The Walking Dead - “Four Walls and a Roof” Review. The Katana Has Returned.

Season 5, Episode 3

Air Date: Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 9/8c on AMC

Rating: ★★★★★

“You’re above ground. At least you’re better off than them.” – Gareth

Lincoln has taken his acting skill to a new level with his portrayal of Rick. Rick is in a dark place now.

The Walking Dead has never put fear in me before like “Four Walls and a Roof” has. As I’m typing this review, my fingers are trembling and I’m misspelling words like a mofo. Gareth (Andrew J. West) scares the shit out of me. And here I thought the Governor (David Morrissey) was bad. The difference is Gareth won’t kill you outright. He cuts parts of you off your body, and taunts you while eating them in front of you. You piss off a madman, you expect a bullet in the head. You piss off a cannibal, well … it won’t be as simple as that. I’ve never wanted someone to die as much as I wanted Gareth to catch a bullet in the head. He’s a sick bastard and has no remorse. People like that can’t be rehabilitated. It’s what makes him such a good villain. I find it interesting that he seeks mercy from those he has wronged after all he’s done.

What Just Happened

I am on edge in a way I don’t think I’ve ever been before. One minute I’m ready to weep, the next I’m so tense I’m sure I’m going to fall off the edge of my seat. Then I breathe deeply to relax. The gambit of emotions the writers take us through is enormous. Just when I think the last episode I watched is the best ever, along comes one like “Four Walls and a Roof,” whose title could mean only a few things—safety, security, and shelter. What it means most to me is hope. A house is known to most as the American dream here in the US. To these survivors, it goes beyond that. A place to lay your head can be good or bad. It doesn’t always mean rescue. Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) tells the survivors as much. “I always lock the doors; I always lock the doors.” A place people revered as safety, security, refuge, is denied as such. Major kudos, hats off, and many accolades to Gilliam for his amazing scenes. He gives Gabriel a sense of mystery but not in a good way. You know something is off about him, yet you don’t know why. Then, the big reveal and his ‘sins’ overtake your desire to want to trust him. I hope Gilliam gets to stick around for a while because I’m fascinated by Gabriel and his story.

Things That Made Me Go Hmm…

Maggie and Glenn are making a mistake. The group should always stay together.

A divide has occurred without us even knowing it. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) expects his word to be bond. People follow where he leads; that’s just the way it is. Except when it doesn’t happen and resistance rears its ugly head. What have the writers thought up for us now? I didn’t expect to see dissension among the ranks. It’s something that has been creeping along like Gollum, watching and waiting to make itself known. At just the right time, with the testosterone overwhelming the small place these survivors have inhabited for a day, shit gets real. People remove their masks and the monsters hiding in plain sight emerge. What happens in the church is scary. All of the actors play their roles masterfully. The looks on their faces seem well removed from what they have to do (‘cause it’s just damn gruesome), yet they hold fast to their characters’ motivation. I’m always amazed by this group of actors. They are a family on screen and you can’t tell me any different.

Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) worries me. He seems to be at a point where he can’t face the evils of the world. He almost chooses to ignore them, turning the other cheek, so to speak. My concern is how he will survive the days to come. I’m all for forgiving people, when they will appreciate the gesture. Someone who doesn’t care what you think of them one way or the other won’t be looking for forgiveness. Wouldn’t it be nice if that one thing were the key to fixing the apocalypse?

Michonne (Danai Gurira) might have claimed not to miss her katana, but she sure doesn’t hesitate to retrieve it when it presents itself. Oh yeah, the dynamic duo is back together.

Memorable lines:

Bob, with the best line of the night, to Gareth: “I’ve been bitten, you stupid pricks. I’m tainted meat.”

Way to get back at them, Bob (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.).

Sasha: “I’m going with you.”

Tyreese: “You should stay with Bob.”

Sasha: “No. I wanna be out there. I wanna be a part of this.”

Sasha to Tyreese: “I should forgive them? For hurting him; for trying to kill us? What the hell is wrong with you?”

Sasha goes a little badass this episode, and rightly so. Will the siblings come to an agreement on this point though?

Gareth: “You don’t know what it is to be hungry.”

Gabriel: “This is the Lord’s house.”

Maggie: “No. it’s just four walls and a roof.”

Bob: “Before the prison, I didn’t know if there were any good people left; I didn’t know if there was anybody left. But you took me in because you are good people.”

Overall

Abraham is not going to be deterred from his mission. And he’s taking people with him.

Guess there’s nothing left to say but damn. I’m still in awe of what happens in “Four Walls and a Roof.” It has probably pushed the season five premiere out of the top spot for me. My head is still spinning and I have to know where things are going from here. I can’t say I saw anything coming that we’ve seen so far. Surprises abound and I love it. Question: do you think Rick has finally stepped over the edge? Has he reached a point of no return? Let me know what you think by dropping me a line in the comments section or tweet me @ellemoe.

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Elle

Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle