Rick takes a stand!
In the penultimate episode of The Walking Dead's fifth season, our band of survivors struggled to cope with last week’s losses in their own unique ways — be them super-sweet tunes, talk therapy, target practice, passive-aggressive letter burning, or a good ole-fashioned schoolyard brawl. Yep, more good times in the March 22 episode of The Walking Dead.
Sometimes TWD is guilty of treading water to extend the major plot developments over a season-long arc, but "Try" cannot be accused of that. It set up the crucial story pieces for next week's season finale, "Conquer," as the residents of Alexandria are slowly learning just why Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) has fully adopted a "do what's right, not what's best" policy.
Here's what transpired in "Try," the consequences of which will surely play out in next week's finale:
Ranger Rick has lost it…or has he?
Rick's outburst as he took a stand for Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge) against her abusive husband Pete (Corey Brill) might seem like it was an act of pure aggression, but in some ways it could be viewed as a confirmation that he still has a bit of humanity left in him yet.
For the first time in a long time, Rick is fighting for the things that mattered in his old life: love, honor, and doing what’s right, not the things that become important in a life lived under constant threat of zombie-mania. Okay, so he went a little far, but his heart was in the right place. Unfortunately for him, zombie rules trump almost everything, and we’re sure to see the fallout very soon.
Light at the end of a tunnel?
While things were falling apart behind the walls of Alexandria, those outside the walls didn’t seem to be faring much better. Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Aaron's (Ross Marquand) escapades helped the gang discover the perfect setup for mysteries — involving that ominous, distant light and the bodies with the horrific "W" carvings — about to unravel.
Sasha just needs a hug
Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) played it fast and loose with the self-preservation angle after the deaths of Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) and the formerly ubiquitous Bob (Lawrence Gillard Jr.). Taking out zombies with disregard for her own safety has established Sasha as a prime candidate for either an unfortunate termination or causing the untimely death of one of her cohorts in the heat of whatever is to confront them next.
Young love, Walking Dead style
Carl’s (Chandler Riggs) budding romance with the angelic (by post-apocalyptic standards) Enid (Katelyn Nacon) was touching yet terrifying at the same time. Pre-pubescent love has never been more awkward as the two rendezvoused out in the woods and stumbled upon a horde of zombies, getting ultra-close while hiding in a hollowed-out tree.
Allies or Enemies? The Rick and Michonne Edition
Michonne (Danai Gurira) put a stop to Rick’s ill-advised over-protection of Jessie and found herself at a crossroads of sorts. In weeks past she’s found herself carrying the burden of one too many hard choices. Even though she ended ostensibly at odds with Rick, choosing to take things into her own hands and knock him out cold before things got completely out of hand, don’t be too sure that her intervention was her choosing sides so much as drawing a line in the sand. Odds are, when push comes to shove she’ll have Rick's back.
Tell Us: What horrible fates do you think will befall the Walking Dead gang in the season 5 finale?
