The last time we saw Rick, Carl, Michonne and the rest of the prison gang, they were welcoming the former residents of Woodbury behind the walls of their fortified home. The season three finale of The Walking Dead was one filled with surprising twists, cathartic closures and unanswered questions. Andrea’s death was a heroic one, while the Governor’s descent into madness continued with the slaughter of his own people. On Sunday night, the season four premiere of Dead continued the story of Rick and Co. by going back to the tone that Seasons one and two followed: one of darkness and hope.
We see our favorite former cop for the first time this season when we waltzes out into the prison yard to do some chores. As he digs out some weeds to the tune of newfound headphones, he finds an old handgun. After cleaning the weapon off, he looks to the fence where walkers have gathered to growl at our hero. A grimace and subsequent tossing away of the rusted weapon ends the opening scene.
The rest of the episode showcases how much the prison group has grown in the past month since the Woodbury population has joined them. The place has become a functioning community of its own. Showers are regular for the citizens, and the growth of crops and breeding of animals in order to feed its population has become commonplace. There are classes for the children, and select members of the group go on supply runs to gather whatever the group can’t grow or obtain inside the prison walls.
Furthermore, character development and introductions have taken center stage. We see more of Tyreese and his sister, Sasha, as well as the introduction of Bob, a former Army medic. We see Rick become even more of a father to Carl (by telling him to do his chores and read comics, not go out and kill more walkers) and baby Judith. The division of leadership is also apparent, as a council of leaders comprised of Herschel, Sasha, Daryl and others help Rick carry the load.
However, the threat of the Governor still looms. Even though he doesn’t make an appearance in the episode, his whereabouts are unknown. The loss of his population and quarrel with Michonne and the rest of the group has driven him off the deep end, which will make him an even more dangerous opponent. As the season progresses, expect to see a lot of him and his cronies. Who knows what the writers have in store for them?
So far, this season looks to be the best one yet. The combination of hope seen in earlier seasons and last season’s bleakness was on full display in the premiere. The promise of a new threat even greater than a growing number of walkers and the Governor was promised by new showrunner Scott Gimple and Robert Kirkman, who wrote the comics and has a heavy hand in how the show is run as well. This is teased at the end of the premiere, and it is a definite threat. How will Rick, Glenn, Daryl and the rest of the group handle these threats? I guess we will have to tune in to find out.
Jordan Llanes can be reached at jordan.llanes@theminaretonline.com