We Are the End of the World
"We Are the End of the World" is the second episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on October 13, 2019.
| "We Are the End of the World" | |
|---|---|
| The Walking Dead episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 10 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Greg Nicotero |
| Written by | Nicole Mirante-Matthews |
| Original air date | October 13, 2019 |
| Running time | 44 minutes |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
Plot
Flashbacks throughout the episode show Alpha and her daughter Lydia following the events of "Omega" sometime after the onset of the zombie apocalypse but seven years prior to the show's present. The two have learned how to walk among the walkers by covering themselves up, staying as quiet as possible, and shambling as the walkers do. Lydia, still frightened and carrying a stuffed bunny doll, wears earmuffs to muffle the sounds, but when the walkers stop to devour an injured woman, one bumps into her and knocks them off, causing her to panic. Her mother drags her into a nearby sanitarium for shelter, where they encounter a hooded man. He threatens them but after discovering he and Lydia's mother share similar views on the walkers, allows them to stay the night, and Lydia's mother believes she can win him over. To keep their anonymity, she refers to herself as "A" and him as "B". A talks to Lydia, who has asserted that she has grown up, no longer wanting the stuffed rabbit. The two discover a room with many photos, their faces scratched off, alongside crazed writings, along with a walker in the room. A kills it just as B enters, collapsing by the walker's body in remorse. A recognizes the walker as one close to the hooded man; the hooded man refuses to leave his companion. A gets the idea to take the skin off B's companion and give it to him as a mask to wear, creating the origins of Alpha, Beta, and the Whisperers.
In the present, Alpha orders Beta to collect more walkers from a nearby parking garage, having him take two sisters with him. At the garage, Beta successfully lures the walkers to follow, but one of the sisters, Frances, who Alpha had forced to leave her baby behind at the Hilltop outpost in "Bounty", believes she hears a baby crying nearby and panics, causing the walkers to turn on them. Beta rescues Frances and they return to their camp without the walkers. There, Beta is ready to kill Frances, but Alpha takes Frances for a talk, and Frances cries and repents. Beta becomes concerned that Alpha did not punish Frances for showing weakness, and wonders why they have not attacked the other groups.
During another walker round-up, the Whisperers see the fire trail of the fallen satellite overhead as it crashes nearby, causing the walkers to scatter. Amidst the chaos, Frances sees one walker with a baby carrier and, remembering Alpha was the one who told her to bring her son to Hilltop, jumps onto Alpha's back and starts screaming, attracting the horde towards them. Frances' sister rushes in, dragging Alpha to safety after pushing Frances away from her and into the mob of walkers, who then kill Frances. As the Whisperers find shelter, Alpha is impressed with Frances' sister's sacrifice and dubs her Gamma. In the morning, Beta follows Alpha to their old camp and discovers she has set up a small shrine to Lydia, including her old bunny doll. Alpha admits Lydia is still alive and has shown weakness in not attacking the communities. Beta assures her that she was made for this world. Alpha destroys the shrine, has sex with Beta and repeats the Whisperers' code, "We are the end of the world" together with Beta. Alpha asserts they will soon attack the communities. The Whisperers go to investigate the fallen satellite, and Alpha, pulling her mask off, eyes Carol from across a ravine.
Production
This episode marks the first appearance of Thora Birch as Gamma, a member of the Whisperers.[1] Her casting was first announced in July 2019.[2]
Reception
Critical reception
"We Are the End of the World" received critical acclaim from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has an approval rating of 94% with an average score of 7.4 out of 10, based on 17 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "While heavy on flashbacks, 'We Are the End of the World' unveils a dark, thoughtfully constructed exploration of the Whisperer's origins."[3]
Ratings
"We Are the End of the World" drew 3.47 million viewers and was the second most watched cable show of the night.[4]
References
- Ross, Dalton (October 13, 2019). "Thora Birch explains Gamma's shocking decision on The Walking Dead". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- Ramos, Dino-Ray (July 19, 2019). "'The Walking Dead' Adds Thora Birch And Kevin Carroll For Season 10 – Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- "We Are the End of the World". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- Welch, Alex (October 15, 2019). "Sunday cable ratings: 'The Walking Dead' slips, MLB leads the night". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
