The Walking Dead 512: Remember when ‘Remember’ promised a new start?

In The Walking Dead episode 512, Alexandria seemed hopeful.

In many ways, “Remember” threatens to be a Rick-centric episode of  The Walking Dead. When he first gets to Alexandria, he is immediately at odds with the place. His trust had been severely rattled too many times before. In fact, others in his company (understandably) have trust issues as well.

The group attempts to convince him that there are no guns within the Safe-Zone. However, Rick knows that others can carry weapons in Alexandria, which is part of why they consider it a “Safe-Zone.” However, everyone else — including Michonne and Rosita Espinosa — convinces Rick to surrender their weapons for the time being.

Alexandria’s leader, Deanna Monroe, interviews Rick’s crew, and the interviews provide personality snapshots while almost serving as mini-negotiations. Fortunately, the episode doesn’t end in an ultimatum, but will they be able to rest for long? Of course not! However, it is a relief that, even though the group must disarm, they weren’t swarmed upon by cannibals or told they must leave the Safe-Zone in order to prevent bloodshed. They weren’t really met with force, at least not exactly. However, not everything stays tranquil.

The Walking Dead: The return of officer Rick?

As the leader, Deanna decides to assign the new crew jobs. Michonne and Rick are to function as police officers in Alexandria. In order to resettle into this line of work, Rick receives some assurance by Deanna that his group will be respected. It’s not an easy transition, though. While Rick has intelligence, he unwittingly almost creates problems through his distrust of his new home. For example, he gets caught stashing weapons, which is a no-no. Fortunately, Deanna’s a very self-assured and cool-headed “moral compass” type who understands Rick’s perspective. It seems most viewers would understand, too.

One of my favorite quotes from the episode is from Rick (to Carol): “We won’t get weak, that’s not in us anymore. We’ll make it work. And if they can’t make it… then we’ll just take this place.” Rick also suffers from feelings faced by many with authority: It can seem like people hate everything you do. However, Aaron was ultimately rescued from walkers by the bow, gun, and sword of Rick’s group, so they’ve at least demonstrated some worth already.

Quaint aspects of “Remember”

Though this episode does feature many characters besides Rick, it’s more about mini-moments. For example, Carol lies to Deanna by describing herself as a “den mother,” adding that she misses her husband (who had abused her, weakening her spirit). There are some characters who receive almost no attention, like Abraham and Gabriel the preacher, who may not be at home anywhere on earth (at least by this point in the series). While Rick and Deanna form a connection, it is not a romantic one. That is actually reserved for Jessie Anderson. Despite being married, she offers Rick a haircut, which could be construed by some as an intimate first meeting.

Glenn’s fight

A bit of a fury builds outside of Alexandria’s walls between Glenn and Deanna’s son, Aiden. The problem? Aiden and his pals are keeping a “practice” walker around, which almost successfully attacks Tara. There’s a sense this won’t be a passing thing like the weather, but Deanna later attempts to de-escalate tensions, suggesting relations aren’t completely damaged between Rick’s crew and the others.

It is reminiscent of certain politics of the entrance to Woodbury, which is sort of an under-examined plot device for The Walking Dead. More generally, it fits with a thematic trend which can be framed in the question: What can they do to ensure their haven does not collapse under its own weight?  In this case, the newcomers to Alexandria are not mere tourists, and Rick is no longer just a police officer.

History repeating?

At this point, The Walking Dead might have been approaching too close to the situation of Woodbury, or the prison, or even Hershel’s farm and the CDC. However, let’s put it in perspective: If this situation was somehow real, these are the kinds of experiences survivors would be having as society falls apart.

Characters could visit abandoned towns and historical sites, but only to see them gradually (or maybe even quickly) decay. There is little being restored in progress. Dedication, patience, and comfort seemed vital in the past, but they would be sheer luxuries now. At the end of the day the traveler is always at risk, but so is the one who stays. It’s really a matter of choosing the safest poison at the time.

So far, it’s clear that the Alexandria group is more for the community and their friends rather than showcasing violent potential. You see volunteering efforts, reaching out to a group of fellow survivors, and an interest in developing a wealth of knowledge. That would be how to create more opportunities as a group. However, there is still something simmering underneath, and there are still walkers out there as well, ready to bite.

What are your thoughts on this episode of The Walking Dead? Let us know in the comments!