The Walking Dead 903 – Warning Signs
The thing about warning signs is that they usually aren’t heeded until it’s too late.
Unrest bubbles not far beneath the surface as the various communities struggle to find common ground to rebuild society. Rick’s new bliss isn’t shared by everyone including the Saviors who are upset that some of their own are missing and unaccounted for. The growing mystery comes into the light when one of the Saviors, Justin now roaming the land as a walker, is discovered. The unnatural circumstances of his death raise suspicions leading to unrest among the masses.
The identity of Justin’s killer becomes a hot topic with suspects being thrown about like leaves in the wind. Anne and Daryl are just two of the prominent names that are brought up until a temporary truce calms the outraged and terrified Saviors. Justin’s wound forces Rick to question Daryl and the conversation quickly turns to Rick’s vision of the future. Daryl doubts Rick’s vision is the correct path to take and the present tensions continue to drive a wedge between them.
When Arat goes missing, it’s a race against time to find her before the Saviors find out and the tensions escalate again. Maggie and Daryl debate the merits of Rick’s plan and acknowledge that his vision may be the best course of action. Another body in the forest draws Daryl’s attention and upon further study gives him a lead as to who Justin’s killer may be.
Warning Signs serves as a crossroads for several characters. Faced with difficult decisions and life altering choices a never-ending cycle of violence is given the chance to continue unless something changes. When the truth behind the disappearances of the Saviors becomes clear a painful wound is exposed. One that threatens to destroy everything that Rick is trying to build.
The warning signs have been there all along. The moment they become impossible to ignore is typically when it’s too late to effect change. The sins of the past seed the transgressions of the future and like lighter fluid added to an already roaring flame the results can be destructive.
Rick’s vision, while just, doesn’t seem to fit with what the majority desires – at least not those still burning with a thirst for vengeance. It’s hard to rebuild if others are constantly tearing things down. Maggie and Daryl’s final words to end Warning Signs marks their departure from the crossroads to take a definitive step to build the future they envision. Their decision, while difficult will have consequences. What those will be remain to be seen.
