‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: Season 5, Episode 13 – ‘Forget’

Aaron (Ross Marquand) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) in ‘The Walking Dead’ (AMC)

Rick Grimes’ gang made some attempts to settle in with varying degrees of success on Sunday’s “The Walking Dead.”

And while the episode saw some surprises for characters like Daryl (who found a reason to put on a nice shirt), and Rick (who grew closer to Jessie), others, like Carol and Sasha, encountered difficult situations.

Here’s our blow by blow recap of “The Walking Dead” Season 5, Episode 13 – “Forget”:

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Sasha, inside Alexandria: Sasha can’t sleep. Looking around at the photos of some unknown family captured during a happy moment in time, is driving her crazy. So Sasha acts. Heading to the armory, she checks out a gun and heads into a field. Setting the photos on an old tree stump, she takes aim and fires, and fires again, and again. “Come and get me,” she says sitting on the log after she’s done.

Preparing For The Worst

Carol, Rick and Daryl, by the abandoned house outside of Alexandria: Backup plan time! Carol (in a floral sweater) has an idea about how they can prepare their secret weapons stash. She’ll leave a latch open in the armory, sneak in, get the guns and sneak out. “Right now they’re not watching us. … We may need the guns, we may not,” Rick says. “We will. Whatever way it goes,” Carol tells him. For now though, they’ll keep the backup plan between the three of them. Before they can head back to Alexandria, a walker comes by. Carol empties her bullets into its flesh (so she comes back looking like she really went out for gun practice). “What’s that?” Daryl says, looking at the corpse (there’s a “W” carved on its head). Rick looks at the corpse and then his friends. He knows it’s not a good sign.

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Michonne, inside a house in Alexandria: Last episode, it was Michonne who shared a look of surprise at seeing Rick without the beard. This time, it’s Rick’s turn to give her a look as he sees Michonne in her new patrol uniform. “I don’t know if this is some kind of play, handing authority [out] to strangers,” he says. Michonne thinks Deanna is smart. She’s buying in to this place.

Bonds Begin To Form

Daryl, in the woods outside of Alexandria: “Come out! Now!” Daryl shouts when he hears a rustling in the trees. It’s Aaron. “You can tell the difference between walkers and humans by sound?” Aaron asks, a little surprised. “Can you tell the difference between a good guy and a bad guy?” he also asks. His guard up, Daryl wants to know why Aaron is following him. He’s not, Aaron insists. Just hunting rabbits. The two team up. “Keep up. Keep quiet,” Daryl grunts.

Rick, Michonne, Maggie and Deanna, inside Deanna’s home: Walking along the fence, breaking up fights and solving conflicts is what Deanna wants Rick and Michonne to do. “There’s gonna be a government here one day,” Deanna tells them. “I see a vibrant community here with industry, commerce, civilization,” she adds. Rick quickly shifts the conversation to focus on what they need today, not the future. The walls need to be constantly patrolled. Sasha walks over and volunteers to be a clock tower look out. But Alexandria doesn’t have any, Deanna reveals. “We need a lookout in that tower right now. 24/7,” Rick insists. Sasha wants as many shifts as possible. Open to the idea, Deanna wants something first – Sasha and the gang in attendance at a welcoming party for Rick’s group, which she is hosting that evening.

Carol, on a porch with the ladies of Alexandria: It’s recipe exchange time on the porch for Carol, who smiles sweetly as she chats with the ladies of Alexandria. Spotting Rick passing by on the street gives her the opportunity to leave their company and further her backup plans with Rick. Tonight she’ll slip out without help – Rick has to be at the party. He’s the new constable. Daryl can’t help her either because everyone’s watching him. “You know what’s great about this place? I get to be invisible again,” she says.

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Daryl and Aaron, in the woods: The world may be full of walkers, but in this one tiny clearing in the woods today, there’s not an undead creature in sight. Instead, it’s one of nature’s most beautiful creations – a horse. Daryl is immediately captivated. His name is Buttons, Aaron reveals. “One of the kids saw him run by the gate a while back,” the Alexandrian says, explaining how the mare got his name. Immediately, Aaron reaches for some rope in his bag. Daryl takes it. He’ll move in on the beast. “The longer they’re out there, the more they become what they really are,” Daryl says, before stealthily approaching the mare. “I ain’t gonna hurt you,” Daryl says. “You used to be somebody’s, right? Now you’re just yours.” But the tender moment turns sour as walkers spot them all. Daryl and Aaron take care of the walkers, but the situation spooks Buttons and he bolts.

Carol, at the armory/supply area: Applesauce! It’s the secret of the cookies Carol is making for the party, and she picks up some of that and a quarter bar of chocolate from Alexandrian Olivia, who runs the supply area. A couple of men come in to pick up guns. One of them makes an offer to Carol. “My name is Tobin and whenever you want, I’d be happy to teach you,” he says. She thanks him after quietly unfastening the window lock (so she can get back in later).

Daryl and Aaron, in the woods: Looking for Buttons gives the boys time to talk. “I know you’re feeling like an outsider. It’s not your fault, you know. Eric and I – we’re still looked at as outsiders in a lot of ways. We’ve heard our fair share of well meaning, but hilariously offensive things from some otherwise nice men and women,” Aaron tells Daryl during their search. “They’re scared of you and me for different reasons,” he adds. “They’re less scared of me because they know me,” Aaron says, before suggesting Daryl go to Deanna’s party.

Welcome Mixer At Alexandria

Members of Rick’s group at Deanna’s Party: “Welcome,” Deanna says as Carol, Rick, baby Judith and Carl come in. Even Rosita and Abraham have cleaned up for the mixer. Rick meets Reg, Deanna’s husband. He watched the confessional tapes and is impressed by Rick and everything he did for his group. Taking a drink and relaxing a bit, Rick turns to the door as Jessie, her sons and husband Pete walk in.

Daryl and Aaron, in the woods: Chasing down Buttons has landed the boys in a field full of walkers, and Aaron goes down. A decaying walker has his leg. With a boot to the walker’s head, Daryl saves him, taking down two. Aaron gets up and shoots one headed straight for Daryl. They saved each other. But for Buttons, it’s too late. The men can do nothing as the horse is torn apart. Daryl and Aaron kill each and every one of them. Aaron puts the moaning Buttons out of his misery. “He always ran,” a heartbroken Aaron says. “You were trying to help him,” Daryl replies.

Members of Rick’s group at Deanna’s Party: Back at the party, Noah wants to bail but Glenn and Maggie convince him to stay. He’s with family now. Outside, Daryl is in a clean shirt, watching the bash, but he turns and walks away. The lights come on at Aaron’s house as Daryl walks down the street. “Thought you were going to that party over there,” Daryl says to Aaron. No, he wasn’t, he just wanted Daryl to go to try. Trying counts. There may not be a party for Daryl, but there is a dinner invite – Aaron has some “pretty serious spaghetti” on offer.

Spotting Olivia walk into Deanna’s bash gives Carol the chance to sneak out. Rick’s attentions are immediately turned to Jessie who introduces her husband, Pete. “Good to meet you,” Pete says, acting like he’s never met Rick before. He goes off to get his wife a drink, leaving her to talk to Rick about how great Alexandria is. Her speech ended, her son Sam runs up with a concern. They’re out of cookies. Rick says he knows the cookie maker and he might be able to get the youngster his own batch. After Sam stamps the letter “A” on Rick’s hand making him officially one of them, Jessie walks off to mingle.

Daryl Gets A Job

Daryl and Aaron, in the woods: As Daryl slurps down his spaghetti, Eric and Aaron exchange a look. Something’s going on. “When you’re out there,” Eric begins, asking Daryl to look for a pasta maker on the outside. Oops! Aaron gives Eric a different look. “I thought it was done. You didn’t ask him already?” Eric asks Aaron, who shakes his head. In the garage with Aaron, Daryl finds out what Eric was talking about. There’s a motorbike and parts everywhere. Aaron’s been collecting them in the hopes that he could put the bike together. “I get the feeling you already know what to do with it. And the thing is… you’re gonna need a bike,” he tells Daryl. “I told Deanna not to give you a job because I think I have one for you. I’d like you to be Alexandria’s other recruiter.” He wants Daryl out there because he knows what he’s doing. And… “You do know the difference between a good person and a bad person,” Aaron adds. It’s the respectful kind of job Daryl needs. “I’ve got nothing else to do. Thanks,” Daryl says accepting Aarons offer.

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A New Child Threat?

Carol, in the armory: After swiping a bit of extra chocolate, Carol loads up a bag of guns. “What are you doing?” someone standing near the window asks. It’s Jessie’s son, Sam. He followed her hoping she’d make more cookies. Caught out and in a dangerous predicament, Carol promises she’ll make him cookies if he’ll keep the secret. “But I’d have to tell my mom, I mean, I tell my mom everything,” the youngster explains. Not this time. “You can never tell anyone… because if you do, one morning you’ll wake up and you won’t be in your bed,” Carol says, walking toward Sam who backs up against the wall. If he tells, he’ll be tied to a tree outside the walls. “And you’ll scream and you’ll scream because you’ll be so afraid and no one will come to help because no one will hear you,” she adds — no one but the monsters, who will eat him, while he’s still alive. “Or you can promise not to tell anyone what you saw here, and then nothing will happen and you’ll get cookies. Lots of cookies,” she adds, smiling.

Members of Rick’s group at Deanna’s Party: Back at the party, Jessie’s cuddling Judith and being sweet again to newcomer Rick. “Here isn’t that bad,” he tells her. As he takes baby Judith back, he leans in and kisses Jessie on the cheek. There’s a look between them, and then she walks off without saying a word.

For Sasha though, the party is more of a nightmare. She can’t handle the normalcy – people drinking, and talking about their favorite foods. After yelling at a woman, she walks out.

Sasha, at the fence at Alexandria: The next day, Deanna comes over to Sasha to figure her out. “This — it isn’t real,” Sasha says. Deanna says that’s BS, hands her a box of bullets and opens the gate.

Carol, Rick and Daryl, at the abandoned house outside of Alexandria: “Take your pick,” Carol says holding up the guns she took from the armory. “Do we really need these?” Daryl asks. Carol’s confused. “You wanted me to try, right? I’m good,” he tells her. Rick hesitates, but takes one.

Rick’s Group, inside Alexandria: In her house, Michonne hangs up her katana on a wall. Elsewhere, Carol, Daryl and Rick walk inside the Alexandria gate and go their separate ways. “Hey Rick” Jessie says, holding up her hand, with the stamped letter “A” on it as she walks by with Pete. Rick smiles back and holds up his own hand with the stamp. For a moment, Rick stops to watch them – especially Pete – and reaches around, checking on the secret gun he has stashed in his waistband. It’s there, so he turns and walks down a street named Morgan (hmmm…). Heading to the fence, Rick puts his head against the steel and listens to the breathy sound of a walker outside.

“The Walking Dead” continues Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

— Jolie Lash