*Contains Spoilers*

After catching up with only Rick, Michonne, and Carl last episode, Inmates focuses on the remaining prison survivors. We follow four different groups. Each group get around ten minutes or so before we move on to the next one. That was a good way to structure the plot. Could have become to convoluted if they tried to intertwine them. It was said a while back this episode would have some odd couplings – that statement was spot on. It brought a great dynamic seeing certain people who usually aren’t together interacting. Even though Inmates had a few issues and wasn’t as emotionally riveting as last week, it was a dense episode. Lots of questions were answered, but also delivered lots of new developments.

The first segment focuses on Beth and Daryl. Nothing considerably eventful happens here. So looking forward to where it goes in the future. I was caught off guard since it’s never been done before, Beth actually narrates the opening. “I think this is somewhere we can stay forever”. To see a character with so much hope just to have everything crushed was illustrated well. Her debates with Daryl showcased their different attitudes to the whole situation. Daryl seems to have lost hope shutting down looking at the negative side even insulting Hershel (wasn’t expecting that), but Beth was clinging on to anything she could. I’m glad they are doing something with Beth. She’s been around so long, but has always been in the background. Daryl appears to have regressed back to his season 2 form as the loss of the prison hit him hard. We’ll see have to wait and see what happens next with Daryl and Beth.

Out of all the groups, Tyreese’s was my favorite. Before we go any further – JUDITH LIVES! It was such a relief to see her alive. There were rumors that said she was alive, but now it’s confirmed. Tyreese had it the worst as he has to look after Judith and two little girls with no other adult help (liked him more after this). The danger of taking care of a baby in this world without shelter was emphasized throughout. This leads to one of the most intense and chilling scenes in the history ofThe Walking Dead. Tyreese hears scream so goes to help leaving Lizzie and Mika back to back in the woods. Judith begins to cry and walkers follow. Lizzie proceeds to then cover Judith’s mouth and nose with her hand. I was on the edge of my seat screaming at the TV. That was a dark moment, a little girl suffocation a baby. We find out she is alive, then to have her almost go just like that was beyond nerve racking. It’s official, Lizzie is a full on psychopath.

The girls suddenly pop up behind Tyreese and Carol is with them! Shortly after that, they find a sign that advertises a very specific place: “The Sanctuary” after being told by a dying stranger to go there by following the train tracks. This is my favorite largely do to the fact of what it sets up. You have Tyreese with Carol, and he doesn’t know she killed Karen and David. Will she tell him? You also have crazy Lizzie there. Did Carol notice what Lizzie was doing? Will she kill anyone? The major question is whether or not this sanctuary is a trap or not. This is the group I’m most eager to re-visit.

The Maggie, Sasha, and Bob part was short, but had some nice moments. Ever since seeing the comic con trailer, Bob seemed like a shady guy who was going to betray everyone or something. While you can’t deny Bob has to deal with his own inner demons, I’ve actually come to like him. His development hasn’t been heavily focused on, but it’s slowly being done over the course of this season. Bob is by far the happiest character right now. He does have good reason: he’s not alone. Bob mentioned he has been the lone survivor in many different groups, but that’s not the case now. His optimism balanced well with Sasha who was operating on the basic levels of survival and nothing more. I sense a romance between the two to happen eventually. Maggie is hell bent on finding the bus that Glenn left the prison on instead of finding shelter. Bob persuades Sasha to help.

There was a neat action scene when they find and clear out the bus. Maggie got a great kill when smashing a walkers head against the bus repeatedly. After, Maggie then proceeds to walk inside the bus making sure Glenn is not there. She sees a walker that resembles him laying faced down near the front. That scene in general wasn’t a problem the way it was presented to Maggie, but it did seem off how they were attempting to make Glenn’s fate really mysterious to the audience as well when we’ve seen him featured in tons of promos since the show went on break back in December. Nothing that bad, but felt like they were attempting to squeeze too much drama from it. Maggie breaks down after realizes Glenn was not on the bus crying tears of joy. Lauren Cohan does an outstanding job with those kind of scenes; she had a very memorable one in Sick.

With such a large cast to start season four, Glenn was pushed into the background during the first half. This was even the case at the end of season three. It was nice to see Glenn step up and get some solid meaningful screen time. I enjoy the relationship between him and Maggie, but it’s refreshing to see them apart for a change. It was a little confusing opening on Glenn waking up in the prison since we last saw him leaving the prison on the bus. They never full explained what happened, but that become an afterthought after his story concluded. Glenn’s part of the story was extremely compelling, from a creepy trek through the dark hallways of the prison, to the quite grab of supplies (love how he got the orange backpack), and mustering up the strength to move after seeing the picture of Maggie he took. I still think the pic is foreshadowing a death. Loved how he used the riot gear to get through the walkers in the prison courtyard. The entire sequence was expertly filmed.

He saves Tara along the way seeing she didn’t fire a shot and needs help. Together, they get out and Tara breaks the news that Hershel was killed. I knew it was coming since Glenn is completely in the dark about the whole attack (not sure he even knows it was The Governor at this point). Instead of it being tagged out, Glenn prompted a short discussion on hope and faith, something Hershel stood for. Great writing and performance by Steven Yeun. Glenn then passes out during a fight when walkers come out of the woods. I’m guessing it’s because he’s still not completely over the sickness yet. An army type truck pull up behind Tara and Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita come out! Heard lots about these new characters, can’t wait to see what there all about! The ending has me pumped for next episode.