The Walking Dead | The Ones Who Live | Ep. 1 "Years" Recap & Review

*SPOILERS AHEAD!*

Well, February 25th came to us fast as the new rendition of The Walking Dead is now here. The Ones Who Live is the latest spinoff from the original series, the third to be exact. These blogs, articles, pieces, etc. will follow the journey (and hopefully a companion podcast soon) of Rick and Michonne finding their way back to each other. Let's dive in!

We see Rick in obviously what is a new community, a community that he apparently doesn't like and has tried to escape 4 times, and counting. In the graphic novels (comics), we saw Rick without a hand for the better part of the last half of those books. Maybe I heard him wrong while watching, but if I didn't, I love the [hopeful] call-back to the comics in which Rick is somewhat on a leash so that he doesn't try to escape again, and proceeds to cut his hand off. During this process, he says "this is how it happens". Again, I could be paraphrasing as I am not sure if I heard him right (yes writing this based off of only watching it once, so far).

Throughout the episode, we see Rick already encountering Michonne, but this is obviously a dream sequence. The two exchange some flirtatious vibes, giggling and smiles. I'll be honest, I am a huge TWD fan, I always seem to defend the show even during its slow points in the OG series between seasons 7-9. But, I do hope this series does better when it comes to scenes/sequences like this. I understand that Rick is dreaming, but I just wasn't feeling these parts. If you have followed us through the OG series and even Dead City, you know that I love flashbacks, a little bit more than dream sequences- unless they depict flashbacks.

We also see Rick contemplating suicide. He's sitting as his dinner table with a piece of glass and actually draw blood on his neck. He obviously thought better of himself and changed his mind. Rick is also narrating throughout some of this episode. Most of which comes from letters he is writing to Michonne, letters that she will never read or see. These sequences were just okay, I like that they showed mini flashbacks during some of these narrations. Rick is also now part of a new "army" in which he started at the bottom, sort of like the newbies did at the Sanctuary where they had to kill walkers out in front of the compound. Because Rick has tried to escape many times - and because he is Rick Grimes and a walker-killing veteran- he is viewed as very valuable. New character Okafor sees this grand potential and "promotes" him to be part of the CRM (Civic Republic Military) Long story short, Rick hates everything about this place, and just wants to finish his search for Michonne. Rick, during one of his narrations, seems to find a bit of clarity as he finally throws away the phones with Michinne drawings on them and also the letters he wrote that she'll never read. Although this may be considered as a sad scene, I feel like we finally see some growth from Rick in which he has no choice but to move on and try to embrace this new life.

As we approach the end of the episode, he see Rick piloting a helicopter -flashback shoutout- during an argument between Rick and Okafor, Okafor states that he is the one that ordered the bombing of Atlanta. YES! The same helicopter that we see above the heads of Lori and Shane way back in season 1 of the OG series. And yes, the same helicopters that we see all throughout the OG series. Anyway, back to the end of this episode, This is where I was super surprised. First, Rick and Okafor's helicopter was taken out by what seemed like some high-grade militant weapons. Second, as Rick tries to escape the person who took down the chopper, we see the reunion we were all hoping for...in the first episode? Yes, the first episode. I am torn about this, part of me is like "why did they reunite them so early" and the other half has chills because as I've stated I love this franchise, and I always get chills when the big reunions happened in the OG series when groups got separated. While this is a smaller reunion, "Richonne" is back together. Now I know Scott M. Gimple (show runner) have a plan for why Rick and Machine are reunited so early in this new series.

Overall, I have mixed reactions for the first episode of this new series. After I watch a new /show/series, I try to let what I just watched marinate for a little bit so I have time to sort out my feelings and thoughts. and to be honest I thought this premiere was just okay. If I had to give it a grade, I suppose I would give it an honest "C". While I obviously have hope for this series just like I had for Dead City, I would expect for this series to just get better as the series moves along, even if is only 6 episodes to start.