'The Walking Dead' recap: All Tracks Lead to Terminus

The cold open kicks off with a glimpse at pre-Prison Bob Stookey. A haunted, tortured soul with a shady past, Bob has been an enigma for most of this season. Here, he's scruffier than we're used to seeing him, armed with a machete and his signature canvas/leather backpack. (AMC is sitting on a goldmine of replica character gear sales. Unrelated, I'm obsessed with canvas/leather backpacks.) Like Michonne immediately after the fall of the Prison, Bob trudges along as slow and aimless as a Walker. His survival skills and will to live remain, but one look at his vacant eyes shows that he has put life on cruise control. Why? He's alone.
That is until a pickup truck and motorcycle appear on the road. Glenn and Daryl approach Bob, weapons at the ready. Daryl asks Bob the Three Questions as per the rules of the Prison community. (Aw, remember those?) Bob answers that he’s killed a couple dozen Walkers and only one person because she asked him to. Bob is eager to join them, and Daryl asks if he subsequently has any questions for them. Bob shakes his head, stating, "It doesn't matter who you are."

Unlike the other characters riddled with guilt and despair over their actions and losses since the Turn, Bob remains unfazed. He's just happy to not be alone. After everything that has happened, does it matter more to build community and structure, or is it simply enough not to be alone, regardless of the company?
I still don't fully trust him, but I'm probably being over-cautious. The questions of trust and vulnerability are prevalent throughout the back half of season four and the series at large. At the start of this episode, Sasha is unwilling to lower her guard and express her fears for Tyreese's fate. Maggie has lowered her guard to find true love with Glenn and is hellbent to not lose that connection. Daryl lowers his guard with Beth — just long enough to lose her and any hopes of stability, joy, and maybe even love! See more

Share on Google Plus