The people of Alexandria are finally waking up to what the
world outside its wall is truly like. This week’s episode of The Walking Dead
focused on the aftermath of the Wolves raid and ramifications of the Walkers getting
out of the quarry and surrounding the town. Death is circling the people of
Alexandria and not many know how to deal or cope with what appears to be their
impending doom. The episode was slower paced and had less emotional impact than
any other installment of the year. It did not resonate as much as other
episodes due to the fact we have not gotten attached to the characters in the
town the way we have for the main group.
The big issue with tonight was there was no main story to
get behind. We had a bunch of side stories and one big reveal to tide us over
until we get back to the people who are outside the walls. The story followed a
few Alexandrians. We saw Deanna starting to process her grief. She goes from
hopeful to desperate in this episode. Deanna seems to want to let Rick take
over, but I’m not sure that is the best for the town overall. I’m not sure Rick
wants to take overall leadership for Deanna. She still needs to be the bridge
for the Alexandrians. Rick is still and outsider and is not accepted by
everyone. Deanna also had to deal with her son Spencer. He looked at one point
to be a noble person by stopping the townspeople from raiding the food pantry.
We found out later he was just selfish and wanted things to himself. Deanna
must come to grips with her son and the rest of the townspeople so she can help
lead them with Rick.
The other main Alexandrian we followed tonight was Jessie.
She had to clean-up the mess she made after killing the wolf in her house. We
saw her come to accept the life she is going to have to live in the new world. She
had a big speech during the middle of the episode which seemed forced into the
show. She just happens to walk by a house with a walker inside? She then kills
it and a crowd gathers instantaneously? It didn’t make much sense, but it gave
Jessie the opportunity to proclaim her revelations. I like her character and
the scene was acted well, but I think they could have found more natural way for
her to feelings known. We also saw at the end of the night that she accepted
Rick. Life for everyone is too short, and I think she realized why fight
something which feels right. It was an inevitable the two of them would get together.
I’m glad they did not string it along any further than in tonight’s episode.
What they did string along is Glenn’s status. Is he alive or
dead? I happen to think he’s dead. The
show can’t afford to have him alive. It would work against everything they have
established during the course of the first five seasons. They tricked me during
season two with Carol’s daughter, not this time. I hope they do not continue
the apparent mystery as long as they did in season two. During the end credits it
looked like we saw a brief picture of Glenn turning his head towards the
camera. I tried to pause and get a frame to see if it was him and if he was
turned into a walker, but I could never get it to pause to see a clear picture
of his face.
Maggie is obviously worried about Glenn. She decides to go
and look for him. Aaron decides to join her and they make a trip through the
sewers to get around the horde of walkers at the gates. This was the best story
and part of the episode tonight. The walker scare in the sewers was fantastic.
Those zombies were some of the best of the series. Maggie having to push it
away and have her hand go through the ribcage was gruesome. Shortly after this
event Maggie drops the obvious bombshell that she is pregnant. This was a clear
progression for Glenn and Maggie’s story. Glenn is “probably” dead and his
presence on the show will still be felt when the baby arrives.
All the other aspects of tonight’s episode were not engaging
or entertaining. It was an average episode overall. The first four have been
spectacular, so they are afforded one which doesn’t deliver on all
aspects. I think the main reason tonight
wasn’t as fulfilling is that we don’t relate to any of the people in
Alexandria. We want them to know and understand the current world, and they are
being dragged kicking and screaming into accepting it. Most of the people in
the town aren’t likeable. With a few
exceptions, Aaron, Jessie and Deanna all seem to have strong characters and
will add to the show. The rest are just cannon fodder. We probably aren’t
supposed to relate to them, so when they are lost we don’t truly care one way
or another.
Tonight’s episode seemed more filler than exceptional. We
got very little overall plot movement. We didn’t see Carol or Morgan. We don’t
know what is happening with the people leading the main horde of walkers away.
We don’t know what the other Wolves are planning. We needed this episode to
highlight some of the main characters in Alexandria. While I didn’t care for it
as much the previous weeks, it still served the purpose for the overall show.
What did you think of tonight’s episode? Where you underwhelmed
or think the character development of the Alexandrians well done? Comment and
let me know.
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