Warning – Contains Spoilers
“We’re not leaving,” says Rick (Andrew Lincoln) to The Governor (David Morrissey) who’s delivered an ultimatum outside the prison fence while backed up by a new militia and a tank. The Governor gives Rick the choice of leaving the prison by sundown or else he and his army will take it by force in AMC’s horror series The Walking Dead Season 4’s Midseason Finale: “Too Far Gone.”
It’s been an exhilarating season for the zombie series as Hershel (Scott Wilson), Daryl (Norman Reedus), Rick and the other survivors housed in the prison have been battling not only hungry and persistent flesh-eating walkers trying to break through the fence but a superflu which caused many deaths among their group.
Hershel rose to the challenge and almost single-handedly treated most of those infected, coming up with some home remedy treatments to give those struggling with the sickness a fighting chance while Daryl and a handful of others went on a complicated and dangerous medication run.
Meanwhile, The Governor – almost seeming to wish for his own death – finally comes across a new family in dire need of his deadly talents to survive and tries to find his soul again, which quickly becomes a lost cause when he is found by a member of his old group who’s now in charge of a band of tough but inexperienced fighters.
After a few close calls and a couple of brutal murders, The Governor decides the best place for his new followers is Rick’s prison. So, after taking two of Rick’s comrades captive (no, it will not be revealed here who they are), The Governor demands that Rick and the rest leave the prison or else they face a bloody battle that they could not hope to win.
Riveting, suspenseful, and tragic, The Walking Dead season four midseason finale has more action, explosions, and deaths than in any other episode of the series to date. There have been two standout performances thus far this season which should be, hopefully, remembered during Emmy nominations. One is Scott Wilson’s portrayal of Hershel, the moral center of the group who’s always willing to risk his life for so many others and whose kindness, strength, and wisdom have been responsible for saving many of those infected with the superflu.
The second standout performance was delivered by David Morrissey for his chilling and even at times touching portrayal of The Governor who seemed to truly try to redeem himself but whose darker and stronger nature was too strong to remain dormant for long. He delivers a powerful performance and has a commanding presence when he’s on screen.
The pacing and writing this season have been much tighter and more original, with less focus on older and tired storylines. The production and make-up are still first-rate, with wonderful/horrible-looking zombies who seem to be possibly getting just a little smarter about how to break through a fence.
With the loss of so many characters in this episode including two main ones (still not revealing in this review who they are), it will be difficult to wait until early February to see where and what is next for Rick, Daryl, Maggie, and the other survivors.
GRADE: A
