“Prey” takes The Walking Dead's least likeable character Andrea and presents her as strong, capable and someone worth rooting for. How is this feat possible? Simple: she doesn't talk much.
Okay, not really. Before tonight Andrea was an indecisive Governor groupie, constantly on the cusp of doing something good before backing down. Seriously, she's held a knife at The Governator's throat one episode and snuggled with him like an eyepatched teddy bear the next episode. This time she decides on leaving Woodbury and warning Rick of an impending attack, and actually does it.
But not before one last hug
Milton passes on information setting off her freedom run. He shows Andrea some rather sinister tools The Governor prepared for Michonne meant for either practicing amateur dentistry or torture. Apparently Woodbury's leader hanging out with decapitated heads next to his chained up zombified daughter is chill, but set up one teeny tiny torture chamber and he's gone too far! After that begins an incredibly psychotic Hide & Seek game as The Governor tracks her down.
Crap, I hung my rings too low for practicing gymnastics
On a side note, it makes me happier than a Walker in a nursing home seeing Milton fall out of love with Woodbury. Andrea urges him to follow her to the prison, which if he ever does you'll hear my yells of joy from the next continent over. Who knows, after watching him roast The Governor's zombie herd that's looking more and more likely.
A humdrum subplot with Tyreese breaks up the cat and mouse shenanigans. He's having a hard time adjusting to Woodbury's customs, namely capturing Walkers and using them as flesh-eating housewarming gifts. This puts him at odds with his travel companion Allen, who feels Tyreese's complaints will get them run out of town. These scenes aren't necessarily bad, just flawed. That flaw is they require you to remember who the hell Allen is. I spent half the episode thinking Tyreese was getting rowdy with some random guy.
Watching The Governor and Andrea re-enact The Most Dangerous Game make up for any of “Prey”'s missteps. Once they square off in an abandoned Walker filled building we're reminded how crazy competent Andrea can be. She kills zombies with a knife so small it's basically a letter opener putting on airs, evades her attacker and unleashes a heard of brain hungry carcasses on The Governor and leaves him for dead.
Walkers have no concept of "personal space"
Lessons from The Walking Dead: If you want someone to survive a deadly situation, leave them for dead. They're guaranteed to survive (See: Rick, Merle, et al). Andrea finally reaches the prison's outskirts. Unfortunately, The Governor does too and takes her captive. “Prey”'s last shot is Andrea all tied up in the Happy Fun Times Torture Room of Giggles.
I loved this ending. It's given viewers who've been calling for Andrea's head (myself included) exactly what they've been asking for. Still, no matter how many times I've expressed hope Andrea will end up as Walker kibble I don't fancy watching The Governor go allFunny Games on her. The finale leaves us with a mixed bag of emotions regarding Andrea, and it's about time we feel more than dislike for her character.
