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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.11 – Claimed

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the walking dead season 4The Walking Dead kicks off picking up on last week’s ending which introduced fan favorite character Abraham and his crew. They roll along heading to their destination, end dispatching some walkers too. Abraham shows us something we haven’t seen in a long time, a smile.

From there the episode switches to Michonne and Carl who are also having a moment of levity between them. It’s a light moment in this rather serious world. The two head out searching, further bonding together.

Rick is left alone in the house and is awaken by the sound of screaming as some visitors enter the house he’s held up in. It’s a very intense moment as we wonder if he’ll be discovered by the individuals.

Back to their searching, Carl and Michonne are clearly bonding and learning a lot about each other. The moments are interesting as we learn a lot about each, especially Michonne.

Back to Abraham and his crew, Glenn finally comes through and we learn about Abraham, his “mission,” and introduced to his team. Glenn has a mission of his own though and those two things don’t go over well.

Back to Rick who is doing everything he can to not get caught by his guests. He eventually sneaks out in a very tense moment that reminds us that walkers aren’t the only threats. the show wraps up with getting to know about Abraham and his group and Rick deciding where to head to next.

Overall, the episode is a solid one setting up what’s to come next and it all should have fans of the comic excited.

Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard
Overall Score: 8

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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.10 – Inmates

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the walking dead season 4Much like the last episode which kicked off the second half of the fourth season of The Walking Dead, this episode picks up a little after the assault on the prison. This time, we get to see how Beth and Daryl are holding up, on the run from walkers, trying to survive.

Much like everyone else, the two are in a quandary, whether to go it alone, or look for other survivors. Immediately what strikes me with this pairing is Beth’s belief in faith, while Daryl is a bit more focused on the here and now and their reality. But, Beth’s hope doesn’t last long as they deal with walkers, she breaks down after seeing what’s happened to some individuals they come across.

The episode then changes the focus, this time to Tyreese, who has some of the children in tow, Lizzie, Mika and Li’l Ass-Kicker herself Judith. This answers one of the major questions from mid-season finale. Out of everyone to be in that position, his being in it is the more interesting, as Tyreese in this series while shown as protective, he’s not exactly one you expect to be babysitting. But, there’s the ever big issue of a crying baby, not exactly the best thing to have when dealing with zombies that are attracted by sound. What’s cool is that this story intersects with what we saw Beth and Daryl come across. How Lizzie deals with the crying Judith is one of the most unnerving moments of the season. But, a moment comes along that makes the horror go away and a little bit of happiness returns, when a familiar face saves the day.

From there, the episode then moves to another group of individuals made up of Bob, Sasha and Maggie. Maggie’s focus is on finding Glenn, so the three head out to do just that, eventually coming upon the bus that left the prison. Inside is walkers, and since Maggie needs to know if Glenn is among them, they let them out one at a time, dispatching them glee. Which leads to another meltdown as the pressure and fear of losing Glenn finally gets to Maggie.

In the fourth segment, we get to see what did happen to Glenn. At the prison and surrounded by walkers, he’s alone attempting to survive the aftermath of the battle with the Governor. Like the survivor he is though, he dons the equipment available to him, heads out into the crowd and makes his way out, but he comes across a shell-shocked Tara who he decides to save, risking his life. As they run from the prison, we’re left with the hoards up walkers streaming in.

The episode’s theme was belief, end capped with Glenn’s belief that Maggie survived. Glenn’s a bit weak and while he collapses Tara protects him.

The episode ends with the introduction of three new individuals, one of which is a fan favorite from the comic series! Welcome to the show Abraham!

Overall, the episode and its various segments was a success, playing off each other a bit. It’s a solid episode that shows off again the acting chops of the various actors. This show isn’t about scares, it’s about the people surviving in this world.

Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard
Overall Score: 8.5

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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.9 – After

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the walking dead season 4The second half of the fourth season of The Walking Dead has returned beginning directly after the assault during the last episode. With smoke billowing, only Michonne walks among the destruction quickly gaining to new zombie pets. It’s a reminder for as much progress as was made, everyone is really back to square one. She also stumbles upon the head of Herschel who is now a zombie, also reminding us of the toll of last season. It’s a grim beginning, but one that quickly jolts us into the reality that now exists.

Everyone is scattered and Carl and Rick are wandering, looking for food, shelter, any supplies. Rick is beaten badly, bruised and battered. At this point Carl is doing what he can to help, but Rick refuses to accept his position or that he now needs his son more than ever. That’s evident has Rick is so badly beaten, he’s unable to get up to deal with threats literally at their door.

The episode is focused on Carl and Michonne. Michonne is clearly suffering from some PTSD, reliving her life at the beginning of the zombie outbreak and dealing with where she is now. This is a fully realized character, tough and vulnerable. I predicted she’d be one of the best characters on tv and the range of emotion and journey just in this episode shows I was right. This is her award nomination episode where she shows a range of emotions in one episode, some characters and actors don’t get to show in a season.

Carl’s journey is more about his independence and relationship with his father. At points he’s strong and you can see him surviving, and at other points he’s still clearly just a kid. There’s a push and pull there, of a kid growing up in this new world. It also involves his father’s growth and realizing he has a young man now. Out of all the characters, Carl has shown the most growth as a character. This episode shows he’s not the screw-up kid of seasons past.

This season we’ve been told to expect more episodes like this focusing on individual characters, and if each are this good, I can’t wait.

Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Scott M. Gimple
Overall Score: 9

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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.8 – Too Far Gone

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the walking dead season 4The eighth episode of the fantastic fourth season of The Walking Dead gets us right to what happens next after the ending of the previous episode. The Governor had both Michonne and Hershel in his gun sights. I didn’t expect him to shoot either, and he doesn’t instead opting to take them hostage. The episode pivots to his manipulating his camp into following his plan to assault the prison and take it from Rick and his people, or just raze it and kill everyone. It’s hard to tell if this is annexation or revenge. In a discussion he claims that he really wants a safe place for his people, but his choosing the prison, instead of something else speaks of another motive. But, in talking to Michonne and Hershel, he makes it clear peace is not an option.

Back at the prison, Rick tells Daryl the news about Carol. He takes it much better than I thought, and the two head to tell Tyreese the news too. Rick, Daryl and Tyreese come across a disturbing thing in the basement. Bob Stookey meanwhile is being rather odd, as if there’s something he’s up to, more than his screw-ups. All of that is interrupted by an explosion, taking an iconic image from the comic, it’s the Governor and a tank. He quickly shows his prisoners, demanding a conversation with Rick. Two issues here, how did a tank going off not attract walkers and did no one notice a tank rolling up?

During all of this, the Governor has left Lilly and Meghan alone, who discover where they’ve been left is a flash flood area, but there are walkers and that leads to a tragic moment.

After an impassioned plea from Rick, the Governor has other plans, killing one of his prisoners, leading to a gun fight. The Governor has shown there’s no redemption for him. And with that, it’s all out war, though not all of the Governor’s soldiers are along for the ride. It’s a hell of a battle, especially for television. With moments that had me screaming out loud in excitement.

There’s some amazing stuff here and so much that felt satisfying, it’s a battle to end all battles that leaves the series and us the viewers in an unknown area, much like the abandonment of the farm. It’s a cathartic and heart wrenching ending to the mid-season that only has me pumped up more to see what the second half has in store for us.

Directed by: Ernest R. Dickerson
Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Scott M. Gimple
Overall Score: 9

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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.7 – Dead Weight

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the walking dead season 4The seventh episode of the fantastic fourth season of The Walking Dead opens with an interesting splitting of the scenes between the Governor’s bumping into his old friend Martinez and his playing chess and teaching it to his new little friend Meghan. Martinez quickly tells the Governor there’s no dead weight, and in his teaching chess, there’s something ominous about it all, but sweet as well.

Throughout the first quarter of the episode toy expect this is almost a new normal for the Governor. He has new travel companions, Martinez represents some order, it’s a nice new start…. or is it?

Martinez hints that it’s a nice new start and through some friendly banter, there’s almost a threat that he might reveal the truth of the Governor’s past. So, Martinez has to go obviously, because we can’t have the Governor’s old life coming to light. That leads to a breakdown in the Governor’s new home, with plays for power and unrest. This is a game of chess for the Governor, and he plans on winning.

But, not everything goes quite right and the new leadership doesn’t really sit well with him, causing the Governor to grab his new friends and make a break for it, only to had back when confronted by a pit of Walkers. There’s an interesting look on the Governor’s face, like he’s thinking of more than just himself now, and working through how he’s going about all of that. But, lets face it, the Governor is a sociopath and psychopath all rolled into one and he’s willing to take out whomever he needs to, to make sure he survives and winds up on top, which is exactly what he does, through brutal means.

For one episode we saw a new Governor, at least a man attempting to change. In this episode, same ole schemer, same ole killer, same ole Governor. All you need to see is one moment at the end of the episode to confirm that.

Directed by: Jeremy Podeswa
Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Scott M. Gimple
Overall Score: 8

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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.6 – Live Bait

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the walking dead season 4After the end of last week’s episode, there could only be anticipation for this week’s episode as we were teased the return of the Governor. The episode opens up giving us exactly what we want showing us his  activity since the end of last season.

We’re shown a man completely broken, wandering around lost and confused, slightly broken and possibly disconnected from his actions that lead to the destruction of the town of Woodbury. After his wandering, he stumbles upon individuals holed up and hanging on.

What’s interesting is, this isn’t the Governor we’ve come to know and hate. Instead we have a broken individual who isn’t quite humble, but maybe a bit pacified. He gives up his weapon to stay and acts as a gracious but quiet guest, almost taking in his new surrounding.

As he’s getting ready to leave, his new hosts asking him to embark on a quest to get oxygen for one of the survivors. In his quest he initially dodges walkers, attempting to grab a full cart of oxygen, but as he gets surrounded he becomes more violent, like a caged animal. He escapes with two canisters. The man who has done so much evil, actually instead doing good.

As he talks more to his new acquaintances, we see that the Governor isn’t quite totally on the side of the angels. But, he now has a “new family” to protect. And this episode begs us to question, is his actions past and present evil? He, like Rick is doing what he has to, so he can survive and protect those he cares about.

While the episode doesn’t get us to the point of him outside the prison, it is the beginning of his journey to that point. In this Governor centered character we see there’s more depth to this character than a psychopath, there’s more about this man for us to get to know and either boo are cheer for.

Directed by: Michael Uppendahl
Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Scott M. Gimple
Overall Score: 7.75

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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.5 – Internment

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the walking dead season 4After a slow episode last week, this week’s episode bounces back with a tense episode harkening back to classic black and white zombie movies of the past.

The tension ramps up in this episode as the body count piles up both inside and outside the prison. With disease raging within the prison, individuals die left and right, some coming back as zombies and threatening from the inside. Outside the prison Rick and Carl have to stop the heard outside the prison as the fence crashes down.

The episode’s main focus is Hershel Greene and his work attempting to save as many as possible. Early in the episode he pulls an infected individual into a room to finish them off and throughout the episode he bounces around between saving individuals and killing walkers. All throughout you can see the worry and concern in his eyes.

Hershel throughout the series has had the idea that there’s some greater plan and this episode seems to focus on that, challenging his faith. There’s an important scene where he attempts to read his bible and struggles to read it, his faith and belief in a greater plan challenged.

Overall, the episode is a solid entry full of tension and shot in the dark, harkening back to the great classic horror movies. Everyone seems to have key moments in the episode, showing the series is very much about the people who inhabit this world and not the walkers that roam it.

Credit also needs to be given to director David Boyd who uses imagery to drive the narrative as much as dialogue. Whether it’s a close up of a gun or pea pod, Boyd shows that what’s not said and just shown can be as powerful as any word.

The end of the episode ends with a tease of the return of a threat from the previous season which only promises to ramp up the action and death count.

Directed by: David Boyd
Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Scott M. Gimple
Overall Score: 8.25

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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.4 – Indifference

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the walking dead season 4While Daryl and his team still go to look for medicine, Rick decides to take Carol on his own scouting mission to see what he can find instead of waiting for them. The episode is the weakest of the season so far, taking slow and plodding to an all new level. It’s not a bad episode at all, it’s just a bad episode of The Walking Dead, a show I’ve come to expect a lot from.

The episode seems to center around the decisions one makes. The episode revolves around Carol’s decision to burn the bodies, Bob Stookey’s decision to search for alcohol that lead to the death of team members, and the discovery of two new survivors.

Rick and Carol stumble along and find two new survivors, Karen and David. After some back and forth, they decide that the two can come along. They also decide they can scrounge around for supplies as well, which leads to tragic circumstances. Again, a decision leading to someone dying.

Then there’s Bob Stookey, who confesses to Daryl that he was looking for liquor in the first episode that lead to the death of a team member. This comes around as Stookey’s struggle with alcohol leads to another incident and folks almost getting hurt.

But, what’s most interesting is Rick and Carol. The tension is there over Carol’s decision to kill and burn the bodies of two sick individuals. This leads to Rick making a pretty big decision, sending Carol away, deciding she’s too toxic to stay with them. It’s a shocking moment as this was the loss of another original member of the team. But, the decision weighs heavy on Rick, as he struggles with his decision on the ride back. A tender moment to end the show.

Overall, the episode deals with many of the issues raised in earlier episodes, but does so in a long, slow way. Again, not a bad episode, just not as solid as what we’ve come to expect.

Directed by: Tricia Brock
Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Scott M. Gimple
Overall Score: 7

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TV Review: The Walking Dead S.4 Ep.3 – Isolation

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the walking dead season 4Graves are being dug and the burnt corpses lay on the ground in the opening moments of the third episode of the fourth season of The Walking Dead which immediately puts the spotlight on Tyresse who goes crazy over the loss. That leads to Rick losing it as well, again showing the unhinged person from the previous season. Herschel quickly pointing out all of the bad stuff is creeping in again while Rick feels it’s always been there.

In a world back to being low-tech, how do you deal with a new enemy that you can see? That seems to be the focus of this latest season and it’s a brilliant next step of the series, focusing on building something instead of the on-the-run surviving of the previous seasons.

The answer is of course is medicine which sends a team on a mission to get supplies and hopefully save the survivors.

Steps are taken to isolate individuals and what to do in worst case scenarios, emotional tough decisions, reinforcing the situation and world everyone now lives in. What’s really great is everyone seems to be on the chopping block. With it being a disease that’s causing issues it’s easy to get someone sick and have them recover, and with a show that offs characters with almost glee, who knows who dies next.

With everything going on, the episode is a Tyreese centered episode, shining a spotlight on the large, but large hearted character. It’s finally putting the comic fan favorite character into the spotlight and showing those familiar with only the television show why he’s such. Just like the comics, he shows all the rage simmering underneath and the television comes close to mimicking an infamous scene from the comic series.

The end of the episode ramps up the tension of an otherwise slow and quiet episode, as the scavenging team and we learn who killed the two individuals and dumped and burned the bodies. It’s a great ending that only makes you want to get to the next episode.

Directed by: Daniel Sackheim
Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Scott M. Gimple
Overall Score: 9

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