It’s that time of year again..... no, not Wrestlemania (even if Pete’s just had Rick 3:16), but that point or our journey where we reach the Dead end for another year. Something big will go down, and it’s unlikely everyone will be journeying onwards. Are the residents of the Alexandria Safe Zone about to finally learn how moronically misplaced “Safe” in their name? Are the Wolves not just near but here? In fact it’s mostly no on all counts. Despite everything we expect and anticipate from an epic body count ridden finale, with major locations and characters being permanently written out, we don’t get it. As the stakes of a finale go, this in fact closer a regular episode yet it still feels like a powerful climax thanks to some outstanding dramatic work. This is not the season finale you expected but it’ll dam sure be the one you’ll enjoy.
Conquer – In the aftermath of Rick’s public outburst, Deanna calls together an assembly hearing to success Rick’s place within them, forcing Rick and the group to setup their takeover of the community. Meanwhile Daryl and Aaron run into some unexpected and elaborately constructed trouble while searching for new members, only to be saved by a surprising blast from the past.
It’s interesting to think back to season opener. It was the biggest action fest of the entire season and came with clear ideals of trusting no one and that fighting is the answer. Now at the end, we have indeed come full circle. Only by understanding that fighting is not the answer to their problems do Rick and the group overcome them. The episode does a great job of recapping Rick’s stance towards Alexandria since they arrived. From the earlier scenes of planning their seizure and takeover of Rick’s hearing goes the wrong way to ultimately winning Deanna and the rest over with understanding. His final speech brilliantly sums it all up as he lays the consequences of their ignorance before them to shock them into believing that they need to change to survive; “I’m not sorry for what I said last night, I’m sorry for not saying it sooner”. The end sentiments imply the message is understood giving us the feeling of the whole community moving forward stronger together. This was well reinforced by Glen and Nicholas and their side vendetta. That despite the seriously brutal conflict between them, forgiveness was still possible.
After several weeks of being wall and zombie graffiti we finally come face to face (literally) with The Wolves (confirmed as a re-working of The Scavengers from the comics). The opening's friendly breakfast discussion scene was one of the best moments this season. The camera slowly working inwards from a distance, locked on these two strangers across a camp fire. You have to adore any villain that loves the sound of his own voice, but Mr. Wolf has a subtle magnetism to him as he dispenses the odd history lesson while informing of a less fortunate future. You have to love their sadistic trap setting style as well. The whole food trucks sequence was so entertaining. From the luring in, to the trap springing with Aaron and Daryl unsuccessfully trying to escape its jaws (who didn’t love Daryl’s chain whip?), to the past victims bloody note and of course the planned Thelma and Louise style desperate break out attempt. Though, none of that compares to the surreal lunacy that was the mobile disco trap reset sequence. We don’t yet have a deeper villainous motive for the pack other than taking everything you’ve got. Aaron’s deliberate mention of the 2 guys and a girl exiled from Alexandria feels all too intentional. If the two we’ve met aren’t the same pair of bros, we’ll definitely be meeting them next season with the wolves now given the visual scent of Alexandria. It’s great to see the show taking its time over the looming confrontation. Rather than rushing into an attack, this season we now have their face off established but with the off season to get all the training montages and preparations out the way. We wanted Alexandria to extend beyond this season and we’ve git it. Now we have a strengthened, Rick led Alexandria Vs the cunning and sadistic Wolves on the horizon. This could give Terminus a run for its money.
So after a full season of teasing, we finally catch up with Morgan and it’s fair to say he was worth the wait. We still know little of his time in between visits other than his search for Rick. His insanity seems to have taken a leave of absence and its place, he’s become some kind of warrior monk! He’s adeptly wielding his staff to walker and human pain alike but avoiding violence and particularly human killing. In his opening showdown with the pair of wolves, he’s the clear combat dominant, smashing and swotting off his foes like they were flies. Yet he repeatedly gives them the chance to walk away and even when those mother f’ers insist on ice skating up hill, he still doesn’t finish the job believing that “all life is precious”. He’s not just a character returning for the sake of it like a soap opera but delivering us a fascinating new take on himself that will wonderful to explore next season. Hopefully we’ll get flashbacks to his transition is similar way to The Governor’s catch up episode. He’s been searching for Rick. Will he be happy with the version he finds? What will that do to his mental state if faced with disappointment?
Season 5 has in many ways been a Carol testimonial. She’s stepped right up to be one of the most if not the most enjoyable character on the show and this week she completely steels it in the most minor of moments of lines. She almost forms a superiority complex towards many others. From her condescending views of the Alexandria residents, as she tells Rick to play along, “These people are children and children like stories”. Or even towards Rick as she rolls out the hard choices of his situation with a patronising, “You can’t have it both ways dear”. Still, her finest moment be far was arguably her all time best in terms of the development of her character as she toys with the abusive Pete. A former victim flexing complete and utter control over a wife beater; it’s just compelling. The way she taunts him to hit her knowing how much he wants to before making him feel the same kind of powerless she and Jessie have experienced. You can see from the look on Pete’s face that has manhood is slowly shrinking itself to oblivion.
Hats off to whoever made the feature length decision as having the time to give all the different character arcs and pairings the proper scene time to reach a meaningful conclusion is what makes this episode outstanding. Much of it could be labelled as character resetting (characters experience change and conflict during a season but by the end revert closer back to their regular selves again) but it’s done so well that we really don’t care. Gabriel’s crisis of faith exploding to longing for death before accepting the guilt over his past, Michone and Rick reconciling back onto the same road no matter where it goes, Abraham and Eugene forgiving each other; each has its own little gem in a crowning glory to form a worthy ending to a great season.
So that’s all she wailed and moaned for another year as the dead take a well earned rest. It even won’t be quite the long off season we expected. The new LA-based spin off show, “Fear The Walking Dead”, will be airing it’s 6-pisode first season in the run up to the main show’s 6th season return. Until then, keep your fences up, don’t eat anything with teeth marks in it, check the fee before accepting medical treatment and for God’s sake, stay away from revolving doors. Stay strong, survive, and we’ll see you in the autumn.