appearance. Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Chandler Riggs (Carl Grimes), and Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier) are all credited but do not appear. Chad L. Coleman (Tyreese) is also absent but is credited as "also starring". Jeff Kober reprises his guest starring role as Joe from the episode "Claimed". The song featured at the beginning and the end of the episode is "Blackbird Song" by Lee DeWyze. The song was also featured on the season soundtrack The Walking Dead (AMC Original Soundtrack), Vol. 2. The song debuted on Billboard'''s "Pop Digital Songs" chart at number twenty-nine. Reception Viewership Upon airing, the episode was watched by 12.65 million American viewers, and received an 18–49 rating of 6.3. This marks a rise in viewers from the previous episode, but a slight decrease in adults 18–49; the previous episode received an 18–49 rating of 6.4. Critical reception The episode received very positive reviews. Critics praised the writing, Beth's disappearance, the re-introduction of Joe and the marauders and Bob Stookey's character development. Phil Dyess-Nugent of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A− rating, saying "In what future historians will refer to as 'the post-Governor era of The Walking Dead'', the show has stepped in to fill the gap left by the conclusion of Breaking Bad. This is now AMC's very slow-moving, contemplative, character-based genre show that may go a long time between outbreaks of bloody mayhem, outbreaks that serve as beats in the action but that scarcely threaten to overshadow the quieter moments." Roth Cornet of IGN gave the episode a score of 7.8 out of 10. References External links "Alone" at AMC 2014 American television episodes The Walking Dead (season 4) episodes Television episodes directed by Ernest Dickerson