Did we really need to see that?
Was that time well spent?
Would one or two lines of explanatory dialogue sufficed instead of a 10- or 15-minute-long flashback?
Credit: Richard Foreman Jr/AMC
I consider this question again in Date of Death.
They make the harsh decision to keep the gates closed, but then Madison sees Travis among the refugees.
The title credits roll to make way for Travis flashback to Chris and what led to their split.
We pick up seconds after Chris shot Mr. Suarez, the owner of the farm they invaded.
After a beat, Travis snaps back to reality and leaps to the boys aid.
He even hammers together a cross to mark it, but confesses, I dont even know your name.
Travis asks about his level of pain, but James seems to be lying when he says its low.
Travis whispers that he cant help if he doesnt know whats really going on.
He asks what hes thinking if hes even thinking anything at all and calls the other boys savages.
Its us or them, kill or be killed.
But Travis notes Chris isnt really acting, hes becoming one of them.
He says they need the guys.
Travis believes otherwise, so he clarifies, I do.
Everyone else is left to shout in protest.
Madison tells him Nick wandered off somewhere after the fire, but she thinks hes north in Tijuana.
It sounds much more ominous than it really is.
Travis asks Chris for the days date so he can mark it.
He doesnt know, and when he tries to hurry things along, Travis snaps back.
So he snatches Brandons gun, promising to not let them kill James.
Before going inside to protect James, he tells Chris, Im doing this for you.
Troy was bitten and made the group promise to kill him before he turned into a walker.
Brandon was supposed to do it, but he couldnt, so James stepped in.
NEXT: Last words
This proves to be the most consistently frustrating aspect of these boys and of Chris.
But theres no logic to their actions.
Travis frisks him before letting him inside, and the two sit down for a chat.
This all turns out to be a trick, of course.
Derek rushes in and sticks a gun to Travis head, while Brandon comes in to shoot James.
Despite the boys shouts for mercy, despite Travis pleads, Brandon puts a bullet through his head.
However, he is visibly horrified to do so, unlike Chris.
You wont do what needs to be done.
Travis is still begging his son to stay as they start to drive off.
All he saw was my disgust at what he became, what I let him become, he says.
Its all hell ever know.
She wasnt going to reveal what it said, but Alicia demands it.
He can be quite precise if he wanted to, she disclaims.
The note said simply: I love you all, but enoughs enough.
She apologizes again to Alicia, saying she deserves more, but promises she never loved her any less.
I just thought you were all right, she says.
Most of them are unfamiliar, but two faces are clearly identified as Brandon and Derek.
Depending on where the story goes, it could be.
