Rick, Michonne, and Carl return to Rick's home town in search of weapons and ammunition.
From the start this episode feels like a departure from the momentum building of the previous episodes and I had a bad feeling it might have been a way to stretch the series out. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is.
Of the main characters we only see the above mentioned three as they go on a mission together and encounter a number of difficult situations.
As other reviewers have said the high point of the episode is the appearance of a guest character. This individual is portrayed to be in a bad mental place by a brilliant performance by the actor and it is harrowing to watch.
There are other good scenes such as Carl and Michonne's side mission, and the opening and closing sequences with the backpacker, which are quite chilling. Generally it is a very downbeat episode and shows the toll that the chaotic new world has taken on the humanity of characters.
It's not perfect, particularly in terms of plausibility. You wonder how the backpacker survived as long as he did if he's in the habit of shouting his head off whenever he sees a vehicle. Speaking of noise, the writers seem to apply the noise rule when it suits them as far as I can see. Rick also seems to take a stabbing in his stride. These are only minor criticisms and do not impact the overall quality of the episode.
Visually it is superb. Particularly the set design and inventive ideas used to decorate the town.
From the start this episode feels like a departure from the momentum building of the previous episodes and I had a bad feeling it might have been a way to stretch the series out. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is.
Of the main characters we only see the above mentioned three as they go on a mission together and encounter a number of difficult situations.
As other reviewers have said the high point of the episode is the appearance of a guest character. This individual is portrayed to be in a bad mental place by a brilliant performance by the actor and it is harrowing to watch.
There are other good scenes such as Carl and Michonne's side mission, and the opening and closing sequences with the backpacker, which are quite chilling. Generally it is a very downbeat episode and shows the toll that the chaotic new world has taken on the humanity of characters.
It's not perfect, particularly in terms of plausibility. You wonder how the backpacker survived as long as he did if he's in the habit of shouting his head off whenever he sees a vehicle. Speaking of noise, the writers seem to apply the noise rule when it suits them as far as I can see. Rick also seems to take a stabbing in his stride. These are only minor criticisms and do not impact the overall quality of the episode.
Visually it is superb. Particularly the set design and inventive ideas used to decorate the town.