The Walking Dead recap Season 6 episode 13: The Same Boat

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So, Walking Dead fans, Season 6 is making me crazy! If you’re anything like me, you’re losing your sh-t. Just remember, we’re in this together! We’re all in … The Same Boat.

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Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Sonequa Martin-Green as Sasha, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Corey Hawkins as Heath, Michael Cudlitz as Abraham, Danai Gurira as Michonne, Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler, Lennie James as Morgan, Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene, Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter, Ross Marquand as Aaron, Merritt Wever as Dr. Denise Cloyd, Tom Payne as Jesus, Jeremy Palko as Andy, Jason Douglas as Tobin, Mandi Kerr as Barbara, and Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Alrighty! Onward.

Before they can go to the aid of Rick and the rest, Carol and Maggie are captured by a redhead (Paula) and her little posse. Neganites.

Prior to the hostage situation, Carol shoots one in the arm (Donnie). She clearly could have blown his head off, but she doesn’t. Now is not the time to gain a conscience, Carol. Get Morgan outta your head.

Carol and Maggie are quickly surrounded. A gun is held to Carol’s head and the two are forced to give up their weapons. I am forced to freak out and cuss for the rest of the episode.

They see our gang get Primo – what a stupid name – and that’s when Paula walkies Rick the “prick”.

I don’t like any of this. Carol looks meek. I hope it’s a ploy.

Primo, it appears, is of value to the Neganites. He’s got some doctoring skills, and a wounded Donnie wants him around. Even though Paula says things are gonna go their way, I have faith in the fact that they won’t. She doesn’t think two for one is an even trade, but Rick is steadfast.

His noncompliance rattles Paula, and Carol and Maggie are quickly ushered away to a waiting vehicle. I’m freaking out.

Paula walkies another Neganite to inform him of the situation and designate a meeting place. Her chubby comrade (Molly?) isn’t pleased with the location, but Paula believes the place will save their dumb asses. I seriously hate these broads! I can’t wait until they’re dead.

Carol and Maggie, gagged and bound with duct tape, sit on the floor of a large room. Paula is overconfident that she’s calling the shots. I want to punch her.

A walker that occupied the room prior to their arrival is dispatched, and as the Negan groupies drag it out, its rosary is catches on Carol’s shoe. I’m sure she’ll use it to her advantage. Even if she looks broken, I know she’s not … she can’t be. She’s Carol.

There’s a ruckus beyond the room and a call for help summons Paula. Before rushing out, she proclaims that she’d like to kill Maggie and Carol. “I dare you: Just try something and see what happens.” She said “dare.” She has no idea who she’s dealing with.

As soon as they’re left alone, Maggie and Carol go about “trying something.” Maggie attempts to break her binds, and Carol grabs the rosary. As they hear the Neganites returning, Carol begins to hyperventilate.

I hope … HOPE … she’s acting, but she’s got me worried this episode, and I’m not too sure. Even Maggie looks concerned. I don’t know about you, but I’m kinda fearing her demise … and thinking about never watching the show again if it comes to fruition. I did the same thing with Hershel. But if Daryl goes, I put my foot down for real, dammit! And if anyone wants to call me a fair weather fan, bring it. We can throw down in the comments.

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Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead _ Season 6, Episode 12 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Anyway, the Neganites return with Donny in tow. He really wants Primo, but he gets a shi-ty tourniquet instead.

When their attention is finally turned to Carol, I’m also hyperventilating … if Carol is faking, she’s doing a fantastic job because I’m kinda concerned she’s not. Maggie is screaming around her gag, and I’m just screaming – SAVE CAROL! Their gags are removed, and Carol gains composure.

I relax a little and take some “yoga breaths.” I’m trying to force myself to believe Carol is just playing a part – like she did in Alexandria – but I can’t pull it off. This is different.

She looks really tired.

The Neganites see her as weak, and when Molly finds the rosary hidden in her pocket, she pegs Carol as “one of those.” Carol holds the rosary to her lips. It’s very convincing. Even Maggie looks shocked.

When Paula asks Carol what she’s so scared of, Carol shares her concern for Maggie – and the baby. Brilliant! This changes the whole game. All women share one thing … the mom instinct. Kids or not, it’s there, and it unites us whether we like it or not.

The Neganite women are clearly thrown by the news. Paula talks some tough-chick crap and quickly ducks out. The brunette with the mole looks totally shaken. Molly fires up a smoke with unsteady hands and starts hacking like Doc Holliday.

Donnie, sick of the girl talk and the lack of attention, starts whining about his wound. Maggie frankly states he’s not gonna live. He ain’t hearin’ it! He’s got the eye-for-an-eye (or arm) thing going, and he wants Carol to get hers … Maggie too. Paula says they need the insurance, but he’s pissed. He cracks her in the face and goes for Carol. Maggie trips him … and gives him one hell of a head-butt. Whoo-hoo!

Then his own take care of him. Paula pistol whips him while he’s kicking Carol. He goes down again and stays put. The brunette is instructed to take Maggie out of the room for questioning. Her first querry is about Alexandria. How can Maggie be okay with pregnancy under the current circumstances? She’s fishing for a better situation than her own.

In the other room, Carol and Paula converse. Carol thanks her for the intervention. Well played. Paula calls Carol pathetic … of course she knows what Carol’s all about. So stupid. Carol is still clutching the rosary, which is laughable to Paula. Who the hell has faith in such an f’d up situation?

Rick walkies in about the trade. Paula is still not ready. She ought to get ready quicker, but I suppose the episode is only half over.

Carol begs Paula to listen to Rick — hurting her or Maggie isn’t necessary. Paula doesn’t agree. After all, Daryl, Sasha and Abe killed a whole troop of their people … of Negan’s people. Carol claims self-defense, so Paula asks why they felt the need to keep on coming – to invade the compound – to kill even more people.

Carol explains they kept coming for fear of Negan. Molly laughs and says they’re ALL Negan. This is an interesting statement. Carol asks what it means, but Molly is having another hack attack, so Carol gets no answer. She looks terribly distressed.

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She requests a cigarette, and Paula quips that Carol is so lame she can’t even stick to her own principles. Carol replies, “You don’t want me to stick to my own principles.” She says it so quietly, I don’t think it registers with Paula who begins expounding about her pre-apocalyptic life.

Kind of odd to think about. Here Carol and Maggie are at the mercy of Negan’s minions, but over the last fifteen minutes or so, we’ve been forced to look at them as human. And even though I still really hate Paula and her pals, I understand who they were before the walkers and why they became who they are now.

I’d like to think that water seeks its own level, even at the end of the world … but now I wonder. It seems like Carol might be wondering the same thing. Rick and his group are our heroes. We have come to know and love them, and no matter what they do, even if it’s stupid, we defend them and root for them.

What if the show had begun with Negan’s journey?
OK, it didn’t, and now I’m going to stop waxing philosophic.

Paula spins a pretty good analogy she read via email and how she remained herself through all of the crap … only the crap has made her better. Carol interjects; how can being part of a group of killers make her better? She pretty much tells Carol to look in the mirror.

This strikes a chord in Carol. The words make her wince, but she comes back … if she was acting before, she’s not anymore. Paula is the one who’s afraid to die, and she’s going to do it far sooner than she thinks if she doesn’t contact Rick. Paula smugly asks if Carol is going to kill her. Carol says, “I hope not.”

Moments later, Paula walkies Rick. She’s ready to make the trade. Based on the lack of static, she knows the Grimes group is close. She walkies her people; they’re also close. Regardless, preparations need to be made to handle either situation. She and Molly leave the room. Carol is left alone to gather her wits and make her escape.

She quickly finds Maggie and frees her. Carol wants to leave immediately. Maggie insists they have to “finish” it first … they can’t leave without killing the remaining Neganites. Carol tries to protest, but Maggie won’t hear it.

They go to the room where they were originally held. Dead Donnie is on his way to walkerville. They tie him up near the door, let him take care of Molly, and then abscond with her gun. Paula comes back to find the only bodies occupying the room are those of her dead comrades. Things aren’t going her way at all.

Carol and Maggie find a group of walkers set up to keep them from getting out and their group from getting in.   Even worse, Paula is hot on their heels. She fires the few bullets she has left but misses. Carol aims her gun at Paula and tells her to run. Maggie urges Carol to shoot, but Carol hesitates. It is only when a walker nearly bites her that she accidentally wounds Paula.

They hear the brunette coming. She goes for Maggie. Carol watches long enough for her to graze Maggie’s stomach with a knife. Carol shoots her in the head, but I know it’s only because of the threat to Maggie. It appears Carol is no longer our ninja.

She turns to Paula, who sits wounded on the floor. She laughs at Carol and acknowledges that they were both scared “little birds” … but that was before. They aren’t that anymore. “Right?”

Carol doesn’t want to kill her, but in the end, she has no choice. The approaching Neganites walkie in, and Carol does her best Paula impression, telling them to meet on the “Kill Floor.”

As they wait, Carol blames herself for not killing Donnie in the woods … she had a clear shot, but she didn’t take it. Maggie tells her it doesn’t matter. “It’s almost over.” They wait for the Neganites to enter the room they’ve covered in gasoline. Before they know what hits them, Carol lights a cigarette and tosses it in before she and Maggie slam the door shut. Carol leads the way out of the smoke.

Walker - The Walking Dead _ Season 6, Episode 13 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Walker – The Walking Dead _ Season 6, Episode 13 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

They prepare for the worst as they get ready to leave, but when they open the door, they find their group on the other side. Maggie all but falls into Glenn’s arms. Daryl goes to Carol and asks her if she’s okay. She tells him she’s not. He grabs her and hugs her tightly. Maggie tells Glenn they’ve killed everyone, but she just can’t do it anymore. Both she and Carol are spent.

Rick questions Primo about Daryl’s bike … and Negan. Primo tells Rick that he’s Negan, but Rick has no patience for such nonsense. He puts his gun to Primo’s head and pulls the trigger. Carol watches with profound sadness on her face.

She clutches the rosary so tightly, her own blood drips down the beads.

This episode was pretty damn unexpected … WHAT DO YOU THINK? 

  • What is going on with CAROL? Did Morgan get to her or did she get to herself?
  • The Same Boat – An interesting title that I did not catch in the episode.   How should we interpret it in light of the conversations and events that transpired?
  • What do you make of the statement “We’re all Negan” when we know there’s but one Negan?
  • Do the walkers even matter anymore, or are the just an annoying inconvenience?
  • Who will we lose at season’s end and why?

Sound off in the comments section below.

New episodes of The Walking Dead premiere Sundays at 9/8CT on AMC.

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