The Distance (The Walking Dead)

"The Distance" is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on February 22, 2015. The episode was written by Seth Hoffman, in his fifth writing credit for the series, and directed by Larysa Kondracki. This episode marks the first appearance of the Alexandria Safe-Zone, a prominent location in the comic book series of the same name. It also features the first appearance of Eric, a recruiter for Alexandria and Aaron's boyfriend.

The episode focuses on the group's being introduced to Aaron, who promises the group would be valuable additions to his community, although his encouraging and optimistic outlook convince the group that he is a threat. Michonne strives for a safe haven and believes in the opportunity Aaron's community offers. The group take a different route than expected for safety precautions, which in turn causes multiple dangerous threats along their journey.

Overall, the episode was critically acclaimed, with many praising aspects such as the action and sense of urgency, as well as the change of tone in comparison to previous episodes demonstrating hope for the characters and moving the story in a new direction.

Plot
Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) return to the barn and introduce Aaron (Ross Marquand) to Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and the group. Aaron tells them he is part of a larger community surrounded by reinforced steel walls that provide protection from intruders and "roamers", and he believes they would make trustworthy additions to his community. Rick, however, doesn't trust Aaron and knocks him unconscious before tying him to a wooden column. A search of Aaron's pack reveals, among other things, a flare gun, suggesting there are others nearby.

When later pressed by Rick, Aaron reveals he has one partner who is hiding some distance from the group. He provides Rick with directions to two waiting vehicles, which are to transport Rick's group to the community. Rick tests Aaron's claim by dispatching Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun), Maggie, Michonne (Danai Gurira), Abraham Ford (Michael Cudlitz), and Rosita Espinosa (Christian Serratos) to see if the vehicles are in fact there, while the rest of the group takes up positions around the barn, in case Aaron is planning an attack. A car and an RV are later found, suggesting that Aaron is telling the truth. While alone with Rick, Aaron explains that he worked for an NGO delivering food and medicine to communities on the Niger River delta, and bad guys pointed guns at his face every other week — but he doesn't believe Rick is a bad guy.

When everyone reconvenes, Aaron says he will take them to the community the next morning, but he refuses to reveal the camp's location in order to protect its inhabitants. Instead, Aaron says they'll take Highway 16 and provide further directions as they travel. However, Rick decides against that and declares they will travel via Highway 23 that night. Aaron protests, saying that his people haven't yet cleared that road, but Rick is adamant. An angry Michonne questions whether Rick actually intends to join the camp. Rick responds that he will make a decision when he is outside the walls.

Rick, Michonne, Glenn, and Aaron take the lead in the car, while the rest of the group follow a short distance behind in the RV. On the way, Michonne is looking at the pictures that Aaron has given her and she asks him why he has no pictures of his people. He says that he did take one picture but that he had got the exposure wrong and it didn't develop. Michonne then asks Rick if he has given Aaron their own audition interview: How many walkers have you killed? How many people have you killed? Why? Rick says no and then Michonne asks Aaron those questions. He answers that he has killed 'lots' of walkers, but only 2 people, and only then because they were trying to kill him. At that point Rick then finds a parabolic microphone in the car and expresses concern that Aaron's people might have heard their plans. Rick's outburst distracts Glenn who drives into a herd of walkers spread-out along the dark, unscouted highway. Coming out the other side, they lose sight of the RV and conclude it backed away from the herd, and as they discuss a way to rendezvous with them find they can't get the car started. They see a flare go off and Aaron bolts into the woods, pursued by Glenn. After close calls for each, Glenn cuts Aaron free and returns his pistol, and together they return to the car to save Rick and Michonne from the herd. The four of them head for the flare and reunite with the RV group who have rescued Aaron's partner and boyfriend, Eric (Jordan Woods-Robinson).

Relieved that Rick's group saved Eric, Aaron reveals the community is located in Alexandria, Virginia, and the group hits the road in the morning. During a break, Rick slips away and hides a gun in the woods. Pulling up to the community walls, Rick hears the sound of children playing. Believing that Aaron is telling the truth and the community is safe, the group leave the vehicles and heads to the gates.

Reception
Although Aaron and Eric are boyfriends in the comic series, many fans were still surprised due to the same-sex kiss the two shared in the episode.

Upon airing, the episode was watched by 13.44 million American viewers with an 18-49 rating of 6.9, an increase in viewership from the previous episode which had 12.27 million viewers and an 18-49 rating of 6.2.

In New Zealand, the episode was watched by 150,020 viewers. The Australian broadcast was the most-watched on pay television that day, with 85,000 viewers. The UK broadcast was the second most-watched on the network that month, with 1.13 million viewers.