As the episode begins with Rick (Andrew Lincoln) legging it back to camp (we can’t believe we seriously thought last week that there was a chance he might get offed), he comes back to find the people of Alexandria in various states of shock.
Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) is a far cry from the collected, authoritative leader she was when we first met her. Numb after so much death, it’s all she can do to simply wander off.
Meanwhile, others are faring better. Aaron (Ross Marquand) does what he think is the decent think by owning up to his boo-boo in leaving a map of Alexandria out for the Wolves – even though Rick’s reaction suggests he might come to regret this – and Spencer (Austin Nichols) steps up in the aftermath of his mother’s leaving of her senses to maintain order, at least until he starts drinking and has a go at her.
In among all this, however, we do get a rather tender moment of sweetness, with Denise (Merritt Wever) and Tara (Alanna Masterson) bonding. The former is fast becoming one of our favourite character, a counterpart of sorts to the likes of Gabriel and Eugene. She admits to being terrified, yet gets on with things anyway. We’re on board with that. We like a tryer.
It’s just as well there’s something lighter to look forward to, as the rest of the episode is pretty sad stuff. Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Aaron’s attempt to locate Glenn doesn’t even make it past the town gates, leaving her to simultaneously grieve her probable loss amid her denial.
As to Glenn, his fate is still uncertain (even though it really shouldn’t be). Then again, it’s been a while since there’s been a Sophia or Beth-esque will-they-won’t-they-survive conundrum, so maybe it’s time again. Then again, we all know how it turned out for those two.
In fact, things aren’t looking good for a lot of people. Daryl, Sasha and Abraham are all still unaccounted for, and Rick acknowledges that his plan hasn’t worked. Desperate times indeed – since the opening episode the stakes have continued to rise when we thought they couldn’t do so any further, and it looks like they will continue to do so, judging by the final scene.
So all in all, it’s an alright episode. Nothing special, but certainly fulfils its remit.
