‘The Walking Dead’ Retro Recap: ‘Coda’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There comes a time in our lives, where it seems as though… we simply cannot lose. Because the universe just keeps giving us win after win, regardless of the circumstances and regardless of the odds and that… can be genuinely problematic. Because it gives us a sense of security and a sense of invincibility, as though truly nothing can go wrong in our lives and well… what makes that so problematic is that both of those senses are false. For we are instead just enjoying a gravy train of luck, one that eventually runs out and when it does… we deal with some genuine devastation and heartbreak and that particularly difficult reality is top of mind today, simply because it presented itself to Rick Grimes and his group in the season five, midseason finale of The Walking Dead.
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A feat that ‘Coda’ accomplished after giving Rick and his extended family… more wins. For shortly after they came to discover that Officer Lamson was on the lamb and trying to warn Dawn of things to come… Rick dealt with him and was able to bring the other officers in line, with Daryl’s help of course, and that allowed for the first stages of the plan to come to fruition. For the officers that Rick approached with the deal, were open to listening and relayed the message to their boss, setting the stage for a simple prisoner exchange. Which was another big win for this group, one that was going to allow for them to come together once again and figure out a new future forward as one, with Noah joining them since hey, he did this group a solid.

Not to mention, back at the church, the luck kept flowing as well. Since Father Gabriel’s disastrous attempt to understand the world and the murder that occurred beneath God’s roof, ended happy. For the walkers he brought back from his field trip caused no harm and were isolated. And just when it seemed as though they might break out, Abraham and the gang showed up to whisk everyone away to Atlanta for the upcoming reunion. Plus, even Beth had more wins here. Since she was finally able to reach Dawn on a fundamental level and come to an understanding and she even helped Dawn solidify her leadership when the going got ugly. All of which continued to indicate that this chapter of the story was going to end oh so happy and oh so joyous, so the group could quickly focus on finding a new home and healing from recent events.

But that is when this story took a devastating turn. For when the prisoner exchange came to fruition, Dawn of course… made everything supremely difficult. Because she was eager to keep a ward and have them be someone she could trust. Which is why she asked for Noah as the final price to closing out this transaction. A move that he accepted to save Beth and that didn’t sit right with her. Because she was sick of Dawn’s desire to constantly control and manipulate people, and that sent her over the edge and prompted her to physically teach Dawn a lesson. To remind her of her place and take her down a peg and that… led to disaster. For Dawn… on instinct and pure fury, quickly pulled her weapon and killed Beth with it. Prompting an eye for an eye from Daryl and a shocking end to this tale. One where the heroes were served a slice of unfortunate fate after riding a great high for ages on end.

Which really did serve to remind us, how quickly fortunes change and how we can’t escape ugly times forever and this episode hammered that reality home in a painful and ugly manner. Because Beth’s passing was simply brutal through and through, and shocking and it still moves you after all this time. Because of its suddenness and because Lauren Cohan and Norman Reedus’ performances in the closing moments sell the pain and well, just like that… the gravy train has dried up and nothing, but ugly memories and tough times await these intrepid heroes. For the next chapter in their journey is undiscovered country for this group. One filled with tough days and hunger and fear and uncertainty, and more loss as well, because that is just what happens when our luck runs out, especially in a world where living death rules the day. Until next time.

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