The Walking Dead (10×21) Diverged Review

For our review of the last episode of The Walking Dead, click here.

Synopsis: Daryl and Carol come to a fork in the road and head their separate ways. Each going into their own type of survival mode, the easiest of challenges become much harder. (IMDb)

So this was another day in the life Daryl and Carol episode because it seems like Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride were the only actors available to shoot these extra season 10 episodes. It was just fine which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone but at least McBride was great as Carol here as the episode offered a glimpse into her neuroses.

Diverged began with Daryl and Carol on the way back from their trip a few episodes ago that left them empty-handed. Meanwhile, Daryl decided to stay out and do his own thing as they literally approached a diverging path (hence the episode title). Also, the team from last week’s episode still haven’t come back from their mission.

Carol took Dog back to Alexandria where she confided in it. She was looking for a purpose as a lot of things changed in her absence. Nevertheless, she made soup but things weren’t that simple once a rat and then a swarm of walkers got involved (it seemed like she had something to prove to herself and/or Daryl) then broken solar panels. Her soup plan ultimately didn’t work out, prompting her to question whether her purpose still was with the group. Ultimately, the rat problem was a hard one to ignore as Carol’s frustration grew.

Daryl’s motorcycle broke down before he had an adventure finding spare parts to try and fix it. He encountered similar resistance but got some valuable supplies out of it. Meanwhile, Jerry had an eye on Carol throughout the episode and they had a moment later on which prompted her rat to leave thus her issues to get better. This was of course followed by Daryl’s return to Alexandria.

And with that, Daryl and Carol’s days were over and we never got to see the result of her labor over the course of the episode which was a real shame.

While these extra episodes were shot during the pandemic and there was only so much that could be done which is understandable, they have added absolutely nothing to this season and story which is even more disappointing. Though the episodes are fine, the season could have easily gone without them. Next week is the last of these bonus episodes so hopefully it will actually mean something but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t because that’s what The Walking Dead does at the end of the day.

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.