Tavern Cellar

The Walking Dead: Variant – Eugene’s Grows a Pair, Pamela’s Losing It, and the Walkers Just Got Smarter (Season 11, Episode 19)

Originally aired: October 16, 2022. Viewership numbers are still a bit elusive for these later episodes, but let’s just say that fans were glued to their screens for this game-changing episode. Directed by Karen Gaviola.

The Commonwealth: Where the Walls Are Closing In (and the Walkers Are Climbing Over Them):

“Variant” picks up with the aftermath of Sebastian Milton’s well-deserved demise (RIP, you spoiled brat). The Commonwealth is in a state of unrest, Pamela Milton is out for blood, and Eugene’s about to learn that love in the apocalypse can be a real pain in the butt (literally and figuratively).

Key Plot Points:

• Eugene’s on the Run (and on the Verge of a Breakdown): Eugene, bless his nerdy heart, is hiding out after the events of the Founders’ Day fiasco. He’s worried about Max, he’s feeling guilty about Sebastian’s death, and he’s not sure who to trust. Daryl offers him a way out, but Eugene, in a surprising turn of events, decides to surrender himself to protect Max. Eugene Porter: the coward who became a hero (or at least, a less cowardly coward).!
• Pamela Milton’s Revenge: “Someone’s Gonna Pay!”: Pamela Milton, who’s clearly not handling her son’s death well (can you blame her?), is on a mission to find a scapegoat. She sets her sights on Eugene, using Mercer and the Commonwealth army to track him down. She also confronts Lance Hornsby, who’s been trying to undermine her authority, and forces him to feed her zombified son (yikes!). It’s a gruesome and disturbing scene that shows just how far Pamela is willing to go to maintain her power. Pamela Milton: the politician who’s more ruthless than a walker with a hunger for brains (and revenge).!
• The Whisperers… Wait, No, They’re Different!: Aaron, Jerry, Lydia, and Elijah are on a mission to Oceanside when they encounter a new breed of walker. These walkers are not like the ones they’re used to; they’re climbing walls, using tools, and showing signs of intelligence. At first, they think it’s the Whisperers, but they soon realize that these are something else entirely – variant walkers, a new and terrifying threat that could change the game forever. The Walking Dead: where just when you thought the walkers couldn’t get any worse, they evolve.

Small Details That Could Be Missed:

• Mercer’s internal conflict about his loyalty to the Commonwealth and his concern for his sister, Max, suggests that he might be ready to turn against Pamela Milton and join the resistance. His conversations with Princess, who’s not afraid to call out the Commonwealth’s BS, further reinforce his growing disillusionment. Mercer: the soldier who’s about to become a rebel (with a really cool red suit of armor).!
• Lance Hornsby’s coin, which he’s been flipping throughout the season as a symbol of his control and his ability to manipulate fate, is now used against him by Pamela Milton. She flips the coin to decide his punishment, showing that she’s the one in charge now, and Lance is just another pawn in her game. Lance Hornsby: the politician who’s lost his lucky charm.
• The setting of the abandoned Renaissance Faire is a clever and ironic choice. It’s a place that’s supposed to celebrate the past and the beauty of human creativity, but it’s now a battleground for survival against a new and terrifying threat. It’s a reminder that even in the apocalypse, the past can come back to haunt you (and maybe even kill you). The Renaissance Faire: where the walkers are now the main attraction.

Stats and Stuff:

• Viewer Rating: 8.5/10 (IMDb) (a strong episode that’s got fans buzzing).
• Total Deaths: 3 (including Sebastian Milton, the spoiled brat who finally got his comeuppance).
• Biggest Power Shift: Eugene’s surrender and the introduction of variant walkers (the game has changed).
• Most Shocking Moment: The walker climbing the ladder and using a rock to attack (the walkers are evolving!).

My Final Verdict:

“Variant” is a suspenseful and thought-provoking episode that takes “The Walking Dead” in a new and terrifying direction. Eugene’s growth, Pamela Milton’s descent into madness, and the emergence of variant walkers all contribute to the drama and intrigue of the episode. This is “The Walking Dead” at its most unpredictable, reminding us that even in the final season, the survivors are still facing new challenges, new enemies, and new reasons to be afraid of the dark (and the walkers in it). What did you think of the episode? Were you shocked by the variant walkers? Let’s discuss in the comments!