The Walking Dead season 11, episode 11 recap: Rogue Elements

Who would have thought that The Commonwealth was more than it seemed, and no that’s not a compliment? The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 11 “Rogue Elements” pulls audiences in several different directions but actually leads to a pretty cohesive conclusion by the end of the episode.

All the same, let’s begin!

The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 11 recap – Stephanie’s Disappearance

The episode begins with Eugene and Stephanie, as he anxiously awaits her reaction to his science fiction novel. She seems to like it, they kiss, Eugene gives a key to his apartment and they agree to meet for ice cream later.

The Princess, excited for Eugene, is happy to hear the direction his relationship is going but alas Stephanie does not show. When he goes to her apartment that evening, she doesn’t answer and we see her hastily packing her things.

Eugene tries to figure out what is going on and can only conclude that she disappeared and The Commonwealth is covering it up. The Princess reluctantly decides to help him, and the two break into a man’s apartment.

But he’s not any man. Eugene saw him leaving the apartment the night he wanted to check in on Stephanie.

Supposedly he’s a plumber, works for a plumbing company but yet his and other’s actions, Eugene noticed, at the company seem nefarious at best. The two are of course caught, after spotting a weapons stash under his bed.

Lance Hornsby, who has been galavanting with Carol, checking in an opium farm that he claims is for medicine at the hospital all episode (seriously how can anyone trust this man), reassures Eugene and The Princess that nothing is wrong and makes him sign paperwork so that charges won’t be pressed.

Eugene still refuses to believe any of it, even after The Princess tries to explain that Stephanie probably and unfortunately broke up with him. Eugene double checks his wall of evidence and one particular building seems to grab his attention.

The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 11 recap – Connie and Kelly’s Investigation

Ever since the incident at the masquerade party, Connie has wanted to talk more about Tyler Davis. A lot of the details that were released about what happened and who he is are not adding up.

However, the newspaper has been instructed not to and instead cover more about Mercer and The Commonwealth soldiers. Frustrated Connie and Kelly attempt to visit Tyler at the hospital but he is surrounded by soldiers, one of which is Mercer.

Connie doesn’t find Mercer trustworthy just yet as she feels that the soldiers and politicians are working together. During the exercise Connie and Kelly are instructed to cover, Mercer saves a soldier from almost getting killed by walkers.

Connie decides to him about Tyler Davis where we find out Pamela Milton’s secretary is his sister. However, Mercer can’t provide her with much information.

But he makes it apparent that he’s on her side of the matter and chooses to avoid trouble by sticking to the program. Does this mean Connie trusts now?

After Mercer returns he visits Tyler’s room at the hospital and finds it empty (already we can see where this is going). When he asks the nurse she gives him short and rather snobbish answers resulting in Mercer punching a hole through a wall!

Tyler was purposely removed while Mercer was gone, but who moved him and where is he now? In the end, Connie decides to print the article Mrs. Milton wanted while Kelly reassures her that they don’t have to stay permanently at The Commonwealth.

Suddenly a knock on the door interrupts them! No one is there but what is, is a folded piece of paper with a list of names.

The last name on the list is Tyler Davis. What could this mean?

The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 11 recap – The Plot Twist

Eugene ventures to the building at night and is attacked by none other than Stephanie, or should we say Shira. Yes, Stephanie was never ‘the’ Stephanie Eugene had spoken to through the radio, which was pretty obvious but the revelation breaks Eugene’s heart.

Lance Hornsby, of course, is there too and Eugene just lets everything out in one, giant, speech that in all honesty should give Josh McDermitt an Emmy Nomination! But Lance doesn’t care that Eugene will tell everyone what happened.

He encourages it and reminds him how The Commonwealth has been a godsend for his friends. Feeling utterly defeated, Eugene burns the evidence and his manuscript when the real Stephanie arrives.

And it was Pamela Milton’s secretary all along! Also pretty obvious but still, very relieving to see that Eugene can finally meet the real woman of his dreams.

The Walking Dead Season 11, Episode 11 review

To be honest, the episode does take a rather different turn than what audiences are used to. The last community that seemed to be hiding something was Woodbury and only Michonne was intuitive enough to notice.

The fact that there is probably more going on at The Commonwealth than anyone is letting on isn’t shocking, it’s honestly rather sad. While you’d think folks like Lance Hornsby could easily manipulate our survivors and crush their fighting spirit, he’s actually giving them a reason to fight back.

Eugene specifically has been bossed around and tormented by others who are often bigger, stronger, and more powerful than himself. But Eugene has changed and he’s not going to bow down anymore, nor should he.

It was rather confusing how he couldn’t figure out Shira wasn’t Stephanie the entire time, considering his intellect. Regardless, what Lance isn’t expecting is how deeply connected and loyal our survivors are.

Maybe this was a bigger plan all along? To ‘help’ rebuild Alexandria, have some survivors stay at The Commonwealth, all the while keeping them separated. Some will want to stay at Alexandria whereas others will want to stay at The Commonwealth.

His only real outside threat is taken care of, mission accomplished. But before I am fully convinced of that theory, I’ll need to see what happens in the next episode.

What did you think of The Walking Dead Season 11, Episode 11? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 12 airs on March 13, 2022.