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SYNOPSIS:
This season adapts material from issues #145–174 of the comic book series and focuses on the group’s preparation and war against the Whisperers. Set several months after the massacre perpetrated by Alpha (Samantha Morton) during the community fair, the season focuses on the united communities as they initiate a fight in order to end the threat of the Whisperers.
REVIEW:
Negan, Carol, Daryl, and the rest of the gang are back again for another round of zombie apocalyptic madness. Can you believe it’s been 10 seasons now? And better yet, the crew was not disbanded by the Corona virus (our real life apocalypse… however it did strike a serious delay on things).
Sure like everyone else in the world, masks and protocols were erected and the TV/movie industry was all but shut down across the board. But hey, like the fictional team of Walking Dead, we persevere and find our way back to our Sunday night comforts. This delay extended the season 10 run from 2019 to 2021 leading up to a much delayed finale.
Readers: Spoilers ahead!
So we arrive on season 10 full of all kinds of back stories and unresolved conflicts
Season 10 is the all-time important season to be paying attention to. It is a season where we see several characters die and it is the finale to the Whisperes legacy. Alpha (Samantha Morton), Beta and Gamma (Thora Birch) are among the core whispers being featured this season in addition to the reveal of Dante, (a planted spy who befriends the other side as a covert informant to Alpha).
It is also the final season for actor Danai Gurira, who has been a mainstay regular playing Michonne since season 3. In fact, this is the crossover season where other characters are now elevated to take the lead (now with Rick being out of the picture). Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) is given more screen time along with several other cast members who are given more appropriate back stories. Strangely enough Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is still in the picture now more of a ally than the enemy of past seasons.
The gang is challenged with not only the violent aspect of this word, but formidable enemies who present even greater threats. Speaking of, the whisperers, an extremely odd inclusion, are a culty gang of followers who under Alpha’s lead disguise themselves as zombies to walk among them (and plot the end of more civil efforts being erected). Beta (Ryan Hurst) a towering actor and 2nd in command is clearly on the path to insanity as the acting body guard to Alpha and keeper of order.
The 3 neighboring camps: Alexandria, The Hilltop, and Oceanside (now in alliance) are busy dealing with their own inner turmoils while also gearing up for war against the Whispers (killers who are bent on seeing the word suffer like they have.)
We begin the season after a rather brutal winter storm which additionally presents new challenges to the Alexandria group and its survivors. As the season progresses, the threat of Alpha is heightened by walkers who are now guided under clever hand. Gamma has left the whisperers and attempts to bond with Alexandria as a deserter to Alpha’s cause.
Daryl, Carol, Aaron, Jerry, Kelly, Connie and Magna become trapped in a cave as Alpha tricks them into following her only to find themselves surrounded by a collective of hungry walkers. Negan steps things up by trying to prove himself to the group, while many of the others still hold him accountable to his sorrid past.
New character Juanita “Princess” Sanchez (Paola Lázaro) is introduced when a small group goes on field trip into the city in search of supplies. While her appearances are clearly limited this season, it becomes clear that she will become part of the next chapter in the Walking Dead universe.
Death and destruction are a prominent part of season 10 with the zombies of Walking Dead always serving as a violent backdrop to the struggle the groups endure.
We do see Alpha’s reign come to and end as she is finally executed by Negan (under Carol’s plan to have Negan infiltrate the group). With Alpha now out of the way, Beta is empowered to rise in ranks and lead.
Maggie returns from a long departure unaware that Negan had been given reprieve from his jail cell and permitted to be part of the community.
Season 10 is chock full of relationships, struggles, and challenges as the writers of this season clearly up the stakes with front runner Rick Grimes no longer a part of the picture.
Season 10 was designed to take things in a new direction so that the back stories have a chance to shift into future chapters.
It was definitely sad to see another round of key characters move on, though this is the legacy that traverses the Walking Dead universe. A universe of surprises, new villains and focus changes.
As covid winded down over the course of filming, we slowly worked our way back into the story after a long hiatus.
In summary this is a great stand alone season for newcomers and fans of the franchise. With AMC now back in full throttle, the network continued forward by introducing a new story timeline per way of the brand new series: “The Walking Dead: World Beyond”
The Season 10 blu ray is a long season consisting of a whopping 22 episodes. Because of this, the bluray set is only limited to 1 small extra. This is quite a change from some of the more extras-filled releases. Though I suppose fans would take episodes over extras if given the choice
