The Walking Dead Review: Knots Untie (Season 6 Episode 11)

Things have slowed down this week on The Walking Dead and, for once, it isn’t a disappointing break from the action. “Knots Untie” provides viewers with an interesting peek in to the more complex political side of this new world and, simultaneously, expands our view of The Walking Dead universe in its entirety.

Any time you watch a show, it is so easy to view everything narrowly — from the specific point of view of the main protagonists. This sometimes makes the fictional world seem small, focused solely on the few characters we spend so much time with. With The Walking Dead, we have always followed Rick and his group of survivors. It has always been this big reveal to discover each new settlement or colony that the group has come across. The show has always been about this group clinging to survival by the skin of their teeth — fighting to make it through to the next day.

This week, we have reached a point where Rick and the others are settling and they are entering the post-apocalyptic chapter in which they start to think about life after the initial, frantic fight for survival: rebuilding, reproducing, and starting a life. In “Knots Untie,” they start to think about really, truly living again.

There are a lot of interesting shifts toward normalcy this week — or something akin to it, at least. We have Sasha and Abraham struggling through the awkward stages of initial interest (and infidelity), we have Rick and Michonne settling in to their domesticity (featuring a very cute scene between Rick and Carl where Rick gets his son’s blessing), and then we have Maggie and Glenn preparing to bring a child in to the world — and their experience with it is, thus far, exactly how a pregnancy should happen in any normal society. They’re excited, they’re happy, they’re showing off ultrasound images to their friends. This is something we didn’t see back when Rick and Lori were expecting a child. Back then, it was a nightmare — a risk. It was dangerous.

Now, it’s a blessing. It’s a symbol of hope for their future.

In the grander sense, Jesus (who is wonderful) introduces our protagonists to the new world — the world in which they are not the only sane group to have created a community for themselves. Not only that, but Jesus introduces them to a political bartering system that exists between these already existing communities and invites Alexandria to become a part of this system. For the first time since everything went to hell, Rick and the others are encountering actual civilization. 

However, as many fans of this show know, nothing good can stay in The Walking Dead. Since the epically dramatic and violent mid-season premier, things have been working out quite well for our heroes — plus, fans will note that Negan’s villainous reputation precedes him. There is absolutely no way that any of this peace or happiness can last.

The concern here is that Rick and the others have undoubtedly bitten off more than they can chew when they decide to make this deal with the Hilltop Colony. They can fight, they know they can fight, but they are making the grave, cocky mistake of assuming that Negan and his men are just a bunch of bullies that have decided that they are going to pick on the little guy who can’t defend himself. This deal is one that, of course, they have to make to ensure the future of their community — but, ultimately, at what cost?

Only time will tell just how much they will lose before all is said and done.

What did you think of this world building episode? Let me know in the comments below!

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The Walking Dead airs Sundays 9/8 on AMC.