Well, with most female viewers and 89% of male viewers (we conducted a survey, just trust us) spending the last episode of Walking Dead screaming, “Ok, great Carl’s eating pudding, but where is Daryl!” at the television, this week’s episode, “Inmates,” should assuage some fears as we don’t have to go Dixon-less any longer. Daryl is back and paired up with Beth as The Walking Dead catches viewers up on the rest of the survivors post-prison. Having “Inmates” begin with a narration from Beth’s diary drives home just how important the prison was, along with the fact that it really is a new beginning for the cast, who find themselves split up and back to square one with no walls, no provisions, very few weapons, and only their will to survive. Things aren’t all doom and gloom for Tyreese and his new found brood as the pack is rescued by the returning Carol in a fist pumping return. But wait…didn’t Carol kill Tyreese’s lover? Uh-oh. Group number three consists of Maggie, Sasha, and Bob, who seem to be thriving better than the other survivor groups. Maggie is, of course, obsessed with finding Glenn, and when she enters a walker-infested bus to make sure Glenn isn’t in there, the claustrophobic set piece is about as colon clenching as it gets. This is why fans return to The Walking Dead. This is the kind of watch-through-the-fingers sequence that would make Fulci or Argento grip their couch cushions that much tighter. So the stage is set for five different set of survivors (counting Rick, Michonne, and ol’ pudding eater Carl) as fans are introduced to a new militant group of survivors that run into Glenn and Tara. New additions always send the show in a new direction so next week should be fascinating. “Inmates” was a good catch up episode, as fans take stock of the survivors and what the different groups’ new conflicts and motivations are…with lots of zombie killing as five story lines begin. So far, the show has always stuck the landing on any running story arc, but there have never been five planes in the air at once. Can the creators pull this plate spinning off? Whatever happens, please let Maggie and Glenn find each other, after Hershell’s demise, how much more can poor Maggie take? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all news updates related to the world of geek. And Google+, if that’s your thing!
