The Walking Dead review: Teamwork makes the dream work when everyone comes together

John Finn as Earl, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee – The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Maggie finally lets Tammy Rose see Earl. Earl is ashamed of what he did, but Tammy Rose is quick to forgive him and assure him that God has forgiven him as well. It isn’t until Maggie sits with Earl to speak privately that Tammy Rose’s nature becomes unmistakably clear. Earl tells Maggie that he began drinking after he quit smoking and that in any event, including his son’s birth, he was always drunk.

Earl tells a story of how when his son was only two, Earl picked him up from the sitters and was pulled over for driving under the influence. The cops called Tammy Rose to pick them up, and when she came, Earl was sure that she would end their relationship since he had risked the life of their toddler. But she had instantly forgiven him and told him it was only a mistake. He never drank again, and they agreed never to leave each other’s side. Earl could never do wrong in Tammy Rose’s eyes, and as she’s demonstrated, she will do anything for her family while turning her back to the world. And that realization is a scary thing, especially in a community where people need to help each other. This means Tammy Rose may be a much bigger threat than Earl. As the saying goes, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and that fury is especially dangerous with communities already at odds with each other.

Earl asks Maggie why she didn’t kill him, but that’s something that Maggie is not willing to tell anyone yet. But Earl’s confession and the words of Jesus combined push Maggie to devise a new plan. Maggie’s father, Hershel Sr., was a drunk many moons ago and had he never been given a second chance, he would not have been able to help as many people as he did. With that, Maggie decides to let Earl work under supervision.

Maggie makes sure to tell Michonne that while Earl could be redeemed, Gregory had been given many chances and deserved to die. Maggie agrees to create the rules for the communities but is not going to sign up to anything that will affect her style of leading. Michonne worries how they will determine the rules, and who gets a say in when someone is past redemption. Maggie leaves it for further discussion when they agree on their pact.