The Walking Dead Ep. 613 “The Same Boat”
“You’re not the good guys. You should know that”
The Same Boat is a tense and harrowing episode that featured standout performances from Melissa McBride (Carol), Lauren Cohen (Maggie) and guest star, Alicia Witt as Paula. The episode was almost like a stage play and delved deeply into the psychology of the characters and at times even the series itself. The final moments of The Same Boat elicits some difficult questions – for the audience and some of the characters moving forward – that are sure to provoke discussion long after the end of the episode. Does surviving in The Walking Dead universe make you human or inhuman? To some that would be a matter of perspective.
The road to ruin is often paved with good intentions and those words certainly rang true at the conclusion of last week’s episode of The Walking Dead. The Same Boat picks up shortly after Not Tomorrow Yet and fills in the gaps surrounding Maggie and Carol’s capture and the voice addressing Rick over the walkie-talkie. In the clutches of Negan’s crew, Maggie and Carol are taken hostage and during these events we begin to see the how the struggle to survive has begun to take a psychological toll on everyone. There’s an interesting use of the camera at the start of the episode. Director Billy Gierhart’s decision to keep the audience in the dark, much like Carol and Maggie were, helps to create a sense of disorientation and uneasiness that dominates much of the episode’s tone.
Carol isn’t her self-assured self in The Same Boat. It’s almost as though she and Maggie have exchanged positions as the season has progressed. As Maggie has gained confidence and purpose, Carol appears to be losing her moxie. For the first time in a long time we see something not usually associated with Carol: fear. Her vulnerability, which began to slowly rear its head over the past few weeks, demonstrates what can happen when people allow the walls around them to crumble. It’s as though the sanctuary of Alexandria, her confrontation with Morgan and Sam’s death have softened her a bit. Carol’s actions in this episode are in direct contrast to the militant women who are her captors and this, fluctuation of sorts, is a glimpse at Carol’s humanity. Although The Walking Dead is a show about everyday people surviving in extraordinary circumstances, we must not forget that the characters aren’t superheroes.
The Same Boat boasted a predominantly female cast and offered a glimpse into the different perspectives women have during the apocalypse. Maggie and Paula share a powerful scene where they both state their different beliefs on what it means to live and survive. It’s an interesting conversation that even forces Paula’s lieutenant to reconsider her own stance and to ponder Maggie and Paula’s different perspectives.
With only three episodes left before the end of Season 6, the developments that have taken place over the second half of the season promise to set the stage for an unpredictable ending. Will characters stay true to their longstanding personalities or will they veer towards the new trajectories being established? If so, what consequences will that have? Those questions along with the promise of seeing Negan will surely make the next few episodes must watch TV.
