‘No one gets to clock out today.”
You know the situation is desperate on “The Walking Dead” when even pompadoured uber-geek Eugene (Josh McDermitt) goes nuts, runs out and slashes putrefying skulls — inspiring his friends to do the same.
Yeah, things have gone real bad in Alexandria.
When the show’s sixth season resumes Sunday night, we’re exactly where we left off back in November.
That’s when the AMC hit’s winter finale ended with thousands of walkers pouring into the breached compound of Alexandria — hungry for spoiled residents tenderized by years of running water and functioning toilets.
As the undead walk on and on, the cast is splintered into small groups, each facing a dire situation — after all, the episode is titled “No Way Out.”
The only ones outside of Alexandria are Daryl (Norman Reedus), Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz). They’ve been stopped on the road by a gang of bikers who ominously inform them that they are now the property of Negan. Who?
That will be answered later this season.
For now, suffice it to say that this is possibly Daryl’s most satisfying moment ever — and that’s saying something when it comes to this fan favorite.
Meanwhile, the bulk of our troops are stuck in a town overrun by flesh eaters. A few people are laying low and keeping quiet, praying to be left alone, but most are out for a protracted last stand — and in some cases, it really is a last stand. Yes, there are deaths in this episode, and they are gruesome. Most of the screen time is consumed by a humongous battle.
The basic foundation of “The Walking Dead” is that, in the grand scheme of things, nothing can change: The walkers are here to stay and longevity is a daily struggle.
It’s what happens within this general framework that makes the series so compelling.
As always, the most serious threat in the episode comes from the living: By the end, some key characters will have found themselves staring at the wrong end of a gun. You’ve got to wonder, then, what makes us human. Is it mere survival?
Equally important is whether people can change.
That last question is at the center of the episode, written by Seth Hoffman, who tackles this from various angles — including a key one involving Rick (Andrew Lincoln), who utters a sentence we never expected to hear from him.
It’s just a few words, but they resonate more than the gory violence.
Season 6, Part 2 of “The Walking Dead” airs at 9 p.m. Sunday on AMC
