The Walking Dead Review: Dead or Alive Or (Season 8 Episode 11)

The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 11 “Dead or Alive Or” is a little slow, but there are some tense moments and plenty of zombie gore. It’s not the strongest episode of the season, but certainly not the worst.

I was away last week and didn’t review The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 10 “The Lost and the Plunderers” but that was probably the best episode of the season. For the first time, I didn’t hate Negan and found him to be quite menacing.

But with “Dead or Alive Or,” I’m back to being bored by Negan.

Much of the episode is spent with characters I don’t really care about—random Alexandrians, Gabriel and Dr. Carson, Negan and Eugene, and some Hilltop people.

Surprisingly though, Gabriel and Dr. Carson’s storyline is interesting. I had to think for a moment when I had last seen Gabriel and who he was with. I had a feeling that Dr. Carson was going to die because Maggie would now have Siddiq to help deliver her baby.

Two doctors are just too many on The Walking Dead.

At first, it seems like Carson and Gabriel have bad luck. Gabriel’s infection is practically making him blind, their car is broken down, and they’re lost. But then Gabriel says that God is leading the way. It does seem like their luck is changing as the episode progresses.

The house they find belonged to someone who set up a radio station, but apparently didn’t have any success. They also set up traps around the perimeter which nearly causes Carson to become walker food.

It would have been really cool if they had attempted to use the radio equipment and had heard something. It’s been done before, but it would have been fun to see if they had any luck with it.

For a minute, it seems like Carson and Gabriel are about to embark on a blissful journey back to the Hilltop, but it’s not to be.

Some random Saviors find them, but Gabriel is still certain that God is watching over them. That theory is literally shot down as Carson attempts to steal a Saviors’ gun and is instead shot dead.

It’s a bleak ending to an otherwise light, hopeful storyline.

Gabriel is taken to Eugene’s new outpost and Gabriel is forced to help Eugene with bullet production.

So, Eugene tells Negan he needs a few days to produce some bullets.

Seriously? Why hasn’t he been making bullets this whole time?

This news doesn’t please Negan, so he decides that the best way to get Rick and the rest of his enemies is to get them to “join the club.”

Negan’s plan is to infect Rick and company with the zombie virus. But I’m not really sure if it works that way. Haven’t they all doused themselves in zombie guts? Haven’t they gotten blood in their mouths as they bash in walker brains?

I’ll have to see Negan’s plan in action, but any plan involving walkers should be compelling.

The other big storyline is the Alexandrians trying to reach the Hilltop but having to lay low as the Saviors are out hunting them.

Also, Tara is having a huge issue with Dwight being a part of their gang—and she practically kills him.

Dwight apologizes to Tara for killing Denise. That seems like forever ago.

Dwight shows that he is loyal to the Alexandrians (at least for now) as he leads Saviors away from them.

The Alexandrians finally make it to the Hilltop and it’s nice to see everyone in the same space again.  It’s also a little heartbreaking to see Enid’s reaction to Carl’s death, but also very sweet to see Carol and Daryl reunited.

Overall, “Dead or Alive Or” is a good episode with some great visuals. Swamp Zombies are a highlight. I fear that the next battle between Rick and Negan is going to be more of the same, but I have slightly higher hopes as the second half of this season has been much better than the first.

Although “Dead or Alive Or” heavily features some characters I didn’t really care about, the storylines are interesting enough for me to stay invested.

Let’s hope that The Walking Dead continues on this path for the remaining episodes of the season.

What did you think of this episode of The Walking Dead? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

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

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!