Review: The Walking Dead: Season 4, Episode 3 – Isolation

Spoilers! 

It cannot be denied that one of the great joys of the zombie sub-genre is discussing the hypotheticals with fellow fans. How many times have you argued your post-apocalyptic ritual at the pub – debating where to go, where to get the supplies and so on and so forth. More often than not, this discussion amongst peers ends with the golden question – do the zombies walk or run? This week’s episode of The Walking Dead taps into a similar sort of sensibility, by presenting a particularly morally ambiguous episode and reminding us all of perhaps the greatest question of all – what would you do to survive? 

To recap, last week's episode showcased the group’s realisation, following a walker-led massacre in Cell Block D,  that a flu-like disease had infiltrated the prison. Those who catch it ultimately join the un-dead community, so a decision was made to quarantine all those suffering with recognised symptoms. Unfortunately, two detainees (including Karen – Tyreese’s lover) were apparently dragged from their cells, into a courtyard and seemingly burnt alive, leaving Tyreese and us audience members to discover the human remains in the episode’s final sequence. This week, Isolation carries on from this discovery -  so with a murder case on the camp’s hands, in addition to the rapid worsening of disease symptoms, survivors make rash decisions regarding their next move. 

Given instances in the past involving The Governor, Shane or other inhumane secondary characters, we forget that actually, Rick and co. are a relatively morally sound group, and their quest for survival has primarily involved overcoming the ‘bad guys’. So when it is revealed Carol burnt the bodies, a neglected question is somewhat thrown under the spotlight – what would you actually do to survive? With a fast-spreading disease shrouding the prison and those she loves, did Carol do the right thing to protect it? We know she’s not a bad person and as Rick rightly points out - there is nothing she wouldn't do for the group. Her drastic actions were nothing short of a wholehearted attempt to eradicate the disease before letting it spread and causing another massacre. So, is it cold-blooded murder to kill people, who are essentially placing everyone in jeopardy with a mere cough? Tyreese certainly thinks so. 

Carol’s dilemma in essence captures the overriding theme for all characters this week, nicely explored through individual character arcs – what is the morally right thing to do? Should Daryl, Michonne, Tyreese and Bob travel to a veterinary college to retrieve anti-biotics, placing their own lives in danger? Should Herschel sacrifice his health by entering the quarantined zone to look after those suffering? After discovering Carol’s actions, should Rick tell the rest of the group? It is through all of these tropes that the idea of isolation cleverly comes into play and whether it’s physically or emotionally, the moral questions imposed are particularly divisive, overall providing the episode with a rather thought provoking sensibility.

With Carol's ethical issues taking centre stage, it is only right that Melissa McBride shines this week, putting in a performance that simultaneously captures an inner turmoil of instinct, guilt and determination. Equally, Chad Coleman does a wonderful job of transgressing from a loveable-softy into a wounded, aggressive individual, following the loss of his lover. Of note is a particular moment in which he silently lingers behind Carol - there is a true sense of menace there, perhaps a precursor for behavior that is yet to come.

In addition to these standout performances, the tree-walker and bear-trap stunts deserve a particular kudos. Whilst the grandiose reveal of an insurmountable walker horde fell a little flat, the aforementioned set-pieces prove that in order to be the most effective, the walkers work on a more focused, isolated level.

Thought provoking, strong performances and well developed – Isolation is altogether another strong episode for this fourth season of The Walking Dead. 

What were your thoughts on this episode? Post a comment!