Walking Dead - Season 4, Episode 2 - Infected

Human drama isn't something Walking Dead always does particularly well, despite much effort over the years.  The characters in the show have often been forgettable, and the overall acting inconsistent enough that it just doesn't work.  That said, season 4 is lacking a villain thus far, and is in the meantime relying largely on the interplay between the residents of the prison to keep us engaged.  The result is hardly a home run, but it isn't terrible either. 

Walking Dead has clearly come a long way since seasons 1 and 2, and the strength of the ensemble cast is one area where it may have improved the most.  A lot of really bad characters have been killed off over the years, and while there are still some undesirables hanging around, for the most part the most interesting characters have survived.  The strength of the cast (relative to previous seasons) is particularly obvious in an episode like "Infected".  For example: Michonne has been a bit of a letdown on this show so far, but the character is still intriguing.  So when she has a baby bonding moment with Judith that may provide a clue about her very mysterious background, it's a thousand times interesting than, say, the Carol domestic violence story line of season 1.

Ironically, one of the most divisive characters of Walking Dead has been, and will likely remain, Rick Grimes.  Some hate him; others tolerate him.  Some even think the acting of Andrew Lincoln has a lot in common with a Sequoia tree (for what it's worth, I actually think he has his moments).  It's a pretty big handicap for any show when the main character is disliked by so many, and Walking Dead is no exception.  Sadly, while season 4 is off to a largely solid start, Rick is not so great in "Infected" after having a solid storyline in the season premiere.  Apparently, his quiet, pastoral life of Farmer Rick lasted a grand total of one episode (probably a good idea given that our fearless leader is even more boring without a gun).  

Now, however, Rick (and Carl) are packing again, and it looks like business is about to pick up in the next episode. I'm curious to see whether the the person feeding the zombies is our new season 4 "big bad", a disgruntled resident of the prison, or something else entirely.  The graphic novel usually has a villain our heroes are contending with, and the television version would be wise to follow suit: it provides focus and raises the tension (and the stakes) a bit.  Hopefully, Walking Dead won't drag out this reveal for too long; for now, the human drama is enough, but the show shouldn't push it's luck.