‘The Walking Dead’ Retro Recap: ‘Indifference’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Over the course of the past few days, we’ve talked at length about how season four of The Walking Dead, has managed to tell some vastly different types of zombie stories. Since the first few episodes of year four, have offered up examinations of what life might be like after the world has come to an end, all while finding a way to add new threats for the group to deal with in an environment where they are in fact… quite safe, and it would seem that season four is showing no signs of slowing down when it comes to its unique storytelling. For the next episode in this storied saga, takes the time to explore an aspect of the zombiepocalypse that few stories in this vein ever go near. For so many of them treat genuinely dealing with one’s trauma or mistakes in the middle of a pandemic of living death, like a waste of time. For in the minds of their characters, survival is the only priority, and they can figure out how to properly lick their wounds down the line.

But ‘Indifference’ made it a priority and it accomplished that feat by way of two key plot-lines. First and foremost, by having Tyreese come along on a supply run to bring much needed medications back to the prison. A voyage that didn’t go smoothly and the possibility that Sasha might succumb to the virus as well, alongside the loss he was suffering, put Tyreese in a supremely angry place. One where he constantly put himself in harm’s way and nearly the group on several occasions and well… rather than just let him stew through and through, his friends took the time to lift him up and explore what was eating at him and how he might find a way to release his pain outside of stupid acts. Which was refreshing to see, since that’s the opposite of what happened to Rick and perhaps his missteps and inability to deal with his trauma is what motivated the group to really push ahead this time and try and help Tyreese.

While they handled that, Rick and Carol went on a voyage for emergency supplies… allowing for the second theme to come into play. Because Rick was quick to interrogate Carol about her actions and try and get her to understand that while her mindset was in the right place… her actions were awful and sorely mistaken. But despite his best efforts to do so, Carol simply wouldn’t get the hint or show atonement for her choices and that motivated Rick to make a tough and powerful decision. In that, he opted to ask Carol to leave, and he even revealed that he helped pick up a lot of these supplies with her, as a contingency plan to help her get started on a forthcoming solo journey away from the group, if she decided to ignore the impact of her poor decision. If anything, this is a plot thread that really did give us perhaps the first real storyline grounded in accountability in this sub-genre of horror, since Carol really was forced to face the music in a realistic and fascinating manner.

But while those two plot lines could have carried this episode from beginning to end, there was another intelligent and thoughtful journey that was snuck into this tale as well, by way of Bob. Since his desire to have a drink because of his alcoholism brought about some seriously ugly moments between he and Daryl. Giving rise to a brief but powerful examination on the dangers of addiction in the apocalypse. Plus, this is also an episode that found a way to please casual fans and gore hounds by way of the medicine run. For the living dead were everywhere to be found on the road and the fight for survival brought about tons of gory head shots and the most unique zombie related roadblock ever. Since Daryl high centered the car on a pile of corpses and well, in the end, all of these elements worked together seamlessly to provide us with an extremely unique and dynamic tale.

Because this one really had something for everyone. Since there was drama, intense gore and plenty of brilliant commentary present here. But more importantly, this is another episode that shakes the zombie story up. Since this kind of emotional depth in stories about the death of death just wasn’t present all that often at the time, and it was refreshing to find the human element here and see some real-world impact of people’s actions for a change. But all that aside, this is just another great episode in a supremely bold season of storytelling and well, it is probably a good thing that this story slowed things down a bit to focus on character development and let us catch our breath. Because what comes next, is a powerhouse four-episode ride that will shock us and break our hearts. Until next time.

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