The Walking Dead “Twice as Far” was written by Matthew Negrete and directed by Alrick Riley, whose other credits include
NCIS,
Person of Interest, and
Castle. It was one of those beautifully crafted episodes – both visually and thematically – that so totally set this show apart from anything else currently airing. The stories of Denise (Merritt Wever) and Eugene (Josh McDermitt) are paralleled – both are on their own quests – but only one makes it to level two. More subtley, perhaps is the paralleling of the journeys of Daryl (Norman Reedus), Carol (Melissa McBride) and Morgan (Lennie James). I was very, very sad to see the end of Denise’s journey. As a friend said to me, she had so much more story to tell – on her own and with Tara (Alana Masterson) – and beyond that Wever was magnificent in this episode, promising how much more she could have brought to the show.
The episode opens with a sequence of scenes that is repeated twice more in the episode. The first time is to indicate the passage of some time and is back to back with the first pass. We revisit the same sequence at the end of the episode only this time our perspective is changed and the sequence if overlaid by Carol’s voice. The beginning and end of the initial sequences are bookended with a soft focus.
The scene begins with Olivia (Ann Mahoney) checking the food supplies in the pantry; shifts to Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) walking across a bridge carrying a rifle; shifts to Eugene taking over his watch shift at the gate, nodding to Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) in the lookout position; shifts to Morgan practicing with his stick; shifts to Carol smoking in the swing on the front porch; and shifts to Morgan finishing the cell. Rick appears at the door and wants to know why. Morgan explains that it gives them “choices” “next time.” Clearly, the choices are between killing and incarcerating. Fade out.
The next sequence moves through Olivia, Gabriel, Eugene, and Morgan, but when we get to Carol, Tobin (Jason Douglas) comes out, kisses her and leaves. She’s abandoned her sweaters and soccer mom persona, but she has the rosary she acquired last week.
We cut to Rosita (Christian Serratos) getting dressed. She doesn’t look happy, and she leaves Spencer (Austin Nichols) in her bed. We cut to Daryl, going over his bike. He finds an army man toy in a bag on the bike and tosses it aside. Was it his and he’s throwing away more innocent outlooks on life? Or was it something that Dwight (Austin Amelio) left there?
Carol joins Daryl remarking that she hadn’t noticed him getting his bike back. She sits down on the steps and he joins her, bumming a cigarette. She reminds us that it was the people in the burnt forest who took it from him. Carol asks, “You saved ‘em, right? Sorry. It’s who you are. We’re still stuck with that.” Daryl disagrees and insists he should have killed them. And by the end of the episode, it’s hard not to agree with him. Carol gets up and leaves him the cigarettes. She keeps telling people that cigarettes will kill them. Is this a signal that she thinks this anger in Daryl is going to get him killed? Before she can go, Daryl asks, “Hey! The ones that took you and Maggie? What’d they do to you?” Carol answers, “To us? They didn’t do anything.” After all, Maggie and Carol are still alive, and they are all dead. The scene fades out.
Once again we have a shot of the pantry, bridge, cell, and bench – but this time they are all empty. Except the bench which has the full ashtray sitting on it. And then we see Carol smoking and doing her Rosary – or maybe she’s just rolling it through her fingers…
One of the great effects in this episode is the walker with its face stuck on the poll. Denise is up on the wall looking at it with disgust and watching as Eugene and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) go off together. She’s looking at a paper. Is she seeing that Eugene has been able to change and is thinking she should be able to step up too? Denise and Eugene definitely have parallel paths as each sets off on their own mission with their protectors in tow.
We follow Spencer as he runs after Rosita like a lost puppy. He wants to make her his jerky-stroganoff. She is utterly disinterested and pissy. He wants to know what they’re doing – but he tells her it’s okay either way, he just wants to know. I’m assuming the alternatives are friends with benefits or a relationship. She tells him OK. They’ll have dinner – but she’s clearly not really into it. There’s a terrific moment when Rosita looks up and Denise is standing right there – and then Denise denies having heard anything!
Denise wants Rosita and Daryl to come with her to Edison’s Apothecary – a strip mall shop she passed on the way to Alexandria from DC that has – or had – a pharmacy. Daryl says that he and Rosita will go, but Denise is adamant that she’s coming too. Daryl asks her how much time she’s spent “out there.” When she says none, he immediately says no. Denise insists, “I can identify the medicine, I can use a machete, I’ve seen roamers up close. I’m ready.” Daryl doesn’t answer her and instead turns to the other fighter, Rosita and asks her if she’s good with it. She says no. Denise says she’ll go alone if she has to, and Daryl tells her that she’ll die alone. Denise tells them that she’s asking them to make sure that she doesn’t. And tragically, she isn’t alone and they don’t save her.
In the end, they agree to go. Daryl is driving the truck and continually disengaging the gears – and killing them! I loved this scene as it is hilarious. Denise tries to gently give him advice, and we get just a tiny glimpse into her history. She’s been driving trucks like this since she was 15, usually get up ones. Her brother taught her how to drive them. And of course, we already know that Daryl reminds her of someone – most likely her brother, which is confirmed later in the episode. And naturally, like all men, Daryl isn’t taking advice from a woman about cars – though it’s Daryl, so he does… But am I the only one who wanted him to pull over and let Denise drive? Of course, they had to keep her in the place of maximum safety – like a child – between the two adults. And it’s right here, when we start getting Denise’s history that we should know that she is not coming out of this episode alive.
The group come upon a tree across the road. Rosita and Daryl get out to check it out, telling Denise to wait in the truck. Rosita quickly determines that it isn’t a trap, and they kill the walker trapped by the tree, taking the contents of his bag. It turns out to be a bag of airline liquor bottles. Rosita offers Denise one, saying that she’s keeping them anyway and not turning them in to the pantry. Denise refuses, telling Rosita that it was her parents’ thing and that’s why it’s not hers. It’As made even clearer later in the episode that her parents were alcoholics. This is one of the brilliant things about this show. We are only given a few indicators but it’s so easy to paint all of Denise’s life with the clues we are given.
At this point, the group has to proceed on foot and breaks up. Rosita takes the train tracks, but Daryl insists on following the road. He insists, “No tracks!” And Rosita responds with the title of the episode – “It’s twice as far!” Denise says they should stick together and follows Daryl. It’s interesting that she later apologizes to Rosita for the apparent slight of picking Daryl over Rosita. But it’s clear that Denise finds him a source of comfort.
So why does Daryl choose the road and the path that is twice as far? Do the tracks remind him of Terminus? There’s really no reason to think the road is that much safer. And why the way that is twice as long? Is he hoping that Denise will lose her nerve or get tired? He clearly knows she has unfinished business, so is he giving her more time to gather herself? Or again to just turn back? He’s the one to choose the tracks to come back after all. It’s also an interesting commentary on Daryl himself and the entire motif of choosing a path – another theme that runs deeply in this episode. The path that so many are treading between innocence and experience – Denise and Eugene – and the path between violence and peace – Daryl, Carol, and Morgan.
This theme is nicely picked up in the next scene which moves from the crane shot of Rosita going down her path and Daryl and Denise on theirs to a long shot of Abraham and Eugene walking their path. And of course, Rosita and Abraham’s paths are also linked in this episode as they try to move toward – or away from – love. Though I would argue for Rosita it’s dependence.
Abraham comments on Eugene’s new hair style. How many people were freaking out that he had cut his mullet?! *waves hands* Luckily, it’s just in a ponytail – less for a walker to grab after all, so more practical. Eugene explains to Abraham – in one of the episodes best speeches: “The key to survival is allowing oneself to be shaped by the assigned environment. In doing so, a broad range of capabilities are acquired allowing one to flip the script and use said capabilities to shape said environment for maximum longevity. I’m in the process of said stage two. I’ve changed. I’ve adapted. I’m a survivor.” Abraham just looks him up and down with an impassive face, saying “Keep telling yourself that” and walks on. But as he walks away, is there just the hint of a small smile? Eugene can be hear repeating, I’ve changed, I’ve adapted, I’m a survivor like a mantra. I simply adore the way Cudlitz and McDermitt chew up their dialogue!
Rosita is waiting for Daryl and Denise when they arrive, and Denise apologizes. Rosita says no problem and then simply corrects how Denise is holding the machete – she’s her teacher after all. It’s hard not to feel badly for Rosita who seems to be everyone’s second choice just now. Denise asks Rosita who taught her, and Rosita tells her “A lot of people taught me a lot of things. Years from now, he’ll just be a name in a long list of names.” We know that she was competent when she met Abraham, but he’s clearly who she’s referencing, and it would seem that she’s using Spencer to push Abraham down the list. This episode really allowed Serratos to shine, and she brings some real depth to Rosita.
At the strip mall, it’s telling that Edison’s is the only store front covered in walker handprints. It’s so easy to imagine a herd pressed up against the storefront. Daryl puts a pry bar to the door, and tells Denise that he and Rosita are going in. Denise is to stay there – or at least behind them.
This was another nice twining of the episodes as the door opens to Abraham and Eugene. Eugene has picked the lock – “Standard pin and tumbler. Tick, tick, click. Easy peasy.” And yes, another favorite line from the episode! Eugene’s more advanced stage is shown in that he is the one to actually open the door and he is shoulder to shoulder with Abraham – not behind him.
Abraham asks Eugene, “Are you about ready to spill the pintos on what the Hell it is we’re doing here?” Pintos are beans for anyone confused… Eugene tells Abraham what his mission is. He wants to use the foundry to manufacture bullets because in the new reality, bullets are the most precious currency. The Hilltop is completely out remember and Alexandria is running low. Abraham is impressed and tells Eugene “That’s some fine out of the box thinking!” And then I loved the absolutely matter of fact way Abraham says “I’m going to hit pause til I can kill that thing behind you.” To which Eugene responds, “Pump the brakes, Red. I’m calling dibs on this one.” I confess. I loved ALL their dialogue!
Eugene has something to prove to himself here in stage two. Unfortunately, the walkers head is covered in lead, so a good machete chop to the skull simply bounces off. Abraham does respect the dibs, but counts down, strike one, two, and three, moving in at three to dispatch the walker. Eugene is furious, telling Abraham that he had “zero authority to do that!” Abraham is astonished at first – after all he just saved Eugene’s life – but quickly becomes angry himself.
Eugene insists he had full control of the situation and wants an apology. Abraham responds that “you’d had better luck picking up a turd by the clean end!” Eugene insists that dispatching walkers is now well within his skill set. He’s clearly insulted and hurt that Abraham would suggest otherwise. Abraham, however, has a good point. Eugene is most valuable for his knowledge – who else could have come up with the DIY ammo thing? But this also ties in to Abraham’s own insecurities. He tells Eugene that his skill set is “ghosting hostiles of both the undead and the living. If you truly want to survive long term, I suggest you learn that post haste.”
Eugene responds: “Ok. Thank you for your protection. I most certainly needed it between her and Houston. Your services are no longer required. The truth. Plain and honest. You’ve outlived your usefulness to me.” Abraham is shocked. And it’s his worst nightmare. He’s only really happy when he has a mission, a purpose, that involves killing. What else can he contribute? Abraham gives a small half smile and walks away. Eugene wants to know where he’s going. Abraham tells him, “Home. My services are no longer required. Find your own way back. Asshole!” And it’s hard not to see Eugene as the ungrateful asshole here. But this also sends up red flags to Daryl’s comment early in the episode about Denise dying alone.
Back at Edison’s Daryl and Rosita go in with Denise behind them. Daryl asks Denise who is clearly fighting being sick, if they’re going to see what she had for breakfast. She cheekily mumbles, “Oatmeal, just so you know.” And we do see it later in the episode… As Daryl and Rosita open the pharmacy up, Denise looks at pictures of a little boy and smiles. She then moves on to the key chains. Denise tells the others to put the medicine on the counter so she can identify it, but they say they are just taking all of it. Which means that Denise really did not have to come. After all, we saw Rosita get there with just one glance at the map.
They hear a noise and go silent to assess it. When it doesn’t come closer, they decide it’s not a threat. But Denise goes to investigate. In the back room, there are coloring books on the floor and a playpen. There’s mold on the walls and a walker on the floor, missing its lower jaw and with a cast on its leg, which was the banging they’d heard as it hit the cast against the wall. “HUSH, HUSH, HUSH, HUSH” is written on the wall. Denise finds dry blood and one small shoe on a changing table before freaking out and running out into the other room, bumping a cabinet and breaking a bunch of glass. Rosita wants to know what the Hell she’s doing, but Denise says nothing and leaves the store.
So who was that walker? I was convinced after watching the episode twice that it was her brother Dennis. After all, we next see her sitting outside on the ground surrounded by dead walkers with the Dennis keychain in her hand. But would she have left her brother there for that long without sending someone back for him? Maybe she was ashamed at having to leave him? But why not at least mention the stash of drugs before now? And who was the child? Is it possible that she holed up there on the way to Alexandria and the person was a patient of hers? Or she at least set the leg and put the cast on? And what is the story behind the walker if it wasn’t her brother or someone she knew? Clearly, the hush, hush was to stop the baby crying – and attracting more walkers, remember the hand prints. Did the walker break its own jaw to keep itself from eating the baby?
Daryl emerges from the store and tells Denise, “You did good finding this place.” And I had the sense that he meant both times she found it. Was it a place of safety for her brother – or whoever the walker was – that Denise left him in? Rosita tells her that she tried to tell her that she wasn’t ready and that “both” of them are dead. So we can assume that there was a baby walker that even The Walking Dead wasn’t willing to show us – or didn’t get past the censors. Regardless, Denise does not want to go look.
On the way back, Daryl asks “So. Was he older or younger?” Denise says “Older. By six minutes.” So he was a twin. But this also begs the question of who the walker was and bounces off the title. It can’t be much more than 12 or 15 minutes later that Denise meets her fate, which makes the death of the walker linked to her own another interesting connection.
Denise also mentions that her parents came up with the Denise/Dennis thing on one of their benders. She tells Daryl that nothing scared her brother. “He was brave. He was angry too. Kind of a dangerous combination.” Daryl says it sounds like they had the same brother. But it also points to the dangerous combination that is mixing in Daryl right now too.
Bear McCreary’s music is the best on television – at least for me – and as the three walk down the tracks past the cars we have an upbeat lyrical melody. Denise has survived her mission. She’s ready to face her fears and live, so when she sees a cooler in the back of a car, she knows what she has to do. The lyrical melody stops as the walker jumps up as Denise looks in the window. Denise wants that cooler, but Rosita says it’s not what they came for and Daryl insists it’s not worth the trouble. Is that Spencer for Rosita and Daryl’s view on love?
Denise goes in anyway and of course the walker falls out of the car on top of her. Daryl and Rosita rush back, but by then she has it under control, and like Eugene, insists they let her make the kill. And unlike Abraham, they let her. She then throws up on her glasses – which is important for what comes later.
All that’s in the cooler is a six pack of sodas. Five colas and one orange crush. Rosita and Daryl are both pissed that she would risk her life over something so trivial, but we already know how important that crush is – and how hard Daryl tried to get it for her. He may not want love for himself, but he does seem to be a fan. Of course, his reaction to Denise putting herself in danger is also in keeping with the fact that he’s become attached to her – and is going to explain how devastated he is by her death.
Daryl scolds her, pointing out she could have died to which Denise responds, “Who gives a shit! You could have died killing those Saviors, but you didn’t. You want to live, you take chances. That’s how it works. That’s what I did.” They start back down the tracks, but Denise has scared them both. Rosita wants to know if she’s that stupid. Tempers flare and the three are completely focused on each other. Chances are good that they weren’t so distracted that walkers coming out of the woods would surprise them, but they definitely weren’t paying enough attention for an ambush.
Denise turns on Rosita and says, “Are you? I mean it. Are you? Do you have any clue what that was to me? What this whole thing is to me? See. I have training in this shit. I’m not making it up as I go along like with the stitches, and the surgery and the…” The training is in psychiatry. And here lies another great tragedy. How much could every single member of the group have benefitted from a little therapy. It’s important to remember that Denise WAS successful in her mission and she did survive the walker. We are left to wonder too what that third thing is she’s faking – my bet is on love/relationships.
Denise goes on to Daryl: “I asked you to come with me because you’re brave and like my brother and sometimes you actually make me feel safe.” And turning to Rosita “And I wanted you here because you’re alone. Probably for the first time in your life. And because you’re stronger than you think you are. Which gives me hope that maybe I can be too. I could have gone with Tara. I could have told her that I loved her, but I didn’t. Because I was afraid. That’s what’s stupid. Not coming out here. Not facing my shit and it makes me sick that you guys aren’t even trying because you’re strong and you’re smart, and you’re both good people, and if you don’t wake” and we hear the sound of the arrow sickeningly as it pierces her skull. She manages “up and face your…” before she keels over and everything goes into slow motion.
This is perhaps one of the most shocking deaths as it seemed to come completely out of nowhere and for no reason. The look of shock on both Serratos and Reedus’s faces were a mirror of my own. You can see the utter despair on Reedus’ as well as he reaches out and tenderly tries to break Denise’s fall – even though it’s clear that she’s already dead.
Rosita and Daryl shake off their stunned surprise and raise their weapons, but time has been slowed down for them, and the others lead by Dwight swarm out of the forest. They lower them again and time speeds up as Eugene is pulled in front of them and forced to his knees.
There’s a beautiful crane shot of the entire scene and then the camera pulls in to close upf of Daryl and Dwight. Daryl and Dwight lock eyes and Daryl’s words to Carol from the beginning of the episode come back to haunt us. Daryl is shaking – with fury and grief? Reedus is powerful in these scenes. Dwight taunts him: “You got something to say to me? Clear the air? No? You don’t talk much.” We see that he’s been badly burned and he’s missing an ear. He goes on, telling Daryl he’s still getting the hang of using Daryl’s bow – it was Daryl’s own bow that killed Denise, though Dwight admits he wasn’t aiming for Denise.
The others take all of Daryl and Rosita’s possessions, and Daryl murmers – shark cold and low – “Should’a done it.” Dwight replies, “What’s that? Seriously, I didn’t catch what you said.” And I had to wonder if he also lost the hearing in that ear when he lost the ear itself. Daryl is happy to repeat himself: “I should’a killed ya.” Dwight agrees.
Eugene sees Abraham lurking behind the oil barrels. Did anyone think that Abraham, even hurt and angry, would risk letting Eugene walk back alone? Dwight continues, “This isn’t how we like to start new business arrangements, but you pricks set the tone.” Yet, it is exactly how they start new business arrangements – by killing one person to bring the rest in line: “Maximum impact to get our point across.” Rosita wants to know what they want, and Dwight tells her that they want them to take them to their compound. Once there, they will take whatever and whoever they want.
Eugene blurts out, “You want to kill someone? You start with our companion hiding over there behind the oil barrels. He’s a first class A-hole and he deserves it so much more than us three!” The entire group is immediately on alert, and Dwight sends a guy to check it out. As soon as Dwight has pulled his gun out of the way and is distracted, Eugene bits him right in the crotch!
All hell breaks loose and Rosita and Daryl grab weapons and dive for cover. Rosita saves Abraham who had naturally moved up to flank the saviors from behind – Eugene knew full well that Abraham would have moved from that spot behind the oil barrels. Naturally, there are now walkers coming out of the woods, so Daryl is distracted in shooting them rather than Dwight who is pinned down with Eugene on the tracks. Dwight calls for his people to fall back, and Daryl is in full flight after him when Rosita calls him back. Eugene has been shot – no doubt by one of the ricochets off the tracks.
The scene returns to slow motion as Rosita, Daryl, and Abraham lift Eugene to take him home. They pass Denise’s lifeless body, and Daryl’s eyes never leave her. Back at the clinic, Daryl is looking out the window like a caged animal. No doubt he is just waiting for the moment to go after Dwight.
Abraham returns, saying Rick is on his way. Rosita tells him the bullet just grazed Eugene and Denise’s antibiotics should ensure there is no infection. She’s saved him even in death. Eugene tells Abraham that he wasn’t trying to get him killed, he was just looking for his moment. And Abe grins at him, saying “You found it.”
Eugene still wants his apology for Abraham questioning his skills. Abraham is happy to give it: “I apologize for questioning your skills. You know how to bite a dick, Eugene. And I mean that with the utmost respect. Welcome to stage two.” Eugene points out that he doesn’t need to welcome him, he’s been in stage two for a while – Abraham’s just been a bit distracted to notice.
This is the push that Abraham needs, however. Did he overhear any of Denise’s speech? Surely, if he’d been close enough he would have warned the three. Regardless, he goes to Sasha’s. It appears that the magnetic force between these two was enough for her to be drawn out just by him standing in front of the house. He tells her “You said I had choices. You have them too. Could be thirty years for us here. It’s still too short.” And he’s right. Life can end in the blink of an eye for anyone. If you don’t live, you are already dead – the walking dead – God. How much do I love this show! Martin-Green is fabulous in this scene. Her eyes fill with tears – which don’t fall – and she gives in, inviting him in.
We see Carol helping Daryl to bury Denise. He throws the Dennis keychain in with her. He also drinks one of the little bottles of Jack Daniels. We know that Daryl doesn’t do well when he drinks – there is a history of alcoholism in his family too remember. Carol tells him: “You were right. I knew it when you said it.” I don’t think she is being deliberately cruel to him, but that had to sting coming from her and compounding the guilt he already feels over Denise’s death. But it also factors in to the final scene with Carol’s voice over.
The voiceover begins as the shot pulls back to another crane shot of Daryl filling in Denise’s grave while Carol now watches: “I wish it didn’t have to end. Not this way.” Is Carol referring to her relationship with Tobin because we switch to a shot of him reading this letter – his Dear Tobin letter. Or is this a hint that the original who dies in the finale is going to be Carol?
The letter goes on: “It was never my intention to hurt you. But it’s how it has to be. We have so much here. People, food, medicine, walls. Everything we need to live.”
The picture shift so the pantry and we’re back to the opening sequence. This time the camera moves to focus on the guns – not the food. “But what we have, other people want too. And that won’t ever change. If we survive this threat – and it’s not over – another will be back to take its place. To take what we have.” And here we see the guns being rolled out.
The scene switches to Gabriel walking across the bridge – his own journey from innocence to experience. “I love you all here. And I’d have to kill for you.” Just as Gabriel has moved from relying on God’s love and forgiveness to self-reliance.
The scene is once again the guard tower, but Rosita has taken Eugene’s place and looks up at Sasha who has taken her place. “I won’t. Rick sent me away and I wasn’t ever gonna come back but everything happened and I ended up staying, but I can’t any more. I can’t love anyone because I can’t kill for anyone.” We see cars and the RV lining up at the gate. Clearly they are arming and preparing for a fight.
We see two people reinforcing the wall, and then we focus again on the empty swing with just a full ashtray. “So I’m going like I always should have. Don’t come after me, please.” Again, Carol is associated with those killing cigarettes – and ashes. Has she been born again in the fire?
The very last shot is of Morgan. He’s watching the swing and watching the guns go out. He clearly has his own choice to make. In contrast to the opening, he's no longer practicing. I suspect he’s the one going after Carol.
This was a stunningly powerful episode. I hope you’ve made it all the way to the end of this VERY long review! If you have, thanks for reading! Now I’d love to hear your thoughts on the episode in the comments below!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
