In what may be the most depressing episode of The Walking Dead yet, we see the group facing the reality of life without Beth and Tyreese. Despite the group being united in their mourning, Them places the spotlight on three of the strongest characters who have been profoundly struck by such devastating losses.
“I don’t know if I want to be here anymore.”
For the first time since her sister’s untimely death, Maggie is given time to grieve and mourn the loss of Beth. We haven’t seen much of her in the past few episodes, and it’s unsettling that the episode focuses on such a turbulent time of her life. Them opens with Maggie crouched behind a tree, visibly heartbroken and seeking solace. But an approaching walker in the distance makes it abhorrently clear that there can and never will be solace in this world.
The relationship that Daryl and Beth shared was very unique; she taught him what it means to be alive in a world where life is more fragile than a teacup, and perhaps most importantly she taught him how to love himself. Beth was Daryl’s rock for the majority of the past season, and to have that support system ripped from his grasps so violently understandably shook him to his very core. Burning himself with a lit cigarette in the hope of feeling something other than sadness and despair, we see a vulnerability within Daryl that can no longer be suppressed. He is unravelling. Day by day. Bit by bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iquV6asHrw
Of course the most recent and most raw loss to strike the group was that of Tyreese in last week’s episode, What’s Happened and What’s Going On. Sasha has not only had to face life without her partner, but now her brother. Whilst Maggie and Daryl grieve in more subtle ways, Sasha’s grief manifests in a distinctly different way. As her emotions boil over and she reaches breaking point, she attempts to take on a twenty plus hoard of walkers single-handedly. Rather than drag her away kicking and screaming, the group gives her this moment – that is, for as long as she can sustain it. This is when we see just how vital the group is when it comes to keeping one another sane and grounded. They have been through things that people should never have to go through. Lost people who should never have been taken. Most importantly, they know when to intervene and when to step back.
“We tell ourselves that we are the walking dead.”
The sense of desperation seen in What’s Happened and What’s Going On seeps through into this week’s episode. A recent drought has left the group dangerously low on vital resources, and it doesn’t take long for thoughts to turn sour. Whilst seeking shelter from a storm that seems mysteriously like a case of divine intervention in a run down barn, Rick is forced to boost team morale by explaining that “we do what we need to do, and then we get to live.” Despite his best efforts, though, it feels somewhat misguided. There is no doubt that the group will continue to fight and continue to do everything they can to live. The question is whether they’re fighting a losing battle.
One of the most poignant scenes in Them sees Daryl, Maggie and Sasha using all of their pent-up anger and frustration at the world to push back against the swarm of walkers threatening their safety in the barn. Realising the imminent danger, Rick and company compile their power to help those that are most vulnerable. It’s a lovely reminder that despite all the hardships they’ve faced, they will never be truly alone. However, in an almost clichéd move on the writer’s part, it is revealed that it was all just a dream. Maybe, just maybe, being part of a group isn’t enough anymore.
If there’s one thing that The Walking Dead has taught us, it’s that you should never trust strangers. So the arrival of a new face at the end of the episode promises to cause ripples in the already fragile gang. Proclaiming to be “a friend”, this mysterious new man could pose a new threat to our increasingly vulnerable group of heroes.
Words by Sophie Mace.