The Walking Dead 604: Heres Not Here explores Morgans transformation – Undead Walking

Most Walking Deadepisodes are about how a group can survive attacks, either by people or reanimated corpses (walkers). However, episode 604 gives us a somewhat different slant. Sure, there are still walkers here and there, but its really about Morgan, who tells Owen about his past. Basically, hes trying to convince Owen who belongs to a violent, invasive gang called the Wolves to change his ways and walk a more peaceful path.

Granted, its never directly said Morgan hopes to give Owen a place among Alexandrias population. Still, Morgan talks about his own dark days where he was also mentally unbalanced and even a murderer. To heighten the animal nature of his mentality in the flashback, we see him mostly outdoors, antagonizing or even killing anyone who strays into his territory. In fact, it almost seems Morgan refuses to leave his beloved woods, which embody his one and only goal: Survival. This is not a man who knows why he must survive, as he has lost everything. Still, he does so as an animating purpose.

Being alive, Morgan still goes out looking for supplies, or maybe for trouble. This is when he crosses paths with Eastman who, luckily, is not a maniac. Or, rather, he is no longer a maniac. As the episode unfolds and we learn more about Eastman, we see that he also has a very dark tale to tell, yet he feels he has now found his own redemptive path. So, in a way, Morgan is continuing a unique tradition by relaying this story to Owen. In that sense, Heres Not Here is much more of a storytelling episode than many others had been before it.

Yes, The Walking Deadhas always been character-driven, and all of these characters have stories, but this time its based more purely around themes of tradition and philosophy. Previously, these elements were typically hinted at by characters like Dale or Hershel great characters in their own ways, but there wasnt quite this level of focus on their own mental, philosophical, maybe even spiritual developments.

Here we really get a deep dive into what transformed Morgan into a peaceful-but-not-nave man who actually developed a philosophy to prevent further mania. In other words, this episode is highly respectful of the healing powers of philosophy, which definitely means its not just a throwaway blip on some zombie shows radar.

Being such an in-depth episode, its only fitting to examine what other themes from The Walking Deadtie into this one. Much of this can be done through implication. Had other characters been more like Owen from the start, how much human drama could have been avoided? At the same time, lets not forget even Owen had some very twisted moments, stemming from a madman murdering his own family.

Morgan recounts how he was shaped by losing his family also, and his experience with Owen shaped him into a peacemaker. However, what if someone who lost everything has no one to show them the way? What if maniacs and cruel people accumulate power and never have others tell them, No, thats too far? We end up with oppressive rulers, conquerors, tribal fighting, social division, and other ugly things such as the slave trade.

People might be captured and thrown into a pit, tortured, forced to live like animals, sometimes as revenge in the name of justice (which is what even Owen was guilty of). How can we pull back from all of that? Philosophy.

This episode doesnt provide Morgans philosophy as a blueprint, but it does appear to be some loose-fitting variety of pacifism linked to Aikido and a book called The Art of Peace. Obviously, Morgan is still capable of defending himself, but he does so in a controlled way, without the intent of killing or significantly harming an attacker. The question is, Would this philosophy have kept Ricks group alive? After all, can life-threatening invaders (including walkers) be successfully buried under a philosophy, even if it seems to have solid foundations?

What we can say (by season 6 in the series) is this: Morgan discovered the message partly from its transformative results, and he presumably hasnt needed to kill a man. Also, he has apparently successfully escaped dangers while still abiding by The Art of Peace. So it probably isnt a total failure, at least in The Walking Deaduniverse. In fact, it seems Rick and Carol could have used such guidance as well, rather than regularly reminding threats that they can be as vicious as any walker.

To me, the real strength of Morgans borrowed philosophy is that it conveys a peaceful disposition without making one look week. Its a style of fighting that basically commands respect, at least if done right. Obviously, its also honorable if people feel they can turn their backs on Morgan without getting stabbed. By this point in the 6th season, the ever-strategic Rick probably thinks that Morgan is too useful to let die. However, hed probably be keener citing the mans expertise with a b staff than his near-pacifist philosophy.

Although Morgan reluctantly agreed to come to Eastmans understanding, it was a fruitful exchange for a safe passage from the mans personal abyss. When dealing with undead flesh-eaters, do we really need extra demons to conquer?

What are your thoughts on this classic episode of The Walking Dead? How much did Morgan change the direction of the show? Let us know in the comments!

Link:
The Walking Dead 604: Heres Not Here explores Morgans transformation - Undead Walking

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero