On this installment of The Biting Dead, the Governor truly returns.
Title: “Dead Weight”
Cast and Crew
Directed by Jeremy Podeswa
Written by Curtis Gwinn
David Morrissey as The Governor
Audrey Marie Anderson as Lilly Chalmers
Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler
Meyrick Murphy as Megan
Danny Vinson as David Chambler
Jose Pablo Cantillo as Caesar Martinez
Kurt Acevedo as Mitch Dolgen
Enver Gjokaj as Pete Dolgen
Juliana Harkavy as Alisha
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes
Scott Wilson as Herschel Greene
Danai Gurira as Michonne
Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes
Additional cast and crew information may be found here.
Premise
The Governor and his new family join a group of survivors, but they soon face dangers other than Walkers. The episode ends with a circular return to the Governor’s first appearance this season, a couple of episodes ago.
High Points
The strange odyssey of One-Eyed Bri gives the show a much-needed change of perspective—though I’m glad, of course, we’ll be revisiting the familiar characters next week. I especially liked the plunge back into active villainy, and the recognition of other dark forces, besides the Biters.
Oh, and there’s a tank.
Low Point
I have a problem with the geography and humanity of this future. How many groups live in close proximity, unaware of each other, while somehow avoiding the large groups of Walkers we’ve witnessed? Why aren’t more of them joining together in fortified compounds? That sounds more like human beings when under attack (though I recognize the show’s premise presents some problems to typical human behavior). Why aren’t there more Woodbury-style settlements? Enough time has passed.
The Scores
Originality: 2/6
Effects: 6/6
Story: 4/6 The story featured some choppy pacing and developments. Alisha joins her new girlfriend’s cause very quickly.
Acting: 5/6
Emotional Response: 5/6
Production: 5/6
Overall: 5/6 I don’t know how plausible a non-sociopathic Governor would be, but a less crazy one would certainly be something with which Rick and the others would need to wrestle. Still, for better and worse, the Governor has returned.
In total, “Live Bait” receives 32/42
Final Comments
Grey Cup final: Saskatchewan Roughriders over the Hamilton Ti-Cats, 45-23.
I’d be interested in them examining some different styles of group organization and defence strategy. I feel like they’ve fallen into a pattern of deliberate stupidity to create tension. If they just increased the prison population and implemented some common sense safeguards like using the cell doors they could make the prison a lot safer and deal with cleverer adversaries.