The Walking Dead 1009 – Squeeze
Previously on The Walking Dead…
When we last dropped in on our favourite survivors of the apocalypse they were trapped in a cave with hoards of walkers closing in on them. Making matters worse Carol and the gang soon realized that they’ve been led into the trap by Alpha, who is determined to make the cave their final resting place. With the second half of Season 10 now underway with Squeeze tonight’s episode, some of the plot threads established in the first half have a chance to be fleshed out some more while others will hopefully be resolved to some degree of satisfaction.
A few tense moments kick off the mid-season premiere but soon all is well after a not so friendly game of walker hopscotch paves the way to a sliver of freedom for Carol, Aaron, Daryl and the others. Carol’s erratic behavior and the repercussions of her actions don’t sit well with the others though particularly Magna and she is admonished for selfishly getting the group into Alpha’s clutches.
Carol’s thirst for vengeance is beginning to consume her and with it fractures in her relationship with Daryl. A great deal of Squeeze takes place in the darkness and tight confines of the cave and the group’s quest to find their way into the light mirrors Carol’s journey towards some level of inner peace.
Meanwhile, Alpha is a little unsettled now that she’s aware that she and her group have been under surveillance for some time. This doesn’t go unnoticed however as Negan quietly takes in what’s going on around him. He decides to share his theory of spies among the Whisperers with Alpha but his attempt at pretzel logic doesn’t phase her. In fact it has the opposite effect and he soon finds himself knee deep in excrement. Literally. Negan’s used to being the top dog and even after years of imprisonment his alpha male tendencies are still near the surface. He’s met his match however and things take a curious turn when Alpha decides to employ some pretzel logic of her own on him.
Squeeze is a satisfying return from hiatus for The Walking Dead. The mind games between Alpha and Negan, Carol and Daryl’s earnest talks and Jerry going full Incredible Hulk to save the day are some of the episode’s highlights. Melissa McBride deserves kudos for her performance. Carol’s roller coaster of emotions are on full display and McBride’s turn this week elicits frustration, sympathy and anger from the audience with each scene she’s in. There will be a reckoning of some sort for Carol’s grief inspired irrationality and how that effects the rest of the group will be interesting to see as The Walking Dead shuffles off through what’s left of Season 10.
