The Walking Dead Review: “After” (Season 4, Episode 9)

If you didn’t know already, I hate Rick. He has got to be the least interesting main character in the history of network television and is certainly the least interesting character in this show. I’d rather watch The All-New Adventures of Herchel’s Re-Animated Head than watch Rick wander around unpicking another house for sustenance, so when he lay on the sofa to get some much needed rest, I started to get my hopes up.

Readers of my Homeland reviews will know how much I lobbied for Brody to die for most of the third season, and I’m a really big fan of the lead character dying in any TV show – I still wish they’d killed Jack in the Lost pilot, as was JJ Abrams’ original plan. Seeing Rick come to a horizontal halt on the sofa made me suddenly envision a whole new timeline for The Walking Dead, one in which Rick just dies, suddenly. Maybe of that flu virus that spread around the prison a few seasons ago, or maybe a needless death on the pointy end of one of Michonne’s arrows, either would do. From there Carl continues on alone, meeting up with Michonne after a little while in the woods, and they carry on together to locate the rest of the guys.

I really enjoyed Carl’s scenes by himself. I think that young Chandler Riggs has carved out an important part for himself on the show, as his very presence now provides the only reason for Rick to still be there. I suppose it’s interesting narratively speaking to have a father more reliant on his son than the son on his father, but when that father is dull-as-dishwater Rick, any interest soon dissipates. You might think me slightly too harsh, and if that’s the case then I apologize (not really). Having Michonne, Rick and Carl together just about makes his presence tolerable, which is lucky for him.

With all that said, is “After” a great episode to come back to? Yes. It’s dark and melancholic, with a dash of hope for the romantics out there. It also provides a few good scares – something the show’s been lacking for a while – and sets up the rest of the season quite nicely. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how things play out from here.

Random Robservations:

• “What good will sword lessons be? When will you ever use them?” – I bet he feels a fool now!
• So far Michonne’s “pack mules” have been either both black, or both white. Maybe society just isn’t ready for TV’s first undead interracial couple.
• That opening shot is just beautiful. Epic in the proper sense of the word.

Until next time, fans of The Walking Dead! I hope I didn’t spoil too much!