It feels like a different kind of show this week on The Walking Dead as sadistic psychopaths are swapped with sweater sets and suburban dinner party talk. Which is the more terrifying?
Let’s bitch it out.
If ever there was a tonal shift in a series this is it – although the front end of ‘Forget’ is similar to what we’ve been used to throughout the series: survival strategizing/secret meetings etc. but the third act of the episode offers a jarring twist. Alexandria town mayor (or whatever inconsequential title you want to give her) Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) throws a welcome party for the Grimes gang in hopes of further encouraging them to join the community. The result is trifling small talk about pasta makers as we see our survivors sulk in the doorways, awkwardly eying the beer table in Deanna’s cookie-cutter, suburban house. Is this what they fought so hard to survive for?
Couple this with Deanna’s naive optimism about the future and The Walking Dead offers us a different kind of horror. Dare I say the show is trying to make a commentary on the emptiness of the so-called American Dream? It may be far reaching, but I couldn’t help but wonder if ‘Forget’ is more about what kinds of zombies we might encounter inside the walls of Alexandria as opposed to outside.
I’m not sure how I feel about it, but I will say that if I have to endure more of Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) vomit-inducing sexual tension with Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge) I’m jumping ship on this show. Is he intentionally flirting with Jessie or is it all part of the bait-and-switch master plan that Rick, Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) are spearheading? Although it’s been presented to us as a contingency plan should Alexandria go belly up, it’s good to see our survivors finally getting a leg up on things rather than falling into complacency. I think all the inane chatter we get at the dinner party is meant to give us that stark contrast, reminding us that this is not the storybook ending we envision for our survivors.
To hammer it home Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) spoon-feeds it to us a little more by having the only sensible reaction to the situation. Her highly appropriate ‘DAFUQ’ expression as she wanders throughout the party is one of the episode’s highlights. There’s just enough meta-commentary throughout the episode to get me a little excited, but it’s subtle enough that its unlikely to alienate viewers who prefer the more traditional Walking Dead fare. We still get enough zombie action and disemboweling of poor horses to please us, but enough questions remain about what’s really going on in Alexandria to keep us all intrigued. I appreciate the setup the show seems to taking before what is likely to be quite the explosive season finale in a couple of weeks.
Other Observations:
- Just like last week, Carol remains the best character ever. Her speech to the snot-nose brat who made the unfortunate decision to follow her into the weapon reserves is likely to garner her an Emmy nomination (or it should). Kudos to the writers who continue to build on her evolution and strength
- Again, like last week, I echo my sentiment about wanted to clean house on the completely superfluous characters. Anyone miss Father Gabriel (Seth Gillam) this episode? Or Tara (Alanna Masterson)? Yeah, I thought not. #byefelicia
- Gotta say, of all the Alexandrites , Olivia (Ann Mahoney) is becoming a fast favourite
- Jessie’s husband Pete (Corey Brill) seems decidedly less of an a-hole than when we met him on the darkened porch last episode. I still think he’s gonna be trouble going forward, but would be delighted if I ended up being wrong.
What did you think viewers? Have you drunk the Kool-Aid like Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Michonne (Danai Gurira)? Do you think Rick is starting to settle in? Are Carol and Sasha the only sensible ones left? Who is behind the “W” marking on the walkers outside the wall? Do you think it’s the same group behind the waterfall of zombie torsos that we saw in Noah’s (Tyler James Williams) ex-home town? Let us know your theories in the comments below.
A gentle reminder that we adhere to a SPOILER FREE zone. Please keep any plot points from the graphic novel that may potential spoil the direction of the show to yourself.
The Walking Dead airs at 9pm EST, Sundays on AMC.