The Walking Dead: World Beyond is back for its second and, sadly, final season. The first episode aired on AMC Premiere a week ahead of its October 3 TV premiere. And while there were some confusing moments (particularly with the timeline), this was an overall strong episode that provided a solid setup for the rest of the season, including the role CRM is going to play in the overall story.
Of course, there were a few things that were less than perfect. I missed Elton and Silas this week — their absence was palpable. But viewers were given a good feel for what’s happening in Hope and Iris’s now separate universes, which created a strong foundation upon which we can build the rest of the season.
Warning: This article contains major spoilers for The Walking Dead: World Beyond Season 2, Episode 1: Konsekans.
The Sisters’ Paths Are Diverging
While Hope remained committed to her hate for Huck and all things CRM, I couldn’t help but wonder if the group might eventually win her over by the time this is all said and done. My main reason for wondering this is because of the intense drama and possibilities for storytelling that such a shift would create. At the end of the episode, she was reunited with her dad. Once she learns CRM’s ultimate goal (whatever that might be), she might feel like it’s worth all the horrific things that the group has done so far. And if she is turned, she’ll find herself at odds with her sister Iris.
This episode was a constant comparison of Iris and Hope: the troubles they have that parallel and the ways their experiences are diverging. And how both had their own realizations via a dream.
Iris figured out via a dream that it was CRM that killed her community, and they lied about the zombie horde being responsible. Her subconscious came to the realization first, before she knew it consciously. Once she made this realization, she had no problem killing a CRM soldier and watching him die, despite what a tough time she’s had in the past with killing “empties.” (OK, we’ll have to suspend disbelief a little to believe that she was able to kill a CRM soldier, even if he was injured, but I’m OK with doing that.)
Hope, on the other hand, is about to see the inner workings of CRM and their ultimate plan. If it’s something they can sell her on, then could she be won over? She had her own hallucination, just like Iris, although hers involved a woman trying to survive on her own and being unable to do so. While Iris’s realization led her to find a deeper strength within herself, Hope’s dream led her to realize she couldn’t survive on her own and she needed CRM’s help. Already, the sisters’ paths are diverging.
Some of the Timelines Were Confusing
There was a bit of a disjointed feeling to this episode, with some things told slightly out of order. And while I can normally track those pretty easily, I had some trouble this time. I think it’s because some dream sequences were also mixed in, which made it all the more confusing.
I’m not sure if anyone else had this problem, but I had a tough time determining whether Iris’s and Hope’s dreams/hallucinations were real or not. I was convinced that Hope’s scene with the survivor was real and there was just an odd time jump, while my husband realized pretty quickly that it was a hallucination. And while I realized that Iris was dreaming about the CRM-zombie-mask, I’m still seeing people in online discussions convinced that this was not a dream, but real. So just like that Princess episode on TWD, it’s a little tough to determine dreams from reality sometimes in this episode.
Well, moving on from that… Will and Felix’s reunion was a nice touch. I’m definitely going to enjoy seeing their story in season 2.
And although I don’t personally like Elizabeth, she’s a strong presence on the screen and the actor who plays her (Julia Ormond) does a great job.
There will always be some things about CRM that just don’t make sense to me, unless the show really surprises me with a good explanation. In a world where zombies have overtaken everything, CRM’s willingness to kill survivors like they do makes no sense. They’re destroying communities of smart, responsible and peaceful survivors who could play a big role in bringing civilization back. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I can’t help but contrast them with the group we’re seeing right now on The Walking Dead (the Commonwealth.) The Commonwealth appear to be morally superior to CRM, but CRM definitely has the military advantage. I’m concerned about how a big battle between those two groups would ultimately end up.
Overall, the episode was a bit of a slow burn at times, but it was enjoyable. The main series, The Walking Dead, has upped its game so much for the final season that it’s tough to compare World Beyond with it without feeling like I’m giving World Beyond a disservice. However, I also know that in some ways, both shows are going to eventually crossover. We know that Rick was taken by CRM, and I’m sure more will be revealed as this final season of World Beyond continues. I’m definitely intrigued to find out what happens next.
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