The Walking Dead: What are the Differences Between Alexandria and Woodbury?

Alexandria and Woodbury seem to be the same concept–civilization at the end of the world. A way to feel normal, to feel alive again. But are they the same?  The similarities are clear. Keep the residents safe. Try to keep as many pre-apocalyptic pleasures as possible. Have some rules and order. Give people jobs and a sense of purpose. Keep it pretty. But there are many ways the two differ. Rick and the group didn’t just stumble upon another carbon copy of Woodbury.
A Senator or a Governor

Alexandria is run by a former politician and The Governor was a slick as a politician. Slicker. A used car salesman turned politician. The Governor had soldiers. They didn’t give input or question him. Not even Milton, his “butler”, really influenced the Governor in his decision-making. Deanna looks for input. She is still strong and decisive and is the final word. But she doesn’t dictate.

Transparency or Appearances 

Alexandria is all about transparency–in the extreme. Videotapes, transcripts, town meetings. Woodbury was all about appearances. It was anything but transparent. Tanks of heads in the Governor’s suite and torture chambers hid behind the manicured parkways and lampposts. In irony or paradox or some such literary term, Alexandria is about appearances in another sense. They don’t want to see the ugly so even though they claim to value transparency, they don’t see through the Windex-wiped windows that there is danger outside those big walls that keep them safe.

Welcome party or Biter Wrestling 

The people of Alexandria like to pretend that there is no danger. They were more sheltered than the people of Woodbury and less aware of what’s out there. Their entertainment consists of parties and book clubs. While Woodbury had barbecues and picnics, they also had visibly armed walls and biter wrestling with Martinez and Merle as their Hulk Hogan and El Santo.

Take in Residents or Recruit Them 

Taking in residents implies they are indebted to you. They are weaker than you. The Governor wasn’t looking for people stronger than him in the sense of leadership. Deanna, the politician, knows she needs help to keep this high-wire act of transparency and safety and pie-in-the-sky civilization dream of hers going.

Time will tell if the differences in Alexandria and Woodbury will help keep Alexandria going longer or differently than Woodbury. I don’t see Deanna trying to attack another group or impose a vendetta, but perhaps its weaknesses may be exposed under attack by the wolves, walkers or some other evil sure to present itself soon enough.

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