It’s in episodes like
Claimed that I do not envy the challenges that the Show runners have laid out in front of them. With the main band of survivors not only on the road for the first time since Season Three, but also hopelessly divided, juggling their individual stories was always going to be a difficult task. Throw in a handful of new characters (straight from the comics, no less), mix the survivors into groups that we don’t normally see interact with one another (Rick, Michonne and Carl being the obvious exception), and then divide those groups into even smaller ones however, and you create the potential for pacing issues the likes of which we have not seen since Season Two.
On the other hand, some of the series’ best episodes have done very little to advance the main plot, and while it is frustrating that we must wait another week in order to see how Tyreese, Maggie and Daryl’s groups are coping,
Claimed did a decent job of handling the many characters that did get their moment in the spotlight.
Abraham, Rosita and Eugene
After their brief appearance at the tail-end of last week’s episode, it was refreshing to see the trio introduced so soon, particularly after the agonising six month wait that took place after Michonne’s appearance at the end of Season Two. Wasting no time in crow-barring his way into our hearts, Abraham promises to be one of the highlights of this season. For a show that is not exactly known for its humour, his short temper and smart mouth should add a fresh dynamic to the group, and hopefully fill the void that has long since been vacated by Merle. It’s a relief to finally see someone take perverse pleasure in their predicament (his mission to ‘save the world’ says it all), even if to simply mix things up somewhat.
As for Rosita and Eugene, there isn’t very much to go on just yet. Aside from looking exasperated every time Glenn or Tara spoke out of turn (which was often), Rosita didn’t have much to do this episode. It’s yet to be seen whether her relationship with Abraham has survived the transition from the comics, but given that they were introduced together I doubt that they will alter that detail.
Back on the topic of ‘filling voids’, those of you who were missing the meek, ‘can’t-hold-a-weapon-to-save-his-life’ position vacated by Milton, you are in luck. When your claim to fame in an episode is failing to shoot a horde of zombies at point blank range, while simultaneously destroying your only mode of transport, you are doing something that is the opposite of surviving. One thing that has always bothered me about The Walking Dead is that even two years into the epidemic, we are still meeting survivors who seem to be encountering zombies for the very first time. Sure, there will always be the Miltons and the Eugenes of the world, who essentially prostitute their intelligence in exchange for protection, but did it not occur to Abraham to at least teach Eugene basic gun safety? Accusations of overanalysing a rather trivial point aside, I’m pretty sure that the ratio of Redshirt to Badass isn’t so high in the comics.
Glenn and Tara
After taking a rather nasty fall last week, Glenn wakes to find himself next to Tara, the woman he reluctantly rescued, and in the back of Abraham’s truck, the man who so benevolently rescued him. There wasn’t anything new to pick from either character this week; we already knew that they have lost everything, that this would allow them to connect on some level, and that Glenn is adopting a rather selfish ‘nothing to lose’ attitude in order to find closure on Maggie’s fate. Just how much of a mess this attitude will get his new group into is yet to be seen, but so far the casualty tally stands at one not-so-apocalypse-proof truck.
Rick
Rick’s storyline was very much a mixed bag this week. While his encounter with the bloodthirsty bandits was a memorable one, the uncanny amount of luck involved in his rather poor decision making (surely the bandit would have seen or heard that door move!) took much of the thrill out of what could have been a fantastic sequence. Regardless, it was great to see Rick plunged back into action (with a brilliant nod to the comic fans near the end), and the introduction of these bandits provides an intriguing new threat. Are they the Hunters? Do cannibals still eat canned food? We may need to wait a couple of weeks to find out.
Carl and Michonne
Amid all the character introductions and great escapes, Carl and Michonne’s bonding session came as the highlight of the episode. For a character who surpasses even Daryl in reclusiveness, and another who frequently incites the fan community for being too much of a petulant brat in a zombie apocalypse,
After and
Claimed have done massive favours for their standing in the show. While Chandler Riggs’ performance can still be a little awkward at times, it was great to see Carl (and by extension, the audience) get to know Michonne a little better, who seems to finally be learning how to trust people again. And with so much emphasis being placed on the importance of Judith’s survival, it gives us yet another reason to despise Lizzie.
It’s true, when people are looking back on Season Four,
Claimed will likely be seen as one of the episodes that hindered rather than advanced the overall plot. And taken on its own, yes, the episode is rather frustrating. But it is obvious to many now that some of the series’ best episodes emerge from scenarios that do little to advance that particular season’s primary arc, and while this episode may not be up there with them, it did an admiral job of handling the many characters that it did have time to deal with.
7/10
I'm curious to hear everyone else's thoughts on the episode; are you content with how they are handling the fallout from the Governor's assault? Sound off in the comments below.