First Time Again
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"First Time Again" is the sixth season premiere of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead which aired on AMC on October 11, 2015, in an extended 90-minute time slot.[2] It was written by showrunner Scott M. Gimple and co-written by Matthew Negrete as well as directed by executive producer and special make-up effects supervisor Greg Nicotero. In the episode, the aftermath of Pete and Reg's deaths are felt as the community of Alexandria deal with new circumstances as Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) takes on leadership.
The episode features many recurring guest stars, including Alexandria newcomers from the comic book series such as Heath (Corey Hawkins), Scott (Kenric Green), and Ethan Embry as Carter, an amalgamation of several comic book characters.
Plot
Rick and the Alexandrians stand at the top of a quarry filled with hundreds of walkers. As Rick outlines a plan to lure the walkers out of the quarry and away from the Safe-Zone, a truck blocking an entrance collapses, freeing the walkers. Rick puts his plan into action as the terrified Alexandrians flee.
Flashbacks show the events leading up to Rick executing his plan. Following the town council meeting, Deanna mourns the loss of Reg while denouncing Father Gabriel. Morgan tells Rick about The Wolves and other things that have happened in the past when Rick hears the sound of digging in the distance. He finds Gabriel and another Alexandrian burying Pete and Reg's corpses. Deanna shows up and tells them to bury Pete's corpse outside the Safe-Zone. Pete's son Ron follows them out and accidentally attracts a group of walkers. Rick and Morgan fight them off, and in the process discover the quarry. Rick realizes that the quarry serves as a natural walker trap that had prevented Alexandria from being overrun, but the barricades keeping the walkers trapped inside are about to fail.
Rick heads back to warn Alexandria about the imminent threat. He comes up with a plan to release the walkers from the quarry, and then lure them 20 miles away from the Safe-Zone. Most of Rick's group volunteers to help, while many of the Alexandrians baulk at the risks. Deanna, however, approves Rick's plan. Later, Carter organizes a secret meeting, and plans to overthrow Rick by assassination. Eugene overhears the assassination plot and is discovered. Carter contemplates killing Eugene with a pistol, but is stopped by Rick, Morgan, & Daryl. Despite Carter's fears, Rick decides to spare him and enlists his help for his plan.
In the present, Daryl and Sasha use themselves as bait to lure the escaped walkers away from Alexandria. Glenn, Nicholas and Heath are proceeding with their part of the plan when they pass by a store with walkers banging on the windows inside. Knowing the noise will distract the herd, they dispatch the walkers.
Carter watches as the walkers continue walking down the road away from Alexandria. He realizes that Rick's plan is working and apologizes for his earlier actions. Rick says they need to watch them like "cops at a parade"; several of the group goes front and back to ensure walkers do not stray off. Carter runs to the front, but is grabbed and bitten in the face by a walker, and starts screaming. The screaming attracts walkers on the road, so Rick has the group fire to grab their attention again. Rick finds Carter and kills the walker attacking him. He tells Carter to stay quiet but is unable to, and he is forced to kill him by stabbing him in the head.
Everything seems to be going according to Rick's plan. However, a horn starts blaring out from a very far distance, attracting the back half of the herd towards the sound. Rick and Michonne immediately realize that the sound is coming from Alexandria and rush back with Morgan.
Production
"First Time Again" was co-written by executive producer and series showrunner Scott M. Gimple and Matthew Negrete. It was directed by executive producer and special make-up effects supervisor Greg Nicotero.[3]
Casting
Lennie James, whose character Morgan Jones made guest appearances in seasons one and three, as well as three sporadic recurring appearances in season five, is now promoted to the main cast with this episode, following his character's integration into the main storyline in the season 5 finale, "Conquer". Sonequa Martin-Green is also added to the opening credits with this episode. Additional promotions include Tovah Feldshuh as Alexandria leader and widow, Deanna Monroe, a former congresswoman, her only surviving son Spencer, portrayed by Austin Nichols, Alexandra Breckenridge as Jessie Anderson, the widow of an abusive husband. Ross Marquand who portrays Aaron, a recruiter, is also promoted to the main cast.
Following the promotions, new Alexandria characters have been announced, who were off-screen during the fifth season. During casting, fake names, occupations and scenes were temporarily assigned to limit the leak of spoilers. Corey Hawkins joins the cast as supply runner, Heath, a prominent and long running comic book character who is a supply runner and loyal friend to Glenn Rhee.[4] During the casting call he was referred to as "Delvin", a "cynic [who] is left so dumbfounded by displays of stupidity that it’s nearly impossible for him to admit that he thinks, down deep, people are – or at least can be – decent. Even if they’re idiots."[5] Ethan Embry also joins the cast as original character, Carter, who initially was given the casting call of "Tucker", a "hard-working man" who "values fairness"[5] who is an amalgamation of several characters from the comic.[6] Kenric Green, whose wife Sonequa Martin-Green plays Sasha Williams on the show, also joins the show as comic character Scott, Heath's supply run partner and friend.[7]
Reception
The episode was screened for critics in advance and received early positive acclaim. Variety's Brian Lowry assessed that "The Walking Dead looks very much at the top of its game, with strong character material mixed with a massive set piece in the extended premiere made possible, no doubt, by its enormous popularity. Blessed and cursed with a vagabond mentality, the first episode finds the gang still trying to fit into a gated community, where the promise of security is balanced against the cultural clash separating the battle-hardened travelers from those sheltered within. Add one familiar face to the mix, and it’s a pretty irresistible feast."[8] Brandon Davis of Comicbook.com praised the episode and felt that Andrew Lincoln gave his best performance to date, as well as its unique storytelling of shots in the past and present, while also singling out the character of Carol Peletier saying: "Though not given a hefty amount of screen time, McBride's Carol Peletier remains a strong foundation for the group with her sly performance as the undercover post-apocalyptic friendly neighbor." He concluded his review saying: "All in all, the premiere is going to satisfy die-hard Walking Dead fans and Walking Dead critics alike. Staunch performances from the well-known cast and tremendous execution of character relationships combine for a satisfying 90-minute premiere of The Walking Dead. Then, they're given the show's largest horde of walkers - ever - to cap things off and send the show back to its roots. Bring on season 6."[9] Writing for Hypable, Andrew Sims also praised the unique storytelling as "much needed" for a show that has five seasons under its belt and said: "[the] premiere offers fans one of the most exciting and original episodes in recent memory."[10]
Alex Zalben for MTV praised it as the "...the most ambitious thing they’ve done in six seasons… And they nail it", while complimenting the character dynamics of the episode as well as its humour declaring it as possibly "the funniest episode of “The Walking Dead” ever. He singled out Danai Gurira as Michonne and Melissa McBride as Carol at the bulk of the humour. In particular, he praised Carol saying: "Carol, in particular, is a jaw-dropping, hilarious surprise in the hour. As much as she was reinvented into a deadly badass in season four and five, season six finds her taking a surprising turn that makes total sense for where she’s been, and where she’s going. Suffice to say, Carol — and McBride — continues to be the stealth weapon of the Grimes Gang." The addition of Lennie James was highlighted. In addition, Zalben noted the pacing remaining consistent, as he pointed out that fans "worried that the Group settling down in one location a la season two’s Hershel’s Farm meant we’re in for a slow year full of lots of talking and hand wringing… Don’t worry. Not only has Gimple led his company to showing instead of telling, and making the dialogue scenes actually count versus repeating the same themes over and over; but the action picks up from the very first scene, and doesn’t let up. And isn’t going to let up any time soon. The episode is an incredible, complete package, as big as you’d want a “Walking Dead” movie to be; but it also shows how things start off bad — and as usual, are only getting to get way, way worse.[11]
Ratings
References
- ^ "Full Episode - The Walking Dead - First Time Again". AMC. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ^ Sepinwall, Alan (July 10, 2015). "AMC announces 90-minute October premiere for 'The Walking Dead': Trailer". HitFix. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ Cannon, William (June 1, 2015). "'The Walking Dead' Season 6 Spoilers: Is Eugene Next Big Character Death? Plus 9 Other Exciting Details". Latin Times. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (July 6, 2015). "The Walking Dead showrunner Scott M. Gimple says backstory to the comic will be revealed in season 6". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- ^ a b Venable, Nick. "The Walking Dead's New Character Is Going To Be A Smartass, Get The Details". Cinemablend. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ Harnick, Chris (July 10, 2015). "Merritt Wever Joins The Walking Dead Season 6 Alongside Ethan Embry". E! Online. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- ^ Phillipps, Tracey. "The Walking Dead: Kenric Green not at liberty to discuss role on #TWD". Undead Walking. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ Lowry, Brian (September 30, 2015). "TV Review: 'The Walking Dead,' Season 6". Variety. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ Davis, Brandon (October 1, 2015). "The Walking Dead Season 6 Premiere Spoiler-Free Review". Comicbook.com. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ Sims, Andrew (October 1, 2015). "'The Walking Dead' 6×01 review: Huge plans, huge excitement". Hypable. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ Zalben, Alex (October 1, 2015). "'The Walking Dead' Season 6 Premiere Is Epic — And Will Have You Screaming For More". MTV. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
