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The Walking Dead: One More – Gabriel’s Got a Gun, Aaron’s Got Faith, and Someone’s Got a Screw Loose (Season 10, Episode 19)

Originally aired: March 14, 2021. 2.17 million viewers tuned in for this intense and thought-provoking episode. Written by Erik Mountain and directed by Laura Belsey.

The Road to… Nowhere Good:

“One More” takes a detour from the main action of the Whisperer War and focuses on Gabriel and Aaron, who are on a supply run for Alexandria. They’re tired, they’re hungry, and they’re starting to lose hope. But their journey is about to take a dark turn when they encounter a stranger who’s got a few screws loose (and a gun).

Key Plot Points:

• The Supply Run That’s More Like a Therapy Session: Gabriel and Aaron are trudging through the wilderness, following a map that Maggie gave them. They’re searching for food and supplies, but they’re also having some deep conversations about faith, hope, and the meaning of life in the apocalypse. Gabriel, who’s seen a lot of darkness lately, is starting to question his beliefs, while Aaron is trying to maintain his optimism and his faith in humanity. Gabriel and Aaron: the priest and the optimist (who are about to have their faith tested).!
• The Distillery: Where the Whiskey Flows (and the Secrets Spill): Gabriel and Aaron stumble upon an abandoned distillery, where they find food, whiskey, and a place to rest for the night. They share a drink (or two), they reminisce about the past, and they reveal their vulnerabilities and their fears. Gabriel tells a story about a priest who betrayed his congregation, hinting at his own struggles with faith and morality. The distillery: where the truth comes out (and the whiskey goes down).!
• Mays: The Man Who Loves Russian Roulette (and Hates People): The next morning, Gabriel and Aaron are ambushed by Mays, a heavily armed and clearly unhinged survivor. He forces them to play Russian roulette, testing their willingness to kill each other and their belief in humanity. Gabriel, who’s starting to lose his faith in the good of people, sees Mays as a threat that needs to be eliminated. He kills Mays in cold blood, shocking Aaron and raising questions about Gabriel’s own morality. Mays: the villain who’s got a death wish (and a gambling problem).!
• The Brother: A Victim of Cruelty (and Despair): Gabriel and Aaron discover that Mays has been keeping his twin brother prisoner for years. The brother is chained up, malnourished, and clearly traumatized. He’s a victim of Mays’s paranoia and his twisted sense of survival. In a heartbreaking moment, the brother chooses to take his own life rather than be freed, showing the depths of despair that can consume people in the apocalypse. The brother: the victim who couldn’t escape the darkness.
• The Road Ahead: “We Keep Going”: Despite the horrors they’ve witnessed, Gabriel and Aaron continue their journey. They’re still searching for supplies and a way to help their community, but they’re also carrying the weight of their experiences and the questions that Mays’s actions have raised about the nature of humanity. Gabriel, in particular, seems to have hardened, his faith shaken and his optimism replaced by a more pragmatic and cynical worldview. Gabriel and Aaron: the survivors who are learning that the road to hell (or maybe just Alexandria) is paved with good intentions.

Themes and Symbolism:

• Loss of Faith: The Erosion of Morality: Gabriel’s transformation from a man of faith to a hardened survivor who’s willing to kill without hesitation is a reflection of the moral decay that can occur in the apocalypse. The constant struggle for survival, the exposure to violence and betrayal, and the loss of loved ones can chip away at a person’s beliefs and their sense of right and wrong. The Walking Dead: where even the most devout can lose their way.
• Hope: The Fragile Flame: Aaron’s optimism and his belief in the good of people are a stark contrast to Gabriel’s growing cynicism. But even Aaron’s faith is tested by the horrors they encounter, and the suicide of Mays’s brother is a reminder that hope can be a fragile thing in the apocalypse. The Walking Dead: where hope is a flickering candle in the wind.
• Trust: The Gamble of Survival: The Russian roulette game that Mays forces Gabriel and Aaron to play is a metaphor for the risks of trust in the apocalypse. Gabriel and Aaron trust each other implicitly, but they’re unable to extend that trust to Mays, leading to his death. It’s a reminder that in a world where betrayal is common, trust can be a dangerous gamble. The Walking Dead: where trust can be your greatest strength (or your fatal weakness).!
• Paranoia: The Prison of the Mind: Mays’s paranoia and his isolation are a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting fear control your life. He’s become so consumed by distrust and the belief that everyone is out to get him that he’s created his own prison, both literally and figuratively. His actions ultimately lead to his own destruction and the tragic death of his brother. The Walking Dead: where paranoia can be more deadly than any walker.

Little Details You Might Have Missed:

• Gabriel’s healing facial scar is a subtle reminder of his past injury and his resilience. He’s been through a lot, but he’s still fighting, and his physical scars are a testament to his strength and his determination to survive. Gabriel: the survivor who’s got more than just scars to show for his journey.
• The dice roll scene at the beginning of the episode, where Gabriel and Aaron try to determine who gets the last bit of food, mirrors the Russian roulette scene later on. It’s a subtle foreshadowing of the episode’s climax and the life-or-death choices that the characters will have to make. The Walking Dead: where even the smallest details can have significant meaning.
• Gabriel’s line, “All that’s left is pain,” is a chilling echo of Negan’s past philosophy. It suggests that Gabriel, who’s been losing his faith and embracing a more pragmatic worldview, might be heading down a similar path as Negan. Gabriel: the priest who’s becoming more like the villain he once despised.
• The cigarette lighter that Aaron finds suggests that there were other survivors at the distillery before Mays and his brother. It hints at a dark past and the potential for violence and betrayal that exists even in the most isolated of places. The distillery: a place where secrets are hidden (and maybe bodies are buried).!

Stats and Stuff:

• Viewership: ~2.17 million (live U.S. broadcast) (the apocalypse is still a popular TV destination).
• IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 (a solid episode that’s got viewers talking).
• Deaths: 2 (Mays and his brother, the victims of paranoia and despair).
• On-Screen Walker Kills: 4 (the walkers are still a threat, but the human drama takes center stage in this episode).

My Final Verdict:

“One More” is a slow-burning but emotionally powerful episode that explores the psychological toll of survival in the apocalypse. Gabriel and Aaron’s journey, their encounter with Mays, and the tragic fate of his brother all contribute to the episode’s tense and thought-provoking atmosphere. This is “The Walking Dead” at its most introspective, reminding us that the biggest battles are often fought within, and that the choices we make in the face of fear and desperation can have lasting consequences. What did you think of the episode? Were you shocked by Gabriel’s actions? Let’s discuss in the comments!