‘The Walking Dead’ Retro Recap: ‘Forget’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

When we last settled in to discuss the iconic AMC series, The Walking Dead, we talked at length about how the series did a wonderful job of introducing the concept of PTSD in a story where trauma is everywhere and how difficult it is to overcome and adjust to in that traumatic world. After all, PTSD requires care and patience, and treatment… elements that would not be available at the end of the world since survival trumps all. But that unfortunate reality does leave one to wonder… as to how exactly people suffering from this particular ailment would indeed find some measure of healing from it in this world, since we do need that to fade away to move forward in life and it just so happens, that the next episode in this grand and sweeping story, takes the time to explore just that.
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For ‘Forget’ is a tale where our heroes aren’t constantly on the road or scavenging for supplies. They’re safe in Alexandria, and they still have food and shelter and peace surrounding them. A reality that more or less forced them… to begin to face their pain and their trauma and well, therein lie the first lesson present in this tale… they had face it. Whether they liked it or not, they had to look at what hurt them square in the eye and lo and behold… that wasn’t easy. Because that quiet reflection time really did rattle Sasha and so many others, informing us of how hard this process is, but it is necessary. Because without acknowledging the hurt and that our trauma has controlled us… we cannot handle the next critical phase in healing… which in an instance like this, involves just immersing ourselves in the new life surrounding us.

Because that too, has healing properties. Since it can force a person to focus on something new and see it objectively and explore what it can potentially do for them, and that’s why we saw Rick and Michonne in their element and adjusting quickly because being figures of authority helped them to see what this community needed from a security perspective and how they could in fact, help them in this precarious time, and it gave them direction and purpose. But this immersion style therapy went further than just getting a good look at an opportunity, it also helped to remind several of these characters… that the terror is over. They can in fact, relax and just live a little for a change and enjoy their day instead of worrying about it, and that helped Rick and Michonne to heal a bit and it also helped Daryl come to find focus on how best to live going forward since what he needed in life was touch different.

But of course, this episode wasn’t without its dark surprises. After all, we’d be foolish to not talk about the whole Evil Carol moments that popped up in this tale. Because peace or no, she was determined to execute her plans and enjoy the thrill of blending in. To the point where she was able to get the guns and remind young Sam, to never mess with her. Because that little speech on what would happen to a squealer in the apocalypse is still horrifying after all these years and well, while one could cite Carol as breaking down… she’s not. She is perhaps the most together of them at this point and just in a groove of ruthlessness and survival since it has served her well. Making her a fine example of how PTSD doesn’t always hit right away, not when the person is as strong as they come. But eventually, she would indeed be forced to face her pain and her trauma like everyone else.

But all of that aside, this really was a fascinating and unique story. One that really did pit PTSD against some fresh new ideas on how people heal, especially when the stress and trauma never seem to end, and it was just fascinating and wonderful to see so many of the group finally get around to healing in some capacity and fit into Alexandria so quickly. Because they deserve this, and they deserve a little peace and happiness since they are good people and well, now that we have reached the end of this low-key yet engaging tale, we can turn our attention to another fascinating chapter in this story. One that takes the time to really explore the true cause of why the living dead were able to take over the world and how that… didn’t disappear with the end of civilization. Until next time.

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