As we're welcomed into
It's always a breath of fresh air to watch the group get a chance to get their feet back beneath them. A hot shower, a 20 minute tooth brushing, and a hair cut are all things that become scarce in the zombie apocalypse, though fighting with walking rotten flesh all the time must mean you're less likely to smell yourself. It's a wonder how walkers sneak up on anyone, ever, given you'd never want to be within smellshot of one. Everyone is understandably skeptical and finding it difficult to adjust to a more "normal" life in a neighborhood with houses that most of us will only ever dream of getting to live in one day, including Rick who reminisces about driving through similar neighborhoods with Lori.
Our band of survivors have turned into dirty feral outdoor cats that have now been placed back inside and told to behave, and this episode is just as awkward as you'd expect it to be. It was very well played to convey this feeling of high anxiety softened by moments of unexpected trust, like a baby deer flailing its knobby legs around in uncertain panic until it's mother helps to steady it on its feet. Only our baby deer have weapons and aren't afraid to use them.
Deanna is interviewing each member of our team individually and video taping it which is sure to work back into the story at some point in some poignant way. Rick warns her to keep her gates closed because of what people are willing to do to survive now. Everyone is classic... everyone, except for Carol, who has taken it upon herself to portray herself as a Stepford Wife whose purity and innocence led the rest of the group to protect her. After fumbling with her guns as if she doesn't know how to use them, she creepily dons a powder blue cardi and trots off to join a meals-on-wheels group.
Carl and Judith are making quite the splash, and while he is obviously confused and conflicted when confronted with "normal teenagery" such as playing video games with other kids, he partakes but understands the group can't allow itself to become complacent and 'weak' in this community.
Of course there's always got to be at least one asshat, and Alexandria so far has two: The husband of the welcome-wagon wife (who volunteered to cut Rick's hair) who is clearly less than enthused about the alone time Rick spent with his wife, and Deanna's son who, like others we've seen in the past, treat walkers like some sort of game to be played and nearly gets Tara killed in the process while demanding that Glenn and the rest of the 'supply run crew' follow his rules. At least his mother acknowledges her son is an asshat.
Finally, Rick is appointed "Constable" with Michonne as his trusty deputy. Back to clean shaven and wearing a uniform for the first time since Season Two, we feel perfectly transported back in time. For the first time our group is confronted with this new reality: how to live in a structured suburban "society" after becoming so hardened by living in the lawless wilds. Sure, they rigged up showers at the prison, but they didn't have hot water on carrara marble.
All in all while it was a slower paced episode with less action and walker kills than normal, it was very interesting and well shot. Flashing back & forth between the interview sessions and life settling in to the new place is not a new technique by any means but was well implemented here.
We understand that in the comic the group stays in Alexandria for at least three years, so we know we're likely settling in for the long haul here. After all, the behind-the-scenes information imparted during The Talking Dead did mention building some of the houses we're seeing on screen, which is not an expense that would have been undertaken if we weren't going to be there a while. We're looking forward to exploring how a more "normal" life will affect our ragtag band of hardened survivors, particularly Rick who is stepping back behind a badge for the first time since the apocalypse began, and Daryl who will have no excuses for staying stinky.
P.S. (We're starting a betting pool for how long it takes Carol to get Daryl to bathe.)
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