Danai Gurira is one of the most pivotal parts of The Ones Who Live and she just helped deliver The Walking Dead an award-worthy episode.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for episodes 1-4 of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

Episode 4 of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live proved to be a highlight for the franchise and gave The Walking Dead a real chance at an award win, thanks to Danai Gurira. Gurira has been part of The Walking Dead for over a decade and her character, Michonne, has become pivotal to the story. Michonne is one of the two protagonists in The Ones Who Live, with Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes starring alongside her. Lincoln and Gurira’s chemistry has helped make the latest spinoff so exciting and ensured Rick and Michonne’s Walking Dead reunion lived up to the audience’s expectations.

While Andrew Lincoln has been the face of the franchise since the TV series began, Gurira has arguably been even more pivotal to The Ones Who Live‘s most recent success. Both actors have done a stellar job at portraying their characters, but Gurira has gone one step further to add an extra bit of quality to the spinoff. The series has mostly focused on the impact of the Civic Republic Military on Rick and Michonne, but episode 4 offers something different. It allows the protagonists to spend the episode together, creating an emotional masterpiece that was largely inspired by Gurira.

The Ones Who Live Episode 4 Is The Walking Dead’s Best Episode In Years

Andrew Lincoln & Danai Gurira Deliver A Powerful & Emotional Episode

The Ones Who Live had some huge expectations to live up to, but episode 4, titled “What We”, proved to be one of The Walking Dead‘s best episodes in years. Tension has been building between Rick and Michonne throughout the first three episodes, and the two finally get a chance to have a private conversation and let their feelings out. It may have taken most of the episode for Rick to finally open up to Michonne, but Rick’s emotional confession about how much the CRM has hurt him made it all worth it.

Although there was less action involved in “What We”, it did bring back some classic zombie action while fleshing out some important story points. Michonne finally told Rick about his son in episode 4 while Rick opened up about his fear of the CRM, and the couple eventually got back on the same page. Both characters feel so different from each other throughout the episode, adding more emotion when they finally attempt to escape for good. It is a beautifully told story and is easily one of the franchise’s best episodes in a long time.

Danai Gurira was a huge part of this success, as she wrote The Ones Who Live‘s fourth episode. Alongside putting in such a compelling performance as Michonne, Gurira had a huge amount of influence on “What We.” In an interview with ComicBook.com, Gurira mentioned that she acted as the showrunner for the episode. She mentioned how she worked closely with the director and was even in charge of its post-production, emphasizing how much of the episode came from her vision. Gurira’s involvement with the episode helped craft something truly special that will be a defining part of The Walking Dead‘s story.

Why The Ones Who Live Episode 4 Works So Well

Rick & Michonne’s Relationship Is At The Core Of Episode 4

The Ones Who Live episode 4 has several strengths that make it so good, with Lincoln and Gurira’s chemistry being one of its key qualities. Both actors are incredibly talented and have worked together for years on the main show, making the big moments feel that much more powerful. The emotional focus on Rick and Michonne’s relationship is also at the centre of this episode, helping elevate it to new heights. Hearing Rick mention Carl for the first time in years alongside Michonne telling Rick about her scar shows just how damaged these characters are, especially without each other.

Despite how emotional and gripping the episode is, there is still time for some much-needed comedic moments. The Ones Who Live has been surprisingly funny given how high the stakes are, with Rick’s haircut joke to Jadis in episode 3 being the funniest moment so far. However, episode 4 continues this through Rick’s troubles with technology. He shouts about the talking thermostat and gets startled by a Roomba, giving the audience a chance to laugh amid all the drama. Combining the protagonists’ compelling and dramatic relationship with some lighthearted humor helps “What We” become a truly special episode.

The Walking Dead’s Awards History Explained

The Walking Dead Has Won Plenty Of Awards, But Not The Big Ones

Given how big of a franchise The Walking Dead is, the show’s lack of award success is a surprise. The main series has won several awards throughout its tenure, but it failed to win the major prizes in television. While the show has won a few Emmys, this has been for its makeup and prosthetics, rather than its writing. The Walking Dead has won People’s and Critics’ Choice Awards but struggled to win the biggest awards. It was also nominated for Best Drama at the Golden Globes in 2011, but fell short to Boardwalk Empire.

The Walking Dead has had Oscar-nominated actors as part of the franchise, yet never received a Best Actor or Actress nomination from any of the major award shows. There have been some stellar performances over the years alongside great storylines, but through tough competition or simply being unfavorable, The Walking Dead hasn’t been a standout among the big ceremonies. The show has been acknowledged for some of its qualities, winning smaller awards, but it has never been the flagship drama show in the eyes of the critics, despite how popular its viewership was during the show’s peak.

How Likely Is It The Ones Who Live Will Be Nominated For A Major Award?

There Is A Slim Chance The Ones Who Live Could Swoop Up Some Awards

When considering The Walking Dead‘s history, it is unlikely that The Ones Who Live will win a major award, but it is not out of the question. One of its biggest advantages is that The Ones Who Live can go in the limited series category, giving it a much higher chance of winning. While it does seem likely that the spinoff could get renewed for a second season, its current formula suggests it may be a potential candidate to compete for some awards, and Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira’s performances definitely deserve at least one nomination.

Both have been overlooked during their time on The Walking Dead, but being at the forefront of the spinoff could provide them with the success they deserve. The main show often tried to balance too many characters, meaning screen time became limited to accommodate everyone. The Ones Who Live doesn’t suffer from this, with Rick and Michonne being the two clear leading characters. There is still a long way to go in 2024, meaning other shows could steal the spotlight, but The Ones Who Live‘s positive reception arguably gives The Walking Dead its best chance ever at a major award.