“The Walking Dead:” Episode 710 “New Best Friends”

By Luke Oldham, Staff Writer

In this week’s installment of “The Walking Dead,” we find out a little bit more about the people who captured Rick and his group in the last episode. Also, Daryl finds out Carol’s location, and the two longtime friends reunite in Carol’s quaint home outside of the Kingdom.

In last week’s episode, Rick and the group ventured out in search of Gabriel. They were captured by a mysterious group with a large amount of people and guns. This week, we learned that this group remains hidden most of the time, living in a junk yard. Rick proposes that the new group assist them in overtaking Negan’s Saviors. They scoff at first, but Rick convinces them through a trial of his survival skills. They send him into a pit with a walker, covered head to toe in blades and a metal helmet. This is by far the scariest walker that we have seen thus far in the series, but Rick managed to kill it, proving his worth. In the end, Rick’s group bargained to supply their new acquaintances with guns and weaponry, and in return, they would help them fight their war.

On the other side of the episode, Daryl finds Carol through a friendly tip from Morgan. Daryl and Carol have not seen each other in a long time, and their storied and trialed relationship can now continue. It was a very heartfelt moment for longtime fans of the show, who have seen their relationship evolve through each season. When Carol asks Daryl about everyone back at Alexandria, Daryl decides not to tell her about the deaths of Glen and Abraham. He doesn’t want her to seek vengeance, and in turn, lose herself and the little humanity she has left. I understand and respect Daryl’s decision, but Carol is going to find out someday, and it is fun to see her in full attack mode, killing anything in her way.

This episode gives hope for the future of the group, with Rick’s deal having potential to help overthrow Negan. It also had a softer side, with the reconciliation of Daryl and Carol, two of the very few characters that are still alive from season one. Next week looks like it should be very interesting, and the progression of the story is on a good pace. Be sure to tune in to AMC at 9 p.m., this Sunday, to catch “The Walking Dead.”