‘The Walking Dead’ Retro Recap: ‘Self Help’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One thing that we can all agree upon, is that the human desire to survive and push beyond dark times, is extremely strong. For time and time again, we’ve either seen someone close to us, survive the worst and forge ahead or we’ve taken part in such an act ourselves because of the power of that survival instinct. And it is so strong and so important to us, that we cherish it often and celebrate anyone that got through the worst through sheer will, regardless of what they had to do to get there and that… is actually a touch problematic. Because that allows for toxic behavior to be celebrated for certain, the kind that undoubtedly caused internal or external harm when the chips were down for the survivor in question.
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Which means that we need to take a different look at how we survive and how we celebrate it and offer up help to those in need when they’re going through it. So, people aren’t hurt physically and emotionally and also because, we’re all in together and we can be better. Period. If anything, the harsh reality of how people actually act when they’re projecting strength while trying to reconcile tough times, and the danger those unrestrained actions actually present, is top of mind today because it served as the focus of the next episode of The Walking Dead. For ‘Self Help’ put all of that on display in a harrowing and heartbreaking manner. One that also managed to feature a huge reveal that was also featured in the source material for the show.

Feats that this episode accomplished by catching up with Abraham’s rag-tag survivor group as they made their way toward Washington D.C. Because what should have been a milk run of sorts, quickly took a sour turn when loss after loss mounted for this group. For the truck failed, they ran into a wall of living death and well… that broke Abraham. Simply because, all this time, he had been working hard to project strength and bravado and machismo in a desperate effort, to not deal with what really hurt him. Which was the death of his wife and children during the early days of the end. Making his journey quite clear that when we use strength and other concepts to patch our emotions, we pay the price personally and eventually crumble and collapse and with proper care and support, this could have been avoided. 

As for the greater notion of how others can be hurt when it comes to projecting strength, well that was handled by Eugene Porter. For we came to learn that he was sabotaging the mission and that he lied about having scientific credentials or a cure for this plague of living death. All because he was broken and lost and without direction or meaning, and he firmly believed that projecting strength and lies would somehow give him healing and purpose… when in fact he needed time and the right people around him. And of course, the fact that so many died for this cause and this false strength, hammers home the message and of course, changes everything for the group. Since now… they don’t know what comes next for them without a mission at hand.

But what matters more, is that this was another powerful character study from a show that thrives in such a storytelling environment, and it deserves a round of applause for exploring toxic behaviors at a time when it wasn’t on everyone’s radar as it is now, and for offering up a better examination of such behaviors and how to fix them. Making this episode progressive in nature for certain and of course, critical to The Walking Dead Universe. Since that reveal about Eugene was one of those big-time comic book moments come to life. Not to mention, it also featured some magnificent performances from Josh McDermitt and Michael Cudlitz, since they sold the commentary in a powerful manner and well… now that the truth is out and the mission aborted, the time has come to turn our attention to a story that focused on another powerful concept. Specifically, how we find forgiveness and agency when we’ve committed ugly acts. Until next time.

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