The premise of episode 11.17 titled "Lockdown": Daryl and Negan rush to the commonwealth to stop Hornsby from going after their families. Pamela deals with protesters demanding justice for Sebastian's crimes. Mercer needs Rosita's help to fight a swarm. This episode contains some brilliant editing, transitions and pacing. Julia Ruchman penned the script for 11.17 and I have only good things about her work in this episode, the overall writing was brilliant and the dialogue felt right. Overseen by Angela Kang, the writing for this episode is consistent of the previous episodes in Part 1 and 2 if not better. The episode uses the big budget wisely, making it brilliant both technically and the acting and so on, the camera work are brilliant and visually a great episode, an overall impressive production. This is also the first episode of Part 3 and honestly, everything just looks better like they got a much bigger budget to work with and I loved the extended intro sequence.
Greg Nicotero directed "Lockdown" and honestly I don't think he have directed one single bad episode in the entire series run, 11.17 is no different as there are superb drama full with suspension and tension. There are so many great scenes in this episode and there's not one single bad performance throughout the entire episode. Scenes that are beautifully shot, scenes that are acted with such brilliance, and every other department and people working on the episode, terrific work. The close ups used, the attention to detail and all the shots in the nature, they nailed it on the camera side of things. The cinematography is once again breathtaking and incredible, just right for the show, the way it was shot and so on, simply brilliant. The sets were detailed and perfect, and so are the art and production design. I also found the effects to be fantastic in this episode, practical effects always makes it so more real, and The Walking Dead is known for their practical effects and they didn't let us down for this episode. Superb sound design and a musical score both gripping and dramatic. It's one of many things on the technical side of things that the show succeeds perfectly with.
"Lockdown" has lots of things that fans of The Walking Dead will like. It's the mid-season premiere of S11C and I anticipated it to be big and it was, building upon the events of the previous episode and thus giving us a memorable and brilliant episode, an action packed one. There were lots of things happening in this episode and no performances truly stood out but I found Josh Hamilton as Lance Hornsby and Michael James Shaw as Mercer to be among the best. But honestly, it was so great to see almost everyone of the cast in the episode, though they didn't get much screen time they were not ignored and I like that. But the action in this episode, the gore and violence, Greg Nicotero directed the hell out of this episode. Simply brilliant.
I hope S11C will be great, it sure started off strong, but I have one criticism in this episode and it's how the Commonwealth soldiers are dumbed down pretty immensely which I didn't feel on quite the same level before. I also got a feeling this story arc will be rushed, but I hope not. "Lockdown" was a great episode of TWD.