The Walking Dead Season 6, Episode 11 Review: Knots Untie

By Michael Potts / February 29, 2016

In a show based around the zombie apocalypse vs. a group of gun-laden survivors it's understandable that people can be turned off by a slower-paced episode, but 'Knots Untie' got it absolutely right. The world is growing and Episode 11 was a sorely needed game-changer that could be about the blow the entire show wide open. Everything moment was relevant to the story, there was no time wasted on filler, as Jesus led Rick and the gang back to his community, the Hilltop Colony. We were given an amazing glimpse of life behind the walls, and a few new characters were introduced, including the indecipherable Gregory, played by Xander Berkeley. Maggie's diplomatic style came to the fore as trade negotiations opened between the communities, a theme that is unlike anything we've seen before on The Walking Dead, while her pregnancy storyline was also picked up. The focus was on a conflicted Abraham throughout the episode, as he attempted to make decisions about his future with both Sasha and Rosita. There's a lot of debate about expendable fringe characters on the show needing to prove their worth, and he certainly deserves the screen time for a whole range of reasons. Michael Cudlitz plays the part fantastically, with all-action aplomb, dark one-liners, and a dash of pure insanity. Abraham is fascinating to watch. But Episode 11 proved that there are more warriors than just Abraham among the group, Rick produced another grisly kill on a Hilltop member, and they collectively started to realise that while they couldn't offer a lot in the way of supplies as part of a trade deal, they could offer their skills as a crack team of defenders, protectors, and assassins. If that's not exciting, this show isn't for you. 'Knots Untie' went a long way to progressing the story, and coolly set up the rest of Season 6. The road to Negan begins now. We're hearing ominous details about his manner, his logic, his ideas, and importantly his role. Negan and his group, the Saviours, have painted themselves as a mob-like entity, bullying their way towards resources and power. It may be some time before we finally get to see him, but the build up could be spectacular. A whole new set of doors just opened up for Rick and the group, tense times lie ahead, and a million questions have just been raised by a less frantic, yet intriguing installment. Delve into 10 Questions We're Asking After Knots Untie for an exciting, detailed look at the latest events from The Walking Dead. Episode Rating: B+

The Walking Dead, Mondays at 9pm on FOX.