the walking dead world beyond season 2

The Walking Dead World Beyond Series Finale Review

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Nicolas Cantu as Elton, Aliyah Royale as Iris, Alexa Mansour as Hope – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 10 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

The Walking Dead World Beyond’s final episode just finished airing a few minutes ago. And I must say, this was a fresh breath of air compared to The mid season finales of the main show and Fear The Walking Dead.

This is because I felt that there was a conclusion rather than using a gimmick to leave the show open ended. With Silas being a full fledged member of the CRM, Huck’s death, Elizabeth’s arrest, and everyone else finding their own path, World Beyond finished on a high note. I was totally not expecting this and I am satisfied that World Beyond grew to be its own show rather than focusing on Rick Grimes.

Speaking of Rick, Jadis finally confirmed why she said Rick was a “B” rather than an “A” and I am glad that she did. Rick would have been a test subject if he was saved as an “A.” Plus the fact that Jadis straight up murdered Huck brought a smile on my face. Let’s hope that we will see this version of Jadis on the Rick Grimes movie.

I will say this. I wished that Elton got his bite earlier in the season. That way, we would see how he will handle this for the rest of the season. That would have been a bigger plot for him instead of what we got of Elton. Having him lose his arm on the final episode must have been a budget issue rather than a story issue. His monologue at the end was really good though.

The acting and the cinematography is also good on this final episode. The cast went out of their way to make every scene matter with some of the best camera work World Beyond has had.

Then we get to the post credit scene. For the first time in about 11 years, we see Dr. Jenner from the first season of The Walking Dead. But that is not the only surprise. There was more context to where the virus originated and the variant that was in France. This is cool to know. But my question is, what will happen now with this information since World Beyond concluded.

World Beyond’s first season was a struggle and chore to get through. But their second season addressed all the issues from the previous season while also setting the roadmap for the future. I hate to say this, but I enjoyed the final season over 11A of The Walking Dead and 7A of Fear The Walking Dead. It is a shame that World Beyond did not get a third season.

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The Walking Dead World Beyond Season 2, Episode 8 “Returning Point” Review

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Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis, Annet Mahendru as Huck – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 8 – Photo Credit: Chip Jackson/AMC

The Walking Dead World Beyond knocks it right out of the park with another explosive episode.

The fact that everyone is starting to go berserk on the CRM on their own ways makes it even more satisfying. Even during the shootout that involved Will, Elton, Silas, and Indira’s group really brought in the tension in the air. It was much needed after seeing how CRM operates this entire season. If they actually let CRM go forward with those planned executions, that would have been a dark hour!

Much like tonight’s episode of Fear The Walking Dead, I seriously hope that they do not make CRM look weak in the upcoming episodes. But I am enjoying what is being offered here.

During the episode’s beginning, there is an emotional scene with Will. His acting was phenomenal during this scene which was capturing the emotion instantly. however the slo-mo camera went for way too long in my opinion. But it did not hurt the scene at all.

Joe Holt as Leo, Nico Tortorella as Felix – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 8 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

Leo and Felix are plotting this plan against Jadis and the CRM very well. I totally did not expect for Joe to be the brains behind the plan. The rest of the characters are going along with it. It is a huge contrast to how they were behind the walls compared to the current time.

The Percy and Iris relationship is growing on me. When I watch them, I do see a connection with the two characters. Could they both make it out alive by the series end, that is another question I have looming over my mind.

Call me crazy, but I have been enjoying World Beyond over the majority of the main show’s final season and Fear’s seventh season. That is something I did not think I would say in 2021. There are two more episodes of World Beyond and I am really curious to see how the show will wrap up.

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Interview: Natalie Gold Talks The Walking Dead World Beyond

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Natalie Gold as Lyla – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

This week’s episode of The Walking Dead World Beyond showcased the demise of Lyla Bellshaw. Her death is one of the best executed of the series so far. Here to talk about the big character death is Natalie Gold, who played the character in this brand new exclusive interview.

The theme for this episode is to catch the mice and then when the mice runs out of energy, it gets devoured better. And the next thing you know, the same thing happens to your character later in the episode. What went through your mind when you went through the entire script?

NG: “I knew that Layla was going to go. I just didn’t know how. And so when I read the script, I just thought it was a really cool epic death. I thought it was a full circle moment for Lyla in a way that she gets killed by by an invention of her own creation. Like she killed Barca and its poetic justice for her. In her mind, she started to break a little bit. But she keeps telling herself it’s for the greater good and she ends up being on the other side. So. I felt sad for Lyla. I think she was trying to do her best.”

Your death scene really played out well and I love the gore that came with it. Would you like to tell me some of the behind the scenes work that went into developing that scene?

NG: “Oh, we had an incredible like a whole VFX team. So the special effects team and their whole department took me to the trailer to get that huge bite mark on my neck. And then we had a whole system with the blood and everything. So that was really cool. I hadn’t gotten to see them yet because they work on all the empties and they do all the cool effects and stuff like that. So that was pretty awesome.”

Was that scene done in one take?

NG: “The blood was done in one take because we just did that at the end. But the fight between me and Barca, we did multiple times and that was kind of a beautiful. We had our stunt choreographers creating this amazing fight. And then Al Calderon, who played Barca and I rehearsed it, and then when we went to go do it, we just added 1,000,000 times and it was a lot of fun and totally exhausting. We were both very sore the next day and exhausted. And then we had our two amazing cameramen. Craig and Joel, and they’re with us at some points. So we were jumping around the cameras and over cables maintaining this fight. So that was crazy and fun. Safe, but just a lot of energy. And then we stopped so I could go get the prosthetic on my neck like we would. We would cut right when he was about to bite me and we had just that take for him and for the blood to kind of spread out.”

Do you have any stories to share about working with Pollyanna McIntosh?

NG: “Oh God, it was. We had a great time. We spent a long day like in the interrogation room and we just felt really like happy to be working with each other and it just felt like a kind of cool, incredible energy. We were excited to do those scenes and then work with each other. Pollyanna is so cool and such an amazing actor and so dedicated to the universe and the story and the character Jadis. it was so incredible to have her come on. I was kind of her direct subordinate and her being the one that I had to answer to, all the pressure fell on my character in a very cool way.”

Were you able to take anything home from the set from either season one or season two?

NG: “I did get somebody on our props department made these like amazing stickers that were like comic book kind of photos, but hand-drawn. It is Leo and Lyla being scientists out in the wilderness. That was so much fun.”

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The Walking Dead World Beyond Season 2, Episode 6 Review

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Aliyah Royale as Iris, Ted Sutherland as Percy, Nico Tortorella as Felix, Alexa Mansour as Hope, Joe Holt as Leo – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

Jadis made her return to The Walking Dead universe last week on World Beyond. Now that she is a full fledged member of the CRM, things have changed.

Over the last six years since Jadis saved Rick, she told Huck what she was up to in between that time. It is here that I was convinced that Jadis is not the same person she once was. Pollyanna McIntosh brings a unique presence to the show just as Elizabeth does when she first appeared. So far, I like what I am seeing with Jadis. With the revelation that she used her language to manipulate them into working together, they retroactively made the former group The Scavengers on the main show more interesting.

It’s interesting to see Felix and Huck’s uneasy alliance. Even though they don’t trust each other, the two of them still have a connection, and I think that was apparent in the last moment when Huck advised she would be with him. However, if she has the chance, she would still like to be friends with him.

I also figured that Dev was going to die real soon. I however did not expect him to go out with an unexpected death. Will is going to have to continue running from the CRM before they capture him.

Natalie Gold as Lyla – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Chip Jackson/AMC


As World Beyond continues, it seems like everyone is going to die trying to spread the word about the CRM. Iris and Hope will get to the truth without being killed by the CRM, but it won’t be in time to stop them from using chemical weapons on them.

World Beyond has achieved an intrigue level that meets my expectations. I believe the series should have started out in the same way as it is now. After wasting so much time on a coming-of-age survival adventure story, the plot turned completely away from it. I am happy to say that the series has finally found its footing!

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The Walking Dead World Beyond Season 2, Episode 4 “Family is a Four Letter Word” Review

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Julia Ormond as Elizabeth – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

This week’s World Beyond picks up right where we left off last week. Now with everyone reunited, it does not mean that everything from the previous season is settled.

This episode was made worthwhile by Huck’s presence, in my opinion. Specifically, the flashback scenes and her interactions with Elizabeth and Felix were the only thing in this episode that changed the story/characters. Moreover, it was the only thing to change, which made it especially suspenseful. Felix was about to damn near kill Huck, but that did not happen at all!

The transformation of Iris still confuses me. I find it a bit amusing how they will just replace characters and not do proper character development on this episode of World Beyond. The plot is being held up by their refusal to reduce the amount of filler. It is the end of the world so why not pair Iris and Percy up as a couple! Silas was treated similarly. His rage blackouts and flashbacks when it comes to killing have suddenly subsided. Trauma doesn’t disappear overnight.

Speaking of Silas, the first scene after the opening with the minefield and fireworks were done better here than how it was done on the main show. I also do like Dennis. My interest in Dennis’ character has me wondering if he’s spending time with his girlfriend in anticipation of a fight with the bad guys. He obviously doesn’t have her anymore. Additionally, I am curious to see which side he’ll be on later, starting from the assumption he will eventually help Silas instead of simply watching over him.

Nicolas Cantu as Elton, Madelyn Kientz as Asha – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

At the end of the day, Today’s episode of World Beyond matches the title as everyone had to question who is family and who is not. That is greatly displayed during the entire runtime of the episode and I welcome it. Sure, there were some dialogue decisions that should have not been on the script. But those lines were not damaging to the plot at all. Overall, Today’s World Beyond is really decent.

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The Walking Dead World Beyond Season 2, Episode 3 “Exit Wounds” Review

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Alexa Mansour as Hope, Will Meyers as Mason – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

If you are dying to know how corrupt CRM are, this episode of World Beyond is a great directory for it.

Like The Walking Dead’s The Commonwealth, the current CRM location has it’s flaws if the characters are not obeying their laws. But how the CRM wants to restore the world is really moving the plot faster than the first season. I also believe that the CRM. is getting more interesting the more people know about it.

Hope is front and center for most of this episode. She is dealing with the other teenagers in class and meeting unwanted friends for the first time. All of this is going on while she misses her sister Iris. I have a good feeling that Hope and Iris will reunite very soon! Plus, Hope’s conversation with her dad gets bonus points for me!

Everything with Percy and Elton is a mixed bag for me. Especially the action sequence. Since World Beyond started airing, the stunt choreography for the most part has not been good. That happened here while they were taking down empties. It visually looked good when that camouflaged empty woke up to try to devour Elton. But the scene followed that could have been done better. Especially since I could not believe the teens took them out the way they did. But when that eye ball was being taken out, I thought that was cool.

Alexa Mansour as Hope – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Chip Jackson/AMC

It also seems like they are having Iris and Percy develop a relationship as their bond gets closer. This could be dangerous down the line as Percy is not a person to be trusted. But we will see how the story unfolds!

I believe this episode of World Beyond is one of the stronger ones of the series. For the first time since late into season one, I am looking forward to the next episode!

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The Walking Dead World Beyond Returns With a Confusing and yet Enjoyable Second Season

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Alexa Mansour as Hope – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

The Walking Dead World Beyond’s first season concluded with a cliffhanger that will be explored on the second season. The reception of the first season has been mixed. I, for one can agree with the reception as I felt like it was a chore at times to get through the first season with the exception of the last half of the first season.

With all of that aside, I got a chance to watch the first two episodes of the second season. Here are my non-spoiler thoughts broken down by each episode.

Episode one titled Konsekans, follows up with the end of the very first episode of the series in a massive way. Although I cannot say what happens at the moment, but there are missing items from the first season about CRM that are addressed right away. The thing here is, why was this moment not shown on the first season of World Beyond? Elizabeth is also heavily featured on the first episode as well as she wants Hope to work with CRM.

My take on some of the dialogue exchanged between Elizabeth and Huck is that the two actresses do not have good chemistry on screen together. But I am sure that it will get better more episodes into the second season of World Beyond. Speaking of following up, Will told Felix and Hope the story of what happened to him prior to the season one finale of World Beyond. It is an interesting story. However, I wished it could have been fleshed out more for me to care about the character.

There are things that do get a bit confusing with one of the character’s hallucination sequences. Get ready because it is there for the majority of the second half of this episode. The end of this sequence is satisfying though. It is just how it begins and what happens in between is what boggles my mind.

Iris became my favorite character on this episode. Especially towards the end when she does something major. In the universe of The Walking Dead, we are used to seeing adults and kids doing this whether if they are in a community, or not. Here on World Beyond, it strikes different because everyone never left their community before to deal with doing what needs to be done at that moment. It is a good scene!

Nicolas Cantu as Elton – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

If you take out the hallucination scenes and watch this episode of World Beyond, it is enjoyable. The second episode titled Foothold is better than the first episode. There are a large number of things I cannot spoil, but you will learn more about CRM on this episode than the entire first season of The Walking Dead World Beyond.

I can also say that the plot is moving very fast this time just on these first two episodes alone that is keeping me engaged to learn more. There is also dialogue that is still suited for a high school play. But not overbearing like the first season. Overall, this season starts off stronger than the last even though parts are hard to follow.

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