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The following review contains spoilers for the Walking Dead season 5 Episode "Coda" Rick To The Rescue The epic rescue mission to save Carol and Beth from the clutches of Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital finally unfolded Sunday night and while most of the hour was a mixed bag, they saved the best for last. The hostage exchange was as intense and psychologically exhausting as anyone could have hoped for. It was a nicely wrapped up mid season finale that opted to leave us struggling with what we had seen instead of hanging crazily off a cliff speculating on the future (although, with time, we’ll be doing the speculating part of that as well). The group, which had been split into three separate factions, came back together in the closing minutes. The reunion was almost too orderly and perfect, but I suppose that could have been intended to contrast the heart wrenching events that just took place inside the hospital’s halls. The deal to exchange two cops for Carol and Beth nearly went as perfect as Rick and company could have hoped for until Dawn threw them a curveball. What resulted was a thousand thoughts and fears racing through our heads while the reality of the situation was resolved in the blink of an eye, or, more appropriately, a single pull of the trigger. Dawn and Grady's Mixed Bag The Grady story arc felt almost like filler as it developed, a storyline created specifically for the show to not only differentiate it from the comics but to also (possibly) allow the show to remain a safe distance behind. It ended with the same feelings. Season 5 started at a breakneck pace and multiple scenes from the comics were finding their way to the small screen each week. I would imagine the last thing the creators would want to do is catch up to the comics and be stuck in a spot where both worlds have to be completely separate, they have an upcoming spinoff series to handle that. [caption id=attachment_1400" align="alignright" width="300] Officer Lamson paid dearly for his escape attempt and not obeying Rick's orders. This scene was an emotional tug of war as it was easy to see why both Rick and Lamson took the actions they did.[/caption] The problem with Grady was that it simply lacked the charismatic and terrifying characters that carried Woodbury, the claimers, and Terminus. Dawn felt like a cardboard cutout, her emotions felt flat and her dialogue didn’t connect on any deep level. Whether this falls on the directors, writers, or actors is irrelevant, this sort of carried through to the rest of Grady’s inhabitants and held back a plot line that certainly had potential. Every scene that took place inside Grady had me wishing they would just switch back to Rick, or the church, or Abraham, or anyone. The cops captured by Rick and crew even added greatly to their scenes but for some reason, these characters just didn’t exist at Grady itself. Doctor Edwards was the closest but he wasn’t developed to a great enough extent. No one at Grady was. What made parts of this episode great was the show’s bread and butter, Rick and Daryl. The show’s two most popular characters stepped in and saved the episode in the final fifteen minutes. Their emotions felt real, they struck a chord and made you care. They had you worried about their safety and if they could protect everyone else when it seemed like it was all going south in a hurry. That was the ultimate high point of this episode and one of the brightest moments of the season. The Exchange [caption id=attachment_1401" align="alignleft" width="300] Beth essentially saved Noah by going after Dawn. Noah's presence moving forward will be a lingering reminder of Beth's untimely demise.[/caption] Everything was going so well. Despite losing Bob Lamson (who made his escape in “Crossed” but was run down and executed by Rick early in the hour), the deal went through. Carol and Beth were exchanged for the two remaining cops but Dawn had one surprise demand; she wanted Noah back. Rick was not ready to add to the deal they originally agreed upon. Beth, who we saw hide a pair of scissors before the meeting went after Dawn. That precise moment was such a great moment. I was expecting a total blood bath, both sides were sure to open fire and in such a confined space there was no telling who would and wouldn’t die. Everyone was at risk but before I could even process a single possible outcome, a single shot ended it all. Dawn took out Beth and was promptly taken out herself for that decision. After that? Well, that was that. The Grady residents quickly called for an end, it was over and there was no need to escalate the situation further and cooler heads prevailed. This scene and the following one that had Rick and friends leave the hospital to find Glenn and his group making their way for the doors were executed superbly. They are perfect examples of what makes the Walking Dead so great and powerful. “Coda” wasn’t without its flaws but it sure left us stunned and reeling. Much like the premier episode "No Sanctuary", we had to try our best to keep it all together as Morgan took center stage in a short post episode scene. [caption id=attachment_1402" align="aligncenter" width="850] Morgan continues to follow behind the group but it appears he's closing in. What kind of role he'll play in the second half of the season remains to be seen but they are surely building up to something.[/caption] Coda Final Takeaways Seth Gilliam is becoming the underrated hero of every episode. The directors and writers just put him in good spots and this type of short and sweet character development is what seems to work the best for any character in the show. In “Coda”, Gabriel finds his way to the school where Gareth and the Termites were staying. He finds a bible and Bob’s cooked leg and the wealth of emotions that strike him at that one moment was simply compelling. [caption id=attachment_1404" align="alignright" width="300] The group thankfully reunites in the second half of "Coda". Hopefully they stay united in the episodes to come as the show is simply on a higher level when everyone is together.[/caption] In this week’s “Was that really necessary” segment, Michonne carrying Judith on her back as she fought the walkers invading the church. I questioned if it was in fact Judith on her back during this scene but thought “no, no it just can’t be” as the sack was swung around helplessly but low and behold it was, in fact, Judith going for the traumatic ride as she waited until things calmed down a bit to start crying. I was dumbfounded by this bit of silliness. It was a bit hard to buy into the emotions involved in the last scene. Maggie, as we’ve mentioned multiple times, has not seemed to care about Beth at all since they were separated after losing their father. She finally cared in “Coda” but it almost felt too little too late. This is something I feel the show runners just goofed up on but I expected her to show some emotion here and it was still a moving scene to close out the episode. Dawn never developed into a solid character. She felt shallow right up to the very end, as did Grady as a whole. Director Ernest Dickerson had his work cut out for him in crafting the moving finale and did an admirable job. Still, I can't help but wonder what could have been compared to what we got. Conclusion “Coda” had its fair share of flaws but it saved its finest moments for the end. Rick and company did their best to save the episode and they succeeded to an extent. The Grady story arc came to a close and, overall, it felt like filler. It felt that way from “Slabtown” and it struggled to become more than that. It also felt like the creators thought it was necessary to kill off a major character and this episode is the what they came up with. It was a bit of a disappointing end for Beth but life is full of disappointments. Just because it’s a TV show doesn’t mean that everything has to wrap up perfectly and obviously it never does in the world of the Walking Dead. Despite the flaws, I feel losing Beth will have a profound impact on several characters and the plot moving forward, it might just take some time to develop. And time is exactly what we have as we begin the long wait to February when the Walking Dead returns. What did you think of the latest Walking Dead episode? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and give us your rating of "Coda"!

The following review contains spoilers for the Walking Dead season 5 Episode "Crossed" The Walking Dead Sets The Stage We made it through a string of episodes dealing with each individual group trying to move forward after Terminus. “Crossed” tied everything together in a neat package, one that is sure to be quickly undone in the mid season finale. It’s been mentioned in our reviews throughout the season but never is it more clear than in this episode how much better the show is when they focus on everyone instead of using entire episodes to focus on a small group. Sunday’s scenes involving Glenn and company (Abraham is a bit too shaken right now to be seen as their leader) would have been fleshed out into a full episode in season 4. They didn't add much to “Crossed” but they sure felt like they were setting up something for next week and that was the point. This entire episode was one big set up for the mid season finale and it was well executed. Tension and Trust Rule The Night [caption id=attachment_1368" align="alignleft" width="300] Rick comes up with a pretty detailed plan on how to rescue Beth and Carol but he is met with some resistance. Rick lets majority rule but he seems to be getting pretty cocky, could something be ready to send him back to Earth?[/caption] The tension was paper thin in “Crossed” and it came from so many different directions. Director Billy Gierhart, who hasn't directed an episode since the mid season 3 finale “Made to Suffer”, returned with quite the impact. While you can say “Crossed” was rather predictable in the end, it had you guessing and feeling nervous all along. It was easy to think Daryl would survive the fight with the Grady cop and it was easy to think the other male cop was going to pull a fast one on Sasha but there was a cloud of concern that lingered from the beginning. I wasn’t 100% sure Daryl would survive that scene and I really wanted the Grady cop to be sincere. Everything may have had the most likely outcome but it wasn't obvious and the emotional ride made for good television and an entertaining hour. The best aspect of this episode, which also gave more much needed importance to “Slabtown”, was the question of who can and cannot be trusted from Grady. Terminus brought with it a very direct and brutal form of terror. Dawn and the rest of Grady Memorial Hospital bring a more psychological approach to the table. The cops had one story, Dawn had another, the doctor told Beth which medicine to give to Carol but we saw previously how he previously lied in order to take out the other doctor. I don’t think there’s one thing that can safely be predicted about next week’s episode (except maybe death, there will probably be some death) and “Crossed” was the perfect set up, the perfect ride through smoke and mirrors as we’re left with many questions to stew over with bated breath for the upcoming week. Crossed Final Takeaways Daryl has always been one bad dude but he must have felt he was lagging behind Rick and even Carol because his move of ripping a walker’s head clear off and bashing his foe with it could have come straight from the comics. It tip toed the line between realism and campiness but regardless of which side it leaned, it was just plain awesome. [caption id=attachment_1369" align="alignright" width="300] Maggie steps up and lays down the law to Abraham who is still reeling from Eugene's revelation. Rosita also continues to show a bit of fierceness making it feel like she's more than just eye candy.[/caption] The Grady patient who creates a distraction for Beth, who is trying to grab medicine for Carol, was the weekly “was that really necessary?” moment. It was fine for the most part, but the “oh I’m suddenly fine now” trope as he watched Beth walk by was a head shaker. It's just plain fun to watch Seth Gilliam portray Gabriel. His scenes, while brief, created a whole different layer to contemplate going in to next week. The music was creepy and he looked to be going a bit crazy as he watched his church be dismantled. He’s clearly struggling mightily in the new world but Gilliam makes it entertaining to watch. Tyreese and Sasha were given some nice sentimental development in this episode but, as is usually the case, any positivity is quickly taken away leaving us wondering if it's even worth it for the characters to look on the bright side of life. Conclusion I really could go on and on about this episode, it wasn’t the best of the season but it did its job as well as you could hope. Everything we witnessed in the previous six episodes came back into focus and every sub plot was touched on. There’s so many possible paths the next episode could take that the week long wait will be excruciating but this is when the Walking Dead is at its best. It’s fun to speculate but with so many questions to answer, it’s best to just sit back and watch the mayhem unfold and mayhem is exactly what we’ll get. What did you think of the latest Walking Dead episode? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and give us your rating of "Crossed"!

The following review contains spoilers for the Walking Dead season 5 Episode "Consumed" The Walking Dead On Cruise Control [caption id=attachment_1336" align="alignright" width="300] It was a little odd that a hobbled Noah was able to hold Daryl back from rushing in to save Carol from the Grady Cops. On the other hand, the more level headed Daryl might have known the right course of action despite his demeanor.[/caption] “Consumed” would be right at home with the episodes from the second half of season 4 and is the first true filler episode this season. Even Slabtown brought some new characters to the table and advanced the plot. Sunday's episode was very safe, they knew where they wanted the show to go and they didn't throw any punches or surprises at us along the way. Director Seith Mann put two popular characters behind the wheel as we were driven to a known destination. Sure, there were bumps along the way but they never veered off road. Carol was devastated after being exiled from the group? I’d be surprised if she wasn’t. Daryl and Carol run into Noah? We knew Daryl was with someone in the quick cliffhanger at the end of “Four Walls and a Roof” and saw Noah escape Grady Memorial Hospital at the end of “Slabtown”. I’m sure most of us were able to put two and two together. Carol gets taken to Grady Memorial Hospital but how? In a pretty silly and rushed scene that made it feel like they almost forgot how they had to end the episode and tacked it on last minute. Despite the flaws, "Consumed" did have some nice highlights however. Noah Joins The Chaos [caption id=attachment_1332" align="alignleft" width="300] Subtle hints of character development like this really leave a lasting impression. The toughest part of healing is facing the source of the problem and we find out that Daryl is taking that all important first step.[/caption] Tyler James Williams put in another solid effort as Noah and his scenes were the highlights of the night. He kind of creeped around Daryl and Carol early on and these bits were well done and created a sense of uneasiness. I couldn’t tell who it was stalking the star duo but it helped add a much needed edge to the episode. I really enjoyed his stick up of Daryl and Carol. He picked the perfect moment to make his move and showed some creativity in using the tent walkers to help him escape. Despite that, Carol still had a weapon on her and could have taken him out if she wasn’t stopped. This sequence shows that Noah is doing what he feels he needs to do to survive, gather supplies, and keep moving but, as Daryl said, he’s just a kid. He didn’t do enough to survive that plan but lady luck (really Daryl) was on his side and it made him a likable character to me. The scene near the end where he's left trapped after a Daryl charge as a walker enters the room was the best moment of the night for the fan favorite red neck. Throughout the hour we see that Daryl has become a pretty level headed person, someone who could start to survive on their wits and not just their physical abilities. He could have left Noah to die and it seemed that was his plan but he had a sudden change of heart which shows he wasn’t as sure of himself as he made it seem. They could have killed off Noah here and I was worried because I was starting to like him, it wouldn’t have been the first time a recently introduced character was killed off after a bit of development (it happened multiple times already this season). I look forward to seeing how Noah reacts when his world changes from a dystopian hospital to an on-the-road Ricktatorship (that’s really more of a democracy, even if Rick wouldn’t agree). Consumed Final Takeaways [caption id=attachment_1337" align="alignright" width="300] Carol's flashbacks brought her back to Earth and reminded us she is only human despite her Rambo rampage in the premiere "No Sanctuary".[/caption] The bridge scene was something I thought would be very predictable but it turned out to be the opposite as I wouldn’t have ever guessed Daryl and Carol would be inside when it eventually went over the edge, let alone them being the reason why. I couldn’t bring myself to buy into the result, however, as the van did a full flip and landed perfectly on all fours. I know it's not a realistic show but this was a bit too much. This season has made a gimmick of sorts out of brief flashbacks scattered throughout various episodes and they’ve done it very well. Until “Consumed”. Carol’s flashbacks didn’t bring anything new to the character or plot, they didn’t reveal anything we couldn’t have already assumed was the case. They did, however, serve as a nice summary of what Carol has gone through over the last couple of seasons. Yet again, the sights and sounds of the episode contributed just as much to the experience as anything else. There were a couple of nice throwbacks to season one and more great images of Atlanta in ruins. The opening flashback was saved by since using The Mountain Goats in a season 4 episode that shall not be named. Conclusion While it had its highs and lows, “Consumed” was as safe as you could get. Nothing great but nothing terrible either. The worst moments were just “meh” and the good moments were just, well, good. Director Seith Mann gave us an episode that wound up in the middle of the road with little swerving. The actors went along for the ride but they are likable characters so it wasn’t that bad for the viewers at home. The biggest downside that hurts the episode was the lack of any real or surprising plot developments. Whether you enjoyed it or not, or don’t really care either way, it took us to a point we can all be excited for. That point? Rick coming back and attempting to save Carol and Beth from the hospital. We can always use more Rick. What did you think of the latest Walking Dead episode? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and give us your rating of "Consumed"!

The following review contains spoilers for the Walking Dead season 5 Episode "Self Help" The Walking Dead Rebounds [caption id=attachment_1223" align="alignright" width="300] Tara remains an outsider of the group but she's trying her best to fist bump her way into everyone's hearts. A bond with Eugene is budding after "Self Help."[/caption] After a stumble last week, the Walking Dead is back on track following a solid character building effort in “Self Help”. I am not a fan of how the show has divided the main group and taken the approach of focusing entire episodes on each faction, especially since this was done last season and the group reunited in the premiere episode "No Sanctuary," but it’s pretty clear that the quality of these episodes hinges on how much you care about who is in the spotlight. After Sunday’s episode, I can say I am a fan of Abraham and Eugene and I was always a fan of Glenn. Maggie has been hit or miss and Rosita is just simply there for the time being but the trio of males in this group provide good tension, emotional back stories, and some much needed humor in the post apocalyptic landscape. The writing and directing behind this episode was solid and I enjoyed the performances put in by Michael Cudlitz (Abraham) and Josh McDermitt (Eugene). I really appreciated the humor that was sprinkled in throughout and I don’t think any other characters can bring that to the table as well as this group. What drew me into this episode and sold me was the use of music. Director Ernest Dickerson, who’s been a solid member of the Walking Dead team since season one, created an ominous and mysterious tone throughout and the subtle humming that persisted as the hour progressed was just plain creepy. It was the sounds, not just the sights, that made it seem like they were building to something big, and build they did. Eugene Porter Comes Clean [caption id=attachment_1224" align="alignleft" width="300] Abraham's wound on his hand is a constant reminder of his painful past and how he lost his family. As he breaks down in "Self Help" we see that his wounds dig much deeper than just his hand.[/caption] What they were building to was another key moment from the comics finding its way to the season 5 plot. I am a sucker for these types of scenes, I spend a lot of time speculating how they will adapt different aspects from the comics and they always do a solid job. I didn't expect this reveal to come so soon but it was timed perfectly. The tone created by the first 3/4 of the episode was perfect for what they wanted to reveal. Ever since Eugene entered the show, he was always a huge question mark. Was he telling the truth? Could he possibly save the world? In a very tense moment where Abraham was just about losing his mind, Eugene shouted out the answer to our questions. He is not a scientist, he is not the savior of mankind. After a very ballsy reminder to Abraham about how the two stack up intelligence wise, Eugene finds himself knocked out as Abraham’s trek off the deep end closes with the sergeant on his knees about to sob. This scene was a fast and furious roller coaster ride that created more questions and the episode ends leaving us guessing what direction this group might take next. I’m glad they bucked their own trend of throwing in a quick cliffhanger in the closing moments and instead let the progression of the episode come to a clean end that still left us wondering and wanting more. Self Help Final Takeaways I thought Abraham’s flashbacks were well done. Much like the flashbacks to the prison in season 4’s Finale “A” and Gareth’s flashbacks in the season 5 premiere “No Sanctuary”, they accomplished a lot considering how brief they were. As a fan of the comics, I thought they missed an opportunity to fully flesh out what happened to Abraham and his family but it was still moving and made me care more about this character which is ultimately the goal of these character driven episodes. [caption id=attachment_1225" align="alignright" width="300] Abraham had his morale lifted and seemed very pleased with the turn of events after a clutch save from Eugene. I can't complain about some dark humor working its way into the show.[/caption] Speaking of those flashbacks, the final one was a little bit of a letdown. Having Abraham about to kill himself as Eugene appears at just the right moment to stop him seemed very typical and unsurprising. Were we supposed to think Eugene’s attempt at running (I use that term loosely) from the walkers was anything else but silly? Another nod to the comics has Eugene creeping on Abraham and Rosita going at it, season 5 is following Robert Kirkman’s comics closely. The most light-hearted moment of the night actually came in a tense scene as walkers pushed through a stack of tires and attacked the group. Eugene taking them out with water from the fire truck was executed nicely on all fronts and Abraham’s reaction turned it into one of the most comical scenes on the show so far. If anything, I hope this group sticks around for a long while so we can keep getting moments like these. Conclusion “Slabtown” didn't create any newfound faith that the Walking Dead could improve on these character driven episodes but “Self Help” raised the bar to a level I hope it stays at. Taking into account the second half of season 4 and what we’ve seen so far in season 5, I would say this episode ranks as the best non-Rick episode of the “separated group” series. It didn't have much competition but it blew most of those episodes out of the water. I could see this episode getting mixed reviews from fans, as I stated earlier these types of episodes live or die on the strength of your feelings for the characters. I always felt Abraham and Eugene’s characters had potential and “Self Help” showed it’s there. Now, they just need to keep the wheels spinning. [caption id=attachment_1226" align="aligncenter" width="600] Abraham shows us it isn't so easy to move on from past pains and "Self Help" doesn't leave him in a great spot. How do you think Abraham will move forward after Eugene's big reveal?[/caption] What did you think of the latest Walking Dead episode? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to rate the episode!

The following review contains spoilers for the Walking Dead season 5 Episode "Slabtown" Poor Beth [caption id=attachment_1189" align="alignright" width="300] We were introduced to Grady Memorial Hospital alongside Beth who was put on intern duty in the episode "Slabtown".[/caption] I think it’s safe to say we all knew the highly tense and brutal string of Walking Dead episodes would come to an end eventually. I had mentioned in the review of “Four Walls and a Roof” that some concerns were created moving forward and while “Slabtown” did address a big one, it also confirmed that my worries were legitimate. The biggest question answered was "where's Beth?" I have no problem with Emily Kinney, she’s pretty talented, but she has to be the unluckiest character from the show. Episodes with a heavy focus on her just come across as lackluster, often relegated to filler status. I do not think this is because of Kinney, the problems go deeper than that. From writing to directing to plot, she isn’t given an opportunity to show she can carry an episode or even a scene. Her character was never built up to do that yet they tried it anyways. While I like Kinney, she isn’t good enough to put all of that on her shoulders and elevate everything around her to a higher level. To be fair, it's a difficult task only a few characters on the show could handle. Welcome to Slabtown The biggest draw of “Slabtown” was to introduce a new group of survivors who set up shop in Grady Memorial Hospital. It doesn’t take long to get a peak at the potential darkness contained in Beth’s new home. This was the one big concern they didn’t waste any time addressing. We saw Gareth’s demise in the previous episode which left us without a clear villain and threat. In one hour, we were given enough to know that there are some shady and outright dirty people taking care of Beth. I don’t care much for Dawn yet and she didn’t bring any great villainous presence to her first appearance like Gareth did. Gorman was set up to be THE bad guy to worry about, despite him being under Dawn in the hierarchy. This was what bugged me the most about “Slabtown”. [caption id=attachment_1191" align="alignleft" width="300] There wasn't much mystery to Gorman's character as he made it clear he wanted women and power. It didn't work out so well though as Joan got the last laugh.[/caption] I wasn’t a fan of Gorman or the performance that was put in. Whether this was the actor or director, it doesn’t matter because he was killed off swiftly. Why develop this character at all just to see him die so soon? Because it’s the Walking Dead and that’s what they do. These “filler” episodes have gotten pretty predictable. When I saw Gorman I couldn’t help but think back to the prisoners from season three. Many of them didn’t last long and it seemed painfully obvious that their whole existence on the show was phoned in. Much like the “ ” guy from the prison, Gorman bites it (gets bitten actually) and it’s for the best. How it was handled wasn’t as rewarding though. Joan, who Beth found dead in Dawn’s office, turning at just the perfect moment could be seen from a mile away. Gorman’s pressure on Beth and his lollipop scene were clear indicators that the guy is a big awkward sleaze bag but it’s hard to care when you were just introduced to the character. Even more predictable was the faux tension created during the escape down the elevator shaft. Not only did Noah get a quick scare from a walker on his way down, he got another one when he reached the bottom. This was like the home run swing teases from the premiere episode “No Sanctuary” except there wasn’t much else going for the scene this time around. [caption id=attachment_1192" align="alignright" width="300] Dr. Steven Edwards, played by Erik Jensen, provides a good example of settling for what you have instead of taking the risk of fighting for something better.[/caption] Speaking of Noah, he and doctor Steven Edwards were some of the bright spots of the night. While neither made a big splash, the actors (Tyler James Williams and Erik Jensen respectively) put in a solid effort and they created the moments we’ll be waiting to see more of. Noah was able to escape and I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of him while Dr. Edwards had a bit of a good vs evil vibe going for him. I didn’t see him as a villain but his current situation has him making some tough decisions that we can ponder over (see his tricking Beth into killing another doctor). We weren’t really given enough to get a good read on him yet but I’m at least curious to see where the character goes. Slabtown Final Takeaways [caption id=attachment_1193" align="alignright" width="353] Beth and Dr. Steven Edwards look out over the remains of Atlanta. An eerie reminder of the current state of the world.[/caption] Director Michael Satrazemis, who directed one of the better season 4 episodes “The Grove”, didn’t give us a great episode but he had his moments. The scene where Beth and Dr. Edwards have a rooftop conversation set against the ruins of Atlanta looked amazing and ominous, it really drew me into the world. The escape scene also had a nice look and feel to it. Beth’s shots in the dark and the slow motion break for the fence were the highlights of the night. While I doubt anyone was surprised to see Carol being brought in at the end, we at least got a quick answer to part of last week’s closing question. The other part probably involves Daryl finding Noah and returning to the church. When the group is split and we get these character focused episodes, it can really only go as far as the viewers care about the characters. I can’t speak for everyone but I only care about Beth because Daryl does, I’m not really interested in seeing her on her own. Maggie doesn’t even care about her. Conclusion The intense and horrifying ride finally came to a stop and while “Slabtown” felt like it would be right at home with the filler episodes of a season ago, we at least got some answers and the plot kept moving. We lost Gareth only to immediately get a new set of mysterious survivors that pose a threat to the main cast. Whether this episode drew you into Grady Memorial Hospital or not, we got our first look at a big part of the episodes to come. I’m sure the incredible run the show was on had our expectations too high for a Beth-centric episode, but even if I’m being a bit too harsh, there were still some clear shallow and predictable elements scattered throughout “Slabtown”. I wanted this episode to rise above “filler” status but it just didn’t get there despite some opportunities to do so. The momentum stalled out and we’ll be looking for Abraham to get us back on track next week. [caption id=attachment_1194" align="aligncenter" width="300] It remains to be seen if Dawn Lerner can be as charismatic and disturbing as Gareth or as intimidating as the Governor but she's public enemy number one for now.[/caption] What did you think of the latest Walking Dead episode "Slabtown"? Were we too harsh or not harsh enough? Let us know in the comments below and make sure you rate the episode!

The following review contains spoilers for the Walking Dead season 5 Episode "Four Walls and a Roof" The Walking Dead Rolls On The previous two episodes of the Walking Dead have taken tension and terror to new heights and they kept this momentum going in the third episode of season 5, “Four Walls and a Roof”. Director Jeffrey January opened the episode with a chilling comparison of the dead and the living as he showed the Terminus survivors eating Bob’s cooked leg mixed with images of very hungry walkers. Bob will be missed but he got his moment in the sun when he revealed to everyone that he was bitten and that they had consumed “tainted meat”. A great adaptation from the comics. [caption id=attachment_1157" align="alignright" width="300] After the chaos, the group still had to say their goodbyes to Bob. His parting words, while brief, reminded us all that we don't have to be shaped by the bad as long as we stay focused on the good.[/caption] Bob essentially book-ended the episode as he offered some meaningful parting words to Rick, coupled with his emotional goodbye to Sasha, to basically close out the night. It was hard to buy into Bob’s moments with Sasha, however, as their relationship seemed to pop up out of nowhere and their love was ending very abruptly. Seth Gilliam also gave us a solid follow up performance as Father Gabriel Stokes, his big moment was confessing to Rick and company what he had done and why he would burn for it. Another excellent adaptation from the pages of Robert Kirkman’s comics and Gilliam deserves a lot of the credit. While the episode sputtered a bit and hit several high and low points, it was hard not to remain on the edge of your seat as the night moved on. Rick’s conflict with Abraham was well done and it’s easy to forget the humor that Abraham and Eugene bring to such a serious show. On the other hand, we have another awkward moment with Tara who comes up with a self proclaimed great plan. What’s the plan? That she would leave with Abraham if he stuck around to help them one last time. Who could turn down such an offer? I guess she deserves some credit for opening the door for Glenn and Maggie to make the same, but way more enticing, offer that is eventually accepted. Rick Grimes is a man of his word [caption id=attachment_1159" align="alignleft" width="300] Rick proved he was a man of his word when he slaughtered Gareth with the same red handled machete he referenced in "No Sanctuary".[/caption] Sunday’s climax was possibly the most tense and brutal moment of the Walking Dead’s entire history. January threw a curve ball at the fans of the comics by having Gareth and the Termites move into the church after half the group left to find them. The camera slowly panned from one group to a center point where we waited for what seemed like an eternity until shadowy figures finally emerged from the woods on the opposite side of the screen. What happened next is a great lesson in how to execute a slow burn. Just gradually turn the temperature up until the water reaches its boiling point. Gareth slowly moving through the church was the rise and the bullet to his hand was the first sign of bubbles. The water was completely out of control and flooding from the pot when Rick delivered on his promise from “No Sanctuary” and absolutely slaughtered Gareth with the red handled machete. Rick had some help from his friends who dispatched the rest of the Terminians as the show jumped back in line with the comics. Some key players (mainly Glenn, Maggie, and Tyreese) watched on in horror and the actors all did a great job setting up and selling this scene. This was, by far, the highlight of the episode and maybe even the season so far. Fans won't be able to get this scene out of their heads for a long time. Four Walls and a Roof final takeaways We basically were given a three episode season premiere, it would have taken at least 8 episodes to unfold all of these events in previous seasons. Will this pacing continue? Even as a big fan of the comics, Gareth’s execution was surprising. I thought for sure they would switch up the plot to keep him around longer. His final scene was excellent but I can’t help but feel a little disappointed we won’t get to see him around any longer. Tyreese was given some significant character development amongst the chaos. He tried his best to get Sasha to stay with Bob and I must say, I agreed with what he was saying. I was kind of upset Sasha was so willing to risk missing out on her final moments with Bob just to get revenge. Tyreese stepping up at the end to finish off Bob for Sasha was also huge. It’s pretty common for the Walking Dead to use a quick twist to create a cliffhanger but Daryl’s return just seemed a little off. We’ll see next week how big a cliff we’re actually hanging from. Conclusion [caption id=attachment_1165" align="alignright" width="300] A small, but enjoyable, moment from "Four Walls and a Roof" gave us an apology only Sergeant Abraham Ford could give.[/caption] While a solid episode overall, I was left with some concerns moving forward. It looks like we are getting a Beth-centric episode next week which I can’t say I have much faith in. We are left without a main villain and lost a significant lingering threat for the group, we all saw how this played out in the second half of season 4. It seemed forced and even a bit silly for Glenn and Maggie to just offer to leave and take the bus with Abraham, Rosita, and Eugene. I was really enjoying the entire group being together and they hinted at some great conflict between Rick and Abraham. It was odd to see the new Rick simply be told by Glenn that he had no say in the matter and that was it. At least we got Abraham's lighthearted apology to Rick. Those concerns, however, are on hold until the rest of the season airs. For now, “Four Walls and a Roof” has season five batting a thousand. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to rate the episode!

The following review contains spoilers for the Walking Dead season 5 Episode "Strangers" Introduction of a 'Stranger' The season premiere of the Walking Dead brought us an action packed hour full of mayhem and emotion. Carol emerged as a legitimate tour de force in the walker plagued world, Rick did stuff….thangs, and everyone was finally reunited! The group was left on the road at the end of it all and the viewers were left completely exhausted. The follow up episode “Strangers” took a different, yet effective, approach to moving the story forward. It was a more character driven episode, low on action, but high on tension. These types of episodes tend to be hit or miss, often times dubbed as “filler” episodes when they are the latter, but “Strangers” avoids this with a focused and balanced approach and some edge of your seat moments. Let’s dig a little deeper into what did, and didn’t, make this episode work. David Boyd's Direction David Boyd, who has a strong track record directing for the Walking Dead, seems to have a knack for character driven episodes. The way he splices in tension throughout helps more than it might appear on the surface and he’s no stranger to a surprise ending (see season 4 episode Internment). He did, however, have his work cut out for him by taking on the task of balancing screen time between such a large group of characters. Similarly to the premiere episode “No Sanctuary”, most of the characters were just nudged along while a few characters stole the show. The difference this time around is the lack of action which creates a lot of space that needs to be filled with story and character progressions. This is an area The Walking Dead has struggled with in the past. This episode features recaps of all the characters and very brief reminders of what their story is. Rick shares a moment (albeit an awkward fist bump type of moment) with Tara, the elephant in the church. Maggie also comforts Tara and does her best to make her feel at ease concerning what happened at the prison. Tyreese wants to forget about Lizzie and Mika, Carol doesn’t want to talk to Daryl about what she has been through, and Rick tries to address the rift that lead to him exiling Carol from the group. This is just part of it and when you list all these little moments out, it’s quite a lot but each is a small piece of the “Strangers” puzzle. [caption id=attachment_1092" align="alignright" width="293] Gabriel's fear of the walkers, accented by a personal connection, put Rick and company in some deep water.[/caption] So you have these different sections coming together, but how does it all form the final picture? Boyd is subtle, but he did a good job creating a sense of tension that kept everything together. Teasing the hunters early on planted a seed that grew with each passing minute, waiting to see when they would strike. There wasn’t much the way of special effects in this episode, but there were some interesting water logged walkers about half way through. There were slow and predictable moments throughout but the hunters did indeed strike when all was said and done. They didn’t spend three episodes playing up the hunters, who ended up being Gareth and the surviving Termites. Instead, they brought them right back into the fold at the end and this was Boyd’s best moment of the night. The final scene, Gareth’s “A man’s got to eat” speech to Bob that was set against images of the whole group laughing and smiling is the type of moment that makes me lose sleep. Anytime things seem to be looking up in the Walking Dead, anytime things seem right with the world for a moment, we are quickly reminded that things are never right. We go from Bob smiling as he watches from outside, to Bob breaking down, to Bob waking up with a missing leg that’s being devoured in front of him by the man that threatened him and his friends just one episode prior. This scene was eery and surreal, it made me feel uneasy and queasy, and it was awesome. Boyd did get a lot of help from his players, though. Most of it from… Superb Acting from Episode 2 Seth Gilliam stole most of the show this time around. It’s always fun when a character from the books is introduced into the show and it’s always surrounded by a ton of hype. This could be a bad thing, it’s not always easy to meet the hype people not involved in the creative process create but, just like with Gareth, they picked a solid actor to fill the shoes of Gabriel. What makes Father Gabriel Stokes so interesting in the books is the suspicions around him. You know he is hiding something but you can’t decide if you should trust him or not. First instinct is always to trust no one but Gilliam sold the part so well that you question it right from the beginning. His answers to Rick’s questions seemed impossibly true and they planted doubt right away but his love for his God and his fear of the walkers directly challenges your first impression. While director David Boyd deserves some credit for setting this up, Gilliam made the most of his first effort and sold the character. [caption id=attachment_1093" align="alignright" width="300" class=" ] The final scene of "Strangers" confirmed what we assumed from the beginning: Gareth and the Termites are most definitely cannibals.[/caption] While most of the characters only had to worry about being focused on for a few minutes, their reactions to Gabriel did a pretty good job creating that sense of mystery. Beyond that, a lot of the cast was on cruise control for most of the episode. The character that made the most of their brief time in the spotlight was Gareth, played by Andrew West. I don’t know what it is about him but his approach to his character just has a certain extra bit of flavor with it. He plays the nonchalant villain so well and his cold attitude towards the terrible things he and his people do makes him all the more frightening. At this rate, he’ll easily surpass any villain the show has seen so far. Did Episode 2 Keep up the Pace? “Strangers” is a bit slow at times but short moments here and there provided jolts of life in between the character development. The whole group being reunited will help the show’s pacing tremendously (more on this in a bit) and I feel we already got a glimpse of this improvement in this episode. The lingering tease of the hunters is anchored in the middle by a walker scare for Bob and Gabriel and “Strangers” goes into a furious sprint at the end with Bob’s capture, the Bob-B-Q, and Daryl taking off with Carol in pursuit of the car that left the scene of Beth’s kidnapping. This end sequence went at just the right pace. [caption id=attachment_1095" align="alignright" width="300] Carol and Daryl took flight in a car they found for an emergency that comes much sooner than expected.[/caption] What seems the most improved from the last few seasons is the focus. They didn’t make us wait for Gareth to come back, they didn’t make us wait for a development on Beth’s story. They gave them to us right away, sure they were brief but a little can go a long way and it’s a positive sign moving forward. Terminus was destroyed in one episode and it seems the group won’t end up staying at the church for very long either. For the first time since season 1, it seems as though there will be constant movement and the group won't be taking too much time at any pit stop along the way. Having a clear villain is also lending a helping hand towards the pacing. In the second half of season 4 we really only had Joe but he was just a filler foe in between the Governor and Gareth, his sole purpose was to push Rick into what he is this season. The Governor’s story was inconsistent and had lots of ups and downs but there is already some evidence that they learned some lessons. Gareth’s story, and its impact on the show’s pace, is off to a solid, yet subtle, start. I believe it will be more pronounced as the season progresses. "Strangers" Plot Shows Lessons Learned Tying into the pacing of “Strangers”, the best thing this season has going for it so far is the reunited group. My problems with the second half of season 4 weren’t due to the lengthy journey down the train tracks to Terminus, despite a strong feeling of “just get there already”. My problems were with the group being severed into so many smaller groups. It became clear that certain characters, who are great in support roles such as Daryl, were not great characters to lead an episode. The focus of the season was to DEADicate entire episodes to each sub group but it just didn’t work out half the time. Episodes that focused on multiple groups seemed jumbled and it was jarring jumping around when each group was so detached from each other. It was a novel idea but the execution left a lot to be desired. [caption id=attachment_1096" align="alignleft" width="300] Just one sign from "Strangers" that Gabriel Stokes is indeed hiding something from Rick and his group.[/caption] Jumping ahead to season 5, this problem is remedied. They can once again progress the characters at whatever pace is necessary because they can shift focus around to anyone they want. A few characters will get the spotlight each episode while everyone else takes a back seat but there's nothing stopping them from being nudged along the way. This episode is a solid example of how this could be executed in episodes that aren’t so action packed (which will most likely be the majority of episodes, as is usually the case). It’s early, but “Strangers” is a good sign of things to come but only time will tell. The highlight of the plot to "Strangers" is the introduction of father Gabriel Stokes. You can give all the credit in the world to David Boyd and Seth Gilliam but fans of the comic have to be pleased with how this part of Robert Kirkman's story was adapted for the small screen. There's still a lot of Gabriel to see but the set up was faithful and true. Writing Had its Moments. Cheesy And Clever [caption id=attachment_1097" align="alignright" width="300] Rick warns Carl that he is never safe and to never let his guard down. Gareth later proves the worth of this wisdom to Bob.[/caption] There aren’t a ton of highlights with the script in this episode due to most of the juice coming from its direction and acting. Rick’s “you are not safe” exchange with Carl and Gareth’s speech to Bob stood out as the biggest moments. They powered home the themes of the season, mainly "hunt or be hunted" and "never let your guard down". Gareth is just a creep but it's fantastic to watch. Gabriel’s lines worked well for how the character should be introduced. Bob and Sasha shared a humorous exchange near the beginning of the episode that worked well with the “happiness vs grim reality” bit the episode played up, although it got a bit cheesy with the kisses. You could have guessed right then that something bad was going to break up this relationship right from the start. Glenn and Maggie fill the love meter enough the way it is. Most of the other characters were just recapping past events that we are all well aware of. It served as a good round up and reminder (still waiting for Maggie to care about Beth) of what position these characters were in when the prison fell to the Governor’s attack which feels so long ago now. The writing didn’t have to provide much of a punch in this episode to get the character’s wheels in motion but I feel it was a little shallow. Conclusion of our Review of "Strangers" While a bit slow at times, “Strangers” never seemed to stall. Jolts of energy kept the episode going until it reached a furious conclusion. The introduction of Gabriel Stokes was well done and we weren't left waiting too long for Gareth to pop up again. Director David Boyd even threw a curve ball at us by bringing back Beth’s captors, leading to Daryl and Carol going on the pursuit. Overall, it was a solid follow up to “No Sanctuary” that packed a few punches of its own. [caption id=attachment_1098" align="aligncenter" width="602] Bob certainly wasn't happy with the events of "Strangers" but he tasted better than Gareth thought he would![/caption] What did you think of "Strangers" and the introduction of father Gabriel Stokes? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to rate the episode!

The following review contains spoilers for the Walking Dead season 5 Episode "No Sanctuary" The characters of AMC’s popular zombie apocalypse drama The Walking Dead have come a long way through four seasons. It doesn't seem that long ago that no one had faith in Rick as a leader and he himself was not very confident that he was up to the task. It doesn't seem that long ago that Carol was content doing laundry, preparing meals, and getting beat by her sexist husband. In a two episode span, these two characters have made huge leaps into who they are, leaving behind who they were. This is the biggest take away from the Season 5 Premiere, "No Sanctuary." To be honest, I was not a fan of Carol before Sunday’s episode. With the exception of the second half of season 4’s "The Grove", I thought the Carol-centric episodes of last season were weak entries and I never seemed to care much before them either. The show does seem to have a problem creating powerful and respectable female characters. To an extent, they righted this wrong. I can say I am now a Carol fan. This was basically her coming out party. [caption id=attachment_998" align="alignleft" width="300] Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier from the season 5 premiere No Sanctuary[/caption] It’s not just because they made her an action movie badass or because she threw out the claws against Mary, it’s more than that. Melissa McBride put forth a great performance. She clearly has the potential to be a leader of this show, from both an acting and character stand point. I didn't expect that to ever happen in The Walking Dead when we had the likes of Lori and Andrea setting the precedents, probably the only two protagonists on the show that people were glad to see bite it. Let’s give credit all around, however. McBride performed admirably, but director Greg Nicotero and writer Scott Gimple deserve some praise, not just for Carol’s part of the story but for the whole episode in general. had me feeling incredibly uneasy and was the scariest moment from any Walking Dead episode. The special effects were solid throughout Carol’s assault on Terminus and the group’s escape that followed. All the actors were on the top of their games (the ones that needed to be there). The ending packed a blitz of emotional punches in a short time span. We had Carol reunite with Daryl and share a nice moment with Rick when he realizes he survived because of her help, we have Rick and Carl finding out that Judith is still alive, and a silent but moving exchange between Rick and Tyreese. And, of course, the return of Morgan at the very end. [caption id=attachment_1000" align="alignright" width="300] The most unexpected moment of "No Sanctuary" was the surprise return of fan favorite Morgan Jones.[/caption] It wasn’t all sunshine and roses, however. The Terminus butcher teasing two swings to the back of Glenn’s head only to be interrupted both times was predictable, although I was still on the edge of my seat. Many characters didn't play much of a role and only got nudged at best in terms of their development. While Tyreese had a nice moment of badassery that I loved watching in the moment, reflecting on it made me realize that it was actually pretty silly. I get that they were trying to paint him as a “good person” ignoring the fact that he has to get his hands dirty sometimes in this new world but to only tie the Terminus Termite’s hands together was mind-boggling. He and baby Judith nearly died because of it. In the grand scheme of things and with how well the episode turned out, these things could be considered nitpicking. If you have to nitpick for flaws then that’s a pretty good sign of the overall quality. As much as I loved the much improved Carol, there were two aspects to this episode that really put it over the top for me. Rick and the opening scene. I can’t speak for everyone but the Rick we saw in “No Sanctuary” and season 4 finale “A” is the Rick I wanted to see for a long time. I don’t want to see the Rick that gets his ass kicked by the main villain *cough* the Governor *cough*. I want to see the Rick that does whatever is necessary to keep his people safe *cough* Joe *cough*. No matter how impossible the situation seems, I want to see Rick delivering lines like he did to Gareth when he told him what weapon he would use to kill him. Rick had no legitimate reason to think he could get out of there alive but he had all the confidence in himself anyways, and I love that. Rick finding Judith was an otherworldly reminder of the passion and emotions that drove Rick to do the brutal things he had done. He deserved that payoff and it was great to see him get it. Judith could be the key to stopping Rick from becoming the next Governor or Gareth. [signoff predefined=Movie Review Signoff" icon="icon-quote-circled]To be honest, I was not a fan of Carol before Sunday’s episode. With the exception of the second half of season 4’s The Grove, I thought the Carol-centric episodes of last season were weak entries and I never seemed to care much before them either. The show does seem to have a problem creating powerful and respectable female characters. To an extent, they righted this wrong. I can say I am now a Carol fan. This was basically her coming out party.[/signoff] [caption id=attachment_1001" align="alignleft" width="300] Rick and Carl are reunited with Judith in a heartwarming moment that emerged from the ashes of Terminus.[/caption] As I mentioned earlier, the opening scene was easily the most terrifying thing I had seen in any Walking Dead episode. I never cared much for Bob but I really did not want to see him get taken out that way. No one would deserve that. I felt awful watching the first four victims get taken out even though I had no connection to them, minus Sam (Robin Lord Taylor) who came back just to be brutally disposed of. What really sold this scene for me was Glenn. He looked genuinely terrified throughout. He didn't have to say a single bit of dialogue to draw me in to how nightmarish this moment was. I’ll split this credit with Greg Nicotero, however, who used an Alien throwback by not telling the actors what was about to happen. Just like the famous in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic, they had no idea what was coming. Imagine if Steven Yeun had no idea whether Glenn was supposed to survive this scene or not, even though it is fake I think there was some authentic fear that came through there. This turned out to be very important because I knew, deep down, that Glenn wasn’t in any real danger. This was made obvious by bringing in some fodder to take out in order to create a faux sense of peril for those we actually cared about. It’s not the first time they’ve done this and it won’t be the last. [caption id=attachment_1002" align="alignright" width="400] Glenn almost met his end twice, did he use up all is luck?[/caption] The last thing I want to go over before the final verdict is two very brief scenes involving Gareth and the history of Terminus. The episode was bookended by two quick looks into Gareth and his group before they became the cannibals of the present. In just a couple of minutes combined, these moments really made me eager to see more of their story and how the show will present it moving forward. While they tried to create sympathy for the Governor, it was very hit or miss to me. They may have already topped all of that with much less screen time. All in all, this episode was a bit shallow and didn't try to balance the whole cast, opting to focus on a fraction of them instead. It was predictable at times but I don’t think anyone expected just how crazy things were going to get. This is a good example of how less can be more. I've had my issues in the past with how The Walking Dead approaches pacing and character development. Sometimes, they nail it like in the season 2 episode “Nebraska”. Other times, it’s completely botched, see (but not again) season 4 episode “Still”. They usually do a solid job on action heavy episodes but they still got in some great moments and progressions for a few of the characters. No Sanctuary, coupled with season 4’s finale “A” might be the best two episode sequence we’ve gotten yet in terms of combining extreme mayhem with character development. What's your final verdict on "No Sanctuary"? Rate the episode and let us know what you think in the comments below!