For the fifth time our favorite post-apocalyptic gang was back, and boy were they back in style! This season was in many ways a return to format for the show, which unfortunately had stagnated a bit with almost two entire seasons revoling around the life the gang had build for themselves in the prison. This season however, had more zombies, more action and a lot more frequent character deaths than we have seen previously. I will not stagnate though, so on with the review!
Season 5 came out guns blazing (literally - courtesy of Carol) when the group managed to escape their execution at the hands of the cannibals of Terminus. The end of the previous season and the fifth season premeire set the tone for, not only the season, but perhaps the rest of the show: there is no safe haven! With this setup, the show managed to reclaim that sense of hopelessness that the first two seasons so beautifully conveyed. This theme was expanded upon with the first major death of the season: Bob. Bob was, since his introduction, shown to be the ever optimistic guy in the eyes of both the group and the audience. And with a world so messed up as the one on The Walking Dead, a lighthearted optimist is a welcoming sight indeed. Even when he saw his severed leg being eaten by the survivors of Terminus, lead by Gareth, he managed to laugh in the face of his enemies, that they were eating tainted meat (it was revealed that Bob had been bitten, but hadn't told anybody). With his death another huge blow was dealt to the groups moral.
A further push towards the feeling of hopelessness comes in the form of Eugene's confession. He revealed that he did not know a cure for the virus and the whole notion of "Getting to Washington" was nothing more than a hoax by Eugene to get Abraham to save him and keep him safe. After this huge reveal all my predictions about how the season would unfold were quickly put to rest!
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| Daryl burdened by the death of Beth |
Finally the last nail in the coffin of hoplessness came when Beth died right in front of Rick and the others. Ever since the last part of season 4, we had wondered what had happened to her, after she got picked up by the car with the white cross. Her storyline in this season showcased, how good people commit horrible things with the best of intentions. Dawn was in many ways a scarier character than the Gorvernor, with her cold eyes, her constant abuse of her staff at the hospital, and because she in a
way reminded the audience of a female version of Rick Grimes, had he continued on such a psychotic path. Even though Beth did her best on her own, and tried to change things for the better, in the end she died by Dawn's hands, in the middle of a trade between her and the group that came to rescue her. The moment of the gunshot was so sudden that I nearly fell down my couch. It was so emotional to see the last glimmer of hope the group had burst like a bubble, when Daryl carried the lifeless body out of the hospital. All of these instances painted the story-arc in the tone of despair, and have in my opinion changed the dynamic of the group, maybe even sown the early seeds of dividing the group.
Another great thing about this season has been on character development. Carl is for example more independant, and not as whiny as we have previously seen him. We also get to see how mature he has truly become, when he interacts with the other children of Alexandria - it shows us just how much being on the road shapes and mold people in this world.
Another surprising development of character was Eugene. After the huge reveal of his deception, he was the last person I predicted to rise to the occasion and saving the day, but his increasing fondness for Tara ensured that he was able to swallow his fear and save both her and Glenn's lives.
Abraham is another character we learn more about. We are shown how his descent into madness after the outbreak pushes his wife and kids away from him, and when he truly feels like the world is over he almost commits suicide. It is only because of Eugenes cry for help, and his continued co-dependency on Abraham, that he found purpose again. With that purpose stripped away from him after finding out the truth, we see him grow and care for the group, and finally manages to fully open up to Rosita.
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| Rick's breakdown on the street of Alexandria |
The last part of season 5 takes the group to Alexandria, a sanctuary with a functional community and
healthy people. It almost seems too good to be true, and with the memories of Woodbury fresh in mind, Rick and the group always tries to be one step ahead of a possible danger. And besides a few bad apples on the inside, the show somehow flips the perspective of the audience. Now get to see, that maybe it's not that the group can't trust anybody, but maybe they THEMSELVES are not to be trusted. The writers almost gives Rick and his group a sort of parasitic paint brush to them, as shown in the way that they slowly but steadily takes up key functions in the community (i.e. Rick as the sherif of the town) and then at the end turning their world view the same as the groups.
This is in my opninion the most creative and interesting the show has ever gotten, as we as an audience are prone to sympathize with the main characters, and we somehow end up justifiying their actions. But by flipping the script and bathing our "heroes" in a more sinister light, actually helps to show them as humans, and not the usual bad-ass zombie slayers they have become.
But a season is seldomly perfect, and this one was no exception. First of all, I think the cannibals were being underutilized. We ended season 4 on a cliffhanger, with them about to execute the group, but ultimately ended up being no real threat, and they were resolved by the first few episodes.
Furthermore, at the end of the season premiere, we were treated to the first real post-credit scene with the return of the character of Morgan Jones, who we haven't seen since season 3. He is shown throughout the season to be following the footsteps of Rick and the others, but nothing really comes about it. It's not until the season finally that their worlds collide, and we end up ending the season at the moment where Morgan witnesses Rick executing a guy. I would have loved to see more of Morgan, reminding us that he is on their trail. And seing as he appearently have aquired some lovely bo staff skills, it is a shame we did not see his transformation fleshed out more.
Just like season 4, a significant chunk of the season had the group split, with one episode focusing on Abraham and a few, and then Daryl and Carol the next and so on. And while I get that they need time to flesh out characters, the show to me shines best when the group is together. Just like any other ensemble driven shows, the true magic happens when we get a little bit of everybody.
And finally the deaths (while impactful) have been too frequent, and too predictable. Not in the sense that I knew who would bite the big one, but after we lost Bob, Tyreese was quickly to follow, the very next episode after Beth had died. With the death of Beth we gained a new person to the group, Noah, but he ultimately ended up dying before the season ended anyways. Worst of all is, 3/4 of the deaths was black guys, which by no surprise, has spawned many jokes on the internet. If that is indeed the trend, couldn't they have killed Father Gabriel instead? While he has helped progress the story, I do not particularly care for him.
In many ways I feel season 5 has been the best season so far, and with many new and unpredictable story-threads weaven, I believe we are in for a hell of a season 6. With both Rick becoming more like the Governor, with the mysterious W markings on certain walkers and a temporary safe haven in Alexandria it's only a matter of time before shit once again will hit the fan.
Popcorntroller out!
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