TV Review: The Walking Dead (Season 5, Episode 16, March 29, 2015)

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

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EPISODE 16: Conquer

THE HOOK: Deanna holds a meeting to discuss Rick’s fate, but all hell breaks loose before, during and after.

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

THE LOWDOWN: I’ve been waiting all season for some major Morgan action (I’m sure you have too), and tonight I got it, and then some! That was hands down the best opening of the season, and dare I say, one of, if not the best this show has put out. Everything gets a return. Tonight, Morgan returned with a vengeance. And what better way than to have him kick the holy hell out of a couple of our mysterious Wolves. The conversation was perfect, although, dude was far more polite than I expected. But the hurt Morgan put on those two fools was epic. And if that wasn’t enough, he comes to Aaron and Daryl’s rescue—that Wolf trap was epic in itself. Disco walkers. I guess Techno does come in handy during the zombie apocalypse. Once Daryl saw the map, I knew they’d take Morgan back. He’s going to be a one hell of an asset, and I can’t wait to see how his addition affects things next season.

After last week I was getting worried about Rick—spacing out, hitting on other men’s wives, trying to play patty cake with a walker through the wall, you know, weird stuff. Thankfully that blow to head brought him back to his senses. That said, despite how nuts his outburst was, everyone but Deanna seemed to agree with him. I liked how he came clean with Michonne. That was a solid moment, and speaks wonders for their relationship. He said, “You could have talked me out of it.” Who else has the power to change Rick’s mind? Daryl, maybe, but he wasn’t there, and this is one instance he wouldn’t have bothered talking Rick down. Rick admitting he screwed it is also worth mentioning. He’s a guy who doesn’t just say that, but he did, and it was cool. I also liked the attention to detail we got via the bandages on Rick and Pete’s faces. Looked identical to the comics. Speaking of which, since I read the comics, I knew how tonight would play out. Loved the Carol and Pete scene, but I can’t help but think that having that happen probably set Pete off, and then seeing Rick talking to his wife no doubt lit the fuse. The scene with Reg was also straight out of the comics and handled beautifully. They put a lot of love into tonight’s episode and it shows. Respect.

Gabriel. Why can’t he just die already!? I hate the character, he’s a whiny bitch that needs to be taken out back Old Yeller style. Dude can’t even kill himself properly. But all that, eye twitchingly irritating as it may be, I can handle, but leaving the f*cking gate open? Are you serious!? Unbelievable. And then after the dust settles (and he tries to kill Sasha), Maggie forgives him. Sigh. I love her kind heart and all, but damn girl, and despite everything that happened she still didn’t tell anyone about what he said to Deanna. My mind continues to spin over that one. Deanna spills the beans at Rick’s Roast, but thankfully everyone else speaks up for him. Abraham’s speech was priceless. That guy’s not allowed to die. Ever. I like that he forgave Eugene. Yes, the Eugene’s five kinds of useless, but the fact that this group is still able to show humanity is what makes them so engaging to watch. The ass kicking helps too.

THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 5’s finale was a perfect ending to the best season thus far. I know a lot of people may argue that point, go ahead, I’m not here to tell you you’re opinion, I’m here to give you mine, and for me (as a fan of both the comics and the show) it couldn’t have been a better ride. The internet hype train was building this to be bigger than it was, but I probably only feel that way because I knew Pete was going to kill Reg. What a scene. And then Deanna’s “okay” to Rick was oh, so, very sweet. Poor Glenn, that guy just can’t catch a break. I knew that fool Nicholas was going to make a move, and of course, Glenn has to go in favor of humanity as well, and not kill the guy. You stay classy Glenn. This episode was one of the most intense I’ve watched in a while. There was so much going on. Rick going after the walkers who got inside (it’s amazing they didn’t kill anyone), then we get the Wolves executing the red poncho guy Aaron and Daryl were tracking (I loved every second of those two together—great character combo). I almost had epic overload. Morgan gets back just as Rick blows Pete’s face off, and then I hope you stayed until the credits rolled to see Michonne put her sword back on as well as the ramifications of The Wolves and red poncho guy. All in all, good times.

ZOMBIE KILL OF THE WEEK: Daryl takes out three walkers via head slice with a chain. That, was awesome, but equally good was Rick’s slow kill of the walker inside the complex.

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: There was no shying away from the good stuff tonight. Blood, gore, pieces, biting, chewing, guts, heads torn off, heads chopped off, throats slashed. You name it, and it probably happened tonight.

FINAL VERDICT:

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