The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live leaves us on the edge of our seats in Episode 3

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is going full steam ahead and shows no signs of stopping. Just three episodes in, the series has been a whirlwind, and in the midst of it all, we still can't seem to wrap our heads around the reunion of Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira). It feels like a lucid dream that's been brought to life. But that's just the magic of Rick and Michonne, isn't it?

Heading into tonight's episode, there is a lot at stake as Rick has had to come to terms with the reality that he isn't going to get out from under the CRM's oppressive thumb. There was a part of him that knew this, but Michonne showing up has complicated things.

Last week's episode ended with Rick having a conversation with Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) who reminded Rick that he is stuck. And if he dares to try to wiggle out of the CRM, then there will be severe consequences. She understands that with Michonne's arrival, anything is possible, and she's not willing to deal with that.

There are a lot more developments in the newest episode of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, so without any more delay, let's talk about the major moments of "Bye."

BEWARE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

Years ago...

The episode begins with a flashback to Rick's arrival to the world of the CRM. There is a park, there is a community, but there is still something that feels very confining about it all. Rick realizes he's arrived in a place that he can't escape from, and he blames Jadis for this.

Getting a flash back of Jadis at this moment is jarring as she has long, dark hair and looks less intimidating than we know she can. Jadis explains to Rick how she came to be a part of the CRM, which involved an exchange agreement. She finds souls who need saving and/or threats, hangs onto them, and gives them to the CRM. In exchange, she and her people received supplies.

There is a vibe about Jadis where she feels she has made it. She's moving up in the CRM and truly believes that the 500-year-plan this organization has will get society back to where it once was. We did see glimpses of this in The Walking Dead: World Beyond, but as we also saw in that spin-off, things are not always as they seem.

Hours ago...

The episode then flashes forward to the moment right after the helicopter incident that reunited Rick and Michonne. Realizing he needs to provide protection for Michonne, Rick pays Pearl (Lesley-Ann Brandt) a visit. He needs her to save Michonne's life, and doesn't want her to be sent away. Of course, he can't do anything because it would attract too much attention and only put Michonne's life in more danger.

I don't expect Pearl to understand the gravity of the situation. She doesn't know who Michonne is to Rick, and I anticipate that Michonne and Rick's dynamic will prove problematic for her. She doesn't know why Rick cares so much, but I can imagine she will find out soon enough.

Now...

We jump ahead even further in time to the present, back to the conversation between Jadis and Rick that ended Episode 2. There is something so bada** about Jadis, and there always has been. She has this fierce and fearless vibe about her that is unstoppable.

Jadis is aware that Michonne and Rick reuniting can only spell disaster, and that she has to reign him in STAT. She's quick to remind Rick that if he even thinks about leaving, not only will he get killed, but so will Michonne, and eventually everyone he loves and cares about.

And if Rick is thinking about killing her, well...she has processes in place that will make him regret it.

Rick is in quite the predicament, and he knows there is only one option: get Michonne out...like yesterday.

Review: The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 3, "Bye"

Rick has tried to escape the CRM numerous times, and it's never worked. Michonne is beginning to understand what is going on here.

Now let's factor in Pearl getting promoted to Command Sergeant Major. This puts Rick in an interesting position: he needs to get Michonne out, and he needs to do it without joining her. He is stuck, but he can at least help Michonne.

Of course, Michonne can't know about his true intentions. So he does what he thinks is best: trick Michonne into thinking he's joining. When Michonne arrives at the spot looking for Rick, she finds out he never planned to come. And that she must go without him.

That plan backfires, and when Rick realizes that she did not leave, he isn't happy. But it's Michonne who feels more betrayed. After all, she left behind their family to find him, and now it appears he has given up.

Ending of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 3 explained

The last 10-15 minutes of this week's episode leave us on edge. So much unfolds and it ends on a huge cliffhanger. Waiting for next week will be incredibly tough.

Thorne decides to rope Michonne into the clearing operations at Cascadia Base. It feels like a power move because she knows that Michonne is important to Rick, even if it is not confirmed. She's not happy about Michonne, but the best strategy is to keep your enemies clos.

Michonne agrees to join and is given just a killstick to utilize during the mission, although she isn't allowed to do much. Thorne is very particular about that, but Michonne decides to break protocol. I mean, when has she listened to someone else's demands?

Thorne is livid about Michonne breaking protocol. There's even a moment during the mission when Thorne looks like she's about to take Michonne down, so our katana-wielding bad a** is walking on very thin ice.

As the episode comes to a close, Michonne learns that Jadis is a part of this mess. The look on her face tells us everything, and a conversation between Rick and Jadis that puts Michonne in a very compromising position. Rick is at his wit's end with Michonne wanting them both to escape, and he decides he is going to put his foot down.

He tells her that everything they had is over and that it is broken. The pain in Michonne's face is palpable, and I swear Gurira's performance made me feel every single emotion Michonne was feeling. But does that stop her from trying one more time? Nope, not at all.

In the final seconds of the episode, Rick and Michonne are headed back to base in a CRM helicopter flying through a really bad storm. Michonne realizes this is a 'do or die' moment and unbuckles herself and Rick and pushes them out of the helicopter mid-flight.

Uh, what? WHAT?!

Episode Grade: B+

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