‘The Walking Dead’ Retro Recap: ‘Heads Up’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Back in November of 2015, there was one big question hanging over season six of the AMC series, The Walking Dead. Specifically… was Glenn Rhee alive or dead? Because that horrifying image at the end of ‘Thank You’ never quite gave us a straight answer as to whether or not he was. For the shots of guts moving about didn’t give us absolute proof that Glenn was dying a terrible death, but at the same time… it most certainly didn’t say otherwise. So, for weeks on end, we all debated hotly his fate, and so many of just wanted an answer really. So, we could finally just find closure of some sort, and it just so happens that the next episode in this series, offered us just that.
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For ‘Heads Up’ is a story that flat out informed us in its opening moments, that Glenn did not in fact, die. Instead, Nicholas’ corpse knocked him off the dumpster and fell atop him, allowing for the dead to tear into him and for Glenn to safely escape and hang out until the living dead moved from their unexpected meal. A reveal that was hotly debated back in the day, since some saw it as a copout, as though the show just couldn’t go through with a big death. While others saw this as a godsend of sorts and that some of the cast would indeed be seen as sacred and safe. And some… pondered upon whether or not this was a test to see if by chance the audience could indeed handle a major character death. Something that was on the horizon.

But regardless of where you fell in those groups, Glenn was alive and ready to get back into action. For he genuinely wanted to do some good with the crisis mostly passed and he had the opportunity to do so when Enid popped up in this nearby town. Because she was doing everything to get away from Alexandria out of the belief it wasn’t worth the time. But Glenn spoke to how this was a chance to start over and do things right and how it would take every last person believing in this to make it work. Which eventually allowed for Enid to contribute again and at just the right time, thanks to that ending. But what matters more is that Glenn’s return here was more than just resolution and peace, his journey really was the setup to something greater thematically. 

In that, this was a story designed to truly explore the wonder and importance of unity and how we as a species do need to find common ground and stop treating one another as an enemy. Which is of course, easier said than done at the end of the world. But for the rest of us out here, who aren’t dealing with herds of walking, flesh-eating corpses… we can be the instrument of change. And this was further hammered home by the events that took place in Alexandria, since so many of those moments focused on that concept and the power of unity and well, that could not have come at a better time. Because of that aforementioned ending. Wherein the old church tower collapsed from the stress of having a semi slam into it, knocking down a wall near the herd.

Which is… another cliffhanger for certain, one that would serve as quite the game-changer. Since it would bring forth some ugly moments in the weeks to come via its resolution, the kind that would indeed alter lives and the dynamic of Alexandria. But what matters more, is that fans were given a gift here… or a curse, courtesy of a debate that still rages on to this day and they were of course, given an episode that featured growth and bravery and all the best parts of this series. Since that is what we tune in for, the human condition and its potential for wonder during a horrible time and truly… that is about to be put to the test, since a fallen wall, means the walking dead, and fear, and chaos, will soon be inside the walls of Alexandria. Until next time.

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