‘The Walking Dead’ recap: What you suspected about Glenn is true

It’s the best of news and mere seconds later the worst of news for beleaguered residents of the Alexandria Safe-Zone as AMC’s “The Walking Dead” nears its midseason finale.

In “Heads Up” (Episode 607), Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) is ecstatic to learn that her missing husband Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) is alive despite plunging into a zombie swarm. Glenn signals he’s safe by releasing helium-filled balloons.

But just as Maggie rushes to tell Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) this wonderful news, disaster strikes when a fire-damaged tower topples over and destroys part of the wall protecting Alexandria from undead and living predators.

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This means the remaining half of a zombie mega-herd could surge in and devour all humans in sight. And with the wall down, scavengers known as Wolves might launch a second deadly invasion.

As for Glenn, it appeared he died four episodes ago after being trapped with Nicholas (Michael Traynor) on top of a dumpster and surrounded by ravenous “walkers.” Believing there was no escape, Nicholas shot himself and fell into the zombie pit, dragging Glenn with him.

Luckily for Glenn, he landed under Nicholas, whose mutilated corpse acted as a shield. This enabled Glenn to scooch under the dumpster and wait it out until the zombies dispersed.

“Heads up” are the first words Glenn hears upon emerging. Enid (Katelyn Nacon), a troubled teenager who fled Alexandria when the Wolves attacked, tosses Glenn a water bottle then disappears.

Glenn eventually finds Enid and persuades her to accompany him back to Alexandria. Glenn also offers a pep talk to Enid, who developed a fatalistic attitude after zombies killed her parents.

“You don’t want to lose anything again,” Glenn observes, “so you give up and say: ‘That’s just what happens.’

“You honor the dead by going on, even when you’re scared,” Glenn adds. “You live because they don’t get to.”

Glenn’s words of encouragement soon ring hollow for Enid, however, because she’s terrified to see hundreds upon hundreds of walkers outside Alexandria.

“The world is trying to die,” Enid tearfully exclaims. “We’re supposed to just let it!”

Inside the walls, meanwhile, Rick strategizes with Michonne (Danai Gurira) about how to draw away that zombie mass. He trusts “his people” to carry out a dangerous plan but won’t rely on untested Alexandrians.

Michonne has a different opinion, however, pointing out that “we’re in here together.”

To his credit, Rick does encourage Alexandrians to hone their skills. Rosita Espinosa (Christian Serratos), for instance, leads a class in machete fighting. And Rick himself teaches young Ron Anderson (Austin Abrams) how to fire a gun.

But Rick refuses to provide Ron with live ammo, for obvious reasons. Rick executed Ron’s abusive father Pete (Corey Brill) in the Season 5 finale and recently began a romantic relationship with Ron’s mother Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge).

Ron quickly reveals his true intentions by sneaking into the armory, loading up with bullets and stalking Rick’s son Carl (Chandler Riggs). So will Rick and Jessie one day create a happy, blended family? Maybe not.

Finally, Rick, Michonne and Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) confront Morgan Jones (Lennie James) about his pacifist behavior. Specifically, Morgan let five Wolves escape and they nearly murdered Rick. Now Morgan secretly keeps a wounded Wolf locked in a cellar and treats him with antibiotics.

“All life is precious,” Morgan insists, “and that idea changed me. It brought me back and it keeps me living!”

But if you want to survive a zombie apocalypse, Rick asks, “you really think you can do that without getting blood on your hands?”

“I don’t know” is Morgan’s candid and agonized reply.

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