THE WALKING DEAD Recap: (S10E07) Open Your Eyes

Noetta Harjo

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There’s so much crazy stuff happening on The Walking Dead, it’s time for everyone to “Open Your Eyes.”  The Whisperers are out to either kill all of the Alexandria, Hilltop and Oceanside communities, or they just want them to go away…or join them. Alpha (Samantha Morton) is determined to prove that her way is the only way.  She is sending waves of walkers to the communities, breaking down their walls and contaminating their water.  All to prove her point.

Siddiq (Avi Nash) is secretly dealing with PTSD from the night Alpha beheaded his friends.  How much more can these people endure before they start fighting back…like Carol (Melissa McBride)? Carol is determined to find a way to get the upper hand on Alpha. She captured a Whisperer and will do whatever it takes to get answers. 

This episode is jammed pack and directed by Michael Cudlitz! So you know it’s going to be good!  Let’s go!

RELATED: Recap the latest episode of THE WALKING DEAD “Bonds”

NIGHTMARE CONTINUES
Carol takes in a Whisperer hostage on The Walking Dead
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, James Parks as Captured Whisperer – The Walking Dead _ Season 10, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Jace Downs/AMC

A couple of weeks ago, some of the residents of Alexandria started getting sick.  Rosita (Christian Serratos) was one of the first. Since then more and more people are staying in the infirmary for care while Siddiq tries to figure out what’s wrong with everyone.  He’s looking at medical journals for answers and wearing himself down. He still has nightmares about the night the Whisperers beheaded his friends. And every now and then, Siddiq will see Alpha in random places.  This guy needs to sleep. 

Last week, Carol captured one of the Whisperers (James Parks). They take him to Alexandria much to Gabriel’s (Seth Gilliam) protests and put him in Negan’s old cell where Lydia (Cassady McClincy) has been staying.  She immediately recognizes him as a watcher of the guardians, aka walkers. So he knows where the horde is. Carol plans on getting that information out of the Whisperer by any means necessary. Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Gabriel plan on being in the room while she questions the man for her safety and his.  At first Carol objects, but then Gabriel says he will inform the council and they, including Michonne (Danai Gurira) will agree with him. 

LOOK

Lydia returns home with Carol and Daryl. While Daryl spends time with Dog, Carol talks to Lydia about her former crew. Lydia tells her that the Whisperer won’t betray Alpha.  The watchers are the most loyal because Alpha doesn’t give them a choice to be anything else. Carol won’t give him a choice either. Meaning people will die. Carol says it’s time for Lydia to choose a side.

Lydia says she hates the Whisperers, but she knows them. Alpha has a way of twisting her words to make people do her bidding.  She makes them believe it’s their idea to do whatever she wants them to do. They obey because they don’t have a choice. If they saw that a place like Alexandria can survive, that would be the most dangerous thing for Alpha. Ideas spread and there’s nothing she can do to stop it. 

Siddiq examines the captured Whisperer. The man says he knows Siddiq and tells him to ‘look.’ Siddiq freezes, triggering a memory of Alpha saying the same thing to him as she cuts off DJ’s (Matt Magnum) head. Dante (Juan Javier Cardenas) takes over as Gabriel tells Siddiq to get some air.  His flashback continues outside.  

RUNNING ON EMPTY
Rosita is still among the sick on The Walking Dead
Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel Stokes, Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa – The Walking Dead _ Season 10, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Jace Downs/AMC

Siddiq checks in on Rosita. She looks better, but is still pale.  She tells him that she’s been thinking about Eugene (Josh McDermitt). Rosita missed his last call and doesn’t want him to think she was blowing him off.  Siddiq says Eugene will be fine. He knows how to bounce back. He commends Eugene’s baby research.  

They revel at the fact that they have a kid together. Rosita says she never thought she’d be a mom in this world. It freaks out Siddiq because he wants to do things right and be a good dad.  Rosita says Coco is lucky to have him. They both are. She starts coughing and he gives her more water. She asks if he’s okay. He says he’s fine. He just has a lot of patients to see before he can sleep.

Siddiq visits one of the older residents, Cheryl (Rebecca Coon) who’s the worst off of them all. She makes him sit down and tells him to rest and eat something.  She says he needs to have his head on straight. Siddiq obeys and shuts his eyes for a little bit.

INCEPTION…SORT OF 

Carol wants to plant the idea that Alpha is wrong about everything.  She takes a tray of food the Whisperer and tells him that they have plenty.  The Whisperer knows she wants something, but Carol says she only wants to talk. She hands him a piece of bread with some jam on it. The Whisperer takes a bite and almost cries.  He starts to devour the bread. Carol asks if it’s good. The Whisperer chews up what’s in his mouth, spits it out at Carol and says no. 

Carol asks where the Whisperer horde is. She digs her thumb into his wound to make him talk but he says something antagonizing instead.  Carol takes out her wedding ring and puts it on before punching him in the face a few times. Daryl stops her and the Whisperer starts talking about how weak they are. 

Daryl takes out a knife and threatens to cut off the man’s fingers, then both of his ears, and finally his teeth if he doesn’t start talking. The Whisperer continues to talk about how they lie to themselves. He says he will never betray Alpha because she rescued him and protects him. Alpha loves him so much that she sacrificed her daughter for them. Carol asks if Alpha killed Lydia and the Whisperer confirms that she did.  And he’s willing to die for her too.

Carol runs out of the jail and up the stairs to find Lydia. Daryl doesn’t want Lydia involved in what they’re doing and stops Carol. Carol says that man bought all of Alpha’s crap. If he can see that Lydia is alive, he will realize that Alpha lied to him.  Daryl says Lydia has been through enough. Carol wants to ask Lydia and let her make up her own mind. She believes this is the only way to fight back.

NO NEW FRIENDS
Aaron tries to relate to Gamma on The Walking Dead
Thora Birch as Gamma, Ross Marquand as Aaron – The Walking Dead _ Season 10, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Jace Downs/AMC

Aaron (Ross Marquand) meets up with Gamma (Thora Birch) on a bridge that crosses both of their borders.  He does is best to make small talk, but Gamma isn’t saying much except that she’s an only child. She questions why he has so much bread and why he has kids.  Kids slow you down and make you weak.  

That conversation came after Gamma saw a picture that Gracie drew for Aaron.  The picture is of them riding bikes. Aaron says she loves to ride, partly so she can stay out later.  He used to do that as a kid. Gamma lets down her walls and says as kids, they would take the long way home so they could ride their bikes a little longer. Aaron asks if she had a brother or sister and Gamma freezes.  

Aaron says he had a younger brother that he thinks about everyday.  He knows what it’s like to lose someone you love that much.  It helps to talk about it. Aaron knows Gamma was sent there to find out information, but he’d rather talk about something that she doesn’t have to report.  Gamma gets uncomfortable and leaves, citing the Whisperer creed: We walk in darkness, we are free; We bathe in blood, we are free, etc, etc,

HEMLOCK

The captured Whisperer is also citing the Whisperer creed. He’s sick and just a bit scared.  Dante and Siddiq examine him. He’s burning up and begs them to make it stop. There’s no sign of an infection, but the man is spitting up blood and he’s in pain.  Siddiq tries to calm him down as Dante grabs medicine, but the Whisperer dies in Siddiq’s arms.  

Siddiq looks at the medicine in the bag and sees something strange.  He asks if Dante gave the man one particular herb. Dante say she gave it to him for inflammation.  Siddiq says Dante killed the Whisperer with hemlock. Dante says he didn’t know the hemlock wouldn’t be in the bag because Siddiq is the one who packed it.

Gabriel is concerned the Whisperer’s death will cause a panic. He’s more concerned about what Alpha will do when she finds out. Daryl says she won’t find out and  offers to clean up the mess. Gabriel says he’ll help because its not Daryl’s mess to clean. Meanwhile, Carol and Lydia ride away from Alexandria. Carol asks if she still wants to help and Lydia says yes. 

ALWAYS BEING TESTED

Gamma took Gracie’s picture and stares at it.  She hears a walker approach and puts her mask back on. The walker attacks, but Gamma is able to kill it.  Alpha is standing nearby and asks for a report. Gamma tells her the man with the metal arm is named Aaron and he has a daughter. 

Alpha asks if Gamma inquired about her sister’s baby, to which Gamma says there was nothing to ask.  She reminds Gamma that Aaron is one of them and he will slaughter their kind. He will look for Gamma’s weaknesses and use her sister against her.  

Alpha tells Gamma to remove her mask.  She takes a switch and Gamma pulls up her sleeve.  Alpha whips Gamma’s arm saying she is always being tested.  She believes in Gamma and she should never doubt that.  She says Aaron will tempt Gamma with his lies and warns her not to be seduced. 

FALLING APART
Siddiq doesn't know what's making his patients sick on The Walking Dead
Avi Nash as Siddiq – The Walking Dead _ Season 10, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Jace Downs/AMC

Siddiq goes to check on the rest of his patients and finds that Cheryl is  gone. He finds Dante burying her body and can’t take anymore.   He goes to the boat house to collect himself and starts having flashbacks again. Siddiq tries to calm himself down. He runs and jumps into the water, still having visions of Alpha and watching his friends die, one by one.  Rosita jumps in and pulls Siddiq out of the water.  

Siddiq tells Rosita to go home, but she says no. Rosita knows something has been bothering him for weeks. Siddiq finally opens up about the flashbacks. He blames himself for everyone who died because he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He’s especially upset about Enid (Katelyn Nacon). Rosita tries to tell him he’s not alone. He has Dante. Siddiq says every time he looks at Dante, he misses Enid. 

Rosita says it’s not his fault. She says he has to fight it and pull through for Coco and her and everyone who loves him.  She knows he can and he will because he’s not alone.   Siddiq says he can’t figure out why she’s sick. Nothing adds up. The sick patients don’t live together, don’t work together or eat the same things.  He can’t find one common denominator among them. He looks at the water. That’s it! He tells Rosita to go home and kisses her on the cheek. Siddiq goes to the water well and examines it.  He can’t see anything wrong and gets angry. Siddiq starts throwing things around in frustration.

SEEING GHOSTS

Gamma returns to the bridge to give the picture back to Aaron.  He tells her to keep it, but she doesn’t want it. She drops it on the ground, forcing Aaron to walk to her to pick it up.  When he bends over, Gamma grabs him by the shoulders and holds a knife to his neck. She says no more games. She’s going to ask some questions and he will answer. He tells her to stop because it’s not her who’s doing this. She says he has no idea who she is.  

Gamma asks how many people are in his community.  Aaron reaches for a knife at his side and Carol walks up. She points an arrow at Gamma telling her to let Aaron go. Lydia steps out from behind Carol and Gamma freaks out. She screams ‘no’ over and over and runs away. 

Lydia looks at Carol confused. Carol tells her that Alpha told everyone that she killed Lydia.  Lydia gets upset because she knows now that Carol was using her. Carol wanted her to choose a side so she’s choosing her side. Lydia starts to walk away, but it’s dark and Carol says she can’t go out there alone.  Lydia hits Carol in the face with her stick and runs away. Carol starts to go after her, but Aaron stops her from crossing into Alpha’s territory. The Whisperers are always watching.   Elsewhere, Gamma takes off her mask and starts crying, knowing that Alpha lied to them all. 

OPEN YOUR EYES
Who is Dante on The Walking Dead?
Juan Javier Cardenas as Dante – The Walking Dead _ Season 10, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Jace Downs/AMC

Dante checks in on Siddiq but he wants to be alone.  Dante apologizes for not carrying his weight since Eugene left. Siddiq blames himself for everything that has gone wrong.  Dante says it’s not. He says Alexandria works because everyone pitches in to make it work. Everyone carries equal weight. So when something bad happens, it’s everyone’s fault.  When one is suffering, everyone is there to help. Siddiq says Dante doesn’t know him but Dante says he does because Siddiq is his friend. And it’s going to be okay. Then he makes some weird clicking noises with his tongue.

That triggers more flashbacks of Enid dying.  Siddiq looked away and a whisperer grabs his head.  He clicks his tongue and tells Siddiq to open his eyes.  That Whisperer was Dante. 

Siddiq comes back to the present, sees Dante’s reflection in the window and hears the voice again say, “open your eyes.” He turns to face Dante. Dante smiles at him, but he knows that Siddiq figured it out. Siddiq tries to reach for a knife and Dante stops him. They start fighting. Dante is able to pull Siddiq back, putting him in a headlock.  As he chokes Siddiq, Dante says he didn’t want things to end this way. Siddiq fades away and Dante lays him on the floor. 
RIP Siddiq. 

RELATED: Catch Up on Season 10 of THE WALKING DEAD Here

THOUGHTS

This is one of the best episodes of The Walking Dead season ten.  The whole season has been good, but this one had me on the edge of my seat. I haven’t reacted like that since the season seven finale.  The only difference is that…I had no idea what was going to happen to Siddiq.

We really should have seen this coming.  Alpha needs to keep an eye on the communities. What better way than to plant a mole.  I think someone even mentioned it in the first episode. Dante was weird from the moment he showed up on screen. He looked like he was hiding something. Well now we know he’s hiding his origins.  I’m so sad for Siddiq. Will someone else find out about Dante? Are there other moles in the communities? 

It’s time for Team Family to sit down and have a serious talk about what’s going on.  Before someone else dies from water poisoning. The only hope I have for our survivors is that Gamma will tell the others that Lydia is alive. Even if she does, Alpha could turn things around on Gamma. Alpha is holding all the cards right now.  And I just know she’s got something big planned for Team Family.  

 

 

 

Noetta Harjo
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