Live Blogging: "The Walking Dead" - Season 4, Episode 13, "Alone"

Opening starts with close up on Bob, the doc, with a beard, which of course signifies that this is a flashback. He is a lone wolf surviving, well, alone. There is another weird folksy country song playing. Bob looks depressed. This is depressing. He's walking around some more somberly. Bob is picked up by Glenn and Daryl, who quiz him with Rick's "test" questions. It seems really easy to pass the test and Bob joins the gang. End flashback and opening pre-credits scene.

Maggie, Sasha and beardless Bob fight off zombies in the fog.

After Blondie injures her foot in a trap, Daryl picks her up and carries her for about two feet. He sets her down in front of an old grave/headstone where they hold hands. Beth repeatedly refers to Daryl as a "good guy" throughout this episode. I wholeheartedly agree.

Maggie, Sasha and Bob see the signs for Terminus. Maggie wants to go to Terminus because she is convinced that Glenn would follow her there but she can't articulate her convictions using any sound logic. Sasha sensibly makes an argument against navigating a dangerous path to an unknown destination. Bob supports Maggie, just cause. Revelation, Bob was a vet student.

Daryl and Blondie discover a funeral parlor and get cozy.

Blondie plays the piano by candlelight to draw zombies or because she is an idiot.

Maggie abandons Sasha and Bob, not wanting to risk their lives in her search for Glenn on route to Terminus. Maggie eviscerates a walker to leave a bloody message for Glenn on a map to Terminus.

Sasha and Bob have a heart to heart. It is boring and so I tune out. I also largely missed a scene where Blondie's efforts to nab herself some Dixon are succeeding, only to be interrupted by a dog setting off the walker tin can alarm - this happened while I was wrestling away my laptop from my 23-month old nephew who has been wanting to watch the same youtube video featuring a choo-choo train 50 times. This probably beats the Walking Dead.

Daryl opens the door without looking and the funeral parlor is overrun by a zombie invasion. Daryl instructs Blondie to wait for him outside, diverting the walkers. He bravely fights his way out of the basement and escapes the house, only to see a car speeding away. Blondie's bag remains on the ground. It looks like she may have been kidnapped. 

Sasha and Bob continue to follow the train tracks searching for Maggie. Sasha identifies a place where they could stop and nest. Bob is the voice of hope and makes a move on Sasha to encourage her to keep the faith. The kiss was a miss. Bob leaves Sasha to continue his search for Maggie. Sasha looks on confused.

After Bob ditches her, Sasha enters an abandoned building. This doesn't seem like a great plan. Sasha starts crying.

Sasha walks over to a window and sees Maggie lying on the ground next to a truck. Sasha draws a lot of unnecessary attention by accidentally causing the window frame to fall noisily to the ground. She runs out of the building looking for Maggie, drawing walkers behind her.

Sasha and Maggie fight off zombies. Maggie beheads a walker with a shovel. What was Maggie doing lying on the ground amidst a bunch of walkers? Maggie explains that she peaced out cause she overheard Sasha tell Bob that the odds were that Glenn was dead. Maggie believes Sasha is wrong. Maggie says that she was waiting for Sasha and Bob to catch up cause she needs their help. Maggie figures it's okay to ask Sasha to risk her life, because it wouldn't be for just Glenn. Maggie is alluding that Tyrese will be at Terminus too.

A forlorn Daryl, sitting on the ground all alone, is surrounded by a gang. He aims his bow at the gang leader, who introduces himself as Joe. You know Joe is going to be real bad news, because the creepy looking actor who plays him is always cast as a villain, including as a magic/drug-dealer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Joe invites Daryl to join their gang "to hurt people" instead of going all kamikaze. Daryl is forced to accept.

Bob walks the train tracks by himself, this time looking inspired - an upbeat version of the country song from the opening highlights the sharp contrast to the bearded Bob of old. I actually like this weird country song now. Bob's faith is rewarded - Maggie and Sasha catch up.

The episode ends with a close up on Glenn examining a sign for Terminus.

This episode was not as awful as last week's episode, but that's not saying much.
Next week's episode looks like it focuses solely on Tyrese, Carol and the kids and so the prognosis is negative.