The Walking Dead Review: Silence The Whisperers (Season 10 Episode 4)
The feeling of impending doom and a slow sense of unrest comes into focus on The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 4, “Silence The Whisperers,” as the masks people wear to hide behind start to crack and age.
It’s a theme that runs deep on The Walking Dead now, with the Whisperers hiding their humanity behind masks and characters hiding their truths. Putting strength before emotional wellness is most evident with Ezekiel and Siddiq, as putting on a brave face grows more difficult by the day.
It’s here The Walking Dead finds resonance. Michonne’s opening up to Ezekiel is the emotional core of the episode, as it shows that no one is alone in this dark, desperate world they find themselves in. Those low moments are common for them, but it’s finding those who can rise you up that endure the human spirit.
Both Danai Gurira and Khary Payton are wonderful during the scene, bringing power to a hard moment and making it an essential scene for Ezekiel as he tries to find his place in a world that he no longer recognizes after so much loss.
The outsider angle for Lydia and Negan, and their form of bonding on mutual dislike within the community has been a solid foundation building over a few scenes. That Negan ends up doing the right thing by protecting Lydia, but accidentally taking a life in doing so, is a sign that there can be redemption found in his character.
Negan’s realization at what he caused holds a lot of guilt in it, Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s performance still full of that Negan swagger, but with hints of sorrow and humanity that is a far cry from his regressed, violent state during previous seasons. Morgan does wonderful work on the episode, making the pain and inevitable consequence something he masks with putting on a grin that he likely does not mean.
The impending demand for justice as a result is a telling signal that perhaps the fear and restlessness that has become the norm will not be the norm for long. The Whisperer threat has terrorized the communities for long enough, and the scrawling of “Silence The Whisperers” across Alexandria is certainly the turn of phrase for rising up.
What this means for Lydia, though, is cause for concern. Even stepping out of Daryl’s house sends dark glares her way, especially after being saved by Negan. Michonne’s point of Lydia essentially being a political prisoner to put Alpha in her place can only go so far, as the tide is turning against civility and as Hilltop says, they are at war whether they realize it or not.
Lydia may be right, and Negan’s now vacant cell may be the best place for her, safety-wise.
Negan’s escape is an interesting development. Since Lydia’s admission of being the culprit isn’t believed by Daryl, and he’s been a good judge of character recently, it comes down to someone who would have motive. Is this possibly Aaron returning the favor for Negan, after Negan saves him on The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 3, “Ghosts?” Hopefully it’s the start of something bigger for Negan.
The departure for Oceanside brings a lot of focus on Dan Fogler’s Luke as he says his goodbyes. Normally this would not be cause for concern, but with how much attention it focuses on him, and this sense of foreboding to it, brings worry of what his fate may be on the way to or at Oceanside. He’s going for a potential happy future, which is never a good sign for someone’s long-term odds.
Losing Fogler would be disappointing, as although he may not rise to main character status, he’s a fun and entertaining addition to the cast whose energy and enthusiasm is always welcome. Hopefully it’s just because he’s heading off to join other characters for quite a while, and nothing of concern.
The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 4, “Silence The Whisperers,” is a busy episode that brings the call for social justice onto the two outcasts, and what can possibly be done when right and wrong are both losing results. Making the smaller story of Lydia and Negan fitting into a community that despises them and using it to tell a larger story of where this world finds itself is a compelling way to take the show.
Taking personal stories and having them comment on the bigger picture is where The Walking Dead has always produced its more profound moments, and this episode continues that trend.
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.