The Walking Dead's Tense Season Finale Separates the Weak
EntertainmentThe final 10 minutes of The Walking Dead‘s season finale on Sunday were some of the most intense moments of the entire series so far. Besides the usual threat of death, there was also a new threat (Wolves) and another major takeover.
In a way, Alexandria was a representation of innocence this season. The people there had yet to be corrupted by the reality of having to kill for survival. They were barely equipped to fight each other, let alone external threats. They had all the physical resources needed to survive, but Rick’s team has all the mental tools. From the moment he entered that space, we all knew he’d be taking it over sooner rather than later, and that it’d be for the best.
At the moment, his residence is in jeopardy. After the Pete-Rick showdown, Deanna calls a meeting to decide if Rick should be exiled; his team spends this time defending him and applauding his leadership. Quote of the night goes to Michonne, who tells Deanna during the meeting, “Who he is, is who you’re gonna be. If you’re lucky.”
Last week’s episode dealt with the repercussions of Pete’s domestic abuse. Instead of killing him, like Rick suggests, Deanna puts Pete a separate home. We see why this can’t work. Pete is an untamable loose cannon with mental issues that can’t be solved in this setting.
The meeting scene is apposed with shots of Rick fighting walkers that entered the community after Gabriel (who’s been walking around with a death wish) left the gate open on purpose. Rick ends up literally squeezing the life out of a walker that’s on top of him and you barely flinch because getting shit done while being a little maniacal in the process is what Rick does. The level of indifference he shows any time he kills someone or something is truly scary.
The Walking Dead is largely a show about average people turning into fighters. It’s not that surprising that Daryl has become the muscle of the group because his toughness was always on display. Rick also had that gene. It’s more satisfying to see people like Morgan and Carol, a deceptively chill menace, step up and flex.