Tonight is the night… The season finale of “The Walking Dead.” I think it’s safe to say we’re just as excited to see what the one and a half hour episode has in store for us as we are sad that we’ll have to wait all the way to October to see how it all pans out. Despite what many people have said, ratings are up and personally I feel this was a really strong season in a series that’s been around for five years. To be honest, though, the second half of the season was much stronger than the first in terms of development and suspense. Still, there have been a lot of tremendous moments this year… and here’s my top ten! Let’s reflect before the last episode, shall we?
1. Darth Scarol’s Assault on Terminus (episode 5.01)
Before we knew her as Scarol towards the end of this season, Carol started off season five with a bang… literally. While Rick and his group of survivors were being held captive by the cannibals, Carol singlehandedly launched an all out assault on Terminus along with a herd of walkers. We learned during season four that Carol had become a certified bad ass, but I don’t think any of us were ready for the sheer strength and willpower of Darth Carol!
2. Is That You, Morgan? (episode 5.01)
At the end of the first episode fans were greeted by a familiar face – Morgan Jones. The last time we’d seen him in season three he was a little bit… um, not there after the death of Little Duane. At that point he opted to remain in King County instead of joining Rick’s group, but now in season five it looks like he may have regretted that decision. He’s following Rick’s clues, though, and hopefully we’ll see him again tonight!
3. Eugene is a Big Fat Liar! (episode (5.05)
Not that anyone was surprised by this, but in episode five Eugene acknowledged the fact that he was lying and that there weren’t any scientists who could end the zombie apocalypse waiting for them in Washington, DC. This subplot had carried over from season four and it was kind of sad to see it pan out in such a simple way although, again, it was pretty obvious.
4. The Loss of Innocence (episode 5.08)
I would never describe myself as a Beth Greene fan. For most of season two and three she was just a background player; doing laundry, watching the baby and singing for next to no reason at all. But for some reason, her death in the midseason finale of season five was absolutely heartbreaking. The loss of innocence, the dramatic music, Rick AND Daryl crying… It was probably one of the saddest deaths of the series, whether you loved her or not.
5. A Fallen Meets with Old Friends… and Enemies. (episode 5.09)
I don’t think anyone expected another main character to die so soon after Beth, not even one as hulking and kind hearted as Tyreese. His death was tragic in its own way, but what made it special is that, in his hallucinations, old friends representing various parts of his psyche returned to usher him to the other side. Mika, Lizzie, Bob, Beth… Even the Governor! Old friends were finally reunited in a beautiful way.
6. The Tornado That Had No Aim (episode 5.10)
I think the idea of a tornado killing a herd of walkers and desecrating an entire forest but missing one raggedy barn is kind of stupid, but there was a lot of meaning and symbolism in it, especially after Rick’s “We are the walking dead” speech. Each character was exhausted and on the verge of an emotional breakdown, but one by one they found the composure to rush the doors of the barn, to help to hold them closed against a few dozen walkers. This could be one of my top three moments of the whole season.
7. Welcome to Woodbury… Um, Termius? I mean, Alexandria. (episode 5.12)
So many new opportunities and perils met Rick and his group of survivors as they made it to a mini-town named Alexandria. Safe walls, new friends, shaving away beards, and a butt load of cookies, finally our favorite people in the zombie apocalypse were provided with a place where they can relax. Now if only they were able to do so!
8. Going Out on the Worst Run EVER (episode 5.14)
By this point no one expected anyone else to die, especially after Bob, Beth and Tyreese had pretty much bit the dust back to back to back. So when Glenn, Tara, Eugene, Noah, Aiden and Nicholas go out on a run for new solar panel parts, no one expected that 1/3 of them would not return. We all cheered when Aiden got eaten alive, but most of us were… crushed… when Noah died, too. Fuck you, Nicholas!
9. Rick Goes Completely Crazy… Again (episode 5.15)
If there’s one person we love more than Rick, it’s Crazy Rick. At least this time he wasn’t seeing the ghost of his dead wife. Having gone years surviving on instinct and making heart decisions to save the lives of his new family, Rick is definitely feeling the stress again. From falling in love with a married woman he just met, to fist fighting with the town drunk, to waving his gun in the face of all the Alexandrians, I think it’s safe to say Rick might need a straight jacket and a Xanax. Just for a bit.
10. Carl Almost Has His First Kiss (episode 5.15)
Didn’t we all want Carl to get torn to pieces during seasons one, two and three? Luckily, he started to mature and grow into a real man during season four and by season five I feel that he’s come full circle from his bratty days. I think he’s far less annoying before, maybe even going as far as to say he’s not annoying at all to me anymore! I realized this when he almost had his first kiss. He is a teenage boy, ya know! Get it, Carl!
