The Walking Dead Review: Episode 5×16 “Conquer”

The most intensity, emotion and thematic arcs we’ve seen in a while paid off in spades with one of the finest episodes to date. Has The Walking Dead ever been better?

The Walking Dead — As Morgan (Lennie James) continues his trek, he is confronted by the Wolves (Benedict Samuel and Jesse C. Boyd) and leaves them unconscious to go on his way. In Alexandria, Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) plans a forum to discuss Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) fate while Glenn (Steven Yeun) pursues Nicolas (Michael Traynor) over the wall. On the road, Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) discover a potential treasure of food only to find it is a walker trap. The two find refuge in a nearby car and are quickly surrounded by walkers on all sides. Agreeing they will fight together, live or die, salvation instead comes in the form of Morgan who frees them both. Just outside the walls, Glenn is shot in a surprise attack, but gains the upper hand with the opportunity to kill Nicolas only to relent at the last moment. Inside the walls, Rick notices walkers have entered and finds three as the group debates his future.

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Meanwhile, a distraught Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) approaches Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) for help, but instead he berates her for her sins. The ensuing struggle results in Sasha holding her gun to Gabriel who begs to die. Maggie (Lauren Cohan) intervenes and begins the healing process for all three. When a bloodied Rick dumps a walker at the meeting, he insists Alexandria’s luck will run out if they don’t adapt, but he can teach them to survive. As he finishes his speech, Pete (Corey Brill) enters with Michonne’s (Danai Gurira) Katana hell-bent on revenge, but in the struggle kills Reg instead (Steve Coulter). A distraught Deanna tells Rick to kill Pete, which Rick does, just as a shocked Morgan, Aaron and Daryl return. With Wolves resetting their trap and everyone in Alexandria in emotional disarray, let’s sift through all the details of the stunning season finale of The Walking Dead!

Ignorance, Fear and Evil: Where barbarism ends and civilization begins.

Most of Alexandria hasn’t faced the fears Rick’s family has kept at bay for longer than anyone should have to do. Alexandria has been snuggled behind their walls. In many ways, they have been blissfully ignorant of the new world and it’s dangers. Even those that have been outside and faced danger haven’t realized the gravity of all that’s taken place. The enormity of the world’s destruction and the importance that good people survive seemed to be lost on nearly everyone except Aaron. Carol was right. Alexandrians are like children.

But children can be taught. They can adapt. Ironically, Carol didn’t seem to feel as if Alexandria deserved the same chance she worked to give the children in the prison. But slowly, one by one, all of Rick’s family are coming to believe that Alexandria, if it can be taught to survive and be made safe, is worth fighting for and not against.

What Alexandria hasn’t grasped is that evil is flourishing in the new world. Whenever society breaks down, it always does. With nothing to keep people like the Wolves, Terminus and The Governor in check, the world becomes a brutal place. Society needs rules. People need checks and balances. There has to be accountability in society or the fringe will rip the center apart.

Rick’s broken window theory was a boundary even he broke in his brawl. He admitted as much to Michonne, Glenn and Abraham. He reached his limit and screwed up. But if Rick steps over the line and takes Alexandria by force is he any different than anyone strong that simply takes from the weak? If that happens, don’t they create the very anarchy that tears society apart? Reg said it best:

“Civilization starts when we stop running—when we live together. When we stop sending people away from the world and from each other.” ~ Reg

If there was a common theme to the first third of this episode, it was the struggle between what society could be and what it currently was. If good people have the drive to make a fractured society better there is a chance for humanity to survive. If no one takes that chance, then society remains what it is outside the walls of Alexandria. A place where death comes easily and life isn’t treated with the care and respect that it should be. All life is precious.

Through stellar writing and performances that captured the visceral, real struggle of right and wrong, The Walking Dead made a bold statement. Sasha’s serene moment laying in the pit of walkers was the perfect symbol of that statement. There’s a very fine line between the living, the evil and the dead in the zombie apocalypse. One has to fight to preserve what separates the living from the other two—the integrity to believe society can emerge intact once again.

Brotherhood and Hope: The small moment this series changed.

If there’s a way for both groups to come together as one community that fights for that better place, they’ve got to reach common ground. Oddly it’s Aaron and Daryl, the two outsiders of the group, that might be the lynchpin that joins these groups for good. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie between Ross Marquand and Norman Reedus as the two have continued to search for others beyond the walls and established a mutual respect.

As the two sprung the walker trap set by the Wolves and then fought their way to the only place of safety, the slow boil of the first third of this episode exploded in a heart-pounding grind to Bear McCreary’s jarring score. The moment threw us from quiet to intense and that’s a huge compliment to the cast and crew that made the moment work.

As the two sat in a car surrounded by raging walkers, the missing ingredient of Alexandria became clear. Rick’s family is just that—a family. Despite their disagreements, Glenn, Michonne and everyone else would stand by each other no matter what. What’s made them a family is their willingness to fight and die beside each other to survive. As a collective, Alexandria has never experienced such a thing. But as Daryl insisted he’d draw the walkers away for Aaron to make a run and Aaron refused, the possibility of that bond between Rick’s family and Alexandria’s emerged for the first time.

“I’ll lead them out. You make a break for the fence.” ~ Daryl

“No, no, no. This was my fault.” ~ Aaron

“It wasn’t a question. And this ain’t your decision. It ain’t nobody’s fault. Just let me finish my smoke first.” ~ Daryl

“No. You don’t draw them away. We fight. We go for the fence. We do it together. All right? Whether we make it or not, we do it together. We have to.” ~ Aaron

“All right.” ~ Daryl

That look on Daryl’s face was the moment things changed. Up to now, Daryl has made the tough calls and assumed if things came down to it with Aaron, he’d have to do it again. Aaron has shown more savvy than most, but the naivety of Alexandria made him guilty by association. But he did something Daryl didn’t expect. He made himself family by insisting that they do it together. Even if they both died, wouldn’t die alone. That’s the kinship that Rick’s family has earned the hard way in a world that’s left them little to believe in but each other.

That small look by Daryl was a glimpse of brilliance by Norman Reedus. With just the slightest inflection of his face, in that moment, they became brothers—ones willing to lay down their lives for one another. Neither would make the sacrifice play. Both would go out fighting—and they’d do it together.

There have been beautiful moments on The Walking Dead, but few have been so inspiring. As they counted down to what both likely assumed was death, unexpected hope appeared and Morgan saved the day. As he handed Daryl the map and soft piano emerged, we admit to chills. The opportunity for that brotherhood to live beyond that small moment in the car became possible. The two outsiders now had the kinship that could bring everyone inside the community together.

Forgiveness and Survival: The tale of three guns.

Anyone who thought the intensity and emotion would let up in the last half hour of this 90 minute episode, completely underestimated Writers Seth Hoffman and Scott M. Gimple. Perhaps as an audience, we’re used to being able to finally relax after an hour, but this entire episode was very much like the slow decent into a dark basement. For every step down, the tension only amplified and the anticipation became more and more frightening.

We all wondered if Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) and Eugene (Josh McDermitt) would, at some point, discuss their impasse that came to blows. Granted, all of those blows were by Abraham, but Eugene gets credit for living through them. The recovering Tara (Alanna Masterson), was the perfect vehicle to bring these two together again in a moment where Eugene demonstrated character growth and Abraham could finally exhale. They did have assistance from Rosita (Christian Serratos) and a noisy pan, but it felt good for Eugene and Abraham to forgive after all they’ve been through.

The long arc of Abraham and Eugene made the much more dramatic and dangerous confrontation between Glenn and Nicolas all the more impressive. We didn’t think the writing team, and Nicolas specifically, had it in him to commit premeditated murder. But by luring Glenn outside the walls that’s exactly what Nicolas appeared to be doing. We’re glad Nicolas is a poor shot, but as walkers piled on top, we held our breath that Glenn would, by some miracle, escape. He’s a survivor and when the tables were turned with the gun to Nicolas’s head, Glenn made a different choice. After all, not pulling the trigger is a metric that should be considered in the new world.

We cried with Steven Yeun as Glenn watched Noah (Tyler James Williams) die, but his rage and ultimate restraint might have been Yeun’s best moment on this show in some time. We’ll have to wait to see how things play out, but as both men hobbled back to Alexandria together, we have to think that a moment of forgiveness took place that has the power to change things for at least these two men, if not both groups.

The forgiveness didn’t end there. As the guilt of both Sasha and Gabriel reached a fever pitch and Sasha found herself ready to shoot him, the one person that could have grounded them, stepped away from the group meeting to find them. Maggie hasn’t been shy in her judgement of Gabriel, and through it all, it’s Maggie that’s empathized with Sasha the most as well. Both women have lost almost everyone they loved and it took the confrontation of all three to begin shedding the burden of guilt they’ve each carried. Kudos to the writing team and all three actors for tying those threads in a way we didn’t see coming, but upon reflection made perfect sense.

For all the forgiveness, redemption and hope this episode built, the last few minutes reminded us that nothing earned in this world of the dead comes easy. As the intensity ratcheted up to the ebb and flow of Bear McCreary’s thumping score, Rick’s family made their case for him in calm persuasive conversation, in between the wildly intense sequences of Glenn, Nicolas, Sasha, Gabriel and Rick all fighting for their lives. That’s simply fantastic television that had us on pins and needles.

Rick Grimes, a man who has put what has to be done for survival above nearly everything else, wrestled with the demons that have haunted him since he woke in a hospital bed alone—while his family battled for his soul. As Rick overcame the last of the walkers, splattering it all over, he made for a horrific sight as he dumped the body in the middle of the meeting in which his fate might be determined. The writers brought everything to a crescendo at just the right moment for Rick to lay it all out.

“I didn’t bring it in. It got inside on its own. They always will—the dead and the living, because we’re in here.

And the ones out there they’ll hunt us. They’ll find us. They’ll try to use us. They’ll try to kill us. But we’ll kill them. We’ll survive. I’ll show you how.

You know, I was thinking—I was thinking how many of you do I have to kill to save your lives? But I’m not gonna do that. You’re gonna change.

I’m not sorry for what I said last night. I’m sorry for not saying it sooner. You’re not ready, but you have to be. Right now, you have to be.

Luck runs out.” ~ Rick

But it was Pete that made the point abundantly clear in killing Reg. Danger had been inside the wall all the time. Do it, Deanna echoed. As Rick pulled the trigger and Morgan arrived with Daryl and Aaron, the group was stunned. Consequences may come from Pete’s death, but we’ll have to wait to find out what those are and how Morgan may impact Rick. In that final moment, through a clever play of writing, their roles felt very much reversed from their last meeting. Perhaps Morgan is the only person that can bring him all the way back again.

Alexandria has been extraordinarily lucky. They’ve managed to survive despite themselves. Their ignorance, fear of the unknown and unwillingness to accept the world had changed was about to end. Andrew Lincoln was magnificent in delivering what these people needed to hear. If they want to survive, there will be things they have to do that they don’t like. If they don’t they’ll die. You have to fight to survive. Or your luck indeed runs out.

FINAL VERDICT: Words can’t adequately describe the quality of this episode. With one of the most intense and gratifying endings thus far, The Walking Dead left us wanting more. Thank goodness there’s a 6th Season ahead.

There’s no way a review could ever do an episode of this quality the justice it deserves. What we hope anyone comes away understanding is that this episode tapped into something special and embodied the fundamental characteristics that have made this show so good for so long. The Walking Dead is not about the dead. It never has been. It’s about the struggle the living endure to survive a world that is constantly imposing its will to shatter their humanity.

How these characters manage to get back up and struggle forward with shreds of their humanity intact is why we’ve come to love them. And seeing them pass tests many of us might fail gives us strength. There’s a reason why social media explodes with the hashtag #TWDFamily each week. We endure those moments with these characters and we love them for it.

Writers Seth Hoffman and Scott M. Gimple have been working on this show long enough to realize the elements so important to the fans that loyally watch each week. They managed to weave together most of the themes that have defined The Walking Dead all in one 90 minute thrill-ride of a finale. Balancing all those themes was no small feat. Director Greg Nicotero, the most prolific director in this show’s five year run, was likely the perfect choice to bring together this ambitious thematic script.

Few know this world better than Nicotero. With beautiful cinematography by Director of Photography Michael. E. Satrazemis and fantastic work by Editor Julius Ramsay, Nicotero brought together a script that could have easily failed if it had not been given the love and care it needed to become something special. That kind of quality only comes from the rare dedication this group has shown time and time again.

No review of this finale would be complete without a nod to Bear McCreary and his incredible work. Through familiar themes and new territory the score showed tremendous range. From the grinding intensity of the walker trap, the throbbing tension of Rick’s walker survival, Glenn’s and Sasha’s refusal to pull the trigger or the sublime and hopeful theme of Morgan, this episode’s score had it all. That’s stunning work for any project and The Walking Dead is lucky to have such a talented composer to add that layer of emotion to every scene.

The actors who gave something special for this finale can’t be praised enough. Everyone was fantastic, but standout performances by Lennie James, Steven Yeun, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride and Andrew Lincoln pushed this episode into rare territory. We’re used to great work on The Walking Dead, but this episode was simply at another level.

We don’t know what dangers the Wolves will pose next season. And we don’t know what challenges will lie ahead for these characters, but we most certainly DO know that when The Walking Dead premieres in October, we will roll up the grass, shut out the world and sit fixed in front of our televisions once again to see where Our Walking Dead Family goes next.

Questions, Comments, Concerns and My reaction on Twitter…

• Morgan sighting! Do we only get 2 minutes of him? I do like it when he smiles.
• Everything gets a return. I shit you not. Is that good or bad?
• This is creepy as hell W
• Honk the horn and take their luck. Looks like everything has an END too. Boom. THAT was freakin BADASS.
• Well, we’re here. You just said you weren’t.Woman has a point.
• These people are children. And children like stories. Wow. @mcbridemelissa
• I like Reg. #HesScrewed
• Sasha just chillin with her peeps.
• I don’t wanna lie anymore. Oh sunshine—you don’t get both. Preach it! BOOM! @mcbridemelissa
• I love you. Oh shit. @steveyeun @LaurenCohan
• The word of God is the only protection I need. It wasn’t all you needed before dude. #TheWalkingDead
• Just for the record. I am NOT OKAY after that!
• Bad people coming. Don’t stay. Ya think??? WTF??
• Come at me. Yeah? No? Carol is the scariest person on this show. Period. @mcbridemelissa
• I’m gonna throw up if this gets worse. Uggg…
• We do it together. That look was RESPECT.
• The F**KING MAP! Hell yes!
• I just realized I was supposed to breathing. Dammit the trauma this show puts us through. Sheesh!!
• I can’t even tweet well. I’m leaving out words and shit. Arrrgggg…
• I almost killed you. Yes, there’s that. That was healing.
• Damn. Didn’t even mess up his white shirt. #Disappointed
• Well you did hit me over the head. We don’t need them here. Oh yes you do. o.O
• I gotta remember to do that breathing thing. This is intense! Usually I get to relax, but we have 30 more minutes!!!
• Damn you @bearmccreary .. this music is disturbing my CALM!
• Rick knows every fine grain of said shit. And then some. #ThingsAbrahamSays
• Looks like there are still #RedShirts in the zombie apocalypse.
• Anybody else wondering where that stray bullet went? #Scared
• Usually the bullet goes through the brain first, but .. well, that was new.