The following contains spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 11, Episode 16, "Acts of God," which aired Sunday, April 10 on AMC.
When it comes to the "best" Walking Dead episodes, people usually list season or mid-season premieres, or even odd stand-outs on their list. Rarely is there ever a mid-season finale, just because its purpose is to tease the future. Yet, "Acts of God" swoops in and defies all the odds of The Walking Dead's standards.
While The Walking Dead has had some good mid-season finales in the past, the last time one was great was Season 6, Episode 8, "Start to Finish," which saw the first -- and definitely not the last -- fall of Alexandria. "Start to Finish" was an episode for the books, but is nothing compared to its next episode, "No Way Out." Alternatively, Season 4, Episode 8, "Too Far Gone," is an example of a prime mid-season finale that stands on its own. The entire episode had audiences gripping the edge of their seats, waiting for the Governor's next move against Rick and the prison. The destruction of the prison destroyed hope for the group, and everyone's fate was left uncertain. Fans had no choice but to tune in to the mid-season premiere just to see how the aftermath plays out. The same can be said for "Acts of God."
"Acts of God" picks up right where the previous episode left off, with Lance offering Leah a job to assassinate Maggie. From then on, it's a fight for their lives. Lance slowly becomes more enraged and irrational as he piles on more defeats, and he transforms into... Batman's Two-Face? He's sporting a brand-new scar and endlessly flipping a coin to determine his enemies' lives, so he might just be a full-fledged villain at this point. His big talk of a "new world" makes him sound like the promising and charming Governor, but his sporadic decisions make him act like the Governor that mercilessly killed Hershel.
The Commonwealth's side of the episode is a little slower, but sets the groundwork for a dramatic reveal at the end. Connie and her fellow survivors gather evidence to reveal the Miltons for what they are: manipulative liars who are not capable of leading a community of equality and righteousness. Connie's story earns the survivors a win ahead of the Commonwealth Resistance, but they're suffering a much bigger loss.
Hilltop, Alexandria and Oceanside being lost to the Commonwealth gives the survivors no security or home. The Commonwealth is spread out across multiple states, and they're not spreading thin anytime soon. "Acts of God" brings the same looming essence that hung over the end of "Too Far Gone." The biggest question that remains is, "What happens now?," and truthfully, no one can really answer that question. Maggie and Connie's small wins aren't enough to fight against the quantity of the Commonwealth soldiers, and it only means dark days are ahead for the final episodes of The Walking Dead.
It's depressing to watch the Commonwealth banner drop on the walls of Alexandria and Hilltop, but there's also something comforting in it being a reminder of The Walking Dead's glory days. Season 4 snatched the idea of stability away from Rick and his group, and it's doing the same to Daryl, Maggie and others. What "Acts of God" brings to the table is only what The Walking Dead has always been at its core: a fight for survival. On the road again, Daryl and Maggie have to watch their backs against the Commonwealth, but must remember the true enemy are the dead that brought them here.
The Walking Dead Season 11C is expected to air later in 2022.
