Piers McCarthy reviews the third episode of The Walking Dead season 4….
This statement may provoke some backlash but here goes.. .The Walking Dead can, at times, appear like an expensive soap-opera. Yes, it may contain zombies, missing from the likes of Eastenders or Home and Away (providing you don’t assess the acting as lifeless), but it repeatedly focuses on human strife, and tormented relationships and psyches. Episode 3 of the fourth season begins in this vein, strongly signalling the dialogue-heavy nature of the episode.
Major spoilers follow…
With two brief prologue shots (Glen, Maggie and co digging graves for the newly deceased, and Hershel and Dr. Subramanian counting another infected group-member), we get to where we left off – Tyreese standing shocked over the two burnt bodies. As an unknown commenter on last week’s review rightly argued, it wasn’t a suicide but a murder that led to Karen and David being incinerated. Chad Coleman in this scene is spectacular. His muscular frame tense with rage and his low-voice growling in fury finally beckons in his new persona (to be witnessed later on in the episode with a heroic stand-off). This is the melodramatic scene I refer to when mentioning soap-operas; it’s fuelled by heated discussion and intermittent bouts of violence. This is by no means a criticism, rather an alternate perspective on the show – something that hadn’t sprang to mind before but interests me now.
Tyreese yells through Rick and Daryl’s inquisitions, pouncing on Daryl and punching Rick when he feels cornered by their questioning. Carol stands idly by whilst this happens, not strong enough to intercept. Or, keeping quiet for reasons we’ll eventually discover. Out of this tussle, Rick explodes in anger, punching Tyreese down and hitting him senseless. It somehow feels over-the-top for him, conflicting with his normal personality. If the outburst reflects anything, it is the severe tension hanging in the air at the prison. The rapid decline of their population and the murder at the forefront of the drama is enough to get anyone there riled up.
Once again, this episode features a group meeting, coupled with the monotony of coughing, sweating individuals showing the infection. It makes “Isolation” quite a plain addition to the series saved by one momentous moment. Before that jaw-dropping scene (and hyperbole can’t be negated) the drama and intrigue comes mostly from poor Glenn who appears be stricken with the virus and some sexual heat between Daryl and Michonne…maybe (they both have great poker faces).
Without writing a commentary on each individual scene, Carol, Hershel and Carl feature heavily in “Isolation”. Carol’s shy demeanour is gradually getting chipped away. Last week we saw teaching the children survival techniques, this week sees her making herself vulnerable in order to fix a water pipe…and, casually admitting to killing and burning Karen and David. Carl and Hershel buddy up briefly on a vegetation gathering, presenting us with this week’s “Walker Win” – a legless walker dwelling at the bottom of a tree. Having clearly been there for a while, it’s covered in moss, almost rooted to the ground as much as the tree is. Not only is the make-up standard stellar work, it’s just a cool image. The second zombie of the scene limps past with a bear trap clamped around its bloodied leg. Looking great, albeit, it still doesn’t standout as much as the wooded walker.
The latter half of the episodes revolves around the theme of support. Tyreese offers to go with Daryl, Michonne and Bob to get medical supplies (with Sasha in mind), Hershel offers his help to the infected, even with the possibility of contracting the virus himself, and Beth comforts Maggie against the angst of Glen and her dad’s susceptibility. It is the former’s quest that really defines a change in scenery. As much as Kirkman’s script intelligently explores the dynamics of the decaying group, it’s the addition of shock and action that gives the fans what they want.
We always expect to see a bunch of walkers on a mission, and maybe a little nod towards the world outside the prison. However, we never usually get such dramatic emphasis on that convention as we do in “Isolation”. On the car ride the travellers hear a voice on the radio with one faint word creeping out of the static – “alive”; fantastically brief, interrupted only by walkers dotted all over the road. Swerving away from them as best he can, Daryl eventually drives upon one too many. That’s underestimating the number, perhaps. Replace with, “drives upon one thousand!” Or close to that extraordinary amount. Tracking from the side view of the car to over above it, and beyond, we see – for only a few seconds – a road full of the undead. More than we’ve ever witnessed since the first season, it’s a moment of delight (at the prospect of many more exciting episodes to come) and sheer terror. Quite simply, the defining moment of this season so far.
I stick by giving the “Walker Win” of the week to the tree-zombie but it’s a close call between that and Daryl reversing over a pile of zombies, shredding the skin of them with the tyre. Fans’ bloodlust will be quenched with that quick effect. Getting away from the dozens upon dozens of walkers is a feast of action, dominated by Tyreese’s Hammer Time stand-off. It may resemble Jim Brown’s scene in Mars Attacks, but it still rocks by its own merits.
We’re so used the splicing of Michonne’s sword that we forget how good it can look. Waiting for Tyreese to emerge from the woods, having escaped the mass of walkers, we are relieved to see this new hero wearily walk through the forestry. One walker in front turns to attack and Michonne’s sword pierces through its skull. The divide between practical and computer effects is near-unnoticeable, perfectly done.
All four of the travellers live to fight another day, one car short, though. The same can’t be said for the doctor who is being looked after by Hershel. Spluttering blood all over Hershel, you sense the infection’s power. It might have Glen, and now the possibility of it having Hershel lingers in mind too.
The thought of losing Glen is a sad one; he’s been with the group so long and it seems unfair for him to die. Let’s hope he manages to overcome the virus, or else future episodes will feel lacking somewhat. Carol, on the other hand, is morphing into a completely different person, maybe not so favourably. The next episode might further explore Carol’s personality, whilst also spotlighting that incredible new discovery of walker central.
Piers McCarthy – Follow me on Twitter.