Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10 Review

Walking Dead S04E10 – Inmates

The tenth episode of Season 4 takes a step back from the not only the normal narrative flow of episodes in the past, but also focuses and highlights the more minor characters on the show. I enjoyed the unique direction this episode went so much that it had me question things not only regarding the amazing plotline, but also why wasn’t this the first episode after the mid-season finale?

Immediately we’re re-introduced to the events of the Prison in the mid-season finale – showing us the bus taking off, baby Judith’s bloody baby seat and Hershel’s beheading.

The episode opens with some overlaying narration delivered by Beth’s journal while she was inside of the prison, while onscreen Beth and Daryl are running through the woods fighting to survive on their own. The journal entry that is read discusses most of the questions viewers had running through their own minds, such as how is Beth coping after her father’s death and where in the world is Judith? It was a smart way to open the episode, and introduce us to the backwards and weaving narrative that this episode presents.

Beth and Daryl have a pretty somber storyline, as we find them running through the woods and Beth decides to pick up after her father’s old tricks and begin tracking for other people while they are in the forest. I enjoyed watching them interact with each other and see Beth grow as a character. She is certainly being poised into a leadership position as the people who once watched after her are no where near her. Their arc ends when she stumbles across some dead bodies that belong to some random travelers. She is instantly struck with survivor’s guilt and breaks down. It was cool to see that that wasn’t a fruitless storyline as it is interwoven into Tyreese’s storyline and takes them to the same train tracks that will become the end of this season’s major plot point for sure.

Good ol’ Uncle Tyreese

Seeing Uncle Tyreese turn around clutching Baby Judith was a joy to see. My heart rose a few inches when I realized she was still alive and well. The interesting part of the adventures of Uncle Ty, Lizzie, Judith and Mica is how parental roles work in the zombie apocalypse and most importantly in The Walking Dead world. In past seasons there seemed to be a heavy emphasis on family over survival. However, after the Prison and Woodbury, it seems the script has turned to more, survival over everything, for at least some of the people here. Tyreese gives Mica a stern warning that she should run as far as possible as soon as a walker is so much as heard. This is counter-cultural to the messages we received in the prison when it was definitely all about being “one” as a unit.
As Tyreese runs off for a bit it puts the kids in a predicament where Lizzie almost suffocates Judith to death and Mica’s poor shooting skills are put to action. Thankfully, my prediction about Carol came through and she was as clutch as ever with her return.

Tara and Glenn dip faster than they ever have before

Finally we find out that Glenn is perfectly safe, the bait and switch that Maggie’s plot presented was really cool and kept me guessing right up until we see him explain how he abandoned the bus. Tara is clearly completely a mess in light of her entire family being killed and having excruciating guilt about everything that’s ever happened in her life. It was great to see that Glenn believed in second-chances (sort of) while noting that he needed her to find Maggie.

Overall, this episode was pretty amazing, I enjoyed the converging storylines at the train tracks and didn’t feel as if it was forced that they all would have found their way there at all. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store with “Terminus” and the new threat that arrived at the end of this episode!

A

My Messy Musings:

• All I kept thinking about when Carol showed up is “who is she going to kill next?”
• I love how the show managed to make the VIEWERS feel awkward when Carol returned to rescue Tyreese and the kids
• The return of Battle Glenn is a good GOOD thing. I miss the riot shield busta he used to be
• Is it just me or did Tyreese’s hammering skills seem to be lacking? It took him forever to kill the Train Track walkers. Or maybe that was just because they are getting stronger…?
• Looking forward to the inevitable Glenn and Maggie reunion. Hopefully it’s not in opposite torture rooms like last time.
• Favorite scene of the episode: Lizzie almost killing Judith. It was so dark and I almost thought they would go there. Thankfully Clutch Carol arrived.
• My second favorite scene was Maggie’s look of desperation as the walkers pile out of the bus and she hopelessly and faithfully looks in every flesh-eaters eyes to see if they are Glenn. So powerful.
• The new group at the end of the episode looks way more trained than The Governor’s militia, so hopefully their more formidable.
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