Tensions boiled over in tonight’s Walking Dead but did it improve the story? I say not enough. Check out the rest of my thoughts below:
Breaking with tradition the episode started off with a reverse storytelling device where we are shown something that actually doesn’t happen in the episode until 40 minutes later. I’m not a huge fan of this device unless the twist is very compelling and to me it didn’t work here. Visually it looked good and it was an energetic way to start things off, but to me it was pretty obvious where it would fall later in the episode and it seemed a little disjointed.
We take a road trip with Rick Shane as they look for the best place to ditch the newbie who I have learned is named Randall (Note: Is it me or did it feel like this kid’s messed up leg was healed in no more than 24hrs?). They want to get him away from the farm, but Rick also wants to drop him someplace where he’ll have a chance to survive. Rick and Shane talk in the car and there is a nice visual note as Shane sees a lone walker wandering in a field, mirroring his feelings of isolation in the group. Also, Rick’s advice about them having to use their knives more to stop attracting walkers and preserve ammo seems like something that should have been said months ago. Common sense people!
Rick and Shane encounter a problem when they find out Randall knows who Maggie, and Hershel are. Rick and Shane get into a battle of survival theories and this time things finally get physical. They have a knock down drag out fight resulting in both guys getting a bit bloody. One of the highlights of this episode was finally getting to see both sides of the survival argument go head to head; first with Rick and Shane beating on each other, and later with Andrea and Lori having an all out bitchfest over similar issues. Those four characters have had some long-standing tensions over whats best for the group and it felt good to see them all stop pulling punches and argue it out.
Back on the farm Debbie Downer Beth is not keen on eating; or living apparently. Still recovering from shock she tries to pocket a steak knife, but Lori catches her in time. Afterward, she and Maggie have a moving conversation regarding the prospects of their life in a world teeming with zombies. The show briefly touched on this before, but this scene was far better in my opinion. It was nice overall to see the characters in this episode acting and reacting the way you think they would in these situations. This was one of the first episodes in a while where I felt this was a group of people with real emotions and real feelings about their future, who cared enough to take a stand for their chosen position.
Back at the Public Works Depot the out of control fight between Shane and Rick attracts a bunch of walkers hiding in the building and things go south pretty quickly. This whole sequence was full of action with Rick and Shane both being forced to do some creative zombie killing. And what do you know; Randall turns out to be more useful than we thought so he gets a temporary pass back to the homestead. Also, Rick almost, sort of, leaves Shane for dead- for real this time. Meanwhile Andrea, in defense of her own position, does Beth a favor while she’s posted to suicide watch and lets her into the bathroom. Beth makes an attempt but can’t go through with committing suicide and Andrea claims this is a good thing, because now she knows she wants to live.
If I had to rate this one I would give it a 97 out of 100
There are only three new episodes left after tonight, so we’re pretty close to the end of the season. I think this episode was very good, but it might be too little too late. If the writers can keep making the characters and their emotional conflicts as compelling as they were tonight then I’m sold, but if not the story will have to find other ways to keep moving forward and avoid the kind stalling that it seems to be plagued by this season.
They were a lot of quotables this week and most of them long, so you’re on your own for those.Two notables though:
-Rick’s three-play zombie kill was amazing! And newbie Randall showing off his skill set was a nice surprise.
- Bear McCreary always delivers on original scores, but for you music buffs this episode had a decent soundtrack: “Black Leaf” by the Cave Singers (music playing in Randall’s headphones when Rick first takes off the hood); “Driver’s Seat” by Sniff ‘n’ The Tears (headphone music when they throw Randall back in the car later); “Civilian” by Wye Oak (closing montage).
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