Last week The Walking Dead returned to our screens with an
impressive premiere of season four, providing as many thrills, spills and raining walkers you
could ever ask for. This week, Infected stands as an equally strong installment to the
show’s fourth season, boasting compelling characterisation and narrative intensity.
In last week’s review, worries were expressed over the
introduction of new characters and the complexities this would add to the show's character-drama dynamic. Fears were nonetheless eased as
it quickly became evident many of the Woodbury ex-pats would become more or
less extras, lining the intricate dynamic of Rick and the gang, with whom we
all know and have invested. This week was no different, as one of Infected’s
main strengths was indeed the development of a few familiar faces.
First off, two more birds have donned the love-nest, in addition to
Maggie and Glenn, in the form of Tyreese and Karen. Both of whom make a sweet,
attentive and romantic couple yet avoid crossing into cringe-worthy territory. Of
course, happiness is the kiss of death in a post-apocalyptic world, thus
Karen's untimely death at the end of the episode doesn't amount to much of a shock. However, it was nonetheless
important, providing a turning point for Tyreese who may consequently
delve into darker, more interesting territory, to avenge the death of his beloved.
Rick also hit a bit of a turning point this week. Having
seen the depths of despair and insanity, following the death of Lori and a few questionable decisions as group-leader, his disdain for weaponry and love for farming has been a
natural path for his character to take. Not to mention a conscious attempt to
lead Carl away from any Governor-esque antics. Yet arising problems within the prison mean the others are in need of Rick as a quick-thinking,
level-headed leader - indeed, Daryl so eloquently states, “When the shit hits, you
stand there with a shovel”. As fate would have it, with an increasing number of walkers barraging the
fences daily (and almost breaking in) Rick eventually takes charge once again
and salvages the prison from what would have been quite a horde of the hungry
un-dead. The sacrifice of his beloved pigs in order to do so is a somewhat
obvious metaphor of transgression, yet it’s an important point within the episode that nicely
signifies further development of Rick’s character.
Despite this, it feels this week’s spotlight shines firmly on
Michonne. Last season she felt nothing more than a stoic, samurai-wielding,
walker-fighting powerhouse. However two episodes in, and season four presents a marked contrast to this with a far more comforting and friendly representation.
Her particular relationship with Rick and Carl is unequivocally maternal (not
to mention quite charming), and this in addition to her unease around the
newborn points toward a familial past we are currently unaware of. In a particularly emotive scene, this is further suggested through a tearful breakdown whilst holding Rick’s daughter. Not only does this development work as an
effective paradox to the character we have previously become accustomed to, but
it automatically grants her with a new found sense of depth, in a wonderfully intriguing
manner.
Characterisation aside, this week’s narrativisation of The
Walking Dead is sublimely riddled with a latent intensity. From the beginning
of the episode, Patrick's new found 'life' as a walker begins, and he slowly lumbers through the darkened halls of cell
block D, freely into the room of a sleeping, unsuspecting survivor. The silence and subtlety of this brilliantly orchestrated sequence forces us to wait for any imminent confrontation, and instead gleefully subjects us to the gory, relentless dismemberment of a helpless individual. By lingering on this moment, walkers are once again depicted as truly horrible, ravenous beings - a perception sometimes lost in this show through over-saturation.
Eventually the scene escalates into a chaotic climax, boasting smart cinematography, as
specific editing and camera shots carefully depict the consequent devastation. This incident sequentially leads characters to the realisation that infection is spreading through other means, but may be detectable from flu-like
symptoms. As a result, quarantine and paranoia ensue, causing tensions to rise and a rather mysterious, fiery denouement...
Through this careful structuring of events, Infected
brilliantly provides a ripple effect of escalating strife and intensity. What
starts as a walker’s silent ascent into the feast of a lifetime, ends in
separation, paranoia and the death of two more characters. Thus, as season four’s
show-runner, Scott M. Gimple is clearly taking The Walking Dead in a direction
away from The Governor and the dangers of surviving humanity. Instead, the
path feels far more primitive in nature, by retaining quality characterisation, and re-working the concept of disease – a simple idea but one that is by no means any less threatening,
presenting consequences that are nigh on insurmountable. The result so far, is
positively infectious...
What are your thoughts on this episode of The Walking Dead? Post a comment!
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