Fans are freaked about season 6 episode 3, titled, "Thank You." Though my head says Glenn died my heart says otherwise for he's already proven to be a Houdini escape artist. And there's Michonne, who shines.
In previous episode 2 titled, "JSS," the Alexandrians were lucky. Those who are still alive that is, on having the other half of the strongest members of Rick's group, Carol, Carl, Maggie, Rosita and Tara, who've all stayed behind and fought against the unexpected Wolf attack. Freeing the other half, Daryl, Glenn, Abraham, Michonne, Sasha and Morgan, whom all were helping Rick's plan to lead a walker horde migration away from the Alexandrian Community. A boldly proactive and audacious plan, though approved by Deanna leader of the Alexandrians, only to have half the horde broken away resulting from the loud truck horn from the Wolf attack.
The alacrity of Rick, Glenn, Michonne and Morgan to suddenly turn on a dime by redirecting their energies to half the horde now going towards Alexandria, with Daryl, Abraham and Sasha to continue leading the other half, further differentiates Rick's group from the Alexandrians. The Alexandrians whom most if not all except Deanna, were reluctant after hearing Rick's plan in the season 6 premiere. Including those Alexandrians who eventually volunteered with Rick's group.
So quickly after things went south from the beginning of episode 3, who from which group suddenly panicked? "He did this. He brought us all out here to die. He killed Carter," all voiced by one Alexandrian, speaking about Rick. Thus back to the season 6 premiere, Rick had to kill Carter after he'd been bitten in the face by a walker, to asking Morgan to go back to Alexandria to inform them of what's happening so far, followed by saying, "Michonne, you take point." All happening before everyone with Rick heard the Wolf truck horn also heard by half the horde.
There's a scene from a classic Clint Eastwood western film I saw on TV one day titled, The Outlaw Josey Wales. Under his leadership and protection are an Old Cherokee brave, a young Navaho woman, and a grandmother with her adult granddaughter, one man, three women. All are expecting an attack from the Comanche Chief Ten Bears and his braves. And that's when Josey Wales says, "Now remember, when things look bad, and it looks like you won't make it, then you get mean. I mean plumb mad-dog mean! Because if you lose your head and give up, then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. Use pistols at short range. More firepower and less reloading." Only the attack didn't happen. Later, two men from different cultures meet to discuss their own philosophies as warriors. So while Josey Wales listens, Ten Bears says, "It is good that warriors such as we meet in the struggle of life or death. It shall be life."
Rick's group with the only exception of Father Gabriel -- one also has to hand it to Eugene for saving Tara back in season 5 episode 14 -- do not lose their heads when things look bad. As the horn blares, Rick, Glenn, Michonne and the Alexandrians all race through the woods. In an effort to outrun half the horde, it's Rick who says, "We just gotta stay ahead of them. They walk, we run." While next, Rick speaks to Daryl by walkie to keep the other half of the horde moving.
Then Rick sees Glenn and says, "Here's the new plan. I go back, get the RV, circle around the woods on Redding. I'll get in front of them before they get there. I can lead them away again." Glenn wants to help Rick. Yet Rick pleads with Glenn to get the Alexandrians back, next saying, "Thing is, they aren't all gonna make it." Soon after, Rick also says, "You try to save them, you try. But if they can't keep up, you keep going. You have to. You make sure you get back."
Heath, an Alexandrian, overhears Rick while he speaks before Glenn and Michonne. Then shortly after, a scream is heard as a man is attacked by a walker whose throat is now ripped. Michonne stabs the man's head after the walker is killed, followed by Rick taking the man's gun, and then says, "The horn stopped. Good. Get back safe." While the Alexandrians stood by afraid. Next as Glenn and Michonne lead the rest, it's Michonne who says, "We're gonna catch up with a lot of things and we're gonna end them. We have no choice. We gotta keep going forward." Followed by as all hear the sound of walkers, the Alexandrians are told not to shoot unless they have too. Even so, Sturgess panics by firing wildly thereby accidentally shooting Scott in the leg before he runs off. Then Nicholas is next to panic, shortly after David is bitten on his shoulder.
Later, the group enters the town where Nicholas and Aiden had a supply run and see walkers feasting on Sturgess' body. When all are inside a pet store, Glenn tells them about his plan to set fire to a building to attract the herd. Nicholas then suggests a feed store close by and leads Glenn.
While at the pet store, Annie (Beth Keener) and Scott (Kenric Green) tells the others about their injuries and say they should be left behind to not slow the group. And that's when Heath (Corey Hawkins) says, "We don't leave people behind. Not us." Followed by Michonne saying, "No one is leaving anyone behind." Heath then seeks something for Annie, while Michonne (Danai Gurira) follows. When the two are alone, she says, "Hey. Do you have a problem with me?" Heath then tells her that he overheard Rick. To which she says, "Which part?" A great scene, which only further illustrates the difference between Rick's group and the Alexandrians.
The conversation between Michonne and Heath is wonderful. Especially after Heath says that he's been on supply runs and that he knows what it's like. Then Michonne says, "Have you ever had to kill people because they had already killed your friends and were coming for you next? Have you ever done things that made you feel afraid of yourself afterward? Have you ever been covered in so much blood that you didn't know if it was yours or walkers or your friends? Huh? Then you don't know."
On AMC's Talking Dead with host Chris Hardwick with guests Yvette Nicole Brown actress and Damon Lindelof producer and writer, the three had a lively conversation about the scene. "The Alexandrians are basically like trust fund kids. They're like we know what it's like to live in the street. Like no you don't," says Chris Hardwick. "No you don't. You haven't been to the hood," Yvette Nicole Brown agrees. "Yeah, Haight-Ashbury doesn't count," also says Chris Hardwick. In that scene, Heath thinks they are of the same caliber as Rick's group. While Rick's group are like a solid Special Forces unit, the Alexandrians are like kindergarteners.
Then there's the scene involving Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Nicholas (Michael Traynor). Chris Hardwick spoke about the call he made to Scott M. Gimple showrunner of The Walking Dead about the episode. "I'll call him up and we'll talk at length about the universe, and what's happening and what could happen and he didn't spoil anything for me. But you know, he said it's really, really hard. These types of decisions are very hard to make. Ah-um, but you know ultimately the allegiance is to the story and in driving the story forward," says the host, to which Chris Hardwick also added that Scott M. Gimple told him that we'll see Glenn, or some version or parts of Glenn to complete the story. Then Yvette Nicole Brown laughs while saying, "Like in body parts?" Though not to mock Scott M. Gimple, for she's among fans hoping Glenn survives. Yet I was also thinking if Glenn didn't survive, perhaps it will be later revealed that Maggie (Lauren Cohan) is pregnant. Which Scott M. Gimple could have alluded to Chris Hardwick.
In a blog post on March 6, 2015 I wrote about The Walking Dead and stated that if Rick should die, Daryl, Glenn or anyone else I will still watch the show. For The Walking Dead is a beautiful show about a diverse collection of humanity. Even so, let's all see more of Glenn.