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Season 5 – The Walking Dead

Play trailer Poster for Season 5 – The Walking Dead Oct 2014 Drama Horror Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 373 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, this gritty drama portrays life in the months and years that follow a zombie apocalypse. A group of survivors travel in search of safety and security, constantly on the move in search of a secure home. But the pressure each day to stay alive sends many in the group to the deepest depths of human cruelty, and they soon discover that the overwhelming fear of the survivors can be more deadly than the zombies walking among them. At times, the interpersonal conflicts present a greater threat to their continuing survival than the walkers that roam the country.
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The Walking Dead — Season 5

The Walking Dead — Season 5

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Critics Consensus

Thanks to a liberal dose of propulsive, bloody action and enough compelling character moments to reward longtime fans, The Walking Dead's fifth season continues to deliver top-notch entertainment.

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Critics Reviews

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Lori Rackl Chicago Sun-Times 11/03/2014
The season five opener wastes no time turning up the tension to 11. If it's a sign of things to come, we're in for a great season. Go to Full Review
Alex Straker Independent (UK) 10/21/2014
Every instance of true sentiment is balanced with moments of horror. Go to Full Review
David Sims The Atlantic 10/20/2014
The show's fifth season seems much more propulsive, setting up new plots and then moving through them with surprising haste. Go to Full Review
Kelechi Ehenulo Confessions From A Geek Mind 07/16/2020
4/5
Hands down - this has been the best season of The Walking Dead. Go to Full Review
Poppy-Jay Palmer SciFiNow 09/28/2015
4/5
The shockers are still as good as they ever were. Go to Full Review
Jeff Beck The Blu Spot 08/24/2015
2.5/5
The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season represents a major step down for a show that had seemingly finally figured out what it was missing. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Raquel E @raquelea Dec 28 A season that weaves grief into the story while maintaining momentum and action. See more Jae H @JHReviews Nov 10 The Walking Dead was honestly a phenomenon when it first came to our screens. I’d never seen anything like it, and as a teenager at the time, I was completely engrossed, truly invested in the characters brought before our eyes. It felt real, grounded, and it made us question how far someone would go to survive. It really was a brilliant post-apocalyptic zombie story and series. At its best, it felt like an event, ending on major, exciting cliff-hangers, developing iconic characters, and keeping you on the edge of your seat. There was always anxiety over who might go next. The show was brave, unafraid to make bold choices and test the audience. Rick Grimes truly carried this show on his back. He was the face of The Walking Dead, brought to life iconically by Andrew Lincoln. The show was stacked with talent and often written so well that you cared deeply for each character’s story. Now, most of this praise applies to the first half of the series, where it truly thrived. From Seasons 1 to 7, The Walking Dead was near its best. After that, I became frustrated by certain story and character choices. There were simply too many characters, too many subplots. The show began to feel more like a soap opera. The zombies, once terrifying and central, faded into the background, merely reminders of what the show used to be. It felt like the show was holding onto something that no longer worked through the latter part of the series until internal changes were made. Though I did check out after Season 9. I eventually returned, but mostly out of loyalty rather than excitement. That said, The Walking Dead still gave us some of the best storytelling ever seen on TV, with brilliant villains and unforgettable arcs inspired by its comic roots. The early seasons remain a masterpiece of suspense, emotion, and humanity. It’s a show I both love and dislike, but those early years still bring me joy, nostalgia, and yes… a little trauma. See more Saul G. @SaulG0onMan Sep 28 With the group at their most hardened and unified, Season 5 is a roller coaster of thrilling action and emotional depth. The Terminus arc is resolved with a satisfying burst of violence, and the discovery of Alexandria offers a tantalizing new layer to the story. And the show's knack for blending compelling character arcs with gruesome, crowd-pleasing moments is on full display. See more Jackson S Aug 11 This is one of my favorite seasons because it has prime Rick Grimes See more Eliana S Jul 18 This is the absolute best season the whole group is goated and the storyline is very interesting to watch See more Bakon @Bakon Jul 17 This is definitely the best season of the show thus far. Everything was ramped up to 11. The writing, the characters, Rick’s beard. I honestly didn’t really care for the hospital arc, that’s why it’s not a 5/5. Some of that really dragged and didn’t do much for me but that mid season finale was peak. The first episode of the season was the best episode of the show and a top 5 of all time. The 1st, 3rd, and 8th were the standouts. The finale was good but look at my review on that if you want to see my thoughts on that episode. My main two issues of the season really do keep it from being a 5/5, otherwise it would be. Beth and Noah’s hospital arc(which I’ve already mentioned) and the fact that this season doesn’t feel complete. Like why does The Walking Dead feel the need to make each arc 1.5-2 seasons long. Like you don’t need to make it that long. You could pretty easily merge a few episodes this season into one and you’d have a tight 2/3rds of a season which is fantastic. Like merge episodes 4-6 together and you’re all good. Also the group trying to live a normal life but looking like psychopaths when they are can get a bit annoying. Like Carol in particular becomes pretty unlikeable by the end of the season. Like her arc beefing with an 8 year old feels pretty out of place here since her threatening kids isn’t in her character. She becomes pretty annoying. My final minor complaint is that they kill off way too many major characters too close together this season. Like there are 3-4 MAJOR deaths this season and I know that this show is meant to show that everyone is expendable but it kind of bugs me how we have a major death in the mid season finale and we barely have any time to move on from these deaths because as soon as you do then someone else dies. Like 2 main characters die in back to back episodes and it gets kind of annoying. But this season was fantastic and I hope that season 6 matches this quality. I know every season after this with perhaps 9 being an exception isn’t very good but I’ll still watch them. See more Read all reviews
The Walking Dead — Season 5

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 12, 2014 No Sanctuary The true motives of the Terminans come to light when Rick and the others end up in a vulnerable situation. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 19, 2014 Strangers Rick leads a risky mission for a possible small reward when the supplies run low and the group's mistrust of people grows. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 26, 2014 Four Walls and a Roof Rick and the others find themselves pitted against a nasty group but may have a plan to gain the upper hand. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 2, 2014 Slabtown Another group of survivors is introduced, and although things appear safe and nice, there is a bit of a dark side. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 9, 2014 Self Help The group must contend with a new set of issues while out on a mission, and must push through to survive. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 16, 2014 Consumed Stakes are high when members of the group must go on a heroic rescue mission in a previously known location. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 23, 2014 Crossed The group is spread thin with some members holding down the church and the others on a rescue mission. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 30, 2014 Coda New enemies disregard rules and morals; although Rick wants to find a peaceful agreement, the enemies seem to prefer a more violent resolution. Details Episode 9 Aired Feb 8, 2015 What Happened and What's Going On After facing all of the recent trials, a slight detour may offer the solution that the group has been seeking. Details Episode 10 Aired Feb 15, 2015 Them The group feels beaten after living life on the road, but must continue to trudge along in spite of the changes they have incurred. Details Episode 11 Aired Feb 22, 2015 The Distance After withstanding a spectacular storm, Rick and the others meet what appears to be a friendly person, but find themselves mistrustful. Details Episode 12 Aired Mar 1, 2015 Remember The group has a difficult time molding to a new lifestyle, forcing them to consider whether they can be the people they once were. Details Episode 13 Aired Mar 8, 2015 Forget As Rick and the others continue to acclimate to their new surroundings, they consider a return to normalcy. Details Episode 14 Aired Mar 15, 2015 Spend While trying to secure a new home, Rick and his group face challenges, and question the utopia they find themselves in. Details Episode 15 Aired Mar 22, 2015 Try When life within the walls begins to mimic life outside, the group realizes that sheltered life may not be possible. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 29, 2015 Conquer Daryl finds trouble while on a run; Rick and the group feel like outsiders in Alexandria, where trouble approaches the gates. Details
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Season Info

Director
Greg Nicotero, Michael E. Satrazemis, David Boyd, Ernest R. Dickerson, Jeffrey F. January, Larysa Kondracki, Julius Ramsay
Executive Producer
Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Glen Mazzara
Screenwriter
Matthew Negrete, Angela Kang, Scott M. Gimple, Heather Bellson, Seth Hoffman, Channing Powell, Corey Reed, Corey Reed
Network
AMC
Rating
TV-MA (L|V)
Genre
Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 12, 2014
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