The Walking Dead: Season 4 Episode 1 WDF Review

Section 4.1.1

The episode opens with Rick walking out into the prison yard in the morning, looking at structures and gardens that have been built including a barn with a corral for the horse and pigpen.  Rick begins tending to the garden with a hoe while blocking out the noise of the walkers just outside the fence with ear-buds and (presumably) an iPod.  He uncovers a pistol (implied having been buried there long ago by an inmate) and tosses it into the 'trash' in the wheelbarrow.

 

Opening credits reveal that Melissa McBride and Scott Wilson have been promoted to the opening credits.

• SOOZ:  YOU GO @McBrideMelissa!  Fans were rooting for your "promotion".  This intro is really nothing more than anyone expected given the promos.  But is it really a good idea to block out sound, Rick?
• GEN: I'm pretty sure I actually "woohoo'd" when seeing @McBrideMelissa in the main credits. About time! It was interesting to see the changes in Rick from the S3 finale to now. Although we know the "old Rick" is still in there, not far from the surface.

Section 4.1.2

Rick is tending to the pigpen when Carl joins him.  Carl notices that one of the pigs is sick.  Flash over to the chow tent where a covered outdoor kitchen has been constructed, with Carol behind the counter making breakfast for the camp.  In walks Daryl Dixon who receives somewhat of a 'rock star' reception with several people vocally wishing him a Good Morning, which he rebuffs.  Flash to the fence-line where Karen and other unnamed survivors are spearing the walkers who've gathered there overnight.  Back to Carol and Daryl, Carol tells Daryl that the walkers have built up against the fence and therefore the "run crew" he had planned for that day would be needed to stay to kill them off.  Glenn and Maggie wake up in their (apparently newly marital) bed with Glenn telling Maggie he doesn't want her to go on the day's run.  Back at the fence, it is revealed that Tyreese and Karen are in a new relationship.

 

As Daryl is prepping the cars for the run, young Zack and Beth have a short young lover's conversation about him going off on the run.  Newcomer Bob Stookey approaches and wants to earn his keep by going on the run, and convinces Sasha to permit him to go.  Then, we have a glimpse of Rick and Hershel having a 'gardening teach' moment.  This is interrupted by Michonne approaching the prison camp on a horse.  Just then, Daryl and the field crew are heading out, and Michonne decides to join them as Rick says he needs to go check the snares for game before the walkers get to it, but not before telling Carl to go to "story time" with Patrick (new kid) and getting told by Hershel he needs to carry his gun with him when he goes outside the fence.  It is made clear that a "leadership council" has been established including the original members of the group.

While outside the fence checking the snares, Rick encounters a woman (who at first appears to be a walker) named "Clara" who begs for help.

• SOOZ:  I loved the moment with Rick and Carl, even if over-played later.  Maybe just because I had a pig growing up that was meant for slaughter and named it then got all upset when it was "time", too.  Daryl's reception at breakfast was a too-funny-for-words nod toward Norman's hyper-popularity right now.  SO tongue in cheek.  But seriously, Glenn?  A strong woman like Maggie isn't going to like being told what to do.  Tyreese and Karen is just sort of a "meh" development for me. It doesn't surprise me that Rick has sort of swung in the opposite direction of "leader".
• GEN: I also loved the moments with Rick and Carl. Such a contrast to their interaction at the end of last season. It was nice to see Rick stepping back from the leadership role and putting the effort into being a better father to Carl and Judith as well as tending the land. He almost seemed at peace with the world. The "rock star" reception Daryl received at breakfast actually made me roll my eyes a little. At least they didn't have him come in hi-fiving everyone along the way.
• Heather:  It was nice to see Rick and Carl having an almost normal father and son moment.  I got a kick out of Daryl’s reception.  I imagine that Norman get similar reactions when he is out and about.
• Ash: I loved the interaction between Rick and Carl.  I wondered if their relationship could be mended after season 3’s finale. I also liked that Rick took a step down.  It seems like his main focus is getting the prison to be self-sufficient.  I loved Patrick the nerd!  That would so be me in the ZA! :)  Rock star Daryl is too funny!

Section 4.1.3

Clara convinces Rick to follow her back to her camp to pick up her husband before taking them back to the prison, and he agrees to go if they will agree to answer three questions once he gets there.  Carl approaches a small group of kids taunting walkers at the fence and, after admonishing them for their behavior, is talked into going to "story time" for the kids.

 

Back at the run with Daryl, the group has approached a "Big Spot" store having lured the walkers away from the entrance a few days in advance.  Inside they go after supplies but what they don't know is that there are dozens of walkers and a crashed helicopter on the rotted roof of the building.

• SOOZ:  Carl is quoting what's been told to him again.  Been done, he should be thinking for himself by now!
• GEN: Right away you know something is up with Creepy Clara but just can't put your finger on it. She's a few sandwiches short of a picnic (even after Rick gave her his!) The scene with Carl and the other kids brought me right back to the comics where he's being pushed by Rick to be more of a kid but the other kids don't accept him.
• Ash: C R E E P Y !  and sad all at the same time.  I was reminded of the old Rick during this scene, before the cray Rick showed up.

Section 4.1.4

Clara is leading Rick back to her camp to meet her husband.  She tries to connect to him as they walk. Back at the store with the "runner group", we see what the various characters really want to find for themselves, until Bob knocks over a shelf and gets trapped, just as the walkers on the rotted roof begin to fall through into the store causing havoc for the survivors.

• SOOZ:  I was waiting for the action... took a little bit to get here but I appreciate that as the season opener there is a lot of story to be told before we get down and dirty.  We needed some back story on Bob I think.
• GEN: Raining walkers! The scene had Nicotero's stamp all over it. I also think we needed more info on Bob. At this point I was just like "Meh, leave him! Save yourselves!" There was no connection to that character so I wouldn't have cared.

Section 4.1.5

Clara tries to identify with Rick on the walk back to her camp.  The group back at the store contend with the rainstorm of walkers from the roof.  Zack gets caught and dies while saving Bob.  The group flees the store, at the same time as Rick makes it to Clara's camp only to find her husband is already a walker that she had intended to feed him to.  Clara kills herself (dies while asking him what the three questions were) and Rick goes back to the prison.

• SOOZ:  Poor Zack, but We had enough characters to keep up with anyway... no loss there.  Clara was creepy.  I didn't want her to come back to the prison anyway so I'm glad that ended that way, and that Rick got back his sammich.  Men who skip lunch aren't any fun later.  Eat a snickers for god's sake.
• GEN: I felt bad for Zack. He seemed like a decent guy. We didn't know much about him but there was still that little bit of a connection with him though Beth.
• Heather:  I am a little concerned that Rick left Clara’s camp without finishing off both Clara and her husband.  I have a sinking feeling that we shall see them again and the consequences of his inaction will lead to more heartache.  I do feel a bit bad for Beth that once again her boyfriend gets eaten by walkers.

Section 4.1.6

Carol is holding "story time" for the kids of the group, which Carl observes from the shadows.  She closes the story book and begins a lesson on how to handle knives.  Young newcomer Patrick feels ill and leaves.  When Carol sees Carl, she begs him not to tell his father about her survival lesson.

Rick is back tending to the pigs and notices the pig that was sick earlier is now dead.  Tyreese admits to Karen that he didn't like going outside the prison any more than dealing with the fence walkers.  Glenn and Maggie deal with a pregnancy scare.  Daryl tells Beth about her boyfriend's death at the store, but her reaction is less than emotional.

Michonne plans a road trip to Macon, while Hershel comforts Rick who's dealing with his confrontation with Clara.  Patrick goes in for a cold shower, coughing and still feeling ill, and passes out dead on the floor, opening his eyes as a walker just before the ending credits begin to roll.

General Closing Comments

• SOOZ:  Well look at you badass Carol, going against the grain and raising your own little army of kids!  She's the Governor's kindergarten teacher at this point.  Sheesh.  I guess all those peeps who wanted to ship Beth and Daryl based on the pic of them hugging are out of luck, but an 18 year old and a 40-something just isn't believable as a couple (see what I did there?).  The episode cleaned up after itself and sufficiently ended it's own story while leaving the outstanding questions, well, outstanding.  Maybe next week will be a little more fulfilling since they won't have the need to "catch us up" on SO much info all at once.  We shall see!
• GEN: Did anyone else notice a bit of flirtation between Michonne and Rick, or was it just me? She's obviously on the hunt for the Govna. Wonder if they will dedicate an episode to her quest? Carol's School of Badassery is awesome. She has gone from a woman who was afraid of her own shadow (or rather her husband's) to the camps advocate on self defense  Sorry Bethyl shippers! There will be none of that, thank goodness. I like how that scene showed Beth and Daryl basically flipping; Beth now being unemotional and almost cold, and Daryl kind of warming up to the emotional interaction, even though you could still see his discomfort when she hugged him. Of course the episode ends with a bang and we are left hanging with the image of Walker Patrick in our heads. It's going to be a long week.
• Heather:  Overall, I was very impressed with the premier.  I know that there was a lot of  “catching up” to do and am hoping that next week’s episode will be just as entertaining.  It was wonderful to see how far our little group of survivors have grown since we last saw them.  It will be interesting to see how much further they will go.
• Ash: I am so proud of the development Carol has gone through since season 1.  She is an awesome character and @McBrideMelissa  brings her to life so well.  Beth’s reaction to Zach’s death surprised me; very cold Beth.  I was  very confused why a dead pig did not seem to raise any questions by Rick.  Being a huge fan of the Telltale Walking Dead game, I liked the shoutout to Macon (The main character in the game’s hometown). These cliffhanger endings!  Now I am gonna spend all week trying to figure out what caused Patrick’s death!  Come on Sunday!

 

 

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