‘The Walking Dead’ Kills Off a Main Character & Splits Up the Group (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[WARNING: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 20, “What’s Been Lost.”]
Really…Hornsby? Really?!
With four episodes left to go in the monster-big series, The Walking Dead killed off one of its main villains — although the way it happened seemed a bit silly. It also paired up Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) for a new mission — although they didn’t spend a great deal of time together. And Pamela (Laila Robins) gave Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) a new case — one she really, really didn’t want to take. Here’s how it all went down.
As the episode opens, Ezekiel (Khary Payton) goes to visit Carol at the bakery. When he abruptly disappears, she’s suspicious — and her suspicions are confirmed as she narrowly escapes capture herself, and then finds Daryl in danger. The duo survives the mysterious attack, but they discover their friends have all been removed from the Commonwealth. In such desperate times, who does ‘Caryl’ turn to?
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Hornsby (Josh Hamilton), that’s who! They find him drenched in blood in his cell, murmuring about how there’s “always a way out.” (Side note: Hamilton did the whole “oh, he snapped” thing well enough that for a few minutes, I honestly thought Hornsby had checked out.) Carol and Daryl snap him out of it and break him out of his cell, since he promises he can lead them to their friends. But they’re unable to get his ankle monitor off, so they attract unwanted attention from some Commonwealth guards. Pinned down amidst a storm of gunfire, Daryl stays back to allow Carol and Lance a way out.
Hornsby briefly becomes the most relatable character in the show as he showers praise upon Carol for being a complete and total badass who’s always “ten steps ahead.” (Don’t we all think Carol’s a complete and total badass?) He leads her into a tunnel to throw some more Commonwealth guards off their trail, and there’s a brief scuffle where three things happen: 1. She saves him from a walker that almost kills him, 2. She almost gets killed by some walkers that randomly show up behind her (are silently appearing walkers some of the new “variants?”) and 3. She glares up at Hornsby, who timidly held the flashlight the entire time she was fighting for her life. Cool.
Jace Downs/AMC
They get out of the tunnel only to find the Commonwealth guards waiting for them. At first it seems all hope is lost, but Daryl rides up behind the soldiers and takes them all out. (Where did he come from? How did he know where to find them? Oh, well.) After that, Lance makes the grave mistake of giving away too much information. He tells Carol and Daryl that their friends are on a train. That’s pretty much all they need to know, and although Lance tries to argue otherwise, they decide they’re done with him. They tell him they won’t kill him, but he’s not coming with them, either — in short, he’ll have to live outside the walls. Hornsby panics, saying he’s not cut out for life outside the Commonwealth. At first it looks like he’s leaving, but when he snatches a gun and points it at them, Carol shoots him in the throat. He dies, and Carol and Daryl drive away. It’s hard to believe a guy as methodical and strategic as Hornsby would’ve gone out like that, but it looks like that’s it for him.
Back in the Commonwealth, Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) continues taking a version of Michonne’s storyline from the comics. Pamela (Laila Robins) tells her she has to prosecute Eugene (Josh McDermitt) for his crimes, but Yumiko’s not too fond of that plan. Unfortunately, because it’s Pamela, she threatens the lives of everyone Yumiko cares about if she doesn’t go through with it.
Jace Downs/AMC
While Pamela discovers Hornsby’s gone and her son’s walker has been put down (Hornsby putting his coin in dead-Sebastian’s splattered brains was a nice touch), Yumiko goes to see her brother at the hospital. He argues she should just do what Pamela wants, but then, surprisingly, she runs into Connie (Lauren Ridloff). Connie tells her she got away from the man who tried to kidnap her and stabbed him in the leg, and she snuck into the hospital to try and get some information about him. They make a plan for Yumiko to follow him once he’s released, but that goes bad quick as the guy realizes what she’s doing.
In the end, Yumiko does end up attending Pamela’s big speech where she’s meant to announce her prosecution of Eugene Porter. Instead of doing that, Yumiko draws attention to her brother in the crowd — thus highlighting his importance to the Commonwealth and saving him from Pamela’s wrath — and then announces her defense of Eugene Porter. As she leaves, she throws Pamela’s speech on the ground.
On the train, we see many of the main characters, including Ezekiel, being given shots in their necks (a sedative, most likely). There’s nothing saying where they’re going or why, but it’s probably not good.
Other Observations
- Okay, I’m mourning Hornsby. While I didn’t think he’d make it through the season, I’d hoped TWD would do more with him. I enjoyed his whole Littlefinger-esque schtick, which I thought was a unique spin on a post-apocalyptic villain. We still don’t know a whole lot about his endgame, nor do we know if he had CRM connections. Josh Hamilton played him so well. I would’ve gladly sacrificed some (or all) of the Reaper-centric episodes to give Hornsby more screen time.
- At least we got an explanation for the weirdness between him and Pamela. If I understood what he told Carol correctly, he’d known (and had feelings for) Pamela for most of his life, but she never returned them because he was her chauffeur’s son and thus, in her eyes, “beneath her.”
- One more point about Hornsby and then I’m done — we didn’t see him die. I’m fairly confident he’s not surviving an arrow through the neck, but he wasn’t stabbed in the head, so…walker-Hornsby is not out of the question.
- Given that the opening narration focused on Carol and Daryl’s connection this week, I was expecting a little more ‘Caryl’ in this episode; a la “Consumed” or even “Lines We Cross.” Instead, she spent more time with Hornsby than with Daryl. Bummer.
- Last week I said I didn’t think that One Big Death from the comics was happening because Sebastian isn’t around to pull the trigger. After seeing Pamela’s sanity start to unravel this week, I’m pondering the likelihood that she’ll do it instead.
- Rating: 3/5. It’s not that there’s nothing to appreciate in “What’s Been Lost.” Carol and Hornsby’s dynamic, like Carol and Negan’s dynamic, was fascinating. (Hornsby being her No. 1 Fan had me cackling.) But with four episodes left, it suffered from a lack of suspense or narrative progression. Nothing was tied up here, and nothing much came to a head. We still don’t know what happened to Oceanside. I’ve been saying it every week, and I’ll say it again: I hope the show picks up soon.
The Walking Dead, Sundays, 9/8c, AMC
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Comments are closed on this story.
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R
Me and my mom are addicted to this show . I wish it wasn't ending soon. Although I will not be pleased if Rick and Michonne do not come back.it all started with Rick so I think if he came back it would be a great ending.
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I wouldn't necessarily call Hornsby a major character. A major character for the 11th season maybe. But when they say main or major I'm thinking Daryl or Carol or someone who's been there multiple seasons. Even though hornsby was a weasel I enjoyed his part quite a bit. He played the character very well. Though he was a villain I almost hated to see him go lol.
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I totally agree! As a fan who adored this show from the beginning I wouldn’t call Hornsby a major character. Though he did play the part well, I won’t miss him as much as I will the others
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I totally agree with your whole comment!
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O
LOL, again, so well-said, & EXACTLY what I think as well. When I see "Major Character Death," I ALWAYS think "Ohh, $h1+, CAROL, EZEKIEL, GABE, WHOOOO!?!? JERRY? AARON? I'M SO WORRIED!!" Hornsby is major character for THIS, our season 11. But wouldn't describe him as purely Major Character for the series 11yrs. ... That said, you're right, his character was quite intriguing, & the actor did an excellent job at it, & writers wrote him incredibly well. Instead of just a basic, 2-dimensional character with no layers. As humans, I think we're ALL complicated, & also, shaped by not only the world we live in, experiences we've had, & decisions we make. They captured that very well w him. I feel similar about Merle Dixon. Being not really a "villain" but def not a "hero." Not black/white, but grey. Had some TRULY terrible qualities but also some genuinely good ones as well. I think that makes characters so much more interesting & realistic & complicated, just like IRL.
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R
I strongly believe Michonne returns with Rick in the series finale. RJ will finally get to meet the “nice man” who is his father.
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C
I love this show..really hate to see it end! Awesome actors n love the story lines....hope they go through with some spin offs
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I think it's criminal what they've done to this once top tier show. The writers are garbage. Utter garbage. They have the most amazing characters and world and they do this....
And really, wtf happened to Rick coming back? Or the movies? Or that whole other super large group with helos? Less Maggie more everyone else plz. She can't even remember she's supposed to be a Georgia farm girl with an accent these days ffs. So sad. Fear is written much better. And that says a lot.
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Totally agree about Maggie. EXTREMELY so! I'm unclear on what specific thing you mean by "now they do this," but whatever it is, I likely agree w you on that as well, LOL. I prob wouldn't go so far as to say "Fear" is better written, personally, cause I feel that has become a major trainwreck & a full-on Comedy Of Errors. Tho I'm also still angry they stole Morgan away from us, among other things. ... I'm weird, tho. I kinda fall in the middle. While I do feel that TWD has sadly, gone downhill since its Heyday at the HEIGHT of its Golden Era of awesomeness. ... But I also don't HATE it by any means. Tho NGL; the show has meant LOTS to me, my family, etc. So I'm sure I'm a bit biased. Even watching it in hospital numerous times throughout times when my chronic illness was at its worst. So. Super sentimental part of life.
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R
Absolutely!
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I disagree. It's been completely fresh every time they come across a new threat.
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P
Carol Sucks! I don't know why people like her. Worst character on the show. Liked her the beginning seasons but now she is just an over powered senior citizen that ruins the show. But show has been going down hill for many seasons now
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O
Absolutely! Same! ... I'd started to write a more in-depth reply on how was similar for me & my parents & husband. But I'm weird & long-winded & ended up sounding like a crazy woman w random, unimportant details about it, LMAO. ... So. ... I started anew. And yep, totally agree, & VERY well-said! We're also SO sad it's ending. Sucks. Tho I still hold on to hopes, knowing the spin-offs of: Negan/Maggie, Daryl, and Rick/Michonne. I too, will be disappointed if Rick & Michonne didn't come back at LEAST for a few minutes on one of the final eps. I feel it's really important that we can see that closure w them & w their 2 kids, & w their family (esp Daryl, Carol, etc.) I know they are doing the series & I'm REALLY happy about that, but I DEF DO still feel that they should at least come back even if just for a quick reunion, etc. 🙂❤️
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I've been a fan since the first episode I can remember leaving work and saying I got to get home to see the next episode of The walking Dead the first three seasons absolutely blew me away loving zombie movies and the cast was absolutely phenomenal as they started killing off on main people in fighting villains and whatnot instead of zombies started wearing on me cuz I continue watching the show through all the years what they did with Rick's characters absolutely unbelievable they destroyed a character between him and Darryl will a force to deal with and taking them out and promising movies and never gave to him all he wanted was a little time with his family so they could have wrote him off for six or seven episodes instead of promising him three movies and taking them completely off the series which totally true in another direction making Dara the lead which I have no exceptions to but his brother being not in the movie meeting Andrew Lincoln I just wish they would get back to killing zombies instead of each other and all these spinos coming can never compare to the original cast of The walking Dead trying to survive from day one in the CDC to the farm and that the governor through me way off fighting people instead of zombiesthat they got their intelligence back we have zombies that know how use their brains I'm so disgusted howthey treated Rosita's badass making her a mom for the last two seasons taking her out of being the badass she is Rosita's
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P
I'm a superfan but dang this final season has been soooo slow. Not one major character has died, am I wrong?
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R
A major character death is coming in the next two episodes.
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O
I feel ya, but personally, I don't want any MAJOR character deaths. I really feel like, when the writing/acting/storyline is strong, that is enough, ESPECIALLY for a series wrapping up 11 YEARS. ... I don't think they should be lazy & just do a major death in place of REAL substance & story. ... Especially as a writer, just. Iono. ... Just. I want them to do right by us fans, & I feel that's kinda insulting to us as fans. Like. "Don't wanna actually spend time TRULY putting big effort into writing these characters/last eps here. ... AGREED! I wanna wrap this up & get home to bed. ... Cool, same here, sir! So. Let's just, go ahead & do what we ALWAYS do when go & Just go ahead & shoehorn in an absolute random, but MAJOR Character's emotional death. The fans are a buncha big ol' dummies; they'll fall for it & we can EASILY manipulate them into thinking it's actually a good, interesting, thoroughly well thought-out, thing. They'll believe that death is equivalent to great story writing. The show is ending, why put any real effort into it amirite? ::High Fives ensue in abundance::" Just my opinion tho. But, I DO understand & appreciate YOUR opinion as well. 👍🙂 Love sharing thoughts w fellow fans.
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R
I agree. I have a feeling although it may be short lived Rick. And Michonne will return. At least I hope so.
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Yes 100%! Exactly my feelings on it as well!
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G
I finally gave up on the show after the final season premiere. It is simply unwatchable in comparison to the first few seasons. Feel so cheated after having invested 10 years in the show only to not make it through to the final stretch.
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I respectfully disagree. I think the show definitely needed the commonwealth. A world where it was almost normal living again. They're using money there and everything. And it's just like living in the real world lol. Corrupt as ever.
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Facts. Before it was about zombies and for years now it's been the same thing every season. Another group that mysteriously around they fight, they win. First few seasons were amazing and u never knew who would live or who would die. You can pretty much predict how the season will go before it starts. All the main characters are just to overpowered and there is no suspense of anything happening to them. I have a lot more complaints of the show but I will save them for now
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G
This show should have ended a long time ago!!
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A long, long time ago.
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G
Yes. They just kept recycling the same plot with the same two-dimensional tyrant leaders. Seems like soft paranoia porn sells.
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