The Walking Dead Review: First Time Again (Season 6 Episode 1)

The Walking Dead lives up to expectations in its Season 6 premiere “First Time Again.”

In fact, it not only lives up to them, it blows past them with multicolored balloons and a zombie parade. We’re setting up for what’s sure to be an intense season full of tears, action, and oh my god we’re going to die, moments.

Instead of thinking about how long and tortuous the wait will be until next week, let’s take a look at what made this premiere even more ambitious than the rest!

Black and White: Past and Present

Black and white is the perfect way to differentiate between the past and the present of this grand operation they were trying to pull. It somehow makes what is happening in the present more real, like there’s more at stake. It also makes the past seem nostalgic, like a moment in time where everything was perfect; the calm before the storm. They even added distinguishing music for each timeline.

The past is accompanied by a light (believe it or not) and happy music that resonates with the group feeling like things have calmed down and they can rebuild. The present falls on the opposite side of the spectrum, rushed and on the edge, like something epic is about to happen (thousands of walkers being led out of a quarry is pretty epic).

It’s a great distinguishing technique that empowers the show and gives it a movie-like quality.

Why can’t this be a weekly thing?

Rick and Morgan

We love that Rick has decided that people who don’t know what this world is about are going to die. He says that Carter is going to die, and he does. There’s nothing anyone can do about it. We don’t deal with people, murders or walkers in the way we did before. They are death, and they will meet their fate no matter what according to our fearless leader.

Despite Rick’s apparent lack of trust in people, Morgan won’t let this new world order take his friend down. Morgan acts as a moral guide, an angel on his shoulder, a reminder that he still has his humanity. He supplements something inside of Rick. This man can reel back Rick so he can actually feel bad about killing someone, something that he doesn’t have in him anymore.

Trying to overthrow the Ricktatorship

Carter trying to take over was a monumentally stupid move. Rick has protected this community more than anyone else and you try to pull this on him? It’s selfish of Carter to do this, and it puts the whole of Alexandria in a precarious position that can quickly spiral out of control. He feels threatened by a man that has power over Deanna, their leader, and wants to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. But Rick’s what Alexandria needs right now. They don’t need a soft touch. They need Rick’s smart and heavy hand.

Let him do his job Carter.

Carol the Magnificent

Carol is in a handful of scenes but she somehow manages to stand out like the prettiest rose in the garden. She supports Rick in the town gathering, timid housewife style, where ‘terrified’ is the best word in her vocabulary to express how scared she is by these new developments.  No one is taking into account that this beauty has thorns and will cut you if you try to pluck her. The only one that has any indication that Carol is more than what she presents is Morgan. He sees that Carol observes and offers counsel to the man in charge.

He will start to watch her more closely, but I have no doubt that Carol will outsmart him and not let her guard down. Just take the cookies, Morgan, and keep on walking!

Wolves Not Far

Everything is going according to plan. They are managing all the walkers released from the quarry. Then the unthinkable happens. Someone is blowing a horn in the direction of their new home in Alexandria. It’s a horrifying moment where we realize that everything they’ve done was for nothing. All the time they have spent building these walls and Carter’s sacrifice is for nothing.

Their people will be overrun & ripped apart by the walkers.

From what we’ve seen last season and in the trailers, it’s definitely the Wolves. They are set to destroy Alexandria because THEY CAN. It’s a power play with these people because when they had a chance to take over and live in Noah’s neighborhood, you guessed it, they didn’t. The wolves stormed the neighborhood, setting fires with burning walkers, and watched the whole place crumble.

That’s what the future looks like for Alexandria.

Best Badass Scene

Daryl leading the walker parade away from the quarry is the scene of the episode. He’s so casual about it, bored even. Like he’s just taking a stroll down the street and not leading a zombie armada. Daryl is in control of this situation and he has fallen in line even though he disagrees with Rick about not bringing new people into Alexandria.

We want more of this Daryl all season long!

Best Tear Jerker Moment

Now, you might not think there was a tear-jerker moment in the premiere but there is. Tara waking up was that moment. She is part of this family, and it’s evident with every person that sees her. Eugene almost cries (while still sporting that amazing mullet that no walker shall ever touch or we riot)! Maggie doesn’t even care that her husband is injured in this scene (now that I think about it, neither did Glenn). They want to make sure that what they are seeing isn’t an illusion. A part of their family is back!

Other Observations:

• Carol needs all the flower sweaters money can buy. Give us more!
• The walker who pulls through the two trucks and rips his skin off is the same walker who killed Dale.
• Deanna describes the killer of her husband as “it.” Not a man. There’s a simmering heat in that woman that is just ready to pop.
• Michonne does steal that peanut butter protein bar.
• If you were wondering, yes, that’s a new actor playing Judith Grimes.
• THE LAUGHS! Who didn’t laugh when Tara’s first words to Eugene were about his glorious mullet?!

This season is already turning out big, dynamic, and ambitious! Tell us what you loved, hated, or wanted more of in the comments section below. Can’t wait to see what’s in store next week!

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The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.