Sadé Green reviews the third episode of The Walking Dead season 5…
It has been a long time since The Walking Dead delivered an episode as nail-biting as ‘Four Walls and a Roof’, but it doesn’t seem as though the writers have forgotten how to convey pure tension in a mere 60 minutes. With the first major deaths of the season, be prepared to feel a mixture of excitement, fear, apprehension and of course sorrow as we say goodbye to a beloved part of the Family.
Season 5 has already made it clear to audiences that in this post-apocalyptic world, it is kill or be killed but ‘Four Walls and a Roof’ really emphasises the choices that Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the Family must make in order to survive. However the choices they make this week may be considered the most shocking of all as the audience begins to realise just how disturbed everyone has become.
The episode begins where ‘Strangers’ left off – in the middle of the Terminus folk chowing down on a good bit of Bob meat. If you are a fan of the comic then may have known what was coming next. As Bob (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.) reveals he was in fact bitten during the supply run and maniacally yells that he is ‘TAINTED MEAT!’, they desperately spit and try to vomit out Bob’s poor leg. You can’t be blamed for punching the air and congratulating Bob on his excellent unplanned poisoning skills.
Afterwards, a barely concious Bob is unceremoniously dumped outside the Church and upon his discovery, the rest of the Family plan how to end the Terminus folk once and for all. But not before Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) lashes out at Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam), accusing him of being the one to blame for Bob’s downfall. Under pressure, Gabriel reveals his shady past and is left well alone whilst the rest argue about who is going to Washington, whether Daryl and Carol have also been kidnapped and of course how they are going to sort their enemies out.
There are a fair few memorable moments in ‘Four Walls and a Roof’ including an incredibly tense stand-off between Rick and Sgt. Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) and a desperately scared Father Gabriel revealing his past in dramatic fashion, but the stand out scene is the battle in the Church. It is hard to talk about without revealing too much. Your heart will trying its hardest to beat straight out of your chest whilst urging the Family on, although you may also be willing them to not go through with the extraordinarily violent act that befalls them. With obvious doubt on a few of their faces, Rick assures them that it was a necessary action in order for them to survive.
Bob gives Rick one last bit of advice after the Church battle; ‘Nightmares end. They shouldn’t end who you are.’ After what has just happened, these words seem to ring in Rick’s ears. With darkness surrounding Rick and the Family, this poignant advice may just see a slight turn around in some of their actions.
This week there were some incredibly moving performances from the cast, most notably from Lawrence Gilliard Jr. Till the very end he remains positive and his interaction and goodbye with Sasha will no doubt have you in tears. Additionally, his crazy fit of laughter and reveal as ‘tainted meat’ as Gareth taunts him at the beginning of the episode is a triumphant moment. Well executed (no pun intended, honestly) and excellently done, instead of feeling sorry for Bob, Gilliard’s performance will almost make you burst with pride that Bob has inadvertently done something to hurt the Terminus folk. Alternatively, Andrew J. West delivers a bone-chilling portrayal of Gareth. A ruthlessly violent character, he conveys this in long, drawn out speeches detailing the choices he has made and why, mostly whilst chomping on some chargrilled human flesh. Infinitely scarier than the Governor, this episode cements Gareth as the most petrifying villain in The Walking Dead. You’d fair better against a gang of Zombies than Gareth and his clan of merry cannibals.
After last week’s shock ending, ‘Four Walls and a Roof’ continues the tension with a truly outstanding episode – seriously, be prepared to feel thoroughly exhausted by the end. Light on the Zombies but heavy on the violence, this episode seems to confirm the murky path that the Family seem to be heading down. Hopefully the passing of their most optimistic member could help them climb out of the shadows but inevitably it is sure to throw some of them deeper into darkness (particularly Tyreese as this episode confirms he lied about killing Martin (Chris Coy) after he threatened Judith’s life). With a very nervous looking Daryl (Norman Reedus) revealed at the end, it seems that next week’s episode may expose some new faces – but after Bob’s advice to Rick, the question is, will they be welcomed?
ZOMBIE KILL OF THE WEEK
As mentioned, Zombies were few and far between this week but one human death sticks out like a sore thumb. Without going into detail, as the camera focuses on a red-handled machete (think back to ‘No Sanctuary’) that Rick is about to pull out of his belt, a truly bloody end confronts one of the characters. Rick really is a man who sticks to his word…
Sadé Green
