The Walking Dead, Season 6 Episode 5, Now - Review: Trouble arrives at the gates of Alexandria

In the wake of a run of events that have offered some of the series’ grizzliest, most compelling stories, ‘Now’ is something of an oddity, an episode that initially suggests another adrenaline-heavy hour of intense action but never really delivers what it promises. Much like the walkers that arrive and surround the compound, the whole thing feels strangely restrained. While a number of dramatic gems are introduced the most exciting elements feel frustratingly out of reach.

‘Now’ thrusts Deanna and her failing leadership into the spotlight as she struggles to cope with the tragedy that has unfolded around her. When Rick returns, Deanna appears relieved to relinquish her responsibilities. But when her relationship with son Spencer takes a surprising turn, a glimmer of the old Deanna is revived and she rediscovers her much-needed survival instinct. Meanwhile, Maggie comes to a decision about Glenn and some of the remaining Alexandrians embark on new relationships in the aftermath of the chaos.

The past few instalments have built up a wealth of questions needing answers, so it’s something of a let down to see so many of them squandered or ignored here. The cliffhanger of ‘Thank You’ had Rick surrounded by walkers in a vehicle that wouldn’t start. That he returns with no explanation of how he got out of this mess is something of a missed opportunity. Similarly Morgan’s appearance is a brief one, a strange choice after his compelling interaction with the Wolves leader last week. This could all be forgiven if ‘Now’ happened to be crammed with other intense developments, but much of the episode is made of long speeches and long faces, with many of the Alexandrians stumbling around looking like they’re suffering from a hangover.

The arrival of the zombie horde is similarly problematic. For a few brief moments it seems as though the struggling Deanna will have to rise to the challenge when the walkers arrive, so it’s disappointing that they spend the whole episode simply lined up around the gates. Where Deanna is well utilised is in her scenes with Spencer, her last remaining family member and part of the reason she shakes herself out of the slump she’s been in all season. The men of the Monroe family haven’t fared too well on The Walking Dead, so it makes sense that it’s her strained relationship with her only remaining relative that gives her the push she needs to armour up again.

After weeks of simmering tension and lingering stares, Rick and Jessie finally move forward with their relationship. Andrew Lincoln and Alexandra Breckenridge share a strong chemistry as Rick and Jessie respectively, a very different dynamic to his past relationship with Lori but one that feels believable for both characters. From their understated reunion scene (Rick’s first words to her alone are ‘We don’t bury killers inside the walls’, which is Walking Dead speak for ‘Glad you didn’t die. Fancy coffee later?’) to the eventual declaration of their feelings it’s a romance unlike any other currently on the show.

The Maggie/Aaron pairing leads to some nice moments, even if their strand builds towards a climax that never truly pays off. Both characters are in an interesting position as they struggle to take some action while others are standing around. Their descent into the bowels of Alexandria offers the most interesting walker action of the episode in the form of the sewer zombies (their above ground counterparts are practically runway models in comparison) so it feels like yet another discarded chance when they ultimately decide to turn back.

It’s this indecisiveness that robs ‘Now’ of much of its charm. Fans will still find much on offer to keep them entertained, but viewers can only hope that this is simply the quiet before the storm and that next week’s events will once again see The Walking Dead on more solid ground.

The Walking Dead on Mondays at 9pm on FOX