The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Review - 4 Ups & 6 Downs From "The Last Time"
3. Up: Effective Callbacks To Earlier Episodes
One surprisingly effective aspect of The Ones Who Live's finale lies in its ability to callback to earlier Walking Dead moments without overburdening itself with fan service or ever feeling like it's straining to pander to long-time audiences.
"The Last Time" shows us Rick's most memorable moments - including the death of Shane Walsh, the Terminus massacre, Negan's defeat, and the season four neck bite - during his discussion with Beale, and it helps create an air of real dread and tension before Rick gives the Commander his trademark glare and ends his life.
It's all very moving, an affecting reminder of how long we've come with these characters and how far they've come with each other, and it comes complete with the greatest moment of the show: Rick and Michonne returning home to the arms of their children.
Seeing Rick share the screen with a grown-up Judith and finally meet his son ("the brave man"!) is an absolutely beautiful moment, perfectly performed by Andrew Lincoln to bring Rick's gruelling journey to a welcomingly heartfelt and sweet end.