‘The Walking Dead’ Season 10, Episode 4 ‘Silence the Whisperers’ Review: Paranoia Spreads Like Wildfire

Paranoia seems to be the pervading atmosphere in this week’s harrowing episode of The Walking Dead. The Whisperers have expanded their borders, and there’s nothing our survivors could do to minimize their threat.

Titled “Silence the Whisperers,” the episode doesn’t hold back on how the Whisperers slowly infiltrate the minds of the Alexandrians and Hilltop dwellers. The power that Alpha wields looms ever so strong even though they’re not physically present or even near the communities’ premises. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the enemy since being introduced last season, it’s that she will never stop being the ruthless motherfucker that our survivors have ever faced.

Directed by Walking Dead alum Michael Cudlitz, “Silence the Whisperers” is a perfect follow up to last week’s no-holds-barred zombie action—this time taking things to Hilltop and adding a bit more to the overwhelming horde that attacked Alexandria.

Ready your ears, people. This isn’t going to be a silent spoiler-free ride.

The Tree Dilemma: Fuck You, Alpha, We All Know It Was Ya’ll Who Dunnit!

Perhaps one of the best opening scenes to a Walking Dead episode was the one we had (and Cudlitzs so expertly directed) for “Silence the Whisperers.” Gordi’s “Heaven I Know” provides a hopeful atmosphere as it plays to a montage of our survivors enjoying that sliver of comfort with their loved ones and taking in a moment of epiphany—Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) eating a hearty dinner with Judith (Cailey Fleming) and RJ (Antony Azor), Lydia (Cassady McClincy) spotting Siddiq (Avi Nash) in the onset of a panic attack, Daryl bringing Carol (Melissa McBride) some food, Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) and Magna (Nadia Hilker) getting intimate, and Ezekiel (Khary Payton) trying his best to get some sleep (possibly still thinking about Carol).

But the beautiful montage is cut short with a nerve-racking snap as a large tree falls on the walls of Hilltop, trapping a few dwellers along with it. Ezekiel freezes in total shock, unable to figure out what to do. Chaos ensues as the Hilltop dwellers scramble to save their trapped friends while Ezekiel looks on in a dumbfounded trance. Seriously, what’s up with the once-great King?

Gene Page/AMC

But it’s a good thing that a small crew from Alexandria led by Michonne and Judith are on their way to Hilltop. Along the road, we see a bit more of that Judith wisdom as she figures out Alpha’s power play. “Maybe the Whisperers want to keep us fighting back until we get so tired that they have the advantage,” Judith says. Not bad, kiddo. Not bad.

Michonne then spots a lone Ezekiel making his way to the woods. She catches up to him standing on a wooden ledge, seemingly ready to throw himself off because he still can’t get over losing Carol and Henry. But it’s a good thing Michonne saw him. Because the only thing one can ever do to cope up with the trauma and the loss of a therapist around is to talk it out with your fellow survivor. That’s the only way you can get rid of that aching feeling off your chest. Ezekiel accidentally kisses Michonne (just like how the trailer teased us), but its something that we shouldn’t worry about. Remember being drunk and all pretenses are down? That’s how Ezekiel felt when kissing Michonne. He’s still a decent kisser, after all—at least, according to Michonne.

Gene Page/AMC

Back at Hilltop, a large group of Walkers files towards the fallen tree. Luke (Dan Fogler), Kelly (Angel Theory), Connie (Lauren Ridloff), Yukio, and Magna decide to fight off the herd, but the overwhelming number wears them down. As they retreat, the walls give and the Walkers infiltrate the compound. It’s a good thing that Michonne and her group arrive (along with a clear-headed Ezekiel) to slice and dice the incoming herd. The highlight of the week, though, is Michonne and Judith doing their katana magic side by side. Best mother-daughter team-up ever!

The next day, Michonne, Eugene (Josh McDermitt), Yumiko, Dan, and a few other Hilltop council members assess the damage. This is clearly the work of Alpha, who also doesn’t have respect for the other group’s borders. Michonne and Judith are leaving for Oceanside as a new Whisperer threat emerges. Luke decides to follow suit because the love of his life is calling him (try as he may to not make a big fuss over it). Eugene decides to stay at Hilltop to fix the wall and probably lick his wounds after the blatant friendzoning from Rosita last week.

Gene Page/AMC

The Alexandrians Blame Lydia But Negan Saves the Day

Compared to the Hilltop dwellers, the Alexandrians have a double dose of the Whisperer trauma. There are multiple “Silence the Whisperers” graffiti-strewn all over the place too. Lydia is still ostracized by the community, especially Gage (Jackson Pace) and Margo (Jerri Tubbs) of the Highwaymen. They continuously bully Lydia to the point of making her break down. Luckily, our main man Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) offers up some advice—don’t take their shit and don’t react to their shit. But Daryl doesn’t like it when Negan meddles with Alexandria-related stuff so he chases Negan off and hauls Lydia out of there. But come one, Negan is obviously making more sense here, They’re all just being overtaken by their false pretense of Negan’s assumed Savior tendencies. He’s a reformed man, goddamn it.

Eliza Morse/AMC

Following Negan’s advice, Lydia decides to bring shit to Gage and Margo. During lunch at the mess hall, Lydia brings a squirrel to their table, skins it in front fo them, and taunts them by doing the signature Whisperer shush. Daryl confronts her about it, but Lydia scoffs at his advice to “just avoid them.” Dude is clearly clueless about this whole bullying situation, huh. Daryl, I love you, but this ain’t it, chief.

Later that night, Margo and Gage ambush Lydia to beat her up. Negan once again comes to her rescue but accidentally kills Margo, hit her head on the pavement after Negan throws her off of Lydia. The angry Alexandrians with pitchforks hound the council about Margo’s death and Gage’s “assault” from Lydia. In a heartbreaking scene, Lydia breaks down to Daryl (who can only so much as hug her). Lydia also insists that Negan saved her from the massive beatdown. Later, Daryl radios into Michonne at Hilltop about the issue where she urges him to take care of Lydia because she’s the only upper hand they have against Alpha. Daryl confronts Negan, who maintains innocence and talks a bit of reality into Daryl.

Eliza Morse/AMC

“I’m no hero. I’m a sucker,” Negan says. “I started believing in your way of life, your moral code. Hell, you even gave me a little taste of freedom just so you could yank it away when I actually did the right thing. You gotta admit, that is pretty messed up. And we both know I appreciate some messed-up shit.”

The Alexandria council then takes a split vote on Negan’s fate—half of them want to let this slide off because they believe Lydia. The other half wants more violence in place of violence. Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) is the deciding vote, so he calls it a day and waits until the next day for his final verdict. With all the hoo-ha around the situation, I can only figure out one thing—Alexandria’s council is a fucking sham.

The next day, Gabriel finds Negan gone. The whole council is thrown in a slight panic. Lydia tells them she freed him and proceeds to lock herself in Negan’s cell. Daryl tries to coax her out, but she can’t because its the only place where she feels safe.

‘The Walking Dead: Silence the Whisperers’ Overall Verdict

“Silence the Whisperers” is a powerful exploration of how the Whisperers manipulate everyone into thinking that they are all fucked even when the atmosphere is calm and collected. From a psychological standpoint, they are a wreck. Cudlitz brought his A-game to this episode with a significant air of urgency and stress to it. It’s also nice to see Negan get the small highlight this week, which is also a perfect prelude to next week’s Negan-centric episode. “Ghosts” was a thrill to watch. “Silence the Whispers” banks on that thrill and adds more to what we’ve been served last week.

The Walking Dead continues Sunday, November 3rd, with “What It Always Is” at 9/8c on AMC.