The Walking Dead: Slowing it Down for Results

Who's the next to go? Will it be a show-runner or a character?
 "Yeah, but if I fail, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work, like you always say!" - George Michael Bluth, Arrested Development, S01E10




Three weeks ago, The Walking Dead returned for season 5B, beginning with a slow, artsy episode detailing the death of Tyreese. From there, AMC's hit zombie drama aired a literary, symbolic piece called "Them," showing the effects of starvation, fatigue, and sadness that the group must endure. This past Sunday, we got "Going The Distance," the first episode this season that has picked back up a major plotline to follow.

In the most recent chapter of The Walking Dead, Rick and his group encounter a young, nice-seeming man named Aaron. He takes some abuse from the distrustful Rick, but in the end is able to get out his message: Rick and co. should come to Alexandria, a well-defended, nice people inhabited, safe zone. The great thing about this sequence was the development that we've seen Rick go through. Starting off the series as the type of man who would trust everyone and do everything in his power to help people, Rick was vulnerable.

In the first couple of seasons, Rick was contrasted to Shane, a man who saw what needed to be done to survive in the new Walking Dead world. Now, of course, they were also battling over Rick's late wife Lori, but the real conflict was in philosophy. Shane trusted no one, killed stragglers that were not part of the group if needed, and seemed adapted to the zombified world. Meanwhile, Rick wanted to help people, seeing the best in them. This conflict ended with Shane's death, but his memory would never be forgotten. After encounters with The Governor, Terminus, Grady Memorial Hospital, and countless other obstacles, Rick has come around to Shane's belief at long last. Old Rick would never bopped the kindly Aaron in the face just for suggesting he come to a nice town. Old Rick would never have insisted on driving through a horde of walkers just to avoid any kind of set-up. Then again, Old Rick could have been easily led into a death trap. The Rick of season 5B however, is uber cautius doing his utmost to avoid any danger.

Our other characters are growing up a lot too. Michonne, a self proclaimed "crazy lady with a sword," has gone from being a comic booky killing machine to being one of the few real grown-ups of the group. She is more trusting than Rick, saying that she needs to find a place where the road finally ends. A place where her katana can be laid down. Even me, one of the biggest doubters of the Michonne character is finally coming around, realizing that once the writers actually paid her some mind, she could grow to be endearing.

Otherwise, we have my favorite character on the show, Abraham, seeming to become more detached from his stalwart, military attitude. After realizing that Eugene was a fraud, Abraham began to search for new purpose in the Walking Dead universe. Without saving the world, Abraham comes to the conclusion that life is just worth living as long as loved ones are around. With Rosita at his side and the rest of the group slowly warming up to him, Abraham is learning how to handle himself as a protector, a boyfriend, and with Rick and co, a family man (kinda).

Now, the major plotline of the remainder of this season (I think), will be Alexandria. Predictions are already being made as to what kind of place Alexandria is, but based on the fact that Cannibals and corrupt leaders have already been done, it's safe to assume that this may in fact be a safe zone. Of course, the show is not terribly entertaining if everyone is super happy all day everyday, so something shitty will have to go on, but chances are, it won't come in the form of Alexandria inhabitants. Just from a narrative perspective, repeating some kind of corrupt unsafe city plot would be a little irrelevant. On top of that, with the trust issues we've been seeing develop in most of our characters, this would be the straw that broke the camel's back.

Whatever the case, the fact that The Walking Dead has begun to slow down its storytelling and let narratives form in a less rushed, more natural way, I am along for the ride. The whole of season 5A could have been a lot better, but we'll let it slide so long as the show gets back on track. Slow down the story, let characters develop, and the recipe for success is staring you right in the face. So long as we see The Walking Dead stick with what it knows is right, things should be just dandy.

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