THE WALKING DEAD Season 5 Episode 12
Episode Title: “Remember”
Writer: Channing Powell
Director: Greg Nicotero
Previously on The Walking Dead:
The Walking Dead TV series adapts the comic book storylines at its own pace. The Alexandria safe zone is a major setting in that book. And while the comic slowly played out that story, the television show appears to be moving a little faster.
Of course, there are some minor changes. The leader of Alexandria is now a woman on the TV series, instead of a man in the comic book series. But it remains to be seen if Deanna’s character will go in the same direction as her counterpart from the comic…
The Interviews
After getting burned in Terminus, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and crew aren’t exactly eager to give up their guns to the citizens of Alexandria. Aaron (Ross Marquand) wisely argues to let them keep their weapons until they speak with Deanna Monroe (Tovah Feldshuh), the leader of Alexandria.
As Deanna films her interview with Rick, he warns her that they shouldn’t allow people from the outside to join the community because they’ve changed too much. Deanna takes that as a sign that Rick is already looking out for the community. Deanna also interviews the other survivors in clips throughout the episode. Most are fairly honest with her, but Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) lies about her role within the group and says that she became their den mother.
Shave And A Haircut
After the group gives up their weapons, Aaron takes Rick and Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) to pick their new house. Amazed by the return of hot showers and razor blades to his life, Rick cuts off his beard and his beautiful new neighbor, Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge) volunteers to cut his hair.
Jessie quickly takes to Rick and offers to introduce Carl to her oldest son. She definitely seems to be Rick’s new love interest. Too bad she’s already married. In the meantime, everyone reacts to Beardless Rick because most of them haven’t seen him like that in years.
House Party
Feeling paranoid about the entire set up of Alexandria, Rick’s group sleeps together in the same house. Deanna stops by and she is impressed by the way that the group has become an extended family despite their diverse backgrounds.
Deena mentions that she has a job in mind for Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira), but she adds that she hasn’t figured out Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) yet.
Carl And The Real Girl
Carl eventually meets Jessie’s son and his friends, who invite him to play video games and pool. Carl is so overwhelmed by it that he almost cries. But it doesn’t take him long to pick the gaming option. Carl is also introduced to Enid (Katelyn Nacon), a young girl his age who barely acknowledges him.
Later, Carl witnesses Enid as she scales the wall surrounding Alexandria. Carl follows her over the wall, but he loses her in the woods. Carl eventually finds Rick on the other side of the wall as he attempts to retrieve a gun that he had hidden. When walkers surround them, Rick and Carl have a little father and son bonding moment while putting them down with knives.
Douchesquad
Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun), Tara Chambler (Alanna Masterson) and Noah (Tyler James Williams) are recruited by Deanna’s son, Aiden Monroe (Daniel Bonjour) to join his team of runners. Aiden acknowledges that he’s a douche, but he claims to have R.O.T.C. training to back up his boasts.
However, it doesn’t take long for Aiden to demonstrate his douche qualities. Aiden gets pissed at Glenn for killing a walker against his orders despite the fact that it was about to bite Tara. Glenn points out that it was reckless to keep the walker intact just because Aiden wanted to punish it for killing one of his team members.
Inside the walls of Alexandria, Aiden starts a fight with Glenn and who ducks his punch and decks him. Deanna breaks up the fight and offers to make Rick and Michonne the new constables of Alexandria. Deanna even thanks Glenn for knocking her son on his ass.
We’ll Take It
Rick and Michonne accept Deanna’s offer and he suits up in his new cop uniform. Outside his new home, Rick tells Carol that they’re staying. Carol worries that Alexandria will make them weak, but he says that they no longer have that weakness inside of them. And if the people of Alexandria prove to be too weak, then Rick says that they will simply “take it” from them.
On almost any other show, Rick’s words would be considered villainous. But on The Walking Dead, Rick’s point of view may be entirely justified. They’ve seemingly found a place better suited for a family than the prison was. But Enid represents a potential threat if she’s meeting with someone else outside of the community…
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