‘The Walking Dead’ Episode 4.15 “Us” (7 out of 10) Starring Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Chandler Riggs, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan; Sundays on AMC.
Since the show began, “The Walking Dead” has been terribly adept at burying landmines throughout each season and detonating them at precisely the right moment during the season finale. Tonight’s episode was all about burying landmines. We’re starting to see our fragmented groups coming back together, and all roads apparently lead to Terminus. As the episode comes right between last week’s haunting episode and the season finale, it was relatively light on action—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to discuss. As usual, spoilers are on the guest list for this party.
Rick, Carl, and Michonne
We haven’t seen these three in a while, but they seem happy enough. Carl and Michonne have maintained their sibling-like relationship, and it’s fun to watch them goof off with each other. The way Danai Gurira and Chandler Riggs act these scenes out makes their relationship appear completely natural. Michonne’s involvement in Rick’s and Carl’s lives seems to have created a balance that the two desperately needed. Seeing them all so happy makes me think that they’re going to catch the worst of it during the finale. Sorry, guys.
Glenn, Tara, and Abraham
When we last left these folks, we learned that Abraham and Rosita had been escorting Eugene to Washington D.C. because of his classified intel regarding the zombie outbreak. After Eugene shoots up their ride, they’ve been focused on helping Glenn and Tara track down Maggie. Despite the rocky start they’ve had, their little subgroup seems to have meshed together nicely. So nicely, in fact, that even when they decide to split up, Eugene can’t help but guide Abraham and Rosita right back to Glenn and Tara. It’s a bit unnecessary to have them split up only to come back together, but it creates a good excuse for Glenn and Tara to enter a zombie-infested train tunnel by themselves. It’s also a good excuse for them to show up at the opposite end of the tunnel with Maggie in tow. Regardless of my cold, dead heart, I couldn’t help but get a little giddy when I saw Glenn and Maggie reunite. Their refusal to give up on each other despite the staggering odds that have marshaled against them has been one of this season’s driving forces. Seeing them finally find one another is like repairing the first link in their broken and scattered group.
Daryl
By far, the most interesting moments of tonight’s episode came from Daryl and his new buddies. During the time Daryl spent with Beth, we saw him begin to shed some of that survivalist tough-guy ‘tude and start to see the brighter side of life among the dead. Now that Beth has been abducted by parties unknown, Daryl has fallen in with Joe and his group of deadbeats. I’ve already mentioned the fact that Joe has that special mix of charisma and viciousness that Merle was also possessed of. One thing that sets Joe apart from Merle is that he seems to have made a twisted kind of sense out of surviving during the zombie holocaust. For example, his little gang has agreed upon a loose set of ground rules that they use to keep themselves in line. When one of their company, a skeezy dude by the name of Len, violates this set of rules by planting half of a rabbit in Daryl’s bag, Joe orders his cronies to beat Len to death.
Daryl’s internal struggle between the good and evil within him is elegantly portrayed during the scene in which he sees Len’s crumpled corpse. Daryl picks up a blanket with the intention of using it as a death shroud for this fallen creeper, but instead of covering up Len’s corpse, he discards the blanket and sulks off with Joe and the boys on their way to Terminus. Once Joe’s inevitable confrontation with Rick takes place, Daryl’s going to have some serious decisions to make.
Verdict
Other than Daryl’s inner conflicts, tonight’s episode was very much about getting the gang back together. It makes sense that shortly after Glenn and Maggie reunite, along with their respective groups, that they are the first ones to reach Terminus. We don’t see much of the fabled “end of the line,” but they are welcomed by a kindly woman—Trekkies will recognize her as Denise “Lt. Yar” Crosby—who indeed offers them sanctuary.
This episode definitely had the “calm before the storm” feel that I’ve come to recognize near the end of each show’s season. Hypothetically, everyone should be happy to see one another. Daryl’s new friends might start some trouble, and Eugene’s “mission” will need some attention as well, but it looks like things will be okay for our friends at Terminus…which makes me think that Terminus will not be what it seems.
My bet? Terminus is a colony of cannibals.
All will be revealed next week, friends. We’ll see you back here after the show.