What does the cryptic title of the season finale, "A" mean?
The Terminus we were introduced to last week was a ghost town. I understand our cast of survivors are desperate but after Woodbury, I just don't understand their lack of any skepticism. Mary obviously intends to eat them. I don't even read the comics and I know this.
Okay, here we go.
Hershel? What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here? This is a flashback to the prison. This is Rick's flashback. The flashback had little to do with anything but when it ends we see Rick looking bloody and traumatized. Uh oh. We're about to find out why. Opening credits.
So many commercials. 5 minutes in and the episode hasn't even started yet. They waste so much time in a precious hour.
Rick, Carl and Michionne are camping. They talk about being really hungry and head off to check the snares. Carl has had a growth spurt. Hunger doesn't quell Carl asking a bunch of questions, including the philo-nonsensical "Who are we?"
They kill a walker. They examine a trap. Carl pulls a bozo move running off to the sounds of a someone crying for help, with Rick and Michonne chasing after him. Carl is really grating on me lately. Walkers are everywhere.
Flashback again to conversation between Hershel and Rick back at the prison. As much as I like Hershel, I'm not feeling this. Why are they stuck in the past when they have barely moved the story forward this season? And the flashbacks don't seem to be adding anything momentous.
Back to the present, a mob of walkers are on Rick and co.'s trail. They find a car. This leads to nothing.
Now, they're sitting at night in front of a campfire by the car. Again, campfires are used recklessly and with no explanation. Finally, Michonne questions whether Terminus is legit to Rick, but where is Carl? They hear a twig snap, stand to attention, and then pretty much ignore it.
Surprise, the villainous gang have caught up and ambush Rick. The leader Jeff? Joe? puts a gun to Rick's head stating the obvious: "You screwed up asshole."
Joe states that today is the day of reckoning. Carl who was sleeping in the car is rudely awakened. Joe starts a countdown to shooting Rick which is interrupted by Daryl. Daryl puts down his crossbow - my misgivings about this being a good strategic move are realized as Daryl gets his ass beat down.
Ew, a filthy man starts licking Carl's ear. Filthy man is trying to rape Carl! Right when things look like they will be really dreadful, Rick bites Joe's neck. This completely disorients the other villains who basically just stand there in shock and get picked off one by one. What a relief!
Cut to commercial - okay, this seemed to end well for our heroes. Why the opening trauma Rick?
Back to another Hershel prison flashback. Hershel is teaching Rick about farming. Why is this part of the finale?
Hershel is saying that Carl needs his father to show him a way that's more than just shooting. Hershel says they all owe Rick. Hershel has faith that they can make things better even as Rick expresses skepticism.
Cut to traumatized Rick from the opening scene. Oh, I guess the trauma was just from ripping a man's throat out with his bare teeth. There are worse things to be traumatized over as alluded to by the previous scenes. Rick and co. have made out pretty well, especially the reuniting with Daryl part. Rick calls Daryl his brother. Aw sweet.
Now, the gang continues their trek to Terminus. The dialogue is pretty flat and involves a lot of proclamations of being "okay."
The gang arrives at Terminus. Carl gives Rick the cold shoulder, and joins Michonne on scouting. This prompts Michonne to reveal to Carl how her son Andre died which also explains how she figured out the walking with walkers camo. Michonne says Andrea and the others brought her back from being a monster/gone. Carl explains that he's not what Rick thinks he is - that's he's just a monster too.
Rick and co. bury a stash of weapons before they sneak into Terminus. They encounter the residents of Terminus but where's Glenn/Maggie/Sgt. company?
A dweeby looking guy named Gareth welcomes Rick and co. claiming that they found sanctuary. Gareth is suspiciously cheery and I already can't wait for him to die. Phony Gareth politely asks for weapons to be relinquished and then Rick and co. are patted down. The weapons are returned, so what was the point of the weapons check?
Rick and co. are introduced to other members of Terminus, including Alan and Mary, who is asked to fix them a plate of something ambiguous.
Rick notes that Alan is carrying Hershel's watch that was gifted to Glenn. Rick springs to action and accosts Alan at gunpoint. Rick's comrades draw their weapons also. Where's Glenn!?
Prison flashback. This is the worst time for another useless prison flashback.
Back to the present. Rick questions Alan at gunpoint about the watch, the riot gear and Maggie's poncho adorned by members of Terminus. Gareth is full of lies. Shooting breaks out. Rick and co. run away - good thing they're bullet proof and/or the snipers are intentionally missing to herd them.
The group is led to a room full of burning candles and strange foreboding messages on the wall. They run back outside only to be surrounded.
Rick and co. are instructed to drop their weapons by Gareth, who is backed by snipers, and so they have no choice but to comply. Rick is instructed to go to the train car. Daryl and Michonne are instructed to follow. Carl is allowed to join them. So why have them go separately?
Gareth instructs that they enter the train car in that order. Carl is really dragging his feet.
Hurray, Glenn and Maggie and co. are there also. Well, not hurray exactly, cause they are all trapped inside of a train car.
Rick says "No" powerfully but I'm not sure why.
Back to another useless farming flashback at the prison.
Cut back to Rick, who says "They're going to feel pretty stupid when they find out..."
Sgt. Abe and all home viewers: "Find out what?"
Find out what "A" means? Find out that this is all that leads up to waiting several months for the next season.
Rick dangerously peers into the camera and closes with: "They're screwing with the wrong people."
Crickets chirp in my living room, bringing to a close an "A-nnoying" "A-bject" "A-nesthetized" season.
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