The Walking Dead Season 5 - AMC's long running drama series returned to our screens last night and it is obvious that it was not only the taste buds of Rick Grimes' desperate pack that was affected by having to feast on a barbeque of dog meat.

While the act may come off as savage, Rick Grimes and his pack are at a point where hope seems to be failing them. Also, when we consider that Daryl Dixon had actually ingested a worm in his largely futile search for food and water, all of a sudden the dog barbeque doesn't seem like the worst thing that could happen to the group.

The death of Beth and Tyresse has obviously drained the pack of a lot of mental energy as they tether between mourning and giving up. The long and arduous trek to Washington D.C. has had the effect of slowing down the series as the pack are now more concerned about surviving and finding respite, than killing zombies. Still, the few encounters with zombies in the forest are some of the most memorable scenes from the recent episode of The Walking Dead.

It is interesting to see as Father Gabriel questions his faith, while he is supposed to be the moral steward of the group.

On his part, the captain of the pack Rick Grimes is deeply consumed with keeping his pack upbeat and ready for the journey ahead. But it is difficult for us to decide if he is a visionary or he is delusionary when he looks at the clear skies and says "It's going to rain, sooner or later."

One of the high points of the episode is when the pack finds water in the middle of the street with a suspicious note attached, which reads 'from a friend.' Another high point is when Rick Grimes tries to inspire his pack by comparing them to the zombies or "the walking dead."

But hands down, the most edge-of-the-seat moment in The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 10 is the appearance of a new face in the pack. Aaron, who claims he has good news, may be a gay character whose introduction has long been awaited on the show.

In The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 11 - The Distance - the group is seen trying to deal with the implications of having a new member, while protecting themselves. See a preview of the upcoming episode of The Walking Dead Below