Open Your Eyes (The Walking Dead)

Last updated

"Open Your Eyes"
The Walking Dead episode
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 7
Directed by Michael Cudlitz
Written byCorey Reed
Original air dateNovember 17, 2019 (2019-11-17)
Running time44 minutes
Guest appearances
  • Thora Birch as Gamma / Mary
  • Juan Javier Cardenas as Dante
  • James Parks as Captured Whisperer
  • Matt Mangum as D.J.
  • Rebecca Koon as Cheryl
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Bonds"
Next 
"The World Before"
The Walking Dead season 10
List of episodes

"Open Your Eyes" is the seventh episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead , which aired on AMC on November 17, 2019.

Contents

Plot

Siddiq struggles with ongoing visions of being held captive and Alpha killing people and a voice telling him to open his eyes, but does not know if these are dreams or past visions due to the fatigue from dealing with the infections in Alexandria.

Carol secures the Whisperer she and Daryl caught in the prison. Gabriel, fearing that Alpha will retaliate, insists that the prisoner receive medical treatment. On the roof, Lydia says that the prisoner has been trained to avoid harsh interrogation, and instead suggests to Carol to show him the value of life within Alexandria to turn him. Carol offers the man sandwiches but he spits them back at her. Carol and Daryl revert to a more harsh interrogation, but Carol pauses after hearing him praise Alpha for sacrificing Lydia. Carol realizes that the Whisperers, outside of Alpha, do not know about Lydia's safety, and considers using her as a pawn to reveal Alpha's lies to the Whisperer. Carol goes to get Lydia to see the prisoner but discovers that he died shortly before their arrival. Dante discovers that the medical kit being used to treat the prisoner's wounds contained hemlock, which was mistakenly given to him; Siddiq blames himself, as he realizes that he accidentally added the hemlock to the bag due to his fatigue.

Meanwhile, Aaron continues to meet with Gamma at their boundary, hoping to bond with her. Gamma tells him she is an only child. She later goes back to the Whisperers camp, where Alpha questions her, and then ritualistically whips her arm. Alpha then says she believes in Gamma, and tells her that Aaron is tempting her with lies.

After seeing Dante burying one of the older infected women that he had grown close to, Siddiq attempts to commit suicide by drowning himself, but is rescued by Rosita. As they talk, Siddiq has a realization and rushes to test the water supply, discovering it to be contaminated; he blames himself for failing to notice.

Despite Daryl's strong opposition, Carol takes Lydia to see the Whisperers, and that night comes across one of Aaron and Gamma's meetings, where Gamma has taken Aaron at knifepoint to demand more intel. Carol and Lydia rush forward. Upon seeing Lydia, Gamma panics and runs away; when Lydia discovers that Carol simply used her as a pawn, she flees as well. Carol and Aaron are forced to retreat as walkers approach.

After decontaminating the water supply, Dante tries to cheer up a depressed Siddiq, reassuring him that what happened wasn't his fault. While doing so, Dante then makes a strange verbal tic which causes Siddiq to have another lucid dream, in which he remembers one of the Whisperers' making the same tic during the decapitation of several fair attendees. He realizes that Dante is a Whisperer agent who helped Alpha sneak into the Kingdom's fair and capture the victims. He moves to attack Dante, but Dante gets the upper hand and is able to subdue and choke him to death.

Production

Cudlitz, who played Abraham Ford, directed his third episode for the series. Michael Cudlitz July 2018.jpg
Cudlitz, who played Abraham Ford, directed his third episode for the series.

This episode marks the death of Siddiq played by Avi Nash. [1] The episode was directed by Michael Cudlitz, who portrayed Abraham Ford on the series. This is the third episode Cudlitz directed for The Walking Dead. [2]

The episode marks the death of Siddiq played by Avi Nash Avi Nash by Gage Skidmore.jpg
The episode marks the death of Siddiq played by Avi Nash

Reception

Critical reception

"Open Your Eyes" received critical acclaim, with particular praise for the twist ending and Avi Nash's performance. On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has an approval rating of 93% with an average score of 8.09 out of 10, based on 15 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "'Open Your Eyes' fulfills the potential of the foundations laid earlier in this season with a surprising character death and some ingenious twists." [3]

Ratings

"Open Your Eyes" received a total viewership of 3.31 million and was the highest-rated cable program of the night. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosita Espinosa</span> Fictional character

Rosita Espinosa is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and is portrayed by Christian Serratos in the American television series of the same name. She accompanies Eugene Porter and Abraham Ford on a mission to Washington, D.C. In the comic book series, she joins Rick Grimes' group after they leave the prison and go to DC. Eventually Eugene is revealed to have lied but they continue on to Washington anyway, since he was still convinced the city would offer greater chance of survival, and they eventually find the Alexandria Safe-Zone.

Aaron (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) Fictional character

Aaron is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and television series of the same name. He is portrayed by Ross Marquand in the television series.

Enid (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) Fictional character

Enid is a fictional character in the television series The Walking Dead. She was portrayed by Katelyn Nacon for five seasons, and was promoted to series regular in season 8.

Siddiq (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) Fictional character

Siddiq is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and the television series of the same name, where he was portrayed by Avi Nash.

Alpha (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) Character appearing in The Walking Dead media franchise

Alpha is a fictional character in the comic book series The Walking Dead and the television series of the same name, where she was portrayed by Samantha Morton. In both universes, Alpha is the leader of a group of survivors called the Whisperers, a mysterious group that wears the skins of walkers (zombies) to mask their presence. In the television series, she first appeared in the ninth mid-season premiere.

Beta (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) Fictional character

Beta is a fictional character in the comic book series The Walking Dead and the television series of the same name, where he was portrayed by Ryan Hurst. In both universes, Beta is the second-in-command of the Whisperers, a group of survivors who wear walker (zombie) skin to hide their presence from actual walkers. He serves as Alpha's right-hand man and after her death, becomes de facto leader of the Whisperers.

Lydia (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) Fictional character

Lydia is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and the television series of the same name, where she is portrayed by Cassady McClincy.

Connie (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) Fictional character in "The Walking Dead"

Connie is a fictional character in the comic book series The Walking Dead and on the television series of the same name, where she is portrayed by Lauren Ridloff. In both universes, Connie is part of a small group of roaming survivors who are led by Magna. She is the first deaf character in the Walking Dead universe, and the actress who plays her on the television series, Lauren Ridloff, is also deaf.

"Guardians" is the twelfth episode of the ninth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on March 3, 2019.

"The Calm Before" is the fifteenth and penultimate episode of the ninth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on March 24, 2019.

"Ghosts" is the third episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on October 20, 2019. The episode was written by Jim Barnes and directed by David Boyd. In the episode, the threat of the Whisperers return leads to paranoia sweeping over Alexandria. In the meantime, Carol battles with the need for revenge.

"Silence the Whisperers" is the fourth episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on October 27, 2019.

"What It Always Is" is the fifth episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 3, 2019.

"Bonds" is the sixth episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 10, 2019. The episode was written by Kevin Deiboldt and directed by Dan Liu.

"The World Before" is the eighth episode and first-part finale of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 24, 2019. The episode was written by Julia Ruchman and directed by John Dahl.

Dante is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and the television series of the same name, where he is portrayed by Juan Javier Cardenas.

"Squeeze" is the ninth episode and second-part premiere of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on February 23, 2020. The episode was written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and directed by Michael E. Satrazemis.

"Stalker" is the tenth episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on March 1, 2020. The episode was written by Jim Barnes and directed by Bronwen Hughes.

"Walk with Us" is the twelfth episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on March 15, 2020. The episode was written by Nicole Mirante-Matthews and Eli Jorne, and directed by Greg Nicotero.

References

  1. Ross, Dalton (November 17, 2019). "The Walking Dead showrunner explains that huge twist". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  2. Wigler, Josh (November 17, 2019). "'The Walking Dead': How That Fatal Twist Pays Homage to the Comic Books". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  3. "Open Your Eyes". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  4. Welch, Alex (November 19, 2019). "Sunday cable ratings: 'Watchmen' improves, 'The Walking Dead' takes the win". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.