horror

Episode Title: Conquer
Original Airdate: 3-29-15

I was afraid I might be writing this post with tears splashing down my face. Alas, the season finale wasn’t as heartbreaking as Norman Reedus forewarned, but it was still an intense 90 minutes.

As I hoped last week, Morgan returned, and for much more than a post credits stinger scene. After disarming two scavengers calling themselves the Wolves, who happen to be the ones behind the ominous W’s seen carved into various Walkers’ foreheads over the past few episodes, Morgan makes it clear he is no longer insane and has become a ninja. Daryl and Aaron are tracking a guy in a red poncho for potential recruitment when they lose him, but find an abandoned food warehouse. Upon opening one truck to load up on supplies, a trap (which we later find out was set by the Wolves) is released and multiple trucks open to reveal at least a hundred Walkers. The pair take refuge in a tiny car, with little hope of escape, but as Daryl is prepared to make a run for it to give Aaron a fighting chance, Morgan shows up and saves them both.

Continue reading The Walking Dead S:05 E:16

Episode Title: Try
Original Airdate: 3-22-15

There wasn’t quite as much happening this week, as last week’s events were absorbed and next week’s finale was set up. Deanna and her family mourn the loss of Aiden, on the heels of Father Gabriel’s warning. Deanna also interviews Nicholas about what transpired on the ill-fated run, but he lies, as we all knew he would, to make himself look like a defeated hero and the others traitors, while Glenn tells Rick what really happened. Michonne and Rosita track down Sasha, who’s running through Alexandria’s surrounding woods hunting down Walkers. Daryl and Aaron are out at night and see a light in the distance, but find disturbing signs including severed body parts near the place the next day. Carl and Enid, another new Alexandria recruit, frolic through the woods together, being angsty teenagers. And, finally, things escalate when Rick attacks Pete over beating Jessie, which Deanna has known about but ignored because Pete is Alexandria’s only doctor.

Continue reading The Walking Dead S:05 E:15

Episode Title: Spend
Original Airdate: 3-15-15

A lot happened this week, setting up what will probably be two very intense final episodes of the season. Abraham is put on a construction crew to gather materials to expand the wall around Alexandria, during which the crew is attacked by Walkers. The foreman wants to abandon one of his fallen crew, but Abraham risks everything to save her. At the end of the day the foreman resigns and tells Deanna to put Abraham in charge. Meanwhile, Jessie’s son Sam, whom Carol threatened last week, follows her around, begging for more cookies, but Carol realizes he’s after more, like a gun for protection from his father. Carol mentions this to Rick and determines that the only way to handle a guy like Pete (Jessie’s husband, an abusive drunk) is to kill him.

Continue reading The Walking Dead S:05 E:14

Episode Title: Forget
Original Airdate: 3-8-15

Just when I thought we’d be taken down the dark alleys of Alexandria, instead we glimpsed the true darkness of our beloved group. As everyone tries to acclimate to life in their newest settlement, Rick, Daryl and Carol decide to get their guns back, “just in case,” and a party thrown by the town leader is the perfect distraction to do so. Deanna outlines her plans (hopes, more like) for Alexandria to Rick, Michonne and Maggie, which include government and industrialization someday. Daryl goes hunting with Aaron, and as the two get to know each other better, Daryl actually decides to try to make a life in the new town. At the party, Rick decides to get a little too friendly with the married Jessie, after, you know, two days in Alexandria, while Carol becomes every kid’s, and parent’s, worst nightmare.

Continue reading The Walking Dead S:05 E:13

Episode Title: Remember
Original Airdate: 3-1-15

This week’s episode finally starts pushing the story forward a little bit, as things have almost been at a standstill since the mid-season premiere. The group has arrived at Alexandria, a planned, heavily gated community run by a former Congresswoman that seems to have all the luxuries, including running water and electricity. Most of the residents haven’t been on the outside since the apocalypse began and have no clue what real survival is. After one-on-one interviews with Deanna, the leader, the group is GIVEN two large houses that they can spread out in, and jobs within the community. However, everyone is very cautious and continues to remain together for the time being. And even after showers and a set of clean clothes, they find it very difficult to “take it easy.”

Continue reading The Walking Dead S:05 E:12

Episode Title: The Distance
Original Airdate: 2/22/15

Since I saw very few Oscar nominated films of 2014, I took no issue skipping most of last night’s ceremony to catch my regular Sunday night addictions. Alas, this is no place for a Downton Abbey recap, so on to The Walking Dead. Newcomer Aaron is brought back to the barn by Maggie and Sasha as the group recovers from the previous night’s storm. Aaron wants Rick & Co. to journey with him to his safe community, promising all sorts of luxuries, like food, shelter and security. However, after the severe burn of places like Woodbury and Terminus, Rick is skeptical. In the end he consents, but makes the group take the dangerous route, by night, fearing a trap, which in turn causes more trouble from a boatload of Walkers in the dark. But the next morning the entire group, plus Aaron and his partner Eric, arrive safely at the gates.

Continue reading The Walking Dead S:05 E:11