‘The Walking Dead’ Retro Recap: ‘No Way Out’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It is definitely safe to say that seasons five and six of the AMC series, The Walking Dead, did a wonderful job of examining how we fail in a crisis. For time and time again, we saw good people panic and let fear sink into their hearts and in doing so… they created problems and showed us how the walking dead took over the world quite easily. But while that brought about some frustrating moments in these two seasons, since so many problems could have been avoided with a little common sense and gusto, the show didn’t totally dog on humanity through and through during this time period. For it also worked to explore how we avoid such problems and how we rise to the occasion and after showcasing more foolishness in the season six midseason finale, the midseason premiere… spoke to how humanity can indeed overcome anything through a simple action.
​
One that ‘No Way Out’ made sure to explore later in the episode so the point would be hammered home. Which meant that early on in this tale, we were treated to some surprising moments. Such as how Daryl, Abraham and Sasha escaped the clutches of Negan’s men. Because they did have the drop on our heroes and disarmed them and maintained the upper hand. The only thing they didn’t account for, was pissing off an already pissed off Daryl Dixon. Because when you do that, you pay the piper. Sometimes via a rocket propelled grenade, since Daryl overpowered his ‘handler’ and blasted those other jackasses to smithereens and once they hit the road once again… the show was quick to fool us into truly thinking this was going to be another frustrating tale, one full of bad decisions that could have been avoided.

For back in Alexandria, Rick and his merry group were moving through the streets of the city in their living dead disguises and while that was in fact going well, since they made it close to the armory, leave it to the incompetence and fear of others to bring about trouble. Because sadly, Jessie’s inability to get her son, Sam, to be brave and understand the importance of the situation because of coddling… brought forth disaster. Since he of course, panicked and made noise which allowed for the dead to feed and that led to the end of him, and Jessie and the end of Ron. Because he used the chaos of the moment to try and kill Rick, and while he was unsuccessful there thanks to Michonne, he did serious damage to Carl’s eye with an errant bullet and that is oddly enough, what brought forth the more positive message present in this story. 

Because the frustration of this moment took hold over Rick, and he did the only thing he knew how to in that moment and brought down some walkers and oddly… that inspired others to join in. And just like that, the entire town was on the streets… with weapons in hand, and they fought for their homes with fury. Not to mention, Glenn stepped up and saved his wife from a horrible fate before being saved by Daryl’s team and Denise also found bravery in this moment and inspired a sliver of good will in a foe, and while he didn’t make it on this night… the town of Alexandria did. Fueled by bravery and an understanding that he only way forward in this life… is together… and if one of us is brave enough to try and take on the world… we can inspire others to do so as well, and one has to wonder what would have become of this world had this kind of unity took place at the beginning.

But what matters more, is that this episode did a wonderful job speaking to how bravery and unity can accomplish wonders for humanity and that lesson could not have come at a better time. For the majority of this season has been quite dark in nature and hard to sit through at times. But balance is always the key to a good horror story and thankfully, this show is about to bring that to the table since good times do indeed await us. For now, a new chapter is opening up for our heroes… one that would create sustainability for the future. But make no mistake about it, the good times cannot last in this particular season. In large part because of that balance since life ebbs and flows and well… it won’t be long before we are reintroduced to the cruelty of the Saviors, and their leader… Negan, as our journey back through season six continues along. Until next time.

---

Powered by JustWatch