TWD: World Beyond 207 – Alas Poor Barca, I Knew Him

The CRM is not messing around. Sunday’s episode of TWD: World Beyond proves that everyone is expendable, and everyone can be replaced. Episode 207’s “Blood and Lies” sees Warrant Officer Jadis Stokes (Pollyanna McIntosh) feeding Dr. Lyla Belshaw to (formerly living) officer Barca (Al Calderon) after she reveals secrets about her research to Dr. Leo Bennett (Joe Holt). You’d think that people capable of advanced research would be safe in the apocalypse, but clearly the CRM disagrees.

As World Beyond winds down its two season run, things are coming to a head very quickly at the CRM research facility. Now reunited with both of his daughters, Dr. Bennett is now fully aware of how precarious his situation is and what stepping out of line could mean for him and his family.

On the other hand, though, there’s the matter of the CRM’s plans for Portland. They have enough gas to wipe out Portland’s 87,000 residents in one fell swoop, just like they did in Omaha and the Campus Colony. Can the Bennetts allow the CRM to get away with murder again?

I think the most compelling aspect of this dilemma is that the CRM is willing to kill scientists to further their cause. You’d think they would just lock Dr. Belshaw away or cut off a few fingers to force her compliance. Instead, they fed her to Barca like she was expendable. 

Scientists aren’t expendable in this world.

It might be an Achilles heel on the CRM’s part to believe that they can get away with killing valuable people. The Civic Republic doesn’t seem to be aware of everything the CRM is doing in their name, so perhaps by exposing this seemingly fatal flaw it could lead to their downfall. Then again, they’re pretty well equipped so facing off against a powerful military would be nearly impossible for anyone, let alone a group of scientists and several very smart teenagers.

Dr. Belshaw’s death and the information she leaked before her demise seems to be setting up the final three episodes of the series in a big way. There’s a fight to survive and there’s a big moral dilemma that must be addressed, and it’s entirely possible that these two things could be at odds with each other. 

One thing is for certain after this week’s episode: Natalie Gold’s death was spectacular. She thought she’d had the upper hand up until the moment Jadis locked her in with Barca. Her terror was palpable as she died at the hands of the monster she’d created herself in a very bitter twist. Her death is a reminder that in this world no one is safe. TWD: World Beyond just upped the ante. I can’t wait to see what happens next!