The Walking Dead Review: Lines We Cross (Season 10 Episode 1)
Terror comes in many forms, but perhaps it’s most potent when it hangs over everyone, as The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 1, “Lines We Cross,” shows us.
The return finds a sense of unforeseen foreboding creeping into every waking moment of the communities. The episode does a fantastic job of building tension through simply trying to find their place while moving on and trying to discover what comes next.
The way the episode compartmentalizes each perspective is a great way to bring us back into the story, showing the progress made since The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 16, “The Storm,” while starting to show threads of living under the Whisperers threat.
The training sequence during the opening is a window into the communities taking on a more militaristic defense now that they must be careful of every walker they encounter. Their military formations are a sign of discipline and training, that clearly the Whisperers have left them at such a disadvantage where they must strike with caution when defending themselves now.
But all the same, the washed up Whisperer mask at the shoreline is a clear indicator of how on edge they are. While they may have moved on, the pain is still fresh. It’s something The Walking Dead has struggled with at times, where events don’t linger for long on character’s minds; here, the traumatic event is still deep.
Being on edge also brings on frustration, namely in Aaron. He’s been a character who usually leans toward kindness, and so for him to start growing tired and frustrated of playing nice is a solid sign of how far the Whisperers have pushed the groups, and that the time of acceptance is nearing its end.
Their respect of the border shows how much they have lost in terms of their independence, how willing they are to live in fear to keep things normal. But to live in fear is not normal, and the cracks are starting to appear, especially when the fire occurs.
The fire from the satellite crash is a continuation from The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 16, “The Storm,” where elements are smartly used to catch the characters flat-footed. Keeping the threats to something the characters cannot control and are out of their own element on makes for a new way to challenge them, and keep the show fresh and interesting.
The need to respect the border but also do the right thing for both sides makes putting out the fire a hard choice, one likely with consequences, but it must be done. It does allow us to see how organized they are, alongside their training earlier, that they are no longer the softer target they have been in the past.
The stare-down between Alpha and Carol is a great way to cap off the hour. These two characters heading for a showdown is exciting, Carol the hardest hit over events on The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 15, “The Calm Before,” with Henry, likely ready to tear down everything Alpha has built. Carol may have been occupied on the boating runs, but that time clearly has passed and retaliation is in order.
But there are signs of good that pop up in between the harder times. Alexandria looks to be thriving, with Rosalita’s baby doing well with a strange four-sided parenthood; Lydia is (somewhat) adapting to her new surroundings; and even Negan is allowed out of his cell to enjoy some vegetable picking.
Daryl learning sign language is a nice little moment, one of multiple scenes where people are trying their best to show some sense of normality. His partnership with Connie last season is one of the best additions to the show, and so their banter and friendship (or possibly more?) looking to continue is a good sign for The Walking Dead moving forward.
These sorts of moments are fleeting within the confines of the action at the center of the episode, but it does allow some personal character growth and to show that despite things getting worse, there’s always some good.
Because for The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 1, “Lines We Cross,” it’s about making those small personal moments in between the hardships count. Michonne hearing Judith explain Rick’s final stand and framing it as doing the ultimate kindness for the betterment of his people shows that despite all the darkness in their world, there’s still hope and goodness to be found. It just needs to be given a little light to thrive in.
What did you think of this episode of The Walking Dead? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.