The Walking Dead - Strangers Review

The Walking Dead - Strangers Review (Season 5, Episode 2)

Alright, so last week's premiere was a non-stop action extravaganza, and it was a great kickoff to Season 5. Episode 2, "Strangers" is an understandably slower episode, but due to great writing, acting, and some tension towards the end, it manages to be nearly as good!

The first few minutes are filled with some awkward conversation among Carol and other characters. She's having trouble fitting back in after the events of Season 4. She can't even fully reconnect with Daryl. He was always one of the group members she bonded the most with. It does seem she's going to have a lot of time to reconnect with him though, as towards the end of the episode, there's an intense scene where Daryl and Carol see a car whiz by. And Daryl recognizes it as the car that took Beth, back in Season 4, Episode 13, "Alone". He quickly gets the car he and Carol had found ready, and off they go, in pursuit.
I think this could easily lead to some very interesting story moments, especially if Daryl and Carol do, in fact, catch up with the car. Who knows what kind of a confrontation might happen then.

Speaking of interesting new story possibilities, this episode introduces a new character, named Gabriel (played by Seth Gilliam, who was an actor on The Wire). Gabriel is fascinating to me, and I can't wait to learn more about him, and his presumably dark past.
Father Gabriel encounters our main group of characters early in the episode, and he brings them to a temporary safe place, his church. How long this will last, who knows.

One of the most intriguing things about this episode was the story of Bob. He started acting weird after an intense encounter with a walker. Was he bit? I think he might've been. He was crying while he was outside the church. And to make matters worse for him, he gets kidnapped by Gareth, and some other people from Terminus. And....they.....eat....his leg!!!! That last scene was sick, twisted, and somehow, darkly funny. Bob may be in a terrible situation, but at least he tastes good, according to Gareth, the terminus leader.
That ending was  definitely an effective cliffhanger.

Verdict: This was a slower episode, but it still was just as excellent as the premiere! It sets up many new story possibilities! Perhaps the biggest one, which I haven't even mentioned yet, is the fact that the group now had finally decided, for real, to head to D.C. What a good episode, this was.

+Father Gabriel
+Cannibal filled ending
+D.C. as a goal for the season
+Carol and Daryl together
+Great writing and acting
Score: 8.9/10