Walking Dead flashback: Morgan's breaking point in 'Bury Me Here'

"Bury Me Here" is the thirteenth episode of the seventh season of The Walking Dead, and likely not a fan favorite, despite containing at least one key event. The episode primarily focuses on the Kingdom, a community led by King Ezekiel (Khary Payton).

By this point, King Ezekiel seems to be less King-like, seeming to dread the idea of what happens next as much as anyone else. Still, practically speaking, the main character in this episode is Morgan Jones (Lennie James), who has been living in the Kingdom and trying to maintain a non-violent philosophy influenced by his previous experiences.

A 'melon drop' changes the Walking Dead universe

The Walking Dead episode begins with a routine drop-off of supplies from the Kingdom to the Saviors. However, things go awry when a melon is missing from the shipment, and this leads to a tense situation. Benjamin, a young resident of the Kingdom, is shot by a Savior during the confrontation, right around the time the character's presence was becoming more noticeable on the show! Despite efforts to save him, Benjamin ultimately dies from his injuries.

This event has a significant impact on Morgan, who had formed a bond with the young man. The loss of Benjamin pushes Morgan to his breaking point, to the point where he is more impulsive than heroic. His struggle with his own violent tendencies resurfaces (especially highlighted in The Walking Dead episode "He's Not Here"), and he experiences a mental breakdown. So, really, this episode shows how drastically people's lives and mentalities can change based on their mental health and "trigger events."

Morgan's breakdown

Seemingly, Morgan also realizes that he needs to take a more proactive and aggressive stance against the Saviors to protect the people he cares about. However, at this point in the series, it's debatable to what extent he's thinking his actions through or if he truly wants to rebuild society more peacefully anymore. The episode also features Carol, who had been living in isolation but is brought back into the fold of the larger group's struggles.

She learns about the events at the Kingdom and the toll it took on Morgan. "Bury Me Here," the title of the episode, refers to a request made by Richard, a member of the Kingdom, who had a plan to sacrifice himself in an attempt to provoke a conflict with the Saviors. However, Morgan's breakdown and the death of Benjamin alter the course of events, calling into question he abilities of various characters to adequately make decisions. The events in "Bury Me Here" mark a turning point for Morgan's character, pushing him to reassess his commitment to non-violence in the harsh reality of the post-apocalyptic world.

The episode also explores the consequences of interactions with the Saviors and the toll it takes on the characters' lives in the new world order, and how things have changed since the episode "Last Day on Earth."

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