After the horrifying events of the season premiere, there was substantial reason to wonder what the rest of the season might hold in store.  For some, the gruesome deaths and psychological torture were a bridge too far, and continuing to follow the series was not a given.  So it makes sense that the writers would take a different direction with this installment, introducing yet another community and focusing on what has been happening to Morgan and Carol during the same time that Rick found his new place in the world.

 

 

It’s an understatement to say that The Kingdom is unlike any community we’ve seen thus far on The Walking Dead.  King Ezekiel is quite the character, and those unfamiliar with the source material might have been shocked to see a tiger in the mix!  And certainly Carol had a lot of reason to question how someone so absurd could be leading his community without hiding some ulterior motives.  Even knowing that Ezekiel takes a personal part in excursions outside of the “realm” for the sake of his people, Carol’s suspicions were valid.

 

At the same time, this is all very intentional from a structural point of view.  Team Grimes is currently dealing with an adversary that is brutally sadistic but rather open and honest about his intentions and expectations.  For better or worse, Negan is exactly what he portrays himself to be; there is no artifice.  Ezekiel is quite literally the polar opposite.  He is the benevolent and generous ruler of his realm, yet much of his portrayal is outright myth and falsehood.  Considering that both the Sanctuary and The Kingdom appear to be thriving in their own ways, it should be interesting to see which style ultimately wins out.

 

 

One might be tempted to assume the answer has already been given, since Ezekiel pays tribute to Negan, and has been doing long enough to have an established relationship with the Saviors. While it underscores the degree of control the Saviors have over the region, it also provides an example of a thriving community that manages to do so despite Negan, not in opposition to him.  Ezekiel does what is necessary to keep his people safe and secure in the apocalypse, and while Carol may not have much patience for the pageantry, Morgan sees firsthand how Ezekiel navigates the difficult waters of leadership and does it well.

 

If Negan rules by invoking the worst elements of human nature, Ezekiel appeals to their better angels.  What this offers is not just an early example for Rick to possibly follow (and he’d be smart to know when to pick his battles going forward), Ezekiel and The Kingdom represent potential future allies.  Ezekiel is not happy with his arrangement with Negan, he simply knows that it’s better to play along under the current circumstances.  One gets the sense that could change with the right influence.

 

 

It’s not the first time we’ve seen someone with this kind of optimism and genuine care for others; it’s just the first time we’ve seen it successfully implemented.  Let’s face it, the fact that Carol is willing to stick around (even if it’s just outside the borders of The Kingdom) speaks volumes.  She’s wary but willing to give it a chance.  By extension, the audience also has something they can latch onto for a little hope, after the confrontation with Negan seemed to destroy all hope entirely.

 

It’s also worth noting that Carol and Morgan, once bitter enemies, seem to be gaining a bit of respect for one another.  And Morgan might have found the kind of community he can live within, given his opportunity to teach and train Ben.  One might be tempted to wonder when all this goodness might come crashing down, but it’s worth noting that they’ve survived this long and had to have weathered some storms along the way.  Most of the new communities have been around for a while, in fact, and that means Team Grimes (and the audience) needs to get used to the fact they live in a bigger world now.