Will admit to not having high expectations at all for 'The Walking Dead's' Season 9. While really liking to loving Seasons 1-5 and finding a huge amount to admire about Season 6, Seasons 7 and 8 were really not up to standard and were huge disappointments (despite having some exceptions). Especially Season 8, where the worst episodes were pretty dreadful and where many of the episodes were mediocre or less. It felt like the show had lost its identity and what made it great in the early seasons, and this viewer really did feel that it was completely dead.
The previous three episodes of Season 9 though were absolutely great and felt like 'The Walking Dead' had returned to its roots, rediscovered what made it so good in the early seasons while also starting a new chapter. Especially "Warning Signs", the show's best episode since "Not Tomorrow Yet". Season 9's fourth episode "The Obliged" is another major winner, and another example of how Season 9 was the best since Season 6 and one of the more consistent seasons in the show's history.
It isn't perfect, with Negan's dialogue tending to over explain and it was not necessary when it was stuff that could easily have been shown.
Other than that, "The Obliged" is absolutely excellent. It is a very stylishly and atmospherically made episode, with no signs of self indulgent gimmicks or showing off. The music is also full of atmosphere of the haunting and ominous kind, while also having emotion that is not spelled out. The more action oriented moments in the final act are thrilling, suspense laden and well choreographed with nothing coming over as ridiculous or chaotic. The ending is powerful and shocking, making me eager for what would happen in the next episode.
Furthermore, the massive improvement in the writing obvious in the previous Season 9 episodes carries over into this one too. The previous two seasons had a lot of (too much) extraneous talk, long winded-ness and soap-opera, next to none of that is here apart from some long winded-ness but even that was done far worse in Seasons 7 and 8. Instead the scripting is tight and thoughtful on the whole, treating the characters and the viewer with respect. The story absorbs throughout, even when not fast paced it never felt dull and nothing for me felt confusing or over silly, and there is even some nice tension.
None of the characters frustrated me, with none of the intelligence insultingly ridiculous and vague decision makings and motivations that plagued too much of Season 7 and nearly all of Season 8. The chemistry between Rick and Daryl in the final act was off the scale and played a major role for why the latter stages made such a big impression emotionally. Also really connected to both. The performances are never less than strong all round, with the poignantly bittersweet one of Andrew Lincoln standing out with intense Norman Reedus close behind.
Concluding, absolutely excellent once again. 9/10.
