The Walking Dead – Episode 4.11 – Claimed – Review : Lucky Guy

   After two great episodes since The Walking Dead came back from its hiatus, I was afraid last night episode, “Claimed”, would disappoint me. Luckily, I was absolutely not. “Claimed” was a great continuation to Scott Grimple’s work since “After”.
   At the beginning of the season, I didn’t really feel the new showrunner's touch. Something had changed but still, it was mainly the same. Now that Mr. Grimple got rid of loose ends, such as The Governor, the Prison and Rick’s mental state, I can feel his touch in the writing and the character developments.
   From all the showrunners, for now, it seems he is the one who is the more character driven and still he manages to include great action scenes.

   “Claimed” focused on two groups of survivors : Rick, Carl and Michonne (yeah it was really her at the door at the end of “After”) and Glenn and Tara since they have been found by Abraham and its people. I really enjoyed following those two different groups, the parallelism between one group facing off walkers and the other one facing other people.
   Carl and Michonne really bonded last night and I was very fond of that. They are nice together, they make really great friends. And Michonne has changed, she finally opens up about her story. Rick’s situation was very tense and suspenseful I loved it. It really kept me on the edge during the whole sequence. Finally, we got to know more about Abraham and its people, they came with a great revelation, I can’t wait to learn more about it. Maybe soon, we will know why everybody is infected with this walker virus ! Great news !
   So, let’s dig in “Claimed” !

   Michonne and Carl really bonded last night and I really enjoyed that. After Michonne made Carl laugh with her new white oversized shirt, Rick talked to her about being Carl’s friend. Rick is Carl’s father, he has to play his part so Carl needs a friend. As Michonne stopped taking breaks, she is ready to be his friend. Also, I think Carl’s reaction when he spoke bout Judith touched Michonne. He lost his baby sister (or so he thinks for now) and she lost her son, they have something in common and mostly, I think Carl reminds her a bit of her own son.
   Michonne and Carl went for a trip outside, looking for supplies while Rick was supposed to rest and get some sleep. They don’t know if they will stay in that new house or if it’s just a stop in the way. We all know they are not going to stay her but it’s a nice shelter for now.

   Michonne really made me laugh when she played zombie with cheese in her mouth. It was good, and even Carl laughed on the inside.
   They found a house they could search for supplies. Before entering it, Michonne made a huge revelation to Carl : she had a son. Oh Michonne, you’re opening up, that’s good. I like how she has changed. I enjoyed silent Michonne, being a badass but I like her even more now. The girl is funny and clever.
   Of course, after that revelation, Carl wanted to know more about Michonne, her son, their story… But they also needed to get food, battery and water (on that order) from the house. So, Michonne invented a game : Carl could ask one question at a time, in a room at a time after it had been cleared. Fun ! Michonne’ son was named Andre Anthony, he was a handful just like Carl, so she didn’t have any other kids. Carl told her he would keep her secret, even if it’s not really a secret.
   I really love how the writer showed how deeply Carl and Michonne care for each other, and what is the ground of their friendship. They’re a nice match. I don’t think Carl see Michonne as a stepmother, but really as a friend, someone experienced, funny, who can teach him a lot and with who he can talk to.

  While searching the house, Michonne admired the paintings in a hallway. Since “After”, we know Michonne has a thing for art, I’ve never suspected that but I’m glad she has. So, she looked at all those beautiful, bright paintings. She found a new painting all wrapped up so she unwrapped it and there was a surprise. The painting was all dark, and bloody. Clearly, it was made after the outbreak. Michonne had to check the room where the painting was, it was a bathroom that led to a boy room and finally to a girl room.
   The whole sequence was particularly scary, I was really afraid a walker would come and attack Michonne. I’m sure she would have killed it but still.. What she found in the room was even more awful. There were two bodies lying in the bed, and another sitting in the hair. From what I saw, I guessed the mother killed her two children, in their bed and then killed herself in her chair. Or maybe they were murdered. Anyways, it was highly disturbing and Michonne got out and closed the door. When Carl came to her and wanted to check the rooms, she lied to him. The boy didn’t need to see that.
   After that, with all he supplies they could gather, Carl opened up more about his sister and her death. It was really touching his comment about Judith and Andre being both in paradise. Michonne and Carl made a great duo, it’s one more step toward Carl’s evolution and I think where the writers want to go with this kid. Anyways, as it was getting late, Michonne and Carl came back to their house, where Rick was supposedly resting and waiting for them.

   Rick deserved to catch a break after everything that went down at the prison and his fight against Philip. Michonne was really kind to let him rest while she was looking for supplies. I’ve always enjoyed the dynamics between Michonne and Rick. I don’t see a romantic attraction, but they make a great team of survivors. It was nice to Rick taking time to rest and to get better. The guy has been through Hell and he totally deserve to catch a break.
   But of course, in this walker world, you are never safe and especially when you’re alone. Rick was quickly awakened by men’s voices, inside the house. Oh God, intruders ! That is scary. As one of the men was going upstairs, Rick had no choice but to hide under the bed. He managed to get a bottle of water and his watch. Nice. I was really scared for Rick and wondering what will happen to him. His situation was really bad, it was even worst when the intruder decided to sleep in the bed Rick was hiding under. Rick’s game of hide and seek just started and it would go on for quite a time.

   When you think Rick’ situation could get even worst, another man came in the room and woke up his friend. Those intruders seemed really dumb (nobody looked under the bed, what is there was a walker ? They can be ANYWHERE) and mean, not the kind of people you’d want to meet. So, Rick made the right choice hiding.
  But, the intruders fought because they both wanted to sleep in the same bed… Ok, that was about the stupidest thing people ever done on The Walking Dead. It’s a huge house, with at least 4 bedrooms. Why do you want to take the bed one of your companions is already in ? Stupid. So, they fought and one of them got strangled and killed by the other. When the man fell to the ground and turned his head to Rick, I was so frightened he would say something and Rick would have been discovered. Luckily, the guy didn’t speak and just die… Clearly his friend didn’t know about everyone being infected.
   While the new intruders was sleeping above him, Rick decided to take his chance and got up. Very brave, but quite scary too. I knew Rick wouldn’t die but I was really afraid he would get captured by those men. During the whole sequence, I was wondering what would I do if I were him.
   Rick made his way in the house, while the intruders were still inside. It was so good to watch him, hiding himself, checking who the guys were, going back to the room then going to another room because the intruders were going back. Damn, so much suspense.
   Rick found himself in the bathroom, with one of the stranger. He quickly killed him, and took the bathroom’s windows to escape the house. Still, Rick continued to hide himself from the intruders , outside. He was just close to one of the intruders, he almost split on Rick. Damn Rick, you can’t find a better hidden place ?
   And suddenly, Rick saw Michonne and Carl getting closer to the house, unaware of the danger there was. Rick was ready to shot the man when screams were heard inside the house, guess the first man killed turned and started attacking his older pals. That was a great distraction for Rick to run towards Michonne and Carl.

   So, Rick, Michonne and Carl were back to square one, walking in the woods, but near the train tracks. And now, we know what is near train tracks : posters about the safe place. Rick found it and so, they decided to get there !
   Yippie ! I can not wait for them to get reunited with Carol, Tyreese and the kids and for the talk between Rick, Carol and Tyreese.

   Last week, at the end of “Inmates”, we briefly met Abraham, along with his two friends. In “Claimed”, we finally knew more about the three of them.
   First, Abraham showed off his fighting skills and killed a bunch of walkers in front of a very impressed Tara. She was impressed and shocked because he smiled during the fight. He wasn’t afraid and actually enjoying it. His answer about being the luckiest guy in the world was unclear to me. Does this mean he has always enjoyed fighting and killing and now he can do it ? Or does he feel lucky he knows how to fight and to survive ?
   Anyways, Tara and Glenn were taken by those new people. They don’t look as bad as the ones Rick met in his house. Abraham and its people look like good guys. I’m not sure if Glenn really feels that way about them. He woke up in the back of an army truck, far away from Maggie and the prison. Tara told him they passed the prison bus, full of walkers about 3 hours ago. That did not stop Glenn and he made Abraham stopped the truck, after breaking the back window.

   They all stopped by the road, and Abraham revealed to Glenn that his group had a tight schedule, somewhere precisely to go to and also he took them because he needed them, you need everybody you can in that new apocalyptic world. Still, Glenn didn’t care. The only thing he wants to do is to find Maggie back. That is both romantic and stupid. I’m very fond of their lovestory, and I really hope they will get reunited. But still, after Abraham revelation that the fate of humanity depends on them, you would have changed my mind.
   Yeah, Eugene is a scientist and he knows what caused people turning into walker after dying ! Huge scoop ! As Glenn, I wanted to know right away what it was, but it’s classified… Okay, I can understand why Eugene won’t spill it out right away. I love that the information is here and someday we will know why this has happened to our world. Abraham’s mission is to get Eugene to Washington DC, they have been in contact with some officials there but now they are not picking up the satellite phones, that’s a bad omen.
   Because Glenn is a stubborn lover, and won’t listen, Abraham had no choice but to say the truth : Maggie is probably dead and Glenn will die trying to find her. That is the most likely to happen, but still hope is the last thing left in this world, Glenn is right to hung on to it. So, he punched Abraham, and hit the road. Abraham didn’t like being punched and attacked Glenn. The men fought off. Very stupid thing to do, especially when you’re leaving the truck and a doctor alone, and zombies are coming. A lot of zombies actually.

   Eugene found himself quickly surrounded by walkers, and despite his screams, Abraham and Glenn were still fighting while Rosita and Tara tried to separate them. Eugene made the bad choice of shooting his gun. That was good to stop the fight, but it was still a terrible idea. You’re going to attract even more walkers with the noise. He should have run toward Abraham or scream louder, and mostly not shoot right next to a truck if you have no idea how to use a gun.
   Luckily, Abraham, Glenn and the girls got rid of the walkers. It was a awesome shooting scene. I loved it. It’s exactly what I expect from The Walking Dead ! After killing the walkers, the group discovered Eugene did something even more stupid, he accidentally shot the truck’s tank. So, no more truck for them, only by foot. Glenn decided to go back and look for Maggie, Tara, probably feeling still guilty followed him. So did Rosita and it was a surprise. But after all, what could they do ? Even Eugene agreed it was the smartest thing to do for now, stay together and look for a new vehicle to get to Washington.
   On the road, Abraham had a little talk with Tara. I like the two of them together. Abraham explained her he is a good person, he wants to help Eugene saving the world. Tara, still suffering from being played by The Governor just didn’t want to be lied to. Abraham looks like a nice guy and I’m liking his character. I want to know more about him, but I really want to find out more about Eugene and his work. As for Rosita, for now, she seemed a bit useless but she looks fun and she cares for people. I think the three of them will be a great addition to The Walking Dead cast. I can’t wait to watch interact with other, especially to watch how Rick and Abraham would get along.

   “Claimed” was a great episode, it’s the same combination of character developments, twists and walkers attack, perfectly balanced, that was started in “After”.
    Since “After”, I have a feeling that Carl is going to be a prominent character of the show. Actually, it made me reflect on his story and it’s starting to feel like The Walking Dead is about Carl and not so much about Rick. Since season one, Carl has grown up, physically and mentally. Growing up in this new world changed him and made him special. We are really following his story, how he was saved by his mother, then found his father and he was shot, nearly died but survived and became a man, after Shane’s death, his mother’s death and his father becoming mentally instable. Now, he is getting Michonne as a best friend. We will see what the future of the show is, but I’m betting Carl will become the main character when Rick finally dies.
   The writing in The Walking Dead has always been great, but now it’s even greater. I really loved the parallelism between the two groups, how Rick was confronted by humans while Abraham and Glenn were attacked by walkers. I’ve always thought people would stick together in a time of crisis and danger like that, but most of time people don’t. It’s in human nature, since the beginning of humanity, there was conflicts, aggressions, murders, wars. I guess it’s part of our DNA. Human beings are violent, and some of us are really mean. Rick risked his life because of some strangers. When you know there are dangerous creatures outside, you’d think they should be your only threat.

Zombies notes :
• Who will get reunited first ? Glenn and Maggie ? Daryl and Carol ? Rick and Judith ? Tyreese and Sasha ?
• Who did you miss the most : Daryl, Beth, Carol, Tyreese, Lizzie, Maggie, Sasha, Bob or Mika ?
• Who’s your favorite new characters : Abraham, Rosita or Eugene ? I’m voting Eugene
• Three new characters… Does this mean one of the character will die soon ? I’m thinking Bob.

   What did you think of “Claimed” ? Are you liking those new characters ? Did you like Michonne and Carl’s bond ? Hit the comments, walker lovers !

About the Author - Romain Ossust

I'm 27 from France, living near Paris. I love a lot of TV shows, (this is a non exhaustive list) : Orphan Black, True Blood, Dexter, Weeds, Person of Interest, Criminal Minds, 24, Ab Fab, Carnivale, Lost, The Americans, American Horror Story, Once Upon A Time, Desperate Housewives, Glee, Ugly Betty, Scandal, Looking, Sleepy Hollow, The Walking Dead, Raising Hope, Orange is the New Black, Grey’s Anatomy, HIMYM, Girls, ...
For SpoilerTV, I'm reviewing The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Looking, Continuum, Sleepy Hollow, The Americans, True Blood & Orphan Black
Otherwise, I’m also very fond of cats, I own 6 of them. I work as an administrative assistant, in one of the greatest place to work in France. I also enjoy sunbathing, reading and having fun ; and I hate doing sports :)