Time to buck up! The latest episode of The Walking Dead brought us up to speed with the present happenings in Alexandria and it wasn’t all pretty, either. And more importantly, we got to experience the various responses that people tend to have when faced with a significant change in their reality. True to real life, people show you what they’re made of in trying times. Rick officially becomes the new leader of Alexandria, Maggie drops a bombshell, and more on The Walking Dead: “Now.” Spoiler alert.
Deanna Cedes to Rick
Last we left off on The Walking Dead with Deanna in Alexandria, the Wolves had just attacked the community and pretty much left the surviving members traumatized and fearful that their precious idealized lifestyle was forever gone. Barely beyond the “home invasion” of the recent past, there is a hoard of walkers literally right outside the gates waiting for an opportunity to enter. But that didn’t stop Rick from once again trying to rally. Gotta love his spirit for perseverance, right? That’s why he’s “the man” and no one else is. Just saying.
Deanna knew this about Rick from the onset of their first meeting—remember those creepy taped interviews she did with everyone in our group upon their arrival to Alexandria?—and though there were a few setbacks preventing her from ultimately ceding to Rick’s expertise on all things survival in this post-apocalyptic environment, she finally did so. Granted, she did so without anyone present to witness. But seriously, who is going to protest such a leadership change? Besides, with the way Deanna’s been acting lately, slowly but surely losing the faith of her once dutiful supporters, she would be wise to transfer leadership now when the people of Alexandria could use someone like Rick to guide them, and not wait until the crap hits the fan…not that it kind of already hasn’t. Even still, before she did have that pivotal discussion with Rick, it was nice to finally see Deanna enter the present and get her hands a little bloody when she took to defending herself against a walker. Welcome to the new reality, or “Now”—get it?
Maggie’s Confides in Aaron
Speaking of “Now,” it seems fans of The Walking Dead aren’t the only ones still hoping that Glenn is alive. Naturally, so is Maggie, his wife. After noticing Glenn’s absence upon Michonne’s return to Alexandria, Maggie decides to go looking for her man. Aaron notices, and feeling guilty that he was the one that perhaps brought the Wolves to their doorstep, he convinces Maggie to let him tag along for help. Unfortunately, the two didn’t make it past the underground of the community—in the sewers—as Maggie put the brakes on the whole operation, making matters worse when she shouted and attracted some nearby walkers. That’s when Maggie dropped the bombshell that she’s pregnant. So, naturally a suicide mission to go save Glenn probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do given that she has someone else to think of “Now”—there’s that word again.
Love is in the Air
It’s the end of the world so why not? There were a couple of moments where it seemed as though love, or strong like, was blossoming in the community of Alexandria. For starters, after Denise—you know, the psychiatrist turned de facto medical doctor—had a medical breakthrough, I guess you could call it, she went over to thank her motivation for continuing on in her new role, Tara. Just as Tara inquired about Denise’s patient, Denise then planted a big one on Tara, seemingly in gratitude for her help. Didn’t see that kiss coming, but hey, cool beans. And though Tara thought that Denise was simply responding to the current state of things, I think Denise reassured her that the kiss wasn’t out of fear, but out of like. Even cooler beans.
Then, too, there was Rick and Jessie’s kiss. After a long day of putting out fires, Rick went to Jessie’s house to pay the object of his affection a visit and sort of explain why he didn’t want to get on with burning the existing dead bodies near the graveyard—because he still hadn’t received confirmation if Glenn, Daryl, Sasha, and Abraham were still alive. In that moment, it seemed as though Jessie was the one giving Rick the reality check/pep talk, albeit with care and reverence for this missing friends. But then she turned the tables and asked him to reassure her that there’s more; more for them to live for, I’m assuming. That’s when he went in for the kiss. Make out alert! Even cooler, cool beans.
So far, we know Enid, and possibly Carl, are missing; Rick is potentially training Ron how to kill his own son; we still don’t know what the status is regarding Daryl, Sasha and Abraham’s mission; and Carol and Morgan were laying low this week, for some strange reason. We also have the mystery of Glenn. Even still, it seems about time for say another external threat, aside from the walkers that is. Just saying.
The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9:00pm EST on AMC.