The Walking Dead 515: ‘Try’ questioned unilateralism

The Walking Dead episode 515 questioned unilateral decisions.

Though one might criticize The Walking Dead for being too heavy on drama, the drama has always made sense. Episode 515 is a fairly decent example of this, as everything flows like a natural progression. We see that Rick’s group is struggling to fit into Alexandria’s overall framework, while simultaneously understanding much of the paranoia behind their collective (and individualized) behavior.

We know that, to the newcomers, Deanna and the others seem like very lucky, spoiled brats who “don’t really know what’s out there” (in so many words). Indeed, all too recently in the season, Abraham proved himself the far more effective leader of the wall construction crew. Also, Sasha basically had to beg to be Alexandria’s tower guard, as she felt the place was incompetently guarded. Similarly, both Rick and Michonne were given constable roles, which seemed to immediately feed Rick’s ego.

Lest you think I’m merely bashing Rick, recall that he previously wanted a “Ricktatorship.” Really, Rick alternates between roles of legitimate leadership, delusions of grandeur and “Ricktatorship,” and a desire to have a more humble role with fewer responsibilities — all influenced by complex tragedies in the character’s life.

The Walking Dead and Sasha’s journey

With Sasha nowhere to be found, Michonne and Rosita head out to find her in the woods, hoping to return to Alexandria unharmed. By the time they find her, Michonne seems to recognize Sasha wasn’t merely out hunting walkers, but perhaps enacting a death wish. In previous Walking Dead scenes, Michonne exhibited similar behavior.

To complicate this story element, it’s not necessarily that they are suicidal in a conventional sense. Rather, in their own ways, they might be both depressed and wanting to “go out in a blaze of glory.” So, in a way, Michonne heads out to locate Sasha but only to find herself.   Obviously, the woods moments aren’t solely about Michonne and Sasha (Carl and Enid are out there, too). However, this logical extension of Sasha’s previous breakdown suggests someone struggling with trauma.

Security? Where?

The zombie apocalypse makes everyone vulnerable. In fact, it’s hard to criticize characters like Rick for wanting guns to defend themselves if necessary. However, by the time Rick confronts Pete about his abuse of Jessie, it’s also been established that Rick is himself unstable.

Whether he wants to execute Pete outright or for him to leave the Safe-Zone and not return, he still thinks it’s his decision, which jeopardizes his own standing in the community. It also doesn’t help that, in the moments before his big fight with Pete, Jessie signaled that she all but totally wants Pete dead.

The overall impression is that, if you go out seeking trouble, you’ll probably find it, and this alone does not equal security. So, when Sasha leaves the safety of the gate behind, it’s like she may never return to Alexandria. Rick, in contrast, finds his own enemy within the walls of the supposed safe haven.

If all you have is a hammer…

You’ve certainly heard the saying, “If all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.”  When it comes down to it, one might even accuse Rick of not applying the right tools for the job. Instead of fists and a gun, maybe he could apply something like pepper spray. After Eugene’s display of ingenuity and courage in the previous episode, it makes Rick seem unintelligent and just as threatening and potentially abusive as Pete.

In other words, if people are to have a secure future, a little bit of solid planning might be more worthwhile than simply taking action. Rick (and Carol) failed to take other considerations into account, being overly confident in their decision-making based on what shaped them. However, Sasha’s hapless walker hunt illustrates what’s at stake sometimes by taking bold, unilateral action, and sometimes it’s even smarter to not confront a problem directly. In fact, it’s not only about what is courageous, but about what is smart!

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