The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Recap: 6 Ups & 4 Downs From "Years"

10. Down: The Mostly Forgettable Side Characters

It's early doors, of course, but so far none of the new characters introduced to Rick Grimes have been able to break through, their thin characterisation a sacrifice to make way for Rick's development. 

Save for his de facto boss and on-and-off foe, Lieutenant-Colonel Okafor, many of the CRM's biggest figures never become more than their exposition. For example, fellow survivor Thorne seems to speak only in cliché and commentary, whilst CRM leader Beale is nothing more than his apparently impressive reputation.

This isn't to knock the actors - it's great to see Lost's Terry O'Quinn on-screen again, and Lesley-Ann Brandt does sell Thorne's conflicted mentality with a briefly great speech - but since the episode is so focussed on Rick and his new predicament, their existence thus far seems limited to telling us what's happening and teasing secrets.

As noted, Okafor is an all-too-brief brilliant addition to the fold, especially in the episode's second half when his greatest secrets are revealed, but even he feels wasted by the end.