Why is that exactly? Good series can manage many different characters
effectively all at once in a given episode, but The Walking Dead feels much more stop and go when it tries to find excuses
to fit in a scene for every one of its characters. Though this episode puts on
hold a number of characters that are some of my favorites, and though it
focuses on one of the series’ most problematic characters (Andrea), for me this
worked.
It worked firstly because every scene for these characters
particularly Andrea, Tyrese, and Milton (and I supposed the Governor) were used
in order to advance the plot in a certain direction. While some of these scenes
could have been better (The other members of Tyrese’s group are severely
underdeveloped, but Chad Coleman is so good he sells much of the conflict), at
least it was human drama that was stemming from conflicts that had been hinted
at to some degree and that were built to a point of tension where, particularly
in the case of Andrea, it was guttural, spine tingling, and nerve racking.
Could these conflicts have been established and built
towards better? Absolutely. But the mere fact that there was drama that didn’t
come from zombies or didn’t exist just to kill time and that felt like they
were in service of the larger plot elevated the episode at times.
Sure, there was clunky exposition and scenes here because The Walking Dead is still an
occasionally clunky show (Seriously, go back to the first eight episodes and
you’ll find they’re still very, very clunky despite their improvements). For example,
Andrea taking a breather in the forest only to get attacked by walkers was one
of those scenes where a character is doing something that by no logic they
would ever be doing simply because the writers wanted to force something to
happen. Another example was that flashback between Andrea and Michonne, which
should have had way, way more umpph since it was supposed to establish the
tone, theme, and emotional grounding of the episode (seriously, if you didn’t
realize something terrible was about to happen to either Andrea or Michonne by
episodes end based on that flashback, you need to take Television 101. Anytime
an episode starts dedicating weirdly significant amount of time to a character,
especially on a series like The Walking
Dead, their days are numbered).
But in spite of this clunkiness (which is an unfortunate inherent
part of the show that you sort of have to accept if you want to get to the good
stuff), “Prey” manages to pull off one of the most intense action sequences the
series has ever staged. This is, of course, the terrifying scene where the
Governor hunts down Andrea. It plays out like an excellent horror film with a
brooding, creepy atmosphere, heightened by some of the best music Bear McCreary
has ever produced for the series, and filled with tons of twists and turns, and
a real sense that, hell, Andrea might just die. I’m not the biggest fan of Andrea,
but I’m a human being dammit and no one (shy of the Governor - who is getting
into cartoon villainy levels of unbelievableness) really deserves to die, and
especially not by the twisted designs of the Governor.
Anyone who’s read the comics would have recognized those
chains the Governor was fiddling with at episode’s start from the prison story
arc and been reminded of a particularly gruesome incident involving Michonne.
The “torture chair” (as I have it labeled in my notes) is pretty sadistic
creation, and it’s not something I entirely expected the series to put in
there. The series went “rape-y” but they stopped just shy of actually having
anyone get raped (because that would be awful especially in a world where you’re
already paranoid and miserable because of zombies). The show has always gone just shy of the worst
possibilities an apocalyptic world might bring. Zombies have caused bad things
but it never goes Game of Thrones levels of terribleness (or, for a much more awful example, The Following) to its characters. It shies away from letting the awfulness
of this world be felt. I was foolish enough to think Andrea might just get the
attention of Rick (who is only in the episode for that brief moment, while no
one else from the prison is in this episode).
The vibe that anyone could get harmed or die at any moment
is one necessary for a show like The
Walking Dead, and, in this episode, I actually was given that overwhelming
sense. Not just about Andrea, but Tyrese as well. I even suspected he might wise
up to the true nature of Woodbury (but that’s probably too soon for where we’re
at in the season). But the seeds of doubt have been placed and since Tyrese is
likely to be a character that will go to be part of the series beyond this season,
he’s likely to be returning to the prison at some point. Milton has also pushed
himself into an uncomfortably precarious position where he’s clearly lost favor
with the Governor, which means that his safety is also in question.
Still the episode had the problem of feeling like patchwork,
which is yet again another problem of this show. Some scenes worked better than
others, but the elements that worked I found to work really well. And it was in
some instances the type of material the series had trouble with, including
exposition and interpersonal conflicts. But it was also the elements that have
proven to be what the series at least needs to do to stop itself from being
stale and that’s pure action, and here we got to have our cake and eat it to.
Not only was it a very, very intense action, but action that made sense in
terms of the characters and plot. And how did we get here? By being more focused. Hopefully the series will take a lesson because it works much better when it chooses to focus on a handful of characters.
Stray Observations:
-My notes read: “Underdeveloped Milton is torn as to what to
do”- Milton may have been underdeveloped and they should have emphasized how
torn he was more, but I ultimately bought his distress and his inevitable
choice of actions, even if it could have been handled a lot better.
-The Tyrese-Andrea scene felt stilted but was necesary in
order to sow doubt in Tyrese’s mind.
-Seriously, I forgot that other guy was part of Tyrese’s
group.
-Tyrese at the pit was another good scene, especially since Tyrese
doesn’t fully comprehend how unstable the ground he’s walking on is.
-Sure, just go on and believe the Governor when he claims
the pit walkers are for show. Makes total sense.
Grade: B+
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