Sasha: Survivor

[Pete Martell]

I suppose the title is tempting fate, but it was once going to be "Sensible Sasha" until the idiot plotting a few episodes ago.

 

I've always liked Sasha. I almost didn't want to like her, because I was sure she was going to die. 98% sure during the virus story. She was there to be a supporting character we were sort of supposed to care about, but not care about too much. She was Tyreese's sister, and Tyreese was a main character, not her.

 

Somehow, here she still is, with her brother gone and her boyfriend gone. Standing over her brother's grave, numb and in shock, so worn down she could barely walk or stand up.

 

So many of Sasha's story beats take tropes normally associated with male characters in action and horror and drama, and turns them on their head. Her relationship with Bob in particular. And there's no real big heavy moment where they point this out. It just...is.

 

Sonequa Martin-Green is such an understated actress, but she always makes me feel everything Sasha is feeling. Small gestures and subtle moments that have a real impact. She's someone I likely wouldn't have seen before this show, as I don't watch Once Upon a Time, so I'm really happy to have been able to be introduced to her. 

 

I just hope they will not waste Sasha's potential and will build her character up further now that she's lost all of her past relationships. I hope we'll see more of her with Maggie, and I'd like to see her more of her relationship with Rick too.

[Too Late Kev]

I like Sasha a lot. The one time I thought she was acting like an idiot was when she left Bob (who continued on the tracks to find Maggie) with the plan of holing up on the top floor of an empty warehouse with no food to...build a society of one? Starve to death up high where there was a nice view of an ice cream truck? Be safe from zombies who (probably) don't climb stairs, but at the same time have no hiding place from gangs like Joe and the Merletones? I don't know -- it was kind of a "no plan" plan.

 

I would love it if she survives and we see a lot more of her. She has such great potential for good stories. I hope I haven't jinxed her. :/

[nodorothyparker]

I adore Sasha too.  Her monologue to Herschel in Internment that goes something like "I don't believe in luck.  I don't believe in fate.  I don't gamble.  I do the math," I think sums up her character very well.  I was pleasantly surprised when she didn't die from the zombie flu that conveniently only killed extras.

 

I wasn't really bothered much by her notion of wanting to settle in the warehouse instead of continuing to trudge along the tracks in what she obviously believed was a fool's errand of searching for Glenn or other prison survivors.  She was focused on their immediate need for shelter and not allowing her mind to go any further than that.  It was clear the idea quickly lost its appeal when she really contemplated staying there all by herself.

[BrokenRemote]

I have always been a big fan, but afraid to say anything for fear of jinxing her! I'm so pleasantly shocked that she's still hanging on, and us actually set up for some potential interesting survivor stories.

[kikismom]

I like Sasha very much, and I also think SMG is an underrated actress. She does do wonderful communication with her eyes. I liked the relationships she has with people, but I worry that she was introduced as a foil for the Bob and Tyreese characters so I hope they will have her continue with her own reasons to be there.

One of the few funny moments on this show, however, was with Tyreese. When they are atop the gate/barrier to Woodbury and he keeps trying to shoot that walker and keeps missing; the back-and-forth between the two was very believable as sibling one-up-manship.

[Portia]

I've been following Sonequa's career for years because I'm friends with her sister, and it absolutely thrills my soul that she has not only appeared on one of my favorite shows but also has managed to stay alive all this time! I thought for sure she'd be killed off right away to make Tyreese more sympathetic. I'm looking forward to seeing Sasha relate more to the characters who are not her brother and boyfriend. And would it be too much to ask for SMG's name to be moved up to the opening credits?

[Ocean Chick]

I've liked Sasha from the first.  I like seeing intelligent, capable women on screen - women who can take care of themselves and don't rely on a man to save them.  Characters like those aren't shown often enough.

[editorgrrl]

I like Sasha a lot. The one time I thought she was acting like an idiot was when she left Bob (who continued on the tracks to find Maggie) with the plan of holing up on the top floor of an empty warehouse with no food to...build a society of one? Starve to death up high where there was a nice view of an ice cream truck? Be safe from zombies who (probably) don't climb stairs, but at the same time have no hiding place from gangs like Joe and the Merletones? I don't know -- it was kind of a "no plan" plan.

 

I thought Sasha was an idiot when she let Sgt. Bob Lamson get the jump on her. (The double-cross in season 5, episode 7, "Crossed.") I was convinced the cop was going to kill Tyreese (who was a dead man walking to me after the Martin incident). She still lost her brother, but not as a result of her own stupidity.

 

I think Sonequa Martin-Green said on Talking Dead that her backstory for Sasha is that she was a firefighter.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Now this Sasha, truly is FIERCE!!!

[RedheadZombie]

I thought Sasha was an idiot when she let Sgt. Bob Lamson get the jump on her. (The double-cross in season 5, episode 7, "Crossed.") I was convinced the cop was going to kill Tyreese (who was a dead man walking to me after the Martin incident). She still lost her brother, but not as a result of her own stupidity..

 

I'm convinced that the cop got the jump on Sasha by lying about his name.  What Sasha did was stupid, but the guy also fooled Rick -  who would be much more experienced at reading people and their intentions.  Bob's loss was too fresh, and this cop was able to manipulate that grief and sucker punch them.

 

I've been following Sonequa's career for years because I'm friends with her sister, and it absolutely thrills my soul that she has not only appeared on one of my favorite shows but also has managed to stay alive all this time! I thought for sure she'd be killed off right away to make Tyreese more sympathetic. I'm looking forward to seeing Sasha relate more to the characters who are not her brother and boyfriend. And would it be too much to ask for SMG's name to be moved up to the opening credits?

 

I like Sasha, and I like that she was (ultimately) stronger than her brother and boyfriend.  I loved Tyreese, but he didn't have what it takes.  And Bob had already given up on life before Daryl found him, and recklessly allowed himself to be snatched by the Termites.  Sasha is strong mentally and physically, and I want her to interact more with Maggie, who also just lost her weaker sibling.  I wonder if her screen time will be increased now that she's had her baby.

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

Sasha is the bomb.  She's tough, sarcastic, and even when hacking up bad people psychotically she looks pretty hot.  Hopefully she moves past her grief quickly enough to not carelessly endanger herself and others anymore.

 

 

This might be a fairly unpopular opinion with the rest of the fandom, but if I could be the one to pick a "romantic" partner - even if just briefly - for Rick, it'd be Sasha.  I'd prefer as little 'visible' romance on TWD as possible, but if did have Rick go there with someone, I'd prefer Sasha (or Rosita, if Abe is 'offed' before her) vs Michonne.  For some (stupid?) reason, I think they (either combo) would do OK together.

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

Thanks for playing to my Rasha shipper preference, Show! 

 

The scene at the beginning of Remember where he sees the walker in the distance and only says her name.  She takes it out and then gives Rick a sultry look that says "You know I'll do anything you want.  Just say my name, baby."  And then the eye sex she was giving him when he came down the stairs in the faux-Sheriff's uni?  .......

 

What?  It didn't really happen that way??   Shut up.  I can dream if I want to.

[BrokenRemote]

Thank you for shipping sanely and admitting your interpretation of that scene might, just might, be the tiniest bit biased :). Sasha fans are awesome!

I would like to see Sasha find some kind of peace and happiness. And a better wig. She's so beautiful but that wig does nothing for her.

[editorgrrl]

The preview shown during Talking Dead was sharpshooting Sasha. There was no dialog, but I speculate she shares Carl & Carol's fear of growing weak. Or maybe it has to do with her new job?

The weird thing is she was using framed family photos for targets. Chez Rick, the frames were all empty.

[BrokenRemote]

Maybe they were 'came with the frame' families.

Probably people that used to live in one of the houses. But it seems a weird choice for target practice. Surely if they think inside that they're rebuilding society won't they want those?

[Nashville]

Maybe they were 'came with the frame' families.

Probably people that used to live in one of the houses. But it seems a weird choice for target practice. Surely if they think inside that they're rebuilding society won't they want those?

I never really considered "came with the frame" pics to be part of the essential societal infrastructure - but hey, maybe that's just me. ;)

[kikismom]

Eugene will have one on the wall of his room.

 

"That's my wife...Morgan Fairchild...who I have sex with..."

[ghoulina]

I'm a total weirdo, but I didn't think it was target practice. I thought she was purposefully sent out there by Deanna to shoot up those specific photos. Maybe people they kicked out?

[BrokenRemote]

I never really considered "came with the frame" pics to be part of the essential societal infrastructure - but hey, maybe that's just me. ;)

 

Hahaa!  You know, some of those old traditions like wishing your family looked as good as the 'Came With the Frames"--you miss 'em when they're gone!

 

(I meant the frames!  Someone might want them down the road if they can figure out how to take decent photos of people :P)

I never really considered "came with the frame" pics to be part of the essential societal infrastructure - but hey, maybe that's just me. ;)

 

Hahaa!  You know, some of those old traditions like wishing your family looked as good as the 'Came With the Frames"--you miss 'em when they're gone!

 

(I meant the frames!  Someone might want them down the road if they can figure out how to take decent photos of people :P)

I'm a total weirdo, but I didn't think it was target practice. I thought she was purposefully sent out there by Deanna to shoot up those specific photos. Maybe people they kicked out?

 

Ooh, now that is stone-solid cold.  But awesome.

[Nashville]

I'm a total weirdo, but I didn't think it was target practice. I thought she was purposefully sent out there by Deanna to shoot up those specific photos. Maybe people they kicked out?

Maybe their exile procedure is framed as part of the audition:

"Ok, Sasha, here's your part of the audition. There's five pictures of faces hung up out in the woods; you have five bullets to take them all out in ten minutes. Go!"

<walk> <walk> <walk>

<BLAM> <BLAM> <BLAM> <BLAM> <BLAM>

<walk back> <walk back> <walk back>

"Ok, I did it."

<silence>

"Uh, guys? Somebody want to open the gate so I can get back in...?"

<more silence>

"Well, shit."

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

Eugene will have one on the wall of his room.

 

"That's my wife...Morgan Fairchild...who I have sex with..."

 

A photo of Morgan Fairchild came with the frame.  Eugene came on the frame.

[kikismom]

A photo of Morgan Fairchild came with the frame.  Eugene came on the frame.

Eeeeuuuuwgene!

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

Cmon Sasha.  I like you, a lot.  Please tone down the 'crazy' a bit.  If not for me, then for everyone else. 

 

Oh, and Spencer.  You better bounce, son.  She is Rick's property (even if neither of them realize it yet).

[Portia]

Thank you for shipping sanely and admitting your interpretation of that scene might, just might, be the tiniest bit biased :). Sasha fans are awesome!

I would like to see Sasha find some kind of peace and happiness. And a better wig. She's so beautiful but that wig does nothing for her.

I don't know anything about wigs, granted, but I have always assumed that's Sonequa's natural hair...? That's definitely her widow's peak. Edited March 9, 2015 by Portia

[Pete Martell]

I was reading the AV Club review, and right at the top was a long complaint about how viewers know nothing about Sasha but that she's a "black woman" who lost her brother and boyfriend.

 

This upset me, both because her race was mentioned for no reason (do you know Abraham as "that white man who lost his wife and children"?), but because I feel like Sasha is one of the new characters of the last few seasons that I've always understood and known, even when she had minimal POV or purpose. I've always connected to her, always believed her. I can understand why some fans would be tired of her current story, tired of more PTSD, but I don't mind seeing Sasha struggle with this, as long as there's a way for her to learn and grow. Sasha is such a unique character in her relationships and experiences, and she's also still a character with fresh potential.

 

I also see some fans who act like she's taking up airtime from other people or she's irrelevant, as if she's just all over the screen. 

 

Characters like Sasha are why I'm still watching the show. 

 

PS, I hope she gets to bond a little with Spencer before he inevitably dies horribly.

Edited March 10, 2015 by Pete Martell

[ghoulina]

I don't see how we know nothing about Sasha. We know just as much about her previous life as we do a handful of other characters on this show. We know she and Tyrese were holed up in a neighbor's bunker until they ran out of food. Then they were with a group that got decimated slowly, until they entered the prison with that dude, his dying wife, and their son. We know she's the younger sister, but the bossier one. The tougher, more level-headed one. 

 

She just lost two people back-to-back, her boyfriend and her brother. It makes sense that no only would she be teetering on the edge of insanity right now, but also that the show would devote some time to her and what she's going through. I find it interesting, because Maggie almost had a similar loss - losing her father and sister in a short time period. But she is having a very different reaction to being in ASZ. She seems to be quite ready to put outside behind them and acclimate. Whereas Sasha seems to think this town is a joke. So I like having those different perspectives. 

[nodorothyparker]

I really don't know what to make of some of the reviews on the AV Club sometimes.  That one bothered me too.  

 

Aside from Rick, name any successful character on this show whose characterization didn't unfold slowly over seasons.  Sasha is the last one to have been introduced (all the way back in season 3) who I feel like I really know and always have a pretty good idea where she's coming from.  Sonequa kind of broke my heart a little in this past episode with her meltdown at the party because she did so thoroughly sell me on the disconnect our gang are seeing in the ASZ with what they've been living, even more so than the showier and more time consuming (yet still well done) breakdown I believe Rick is having. 

[editorgrrl]

Sonequa kind of broke my heart a little in this past episode with her meltdown at the party because she did so thoroughly sell me on the disconnect our gang are seeing in the ASZ with what they've been living, even more so than the showier and more time consuming (yet still well done) breakdown I believe Rick is having.

I totally understood Sasha snapping at the mixer. Her brother died a week ago—he was thisclose to making it to safety. Rick was batshit crazy after Lori died—can you imagine if he'd been plunked in the middle of a party with potato puffs on toothpicks and freshly baked cookies?!

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

I totally understood Sasha snapping at the mixer. Her brother died a week ago—he was thisclose to making it to safety. Rick was batshit crazy after Lori died—can you imagine if he'd been plunked in the middle of a party with potato puffs on toothpicks and freshly baked cookies?!

 

Well shit, now you make me wish that had happened!  Dang, that would have been glorious to watch!

Edited March 11, 2015 by iRarelyWatchTV36

[kikismom]

I like Sasha very much.

Perhaps the way she was created for the show saved her from being trapped in a comic image (amazing that the same show can have Abe Rosita and Eugene strike a pose like the comic book cover. It has taken months for those characters to begin to overcome that. And we know who Carl and Michonne are ---we didn't need them to keep wearing that hat and that vest for years.).

 

I agree about the way the character unfolds; she has been revealed in little scenarios and that is more natural to me.

She has also been about more than her brother and her boyfriend.

How funny that I've tried all week to get some posters to consider giving a character a chance when we haven't seen much of them, and maybe female characters aren't solely defined by the men around them. The one thing I liked about the abbreviated trip to DC was that Rosita finally started getting some lines. She filtered water. She brought up how many people had died on the way from Houston, she confronted Abraham, she was a person not just the Short Shorts Bunny who just existed for Abraham to screw.

 

I am very unhappy with Deanna just seeing Sasha in such a state and letting her go out the gates armed and I'm feeling like maybe it is a set-up?

I know I am paranoid about ASZ but if you have a camp and new people come in and one is obviously distraught by the community and dealing with a lot of torment ...would you be fine with them taking a gun and disappearing alone?

 

Would CDB have been okay with that at the farm or the prison? Or even at the church?---I just can't see Rick or any of them thinking "yeah go out alone and in emotional/mental distress and take a gun".

 

 

Well shit, now you make me wish that had happened!  Dang, that would have been glorious to watch!

Yeah! It would have been nice to see Rick howling on the floor of the prison and Herschel saying "Rick, take a potato puff. Because you're not you when you're grieving."

Edited March 12, 2015 by kikismom

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

I think CDB got a big 'are you f'ing serious!?'  eye opener with the whole "we don't have lookouts".  Both Rick and Sasha were 'say what now?!' when Deanna told them that.

 

That's either the biggest lie that ever lied, or the ASZhats are about as soft as the gooey center of a roasted marshmallow.

Edited March 12, 2015 by iRarelyWatchTV36

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

Sasha showing she is a forward thinker.  Why waste materials?, she asks.  When you can repurpose dead undead bodies as lounge chairs and reclining deck chairs??   She's a bit unsure about how to market them as beds though.... the constant very nasty smell might hamper a good full night's rest.  An open-air environment would work best for such R&R 'furniture'.