Genre: Sci-Fi | Horror | Thriller

Air Date/Time: November 13th at 9/8c

Network: AMC

Director: Guy Ferland

Writer: David Leslie Johnson

Summary: AMC’s critically acclaimed original series, The Walking Dead, is back with its much anticipated second season. When we last left the The Walking Dead, the characters were in the midst of a high-intensity struggle to survive, fleeing the CDC as it burst into flames. In Season 2, they are still on the move, facing more threats and obstacles than ever.

Based on one of the most successful and popular comic books of all time, written by Robert Kirkman, AMC‘s The Walking Dead captures the ongoing human drama following a zombie apocalypse. The series follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Teachers, Strike Back), who are traveling in search of a safe and secure home. However, instead of the zombies, it is the living who remain that truly become the walking dead. Jon Bernthal (The Pacific, The Ghost Writer) plays Shane Walsh, Rick’s sheriff’s department partner before the apocalypse, and Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break), is Rick’s wife, Lori Grimes. Additional cast include: Laurie Holden, Steven Yeun,Norman Reedus, Jeffrey DeMunn, Chandler Riggs, IronE Singleton and Melissa McBride.

So let’s see, going in to this episode we had Sophia missing, Carl recuperating but unable to travel, Lori pregnant, Glenn lucky, and Hershel getting a little cranky. I am not giving too much away to say that this episode had a strong, and to my mind, helpful intro by way of another flashback, as it has done before in this season. You’ll see the return of some familiar faces, whether welcome or not, and that’s always a bit of a treat.

As for Shane… People watching for Shane to be eaten up, so to speak, with guilt about Otis would do well to watch the video about that episode. Jon Bernthal said that he doesn’t think Shane will be wracked with guilt, but that instead he’s taken a turn towards darkness, that he’ll do whatever it takes to keep Lori and Carl safe. Noted. This is reinforced in this episode, but I just wanted to warn off people who are imaging that Shane’s going to go all Lady Macbeth on us. Not any time soon, anyway.

Our gang is of course still on the farm. In spite of the presumed civilizing influence that having access to food, shelter, and running water may have on our group, there is no doubt that all of their lives have changed at a more basic level, and those changes are made manifest in this episode. Nearly every time someone does something “normal” (Before Walkers) this week, it is questioned by someone else. They do not, however, resolve who is wiser in each circumstance. Overall, yes we have some requisite startle moments, and yes the drama is building, but it’s mostly more of a slow burn.

Norman Reedus has more screen time than he’s probably ever had in a single episode and he’s masterful at it. He still hasn’t really been stretched though, and I wonder if he will be. The rest of ensemble did a great job as always, particularly Andrew Lincoln and one REALLY excellent eye flick of relief by Sarah Wayne Callies. Bear McCreary has done another excellent job with the music, this time with a theme for a character that really suits. The man is also a genius with using just one note, held, to add just the right amount of suspense.

The underlying tension is building for everyone this episode; something or someone is gonna explode soon. There is movement, it isn’t static, and things definitely happen, but to me it’s another setup episode. I don’t know if the characters, or we, could bear it if things don’t break loose next week.

I give The Walking Dead: Episode 205 “Chupacabra” Four Out of Five Stars.