The Walking Dead Review: Last Day on Earth (Season 6 Episode 16)

We need to talk about this week’s episode of The Walking Dead, titled “Last Day on Earth.” Viewers may be conflicted about calling the episode a let down, because it does have its strengths, but those strengths are belittled by the weak end to the suspense filled episode that keeps building and building toward a moment we’ve all been waiting for…and then robs us of it.

It’s very, very difficult to give kudos to what the writers did right, considering how massively overshadowed these things are by that disappointing cliffhanger. However, part of why it is so frustrating is because the build up to that moment is actually quite good. It is suspenseful, it’s intense, it’s frightening — the tension is so, so high throughout the entire episode and it keeps us all on the edge of our seats, eagerly (or, perhaps, anxiously) anticipating the carnage we have come to expect from this show.

This is a The Walking Dead Finale, after all. How could it possibly end without some serious bloodshed?

…Good question.

Now, before we talk about that ending, we’re going to gush about Negan for a minute — another magical, wonderful part of this episode whose entrance is simply flawless. The best villains are the ones you can’t help but love and, oh, Lord, do we love him from the moment he steps out of that trailer. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is absolutely phenomenal in the role and that monologue! 

That monologue is quite possibly one of the best I’ve seen on television in a long, long time. He is outstanding. They need to hold on to him for as long as they possibly can because he is going to make magic on this show. He is single-handedly what makes “Last Day on Earth” worth watching.

Because here’s the thing about this episode: it’s a whole lot of tension and build up toward a moment we’ve all been anticipating since we heard the news of Negan appearing on the show, and what do we get?

A point of view shot of Negan beating us with a bat.

Remember last week when I said that for The Walking Dead to shy away from showing us the death of a beloved character would compromise the show’s edgy reputation?

Awkward.

Here’s the thing: literally every single major character death this season has been a fake out and, now, the show’s writers decided to take this massive, emotionally charged moment – the climax to this incredible monologue — and skip the big reveal?! For the sake of a cheap thrill?!

This show has — or used to have — more integrity than that, more heart. It would’ve been devastating in such a fantastic way, storytelling-wise, to actually have Glenn (or whoever, if they’ve really chosen to go a different route) beaten to death and to have fans watch it happen. It is a tragedy and a disservice to fans that they dropped the ball this hard on a moment we’ve been anticipating all season.

All in all, it could have been a strong finale, but that one devastating mistake ruins the entire thing.

Everything except, of course, Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan. He’s outstanding no matter what. Pretty sure nothing could ruin him.

What did you think of that finale? Let me know in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

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