The Walking Dead Review: “Vatos”

“Vatos” represents the series’ most uneven episode to date– but it comes to a dark, uncompromising, and powerful conclusion.

Title: “Vatos”

Cast and Crew

Directed by Johan Renck

Written by Frank Darabont and Robert Kirkman

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes
Emma Bell as Amy
Laurie Holden as Andrea
IronE Singleton as T-Dog
Sarah Wayne Callies as Lori Grimes
Steven Yuen as Glenn
Jon Bernthal as Shane
Jeffrey DeMunn as Dale
Jeryl Prescott as Jacqui
Norman Reedus as Darryl Dixon
Andrew Rothenberg as Jim
Melissa Suzanne Mcbride as Carol
Adam Minarovich as Ed
Juan Gabriel Pareja as Morales
Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes
Neil Brown Jr. as Guillermo

Additional cast and crew information may be found here.

Premise

Jim goes a little crazy—but he may be seeing things the others miss.

In the city, the search party encounters another group of survivors, who may pose as much a threat as the walking dead.

Then again, the walking dead pose a rather substantial threat.

High Point

The episode features a strong opening and an uncompromising conclusion.

The story arc approach allows for more realistic television (zombies notwithstanding), better character development, and more literary shows….

Low Points

…The approach also produces episodes like this one, where the pacing is all over the place, and it becomes difficult to find or follow a plot. Stuff happens, and many people die.

The Scores:

Originality: 2/6 The twist certainly struck me as original (adaptation though this may be), if a little far-fetched. As for the madman who sees the truth, we’ve seen many of those.

Effects: 5/6

Story: 4/6

Acting: 6/6.

Emotional Response: 5/6 The series does not back away from killing important and likeable characters in horrible ways.

Of course, we know they just might come back.

Production: 6/6

Overall: 4/6.

In total, “Vatos” receives 32/42

One reply

  1. Uneven ep, as noted, but still very worthwhile. Right after a quote from Faulkner’s “Sound and Fury” we get “I gotta go pee”. We get really intelligent drama and then the needless “Oh, yeah, NOW I remember the dream” monologue. Somehow a little more subtlety is called for.

    Still, every time I think I know what is going to happen, they go off in a different direction I did not see coming. That alone is worth the price of admission.

    Zombies are sure viscious and sudden when they attack, huh? And gangbangers incredibly sympathetic and cuddly when they don’t….

    Everything’s gonna be OK, tho, now that Rick’s got his hat back.

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