Monday, November 11, 2013

Peril Around Every Darkened Corner in "Internment:" A Television Review ("The Walking Dead")

Director: David Boyd.

Writers: Robert Kirkman and Channing Powell.

Cast: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs and Danai Gurira.

Epis. 5 of Seas. 4 of "The Walking Dead" brought thrills from both inside and outside the prison. "Internment" also said good-bye to several more minor characters from Woodbury, whom this viewer is completely unfamiliar with. As well, a major villain made his presence known, to the viewers at least. And, Herschel (Scott Wilson) was doing what Herschel does best, saving lives. There was a lot of excitement in this episode and the series producers and writers seem to be listening to some of the feedback on the show.

In this episode, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) was driving back to the prison without a passenger and without Carol (Melissa McBride). Other characters were returning from the university with medicine, for the sick folk back at the prison. Inside the prison, Herschel was having trouble keeping up with all of the illness about. Patients were dropping like flies and then getting back up again. Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Glenn (Steven Yeun) were doing what they could, but everything looked very bleak. Even the dark lighting added to the gloom. That was not all. Zombies were pouring in over a weakened fence and a familiar face turned up in the brush. Everyone's favourite pirate-like villain is back!

It would be better to begin with the ending and work backwards. The final scene showed the Governor (David Morrissey) looming just outside the prison walls. The scene was almost comical. But then, memories of this despot returned, involving the mowing down of several innocent people and those severed heads. Maybe, the Governor can inject a little more intelligent menace into this season. It would be good to see this character getting some revenge on Michonne (Danai Gurira), who cut out his eye in the last season. The Governor, is at the very least, often unpredictable and his return is welcomed.

Herschel had his hands full with all of the infected survivors in the prison and he was handling it in good form. Four more minor characters succumbed to the illness and Glenn looked like he was next. Herschel kept up his good work and this character is starting to become this viewer's favourite. He seems up for any challenge and he finds solutions, without losing himself in all of the chaos. He has a moral code and faith, which this viewer appreciates. But, it is only a matter of time before Herschel exits stage left as his character has already done in the source material.

There were problems both inside and outside of the prison; the constant threat of zombie invasion outside is mirrored by the spread of infection inside the prison. There is basically no safe place for the survivors in Seas. 4. And, this fact is reflected in the dwindling number of people left alive. This season began with dozens of healthy folks. Now, only a handful remain. Once you throw the Governor in the mix, Lil Ass Kicker and Sasha might be the only ones left standing (or crawling). More characters are sure to be introduced soon. Let us not forget that voice on the radio, form "Indifference."

Overall, "Internment" was an exciting episode spent with Rick the farmer/gunslinger, leading his group in the zombie apocalypse. A couple of action scenes were difficult to see inside the prison. But outside, the gunfight with the zombie horde was bright and chilling. This season is keeping the threat level high and the characters are the ones suffering. Most viewers are likely ecstatic that the Governor is back and future episodes look to bring a confrontation between this villain and the other survivors. Herschel is the backbone of the group, but this watcher wonders how many more episodes he will survive through. "Internment" brought some great tension and action through a strong climax and it will be interesting to see what dark roads the show travels down next.

Overall: 7.5 out of 10 (some horror elements, good use of camera angles and shooting to show Rick's new dual nature, was it the Governor who was feeding the mice to the zeds?).

*it is not often that the show introduces music, with lyrics, through scenes. The song heard throughout this episode was Ben Howard's "Oats in the Water."

Two clips from this episode are available on 28DLA, here:

"Internment" Clips on 28DLA


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