It’s tough to imagine how Dawn of the Dead could have been a better episode. It’s a near immediate follow-up to last week’s big finish, with the school on lockdown and just about every major player popping up. It’s a palpably tense display and the performances (Carlson Young, in particular) are some of the best we’ve seen in the series. The writing alone impresses as it manages to push forward every lead character’s story without ever feeling forced. It’s a masterful pivot point for the season arc, placing an explicit cap on the dramatic irony of act one as the slasher moves from being a possibility to a reality. And that’s what was most exciting about this episode: everything’s in the open now, and the plot is free to move about. Audiences can only hope that the show keeps up the quality set here.
