Season 8, Episode 7
Air date: Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 9PM E/P on AMC
Rating:
“They’re former traveling companions, nothing more.” – Eugene
Dr. Carson sees Eugene walk by and asks him to keep an eye on Father Gabriel so he can go gather some herbs – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
If you were hoping for a Eugene (Josh McDermitt) centric episode, then “Time For After” is it. Probably not that many of you asked, but all Eugene (well, mostly Eugene) is what you get. My acronym for the groups (Alexandria, Kingdom, Hilltop) A.K.H. isn’t too far off Eugene’s “AHK” (Alexandria, Hilltop, Kingdom). But the real crux of “Time For After” lies in the actions and decisions of a mullet-sporting coward who doesn’t know what’s what. But he’s chosen his side. Is it the “winning side” as Dwight (Austin Amelio) puts it, with Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the A.K.H. group? Well, I think you’ll figure it out after you read this review.
I haven’t given Eugene much thought since he chose to leave Rick’s group back in season seven. And though I hoped after Sasha’s (Sonequa Martin) sacrifice in the season seven finale, “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life,” Eugene would try to make amends and somehow destroy Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) from inside the walls of The Saviors’ Sanctuary, alas, my hopes are dashed. There is talk of Eugene finding redemption this season, but after all his scheming for self-preservation in “Time For After,” I’m done with him.
I don’t think Negan has any respect for Eugene – he just needs him for his “strong” brain – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Throughout “Time For After,” the main focal point is Eugene and how his choices, his actions determine the outcome of this particular battle against the Saviors. If he helps Negan, then everything and everyone he knew from before will be destroyed, including the beloved memory of his former ally and friend, Abraham (Michael Cudlitz). If he throws in his lot with Dwight, who is assisting A.K.H., Eugene could be revered as a hero by helping to put an end to Negan’s reign of terror. Why are this coward’s actions weighed so heavily as a deciding factor in whether A.K.H. wins the war against Negan? He knows how to make bullets and he’s smart – big whoop. He’s dead weight in my eyes. Did I miss a memo from the Saviors that says use music and/or speakers to lure away the walkers from the Sanctuary? Apparently, Eugene got it because of his futile attempts at doing what the Saviors did in episode 6, “The King, the Widow, and Rick” before Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Tara (Alanna Masterson) rammed them with a dump truck.
The other sub-plots in “Time For After” involve Rick, who still happens to be Jadis’ (Pollyanna McIntosh) prisoner, and Daryl and Tara, who both want to fast-forward on destroying the Saviors.
You nasty, Jadis – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Jadis’ obsession with Rick makes me laugh. In the opening scene of “Time For After,” the reason for the episode title is somewhat explained in this conversation.
Rick: “Why the pictures?”
Jadis: “Sculpt you, after.”
Rick: “After what?”
Jadis: “After.”
To the writers, abbreviated cryptic gibberish accomplished. Jadis underestimates Rick’s will to survive and to kill Negan. If she thinks Rick can’t fight with his hands tied behind his back, literally, she knows it now. And even with Rick pinning her down within inches of a walker’s gnarling teeth, it’s obvious she still experiences tingles and jingles in her nether regions because she asks to sculpt him without his boxers. You nasty, Jadis; I don’t trust you. And her wanting her very own Rick-Doll for possible sexual use disgusts me. A side note: Rick does look sort of dirty-sexy in his skivvies. Just saying.
Dirty Sexy Rick – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Rosita (Christian Serratos) tag along with Daryl and Tara after being rescued in episode 6, “The King, the Widow, and Rick.” But after hearing Daryl and Tara’s plan, they both feel uneasy about participating. So far this season, the plan Rick has in place seems to be leading A.K. H. to victory despite some devastating losses. I know both Daryl and Tara have scores to settle with Negan and the Saviors, but this isn’t the time to start going off the rails. Side note: Seeing Morgan (Lennie James) come back into the fold is surprising but I can’t even go into this right now. It’s too much to deal with.
Great Lines and Conversations:
Despite the shit I’m giving the writers, especially for the Scavengers’ intolerable jibber-jabber, they did come up with some absolutely hilarious and clever lines for a few characters in “Time for After.”
Eugene and Dr. Carson (R. Keith Harris) talk about Father Gabriel’s (Seth Gilliam) rapidly declining health. Eugene expresses his wish that Father Gabriel hadn’t come on this mission, plus, “I also wish for Razzles but if wishes were horses and all that…”
Father Gabriel is asking the wrong guy to help him – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Father Gabriel: “Sit; you look worse than me.”
Eugene: “I don’t appreciate that because you look like a potato and shit casserole.”
Father Gabriel asks Eugene to help get Dr. Carson out of the Sanctuary. “…I don’t see an escape attempt without putting to use the same flawed technique of innards which landed you in your status-quo, piss-poor condition.” I wonder if Eugene will become ill now that Father Gabriel held his hand.
Negan to Eugene: “That spongy organ between your eyes and your spectacular mullet is strong. And I just wanted to make sure that you know that I know that.” Way to butter him up, Negan.
Overall
“Time For After” doesn’t suck but it still leaves a lot of questions unanswered. It’s not a secret Eugene’s primary goal is his own salvation but his turn-tail on A.K.H. left a bad taste in my mouth. I thought he would at least have more compassion for the people who helped save his hide more than a few times but when he says they were mere “…traveling companions, nothing more,” I lost all respect for Eugene. The term “yellow-belly” comes to mind when I think of Eugene and his reprehensible actions.
What did you think of “Time For After?” Comment below and tag me on Twitter @judybopp to chat.
Tune in to the special 90-minute mid-season finale of The Walking Dead Sunday, December 10 at 9:00pm ET/PT, only on AMC.
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Judy Manning
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