The Walking Dead: Season 5, Episode 13: Forget

     This episode was an appropriate follow up for last week. The show is definitely committing to story progression. The slow pace is still there, but it’s actively building toward something this time instead of the usual wandering and talking. At the beginning of this season I would have accused the show of noncommittal writing, but things are looking up.

Carol remains the most interesting character on the show. She is the only one that is consistently arcing and staying true to what she has become. I’m loving her ruthlessness. Stealing guns and threatening a child with a smile on her face! Fantastic.

Carl seems to be just as indecisive as his father and is just hanging out as if murdering people hasn’t affected him. Darryl and Michonne are pretty much the same character as of the end of the episode. Abraham, Glen and Maggie reminded us they exist with a few lines and Sasha seems to be extremely shell shocked. With the exception of Noah, whose existence is still being justified, everyone is is pretty much just background noise.

Alexandria has its share of mysteries and suspicious characters, but it seems like at this point, the enemy is the group’s own paranoia. That is a pretty good solution to the monotonous, “everyone is out to get us” theme. The only issue I have is how fast everyone, even Darryl, have given in and let their guards down. Carol is the only one sticking to her guns. Rick is kind of there with her, but he’s doing it with the same indecisive trepidation that he does with literally everything. How is he still the leader of this group?

The most interesting thing Rick has done since slaughtering those marauder’s last season, was the look he gave Jessie and her husband. It was very covetous. Are we seeing a touch of Shane Walsh in his former best friend’s behavior? Is Rick in danger of becoming a much more interesting character?

I really hope this is leading into a really good season finale. I will not be very happy with this show if it tries to pull that, season finale is only a cliffhanger for the next season premiere. Let’s have some resolution and a cliffhanger this time. Bring me that feeling you brought me in season one!

Jonathan Jones

Jonathan Thomas Jones is a speculative fiction author and founder of geekhavenreviews.com. He has been passionate about all things geek for his entire life. See more about him at jonathanthomasjones.com and follow him on twitter @jtgloryjones.