THE ONES WHO LIVE 1x01 "Years"

THE ONES WHO LIVE — 1x01 "Years"

I’m very surprised there is an “Okafor is for the resistance” theory circulating in the fandom. ‘He is fomenting a soft coup within the military to peacefully give power to the Civic Republic once the time comes.’ I’m hearing this going, what? I feel like the odd one out! What am I seeing differently?

Maybe it’s my interpretation of his vision: “Monsters that kill the monsters—that’ll be over soon.”

Okafor speaks well and is charismatic but that’s the trick. He doesn’t care about anyone’s freedom, including Rick’s or even his own. He’s a villain—someone to test our two heros’ limits and their beliefs, not support them. Well, if he and Beale were on the same path of destruction and control when they ‘recruited’ Rick and gassed Omaha, then they only disagreed on the tactics of the CRM’s coup of the Civic Republic. They split on something more subtle; Okafor wanted a soft coup but Beale wants a hard coup.

What does that make our heroes, Rick and Michonne? I think for Rick the question will be, to inherent the Lieutenant Colonel’s vision and change it, at risk of losing everything to Major General Beale—or to abandon the Civic Republic’s fight for the safety and comfort of family if he can? I think 1x02 will bring Michonne’s years gone by and her inner conflict into play. As always, she will lead Rick to make the right choice, which will affect a lot of people. ❤️

Even if I’m wrong, at some point I’m gonna argue why we should dislike Okafor and appreciate him as a villain. Think I’ll make it part of a 1x01 analysis thread: Rick, Pearl and Donald: CRM’s Alliance of Three.

And yet I love this quiet clouded day. I love this settled stillness, and this feeling that, at any moment, down may come the rain. Should you say wasted? No, not really. Something is gathered. This quiet time brings one nearer.

Katherine Mansfield, from The Journal of Katherine Mansfield (1914-1922)

1x01 “Years”

These are my last first thoughts on the premier. There were many things where you’re like, wait is this a good thing or a bad thing? Can we trust this person or not? Is Rick in it or is he not? And I love it. You have to go back several times to see the way things stitch together. We’ll see what happens. As for what has happened, Scott Gimple pulled out the “end in the beginning” move from his back of tricks. In my notes I named each ‘scene’ this:

1. “There’s still one good man in the world”: Rick vs Thorne’s Glass

2. The stuff and things we hide. Rick plays the game.

3. “Monsters that kill the monsters—that’ll be over soon.” Okafor turns the walking dead theme on its head.

4. “She’s not gone. They’re not gone. But we are.” Turning a theme on its head again. Letting us know it’s all about…

5. Nationbuilding 101: Secrets. Secrets. Secrets. Rick plays the game to its end.

6. Rick vs Thorne’s Glass 2: Electric Boogaloo

7. (“He’s a good man and we’re from a good place.”) Rick chooses to die metaphorically.

8. A reunion. Writers’ lesson in teasing but avoiding the Romeo and Juliet scenario.

Hannibal S1E08 "Fromage" || S2E07 "Yakimono"

I don't care why you're covered in blood, why the bombs go out, and why they don't come back. This isn't my city. Those aren't my people. This isn't everything! You don't get to choose for the world! You don't get to choose for me. My wife is my choice. My daughter, my life is my choice. You think I went what I went through, did what I did to let anyone choose anything for me?

RICK GRIMES The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live — 1.01 "Years"