TV Review: The Walking Dead (Season 5, Episode 15, March 21, 2015)

Last Updated on July 22, 2021

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EPISODE 15: Try

THE HOOK: Just when things couldn’t get any more tense, Rick and Pete have a confrontation that will change everything.

The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS, so I don’t recommend reading this if you haven’t watched this episode

THE LOWDOWN: I was a little disappointed that we didn’t see more of the ‘return from the run’ explanation. Tonight opened up with Deanna, Reg and Spencer’s awkward mourning music sequence—nothing like a little Nine Inch Nails to help ease your pain. You can tell Deanna’s holding a grudge long before she gives Carol’s casserole the cold shoulder and burns the note. It’s in her eyes, and with Gabriel’s accusations still ringing her in ears, the group’s clearly in for an uphill battle. Seeing Nicholas blame the whole thing on Glenn didn’t come as much of a shocker, but it was hard to read whether or not Deanna believed him. The trouble with Deanna is that she’s far too smart to be stupid. She admits to Rick later on that she knew about Pete’s problem, but naturally she figured he was too strong an asset to properly punish. Rick, on the other hand, feels differently, but we’ll get to that.

The one storyline I was dying to see more of tonight was Daryl and Aaron. They come across a fire in the woods in opening moments of the show, but are then shoehorned into the final moments (sigh), without much resolve. Their discovery? More decapitated walkers and a chick tied to a tree with a ‘W’ carved into her forehead. It looks to be punishment, as in, she was tied there alive and left for the walkers to feed on—I guess she didn’t pick the cookies. We still have yet to see The Wolves, but I’ll be honest, I was hoping it was Morgan. Something tells me they’re going to leave us hanging something awful next week.

A lot happened tonight, but there was just as much filler. Personally, I’m not loving Sasha’s ongoing meltdown. We get it already, do something about it and move on. Admittedly, I did agree with her assessment of things whilst talking to Michonne after their game of zombie monkeys in a barrel. She makes a great point about everything working out for Michonne and how they can’t help her, but dammit Sasha, everyone’s had (or are still dealing with) some sort of an inner struggle, so what the hell makes you so special? Deal with it or leave before you get people killed. Speaking of getting killed, I’m not a fan of Enid’s carefree walks in the woods. Okay, I get it, you don’t want to forget, but running through the woods with cooking timers isn’t the best way to stay sharp—nor is hiding in a hallowed out tree with a HUGE (and very obvious) opening. Come on Carl, you know better! Get some T&A back at the house. Other than that, what seriously bothered me tonight was no Gabriel retribution. Where the hell is Maggie and why in God’s name has she not told anyone yet!?

THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 5’s fifteenth episode was up and down. I get it, you can’t have them outshining the finale (though I somehow doubt that’s possible), but at times it felt like nothing was happening, when in fact, so damn much is going on. That said, it went out with a bang as Rick pretty much loses his damn mind. Okay, to be fair, he warned Pete in the house, and his previous statement of ‘keep walking’ should have been a clear sign that he wasn’t messing around. Pete, however, isn’t the brightest fella on the block. That, or he’s been in there getting away with everything for so damn long that he forgot what it was like to be challenged and/or have to fight for something. Either way, the scuffle was cool, but the end result left Rick looking full out bonkers, with blood all over his face and sporting the crazy eyes. Oh, but he didn’t stop there. He decides to tell Deanna how it’s going to be, not his brightest move (though Carol seemed to be enjoying the fireworks). Michonne breaks it up, but becomes clear that we’re in for an ‘us vs. them’ type of finale. I can only assume that in the midst of them ‘discussing Rick Grimes’, a new threat will come knocking and throw a wrench in to the entire thing. Can’t wait to see it.

ZOMBIE KILL OF THE WEEK: Sasha scored far too many headshots to not win this title.

BLOOD AND GORE: I don’t think I’ve seen more heads splatter in an episode, plus we get some decapitated limbs and a half eaten chick tied to a tree.

COOLEST SCENE: I specifically didn’t mention this in the review because I wanted to save it for here. Glenn is all kinds of badass when he confronts Nicholas and tells him ‘people like you are supposed to be dead’. Loved that. He put that dude in his place, and I think Nicholas will no doubt come after Glenn next week as we found out tonight that he’s the one who stole Ricks buried gun.

FINAL VERDICT:

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