I have to say it's been a while since we had Father Gabriel or Aaron focused episode, even though they've been central cast since the Road to Alexandria. Both of them are one of my favourites, even if they get less screen time than they deserve.
Thing is, while there was a Ricknator era, everyone got a bit of action, but as the cast grew larger it became harder to give time for the main cast, even if they deserved it. We know less about what these two has been doing than say Carol and Daryl who always find their way in the screen, one way or another.
It's just we don't have any more a leading central figure that it tying altogether, and hence the story becomes so fragmented. Like for example I personally have been waiting to find out more about Eugene and Princess than about the other ones.
But this couple is an interesting pair as I don't think we've explored this side of the Kirkman's world for a while. Let's find out how it goes...
It is kind of strange how strong Gabriel's faith had become over the years he has spent with the Alexandria community. I personally find it remarkable that he still keeps dog collars and the black suit, even though the Church norms aren't really a thing any more. We don't even know how often they go to listen his sermons, because AMC chose to cut off those segments that were present in the comics off from the main screen time.
In the story sense, the Lord has tested his faith time and again. And when I watch him now, he totally ignored the burned out family scene, even though it looked miraculous. It is as if that part of the faith has left him and the only thing he's looking forward is the next day. Not God's messages...
... but is it because he's hurting and angry to Him?
Aaron is different man, and yet the same one we met at the Road to Alexandria. He has always known how to survive in the Kirkman's world, and to me, he has gained faith through Father Gabriel, even though you could expect to find him snoozing with a bottle of booze. But he's not, as we see them two heading out to yet another scout run.
I really loved his trick on finding the dead in the field by throwing a kitchen timer in there. At the shot, he looks so pleased. Almost as if he's thinking 'that works every time.'
How he got Gabriel to leave Alexandria is a bit of mystery?
It's just we've seen the Father Gabriel to leave the ASZ on very rarely and only in times when he has been forced to do so. Maybe the loss of Hilltop really made them two to think about the survival, but it's kind of strange that Aaron finds the beauty in things, while Gabriel is ignoring everything.
Is it because Aaron sees the world as a Grand Necropolis and he doesn't want to disturb their eternal rest or something else?
It surprised me that Aaron didn't go into check Mini Mart after Gabriel had cleared out. It was almost as if was taking the Priest word a bit too literally, even though his father senses should have been ringing the alarm bells.
Why is it that they're looking for non perishables, when there should be still be food left around in the other locations, like for example the Oceanside, or on Hilltop's fields and cellars? It is kind of bonkers to think that the Whisperers would have destroyed them, when they need to live.
God gives and takes away, that is the way. This time, the useless map that weren't leading them anywhere, and replacing it with an untouched warehouse full of goodies, and reminders about the faith and consequences.
You never know where His road leads, because it's so long and twisty. And He loves a bit of mystery and adventure. Maybe the strangest thing is that there are more faith aspects in the TWD and Fear than there are in the other series and we are still watching one that is made on post-apocalyptic zombie world. But that has been always the thing in Kirkman's world as it all feels so real.
They were lost, so Lord gave them a location, and they were hungry so Lord gave them a pig. Neither of them prayed about it, but it's so obvious when you look at it. In the miracle terms. But if it had been a story related, nobody would have found nothing and everything would have returned back to misery.
Remember what I've said about TWD and Fear needing hope. Well this is it... cheers!
How did Father Gabriel became such a whisky connoisseur? I loved that their R&R went from dinner to poker. All involving whisky. I loved Gabriel's story about the Reverend George's passion on the golden liquor.
What he says about George's advice on being yourself and delivering the word without a fear is something I personally feel. I'm scared of opening my mouth, because I think everyone's laughing at me. Writing is much easier as I can escape behind the screen without facing the live audience.
While I stream in the twitch I try to talk and play in the role, but it's not so easy. And in the comics Father Gabriel has these long talks, while in the series, Aaron is right. We need Gabriel to start preaching again. To be himself and not be afraid of what he says.
Father Gabriel said, "I don't want to be preaching any more."
"Why?" Aaron asked.
"Because I don't think things are going back to way they used to."
To which Aaron replied, "It has to."
And he's right. They cannot give up because it's so hard to survive in the Kirkman's world. But from Gabriel's PoV he should see, while he's feeling that full belly, that the man at upstairs in still looking after them.
The piggie is a perfect example. What are the chances that it has been surviving in the warehouse for over ten years and got fat in the meantime, to just be there when the pair felt as if they were starving?
The math will give you a big number but it's not astronomical by any means. When you look at it when the faith aspect it should be clearer. The piggie was in the right place, in the right time, because the pair was lead to it, even if they felt that they were lost.
Yep, the piggie had an owner. It had not been there just because the upstairs man magically wished it in the world. The miracles need people and in the Kirkman's world they're often pissed. But more so, what they've done in these episodes is what we've seen in the Fear.
The AMC has listen our complaints and focused on making these chained together invidual ministories that leads to nice arcs within the season limits. The first time I saw the owner I thought he was the mysterious Pope.
The geezer rightfully questioned the thing that mattered most, Gabriel's faith. Almost as if he's the devil. Six questions were nice, but May pushed it too far. And so did Padre with his finishing blow. Why couldn't he hear the story to the end?
To be honest, maybe it's better that May went away. Still a very nice episode.