Television Review #13: The Walking Dead Season 4 Premiere (2013)

Sorry for the wait for this. The first three reviews took a lot longer than I thought they would. But better late than never!

Season four resumes roughly 7 to 8 months after season three's finale. How do I know this? I estimated how old Rick's baby Judith looks now then she did last season. The prison has gone from a prison, to a community that is in a prison. You might find that comical (which I guess it is) but it actually does look different. Rick has taken up gardening, Carol reads to the children while teaching them about how to properly and effectively slay walkers and they even have some animals around. They even decorated their personal prison cell living quarters! I guess is now quite literally a "gated community."

All of the new members they gained from Woodbury last season have finally found their place in the group. And some of our old favorites from the group like Beth and Carl have finally grown up. Beth doesn't cry anymore and Carl has actually become one of the coolest characters on the show. He finally does what he is told to do. He tells the other punks his age that the walkers aren't sick and that they have lost every bit of humanity that was in them when they died. I'm definitely keeping my eye on Carl because I think that something important is going to happen with his character.

The chemistry between our old favorites like Rick, Darryl and Michonne is great. Michonne has finally come out of his shell and actually cracked a smile or two! It's great to see how the relationships among the cast has flourished.

Spoiler Alert: If you haven't been caught up yet, stop reading!
There is a conflict that has many theories sprouting up all over the IMDB message boards. One of the kids at the prison starts feeling sick and at the end of the episode, he faints. When the camera pans up to his face, his mouth and nose are covered in blood. His eyes then open and we see that he has turned. He wasn't even bit and he still turned! What is causing the living to turn without a bite? Is there something in the water? Is it  being spread through the air? Or is this a scheme concocted by the Governor in order to get the group to leave the group? Only time will tell I guess.

Final Report: Season 4 is sure to be the most intense, captivating, violent and gory season yet. I can't wait for what twists, turns and surprises are in store this season.