The Walking Dead - “Consumed” Review. Where Daryl Calls Bullshit.

Season 5, Episode 6

Air Date: Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 9/8c on AMC

Rating: ★★★★★

“The reason I said we should start over is ‘cause we gotta.” – Daryl Dixon

No one’s looking at the flowers this time, Carol.

The writers of The Walking Dead take us on another ride into the unknown. There are questions waiting to be answered about Carol’s (Melissa McBride) time alone from the group. What did she do while she was banished? Where did she go? How did she survive all that time alone? We learn more about the woman she is now and how she’s been molded into this newer version of herself. While Carol can go it alone, I don’t see her as the loner type. She thrives off companionship and community. Why else would she have committed the grievances against her?

Note: Before the airing of “Consumed,” I guessed Carol had made the decision to be ‘caught’ so she could infiltrate the hospital based on what we saw during the ending of “Slabtown.” We know Daryl (Norman Reedus) returns to the group with someone, and that someone—by my estimation—was probably Noah (Tyler James Williams). After watching “Consumed,” I know at least half my guess is correct. I should definitely start taking better notes.

Woes Be Gone

I’m sorry to say this but “Consumed,” featuring two of the most badass characters on The Walking Dead, comes off as a bit boring. Yeah, there is action and several occurrences of walkers but it’s nothing Carol and Daryl can’t handle. So why have we been made to endure the hour long filler episode, “Consumed?” Carol. Flashbacks help us better understand what happened with her and her relationship with Daryl. Carol is an enigma. You could even say she’s one of the few characters who has undergone a personality change of sorts. Once the frightened-of-her-own-shadow, meek and helpless persona was shed, Carol emerged as someone who has your back when the shit hits the fan. Granted, she might try to off you if you pose a threat to her or the ones she loves, but you get my drift. Her back story is revealed in bits and pieces during discussions with Daryl. She wants to talk about where she’s come from; she wants someone to understand why she makes the decisions to do the hard work no one else seems to want to do.

No way Noah was able to hold Daryl back. Nice try though.

This build up around Carol leads me to believe she’s either going to do something major soon or she’ll be killed off (we riot if Carol dies!). Knowing Carol was planning to defect from the group, Daryl tries to bring her back into the fold with their impulsive adventure. She’s been on the outs since the prison fiasco and probably doesn’t feel like she will be accepted by everyone with open arms. “You still haven’t asked me what happened; after I met up with Tyreese and the girls.” This comment has significance that shouldn’t be ignored. I think it’s one of the things Carol dreads the most—having to openly discuss what happened to her and the girls. She’s letting Daryl in a little at a time because he gets her. They have a camaraderie that can’t be overcome by the terrible things they’ve done. What I think Carol overlooks are the skeletons in everyone else’s closets. Yes, she is the take charge person now, handling the dirty work that needs to be done, but she has to realize she isn’t alone anymore. She isn’t with someone who can’t handle the difficult stuff. Carol is having a moment of catharsis, which is more than good for her. At some point, she’ll realize Daryl is her better half. He won’t let her shoulder her burdens alone because she does the same for him. And that, my friends, rings of unconditional love.

In Other News…

Thank you writers for showing us some of what Carol endured when she left the group. Carol is smart; she can handle herself when faced with the unknown and we see evidence of that. We also discover she hasn’t forgotten, and probably won’t ever forget, the love she carries for her new family. She shows us something we don’t need evidence of: the survivors will do anything for one another. So yeah, maybe it’s time Carol is completely forgiven. There are too many bad guys out there to count any of the good ones out.

Carol and Daryl make such a good team, and their names rhyme. I love how they can communicate by eye contact alone. They are like a well-oiled machine when you watch them engaging walkers. They come up against an obstacle, they figure out how to get around it and move on—even if that means going Thelma and Louise on a bridge.

Let’s take a moment to discuss the water cooler. Are you telling me they couldn’t take a moment to get more of that precious water? A few sips from a canteen; a half-hearted effort to fill it? I’m so disappointed in this lack of excitement over finding water. Consistency means a lot to me, folks.

Memorable lines:

What an eerie sight.

Carol: “So we need to start over?”

Daryl: “Yeah.”

Carol: “Did you?”

Just goes to show you Daryl’s words make an impression.

Carol: “I don’t think we get to save people anymore.”

This statement comes from a place of despair. After what Carol has endured while out on the road, she feels like there’s nothing more she can do.

Daryl to Carol after walking by an amusing display of walkers trying to escape their tents: “Some days I don’t know what the hell to think.”

Overall

Not my favorite episode this season but “Consumed” does OK for providing closure. The juxtaposition of Carol’s time alone and her time with Daryl is well done. The fires, the burning of bodies, and the compulsion to save a loved one provides the meaning behind the title. Fire, rage, and passion can all consume a person. I’m glad to see they haven’t taken Carol over the deep end just yet. She has Daryl to thank for that. What are your thoughts on “Consumed?” Let me know what you think by dropping me a line in the comments section below or tweet me @ellemoe.

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Elle

Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle