So that red machete did come in handy after all. Three weeks ago I confidently stated that The Walking Dead wouldn’t go down the rather clichéd route of having Rick fulfil his threat to Gareth, the leader of the cannibal crew, but here we are. And what an interestingly queasy resolution it is too.
There was an undeniable thrill of satisfaction at seeing Gareth get his comeuppance. After luring, trapping and killing other survivors (not to mention eating bits of Bob!), the Termites have quickly become the show’s biggest menace. The Governor? Pfft. Sure, he caused more actual carnage, but at least he could be reasoned with occasionally. There was something truly terrifying and merciless about Gareth’s lot and the gleeful way they embraced their own degeneration. In killing them so brutally the question is, is that’s what’s happening to Rick too?
Personally, I don’t think so. In a civilised society, the survivors’ actions would be abhorrent, but as we’re regularly reminded, The Walking Dead does not take place in a civilised world. What other option did they have? If they let them go then the Termites would simply kidnap and kill more passers-by. It’s murky territory, for sure, but then that’s exactly what this show should be examining. The show certainly doesn’t go as far as the comic, where our heroes torture the cannibals for a longer time before killing them.
The “Fear The Hunters” arc ran in issues 61-66 of the comic, and is collected in the 11th trade paperback. Gareth is called Chris in the comic and it’s Dale not Bob who dies. Creator Robert Kirkman has often cited this arc as his personal favourite.
And so we move on again, to new threats and new locations. There will be no Bob, however, as he died a dignified death after saying his goodbyes. It was a gentle and restrained scene, all the more powerful for coming so soon after the violence. Lawrence Gilliard Jr’s not always had the most memorable material, but this episode was a great showcase for his talents. And who didn’t get a kick out of his manic cry of “TAINTED MEAT!” Ha! Still hungry, Gareth?
In contrast, the reveal of Gabriel’s dark secret proves a little underwhelming. He let others die so that he might live. It’s another example of a character breaking their moral code for the sake of survival. Yep, that’s terrible and it’s natural that he’s wracked with guilt, but compared to everything else that’s happened over the last three weeks, it feels rather minor.
The episode concludes with the survivors breaking up once more, just a few episodes after they came together. Things are certainly barrelling along on The Walking Dead now and it’s all the better for it. Three episodes in, this is shaping up to be an excellent season.
The Walking Dead airs on AMC on Sunday nights in the US and Fox in the UK on Monday nights.