'The Walking Dead: World Beyond' Episode 8 Review: Silas' fate and a traitor set up a gripping finale
Spoilers for 'The Walking Dead: World Beyond' Episode 8 'The Sky is a Graveyard'
Cutting straight to the chase now. Silas (Hal Cumpston) was the reason behind Tony's (Scott Adsit) brutal death. And by his own admission, it appears that Percy's (Ted Sutherland) dead and he's responsible for it too. 'The Sky is a Graveyard' opens with a tearful Silas tied outside while the rest of the team discuss the way forward.
With some still working on believing that a gory murder had taken place right under their noses, this is probably the episode every 'World Beyond' fan wanted. And there's every reason too. From a detailed look at one of the character's tragic pasts, some startling truths and the hint of what would happen in the future are all showcased rather crisply in the episode.
Silas's past was explained in bits in pieces but it does show in full what the teen's psyche has been since the time he was brought into the community. There is no doubt that he was a troubled teen with a violent father. 'The Sky is a Graveyard' has a generous flashback segment.
Cut back to his pre-community days, where the virus outbreak was slowly spreading, Silas is seen punching his dad in an uncontrollable fit of rage. This comes off the back of his father abusing and getting physical with the teen till the kids flip. As his father bleeds to death, Silas convinces his neighbor to leave them alone and when he returns, his father has transformed into a zombie.
The threat is finally neutralized when the zombie takes on his mother and Silas kills it in self-defense to protect his mother. In the present, Hope (Alexa Mansour), Huck (Annet Mahendru), Elton (Nicolas Cantu), and Felix (Nico Tortorella) deduce he killed Tony and Percy because of his love for Iris (Aliyah Royale).
Each member tries really hard to even come to terms that Silas was the murderer and strongly against it is Elton and Iris. While this storyline plays out, the episode also focuses on Elton and Hope, where she finally reveals the truth about accidentally killing his mother on the night of the zombie outbreak.
The episode ends with a confession from Silas as he decided to make his forward alone. Elton offers to travel with him as he hopes their chances of making it alive are better as a team. That's the first sign of what's to come as the teens make choices based on what has happened in their journey so far. This could pretty much shape their story arcs for the rest of the season and in the upcoming installment.
The shocker, however, comes in the form of Huck as she's shown to be working with Elizabeth (Julia Ormond). This sets up a grand two-part episode on November 29. It has been a breezy affair so far with a couple of hiccups. But it is safe to say 'World Beyond' starts with its actual storytelling from Episode 8.
It delves into themes of trauma, disbelief and choices that are made when these two factors influence your thinking. Much of the girls' future now hinges on Felix as Huck comes across as a traitor. But is she one really? Now Episode 9 does seem a far way off.
'The Walking Dead: World Beyond' airs on Sundays at 10 pm ET on AMC.