Contributor: Bronzethumb
Written by Scott M. Gimple
Directed by Dan Attais
“Hounded” feels like a continuation of the previous episode, albeit with a bigger, more plot-relevant finish. The big emotional beats that marked earlier instalments of season 3 are not the focus, and while much of the episode still packs a punch, it’s more about twists and turns and pushing the arc of the season further along. Some developments are predictable, and others less so, but none fail to draw viewers further into the conflicts of this season, be they internal or inter-personal.
On the heels of last episode’s cliffhanger, Rick speaks with another group of survivors and tries to negotiate for a place in their safe haven, but doing so forces him to examine the choices that lead to the chain gang’s current predicaments and Lori’s death. Meanwhile, Merle leads a group of fighters from Woodbury to track down Michonne and kill her on the Governor’s orders, and the chain gang’s continued efforts to find supplies and clear out the prison lead them to unexpected discoveries.
The opening of “Hounded” reinforces some of the character beats from the previous episode, specifically to do with Michonne and how she stands on the same level as Rick and the Governor in terms of being someone who’s losing their humanity. The struggle is ever-present, but never as vividly visualised as in the final scene of the episode, where the character is almost-literally clinging to a tiny shred of humanity amidst the death and destruction of the walkers. Danai Gurira’s wordless performance (echoing Andrew Lincoln last episode) is captivating, and after a rocky start, Michonne is proving just as great an addition to the television ensemble as she did in the comics.
The follow-up to Rick’s cliffhanger felt like a minor step back compared to the intensity of the previous few episodes, and though Andrew Lincoln’s performance was just as fantastic, the material moved away from being incredibly personal and introspective by giving him a really obvious outlet. It doesn’t help that the twist behind the phone is very easy to guess, and despite his grief, it’s a wonder than Rick himself didn’t spot it sooner. Daryl’s storyline was similar, juxtaposing some great character beats with obvious plot movements, but in the case of both these characters, it was necessary for the show to go through these motions and kick the season arc over to the next stage.
Where the episode felt a little too troubled was with Andrea and the Governor in Woodbury. It brings the foreshadowing and development to a head but then doesn’t go any further, instead leaving the audience to think “well, it happened. Now what?” But there’s also a sense that Andrea’s character is backsliding a bit from the interesting development she got in the previous episode. The conflict is all but gone, and the bloodthirstiness she displays throughout “Hounded” seems to have been amped up out of nowhere. It comes as jarring, a cheat so the writers can get the dynamics they want in place for the next stage of the season.
Moving forward is an ever-present feeling in “Hounded”, and the final act features the biggest push we’ve seen yet towards setting the chain gang against Woodbury. In the face of all this progress, the character beats (except for the brilliant Michonne-centric storyline) suffer — not a lot, not enough to knock “The Walking Dead” off its current pedestal as one of the more emotionally gripping shows on TV right now, but enough to be noticeable. But it’s still a great episode, and paves the way for a fantastic confrontation between the two camps.
Score: 8/10
