The Walking Dead has been filling our screens for 5 years now, with a 6^th one just around the corner, and a spinoff that is aiming to fill in the gaps of what happened as the world itself collapsed. After 5 long years, there have been many ups and downs to the show, as we follow Rick and Co. along their journey to survive in this new world.

So, how does The Walking Dead Season 5 stack up? Honestly, pretty well.

Look, I won’t lie. There are plenty of times during the course of this show that I became so increasingly frustrated that I swore off watching it. There are times that I got so involved that I declared it the best thing ever. Those, and every emotion in between, is what a TV show should be doing; making you run that gauntlet of highs and lows.

Season 5, for me, was a high point. We saw these characters change quite drastically from what we were used to. We said good bye to old friends and hello to new ones. And we finally saw Rick lose his shit and become Shane in a lot of ways, who, in my opinion, was the unsung hero of the first two season.

But let’s back up a bit. The premiere episode picked up immediately where Season 4 left off. It made up for that lackluster finale by pumping us up with tons of extreme tension, topped off with a massive action sequence, as our favorite survivors escape from Terminus, the sanctuary that wasn’t. From there, it’s more of the same; survivors trying to survive and facing the odds. The stakes are upped a bit this time around, though, as supplies are dwindling, a new breed of enemy arises, and some of Terminus’ scattered survivors are not happy with how things turned out.

Season 5 most definitely moves at a more relentlessly pace than the ones that came before it. There’s always endless peril, a surprise or two, or a new development in almost every scene. It’s breathtaking how much is crammed into some of these episodes, and it’s impressive that they pulled it off.

By far, my favorite episode, was the mid-season premiere, “What Happened and What’s Going On.” To me, it showcases what the show is about perfectly, with the physical and emotional issues that arise on display here. Not only that, but from a technical stand point, it’s quite beautifully done.

Blu-ray Cover

The gang also makes their way to Alexandria, a sort of mythical land where things are good. Unlike the false promises of Woodbury and Terminus, this place seems to be working, albeit woefully unprepared for the horrors outside the walls. Luckily, Rick and his band of merry men (and women) are all too happy to help set them straight. It’s here that we see a very different side of Carol; she has changed drastically from the emotionally and physically abused housewife we first met her as. Now, she is an ass-kicking, scary woman who doesn’t take anyone’s crap. Who knew that cookies could be so scary?!

Also, Rick has finally learned that things need to be a certain way in order to survive. During the first two years of the show, I was very vocal about Shane being the only person who had the right idea in order for them to survive. Sure, he was a lunatic who did some pretty terrible things, but while everyone else was beating around the bush, he was making stuff happen and protecting his people. It’s been a long road, but Rick has finally learned that lesson, and is OK with making the tough choices in order to protect his own. Especially the very end of this season…man, what a turning point for him.

If there was to be any missteps this year, it is the digital effects. The Walking Dead has had some incredible practical effects over the years, but for some reason, some of the digital stuff just sticks out like a sore thumb. They go all out for these amazing gore effects, but sadly, sometimes they are ruined by the lackluster VFX.

Rounding out the blu-ray set are a lot of extras. First up, there are commentaries on every single disc, which offer some pretty insightful looks into the episodes. As a total film nerd, I always love hearing the people behind the lens talk about their process while filming.

The “Inside The Walking Dead” offer brief yet detailed plot recaps and character explorations for each episode. They’re OK, and give a little more insight behind them. I really enjoyed the technical looks at each episode in the “The Making Of The Walking Dead” features more, though.

“The Making of Alexandria” has a closer look at building the location and its purpose in the season. There are also four “Journey” features, showcasing Beth, Bob, Tyrese, and Noah. Personally, Beth’s is the best, but they are all good. “A Day In The Life…” has two separate parts, one for Michael Cudlitz and one for Josh McDermitt, who play Abraham and Eugene respectively. These were, by far, by favorite bits.

Finishing it up are “Rotters in the Flesh,” a look at some of the special effects from this year, and a handful of deleted scenes.

Let’s face it, though; if you’re a fan of the show, you’re going to pick this disc up. I honestly quite enjoyed this season, and thought the extras made for a great, well-rounded package.