The Walking Dead Review: East (Season 6 Episode 15)

The Walking Dead continues to kill time until the big season six finale next week with this week’s episode, “East.”

It’s to be expected though, really. They want to hold off and save up everything they’ve got for this finale (hopefully).

Regardless, we still have an episode this week, and the episode is…well. It’s okay. Certainly not the worst we’ve seen, but definitely not the best.

One of the weakest aspects of this season has been their constant need to push viewers in to caring about the new Alexandrian characters and we see more of this in “East.”

We don’t care. Not as much as the showrunners want us to, at least.

And using our well loved favorites to try to make us care is only hurting the story and character development.

First and foremost, we can all agree that Daryl going after the Saviors out of some random, overwhelming need to avenge the death of a near perfect stranger is completely out of left field. If the writers needed to give Daryl a reason to leave Alexandria, to set up his “death,” don’t you think it would make much more sense to have Daryl go after Carol, who we all know he adores and would do absolutely anything for…?

Presumably, the logic here is that Daryl doesn’t know Carol left, but if y’all needed a reason for him to leave, that is it right there. He could have found out. Rick could have told him. Why on earth would you pick Denise’s death as his motivator?

Also, let’s just take a moment with the fact that Carol leaves Alexandria and, rather than leave a note for Daryl or Rick or, hell, even Maggie, she leaves her goodbye note with her new Alexandrian boyfriend. Really? Are you sure?

Yeah, I’m not buying it either.

On a positive note: is Maggie’s baby dead and eating her from the inside?! Zombaby?! Gosh, I hope so. That would be absolutely disgusting and amazing and I, for one, am completely on board with it. So, if that’s where this is headed, keep it up. Let’s do this.

Now, on to the moment that leaves fans in a state of panic: did they just kill Daryl…?

…Nah.

The Walking Dead writers have become big fans of the Beloved Character Death fake-out this season and that is exactly what I predict is happening with Daryl — at least for now. With all the hype surrounding this season’s finale and the massively anticipated arrival of Negan, it would be insane for them to take out arguably the show’s most beloved character the week before the big finale. Such a major event is something to be saved, savored, and, honestly, shown. 

This is Glenn 2.0. This show does not shy away from showing our favorite characters dying in horrible, brutal, heartbreaking ways — why would they start now?

Deep breaths, fans. Save your tears for next week.

Something tells me we’re gonna need ’em.

What did you think of “East?” Let me know in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

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