# Plague of Madness

"Plague of Madness" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American animated action-drama series Primal. It premiered unannounced on Adult Swim on April 1, 2020, as part of Adult Swim's annual April Fools' Day stunt, as a joking reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, after "Rage of the Ape Men", before formerly airing in its chronological place in the series (between "Scent of Prey" and "Coven of the Damned") on October 11, 2020. It was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, and written by David Krentz from a story by Tartakovsky, Krentz, Darrick Bachman, and Bryan Andrews. In the episode, Spear and Fang flee in terror from a zombified Argentinosaurus.
The episode received critical acclaim, winning both an Annie Award and two Emmy Awards. It was released to home media on June 1, 2021.

## Plot

In a tranquil valley, an herd of Argentinosaurus are living their lives when one of their number is bitten by an insane zombified Parasaurolophus which bites one Argentinosaurus before being killed by it. Shortly afterward, the Argentinosaurus becomes a zombie itself, going on a rampage and massacring its herd.
Sometime later, Spear and Fang stumble across the aftermath of the slaughter, disturbed by the many corpses and how they are untouched by scavengers or flies; a curious Fang sniffs one body before recoiling in terror, before the Argentinosaurus rises up behind the duo. Horrified, the two immediately flee through the jungle into a ravine, where the Argentinosaurus knocks itself out, and Spear and Fang rest in a cave. That night, Spear has a nightmare of the Argentinosaurus reviving and infecting him and Fang, and on awakening, decides to convince Fang to leave for night, lest his nightmare come to pass. As they make their way across the ravine, the Argentinosaurus awakens and continues its pursuit of them.
As Spear and Fang escape through a crevasse too narrow for the Argentinosaurus, they begin to make their way across a volcanic plain, doing so carefully until the Argentinosaurus tears its body apart to break free and pursue them again. On being burned by a lava geyser, the Argentinosaurus jumps towards them, breaking through the crust into the lava below, and allowing Spear and Fang to ride a wave to safer ground and resume running, as the Argentinosaurus repeatedly re-emerges and sinks, unable to climb out but still pursuing them. As the Argentinosaurus is slowly incinerated to ash, Spear and Fang observe its final agonizing moments in shared grief and dismay.

## Reception
### Critical reception

"Plague of Madness received a universally positive critical reception.

### Accolades

Accolades received by Primal :
| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Annie Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Genndy Tartakovsky (for "Plague of Madness") | Won |
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Animated Program | Genndy Tartakovsky, Brian A. Miller, Jennifer Pelphrey, Keith Crofford, Mike Lazzo, Oussama Bouacheria, Julien Chheng, Ulysse Malassagne, Erika Forzy, Shareena Carlson, Darrick Bachman, David Krentz, and Bryan Andrews (for "Plague of Madness") | Won |
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation | David Krentz (storyboard artist; for "Plague of Madness") | Won |