-> Vulture: After some tedious lies and deceptions, in Michonneās words, they needed a time-out. Thatās exactly what they get in one of the best stand-alone episodes in all of The Walking Dead. (ā¦) Itās like watching a two-person play, which makes sense, as the episodeās writer, Danai Gurira (Michonne herself), is an acclaimed and Tony-nominated playwright (ā¦..) āWhat Weā is not a bottle episode. Multiple sets in a single location, two characters with an internal conflict, and the special-effects budget make it a āSuitcaseā episode. Editors Rating: 5 stars
Bloody-Disgusting: Andrew Lincoln once again showcases a masterclass of acting as Grimes cycles through his damaged psyche, desperately trying to figure out how to connect with Michonne. Gurira matches Lincolnās emotional performance, evoking Michonneās desperation and anger with authenticity. Letting Gurira take over writing duties for this specific episode proved extremely beneficial given the emotional legwork the character trudges through in this particular installment. If thereās anyone who can understand Michonne the best, itās Danai Gurira.
The Hollywood Reporter: As the writer of the episode, Gurira felt she clearly understood Michonneās arc, but she wanted to make sure her co-star and fellow executive producer Lincoln had enough meat to sink his teeth into, as well. āYou want to give an actor like him everything you can,ā she says. āAndyās such a fantastic actor who throws everything into it. I was keen to give him that workout.ā Lincoln added to THR, āIt was thrilling to do all of this with friends, but Danai had one heck of a role as well as showrunning the fourth episode as an added responsibility. I thought the work she did on that was an astonishing testament to her skills, especially because apparently she only needs two hours a day to sleep.ā
Den of Geek: To call it a bottle episode is dismissive. Certainly, thereās one major setting, and most of the episode contains little in the way of special effects (by the standards of the average Walking Dead Televisual Universe show). However, most bottle episodes arenāt this interesting, or this gripping. āWhat Weā feels like The Walking Dead taking a stab at doing a spinoff of the Richard Linklater Before trilogy, not wallowing in the usual zombie action or soap opera frippery. Itās almost certainly going to be polarizing, but itās one of the most captivating, emotionally-deep episodes of television from this universe, and itās all down to the powerhouse that is Danai Gurira.
SpoilerTV: āWhat Weā is a captivating exploration of loveās transformative force. Rick and Michonne shed their pretenses, abandoning deceit to forge a profound reconnection. Andrew Lincolnās performance brilliantly resurrects Rick from the abyss of a living man who is dead inside, courtesy of Danaiās masterful writing.
Bleeding Cool: But itās Gurira pulling double duty that deserves all of the attention and tons of praise. Proving that she knows this couple and their dynamic better than anyone, Gurira presented us with what felt like a real couple going through the problems with real reactions- even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. I know that reviews can sometimes go to the extremes-positive or negative- but in the case of āWhat Weā, we have an easy contender for one of the best single episodes of the franchises run.
I'll be waiting on my deathbed (waiting on my deathbed)
Saving my last breath for you
Take my life without you
I would die without you
My soul was shattered into pieces
Jagged edges built a home
Wearing a crown isn't as heavy
When you'd decide to share the throne
Now, I will never leave
You were meant for me
Take my life without you
I would die without you
Take the joy and sadness
Burn the rest to ashes
I'll be waiting on my deathbed (waiting on my deathbed)
Saving my last breath for you
Take my life without you
I would die without you
Forever, forevermore
You're my forevermore
Forever, forevermore
You're my forevermore"
Lyrics: Forevermore / Atreyu
@whateverisbeautiful
I wanted to take part in the game...to pick songs that remind me of richonne and starts with my name, but I only came out with this one šš«£ so I gave up... I'm to picky i guess š¤Ŗ.
Me at Scottās and Danaiās and Andyās doors begging them for more: You canāt just leave us like that. I donāt even want a story. Just get together and film some scenes of what live at the Grimesā is like now. It doesnāt have to follow a big narrative arc or anything. But I do need to see it. What type of activities and the likes does Rick do to spend time with his kids and get to know them? What does Michonne do to āmake upā for the year she missed? How do they adjust to being now a 4 person household? Where is it seamless? Where do they struggle a bit? How does Rick occupy his kids when he needs some alone time with his wife (that man is not done, ok lol)? Rick being the most attentive and present father to be there has ever been during Michonneās pregnancy (listen, sheās already pregnant, itās not up for debate lol). What incredible heartstopping declarations of love does Rick keep dropping on Michonne? What little gifts does he keep finding for her? I need to see all of this and so much more. PLEAAAAASE. Who do I need to bribe??? What do I need to do??
This is why the world needs fanfiction writers šš I hope all the richonne fanfic writers don't go back into hiding again. Now is when we need them the most!!!
Captivating story. Sad ghost Rick ... I love him already. I don't get why Chonne did that to herself and all of them back 150 years ago. Eugene weird as always lmao. This is turning into a i can't put down fic. Please continue. Thanks for sharing š
what lived and died between usā haunts me still
chapter 2
āYou donāt have to forgive me,ā he says, oblivious to her question.Ā āBut you must forgiveĀ yourself.ā
āFor what, Rick?āĀ His eyes turn desperate.Ā āI donāt understand.ā
āDo you really not remember?ā
She doesnāt mean for her voice to come out so harsh, but it does.Ā āRememberĀ what?ā
"The key thing was of course, the fact that Rick has PTSD and that's very much what's driving a lot of his behavior and being in a place of that level of vulnerability, back with the love of his life in that way.
It's also the thing he fears, the loss of her. It manifests itself in a way that is visceral and leads to the lovemaking not just being about love, but the revealing of pain and trauma and fear. That informs Michonne, that she can't just blast him into making sense. There's something deeper going on here that he can't verbalize. She has to help him get through in a different way. So she gets to see him, as well, as he reveals what's really in there, the wound. That's going to happen most likely in that most vulnerable space." ā Danai Gurira
"Yeah, I think it is about pain. As Danai just said, it's about him wanting her and then fearing what he's about to unlock again. He gets to sort of articulate it in the scene further in the episode, when he gets to say that, 'I can't do this again. I haven't got the capacity to do this again. I've worked out how to die and live again.' So it is an absolutely necessary scene that allows Michonne to realize that there's something really broken here, more broken than she's ever anticipated. [...]
So the scene was about a real intimacy, a sort of frightening intimacy. This is a part of his personality he has shut down. It's almost like he's trying to stop himself from feeling this love again. She sees that and she just says, 'Just trust. We're back. We're the same...' I find it very moving. I think it's a very, very moving scene, because it's about them connecting in a way that he's had to deny for seven years. He's denied that connection for the sake of living on in this half life for the CRM" ā Andrew Lincoln
Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira Discuss Episode 4 of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
They can't come back here and make the Richonne fandom come alive again. What if they disappear forever and we can't figure out how to die all over again?
It all feels too good to be true. I fear that a great tragedy is imminent. I don't want any of them to die. That would be devastating and put a sad veil over this wonderful spinoff. I am on the verge of a panic attack.ššš HELP?!?
āThese walls are filledā¦with so many memories.ā His mouth twitches. āSome of them, painful.ā
She watches him as he finds his words. The history of this place is something that weighs on him, thatās clear to see.
āAs for the curseā¦ā He looks into her eyes. āThat would be Richardās doing.ā