In the previous episode of AMC’s The Ones Who Live, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) were able to make a plan on how they would go back home. Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) found the couple in a cabin, planning to kill the two of them, but was unsuccessful. Instead, she ends up getting killed by Rick. But, before that happens, she tells them where the files she made of him and Michonne are so that they can destroy them and leave for good. Now, it is time for the season finale.
The start of the episode shows Michonne and Rick, with a background of quotes that were said throughout the season, by every major character. Rick returns to CRM, planning on getting the files from Jadis’ apartment and leaving to go back to Alexandria.
Rick meets with Pearl Thorne (Lesley Ann-Brandt), who’s surprised he made it back. Michonne is working her way inside the CRM without getting caught, while Rick and Pearl make it to the woods to meet with Beale (Terry O’Quinn). Pearl leaves the two gentlemen to talk alone.
Beale tells Rick that he’s humbled that he came back after everything that had happened with the helicopter crash. He wants to keep Rick close.
We then see Michonne in Jadis’ room, and after scrambling to find the papers they need, she finds them. She rips them to shreds. Someone notices movement in the room, so they walk inside and Michonne knocks them out.
The scene then transitions back to Rick and Beale. Beale gives him a briefing, telling him to reflect on his life before coming to CRM. Rick gets asked what’s the worst thing he ever did to save someone else’s life and he responds, “I killed someone with his [own] teeth,” which was on The Walking Dead’s season four finale.
Beale tells Rick that he has a secret, one he tells to every individual who does a briefing; even though he does everything with the CRM, everyone will eventually all die. Beale wants CRM to beat the odds, preparing for the worst, but trying to make an effort to make sure their city stays a secret and destroys other communities and populations. He wants CRM to be the only community in power, the only place left in the apocalypse.
As the two of them are talking, Michonne is keeping her identity a secret, blending in with the CRM soldiers. She goes to a training summit, getting a video lecture on the next community scheduled to take over and destroy. Michonne looks at the pictures of the children they will have to attack and she leaves, terrified.
Beale asks Rick who was closest to him that died and he says his son, Carl (Chandler Riggs). Beale gives him an offer on him bringing everyone he cares about to the CRM and letting them live, while they attack their homes. It’s clear that Beale is evil and has very big and dangerous plans. Beale tries to make Rick swear on the sword, but Rick attacks him instead.
Rick kills Beale and finds a crate to hide his body. Rick then wheels the crate onto an elevator to exit, just as someone else enters with him. Someone enters the elevator with him. Rick looks underneath the crate and notices blood pouring down Beale’s blood. The soldier notices the blood and the two of them start to fight.
Later, Michonne finds Rick and tells him they must postpone leaving to stop the CRM from attacking the children. They bring the crates with the weaponry inside and head to a tent. There’s an event being held, which they’re planning to attack.
Rick gives Michonne the sword and they grab Beale, who’s now a walker, taking him out of the crate. They have two other walkers in another crate, which they let out as well. They put strings on the walkers, connecting them to the grenade bombs and tanks.
The scene transitions to Pearl, as she figures out that Rick plans on escaping. Pearl runs into Michonne and Rick, pointing a gun at them.
She asks where Beale is and admits that she knows he’s up to something. As the couple starts to walk back to the tent, Beale walks out, the grenades starting to unlatch. After the explosion, Pearl and Rick fight when they find each other through the smoke.
As Rick gets swarmed by walkers, it’s Michonne’s turn to fight Pearl. She stabs Pearl with the sword and goes looking for Rick. Once he’s found, the couple safely leaves the CRM in Jadis’ helicopter. Rick and Michonne land the helicopter, reuniting with their kids. Judith (Cailey Flemming) tells Rick that she knew he was still alive.
Overall, this episode was intriguing, being filled with lots of action, Rick and Michonne’s plan coming together and finally making it back home. It was an emotional reunion with the family coming back together as one. It was incredible and nostalgic to be able to watch Danai Gurira as Michonne again, with Andrew Lincoln as Rick. The Walking Dead fans were able to get the answers they had questions to and so much more throughout the entire season. This was a great ending to the season, making it exactly how the fans wanted it to be.
Rating: 9/10