The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Review - 4 Ups & 6 Downs From "The Last Time"

10. Down: It's Another Rushed Piece Of TWD Storytelling

The Walking Dead has been here before, right to the very end: Hours of intense build-up, complete with compelling character work and plenty of filler that still strikes a chord, only to end with a finale of rushed happenings. 

The Ones Who Live continues this trend impeccably, despite a well-balanced start that hints at a slow-burn approach that never materialises. Rick and Michonne spend the opening together, in love, content, plotting; then it kicks off without pause, with frustrating results. 

What's most disappointing about "The Last Time" is that, for all its pacing flaws, there are great moments scattered around, from Rick and Michonne's relationship to its wonderful final scene, but these highs are merely shoehorned in, awkwardly inserted to a narrative that refuses to let them breathe. 

Taking more interest in generic action beats and an obvious desire to Wrap Everything Up, the finale jolts through its twists, victories and underwhelming revelations too quickly for many of its more affecting beats (bar one, which we'll get to shortly) to pack the necessary punch.