TV Review: The Walking Dead (Season 4, Episode 6, November 17, 2013)

Last Updated on July 22, 2021

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EPISODE 6: Live Bait

THE HOOK: In the wake of war with Woodbury, Rick and his group have turned the prison into a working community, but danger continues to stir on the outside as well as from within.

The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS, so I don’t recommend reading this if you haven’t watched this episode

THE LOWDOWN: I can honestly say I didn’t see anything that happened tonight coming, but that’s a good thing. The episode picks up where last season’s finale left the Governor—after he went nuts and shot all his people. His moment by the fire made him look lost, and clearly his two crewmen thought so too because they left his ass to die. His lonely sojourn was interesting. I get why he burnt Woodbury to the ground. Too much happened there for him to go back, and if he can’t have it, he’ll be damned if anyone else will. I loved how he was laying down to die, but saw the kid and decided to hold on. Shaking him up with this family was also cool, but it becomes instantly obvious that he doesn’t think he deserves a clean slate. When he responds to what happened to him by saying, ‘the guy in charge lost it’, I felt his pain. And then it happened, I started to root for the bad guy.

Now I know what you might be thinking, if you’ve followed this column from the very beginning, I was one of the people most excited by the prospect of seeing the Governor’s evil side. Last season had its share of faults, but the Governor’s story was hit and miss because it felt like the writers couldn’t decide if they wanted him good or bad. He made his choice tonight. The guy lost his wife, and then tried his damndest to keep his daughter alive(ish). Letting go isn’t easy. So seeing him try to redeem himself via the backgammon game, the run for oxygen, and the overall protection of this family made him look human again in my eyes. But when Megan asks about his eye, and he opens up and what he’s lost, I couldn’t help but go team Governor (tell me you didn’t laugh when he said he was a pirate). Just like Rick and Hershel talked about, there’s got to be a way back, a way to redeem yourself for the sins you’ve committed. Will this newfound redemption last? Who knows, but I damn sure hope he plans to make an honest go of it.

There’s so much going on with the Governor tonight as he slowly makes his way back from the oblivion. I loved the chess game, and he how he tells her that you can lose a lot of soldiers but still win the game. This makes me think he’s still gunning for the King of the prison. And if not, I’m sure there’s still a special hatred burning in his heart for Michonne. Life in the apartment wasn’t going to last, I knew that the second I saw the father hooked up to an air tank. I wasn’t surprised to him turn, or the Governor bashing his skull in, but I was a little surprised to see them back up and go with him. The car breaks down, the chick sprains her ankle (which was lame considering she was walking), and they run into a bigass herd of walkers (surprise, surprise). I thought the girls were all toast for sure, but then I heard machine guns. I can’t see the reunion with his old crew ending any way but badly—oh hi, remember when you left my ass at the campsite to die?

THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 4’s sixth episode was one hundred percent Governor action and I’m one hundred and one percent cool with that. One of the greatest things about this world is the exploration of other characters in other situations—hence why I loved the Telltale game. Sometimes it’s good to take a break and go off somewhere else. In this case, I’m sure a lot of people will gripe about this being a “slow episode”, but I disagree. This was the best episode of the season for me. This show is all about characters dealing with the repercussions of good and bad decision making, and the journey back to a moral baseline. I like the new Governor. Yes, I wanted to see his sadistic side, and we still might, who knows. Just because he’s nice to this family doesn’t mean he’s going to let Rick and Michonne off with a slap on the wrist. And if things go sour (which they probably will), he’ll have nothing left but rage and revenge—which could be what led him to the outskirts of the prison last week. Can’t wait for next week. Bring on more Governor!

ZOMBIE KILL OF THE WEEK: The Governor goes all Road House on some zombie neck. Love it.

BLOOD AND GORE: The Gov bashes in some skull, rips out some neck, and peels a dude’s face and jaw off. He’s still got it.

WTF CHARACTER MOMENT: The Governor. Like I said, I saw none of this coming. Dude has the chance for redemption and though he struggles with it at first, he does the right thing by these strangers. I’m sure we all said ‘WTF’ when he drove away with them, but again, I like this new road he’s on.

COOLEST SCENE: I loved his interactions with Megan. He obviously thinks of her as Penny at this point. Her Q&A session, the chess game, and how he saves her in the pit, grabs her and promises to keep her safe. Team Governor, baby. Team Governor.

FINAL VERDICT:

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