The Walking Dead: The Distance (5x11)

Wow. These episodes just keeping getting better. Two weeks ago, I was disappointed by the premiere of the back half of this season. Then, last week's episode was a solid establishing episode, getting things back on track. This week, we get something new, and it's awesome.

Maggie and Sasha take Aaron back to the barn, where Rick and the others immediately search him for weapons and keep guns pointed at him. Aaron tells the group about the Alexandria community, showing them pictures and telling them all about it. Rick doesn't trust him, punching him and tying him up. Aaron tells the group that he and one other person brought vehicles to bring them to the community. Michonne and some of the others go to check out the cars, to see that Aaron is telling the truth. The rest of the group is ready to trust Aaron, but Rick still isn't sure.

Rick decides that they will go to Alexandria, but they'll take an alternate route. Aaron says it's a bad idea, because the main route has been cleared and secured, but Rick wants to be cautious. This almost results in disaster, as the vehicles are overrun by Walkers on the way. However, everybody gets out okay. Aaron reunites with the other member of the community who came to collect the "recruits." Eric, Aaron's partner, has a broken ankle but is otherwise okay.

As the group finally approaches Alexandria, Rick hears children laughing and playing inside. He decides to believe in this place at last, and they all go inside the walls.

Great episode. I don't honestly think I have a single complaint. I guess there is the overall problem of an ensemble show like this, where several characters don't really get their due for weeks at a time. We got a little bit of Abraham and Rosita in this one, but we totally dropped everything about Daryl and his grieving process, for example. It's not really anything that can be fixed, but I do notice it when characters get pushed to the side for multiple episodes.

Mostly though, this was awesome. I thought we were going to follow the pattern of long travel, then crushing disappointment, when they all reached DC. Instead, we got this surprise detour, and this new community. I want so badly to believe that this Alexandria place is the real deal. That it's going to be a good fit. I hope maybe we can mix it up this time - maybe the community really is a good place, but our characters are the ones who mess it up. Wouldn't that be intriguing?

Rick's emotional journey through this episode was really the most interesting thing. Everybody, including him, wants so badly to believe that this could be a good place for them. A good place where they could be safe - where Judith could grow up in peace. But while everybody else is willing to believe it's possible, Rick just can't let himself hope for that again. His family and friends are all looking to him for answers, and Rick can't be the reason they fall into a trap again. When he was talking to Michonne about his family, I could tell that he was talking about more than just Judith and Carl.

Michonne was the optimist in this episode, which was rather strange but oddly appropriate. I haven't really been on the Rick/Michonne bandwagon in particular, but I'm starting to see why people ship them.

As I said before, Rosita and Abraham had a moment in this episode. It was really touching. Abraham asked Rosita if she was afraid of him when he hurt Eugene. Rosita says no. These two have been through quite a lot together. I'm hoping we can explore their relationship more.

Then there's Aaron. I like him. I haven't read the comics, and so I'm not sure what's what, but I really, really like him. He's either a masterful liar, or a genuinely good person, and at the moment I'm banking on the latter. It was a really smart idea to give him a relationship. It instantly humanizes him to see him call out his lover's name and run to his side, worrying over Eric's injury. It's hard to be afraid or suspicious of a guy like that. Of course, at the same time, that might be part of the genius of it all. Maybe Aaron is a good guy, but he's being manipulated by somebody else within Alexandria. I can't wait to find out!

This is where I'll stop. Great episode. I'm so excited about this Aaron guy, and about the possibilities of Alexandria.

9/10