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Look at the Flowers
Look at the Flowers
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"Look at the Flowers"
The Walking Dead episode
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 14
Directed byDaisy von Scherler Mayer
Written byChanning Powell
Featured music
  • "The Turtle and the Monkey" by Ryan Hurst
  • "I Went to the Well" by Ryan Hurst
Cinematography byJalaludin Trautmann
Editing byTiffany Melvin
Original air dateMarch 29, 2020 (2020-03-29)
Running time50 minutes
Guest appearances
  • Paola Lázaro as Juanita "Princess" Sanchez
  • Kerry Cahill as Dianne
  • Nadine Marissa as Nabila
  • Mark Sivertsen as Rufus
  • Alex Livinalli as Shotgun Whisperer
Episode chronology
← Previous
"What We Become"
Next →
"The Tower"
The Walking Dead season 10
List of episodes

"Look at the Flowers" is the fourteenth episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on March 29, 2020. The episode was written by Channing Powell and directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer.

After the death of Alpha (Samantha Morton), heroes and villains reckon with the aftermath of the Hilltop fire. Meanwhile, Eugene (Josh McDermitt) takes a group on a journey to meet Stephanie, with the hopes of befriending another civilization.

This episode marks the final appearance of Samantha Morton as Alpha and the first appearance of Paola Lázaro as Juanita "Princess" Sanchez, a character adapted from the comics. The episode received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

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In a flashback, Carol gives the imprisoned Negan the offer to bring her Alpha's head in exchange for clearing his name. In the present, Carol places Alpha's disembodied but still moving head atop a pike. Negan then demands Carol to hold up her end of the deal, but Carol criticizes how long it took him to complete his mission and tells him he can wait until she's ready or face the community, whom he fears.

Elsewhere, the survivors of the Hilltop gather to make sure the children are safe. Rosita encourages Eugene to tell the group about his radio contact and planned meeting with Stephanie. While there are concerns about being led into another trap, they agree Eugene should keep the meeting; Eugene, Ezekiel, and Yumiko set off to a downtown area.

Meanwhile, Beta and two Whisperers find Alpha's head. Enraged, Beta forces one of the Whisperers to get bitten by the head after he unwisely identifies Beta as the "new Alpha"; the other Whisperer flees. He then takes the head and travels to his former home in a nearby town. In a fit of rage, he destroys much of his former home.

Beforehand, Negan goes to free Lydia, but is instead greeted by a punch and interrogated by Daryl. The former explains Alpha's fate at his hands, but Daryl doesn't believe him. Meanwhile Carol goes off on her own and starts to have visions of Alpha, taunting Carol and comparing her to herself, with no solace in isolation.

That night, at the pike where Alpha's head is missing, Negan and Daryl find themselves surrounded by three Whisperers, having learned of Alpha's fate and treating Negan as the "new Alpha". Negan, pretending to go along with the Whisperers to get them off guard, uses the opportunity to kill the Whisperers to prove his loyalty to Alexandria, freeing Daryl in the process. Meanwhile at the nearby town, Beta has been listening to his own music, as it is revealed he was a former country music singer named "Half Moon". He then turns on his music loudly as to attract a huge horde of walkers.

The next morning, when Carol gets briefly trapped in the rubble of a collapsing ceiling with a walker approaching, the vision of Alpha suggests to Carol that she "look at the flowers"[a] and accept death, but Carol breaks free in time to put down the walker; the vision of Alpha disperses.

Within the city, after discovering a tableau of walkers arranged in humorous situations, Ezekiel, Eugene, and Yumiko encounter a young woman excited to see them. Meanwhile Beta, having achieved catharsis, thanks Alpha, puts the head down, and uses part of her skin to repair his mask. Beta then starts to lead the massive horde toward a new destination.

Production

[edit]
Appearing as a vision in Carol's (Melissa McBride) hallucinations, Samantha Morton makes her final appearance as Alpha.

As of this episode, Danai Gurira is removed from the opening credits. This is the first time in the series since season two that her name does not appear.[2] After her character is killed in "Walk with Us", Samantha Morton returns as Alpha in Carol's (Melissa McBride) hallucinations while the episode also marks the departure of Morton, who first appeared in the season nine mid-season premiere episode "Adaptation".[3]

The episode's title derives from a line Carol speaks to Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino) before Carol is forced to kill her from the season four episode "The Grove". According to showrunner Angela Kang, the idea of the episode came mostly from its writer Channing Powell in how Carol would react once Alpha was dead and her revenge was complete, reflecting on how the character had to do a number of dark actions herself, such as killing Lizzie, in her past.[4][5]

The episode introduces Juanita "Princess" Sanchez (Paola Lázaro), a character adapted from the comic book series. Whereas in the comics, the group meets her in Pittsburgh rather than Virginia. She is shown to still be a survivor that has been in complete isolation and developed quirky ways to deal with her isolation.[4] Within the comics, Princess' introduction begins the final major arc of the comics: The introduction of The Commonwealth—a group and network of communities that the combined Alexandria Safe-Zone residents eventually join which only creates additional tensions. It was first introduced in "Volume 29", "Issue #173" of Robert Kirkman's original comic book series.[6]

The identity of Beta (Ryan Hurst) as famed country music singer "Half Moon" was a device that was unique to the television series. Within the comics, Beta was a former basketball player, but Hurst did not have that appearance. While the writers considered other sports, Hurst suggested the idea of a country singer like Garth Brooks, who has a one-off alter ego—Chris Gaines. The writers used this idea to consider that the former singer had a darker side that came out in the zombie apocalypse. They planted this idea earlier in the season with a song, titled "The Turtle and the Monkey", that Magna (Nadia Hilker) listens to on a phonograph, which was written by Emily Kinney (who had played Beth Greene in the series) and sung by Hurst in episode five.[7][8] The second song heard in this episode is titled "I Went to the Well", which was released in its entirety by AMC on April 1, 2020.[9] A record cover of "Half Moon" with Hurst's face had also been shown in the fifth season of Fear the Walking Dead.[4][10]

Reception

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Critical reception

[edit]
The development of Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Ryan Hurst's characters were praised by critics.

"Look at the Flowers" received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has an approval rating of 88% with an average score of 6.80 out of 10, based on 17 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "'Look at the Flowers' dives back into the conflict between the Hilltop crew and the Whisperers with a richly introspective episode that explores the far-reaching impact of Alpha's demise."[11]

Ron Hogan of Den of Geek praised the character development of Negan, writing: "Negan, despite everything, is still funny. Eugene has never not been funny, particularly when Josh McDermitt starts motoring his mouth around that very thick dialogue provided by Channing Powell's excellent script."[12] Noetta Harjo of Geek Girl Authority praised the episode, writing: "Sooo, Carol wrote a letter to Maggie about Alpha. I'm really hoping Maggie shows up in the next episode. That was interesting to watch Alpha tell Carol her thoughts."[13]

Writing for The A.V. Club, Alex McLevy gave the episode a B− and wrote: "A good portion of it worked at least reasonably well. This is partially thanks to a script that only overcooks half of the dialogue scenes."[1] Writing for TV Fanatic, Paul Dailly praised the episode and wrote: "'Look at the Flowers' was mostly an episode to set up the coming events, and boy, we're in for a wild ride to the finish line."[14] Writing for We Live Entertainment, Aaron Neuwirth praised Jeffrey Dean Morgan's performance and wrote: "Allowing Jeffrey Dean Morgan the chance to play up multiple sides of Negan is effective."[15]

Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a 7 out of 10, writing: "Though some of Carol's meandering, and Ezekiel's trek, felt trite, "Look at the Flowers" was still busy enough overall to plant seeds for more interesting things to come... It was a cool-down chapter, but an effective one."[16] Erik Kain of Forbes praised the character development of Beta, writing: "This was mostly a very good episode. Beta is a very scary guy, and the end suggests that the full force of his wrath and vengeance is about to be unleashed on our heroes."[17]

Ratings

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"Look at the Flowers" received 3.26 million viewers and was the highest-rated cable program of the night.[18]

Notes

[edit]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"Look at the Flowers" is the fourteenth episode of the tenth season of the American post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which originally premiered on the AMC network on March 29, 2020. Directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer and written by Channing Powell, the episode centers on the survivors grappling with the devastating aftermath of the Hilltop settlement's destruction by fire, while parallel narratives explore themes of guilt, redemption, and tentative alliances in a world overrun by zombies and human adversaries. The storyline intertwines several key character arcs, including Carol's psychological turmoil following her pursuit of vengeance against the Whisperers, Negan's evolving role after a pivotal , and Beta's response to leadership upheaval within the antagonist group. Simultaneously, Eugene leads a small team—including and Yumiko—on a radio-guided journey to connect with and a potential new community, introducing the comic book-originated character in a memorable debut that highlights themes of isolation and hope. The episode's title directly callbacks a haunting moment from season 4's "The Grove," where Carol (Melissa McBride) tells the unstable child (Brighton Sharbino) to "look at the flowers" immediately before executing her to prevent further danger, symbolizing mercy amid moral ambiguity—a motif echoed in Carol's hallucinations and decisions here. Praised for its tense action sequences, emotional depth, and strong performances—particularly by McBride, as , and as Beta—"Look at the Flowers" holds an average viewer rating of 7.8 out of 10 on based on over 8,000 assessments, contributing to the season's exploration of loss and resilience.

Episode Overview

Synopsis

"Look at the Flowers" is the fourteenth episode of the tenth season of The Walking Dead, airing as part of the storyline following the Whisperer War. The episode opens with a flashback to Carol's deal with Negan, in which she tasks him with obtaining Alpha's head in exchange for his freedom. Negan delivers on the agreement by presenting Carol with Alpha's severed head, which she then reanimates as a walker and stakes on a Whisperer border pylon as a warning. Meanwhile, the survivors regroup at the Hilltop colony in the aftermath of the destructive fire set by the Whisperers. Parallel to these events, Eugene shares news of his radio contact with , a resident of the distant community, prompting him to embark on a journey with Ezekiel and Yumiko to meet her in person. During their travels, the group encounters logistical challenges and ties up chained walkers blocking their path in a deserted city. There, they are ambushed and captured by the eccentric new character Juanita Sanchez, known as , who holds them at gunpoint before revealing her isolated existence in the urban ruins. At a Whisperer outpost, Beta discovers Alpha's zombified head on display and reacts with fury, feeding it to a walker before retrieving it. He returns to an abandoned hotel, where remnants of his pre-apocalypse life as the country singer "Half Moon" are revealed through guitars and records, confirming his former identity. Beta fashions a new mask from his old one and Alpha's skin, then rallies a horde of walkers for an unspecified advance. Throughout the episode, Carol experiences vivid hallucinations of Alpha while navigating the woods alone, culminating in her becoming trapped in a collapsed cabin surrounded by walkers. She fights her way out but sustains injuries, ultimately choosing to press on toward . Concurrently, escapes his cell amid the chaos and encounters , who confronts him about Alpha's missing head; Negan demonstrates his loyalty by joining Daryl in ambushing and killing a group of Whisperers. Running 45 minutes in length, the episode employs flashbacks to contextualize Carol and Negan's pact while interweaving multiple parallel storylines among the survivors and antagonists.

Broadcast Details

"Look at the Flowers" is the fourteenth episode of the tenth season of the AMC series The Walking Dead and the 145th episode overall. It was directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer and written by Channing Powell. The episode originally premiered in the United States on AMC on March 29, 2020. Nielsen ratings reported that the initial U.S. broadcast drew 3.26 million viewers. Internationally, the episode aired on in the and parts of the following day, on March 30, 2020. The full season 10, including "Look at the Flowers," was released on Blu-ray and DVD sets by Lionsgate Home Entertainment on July 20, 2021.

Production

Development and Writing

The episode "Look at the Flowers" was penned by Channing Powell, who crafted its script in late 2019 as part of the broader season 10 writing process that began earlier that year. Powell's contributions emphasized the emotional depth of the Carol-Negan dynamic, portraying Carol's internal turmoil following her vengeful actions against , while also expanding Beta's backstory through a poignant reveal of his pre-apocalypse life as a . This expansion drew inspiration from actor Ryan Hurst's suggestions, reimagining Beta as a figure with a hidden artistic past to heighten his tragic complexity. Showrunner Angela Kang provided key input to integrate the episode into the season's narrative arc, focusing on resolving elements of the Whisperer War by exploring the fallout from Alpha's death—portrayed by Samantha Morton, whose exit after the season 9-10 storyline influenced the script's emphasis on leadership transitions among the antagonists. Kang also oversaw teases for the community through Eugene's journey, using the episode to introduce the comic-accurate character as a whimsical yet pivotal encounter that propels the survivors toward new alliances. One notable script deviation from Robert Kirkman's comics involved Beta's identity as "Half Moon," a TV-original element that contrasted with his comic counterpart's reveal as a former player, allowing for deeper exploration of themes like lost fame and psychological descent. Thematically, the writing prioritized building tension via Carol's hallucinations of Alpha, which served as a psychological mirror to her unresolved grief, while advancing redemption arcs—particularly Negan's—for characters entangled in the Whisperer conflict without providing full closure to major plotlines. Powell's pitch for Beta incorporating Alpha's face into his mask further underscored these choices, symbolizing inherited and the war's lingering scars. Although faced production delays due to that affected later episodes, "Look at the Flowers" proceeded on its original schedule without interruption.

Filming and Casting

Principal photography for "Look at the Flowers" occurred primarily in Georgia during the fall of 2019, as part of the broader season 10 production schedule that wrapped in November. Interiors were filmed at Raleigh Studios in Senoia, while exterior scenes depicting the Hilltop community and the group's journey utilized rural locations across the state to capture the post-apocalyptic landscape. Casting for the episode featured Samantha Morton's final appearance as the Whisperer leader Alpha, marking the conclusion of her arc in the series. took on an expanded role as Beta, including a key musical performance where he sang "I Went to the Well" under the pseudonym Half Moon, enhancing the character's enigmatic backstory. The episode also introduced as the character , who transitions to a recurring role starting in season 10. reprised her role as Gamma (real name Mary), with the storyline culminating her defection from to align with the survivors. did not appear in the episode, having departed as in the previous episode and been removed from the credits. Technical production emphasized practical effects, particularly for the prop of Alpha's severed head, crafted by supervisor to achieve realism without heavy reliance on digital enhancements. Stunt coordination was crucial for sequences involving Negan's confrontations with Whisperers and large-scale walker horde scenes, blending with on-location action to maintain the show's aesthetic. In , editors intercut parallel narratives—such as Carol's group's recovery efforts and Eugene's expedition—to build tension, while heightened the drama of Beta's unmasking reveal through layered audio cues and atmospheric scoring.

Themes and Analysis

Character Arcs

Carol's arc in "Look at the Flowers" centers on her deepening psychological turmoil following the loss of her son Henry, manifesting as vivid hallucinations of the deceased Alpha that drive her toward self-destructive recklessness. Haunted by guilt and , Carol ventures alone into Whisperer territory, staking Alpha's severed head on a border pike as a provocative act, which inadvertently traps her in a collapse where a hallucinated Alpha taunts her with the episode's titular phrase—"look at the flowers"—echoing Carol's traumatic mercy killing of Samuels in season 4's "The Grove," symbolizing her recurring confrontation with irreparable loss and moral compromise. This descent underscores her unresolved season 4 trauma, positioning her hallucinations as a catalyst for broader group conflicts by escalating tensions with . Negan's narrative progression marks a pivotal step in his redemption, as he delivers Alpha's head to Carol and subsequently slays multiple Whisperers to affirm his allegiance to the Alexandria-Hilltop coalition, transitioning from isolated to a cautiously accepted ally amid lingering distrust. His actions, including a brutal where he dispatches attackers with improvised weapons, demonstrate a shift toward protective , particularly toward Carol, while highlighting his internal struggle for atonement in a post-apocalyptic society that still views him warily. Beta's unmasking reveals his pre-apocalypse identity as "Half Moon," a reclusive singer, a TV-exclusive humanized through faded posters that evoke his lost humanity while amplifying his villainous menace as he rallies in vengeful fury over Alpha's death. Discovering Alpha's zombified head on the pike border triggers a rage-fueled breakdown, where he smashes memorabilia and dons her skin as a mask, solidifying his role as the horde's unrelenting leader and escalating the immediate threat to the survivors. Among the ensemble, Eugene's arc emphasizes renewed hopefulness as he leads a small group—including Yumiko and —on a radio-guided journey to meet the mysterious , fostering optimism for external alliances despite logistical perils like a derailed . 's subtle development reveals his worsening decline through persistent coughing during the trek, hinting at a that tempers his regal demeanor with vulnerability. Yumiko emerges with budding qualities, mediating group decisions and asserting practicality amid Eugene's enthusiasm. The introduction of serves briefly as a quirky foil to the group's somber seriousness, injecting levity into their isolated quest. The episode's psychological themes explore struggles in the wake of profound trauma, with Carol's grief-induced hallucinations and reckless choices acting as a narrative catalyst that ripples through group dynamics, forcing characters like and the ensemble to confront their own fractures while underscoring the fragile boundary between and self-destruction.

Series Connections

The episode title "Look at the Flowers" serves as a direct callback to season 4, episode 14 ("The Grove"), in which instructs a disturbed named to "look at the flowers" moments before mercy-killing her to prevent her from harming others, symbolizing the harsh necessities of amid . The recent decapitation of Alpha by resolves the Whisperer War antagonist arc that spanned seasons 9 and 10, marking the culmination of the survivors' conflict with the nomadic, walker-skin-wearing group. Beta's subsequent ascension to leadership of the remaining Whisperers loosely adapts from the Whisperer War arc (issues #130–161), where he similarly takes command after Alpha's in issue #156, though the television series alters the timeline and survivor alliances for dramatic effect. Eugene Porter's ongoing radio communications, which intensify in this episode, foreshadow the introduction of the —a large, stratified civilian-led community of nearly 50,000 survivors—first glimpsed through the encounter with Juanita Sanchez (), a key figure from that society. This setup expands in later seasons and spin-offs, including anthology stories in that explore Commonwealth dynamics and The Ones Who Live, which connects it to broader institutional threats like the Civic Republic Military. Similarly, Negan's killing of Alpha accelerates his path toward uneasy redemption and alliance-building, setting the stage for his partnership with Maggie Rhee in The Walking Dead: Dead City, where they navigate Manhattan's ruins years later. The episode introduces television-original lore elements, such as Beta's pre-apocalypse identity as the country singer "Half Moon," revealed through flashbacks and a discarded album, contrasting the portrayal of Beta as a more enigmatic former athlete with no such backstory emphasized.

Reception and Impact

Critical Response

"Look at the Flowers" received generally positive reviews from critics, garnering an 88% approval rating on from 17 reviews. The site's consensus reads: "'Look at the Flowers' dives back into the conflict between the Hilltop crew and the with a richly that explores the far-reaching impact of Alpha's demise." Reviewers praised its emotional intensity, particularly in exploring character and the aftermath of Alpha's , alongside the intriguing reveal of Beta's pre-apocalypse identity as country singer Half Moon. awarded it a 7/10, noting the episode's busy plotting kept it engaging despite some familiar elements. Critics lauded performances and key interpersonal dynamics, especially the chemistry between and , which provided humor and tension amid the survivors' struggles. Jeffrey Dean Morgan's portrayal of Negan was highlighted for its charismatic range, blending vulnerability with wit in scenes that advanced his redemption arc. Samantha Morton's hallucinatory appearances as Alpha were commended for adding haunting depth to Carol's psychological turmoil, evoking parallels to the series' earlier "look at the flowers" moment from 4. The horror elements, including Beta's chilling use of his old records to summon walkers, amplified the episode's atmospheric tension and underscored his menacing devotion. Some reviewers critiqued the pacing, particularly in the parallel plots involving Carol's solo journey, which felt meandering and overly reliant on repetitive self-doubt. noted that Carol's segments came across as pouty and self-centered, slowing the momentum despite strong moments elsewhere. pointed out the underutilization of the , with subplots like Ezekiel's illness feeling perfunctory and underdeveloped compared to the central character focuses. Director was acclaimed for her deft handling of tension, maintaining fleet pacing across the episode's multiple threads and vividly realizing Carol's visions of Alpha. Writer Channing Powell received praise for her script's sharp dialogue, which effectively captured character moments like Eugene's awkward humor and the brutal exchanges between Carol and her hallucinated foe.

Viewership and Legacy

The episode "Look at the Flowers" drew 3.26 million live + same-day viewers in the United States upon its premiere on March 29, 2020, marking a slight decline from the previous week's episode but aligning with mid-tier performance for The Walking Dead's tenth season, which saw episodes range from approximately 3 to 4 million live viewers. Including DVR and delayed viewing, the episode contributed to the season's overall average of 5.4 million viewers per episode when factoring in seven days of playback. This placed it solidly within broader franchise trends of sustained but declining linear viewership amid the rise of streaming platforms. The episode's legacy is anchored in its reinforcement of the iconic phrase "Look at the flowers," first uttered in season 4's "The Grove," which has since become a meme-worthy emblem of the series' emotional intensity and is featured on official AMC merchandise, including T-shirts sold through the network's online store. often draws on the duality between the season 4 and season 10 contexts, highlighting Carol's character evolution and the phrase's haunting resonance in survivor . Culturally, "Look at the Flowers" advanced discussions on amid apocalyptic survival, exemplified by Carol's hallucinatory confrontations with trauma and the ethical burdens of , echoing earlier explorations of psychological fragility in the series. The revelation of Beta's pre-apocalypse identity as a singer, complete with visual and auditory cues to his unmasking, sparked fan theories about his backstory and inspired cosplay elements incorporating his and musical motifs at conventions. Post-2020, the episode's themes found echoes in spin-offs like The Walking Dead: Dead City, where Negan confronts lingering psychological scars from past conflicts, including those tied to Carol's arc. This theme continues in 2025 with Carol's appearance in The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2, further exploring Negan and Carol's intertwined psychological journeys. By November 2025, with no major franchise updates directly referencing the episode beyond these connections, it endures through streaming rewatches on platforms such as Netflix and AMC+, where AMC titles, including The Walking Dead, amassed over 210 million global views on Netflix from late 2024 to mid-2025. Fan reception emphasizes its emotional payoff, evidenced by high engagement in online forums and a surge in YouTube retrospectives during 2024-2025 that analyze its character-driven depth and callbacks.

References

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