We've seen it before; a seemingly perfect paradise in the middle of the zombie apocalypse wasn't all it turned out to be. So it was no wonder that Rick and the group of The Walking Dead were cautious as they were led by newcomer Aaron to the Alexandria Safe-Zone.
Woodbury had them face off with the sadistic Mayor, and Terminus had them dealing with cannibals. What could Alexandria possibly have in store for them?
Spoilers ahead if you have not yet seen Episode 12 of The Walking Dead Season 5: Remember.
Upon their arrival at Alexandria, Aaron tells the group that their first order of business should be to talk to Deanna, their leader, who has all the answers to the questions they're sure to have.
One by one, the group is interviewed on-camera. Apparently, for the sake of "transparency."
Perhaps the most stunning revelation for the group about the town of Alexandria is they were relatively shut off from the disaster that happened outside their walls from the beginning. They needed people, like Rick's group, who have first-hand experience of the true dangers that lie outside the safe-zone.
One by one, the group shares their thoughts about staying in Alexandria confession-cam style. Carol lies through her teeth about missing her abusive dead husband, Daryl can't quite get comfortable as he paces around with a dead possum but says that the kids need a roof over their heads. Michonne says the group is ready to integrate into a safe-zone like Alexandria.
Glenn delivers the most important message about trying to fit in to a normal life again, "We need to make this work. Cause we were almost out there too long."
Carl, however, had a difficult time fitting in once again with kids his age - especially ones who have no idea of the dangers outside of their safe-zone. He is even unable to speak when they invite him to play video games.
Meanwhile, Carl is drawn to another newcomer to the town, Enid, who seems to have a few secrets of her own. He is told that she did not begin speaking until weeks after her arrival at Alexandria.
Later on, when Carl and Rick followed Enid after she snuck out of town by climbing over the fence, they have more questions than answers. Where was she going and why was she sneaking around?
No time to dwell because when Glenn and Deanna's son, Aiden, get into a physical fight after a power struggle during a supply run, Deanna makes it clear that the group is part of their community and they are there to stay. She appoints Rick and Michonne as the town's new constables and she thanks Glenn for "knocking [Aidan] on his ass."
Carl is the first to voice out his concern that staying in Alexandria will make the group weak. Daryl as well is having trouble adjusting, especially after seeing Carol dressed up in a cardigan, on her way to her new job as cook for the senior citizens in town.
But Rick dispels their worries with his assurance that as a group, they don't have it in them to become weak. "We'll make it work," he says, "If [the people of the Safe-Zone] can't make it... then we'll just take this place."
How long will this time of normalcy last for the group? See what happens next on The Walking Dead next Sunday on AMC.
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