Despite not caring for Season 7 on the whole, to me it actually didn't start badly straightaway. The first three episodes were flawed but showed a good deal of promise. It was with "Service" when Season 7 began to stumble drastically and the season was very up and down (mostly down) ever since to the extent that at its worst it was like watching another version of 'The Walking Dead' that wasn't the one that impressed me so much when it first began.
While "Hearts Still Beating" is not a return to form for 'The Walking Dead' or great, it is still one of Season 7's better episodes and a big improvement over the previous four. After a general slog of a first part to the season, some momentum is gained pace-wise and narratively in "Hearts Still Beating". Which does better than "Sing Me a Song" at moving things forward, that episode did show signs of progression but could have done a lot more with its content which is something that this episode does better.
"Hearts Still Beating" is not perfect. Am in complete agreement with those that have panned the part with Rosita, that was utter idiocy and one of the most intelligence insulting moments of not just Season 7 (and the season had a lot of what the heck moments, this took the biscuit) but of the whole show as well. Spencer is incredibly annoying and overacted, to the extent that what Negan does with him is one of the few times where his point of view is oddly understood.
It is also a bit slow to begin with, some of the dialogue still rambles and Negan does dominate too much in spots.
Though thankfully not as needlessly long-winded and it doesn't sound anywhere near as awkward as it did in "Sing Me a Song". The pacing to me seemed a lot better, more urgency later on, and the focus more balanced with those that were wasted before being interesting here. There is not as much overlong filler as there was in the previous four episodes and episodes afterwards, not too long is spent on irrelevance and things do progress and makes one intrigued on what's to come. There is a return to uncompromising tension and it is great to continue to the multiple storyline structure, with a lot of content without being over-stuffed. Surprisingly the tone of the climax didn't jar, which was actually what was expected considering that it is the kind of ending that after so much tension and hard-hitting rarely comes off well in other films, episodes etc elsewhere.
Visually, "Hearts Still Beating", as usual for 'The Walking Dead' looks great. It is stylishly photographed without trying to do too much, no trying-to-be-too-clever editing to be seen here, or being too static. The music avoids being too bombastic or being too low-key, being suitably haunting. The direction has enough tautness while also being accomodating. The character interaction is natural and has intensity and the performances are all fine (didn't have a problem with Chandler Riggs this time). Andrew Lincoln and Jeffrey Dean Morgan fare best.
All in all, not a masterpiece but an improvement. 7/10
While "Hearts Still Beating" is not a return to form for 'The Walking Dead' or great, it is still one of Season 7's better episodes and a big improvement over the previous four. After a general slog of a first part to the season, some momentum is gained pace-wise and narratively in "Hearts Still Beating". Which does better than "Sing Me a Song" at moving things forward, that episode did show signs of progression but could have done a lot more with its content which is something that this episode does better.
"Hearts Still Beating" is not perfect. Am in complete agreement with those that have panned the part with Rosita, that was utter idiocy and one of the most intelligence insulting moments of not just Season 7 (and the season had a lot of what the heck moments, this took the biscuit) but of the whole show as well. Spencer is incredibly annoying and overacted, to the extent that what Negan does with him is one of the few times where his point of view is oddly understood.
It is also a bit slow to begin with, some of the dialogue still rambles and Negan does dominate too much in spots.
Though thankfully not as needlessly long-winded and it doesn't sound anywhere near as awkward as it did in "Sing Me a Song". The pacing to me seemed a lot better, more urgency later on, and the focus more balanced with those that were wasted before being interesting here. There is not as much overlong filler as there was in the previous four episodes and episodes afterwards, not too long is spent on irrelevance and things do progress and makes one intrigued on what's to come. There is a return to uncompromising tension and it is great to continue to the multiple storyline structure, with a lot of content without being over-stuffed. Surprisingly the tone of the climax didn't jar, which was actually what was expected considering that it is the kind of ending that after so much tension and hard-hitting rarely comes off well in other films, episodes etc elsewhere.
Visually, "Hearts Still Beating", as usual for 'The Walking Dead' looks great. It is stylishly photographed without trying to do too much, no trying-to-be-too-clever editing to be seen here, or being too static. The music avoids being too bombastic or being too low-key, being suitably haunting. The direction has enough tautness while also being accomodating. The character interaction is natural and has intensity and the performances are all fine (didn't have a problem with Chandler Riggs this time). Andrew Lincoln and Jeffrey Dean Morgan fare best.
All in all, not a masterpiece but an improvement. 7/10