The Walking Dead Review: “Conquer” (5×16)

You should be very happy you don't live with me or next door to me, because my shouts of “Morgaaaaan!” at the opening of last night's season finale of the “The Walking Dead” were probably heard down the block.

After small teases here and there, Lennie James' Morgan returned to the series with a tense standoff to begin the episode. It also gave us our first terrifying look at the Wolves, hinted at for the past several episodes. The wolf is menacing in his calmness, but Morgan has apparently taken some ninja and/or Jedi training. Morgan takes out his captors with his walking stick but leaves them alive, tied up in a car. I'm already wondering how this new badass non-lethal version of the character came to be, and how will he eventually gel with the new badass but very-lethal Rick.

Back at Alexandria, Michonne tell Rick she delivered last week's knock out punch “for you, not for them”. Danai Gurira and Andrew Lincoln have a nice scene that shows how dedicated their characters are to each other, even when viewpoints differ. Though the fact that Rick excluded Michonne from his plans was for nothing sort of squashed some of the tension last week seemed to be building towards.

Leave it to Carol then, to be the tension torch-bearer. In another “I-am-not-to-be-trifled-with” moment, she brings one of her (now signature) sadness casseroles to Pete. Despite his towering stature and threats, she pulls a knife on him. “I could kill you right now, I will” she says, calmly showing him who is boss. Interestingly, our resident Cookie Monster doesn't kill the scum bag, but gives him the chance to redeem himself. And if not, she'll gut him later. Melissa McBride has created the most dynamic character arc of the series. This is the reason we watch TV.

The most successful sequence of the episode was the editing of the various side plots happening alongside Deanna's town hall meeting. Rick is tracking down the zombie infiltrators, Glenn and Nicholas are battling in the woods, and Sasha's frustrations come to a head in a confrontation with Gabriel.

As we cut to the three life and death battles, member's of Rick's clan share stories of his bravery and stick up for the leader of their family. It was important to emphasize that despite Rick's frightening actions, the gang was still united behind him. And as Alexandrian's like Jessie began to back him up as well, Deanna's argument grew weaker and weaker.

I was a tad disappointed that none of the altercations built towards a death. Perhaps that says something about the effect the show is having on my moral compass, but come on. Nicholas and Gabriel need to go. I am glad that Glenn was able to hold on to some of his humanity and spare the coward Nicholas. But the writer's continued efforts to make me sympathize with Gabriel are growing more annoying by the minute. Oh he's crying in the street? Don't care. If Maggie knew what was best, she would have let Sasha pull the trigger.

The climatic death came in the form of Pete's accidental murder of Reg. It didn't quite register as too emotional for the viewer considering his limited screen time, but Tovah Feldshuh once again stepped up to the plate for a brilliantly executed scene. Her angry and vengeful “Rick, do it” was chilling. She at last comes to terms with the kill or be killed mantra, but had to lose her husband to get there.

Aaron and Daryl provide most of the Walker action of the episode. While trying to follow and recruit a man in a red poncho, they stumble upon an enclosed grocery store. Obviously this type of set-up is too good to be true and I was furiously yelling “Trap!” at my TV, but alas, my new favorite odd couple didn't hear me.  The resulting fight is full of some of the most creative zombie kills of the series. Aaron chops one walker with a license plate (poor guy just can't keep his plate collection together), and smashes another's head apart with a car door. I genuinely thought both of them were goners when they found themselves trapped in the car. Morgan showing up in the nick of time was awesome, but I won't lie: I was a pretty excited for the Thelma and Louise moment Daryl and Aaron were planning. Either way I'm happy the odd couple lives to fight another day.

I can't wait to find out how Deanna and Rick lead the town together, now that the two are on the same page. They'll need to be on their game for the crafty and dangerous Wolves now interested in taking Alexandria. This season has been the best so far in my opinion. Season six can't get here fast enough.

Other Thoughts

• Did anyone else see the “Little Red Riding Hood” reference in having the man in the red poncho captured by the Wolves? I guess in the apocalypse, “Little Red” doesn't get a happily ever after.
• Who was it leaving all the markings for Morgan to follow? The Wolves? Exiled Alexandrians? We will have to ponder this til next season.
• How many Wolves are there? We only get to see two of them in the finale. Could it be possible there are just two people in the group, using stealth and their army of walkers to gain the upper hand?
• Best Line: “I want my dish back clean when you're done”. Carol, leaving a terrified Pete with a casserole of shame.
• Walker Kill of the Week: Lots of great zombie slaying this week, but Daryl's triple decapitation via chain whip absolutely takes the cake.  I don't even care how improbable or unrealistic it was.