‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: Season 5, Ep.12 — Getting To Know Alexandria

Rick’s group kept their guard up as they attempted to find out if Aaron’s Alexandria community was really everything he promised it would be on “The Walking Dead.”

After meeting Alexandria’s leader, Deanna, the group each took turns being interviewed on camera for membership. But while some Alexandrians seemed above par, members of the group met a few new faces who seemed to have the potential for big trouble.

Here’s our blow by blow recap of “The Walking Dead” Season 5, Episode 12, “Remember”:

Rick’s group, inside Alexandria: After the events of Woodbury and Terminus, Rick’s group is understandably on edge as they walk inside the gates. A rustling sound at a nearby a garbage can prompts Daryl to draw his crossbow and shoot. “We’ve brought dinner,” he quips when he realizes it was just a possum. New character Nicholas comes forward asking for their weapons. Woah! Too soon. Rick protests. Trying to keep the situation calm, Aaron suggests they talk to someone named Deanna first. “She knows everything that you’d wanna know about this place.”

The Leader Of Alexandria Emerges

Rick, inside a house at Alexandria: “Do you mind if I film this?” Deanna Monroe asks Rick Grimes, referring to the interview she’s about to conduct. It’s about transparency she explains to the cautious leader. And she knows a bit about reading people – she was an Ohio congressperson. Before the interview begins, Deanna explains how Alexandria came to be. When things turned, the army directed her family there, but the troops never came back. Those steel enforced walls surrounding them? Her husband and sons took apart a shopping mall that was being built nearby. An interesting story, what surprises Rick the most is that they’ve been behind the walls the whole time. “We need people who have lived out there,” she tells him. “Your group is the first we’ve even considered taking in for a long time.” Rick tells Deanna to keep those gates closed. “It’s all about survival out there at any cost. People out there are always looking for an angle, looking to play on your weakness. They measure you by what they can take from you, by how they can use you to live,” he tells her. He’s killed out there – to protect his friends, his family. “Sounds like I’d wanna be a part of your family,” Deanna replies, warmly. She’s done things too – exiled three men, who didn’t work out. His group is different. “I am exceptionally good at reading people. If I didn’t win reelection, I was going to be a professional poker player,” she says, not joking.

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The Group, with Nicholas: It’s late afternoon and gun turnover time. Deanna’s people explain Rick’s group can check their weapons out if they go outside the walls, but inside, they’re stored for safety. As she hands over her weapons, Carol makes a big showing of how difficult it is for her to handle them. No trust for the Alexandrians, she’s just putting on a show.

Rick Grimes Gets A Shave!

Rick, Carl and Aaron, outside a luxury home: “Both of them?” Rick asks Aaron as he and Carl look at two homes they can choose from. Pick the one with more “curb appeal,” Aaron jokes. “I know you’re still feeling us out, but I’m glad you came,” he adds. Inside, the home is beautiful. There’s a plush sofa with cushions, blankets neatly folded on a table, a marble counter top in the kitchen, and running water. Running. Hot. Water. And Rick indulges in his longest shower in years. Looking at his reflection in the mirror afterward, this road-weary man decides it’s time for the shave! A clean shaven Rick Grimes isn’t quite dressed (he’s shirtless) when a woman knocks at the door bearing gifts. Jessie is her name and she works at the pantry, so she’s got supplies for his group. She’s also offering her services. A former stylist before things changed, Jessie trims Rick’s hair and tries to bond with him while she cuts, mentioning she’s got kids too.

Daryl’s confession cam: “Daryl, do you want to be here?” Deanna asks Daryl during his sit down interview (which he doesn’t sit for, and instead, walks around carrying the dead possum). “The boy and the baby, they deserve a roof, I guess,” Daryl replies.

The Group, Rick’s house in Alexandria: Still testing things out, the group spends the night under one roof, all side by side in the living room. Michonne comes in after spending 20 minutes brushing her teeth and cleaning up. “Oh,” she says after spotting the clean shaven Rick. “I’ve never seen your face like that,” she says grinning. Deanna is shocked too by Rick’s appearance when she comes by a short while later. “I didn’t know what was under there.” She’s pleasantly surprised to see them all together and remarks about how all of them – people with nothing in common, banded together. Jobs are coming for Rick, Michonne and the others. She’ll tell them what they are soon. That night, everyone is asleep but Rick. He gets up and goes to the kitchen and pulls out a carving knife.

READ: ‘Walking Dead’ Q&A: Ross Marquand On Aaron & Joining One Of His Favorite Shows

Michonne’s confession cam: It’s Michonne’s confessional time. “We’re ready for this,” she tells the Alexandria leader. “All of you?” Deanna asks. “All of us,” Michonne replies.

The group, on a walk in Alexandria: “Lori and me, we used to drive through neighborhoods like this, thinking, ‘One day,'” Rick tells Daryl. “Well, here we are,” Daryl shrugs. As the group starts to separate in different directions while walking through Alexandria, Rick starts to panic. He can’t see Carl or Judith. After smashing into an art sculpture in a panic, Jessie pops out just in time to helps him find his kids. They’re with grandparents Natalie and Bob Miller. “It’s been a long time since anyone around here has seen a baby. She’s gonna have to put up with some pinched cheeks,” Jessie explains. She also notes her son, Ron, really wants to meet Carl, so Rick sends him around.

It’s tough for Carl when he meets the kids his age – Ron, Mike and Enid. He can barely respond when they ask him to play video games. Enid, who Carl spotted when they first walked through Alexandria’s gates, tells him to, “Pull it together,” and he finally does, jumping in on the fun with the other boys.

Carl’s confession cam: Alexandria’s the kind of place his mom wanted for them, Carl explains, prompting Deanna to apologize for his loss. “I didn’t just lose her. I killed her. It had to be me,” Carl replies.

The Group, at Rick’s house: It’s nighttime, but something wakes Michonne from her sleep. Looking around she spots Rick at the window, keeping watch, so she goes over for a chat. “Deanna hasn’t given me a job yet,” she tells Rick – and she does want a job. Rick says he’s “signing the papers” and ready to stay there. Although it seems like this place is okay, they both wonder why they both still awake. Restless, Rick leaves the house to for a walk.

“You’re Rick,” a man tells Rick as he watches him from a porch (his tone is less than friendly). “My wife cut your hair. Welcome to Alexandria.”

Carol’s confession cam: “I did laundry, gardened, always had dinner on the table for Ed when he came home. I miss that stupid wonderful man every day,” Carol says smiling (and lying through her teeth). “You know, I really didn’t have much to offer this group, so I think I just became their den mother and they’ve been nice enough to protect me,” she adds during her interview. Deanna asks where she thinks she’ll fit in. How about a Junior League, Carol asks. “I’m a real people person.”

Daryl and Carol on the porch: In a cardigan sweater and casual pants, Carol emerges from Rick’s home. She’s been tasked with making dinner for the senior citizens of Alexandria. Daryl looks her up and down less than approvingly. “Have you taken a shower yet?” she asks her friend. He nods and grunts. “Take a shower. I’m going to wash that vest. We need to keep up appearances — even you,” she tells him. “You look ridiculous,” Daryl says as he watches Carol walk off to work.

Glenn’s confession cam: “We need to make this work,” he says. “‘Cause we were almost out there too long.”

The Alexandria Way Of Going On Runs

Glenn, Tara, Noah, on the street with some Alexandrians: “Glenn, Tara Noah?” a man we learn is called Aidan (Deanna’s son) asks, flanked by gate guy Nicholas. They’re about to all go on a test supply run to familiarize the newcomers with the terrain. Meanwhile, Rick heads outside the gate, and on his own Carl does too – following Enid, who he watched scale the steel walls, earlier.

Rick, outside of Alexandria: Poking around the garbage by the abandoned house outside of Alexandria, Rick locates the blender he put a gun in for safety before they went inside. But it’s not there! The rustling around for the missing weapon attracted walkers, but Carl heard him too. “Get ready,” Rick tells his son, the two Grimes’ boys pulling out their knives, and doing their walker duty.

Glenn, Tara, Noah, Aidan and Nicholas, outside of Alexandria: “You’re standing here because we lost four people last month,” Aidan explains to the newcomers. And, he’ll be leading them on this dry run for supplies. “I can be a hardass and I know I’m a douchebag, but someone’s got to call the ball around here, and that someone is me,” Aidan says. Tara offers her apologies for their loss, and it prompts the Alexandria boys to explain what they did to the walkers who killed their friends – they strung up the “dead heads.” “What?” Glenn asks, astonished. “Why?” It’s part of their pre-game ritual to get their heads on – these Alexandrians like to wrestle with walkers before going out. But when the one they whistle for attacks Tara, Glenn kills it and saves her, outraging Aidan.

Glenn, Tara, Noah, Aidan and Nicholas, back inside Alexandria: “You three need new gigs. Not ready for runs yet,” Aidan says angrily as they get back. “Yeah, pretty sure you got that backwards,” Glenn spits out. Tempers flare and the pushing starts. Mom Deanna comes over to break things up. “Why’d you let these people in?” Aidan asks her. “Because we actually know what we’re doing out there,” Glenn replies, angering Aidan enough that he takes a swing at Glenn. But Glenn ducks and hits Aidan with an uppercut. Daryl, now on the scene, grabs Nicholas. Rick’s back too and pulls Daryl off, while Michonne steps in to stop Aidan from attacking Glenn. “I want everyone to hear me, okay? Rick and his people are part of this community now. In all ways. As equals. Understood?” Deanna shouts. “Understood,” her son replies. Turning to Rick, it’s time for Deanna to deliver some news. “I told you I had a job for you. I’d like you to be our constable. That’s what you were. That’s what you are,” she says. “And you too,” Deanna adds, turning to Michonne. They accept. Daryl picks up his crossbow and walks off. And Deanna has words for Glenn too – “thank you.” “For what?” Glenn asks. “For knocking him on his ass,” she says.

Rick’s group, back at his house: It’s Rick’s words from his confession cam – about survival at any cost and people wanting to prey on your weakness that play as Rick walks down the stairs of his Alexandria home in a sheriff’s uniform. Everyone looks at him, some in shock, some in awe. On the deck, he sorts things out with Daryl. “We good?” he asks his friend. “You a cop again?” Daryl asks. “I’m trying it on for size,” Rick tells him. Carol steps foot on the porch — she wants to know if they’re staying. Rick thinks they can start sleeping in their own homes. She worries about them getting too comfortable and letting their guard down. “We won’t get weak. That’s not in us anymore. We’ll make it work. If they can’t make it, then we’ll just take this place,” Rick says looking Carol and then Daryl in the eyes.

“The Walking Dead” airs Sunday at 9 PM ET/PT on AMC.

— Jolie Lash