Sunday, November 02, 2014

"The Walking Dead's" "Slabtown" is All Sparkles and No Bang: A Television Review

Director: Michael E. Satrazemis.

Writer: Matthew Negete.

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

After reviewing over fourty episodes of "The Walking Dead," certain elements have become apparent to this viewer. Pacing is a big issue for this series and so is melodrama. This critic has been making the same complaints for three years now and it is obvious that no one on the show is listening. "Slabtown," Epis. 4, is a very slowly paced episode. Just when the series should be picking up its pacing, it is flatlining. A few new characters are introduced, including a heavy handed warden, named Dawn (Christine Woods). As well, Beth (Emily Kinney) is burgeoning into a manipulative character, which is understandable under the circumstances. And, episodes like "Slabtown" really showed one watcher how much of "The Walking Dead" is mostly flash and bang, but not much else.

Gone are the action elements of Epis. 1, "No Sanctuary." Events are really cooling off as Beth finds herself in a hospital, in Atlanta. She is the new candystriper and everyone must give, in order to receive. Reciprocity is the name of the game. And, when characters give off rapey vibes, Beth gives them murder. A zombie outbreak occurs at the hospital and so does a hastily produced escape plan. But, the show was truly spinning its wheels, here.

Dawn was introduced as a new minor villain. She compels Beth to mop up blood and puke in the other hospital rooms. She uses an open hand slap, randomnly, to relieve feelings of anger on Beth. Later, she uses a picture frame to further abuse Beth. This is a woman with more than anger issues. She is violent, cold-hearted and under pressure to keep her little hospital unit running smoothly. It will be fun to see Dawn pushed down the elevator shaft in a future episode.

Beth is doing relatively well, under the dire events. She is scarred after her abduction, but still able to move around. Quickly, she is put to work, under the authority of a murderous doctor. Beth is soon turned into an unwitting black widow as she puts at least one character into a permanent sleep. However, she is able to befriend Noah (Tyler James Williams). Together, they hatch a plan to escape the gloomy atmosphere. But, a horde of zombies and rapey police officers stop them. Beth shows a little bit of cunning, by leading Dawn into a zombie ambush. She is unable to return to the other survivors, however. Beth will, hopefully, be the one pushing Dawn down the elevator shaft.

Pacing issues were very apparent in this episode. Events were way too slow and action elements were added too late. The focus here was on drama. But, a zombie apocalypse and drama mix together like oil and vinegar. Tension and horror were relegated to the minor zombie outbreak and a traverse down an elevator shaft. Instead of tension and horror, the show also relied on one rapey lollipop man and a weak willed doctor to create excitement. That excitement came off like a flatline on a heart monitor, or like a flash of fireworks exploding on the ground. This series should be adding in tension and adrenalin in as it reaches the climax in the middle of the season. This episode was completely forgettable, thanks to lack of impetus to get events stirred up.

"Slabtown" is another puddle or pothole in this long running series. There have been many episodes like this, especially in Seas. 2. Even though this show is so well received, the filmmakers continue to miss opportunities to keep the show building towards something - anything! Epis. 5, "Choice," needs a better sense of pacing. Otherwise this series will lazily move towards a mid-season break, which will offer a few shiny sparklers, followed by more melodrama.

Overall: 6 out of 10 (the introduction of two or three minor characters and a new setting does not make for a great episode, the escape plan proved mostly pointless, Dawn needs to exit soon).

A clip from this episode, showing Beth and Dawn, is hosted here:

A "Slabtown" Clip on 28DLA


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