The Walking Dead: looking back at “Inmates”

AMC aired The Walking Dead episode “Inmates” on February 16, 2014. This episode was the tenth of season four, written by Matt Negrete and Channing Powell and directed by Tricia Brock. Negrete would go on to serve as showrunner for The Walking Dead: Worl Beyond with Powell as showrunner for Tales of the Walking Dead.

This episode is the second since the prison break. In the previous episode, “After,” the focus was on Rick and Carl and their journey and Michonne’s, which would lead her to Rick and Carl. Up to this point, these are the only three characters that viewers were 100% sure made it out of the prison after the governor’s attack.

“Inmates” gets its name from the sign that says “HITCHHIKERS MAY BE ESCAPING INMATES.” This is the first episode that clearly references Terminus and explains precisely what it is.

The Walking Dead season 4

The aftermath of the prison altercation saw many survivors escaping, but this episode shows exactly who made it out safely.

The first group we see is Beth and Daryl. She is certain others survived and forces Daryl to look with her. They track some footprints, which the viewer eventually finds out are the next group we see.

Then we see Lizzie and Mika, and just when you wonder if they are alone, we see Tyreese, who slowly turns to reveal Judith, who was assumed dead when Rick and Carl found her car seat with blood all over. It was a huge relief to see some children made it out. Carol, a character missing for several episodes, eventually finds them, easing Tyreese’s burden of caring for three children on his own.

They learn of Terminus from a man they tried to save from a walker attack. He tells them to stick to the tracks, and they will find a safe place for the kids. Soon after, they see a sign that reads “Terminus Sanctuary for all. Community for all. Those who arrive survive.”

Next, we see that Sasha, Bob and Maggie have survived as well. Maggie is on a mission to find Glenn. They see the prison bus full of refugees who didn’t survive while evacuating. Maggie is relieved not to find Glenn among the undead.

Back at the prison, Glenn wakes on what is left of the prison walkway to the chaos and destruction of the prison. He gathers supplies, dons his riot gear, and heads out, but not before he sees Tara in a hypnotic state regarding what she witnessed and the part she played. When Glenn sees her gun has not been fired, he takes her on his hunt for Maggie. Tara tells him of the “old man” the governor killed, and this is how Glenn finds out about Hershel’s death.

A small group of walkers comes upon them, and as Glenn is fighting them off, he collapses, requiring Tara to kill the last walker. A military vehicle comes up and out pops Abraham, Rosita and Eugene as if they walked off the comic book page.

It was a great episode giving more details on who survived the prison attack.

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