Warning: Spoilers ahead. If you are not up to date, abort immediately.
The Walking Dead, now in its 5th season has returned strongly after a mid season break. Immediately, the season 5b (back half) episodes so far have had colossal impacts on survivors. The mid-season 5 finale, “Coda” saw the departure of Beth (played by actress Emily Kinney) much to the despair of sister Maggie (Lauren Cohan), Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), the group, and many viewers.
Warning: Spoilers ahead. If you are not up to date, abort immediately.
The Walking Dead, now in its 5th season has returned strongly after a mid season break. Immediately, the season 5b (back half) episodes so far have had colossal impacts on survivors. The mid-season 5 finale, “Coda” saw the departure of Beth (played by actress Emily Kinney) much to the despair of sister Maggie (Lauren Cohan), Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), the group, and many viewers.
After giving viewers 3 months to mourn, The Walking Dead returned with its first episode of 5b; What’s Happened and What’s Going On. Opening with what appears to be a funeral service for Beth, a big misdirection, as the episode flashes backwards and ultimately shocks viewers wWhat’s Happened and What’s Going On.ith the reveal of Tyrese’s death. This marks the first time in the show’s history where two main characters are killed off in back-to-back episodes; however, it is a beautiful tribute to the character, and is very much about who the man was and what he stood for.
The next episode, Them, deals with the aftermath of previous episodes’s deaths and the looming dangers of hunger and dehydration. Maggie mourns the loss of Beth while Sasha becomes reckless over the loss of everything she knew with both Bob and Tyrese dead. Daryl copes with his feelings with self injury and is noticeably becoming detached once more. The episode ends with some resolution for the characters, as Maggie and Sasha bond over their shared sorrow. At the episode’s closing seconds, a new figure emerges and introduces himself as Aaron (who comic readers will immediately recognize).
The most recent episode at the time of this post was February 22nd’s The Distance which deals with Rick’s hesitation to trust Aaron (Ross Marquand). Promising a safe site for the group to join, Aaron also reveals that he has been scouting the group for a very long time. The seemingly helpful and compliant Aaron was reminiscent of the shows 2 bigger villains. Rick is naturally doubtful, who by this point has learned his lesson with the Governor and Gareth – both of whom were seemingly sincere and promising safe havens (Woodbury and Terminus) but were eventually found to be much more sinister. Through a bit more proof that he meant what he said, the compromise is set to take an alternate route instead of Aaron’s proposed one (which might be littered with traps). The group is separated for a brief moment before reuniting, in which Aaron finds his partner Eric (Jordan Woods-Robinson), who has been lost for the duration of the episode. A tender scene reveals the two as boyfriends, ushering in The Walking Dead‘s first gay characters. The episode draws to a close at the group’s arrival at Alexandria, the community that Aaron and Eric is from. Rick still seems slightly uncertain until we hear a sound that hasn’t been heard on the show: the sound of children laughing, and not in the creepy “I’m gonna stab you in the face” kind of way. With renewed hope, we close out with the group preparing to enter the gates of Alexandria.
The Walking Dead continues this Sunday at 9/8c with Season 5, Episode 12 “Remember”
The Walking Dead‘s season 5 finale will be directed by Greg Nicotero. The show starts as usual at 9/8c but will push into 10:30/9:30c, after which Talking Dead with the Nerdist’s Chris Hardwick will start.
Source: AMC
