned with because their motivation is the kill itself. How do you survive?

Well, if you’re lucky enough to even be half the badass Carol Peletier is, you go undercover and you turn the violence on your assailants — show them that they messed with the wrong community. Carol is at her best in this episode, looking every bit the avenging angel in her Wolf disguise, ripping through Alexandria, killing any Wolf who dares cross her path.

There really aren’t enough words of praise to do justice to the woman Carol has become. She is incredible. Bye-bye, Suzy Homemaker.

Special recognition has to be given to Morgan as well, however. Where Carol is ruthless and merciless, Morgan is intriguing because of his belief in mercy, because of the value he still places on life in a world where such a view is considered a weakness. After everything he’s been through, it’s incredible to see such mental and emotional strength in a person. To be able to still sympathize, empathize, in a world that is so cold and cruel is truly admirable. Morgan is a badass in his own right — perhaps even more deserving of the title than any other we’ve so eagerly given it to.

What’s interesting is that The Walking Dead fans will cheer Carol on as she slaughters the Wolves without blinking, rather than Morgan who chooses to only kill when it is necessary. Morgan manages to subdue and bind one of their attackers, and Carol runs over and shoots the defenseless man in the head.

The theme of the episode is “Just Survive Somehow.” It has been drilled into our minds that survival on The Walking Dead means a life without mercy, that we can trust no one and take no risks when it comes to keeping people safe and staying alive. We, like Carol, like Rick, don’t even question Carol’s lack of hesitation — we applaud it.

She is doing what needs to be done, right?

Perhaps.

What do you think? Do you think Morgan’s philosophy can work during a zombie apocalypse, or do you believe in the tried and true Rick and Carol method of survival? Let me know in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating: 

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

Becky Peters

Becky is a television, literature, and pop culture enthusiast who spends more of her time exploring fictional worlds than she does living in the real one. Post-apocalyptic and dystopian settings are her kryptonite, and she has a strange soft spot for anything that involves the walking dead (the creatures themselves, not the show -- but the show is good, too). You can usually find her engrossed in shows like Preacher, The Walking Dead, Sense8, or any one of the many other series that tickle her fancy. Follow Becky on Twitter: @epic_bcky