'The Walking Dead' Season 10 Episode 9 Review: Carol and Negan become the focus of the midseason premiere
Spoiler alert for 'The Walking Dead' Season 10 Episode 9 'Squeeze'
Just when we thought it was just the mid-season finale that was a cliffhanger. 'Squeeze' packs in a lot and just when it feels like there's a sense of opportunity to process what's happened and connect the dots after a lengthy hiatus, it drops another bombshell.
Recap:
The episode picks up with Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), Carol Peletier, Aaron (Ross Marquand), Connie (Lauren Ridloff), Kelly (Angel Theory), Magna (Nadia Hilker) and Jerry (Cooper Andrews) trapped in the cave along with a multitude of Alpha's (Samantha Morton) horde. The group quickly chart out an escape plan with Daryl taking the lead and while they maneuver threats, trouble brews in the form of Carol's claustrophobia.
And all the while, she's still nursing revenge against Alpha which forms a key plot point going forward. Elsewhere, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Alpha have a complex storyline that sees the latter seduce him as a way of thanking Negan for finding out the spy in her camp. Thora Birch's Gamma is revealed to be the insider and Alpha decides to neutralize the threat. However, Gamma's on the run already and Beta tries to pick up a trail.
'Squeeze' concentrates on Daryl and company for the most part of the episode putting them in treacherous conditions in their attempts to break out of the cave. With threats lurking in almost every escape route they look up at, a boon-or-bane situation comes in when Jerry finds a stick of dynamite.
Carol, despite being calmed by Connie and Daryl, concocts a plan that would wipe out half the horde in the cave and that's when the dynamite explodes. While there's an exit that's opened out, a pell-mell battle follows with Connie and Magna trapped inside while the others manage to get out of the rubble.
Review:
The much-awaited mid-season premiere doesn't disappoint as it makes room for multiple plots in the episodes to come. The first question concerns the unknown fates of Connie and Magna who are still stuck with the walkers underneath the rubble. Will their deaths be the first after the shows return?
Then comes the Carol storyline whose actions are partially responsible for the fates of the Connie and Magna. The bloodlust against Alpha meant she could at some point compromise on the safety of the group and this may have consequences. Add to this Negan's motives and his relationship with Alpha.
There's a lot of unanswered questions that 'Squeeze' leaves the viewers with. Riveting and compelling, it makes sure that the entrance is pretty much a bang.
'The Walking Dead' Season 10 airs Sundays 9 pm ET on AMC.