The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

You know what? This was a pleasant return to form for the franchise. The global phenomenon that was The Walking Dead has long staggered past its prime, swollen with spin-offs and lore that diluted its emotional weight in favor of brand longevity. But The Ones Who Live remembers what made it special in the first place: intimacy, identity, and the sheer humanity at the center of it all. Evocatively, it's a step above its recent predecessors. The cinematography leans into the surreal horror of isolation, and the direction once again understands restraint, using action sparingly and drama surgically. Most importantly, the cast reminds us why we cared for the characters; Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira are exceptionally underrated performers, possessing chemistry that benchmarks the foundation of this series. The writing respects that, allowing us to witness a genuinely earnest relationship that often drives this story.

Surprisingly, it may have benefitted from a couple more episodes! But The Ones Who Live proves that, against it all, this IP might still have something meaningful to say.

Rating: 8/10

Standout Episode: 1x1

Standout Performance: Andrew Lincoln

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