The Walking Dead

"We've been praying together. Praying that God will save our town. Well, our prayers have been answered. God will save Alexandria because God has given us the courage to save it ourselves."

 

 

I was a little late jumping onto the Walking Dead wagon, and like most of the awesome stuff out there (and I hate to admit this) my younger brother was the one to pull me in. After the midseason premerie episode I felt compelled to write about what I feel really makes this show so freaking amazing.
"No Way Out" was one of the best episodes of any television show that I have seen in a long time. Everything that you wanted was there. You had the action, the sorrow, the triumph, loss, humor, blood, love...anything that anyone could want was there. One of the things that I really loved about this particular episode was that it brought the focus back on the walkers. It reminded us that they were a very real threat still. This was an important reminder for me because I have been telling people for awhile now that the walkers are kind of a secondary thing. The show isn't about walkers. They are there of course, but the real danger lies in the people who are left alive in the world after everything has gone to hell. This is the case for sure, but I think that we maybe all had forgotten just how dangerous the walkers can really be. Remembering that these things can essentially destroy an entire town in the matter of a few hours was a really terrifying thought. As viewers we had all gotten quite comfortable with being afraid of the people and killing a few walkers along the way. "No Way Out" slapped me in the face and pushed me down the stairs reminding me that the people in the world are one threat, but that the walkers are still there and just as dangerous to any new way of life as ever.
I was so happy to see everyone in Alexandria rally behind Rick and take a stand against the walkers. They made that decision that they would try to fight back no matter what. The best way to deal with the situation is not to hide in their houses and hope that everything goes away, but to take a stand and to take a stand together. It was the moment that both sides, our group and the Alexandrians, realized that if they didn't join together that they would all die alone. There is still hope left in the world.
Last weeks episode was equally as important as the season premiere. While there wasn't quite as much heart stopping action; that episode was there to help begin to develop foundation for what is coming next. Our people are starting to feel comfortable and at home for the first time in the show. They have a plan. They have food. They feel safe. It was the right time for Rick and Michonne be together for sure. That was really the first moment I feel like they both were able to put their guards down and relax. Neither one had to worry about taking watch or making sure a walker was coming to eat Judith. It was a moment of new normal. 
As an English major and language arts teacher, the story nerd in me comes out hardcore with this series. The writing for each episode is just pure brilliance. They have taken what Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard have brought to life in the comic book world and shaped it into something that makes me wonder what I did with my Sunday nights before Walking Dead was on. Each week presents a wonderful piece of the Walking Dead puzzle. I say that because recently I went back to the start of the series and watched season 1. I was blown away to see just how much the story has grown and the characters had developed from the time we first met them on their way to Atlanta. Each week our characters grow and change in a world that is so unforgiving, and even those so called "filler" episodes are another important pieces to this puzzle and these characters live.
My favorite character in the entire series is Daryl. Yes, he is sexy and I would follow that man to the ends of the earth, but that isn't the only reason why I love him. I feel that Daryl is probably the character who has done the most growing throughout the story so far. Going all the way back to season one, when the gang of guys were holding Glenn captive and Rick told them that they had to go and save him, Daryl wanted to leave him behind and said that it was everyman for himself. I thought that his character took a full circle when Beth was being held by the people in the hospital. He was not going to leave anyone behind and was going to do whatever he could to make sure that he got her home. He has become a true protector of his family, and will do whatever he can to keep them safe. I know that he isn't the only character to have grown over the course of the series, but for me; he is the one that really has taken what has happened and grown from it. Not just become hardened toward the world because of it.
So if you haven't had the chance to check out this show yet. Do it. You won't be disappointed at all, and if you are.... then I seriously will have to reconsider our friendship.... Just Kidding, but you will be the first person I throw in front of the walkers one day when the end of the world occurs!