‘The Walking Dead’ Retro Recap: ‘Slabtown’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Over the course of the past couple of days, we’ve talked at length about how season five of the AMC series, The Walking Dead, has been picking gently at quite the heavier topic. Specifically, what it means to be a good human being in a world gone mad and how we maintain that. Simply because this is a season that pushed the good will of these characters like never before and put them on the brink of becoming vastly different people. As evidenced by Rick’s actions in ‘Four Walls and a Roof’. Not to mention, it’s also done a wonderful job of following up on plot threads that have been left hanging since resolution is popping up left and right and well, those explorations and that push are only continuing to grow as this season rolls along, as evidenced by the next chapter in this tale.
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Since ‘Slabtown’ is a story that accomplishes both of those things since it catches us up with Beth Greene. Who went missing near the end of season four in ‘Alone’ and thankfully… we quickly learn here that she is mostly okay. For it turns out that the person in that car, brought her back to Atlanta, to Grady Memorial Hospital to be specific and well… it is simply a relief to see her okay after all this time and healing as well. Since her wounds received treatment and this was a quick and easy way to resolve an important lingering question/plot thread, and it is a good thing the show got this out of the way quick. So, we could instead start to dig into that deeper exploration regarding the human condition, since Beth’s new sanctuary, was a twisted hellscape in the end.

For we also learned… that a small contingent of Atlanta Police Officers had holed up in this hospital and built their own little fiefdom. One that should have and could have been a bastion of hope since the expectation here, was that everyone earned their keep and did their best to keep this tiny community thriving. But alas, the wild and erratic actions of the top officer here, Dawn… made it clear that this was a place designed to satiate her need for control at a time when the world offered none, and that she was broken and angry over this reality and ready… to do what must be done to keep that control. Which made this place a scary sanctuary, where people lived and died at her choice. To the point where Beth was ready to escape if and when the opportunity presented itself. Which it did, and that of course, ended badly.

But what matters more here, is how this episode dug deep into the lasting horrors of this world and showed us up close and personal, the impact it has upon the human psyche. Because Dawn was outright unable to comprehend that the end had indeed come and that no help was on its way, no backup, nothing. Just days ahead and days gone by, and that pushed good intentions into sour places. Wherein she felt she had to make ugly choices in the name of a greater good to square the fact that she was projecting and abusing those within her stead. A move that teaches us once again, that dark times give us a choice when it comes how to we treat others, and that no number of bad deeds committed in the name of good, will help us to maintain the purity in our souls. It’s up to us to hold steady to that and find redemption within and well, it is obvious here that Dawn is basically a lost soul because she chose to let the darkness overwhelm.

Which makes this episode, a powerful and harrowing character study for certain. One that takes the time to show us how this world and bad moments can corrupt and damage even those that take oaths to prevent harm to others, and this episode deserves a round of applause for offering up a foil to Rick Grimes’ initial journey and for teaching us how hard it would be to maintain the good in this world. Because if Dawn and doctors and other peace officers that once risked everything to help others can become this dark and this vacant, anyone can. Which once again added to worry regarding Rick and his future, all while this episode set the stage for a collision course between the Grimes Gang and the Dawn Patrol. Since Carol found her way into the heart of Grady Memorial. Until next time.

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