Blair Fink (Twitter: @BlairMFink, Instagram: @BlairFink)
Steve Bethel (Twitter: @the_lazy_gamer, Website: steveisthelazygamer.blogspot.ca)
Trivia: Into the Woods was filmed entirely in Andrew Lincoln's beard
The Walking Dead, Season 5, Episode 11, "The Distance"
ISN'T IT PRETTY TO THINK SO?
Well
at least there was some action...in this episode we find Rick has
trust issues, Glenn is a damn good driver, high speed, stays on the
road, all despite his windshield being totally covered, we find out
Abercrombie prefers Fitch, and walker heads make poor lamps.
There
were two things about this episode that I really liked. The first was
the palpable tension amongst Rick’s group about trusting this hope
of a new haven and the dynamics of how they dealt with it. You really
feel like they’ve been together long enough that they knew how to
disagree and communicate constructively. Michonne has slowly become co-leader of the group and when she simply states “we’re
going,” Rick begrudgingly but respectfully consents (albeit with a
few conditions of his own). It felt like everyone trusted each other
to do what was best for the group and if they had concerns, they
would be heard. The potential to generate interpersonal conflict was
there but would have been unnecessary and tiresome and I was thankful
we got to see them work it out without any contrived drama. After being burned time and time
again, the prospect of safety, of success,
has to take a lot of courage to open themselves up to. Hope makes you
vulnerable, something that can get you killed in this world, or at
least make you want to die.
While
Rick gets some push back from some the group he does have a few who
are just as weary. Daryl is always on edge but down for whatever Rick
decides. Glenn seemed to come back into a leadership/lieutenant role,
taking point to look for the vehicles. Carol seemed to agree with
Rick, although that isn't stated at all until the closing line from
her. A few odd choices though, as Rick talks to Michonne (a fair
share of relationship building in this episode between these two)
about how he will make his decision based on what he hears when they
get there, yet the whole plan was to go at night. What do you expect
to hear at night Rick? Going along a walker infested road at night
was also a poor choice. I'm also baffled at how the RV managed to get
away from the walker road. It seemed to be a straight road, otherwise
how would Glenn have been able to drive without being able to see. So
my question is: where did the RV go? And if the car was clearing a
path why not follow?
The
second thing I liked was the portrayal of the drive up the walker infested road.
The aerial view of the path Glenn was clearing, along with the red of
the car lights, flare and blood made for some tasty visuals. While
the whole thing was a big chaotic and confusing, I didn’t really
mind because it was pretty to look at.
The
woods were a very confusing scene...I didn't much care for this part
of the episode. How did they get separated so easily/quickly? How did
Rick's revolver have so much ammo? Where did Glenn get an AK? How did
they find the RV group so quick? The flare went off and I assume
they followed that direction...that is if they didn't get all turned
around in the woods, in the dark, while dealing with walkers.
Finally,
we find out Aaron is gay and is in a relationship with his
co-recruiter Eric. The scene where they reunite is both good and bad in a way. It is good because they allow these two new
characters their own scene to show us their relationship and more
about who they are. The introduction of the first gay relationship on
the show could have easily been tentative before being quickly pushed to the side but
thankfully it was acknowledged head on and given room to breathe. On
the other hand, you could feel how big of deal the scene was supposed
to be when it really isn’t be that big of a deal at all. It both should and shouldn't have been a big deal. Regardless,
Aaron and Eric are already more interesting and fleshed out in one
episode than a lot of past characters on this show ever were
(Looking at you, T-Dogg).
The
episode speeds up near the end. Group reunites, make camp, drive,
pull up to the gate. Where is this place? In Washington? Was that
Washington in the distance? How far from Washington are we? So what's
the consensus? Do we trust Aaron? He seems to have come prepared,
photos, peace offerings, honesty(?), jokes...too bad it's a tough
crowd. However there were a few things that make you say "Hmmm".
Personally,
despite a few red flags, I think Aaron and Eric are good dudes. I
would like to think that, after the way Woodbury and Terminus worked
out, the writers wouldn’t put us through the same formula a third time.
While the people-less photos are suspicious, I’m going to guess
that while Aaron and Eric and good guys, their portrayal of the
people of Alexandria is…less than accurate. Aaron describes a
utopia, complete with Friday night dancing, but I’m guessing we’ll
be looking at more of a safe but mostly empty stronghold. I think
Aaron and Eric are lonely.
QUESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS
-Rick's face when trying the apple sauce: 'damn, that is pretty good…'
-The apple sauce was likely the deciding factor in Rick’s decision.
-Shady Aaron: no people in the photos, lame excuse for not eating apple sauce.
-HOW
DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES!?
-All the past focus on the 3 questions, why did Rick not ask them
right away?
-Do Rick and Michonne suck face before the end of the season? Fingers crossed!
-Good call on Rick hiding the gun? I would have been a little annoyed
with Rick if I was there. They are broken down and Rick just sits
there, they get the RV running and he decides to go for a stroll
through the woods. Come on!!
-At
first, I was like…Rick’s lost it! He’s trying to make a Gun
Milkshake! But seriously, do we have another Chekhov’s Gun
situation on our hands. No way they show us that and never revisit
it, right?
-Andrew Lincoln can do magic with his face/eyes.
-Andrew
Lincoln’s beard was the rosebush in The
Secret of NIMH.
Blair's Rating: B+
Steve's Rating: 3.7 jars of apple sauce out of 5
Blair's MVP: Aaron
Steve's MVP: Glenn
Blair's Deadpool Pick: Eric
Steve's Deadpool Pick: Tara
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