Remember

This is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the Walking Dead. I enjoyed the episode, because we get to see the group struggle to return to normalcy, despite the fact the community seems like a nice enough place to stay. There is no imminent danger it seems, but it is good to see who the group never let their guard down or loosen their trust issues.

In this episode, "Remember," Rick and the rest of the group are admitted entrance to Alexandria where they are interviewed by Deanna, the leader of the place. They all struggle to become members as Glenn gets into a fight and Daryl remains in a iffy mood. Deanna later assigns Rick and Michonne as constables of Alexandria.

Overall, despite the lack of danger, this episode is a change of pace from previous episodes. We think they finally may have settled down, but I fear that there will be some twists in the near future. Also, Rick has a personal makeover which makes him look all the better.

My Grade: A

Rick and the survivors arrive at Alexandria in need for safety.

Once in Alexandria, Rick and the survivors are welcomed and interviewed by the local leader Deanna Monroe. She is a former politician from Ohio and records each interview. Then Aaron shows two beautiful mansions and offers them to the group. However they prefer to stay together in one of the houses. Part of the group befriends other people in the community, but Rick, Michonne, Carl, Daryl and Glenn are alert. Meanwhile Deanna finds jobs in the community for most of the survivors. Carl is introduced to an outsider, Enid, and when he sees her climbing the wall, he follows her. Rick decides to walk outside the wall and Glenn, Rosita and Noah are invited by Deanna's son Aiden and Nicholas to join them in a patrol outside the wall to seek supplies. However there is a friction between Aiden and Glenn and Deanna stops the quarrel; then she offers the policeman position to Rick and Michonne. Rick has a conversation with Daryl and he discloses his real intention in Alexandria.

"Remember" is a different episode of "The Walking Dead". Rick and the survivors have shower and Rick shaves his beard. The familial bond of the group is beautiful to see how connected they are. This episode raises good questions, such as who took Rick's weapon that was hidden. What was Enid doing outside the wall? Was she going to meet someone? Daryl is impressively alert but Rick's revelation of his true intention shows that he is near to cross the thin blurred live between those that are good and bad. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Remember"

Note: On 20 April 2016, I saw this show again.

The group are introduced to Alexandria's leader Deanna Monroe one by one. In their "auditions", each shares memories, or sometimes lie to her, concerning life outside the town's walls.

The group is accepted into the community. All work hard to adjust to the Alexandria lifestyle, a daily routine which is far more relaxed than they have become used to. They meet other residents of the community, such as Enid, another survivor who recently became a resident. There is also Deanna's family, as well as many others, such as Jessie Anderson and her husband Pete and sons Ron and Sam.

Some of the group get jobs within the community: Carol becomes a cook, Rick and Michonne are town constables, and Glenn and Tara join the supply runners. Glenn is disturbed to see how inadequate and naive the other runners are when it comes to walkers.

At his new house, Rick tells Carol and Daryl his concerns for the community. They decide that if the people there can't handle the realities of maintaining security, their group will be forced to take over Alexandria.

"Remember" is a poignant and introspective episode that not only explores the group's integration into Alexandria but also delves into the theme of identity. As the group is given jobs and homes within the community, they are forced to confront who they are and what they have become in order to survive.

Rick's struggle to adapt to his new role as a constable and his reluctance to let go of his instincts as a survivor highlight the challenges of fitting into a society that operates by different rules. The episode's exploration of identity and assimilation adds emotional depth to the characters' experiences and underscores their resilience in the face of change. Additionally, the episode's ending, where the group attends a welcoming party and tries to blend in with the residents, highlights the complexities of their new lives and the challenges of building a new future in an uncertain world.

Rick and 'family' enter Alexandria.

This is a welcome break for the characters, but it nicely plants a few seeds for what is likely to be more drama later down the line.

The characters of The Walking Dead have been depicted to have gone through hell and you feel their relief at the comforts found at Alexandria. At the same time this episode does a brilliant job of making it all feel quiet alien, unsettling, and that something sinister either lies beneath the surface or is heading their way. This might possibly be something of their own making, but who knows at this stage.

This show has always done a great job of depicting what the world would be like if you take most of its social constructions away. 'Remember' puts some of the basic ones back in place, but they feel very fragile and, like the characters, you are on edge waiting for something to go wrong.

Some of the characters have memorable moments such as Rick cleaning himself up, Daryl not, Carl processing 'normal' teenage life, and Glenn's punch. My favourite by some distance is Carol's interview, which was absolutely hilarious and brilliantly delivered by Melissa McBride.

A change of setting and dynamic is needed at this point in the overarching narrative and so far this looks to be a good move by the writers.

It's an 8.5/10 for me but I round upwards.