The Walking Dead: 15 Thoughts on "Spend"

Tonight's episode of AMC's The Walking Dead was absolutely brutal.

And, as we'll do from time to time when we can, I compiled a short list of reactions to the episode, ranging from predictions and analysis from the comics to just things that popped up and felt worth mentioning.

So let's get to it.

Father Gabriel is back...

The last few weeks, we've had a lot of "Where's Father Gabriel?" posts, given that his character has faded quietly into the background for the most part. Now, we see his game; he was apparently hanging back to see whether things would go sideways and either he would need the protection of Rick's group again or the community would reject them. Now that it's safe to do so, he's returning to his crisis of faith.

That his initial freakout is brought on by the gift and kind note from a parishioner is arguably not surprising; besides the fact that he let all his other parishioners die to save himself, 

Also, in a world that's so bleak and horrible, how did Alexandria get along so long without somebody serving to minister to the desperate and those in search of hope and truth? The idea that he saunters in and becomes the preacher is interesting in that there's no implication there was somebody else doing that job before.

...So is Daryl's bike.

I continue to be less-than-convinced that a motorcycle wouldn't attract more walkers than it's worth, given the noise compared to a car. And that's fine -- as long as you're alone or, as with the Claimers, traveling in packs with people who have equally navigable vehicles. But if Daryl is going to be leading Aaron around, and Aaron's driving a sedan, it seems like a recipe for Daryl to attract walkers and Aaron to not be able to avoid the herds.

It's an iconic image for Daryl, and it gives us him reclaiming a bit of himself that's been lost since he was "domesticated" at the prison, and then with Beth, but it's just a weird decision to make from somebody who's usually so practical.

Feel free to tell me how and why I'm wrong in the comments.

"You think they could fall?"

Aside from the fact that there's a bleak foreboding hanging over the scene where Noah admits he's "in it for the long haul," we get a line from Mr. Monroe that seems disbelieving...of something readers of the comics know to be not only true, but likely coming sooner than later.

Talking to Holly

In case there was any doubt after the whole "I'm in it for the long haul" thing, Noah's fate was sealed when it was revealed there was a fledgling romance budding. That's not the kind of thing that ever goes unpunished on this show; just ask Beth's boyfriend from the prison, who lasted about forty seconds after it was revealed to the audience that they were an item.

Dubstep

That music -- yeah. It's pretty much everything you need to know about Alexandria all in one spot. No caution or common sense at all, opting instead for the familiarity of the pre-apocalypse.

Killed by stupid

We saw the Alexandrians last week torturing and toying with that walker, not realizing that it's as likely to get you killed as anything else. This week we get something similar: Aiden's death was the result of his being irresponsible and stupid on a run, and by overkilling a walker rather than using more sensible practices.

"None of these are problems"

This is pretty much the recurring theme of Carol's interactions with the Alexandrians -- and Sasha's for that matter. They're right, of course...most of the time. Turns out the problems of the Anderson family are pretty real.

Abraham's war

It certainly seems like Abraham is dealing with some very real trauma this episode, although he rises the occasion. It almost seems like he needs the war, lest he start reliving it in his head.

Redemption for Eugene

In spite of his massively-stupid claim that he has pulled his weight by "getting you to DC," he did eventually get his act together and not only saved Tara but also did his best to help Glenn and Noah.

"Don't let go"

They talked about this on Talking Dead. The "Don't let go" might not have been exclusively about not letting the walkers get him -- which is a natural thing to say but frankly seemed unrealistic at that point -- but about not letting go of the hope that this is the beginning of something special. This might actually speak to my next question...

...What was the point of Noah, now?

This is a character who was introduced in the Beth/hospital story, which felt frankly like filler. They could just as easily have killed Beth instead of kidnapping her last year and it wouldn't have changed anything.

But maybe not. In the comics, Glenn ultimately has faith in the ability of the world to get better and when he (spoilers) dies, Maggie follows through with his final wishes to go to another settlement where he thought they could live in peace.

Could Noah's character be, in part, what helps Glenn to get to that headspace? It seems like a stretch, since he's already pretty kind-hearted and committed...but it'd be something that would give some meaning to Noah's involvement with the group.

Gabriel and Eugene

As much as Eugene's actions took the form of supporting Rick's group and Gabriel's were a betrayal, it's arguable that both of them had a similar journey this week. They're doing what they believe to be the best thing for the larger group, and extending themselves beyond simple self-preservation to do it.

Part of it boils down to what your definition of the larger group is. Gabriel, who had been hiding from the realities of the world and who had them shown to him in graphic detail by Rick and company, believes he's helping to defend the "civilized" folk of Alexandria by sheltering them from the same. Eugene has been out there a bit more, and he can relate better to Rick's group than Gabriel can, so to him, that group is the big picture.

Ultimately, Eugene sees survival with Rick and company, whether or not Alexandria works out. Gabriel sees civilization in Alexandria, and wants to cast out the barbarians.

Of course, there's that whole matter of judge not lest ye be judged...!

Everyone in Alexandria are a-holes.

Pete and whatsisface from the mall both. They're just irredeemable, completely, and that's arguably the thing that's the hardest to swallow in all of this. They went out of their way even to make the actions of people like The Governor and the Terminus group seem understandable, whereas here we just have these callow, selfish types running around.

At least Aiden had a little courage at the very end.

Deanna is a mystery

Yeah, I don't trust her for a minute. She seems very uncomfortable with handing any kind of authority over to Rick's group, be it putting Sasha in the sniper's nest or giving Abraham the construction crew. That she seems to be considering Father Gabriel's words is equally nerve-wracking.

What will it be like when she learns her son has died? It can't be good. Meanwhile, Rick will be challenging the status quo even more going after Peter Anderson.

Frankly, I suspect she has recruited Rick's group simply for their manpower, knowing that she's facing an external threat, and that they can help her with that.

Carol is, of course, right.

There is only one way this can go; you can't have the kind of fuming, deeply personal anger that would come with fixing Pete's wagon in a setting like Alexandria.

That's also why they need to establish a jail of some kind. We know from the comics that eventually they do.

Of course, another thing that this kind of quietly sets up is that she has unconsciously helped to cement the idea in this poor kid's head that grown-ups are just messed up. I mean, his dad hits his mom and probably him...and then he meets a grown-up who's mostly nice to him and she threatens to feed him to the walkers? Nice.