Against all odds, “The Walking Dead” has become…a good television show? So it seems, but with last week finding Carol – the easy MVP of the fourth season so far – banished from the prison, can things keep their momentum in this week’s episode, “Internment”? Find out below as I share five thoughts about the episode.
Note: spoilers are discussed, and this is kind of a running log on the events of the show as it happened. So if it seems like things are being commented on chronologically, you’ll be pleased to know you are correct.
1. Enough of this infection already
While I’ve greatly enjoyed this season so far, the infection thing has gotten to the point where its starting to tread water. The Walking Dead is, perhaps more than anything, guilty of milking storylines past their expiration date, and this infection is pretty much maxed out. Much of the superfluous cast has been wiped out, the drama is getting redundant and its getting to the point where it makes the show feel like it is stuck in neutral post Carol. They’re handling it pretty well generally, I’d say, but this isn’t Justified or Veronica Mars where the week-to-week drama is filling in puzzle pieces. The week-to-week drama is the puzzle as well, and we need a bit more to lean on for the rest of the season than just a superflu.
Retroactive, theoretical turnaround: it looks like this was resolved in the episode, so maybe – MAYBE – we’re done with that.
2. The Carol Reaction
The first person who finds out that Carol was the one who killed Karen and David was none other than Maggie, who is told of the events of last episode in uber Cliff’s Notes fashion by Rick. Her response? She agrees with what she did, but she wasn’t certain if she could do have sent Carol away herself. We didn’t get the chance to see Hershel’s reaction, but from his pained face, it is something he undoubtedly agreed with Rick on. It just happened to be something that made him feel really damn bad, even if he’s in a place where he can’t really do anything about it.
By the end of the episode, Daryl is asking about Carol, but his confrontation with Rick about the subject will likely wait for next week, or two weeks from now if The Governor is the sole focus of next week.
3. MUSIC! WHY GOD WHY MUSIC?!
The scene of Hershel having to kill one of the men who he was caring for after he died on the floor was a heartbreaking one, as he realizes there is nothing he can do. He’s helpless, but he keeps trying. It’s a great scene, but inexplicably, the show layers some god awful song – bring the hate! – over the top of it, removing the tension and power and instead replacing it with staggered, overproduced guitar and alt-rock warbles. I’ve never understood their usage of music in the show, as it is perpetually placed in horrible spots and almost never fitting the moment. This was yet another case, and something that sent me rocketing back to the memories of seasons past.
4. The best Hershel since the Heisman winner
Hershel’s been an interesting character for the show. Often, he would find himself get overwhelmed by the others, and never really stand on his own two legs (pun certainly unintended) But in this episode? He was the real deal Holyfield, saving lives, getting people some serious tea, and ghosting some serious zed-words. This was a showcase episode for Hershel, and something that was crushed by Scott Wilson. Phenomenal work, especially when you get to the end of the day and he finally breaks down. Exceptional work by Wilson and the writer and director of the episode for doing such a killer job of elevating the character to a higher level.
5. Intensity, thy name is the last half of this episode
Holy shit you guys, the last half of this episode was so damn intense I can hardly believe it was an episode of The Walking Dead. Combining Bear McCreary driving, series best score with Rick and Carl’s defense of the prison, Hershel’s handling of the infected cell block and Maggie’s furious attempts to get into him, and you have stakes that felt higher than they’ve ever been in the show in my opinion. That whole section was bravura work by all involved, and that it ended with actual resolution for what was going on made it all the more incredible.
Continued belowBUT THEN THE SONG STARTED AGAIN.
6. The Governor Cometh
The episode ends with some of the storylines not tied up from the episode – Rick and Daryl didn’t get to talk and we didn’t have DEFINITE word that the infection is cured, for two – but the episode DID end with The Governor just chillin’, taking a peek at what was going on at the prison through his good eye. Looks like next week brings his big return on the heels of the theoretical end of the infection, and god only knows what’s coming. Certainly bad news, but will it be good, interesting Governor, or kooky, unreasonable, not interesting Governor? We’ll find out next week, I suppose!
