Season 11 of The Walking Dead is on the road to civilization. As Alexandria struggles to survive in the wake of the Whisperer War, Eugene (Josh McDermitt) and his expedition are held captive by the armored soldiers belonging to a larger and unforthcoming group: the Commonwealth. In the Season 10 episode “A Certain Doom,” our group is apprehended by the soldiers before a planned railyard rendezvous with Eugene’s elusive radio contact Stephanie (Margot Bingham) in Charleston, West Virginia. This mysterious community reveals itself in the two-part Season 11 premiere, where Eugene, Ezekiel (Khary Payton), Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura), and Princess (Paola Lazaro) are the prisoners of Officer Mercer (Michael James Shaw) at a heavily-guarded Commonwealth outpost.
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In the extended Season 10 episode “Splinter,” a trooper (Cameron Roberts) recites the community’s creed: “For the benefit of all, and for all who seek solace at our gates.” Inside those gates are “things that are valuable in times like these” — the zombie apocalypse — and solace seekers must first pass a thorough interrogation process.
“The place we live is a good place. It’s our job to keep the many, many good people who live there safe,” the trooper says. “We’re careful because we have a lot to lose.”
The latest Season 11 teaser reveals a peek inside the Commonwealth, the largest civilization yet to be discovered on The Walking Dead. In the comic books, nearly 50,000 survivors live in the Ohio network of communities governed by Pamela Milton.
“Here’s this group, they show up, they’re wearing this white armor which is not super practical, but also they had to create these uniforms. It’s really cool in a comic when you’ve got this look, but it’s like, ‘What does it mean about this group that they’re part of?’” showrunner Angela Kang previously said of the Commonwealth Army on Talking Dead. “They had to have some ability to create these things and keep them clean and make them all look the same, but they’re also ingenious because they’ve got these sort of like automatic weapons that they’ve also transformed with a bayonet, so it’s the old and the new all mixed together.”
“It tells you that this group is really formidable, they are organized, they have some access to the materials that you need to create in a uniform fashion, so that’s really unlike some of the groups that we’ve seen,” added Kang. “Because our groups have only been able to do things like that on a very limited basis, like [how] Eugene was only able to make a handful of perfect bullets. But these guys have a lot more going on.”
Fight the Dead, Save the Living
Fight the Dead. Save the Living. The Commonwealth Way. A banner puts a twist on an old Walking Dead promotional motto: “Fight the Dead. Fear the Living.”
Trick or Treat
Elodie’s Fresh Baked Treats is a bakery named after comic book character Elodie Hawthorne, a baker and the long-lost daughter of Michonne. A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail spotted in the teaser hints this surprise family reunion will play out with a member of Eugene’s group.
Benefits
Another look inside the walls of the Commonwealth urges its citizens to join the Commonwealth Army to enjoy benefits like good pay and great housing.
Rest and Relaxation
Take a rest at the Milton Hotel, no doubt named after the reigning Milton clan: Governor Pamela Milton and her spoiled son Sebastian, part of the upper class who indulge in all the Commonwealth has to offer.
A Taste of Tradition
The Commonwealth enjoys several pre-apocalypse luxuries, including goods and services — even ice cream cones.
Propaganda
Officer Mercer wants you to do your part in the Commonwealth! Propaganda posters adorned with the Commonwealth crest and the Commonwealth Army decorate what could be the new home for our survivors when they return August 22 on AMC.
The Final Season of The Walking Dead premieres August 15 on AMC+ and Sunday, August 22, on AMC. Follow the author @CameronBonomolo on Twitter for all things TWD.
