The Walking Dead: S6 Ep. 1 “The First Time Again”
Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
October 11 marks the day that fans of AMC’s The Walking Dead will get to see what happens after the events of Season 5. Last season ended in a bloody and violent manner as Rick took matters into his own hands and killed Pete in front of the community of Alexandria. In the premiere episode for Season 6, “The First Time Again” the ramifications of Rick’s actions continue to reverberate throughout Alexandria and his friendship with Daryl, Michonne, Carol and Glenn.
It’s zombie mayhem from the onset of the episode when an expedition to bury Pete leads Morgan and Rick towards a walker-palooza where a massive horde of walkers have amassed themselves. This episode introduces a new set of characters into the mix as a group of Alexandrian residents return to the community from doing some scouting. Their numbers are needed as the growing threat from outside of the walls poses a great danger to everyone in Alexandria.
The episode’s narrative has a shifting timeline with the events in the past in black and white and those in the present filmed in color. For fans of The Walking Dead comic the flashbacks evoke the black and white books. The shifting time lines are used effectively to tell the tale from several perspectives as well as to keep the story from getting bogged down with too much exposition.
The map where Abraham wrote, “Sorry I was an asshole. Come to Washington. The new world is gonna need Rick Grimes.” pops up again and Abe’s note poses an interesting question. Does the new world need a Rick Grimes? Does Alexandria? Even after his actions to end last season? Although Deanna has shifted over to Team Rick, not everyone in Alexandria is willing to follow Rick’s lead. There are several doubters in the community, Carter being one of them, and Rick’s vision for survival isn’t unanimously agreed upon by those around him.
Rick has realized that it’s one thing to lead but when it comes to survival, especially for others, that sometimes you have to pull the unwilling along with you. Those actions and decisions come at a cost – to the relationships you hold dear as well as to your own soul. Rick’s world view is captured during a conversation he has with Daryl in the middle of the episode. It’s an us against them mentality that Rick is employing and part of his struggle is to try to get the residents of Alexandria to see things his way. He realizes that they are in a war and that the wall isn’t enough to prepare them for the world that exists outside.
Rick’s take no chances style of living and leadership has the potential to save them all or tear the community and his group apart. Which way will he go? Will Rick’s actions create further distance between himself and some of his closest allies? Is living worth it if you’re already dead? Season 6 promises to answer some of these questions while undoubtedly posing several more.
