(Spoilers ahead)
Each week, we comb through the guts of The Walking Dead, much like a horde of hungry walkers, to bring you the episode’s best moments, surprises, and other post-apocalyptic curiosities. This week: Schrödinger’s Glenn, the Deanna Uncertainty Principle, and Scott Gimple’s 3rd Law (for every Rick-action, there is an equal and opposite Alexandrian reaction).
Season 6, Episode 5: “Now”
Worst unsolved mystery: Stop toying with us! Is Glenn dead or alive?
Second worst unsolved mystery: Just how did Rick escape the RV and run all the way to Alexandria?
Most requested items for the next supply run: Pine-Sol, Swiffer WetJet pads, club soda, bleach, and anything else that can get blood out of floors and carpets.
Most scholarly Easter egg: Deanna wrote on her Alexandria plan: “Dolor hic tibi proderit olim.” Attributed to Ovid, this Latin quote translates to “someday this pain will be useful to you.”
Least shocking twist: Oh? Maggie’s pregnant with (possibly dead) Glenn’s child? The only way the writers could have made it more cliche is by having her announce it on Facebook by holding a jar of Prego.
Worst listening skills: Rick warns the Alexandriates not to be seen, not to make noise, and not to turn on any lights, in hopes that the walkers might just go away. Then Deanna literally teases the walkers at the gate; Spencer stands in full view of the hungry, hungry horde; and others leave their lights ablaze. We’re starting to think they’re doing these things on purpose.
You’ll shoot your eye out, kid: The way Ron and Carl are fighting isn’t good. And if you’ve read the TWD comics, you know that Ron learning how to shoot a gun could be even worse . . . for Carl.
Shortest memory: Jessie, Rick killed your husband like a week ago. Now you’re kissing him? We know Pete was abusive, but don’t you need more time to sort things out? No? Carry on then.
Biggest optimist: Aaron. Maggie might believe Glenn is alive (and so do we) but Nicholas? Come on, man, you sure you want to scrub that name off the memorial wall so soon?
Biggest breakthrough in diplomatic relations: Deanna has officially acknowledged the Ricktatorship’s sovereignty. Long live the king.
Most ominous set detail: Why was blood leaking out of the side of the perimeter wall? Is it about to give?
Best line: “When he gets back, it’s worth mentioning that Aaron, Erin, works for both a boy or a girl depending on the spelling. Just saying.” —Aaron to Maggie
Best kill: Jessie calmly stabbing that walker in the eye. Not only did it cement her as a fighter, it also allowed her to turn in her Alexandria preschool soccer team red-shirt.
Most disturbing image: At this point, we thought we’d seen the worst Greg Nicotero could throw at us. And as anyone who has ever had a unclogged toilet can tell you, nothing good ever comes up from the sewer. With a year and a half to rot into . . . um . . . fertilized skeletons, those sewer walkers were the most disturbing things we’ve seen not only this week, but possibly over the course of the entire series.
Episode MVP: Aaron, for not only taking responsibility for losing his backpack (and thus letting the Wolves know where to attack), but also guiding Maggie on a safer path out of Alexandria and supporting her when she realized her journey to find Glenn was a lost cause. He’s one of the purest, most honest good guys we’ve met on this show. So that probably means he isn’t long for this world.
And once again, where exactly does Rick fall this week on the calm/crazy scale?
