[Report This]Date: May 27 2023 10:32 PM Title: The Road to Fiddler's Green
What a fitting end for Celia, right down to taking after her dear Uncle Henry!
But yeah, this chapter delivered all the comeuppance I could handle, and it was glorious! In particular, the poetic justice of Monica being doomed by a tiny zombie after getting away from the horde of giant ones was pretty fitting. And even after the little zed condemned her to either death or undeath, she still couldn't acknowledge that tinies matter, based on her answer when Cassie asked where John was.
And Celia ending Monica, especially right when she was finally remembering to use the right title for her, was amazing. I love the callback to chapter one with the "answer to the infection." I was hoping somebody made some reference to that (and the "answer" being exactly what Celia said it was) since it was broadcast over the radio. Also, the fact that Cassie, Monica's actual enemy at this point, allowed her to live just for Celia, who Moncia trusted this whole time, to end her so cold-heartedly really shows just how far Celia has gone. It also shows just how little she cared for Monica, as she didn't even hesitate like she did with Cassie (yeah, Cassie wasn't bitten like Monica, but she was dead to Celia like Monica was, and Celia wanted to spare her from being turned, at least at first).
I like that Celia felt the need to pack the now-useless gold and diamonds she had gathered over time when she was trying to escape. A very Romero-ish choice on her part. Also, the fact that she still tried to "save" John even after he chose believed-dead Barb over her shows what I still think is a unique blend of a need for companionship of some kind and materialism, given her stance on tinies in general. And, of course, as soon as she realizes John's not there, she immediately turns bitter and spiteful, no longer caring if he gets eaten.
The final showdown between Barb and Celia was brief but still everything I thought it would be. I figured Mrs. Smythe would figure in some way ala Bub, and she didn't disappoint. That's why you pay rent, even with someone else's money!
And John got to save the day with Rhames's weapon, which was also fitting. He didn't kill Celia, but he sealed her fate and saved the woman he loves. His reunion with Barb was almost as touching as Barb's reunion with Mountain Dew just a few minutes later.
I also like that, despite everything, Barb was still likely going to at least put Celia out of her misery if the zombie horde hadn't gotten in the way. That says a lot about her, as I think someone like Celia would have probably pulled up a chair and watched if their roles were reversed.
The other chapter 1 callback during John and Barb's time at the front of the train was also much appreciated, and, at least for me, that scene with them together was more impactful due to how long it's been since we've seen the two of them smutting it up together. The next time I hear someone call for a bite check (which will also be the first time I hear it), I'll have an entirely different idea of what they mean in mind.
Also, and I didn't really pay as much attention to it before this chapter, John and Barb's dynamic during sex contrasts with Cassie and Peter's quite well. While Cassie does still take charge, like using Peter as a loofa or rubbing him against her womanhood with her finger, they have more of a flirty, dirty-talk type of relationship in the metaphorical bedroom. Barb, on the other hand, loves playfully belittling John almost as much as he loves being belittled, and she's much more dominant with John than Cassie is with Peter. Likewise, while Peter likes to take charge when he sees the opportunity (like when he went anal), John really seems to enjoy the helpless struggle against Barb's size, whether it be against her tits or her foot.
I don't know if that was intentional, but I found this comparison interesting when it hit me near the end of this chapter.
Finally, I like that Tammy was still unintentionally clinging to the last few notions of Celia's system, questioning whether the "mall workers" should be allowed to have weapons. It will take a while for the haze of that nightmare to fully clear, and I like that this was made clear here.
I look forward to seeing where Cassie's leadership takes the group in the final chapter.
Author's Response:
Yeah this was, like most zombie movie climaxes, a pretty brutal one. Celia's true colors came through at the end obviously, going back for her (useless) gold instead of staying to save her people, and yeah while she's obviously a very lonely person she's also responsible for a lot of her own misery right up to the end.
As far as Peter/Cass and John/Barb yeah John and Barb definitely have a more dom/sub thing going on lol, John loves when Barb gets a little mean with him and vice versa, Peter and Cass on the other hand are a bit more equal in their bedroom play. At the end of the day they both love and respect their partners a lot, in spite of the size difference.
Barb would have been willing to put Celia out of her misery if she could, while she definitely hates Celia down to her core her spite doesn't drive her in the way it does for her rival, her mission is ultimate one of love rather than hate you might say, even with all the violence.
Obviously everyone involved in this needs a whole lot of therapy, but with the apocalypse being what it is they'll all just have to take it day by day. I was going for a somber tone for the train ride out of town, there are some deliberate references to rising out of hell throughout the chapter because that's what everyone here has managed. Like Peter explained Fiddler's Green is where a sailor goes when he doesn't go to hell, I always felt like Romero could have capitalized on the theme more with Land of the Dead but then again that was hardly his strongest movie.
Our last chapter is going to be relatively subdued (and smutty) relative to the last couple, we'll see where Cass and Barb take the group.