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Because The Walking Dead season 10 finale has been delayed thanks to the real-world virus, I have decided that to fill the void left in the schedule, to start a re-watch of the series. I live tweeted the episode as if it were playing live in the regular 9pm GMT slot on FOX TV UK. You can see all the tweets here or embedded below.

Opening with Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) giving a radio broadcast to that man he met once, season two is able to provide a recap without the need for the “previously on The Walking Dead” voiceover guy. He tells of how the CDC is gone and that they’re heading to Fort Benning to try and find some sanctuary, ending with a look straight into camera. Rick’s really looking at Atlanta, but also you too.

The group encounter some bother on the road, lots of cars block their path and they’ve not enough fuel to double back. What it takes them a little too long to realise is that all these vehicles will provide them with the fuel they need and maybe, much needed supplies. Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) is a little apprehensive about looting the dead, but it’s not like they’re coming back for their clothes.

Whilst things are looking up some walkers appear, how did Dale miss such a mass of them approaching from the rear? They hide under the cars, Andrea (Laurie Holden) is in the RV trying to put Shane’s (Jon Bernthal) gun back together and hasn’t noticed them. Some panic ensues, a walker climbs aboard the RV, T-Dogg (Irone Singleton) slices his arm, but the group manage to survive. Until one walker spies Sophia (Madison Lintz) and decides to chase her into the woods. Rick and Daryl (Norman Reedus) chase after her and the episode turns into a manhunt.

It’s at this point the action slows down. There are some character developments, Daryl shows off how good he is at tracking and also leadership – putting his racist traits away for now. Shane and Lori try to clear the air after Shane does his best to put some distance between him and Carl (Chandler Riggs) but he ultimately decides he’s going to leave the group – which Andrea overhears.

The group find a church and have a little pray, they split up again and Rick, Shane and Carl continue the hunt – because Rick feels too much guilt, he cannot leave this girl alone in the woods. As they continue to hunt they hear some footsteps, could it be Sophia? No. It’s a deer. Shane is about to shoot it for dinner but Carl is so enraptured in it they let him look, and slowly approach it. Then BANG! A shot is fired from somewhere and the deer, and Carl, are down!

This was a slightly longer episode that didn’t really make the most of it’s time. They didn’t have to spend so long in the woods, although lovely and gruesome, they didn’t need to have the zombie autopsy or the tent fake-out. It could have focused on Carol (Melissa McBride) and her anguish and determination to find her daughter, but didn’t. Instead it ends by shifting the focus from Sophia to Carl and now Rick is going to be more determined to care for his son that finding Sophia.

Overall Rating: 7