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

This was such a refreshing episode that gives us something wr have not had in this show for a long time!

After so mamy episodes of our characters, surviving on the road, camping in the forrest and taking refuge in abandoned buildings, it was almost surreal seeing our characters in a normal environment!

It made perfect sense that Rick would struggle to adjust! He knows about the things he has done, and thinks they should be more suspicious of him! What makes for a bad person in this world?

Him after a shave and a haircut felte like watching a different person on screen!

We also get a great introduction to the new characters of Alexandria and we can tell the difference between surviving on the road, and being safe behind walls! You loose your instincts and you cant sense danger the same way!

After a long wait, the story writers made a move by transferring our characters from wild to a decent place.

The trust issues haven't grown thin, but the characters looking at the kids and other settled people in the community not only feel re- assured but also think the place might make them weaker due to lack of exposure.

The episode didn't have full on zombie shots, fights or long boring conversations. It's about moments between Rick and Carl, Daryl with himself and everyone trying to blend in and how things work in the community. IT'S ALL ABOUT SURVIVAL Because that's what gelled our characters together, not comfort. This marks the essence of this episode.

We have seen one whole season in the PRISON, one whole season in a community. We definitely don't want things to settle here in this place though. Somewhere around the corner a big twist awaits us.

A better episode after so long.

SPOILERS BELOW

Rick gets a hair cut and shaves his beard. You feel lighter watching that scene.

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.

Although the fifth season is excellent, when the second half began, freshness was needed. It is just what this chapter brought. Alexandria was a great change in the series and change part of the course. It is not an epic and action-packed episode, but the videos are very interesting and how everyone acts in the face of this change