Remember

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

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 '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.

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!

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. At its best though 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.

To me, the first half of Season 5 ranged from good to outstanding from personal opinion, the first three episodes especially making for one of the best and more consistent starts of any season for the show. 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 to still deem them solid enough while acknowledging the flaws. Actually feel overall that Season 5 was a solid season and that none of the previous Season 5 episodes were bad, but did find that between "Four Walls and a Roof" and "The Distance" some of the quality dipped and that momentum in some episodes slackened. "The Distance" was something of a return to form for 'The Walking Dead', "Remember" for me managed to be even better and is one of the season's best episodes.

A significant improvement here is the pace, which is much tighter here and in the previous episode "The Distance" than it was in some of the episodes between "Four Walls and a Roof" and "The Distance" and has much more urgency and like things are moving on. There is tension and poignancy and there is much more of a sense of things moving forward, the theme of civilisation is brilliantly handled and there is some great character development here. Particularly with Rick, Carl (the most interesting he's been in a long time) and especially Carol, a notable scene between the interview scene.

"Remember" is superbly made as one expects from 'The Walking Dead'. 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, Andrew Lincoln and especially Melissa McBride being the standouts.

Writing is thought-provoking while also taut. Amidst the constant tension and emotion of the storytelling, it was also great to feel a sense of hope and that a new direction seems to be starting to form. The introduction of Alexandria fascinated and riveted, and so far there is so much more of a community and civilisation than there was with Season 3's Woodbury, which other reviewers have picked up upon.

Summing up, wonderful and well worth remembering. 10/10