What I’m Watching: The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead: Season 5, Episode 10 “Them” (B)

This world may be full of undead people, but at least there are more than enough intellectual villains to go around. This episode’s ending was eerily calm compared to most of its contents, which were considerably more dramatic and grim than usual. Sasha is in a bad state after losing her brother, and no one is doing particularly well as they trek endlessly to make it to Washington, D.C. in hopes of finding that elusive safe haven. The appearance of a pile of water bottles at just the moment that our group was unbelievably thirsty seemed too good to be true, and though Eugene was eager to go on faith and try one, Abraham wasn’t so open to the idea. Aaron’s casual appearance at the end of the episode, citing Rick by name as the leader, suggests that there indeed is some place safe from the walkers, but there are likely conditions that go with it that could be awfully reminiscent of Terminus or something worse. The storm nearly took down the whole building that our group was huddled in, and seeing them hold off the invading winds and walkers was intense, accompanied by thunderous music not usually heard on this show. The most striking moment in the episode, however, was one line of dialogue, after Rick finished his story and then referred to the group as the “walking dead.” It’s significant because it’s the first time we’ve heard those words, and I, and many other viewers, I’m sure, never thought of the survivors as the ones who should be considered the walking dead.