'The Walking Dead' Season 10 Episode 14 Review: Carol's resilience shines through as a new Alpha emerges
Spoilers for 'The Walking Dead' Season 10 Episode 14 'Look at the Flowers'
'Look at the Flowers' is reflective and that comes as a calm before the storm. The second half of AMC's post-apocalyptic horror drama has been an intriguing one and Episode 14 is less of action and more of key characters choosing the path they want to take. For some, it's about accepting the fate that lies in store for them.
After the previous episode which in all probability, gave us Danai Gurira's final appearance as Michonne, this chapter is all about the aftermath of Alpha's (Samantha Morton) death. And while Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) pretty much orchestrated it with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), she still hasn't found satisfaction.
The major part of the episode sees her deal with visions of Alpha taunting her and the imminent death she faces. However, amidst all this, her resilience stands out. Maybe that was the intent in charting Carol's storyline this episode.
Alpha may have died, but the horde of walkers and the whisperers have a new leader in Beta (Ryan Hurst). The character has been a constant thorn for the survivors and his rise to being the leader takes up a chunk of airtime. For those who always wanted to know about Beta's past, the man was a rockstar. A detailed look at his cabin sees a guitar, records, some scotch and a bed. Prior to the savage, he's become, Beta was Half Moon, a country music star well adored and celebrated.
It's an eerie sight to see him carry Alpha's gnarling head around, but eventually, he knows to avenge her death, he needs to lead the whisperers. If it meant arming themselves with walkers to amp up the numbers, then so be it. It shouldn't be a surprise if Beta comes for Negan's blood first before he has a chance to take on the survivors.
As for Negan, there's a storyline that suggests he and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) may have buried the hatchet. It's too soon to say, but it's definitely safe to assume when Negan saves Daryl from a whisperer cluster and tells him the truth about killing Alpha. Elsewhere, the trio of Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura), Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt) and Ezekiel (Khary Payton) travel in search of Stephanie.
Ezekiel's at the end of his tether, but the episode gives him a chance to die another day. They come across a city where, much to their amusement, they see walkers handcuffed and dressed up as a cop, a couple and a driver among other things, setting up the introduction of another fan-favorite comic character— The Princess (Paola Lázaro). Fans would know her as the fun and charismatic gunslinger and a drifter. Elsewhere, Michonne, Eugene, Yumiko, Magna and Siddiq head in search of Stephanie.
However, there's a dark past behind The Princess and while we may get to see that backstory in the upcoming episode, her introduction lends some amusement to a rather solemn episode. There's also some wry humor when Negan and Daryl encounter the cluster who acknowledge Negan as the new Alpha.
Part thoughtful, part amusing, 'Look at the Flowers' appears like that one quiet-ish episode before an explosive penultimate and a humdinger of a finale. It's a pity the finale will be aired much later, but the events of this episode are sure to do what just about every episode this season has done— be an edge-of-the-seat thriller.
'The Walking Dead' airs Sundays 9 pm ET on AMC.
