Sunday, February 22, 2015

THE WALKING DEAD 5.11

THE DISTANCE


In an interview about the second half of their fifth season, Andrew Lincoln who portrays the iconic Rick Grimes, stated that the rest of the season will be intense. Those levels are being tested for sure! Last week's episode left us with a new character, Aaron whom introduces himself to the girls (Maggie and Sasha) who bring him back to the barn. No time is wasted, The ladies introduce Aaron and there is a fury of activity, everyone is on high alert, and rightly so. They've been through so much, they've survived Woodbury and The Governor; they've survived Terminus, cannibalism, and crazy cops; they're still grieving over the loss of beloved family members. Would you trust Aaron?


This is exactly what Michonne has been discussing with Rick and Glenn, she knows that they need to stop, and she's right. They've been fighting and surviving for too long. In this episode Rick and Michonne have a lot of great scenes together discussing their different perspectives. Rick wants to keep moving, Michonne wants to find some sanity. Rick doesn't trust Aaron and Michonne wants to. I really think Rick is just trying his hardest to keep his family together and alive. They've gone through so much trauma, he's desperately clinging to his survival instincts. Andrew does an amazing job (as always) in portraying the complexity of Rick and the challenges of leading the group. One scene that really shocked me (and I had totally forgotten in the comics) was Rick punching Aaron. To me, it's understandable, he has so much pent up anger and so much more, and yet here we go again, another stranger (to him) is threatening his family WHAM! His paranoia reaches a new level "They're coming for us!"

Rick interrogates Aaron and it is intense. I've read the comics, from what I remember I believe we can trust Aaron (or at least the community he comes from basically), but you never know what AMC is going to bring to the table. Rick's being extra cautious and Aaron suggests taking one route (that's been cleared) but Rick says they'll take another route. I think it is because his past is leading him, when he's talking to Aaron maybe he's seeing The Governor or the other "bad" characters they've met along the way. Because he's being so cautious though, he's coming off (to me) as being sort of an ass. But, if that's what it takes for his family to survive, then so be it.

They finally decide to go to Alexandria, Aaron's community that he wants to take them to and become a part of. Rick, Michonne, Glenn, and Aaron head out in the car Aaron told them about, while the rest of the group pile in an RV. On the road, Michonne starts a conversation with Aaron since they're sitting together in the back and he tells her to look at his pictures he has of Alexandria (so people will believe them). She looks through the pictures and has a realization "Where are all your people?" She's alarmed and asks Rick "Did you ask the questions?" The alert level elevates slightly, if Michonne's alarmed we should all be worried. So they ask the questions:
How many walkers have you killed?
How many people?
Why?

This scene is short-lived as they PLOW through a herd of Walkers! Glenn floors it, the RV with everyone else turns and escapes. Meanwhile the car that they're in is absolutely covered in blood, "stuff & thangs" they stop the car to see if the RV is behind them, and when they go to start it back up it won't start. There is a flare in the air and Aaron absolutely freaks and escapes. Michonne, Rick, and Glenn head out to fight through the herd with no other options. I can't tell you how irritated I get when the group splits up! The intensity levels are high at this point! Glenn is always the warrior survivor that he is, he fights off walkers on his own after getting separated from Rick and Michonne. When Glenn comes upon Aaron who is defenseless and fighting off a Walker, he has to make that decision to save him or walk away... especially since he was saying for the past few episodes how he's changed, really he hasn't, he's still an amazing character (one of my favorites).


When the four of them are reunited they make their way toward the flare and are reunited with the rest of the group and another new character "Eric", who we know is Aaron's partner. Glenn has a great moment later in the episode that reminds us of earlier days with Dale. Seeing them together seems to ease some of Rick's doubts, but not entirely. Michonne and Rick had another great scene at some point where they discuss what they heard outside of Woodbury and Terminus, Rick knows that he can't be definitive until he is in front of the gates, then he'll decide whether or not to go in. When they arrive at the gates of Alexandria, there's a few seconds where Rick is sitting in the car and you think things are about to get crazy, and then he hears the children playing and the episode ends with them in front of the gates.

Overall, an excellent episode. If you love the Rick'tatorship then you'll be very pleased with The Distance. I always watch Talking Dead after the episodes air (I love this show) and I agree with the host (Chris Hardwick) that you don't want to be the moral compass in the show - the moral compasses die! Reading the comics I'm terrified what's coming along with Alexandria. There was another scene that I thought was interesting too, when Rick takes a moment and hides a gun. Just like he did before Terminus, he's just thinking ahead and preparing. At the end of the episode there is a scene when Carol comes up to Rick and says "Even though you were wrong, you're still right" she means that even though he was wrong about being trapped or ambushed, he was right to be so cautious.

Sneak Peek "Remember"








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