After last week’s episode placed the focus on Rick, Carl and
Michonne in the aftermath of the battle at the prison; this week’s episode
focussed on everyone else. The remaining survivors have all been split into
small groups, and each mini-group received roughly the same amount of focus. This
was an interesting approach, as it gave some of the show’s secondary characters
some much needed spotlight.
The show began with Beth providing a voiceover – a diary entry
– chronicling the group’s arrival at the prison. References to Lori being about
ready to give birth act as a reminder as to just how much has changed since the
start of the third season – before The Governor arrived on the scene. This speech
also highlighted the significance of the prison, as Beth stated that they could
live there for the rest of their lives. All of this was spliced over footage of
herself and Daryl running through the forest and fighting off Walkers, because…
well the show can’t go too long without a moment of Daryl being awesome!
I was glad to see Beth get a bit more focus as she has been
a peripheral character for a very long time – even though she’s been around
since the second season. Since the two of them are isolated they are left to
ponder whether anyone else even survived. For a long stretch Daryl remains
sullen and silent, perhaps the ongoing predicament has hit home: what are they
hoping for? What is the endgame here? They can fight and survive for as long as
possible, but where will it ultimately lead?
Beth manages to goad him into tracking other members of
their group, but they only find a group of Walkers feeding on the
unidentifiable remains of a recent victim. Beth said at the start of the season
that she was done crying, but I think we all knew that was an indication that
something would occur further down the line that would lead to tears.
During their tracking they encountered some footsteps and
some trampled grapes: and we learned of their origin, as well as the identity
of the mutilated corpse, during the following sequence. Lizzie and her sister
Micah have escaped the prison alongside Tyreese and baby Judith. This reinforces
the notion that unless you actually see a character die, then they are probably
still alive (although we never actually saw Lori die, but I’m pretty sure she’s
dead – hence the use of the qualifier ‘probably’!).
Carrying a baby turns out to be a big problem for this
little group, as Judith – unable to understand the danger they are in – simply
won’t stop crying. The noise will attract Walkers, and the group have very few
resources to defend themselves as it is. After telling Micah that they have to
stay together, Tyreese bafflingly leaves the two girls alone with baby Judith,
while he attempts to rescue some nameless others from a Walker attack. This could
have gone very badly as Lizzie appears to attempt to suffocate Judith in order
to stop her crying. It is an unsettling image, but fortunately it doesn’t come
to fruition as the girls are rescued by Carol (nice to have you back) and
together they make their way to a sanctuary. We don’t have time to find out any
more about this ‘sanctuary’ though because it’s time for the next sequence.
Maggie, along with Sasha and Bob head in the direction the
bus was headed in order to find Glenn. I have to say that it was mighty lucky
that – aside from Glenn of course – nobody that important was on the bus, as
they had been attacked and had now all turned into Walkers. The scene was well
paced, and although I was fairly sure that Glenn wouldn’t have died in an off-screen
incident, Lauren Cohan’s performance had me pretty convinced that something bad
could have happened. Maggie slowly made her way onto the bus and encountered a
Walker with similar hair to Glenn, and who was also wearing black t-shirt (just
like Glenn). We didn’t see his face though, which provided enough deniability,
but as far as fake-out’s go it was pretty decent.
I have no idea how Glenn was able to get so far away from
the bus, especially considering the condition that he was in before everything
went down. Nevertheless his prison escape was a very entertaining scene,
especially the first person view behind his riot-squad visor. That was a gutsy
move, running straight through a swarm of Walkers, and not firing a shot. Also
Steven Yeun managed to get in on the silent-expressive acting, like so many of
his castmates, before he loaded up and busted out.
Glenn then paired up with Tara, the one surviving member of
The Governor’s army, who didn’t fire a single shot once she realised who she
was following. Based on what she said it would seem that her sister Lily – who was
last seen putting a bullet in The Governor’s head – had been swarmed by Walkers
in the field. Is that true? It seems like a bit of a cheap way to kill off a
named character.
Once the two of them had escaped the prison, Glenn was hit
with the revelation that Hershel was killed by The Governor: he was probably
the last person to find out. In the aftermath of a scuffle with a few stray
Walker’s the adrenaline must have worn off and reminded Glenn that he is still
unwell, as he passed out. This meant that he was unconscious for the arrival of
some new characters – who readers of the comics will probably know, but since I
haven’t read the comics I’ll have to wait another week to find out. They seem
to be well equipped whoever they are.
I enjoyed this episode, particularly the sequences involving
Beth and Daryl, and Glenn. I actually wouldn’t have minded if their scenes had
received more time. I really like the desperation brought about by the group’s
new situation, and the fact that a lot of these characters are not part of the
main-cast (those who appear in the opening credits) creates a greater sense of
risk concerning their safety. I am very interested to learn more about this ‘sanctuary’
and also these new characters. Are the two connected? We’ll have to wait and
see.
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