Them

It did take me time to get round to watching 'The Walking Dead'. Despite reservations as to whether it would appeal to me, 'The Walking Dead' though was one of those gradually getting through the episodes over-time experiences but at its best it proved to be extremely addictive viewing for Seasons 1-5 and in its prime was a brilliant show. Was disappointed though generally by Seasons 7 and 8, which made it feel like a different show, which is a real shame.

The first half of Season 5 ranged from good to outstanding from personal opinion, there were episodes that others didn't like or had a divisive critical reception/fan reaction but had a lot of fine merits still for me while acknowledging the flaws. "What Happened Then and What's Going On", which commenced the second half of Season 5, was a memorable if flawed episode. Would say the same for the marginally better "Them". There is a lot to like about "Them", but it is far from a 'The Walking Dead' high point.

"Them" does move somewhat too sluggishly at times for my liking and this may have been more forgivable if the storytelling was more consistently compelling and fresher. Other episodes do much better with plot advancing, can understand the filler complaints.

Although the story has moments of brilliance and is investable enough, along with the pace not being tight enough it breaks no real new ground and reiterates too much so it feels repetitive too.

Like all the episodes before it, "Them" is superbly made. It has gritty and audacious production design, visuals that are well crafted and have soul rather than being overused and abused and photography of almost cinematic quality. The music is haunting and affecting, without being intrusive. The direction is controlled yet alert and the acting is never less than great, with the standout for me being Sonequa Martin-Green, an intensely moving performance here.

Especially in one of Rick's greatest speeches, there is a lot of thought provoking writing and emotion. It is one of the more intriguing 'The Walking Dead' episodes up to this point of the show from a thematic standpoint, and raises some interesting questions on survival and death. Also appreciated it approaching the characters from a psychological standpoint, which was also done very well in "What Happened and What's Going On", as it added a lot to the characters. Aaron's introduction here is an interest point. The ending was somewhat refreshing but it was how the grief of the characters was presented that was most striking, like with Sasha, Daryl and Maggie and the barn door and Sasha's rage, heart-wrenching scenes.

Overall, pretty good but didn't blow me away. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The group continues to search for another place in which to settle down. They are despondent, and dealing with grief, PTSD, hunger, and thirst.

They come across bottles of water on the road, ones that were supposedly left specifically for them. They are suspicious of the offer, though, and refuse to take the water. They soon find a barn to shelter themselves from an approaching storm. As they rest, they are soon awakened by the sound of walkers trying to break in. Each group member eventually lends a hand to help keep the barn door shut.

The next morning, Maggie and Sasha sit on a downed tree, as they watch a sunrise and converse. Their talk is interrupted by a man named Aaron, who asks to meet the man in charge. He then surprises them by referring specifically to Rick.

"Them" is a harrowing and introspective episode that not only deepens the group's struggles with grief and loss but also explores the theme of survival. As the group faces dehydration and starvation on the road to Alexandria, they are forced to confront their own mortality and the harsh realities of life in a post-apocalyptic world.

The episode's exploration of resilience and perseverance adds emotional depth to the characters' experiences and underscores their determination to survive against all odds. Additionally, the episode's ending, where the group finds temporary shelter in a barn and shares a moment of bonding and solidarity, highlights the strength of their bond and their shared commitment to each other. Overall, "Them" is a powerful episode that showcases the characters' resilience and their willingness to endure unimaginable hardships in order to survive.

This was actually a very solid episode, that despite its slow nature, makes up for it all by exploring our characters at their lowest point and dealing with themes of hopelessness, grief and survival!

By this point, our characters have been through hell, living on the road with no guarenteed acces to food and water! It really makes for a very interesting episode!

Its obvious that the death of Bob, Beth and Tyresse, really hit hard as Sasha, Maggie and Daryl are at different stages of grief! Some realistic and beautifull moments!

Ricks speech was great too! It allowed us to reflect on the state of the our characters and what the world does ro them!

Great scene doing the thunderstorm and at the end!

By far the best episode of 9 seasons so far, but unfortunately it will never get any better than this. "Them" was the episode that defined the walking dead family that we love at their peak.

Daryl, Maggie, and Sasha struggle with grief as the 'family' head for Washington down a harsh road.

As a reflective character driven episode I thought this was a good one.

There has been a phenomenal amount of death, suffering, and oppressive circumstances throughout the first five seasons of The Walking Dead and this episode (along with many others) depicts the toll it takes on people. It is a well made episode that makes it very clear who in the group is visibly struggling.

I liked how it emphasises the most basic survival requirements of food and water, which is not the main focus in other episodes, but should be prominent considering the circumstance. Judith seems to have had plot armour on for a while considering how little I've heard her scream out of hunger, but I won't get too critical as I wouldn't particularly want to be put through that trauma.

There are several parts I found quite memorable, like the zombie in the trunk, Gabriel's collar, the zombie dodging fight, the characters reacting to the rain, Rick's speech, and the barn door.

Performances are strong from all cast members as usual and the production values are great as ever. The Walking Dead uses visual storytelling to get across how characters are feeling exceptionally well.