The Walking Dead - “The Cell” Review. Life is Sweet on Easy Street.

Season 7, Episode 3

Air Date: Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 9/8c on AMC

Rating: ★★★★★

“Who are you?” – Negan

Daryl might be down but he’s not out.

I know what song I can’t stand now. A visit to Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) stronghold, “the Sanctuary,” takes us on a serious trip. The music montages are used to smooth over a rough existence. While getting a look at the inner workings of the stronghold, how its people live, and what they do when they aren’t taking from others, an overwhelming sense of how frightened the survivors are defines their actions. Did I learn anything? Yes. Have I changed my thoughts on these guys? No. In fact, I realize I dislike these guys even more after watching “The Cell.” The Walking Dead (TWD) takes a turn from the zombie killing gore to “Who’s the Boss?” episodes. At least something good has survived the zombie apocalypse.

What I Liked

Daryl (Norman Reedus) isn’t dead. He’s naked in a cell, eating dog food, while being forced to listen to horrible 80s music but he’s alive. I’m not a fan of Daryl being inside the Sanctuary but I do enjoy watching Reedus delve deep to bring to life Daryl’s despair. He takes Daryl down a path we aren’t used to seeing. The stress of Dwight’s (Austin Amelio) “breaking” him *cough* psychological torture *cough* is more than Daryl can handle. He’s alone, guilt-ridden, and distraught. But one thing he isn’t doing is backing down. “I ain’t never gonna kneel.” Daryl is faced with almost the exact thing that happened with the Claimers, except then, Daryl thought he was truly alone and was in search of someplace to belong. I still don’t get why people keep taking Daryl as if he’s some trophy or prize to be sought after. I can’t see him giving in to the Sanctuary and what it stands for.

Random Thoughts

Negan has his hand in everything. What does he hold over everyone, besides Lucille?

Negan really is a thug with a baseball bat who likes to toss terror around in place of respect. I totally agree with the guy who says to Dwight, “there’s only one of him and all of us, so why are we living like this?” My point exactly, dude. There is more to life than living with the apprehension of what one person might do to you. If everyone stood up to Negan, he’d be a dead man. Has he put everyone in a cell and berated them with the same song until they snapped? I don’t understand the level of power he has over his people. I mean, they freaking kneel when he walks past them. Who does Negan think he is? He doesn’t give these people freedom, safety, or security. He scares them shitless and shows how his crew can intimidate others who try to exert their independence—that’s no way to live. These survivors need to grow a pair.

At least King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) has it right. The Kingdom is what the Sanctuary wants to be but doesn’t know it yet. There is no sense of community in the Sanctuary. It comes across as a place where only the strongest survives, and every man is for himself. The taking is what pisses me off most. The lieutenants―if you want to call them that―are nothing more than bullies. Where Ezekiel and Rick (Andrew Lincoln) have their people’s respect, Negan elicits his people’s dread. It is better to be respected than feared. Until Negan meets his match, he won’t understand that.

I get the feeling Dwight wants to be Daryl but not in the sense of wearing his skin or anything creepy like that. Dwight wants what Daryl has on the inside, the self-assuredness. Daryl exudes a confidence that can’t be taught. On the other hand, Dwight likes lording his position over Daryl. Here Dwight has taken his bike, vest, and weapon of choice, and there isn’t a thing Daryl can do about it, either. Problem is, Negan sees Daryl as a problem, and that’s an issue. You have one person stand up to Negan, the rest might get the same idea, and he can’t abide that.

We see how people ‘live’ inside the Sanctuary. They may not have to fear the living dead but they have no sense of security inside the Sanctuary’s walls. What they feel is theirs can be taken away without provocation. These survivors are brainwashed into believing Negan has all the answers, and is everywhere, and able to keep them all alive. I’m calling bullshit.

I’m glad to see Dwight didn’t fry Daryl up some bacon. We don’t want him eating tainted meat.

Overall

Daryl is biding his time and he isn’t letting anything get by him.

I enjoyed “The Cell” for a couple of reasons. The episode isn’t full of death and gore. It is interesting in various aspects because of the sneak peek into Negan’s operations, and the reveal of what’s happening with Daryl. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much to what Negan is doing to his people that we don’t know about, and we have yet to see how everyone else in The Walking Dead world will fare against Negan. I’m intrigued about where this part of the story is headed.

Let me know what you think about “The Cell” by dropping me a line in the comments section below or tweet me @ellemoe.

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Elle

Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle