The writers of “The Walking Dead” are really interested in emphasizing the fact that the Governor has taken away paradise for everyone around him. Once Woodbury went, so did Grimesville, or whatever it was called. “After” focused on the three core characters of the series (I’m glad Michonne is essentially a principal character now), and “Inmates” focuses on the remaining survivors of the prison, all of whom are at wits end, and on the verge of death. They’re worse off than they were at the beginning of season two, truth be told. The episode has its problems, in either case.
“Inmates” is set shortly after the mid-finale now with the entire group scattered and looking for help. Where as they all re-united in one episode in “Beside the Dying Fire,” the writers are making it much more difficult this time around. The four scenarios in the episode are horrifying and heartbreaking. Daryl and Maggie’s sister Beth are now running for their lives without food, or water, and fight almost non-stop. The dichotomy here is interesting. In season two, Beth was prepared to lie down and die while Daryl kept going. Now, Beth is leading the charge to look for survivors, as Daryl has lost any and all faith now that Hershel is dead. Reedus doesn’t have much dialogue in the episode, but he’s definitely lost that will to keep going. It sadly died once Hershel was cut down in front of the group. Hershel surviving the super flu and keeping Glenn alive gave Daryl hope, and now it’s gone.
Maggie, Sasha, and Bob Stookey are together and Maggie is desperately looking for Glenn. They stumble upon the bus from the prison, and things are as bad as they look. Man, those Woodbury survivors never really stood much of a chance did they? From apocalypse, to town run by sociopath, to prison, and right back in to the apocalypse. Tyreese and the two little girls are also running around with their own cargo: baby Judith! And in the worst of the bunch, Glenn has awoken after the war and is stuck in the prison with no way out. What confused me about Glenn’s sub-plot is that though he wasn’t in immediate danger, he is still very weak from the flu’s after effects. He grabs a SWAT uniform, and jumps out of the prison running for his life.
Why didn’t he grab a walker and splatter its guts all over the suit? He could have just coasted right by the group without risking being dog piled by walkers like Bugs Bunny. That said, “Inmates” really proves that the series hasn’t lost momentum since its break. I’ll cop to the fact that it can falter but it never quits delivering on gore, brilliant writing, and plot twists. Carol is back! What a relief it was to see her, especially with Lizzie about to off poor Judith during the zombie siege.
Tara, the Governor’s lesbian soldier is now an ally of Glenn’s (The enemy of my enemy, right?), and Abraham Ford! Welcome aboard, Abraham Ford! Michael Cudlitz as Ford is only one more instance of brilliant casting in a series that continues casting the right performers for key roles. The group desperately needs a morale boost and a major enforcer since most of them have died, so I can’t wait to see what happens in the final episodes of season four. And what is Terminus? Is it a worthless pursuit or something to strive for? Let’s keep this train a-rollin. I can’t wait to find out.