Rick and others have made it to Atlanta, where they have discovered that Merle has managed to escape by sawing off one of his hands. They follow his bloody trail, hoping to catch up to him, but encounter a seemingly hostile group that act like a gang. This bunch also wants their hands on that cache of guns that was left in the street a while back. Back at the camp, Jim (Andrew Rothenberg), has begun to behave erratically, digging a bunch of holes in the ground for some unknown purpose.
For the balance of this episode, the writing centers more on the toll that this situation is taking on various characters, not just Jim. Andrea (Laurie Holden) and Amy (Emma Bell) have a quiet moment at the outset that culminates in tears as they realize that the world they knew for so long is gone. We actually don't see that much of the zombies, or much blood and gore, until the final few minutes - where things go to Hell quite quickly. (This marks the first episode where we actually first see zombies munch on human flesh.)
Robert Kirkman himself wrote the sensitive, intelligent script, coming up with some key emotional moments, as well as a bit of suspense. The actors all do well under capable direction by Swedish-born Johan Renck, a music video director whose other TV credits include 'Breaking Bad' and 'Chernobyl'. The script has some nice, human, humorous points such as Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) being asked about the watch which he is always seen winding. Among the more interesting developments is the fact that this hostile other group can't be taken at face value.
Overall, a solid episode that illustrates the balance that this series was able to maintain between dramatic, character-driven moments and purely visceral ones.
Eight out of 10.
For the balance of this episode, the writing centers more on the toll that this situation is taking on various characters, not just Jim. Andrea (Laurie Holden) and Amy (Emma Bell) have a quiet moment at the outset that culminates in tears as they realize that the world they knew for so long is gone. We actually don't see that much of the zombies, or much blood and gore, until the final few minutes - where things go to Hell quite quickly. (This marks the first episode where we actually first see zombies munch on human flesh.)
Robert Kirkman himself wrote the sensitive, intelligent script, coming up with some key emotional moments, as well as a bit of suspense. The actors all do well under capable direction by Swedish-born Johan Renck, a music video director whose other TV credits include 'Breaking Bad' and 'Chernobyl'. The script has some nice, human, humorous points such as Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) being asked about the watch which he is always seen winding. Among the more interesting developments is the fact that this hostile other group can't be taken at face value.
Overall, a solid episode that illustrates the balance that this series was able to maintain between dramatic, character-driven moments and purely visceral ones.
Eight out of 10.