The Walking Dead: Maybe Benjamin’s compliment is what Ezekiel needed to fight

Richard thought Ezekiel needed to be provoked by the Saviors to join Rick’s group in the fight on The Walking Dead. Perhaps something else worked.

The world of the Kingdom seems crazy. The world of the Walkers seems crazy. But really what is crazy is what has happened to some of the people this world has created.

Benjamin knew that war was coming. He thought that they should fight the Saviors. But he still admired Ezekiel and his principles.

Before Benjamin was suddenly taken from his surrogate father, he told him something that reminded him of how important the Kingdom was to all of them.

"Ezekiel: People have lived through every kind of misery — tyrants, genocide, systems of quiet hate — while others enjoy freedom on the same piece of land.Yet this, how we must exist now — It is mere luck we are not all insane.Benjamin: It isn’t luck, Your Majesty.Ezekiel: How’s that?Benjamin: The world does drive people crazy now.But you made us another world."

That was a huge compliment to Ezekiel. Perhaps enough of a compliment to help him see that the Kingdom and the fantasy world that he created is worth fighting for. Richard thought that Ezekiel needed to be provoked into fighting the Saviors.

Ultimately, Ezekiel was provoked. Benjamin died. Richard’s plan was uncovered. Morgan has gone but not gone. Carol has entered the Kingdom.

Next: Morgan metaphorically kills himself

But Ezekiel was also complimented and reassured. He knows now that the Kingdom is not something that was a mistake. He wasn’t foolish. The Walkers created one world. The Saviors created a different world. And Ezekiel created even another world. A world that has kept them from going insane.

It wasn’t luck. Ezekiel embraced the contradiction and Benjamin’s words can now inspire Ezekiel as the Kingdom enters a fight to keep the world he created.