Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 413 ‘Alone’

The fragmentation of the prison group has continued to result in episodes focusing only on certain characters as we bide the time until everybody can regroup.  While it has opened the door to provide further character development for certain characters, such as Daryl and Beth in the previous episode, I think it’s starting to get a little annoying.

Rick and Michonne were nowhere to be seen.  Judging from the next episode’s previews, it seems they won’t be around then, either.  I get that they’re already heading to Terminus and the story wants to show us how everybody wound up on that same path.  However, so many episodes without Rick seems like a bit much, and I’m definitely ready to get everyone back on track.

I didn’t care as much for the Beth and Daryl storylines in this particular episode, despite having enjoyed Still the previous week.  I think that was the problem, in fact.  We had just spent a full hour on the two of them, getting to know them pretty well, and their scenes in this episode didn’t really further their story.  We can see that they’re getting along much better now, but other than Beth getting kidnapped in the end, I don’t feel like it really added much to the show.

Speaking of the kidnapping, what the hell?  Was that house a trap house?  If so, how did the kidnapper know that only Beth would escape to the road without Daryl with her?  I wonder if the kidnapper is taking her to Terminus.  Terminus is constantly referred to as a sanctuary, and there was a crudely painted cross on the back of the car, so it seems possible.  But would this mean that the people at Terminus are indeed messed up people?

It’s interesting to see Daryl join up with another group, this time a heel faction.  What the hell else is he going to do with everyone else gone?  I can only imagine this is going to come to a head when this group eventually comes across some or all of the other survivors from the prison.

I liked the flashback at the beginning with Bob Stookey.  At first, I didn’t realize it was a flashback and thought he had maybe gotten separated from Sasha and Maggie.  I liked when he ran into Daryl and Glenn and was asked the three questions.  It was a very nicely done flashback, I thought.

The most suspenseful part of the episode was probably when Maggie, Bob and Sasha were back-to-back in the dense fog, hearing the groans of the walkers all around them but not knowing which direction they’d be coming in from.  I thought about how scary it would be in that situation, and holy hell, how terrifying!

I was wondering why nobody had thought to leave a note or something similar at the signs leading to Terminus.  I would want to put up a sign or something saying, “Hey, I survived the prison assault!  Might try this Terminus thing.”  Then, just as quickly as I had wondered why that wasn’t being done, Maggie gets the bright idea to create a giant note written with blood that couldn’t possibly be missed.  Smart move, Maggie!  Now Glenn is going to be able to track her.

Honestly, though, that kind of scares me.  It’s starting to seem too obvious now that Glenn is going to find Maggie, which is scaring me into thinking that it won’t happen.  I’m sure the higher-ups at AMC are going to want a big moment for the end of the season, at least something to top Hershel’s death, and they might want to sacrifice another major character… someone like Glenn or Maggie.  It’s going to be that much more devastating knowing they came that close to meeting back up if one of them dies either right before or right after a reunion.  I feel like Maggie’s a goner, but I really hope I’m wrong on this one.

It’s just that a happy reunion between the two seems unlikely given the overall lack of happy endings in the Walking Dead franchise.

I’m happy to catch up with Tyreese, Carol and the kids in the next episode, although as I said, I’m not happy that there seems to be no Rick.  It seems like so many episodes in a row without the former King County policeman, but then again, maybe I just feel that way as he’s my favorite character.

There are only three episodes left, and with the next one probably focusing only on Tyreese and crew, I’m betting the final two are going to be incredible.  All of these fragmented episodes have got to be leading to something big.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 412 ‘Still’

Still is the 12th episode of the 4th season of The Walking Dead and, like the 12th episode of the previous season (Clear), it’s a self-contained “bottle” episode.  Considering the high praise from fans and critics for Clear, Still had a lot to live up to in that regard.

While not quite as good as Clear, it was a pretty good episode.

The most suspenseful moments of the show were in the very beginning when Beth and Daryl Dixon were trapped in the trunk of a car, desperately trying to stay quiet as shambling walkers bumped against the vehicle.  No music was played, no dialogue was spoken between the two of them.  All we could hear was the sounds of the walkers and all we could see was the terror in the faces of the two survivors.  It was pretty riveting stuff, even if I was sure they’d make it out, being the beginning of the episode and all.

I liked Beth’s quest for her first taste of alcohol.  Her father’s gone, everyone else might be as well, it’s probably just a matter of time before she is, so… why the hell not?  Drink up, Beth!  At least it gave them a temporary goal, something to do other than just sitting and rotting in the middle of the woods.

Could you imagine if Beth wound up with Bob the drunk instead of Daryl?

It was interesting to see Daryl and Beth explore two very different locations, one being a country club for richer folks and the other a run-down house of a dirty redneck family.  In a way, it kind of mirrored the two of them and their very different upbringings and personalities.  Beth represented the fancy, high-income folks at the country club, which could explain why Daryl was so hostile towards her as she represented the things he used to hate about society.  Daryl felt right at home in that old, beaten-down shack, so if not for the end of the world, people like Beth and Daryl probably never would have crossed paths.

Now, all they have is each other.

Some people are already “shipping” Daryl and Beth, clamoring for a romance between the two.  Personally, I don’t see it that way, and I don’t think Daryl would, either.  I think the two of them merely arrived at having a much greater respect for one another.  I feel like Daryl is so introverted with women and sex or a relationship wasn’t even on his mind.  I think he really just wants to look after Beth and he’s becoming more of a guardian for her rather than a lover.

I liked the symbolism of burning down the house in the end.  In the episode, we learned that Daryl was still somewhat clinging to his troublesome past, such as instinctively gathering money and jewels as if that junk was still valuable.  Burning down the house that reminded him of the abusive and terrible lifestyle he had always lived could only be therapeutic for Daryl and help him continue to evolve into the much better man he has become.

I think it was good for the show to give Daryl and Beth both some much-needed character development.  I found myself caring about each of them so much more by the episode’s end.  I’m ready to hook back up and touch base with everyone else now, though, and hope we all can get back together before too long.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 410 ‘Inmates’ Review

Inmates was an interesting episode of The Walking Dead which answered some more of our lingering questions we’ve had since the prison battle, while still leaving things open enough to leave me dying to see the next show.  It was an interesting format seeing the different stories of each group play out on their own, although it was a little confusing at first being out of order.  However I love the dynamic of seeing all of the random little groups out on their own, and it’s gripping to see each of them struggle.

Daryl Dixon and Beth Greene were an interesting pair.  It was weird to see Daryl as the one to want to pretty much give up, while a heartbroken Beth tried to retain her optimism.  I liked seeing the two of them tracking together to find other survivors, only to discover a macabre scene.  What I didn’t like about this part was how it was unclear whether the boot Beth discovers really belonged to Luke (a little boy that was hardly shown in previous episodes, and who Beth believed the tracks belonged to).  I think she assumed it to belong to one of the kids from the prison, or perhaps the reality of the situation was hitting hard as she was starting to believe everyone else from the prison was dead and she’d never see any of them again.

I was so elated to see that Judith survived the prison massacre!  Because of the unbuckled car seat, as well as the lack of gore there should have been had Judith been devoured at that scene, I assumed her to be alive. However, I wasn’t sure, and I knew it was just as likely that she was dead.  So, when Tyreese revealed himself to be carrying the baby, it was one of the happiest moments of the show for me.

Obviously, they took that away moments later when that little psychopath Lizzie attempting to smother the poor baby to death.  My smile from Judith’s reveal had faded and I became speechless.  Without a doubt, the scene was one of the most disturbing of the entire series, and thinking about it now still haunts me.  I couldn’t believe that they’d reveal Judy to be alive, only to show her get murdered in such a heinous way.

Needless to say, I’ve never been happier to see Carol.  I was able to celebrate for Judith once again when Mrs. Peletier appeared with that poor baby in her arms.  I’ve seen others refer to Carol’s return as anti-climactic, but the opposite effect happened with me.  I really believed Judith was dying in that moment, so I thought it was awesome to see Carol return just in time to save her, even if that is a little theatrical.

Maggie’s bus scene was pretty suspenseful, I thought.  I saw Glenn in the previews, so I figured he wasn’t on the bus.   However, the scene was so well done, that I still found it incredibly suspenseful.  Maggie didn’t know Glenn was alive, and I could definitely feel for her as she examined every walker in and out of the bus.  Sure, Glenn wasn’t on the bus, but that just means he’s out there somewhere, dead or alive, without her knowing for sure.  It’s a sad thing to see all of these characters handling these emotions in their own painful ways.

I’m happy Tara survived, because I find her to be a really interesting character.  When the Governor talked about his plan to take the prison, Tara was quick to support him, and acted like she was a badass until the shit hit the fan.  When she saw the carnage first hand, she realized she wasn’t as tough as she thought and did what a lot of us would do in that situation; she ran and hid.  I thought her actions were very realistic.  The prison battle also meant the deaths of her niece and sister, the last of her remaining family, so I can only imagine the weight of the guilt she must be carrying.  Ultimately, I can’t help but feel badly for her, so I’m kind of rooting for her.

Glenn also had a great showing in this episode, and the show did a great job of making me care about Glenn again.  Still fighting his sickness, I thought Glenn looked badass exploring what was left of the prison by himself, even if it seemed a little unlikely when he escaped getting completely swarmed (although to be honest, I really thought he might die in that moment).

Seeing the prison itself was also cool, yet still sad, in a way.  While the pacing of the show has already greatly improved since leaving the prison, and it’s definitely time for us to move past it, I’ve got to admit that I’m still going to miss it.  The prison  storyline as a whole may not have been executed as flawlessly as in the comics, but it’s still the iconic prison, and after Glenn through those wrecked fences, we’re never going to see it again.  Farewell, prison, and take care of the bodies (and head) left behind.

Oh!  I can’t forget to mention the introduction of Abraham, Eugene and Rosita.  I’m a huge comic book fan, so I’m happy about their inclusion, but unfortunately I thought this group’s introduction was the weakest part of the episode.  I thought their reveal was very cheesy, and I thought the show actually made them look a little too much like their comic book counterparts.  They almost looked like cartoon characters, and maybe they should’ve been tweaked to look more like people in real life.  I’m happy they’re on the show now and I look forward to seeing this story play out on the small screen, but like I said, I just thought the reveal was a bit cheesy.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 402 ‘Infected”

Episode 402 picked up right where we left off with the premiere.  While the walkers on the outside are still a threat, we are now dealing with something that is potentially much scarier.  The mysterious and contagious illness has gone beyond infecting (and killing) Patrick and has already spread through the prison.  If pretty much everybody has been exposed, then it’s totally up in the air as to who will get sick and who might survive.

The biggest mystery we have now after completing this episode has got to be, ‘Who killed Karen and David?’  Karen had shown symptoms of her illness, and the next thing you know, she’s been burnt to a crisp.  It’s kind of a shame for her character to luck out enough to be the sole survivor of the Governor’s assault only to wind up murdered and burned because she started coughing.

So, who was the culprit?  Whoever did this was likely not wanting the sickness to spread any further, and killed the two victims in an attempt to prevent that.  However, this was obviously not agreed upon by the council members, so somebody went into business for his or herself.  Most people seem to be suspicious of Bob (the former medic), Dr. S (the new doctor from Woodbury) and even Lizzie and Mika (the two little girls).  Personally, I think they are all wrong, and I’m putting my money on Carol.

Think about it.  Carol has already proven that she will go against the council if she passionately feels she is doing the right thing, as was the case with her knife school.  She knew the other adults wouldn’t approve of that idea, so she kept it to herself.  Now that Carol has pretty much ‘adopted’ Lizzie and Mika, I could see her getting paranoid about the virus infecting the children, so she disposed of them.  It can be argued as to whether this is ‘good’ or ‘evil’, but we do know that the illness works very fast and time was a factor.  I will also point out that Carol was very concerned about it during the council meeting.  She pointed out how the virus makes its victims a threat to others, and suggested that they can’t just wait around to see what happens.  She was also the one that first confronted Karen when she heard her coughing from outside of the room.

The other ‘whodunnit?’ we got from the episode is the situation with the rats.  Who exactly is feeding vermin to the walkers on the outside?  Again, Lizzie and Mika are a popular subject of speculation, mostly due to Lizzie’s fascination with the zombies (notably her favorite, Nick).  However, I don’t think that theory holds any water.  The height of the person would need to be equal or greater than that of the zombies, unless she snuck a stool out there.  I also don’t get why she would only feed the walkers at the crowded section of the fence and leaving nothing for Nick, her special zombie.

We also saw that this person was not feeding the whole rats to the zombies, only the heads while leaving the remains in a bundle on the ground.  What would be the point in only offering a small taste to the walkers at the most built-up section of the fence?  I feel that this person is a traitor and that they are deliberately trying to rile the walkers up to weaken the integrity of the fence.  Of course, that does leave the question as to who would possibly want to ruin the safety of their own home?

I’ve got this theory that Bob could be a plant working for the Governor.  The guy just happens to get picked up a week before, and now somebody is trying to compromise the group’s safe haven?  Admittedly, my big problem with this idea is that it is hard to think of a good motive for Bob to do such a heinous thing.  He has seen that there are small children at this prison, and the group has already even saved his life (apart from rescuing him originally and bringing him in).  I haven’t been able to come up with a good answer for that, unless either Bob is just really evil or the Governor is holding his family hostage.  I just still think he’s the most likely culprit compared to everybody else, as I also wouldn’t even have any theories as to why any other character would want to endanger the group.

Possibly, for both cases of the rat feeding and body burning, it could be the work of a character we haven’t seen yet.  There are still a lot of Woodburians floating around that we haven’t quite gotten to know.

It is hard for me to pick which scene from this episode was more emotional.  It is a toss-up between Michonne’s breakdown while holding Judith and Rick sacrificing those cute piglets to the walkers.  It was heartbreaking to see Michonne’s emotional guard finally break down when tending to Judith obviously triggered some very painful memories for her.  On the other hand, those three little piggies were very cute, and it was bothersome to see them cut up and devoured.  You gotta do what you gotta do, though, right?

All in all, this was a fantastic episode.  We will see how the rest of the season plays out, but I am already liking Scott Gimple’s direction of the show far better than where Glen Mazzara was taking it.  In many ways, season 4 almost seems like a reboot of the show, which was necessary as I feel Mazzara kind of left things in an inconsistent mess, and Gimple had a little bit of cleaning up to do.  The guy seems to have found the perfect balance between zombie action and character development.  I’m looking forward to the next one.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, episode 401 ’30 Days Without an Accident’

The season 4 opener of The Walking Dead broke its own record once again with over 16 million viewers tuning in.  After what many had deemed a disappointing finale for the third season, I was wondering if people were simply going to move on by the time the show had returned.  I couldn’t have been more wrong, as the numbers have clearly gone up, even after a painfully long wait over the summer.

Good thing for all of those who stuck with the show and watched the premiere, because it was pretty fantastic, in my humble opinion.  This was the first episode under the tenure of the new showrunner Scott M. Gimple, who has replaced Glen Mazzara.  A lot of people, myself included, feel Mazzara botched some of the storylines in the last season (such as Andrea’s death and an underwhelming finale).  I was curious to see the direction Gimle would take the show, and it seems things may be just fine under his thumb.

Scott M. Gimple didn’t seem to waste any time getting back into the swing of things.  Several new storylines and subplots were set up that already have my dying to find out what happens next.  It seems the new man in charge has a plan for every one of our main and supporting characters, although any newcomers to the cast will be on thin ice it we have learned anything from the premiere.

I’m so happy to see Rick get his humanity back.  I didn’t care for the dark path he was heading down in the last season.  Hey, I like good guy Rick.  The man has his compassion back and has even become a better father for his children, even having a heart when it comes to the animals.  His interactions with creepy Clara from the woods were very interesting.  It was obvious Rick wanted to help this woman, but still knew enough to keep his guard up.  I wonder if the bagged head was a reference to chapter five of the video game, which also featured a man carrying a bag containing his wife’s severed head.

Novel and comic fans might recognize Bob’s character, the former medic and recovering alcoholic.  The biggest differences are that Bob on the show is a younger black man, compared to the print version that features him as an old white guy living in Woodbury.  I personally  don’t mind the differences in appearance, as it’s not the first deviation from the source material, and he has such a small role in the comics anyway.  It seems like there is a plan for him on the show moving forward though, and I’ve got to admit, he peaks my interest.  He was able to put the bottle down in the Big Spot, but what happens the next time the opportunity comes along?  Is he going to give in to his temptations while on a run, and is that going to get himself or others killed?

I love Michonne and her horse.  She just looks badass on that thing, and I can’t wait to see her riding by and decapitating zombies on it.    I guess the good thing to come from the death of Andrea is Michonne’s determination for revenge.  I like the idea that she is hunting the Governor down.  It seems dangerous, but remember, the guy is a madman and he knows where the prison is.  With nothing left to lose, I am sure he wants to return and cause some more destruction, so here’s hoping Michonne can track him down first.  What really got me curious was her decision to head to Macon, which fans of the game will recognize as being Lee Everett’s hometown.  Will we see a cameo from Lee and Clementine on the show?  I certainly wouldn’t mind!

Could they be setting up a romance with Beth and Daryl?  I never would have thought it before, given the age gap between the two.  I guess that stuff just isn’t as important in the zombie apocalypse.  Andrea and Dale had their romance in the comics, after all.  Beth and Daryl could have just been providing each other with comfort after Zacks death, but that hug looked a little more touchy-feely and your average “There, there,” type of gesture.  We can’t forget about Carol’s infatuation with Daryl, though.  If he starts laying the pipe down on a younger, pretty blonde, would that push Carol off the deep end?

Patrick seemed like an interesting enough character, and it’d at least have been nice for Carl to have someone closer to his age to bond with.  However, I suppose you are never safe, even behind the prison walls.  Whatever made the kid so sick was apparently nasty enough to go from Patrick feeling a little nausea at storytime to bleeding from the face while lying dead on the ground in a few hours time.  Is this related to Violet the pig dying outside?  Are we seeing an outbreak of the swine flu within the prison walls?

This was a very strong season opener in my opinion.    There were enough walker kills to keep fans of the action happy, and the introduction of some new storylines certainly have my attention.  I hope to see the show continue to deliver as the story progresses.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 315 ‘This Sorrowful Life’

Warning, spoilers ahead!

With only one episode to go until the finale, This Sorrowful Life was a pretty incredible episode.  What an ending!  What an ending. 😦

I can’t believe Merle is dead!  I’ve got to say, his death was one of the most dramatic so far in the series.  Merle was no angel, but how sad was it to see Daryl discover his brother as a walker?  That was so much worse than if he had just found his dead body.  It got me when Daryl kept shoving Merle away, delaying putting him down as long as he could while processing his death.  They had only been recently reunited and just as quickly, Merle has died.

I didn’t like how Merle went ahead and kidnapped Michonne, even though he knew full well that wouldn’t make the Governor back off.  But I think Merle was just so desperate to protect his brother at the prison he was willing to give it a shot.  Even Rick was considering it, though Merle knew he wouldn’t do it. 

I definitely enjoyed Merle’s turnaround.  He decided to release Michonne and go after the Governor himself, and in doing so, went out in a blaze of glory.  His plan of ambushing the Woodbury folk worked well, and he would have even killed the Governor if that bastard Ben hadn’t stepped in the way.  He took out a chunk of their soldiers though, which will help in the upcoming war, though his presence will definitely be missed in said battle.

With all the craziness unfolding with Woodbury, Michonne and the Dixons, I’d almost forget that there was a marriage proposal on the show.  Only in the world of the Walking Dead can you propose to your girlfriend with terrifying ghouls on the other side of the fence trying to break in and kill you, and have her say yes without batting an eye.  I did like how he found a diamond ring on a walker.

The season finale will be insane, I am sure.  Merle’s death in itself was big, and topping that for the finale will require something crazy.  I am expecting heavy losses on both sides in the war.  On Rick’s group, I’m thinking the death toll will include Beth, Hershel, Carol and Judith :(.  In Woodbury’s crew, including Milton, Martinez and the Governor himself, I think will all perish. 

I think Andrea will find some way to escape and make her way to the battle.  Maybe she will be the one to kill the Governor?  If Gov dies, the likely candidates to kill him in my opinion are Andrea or Daryl, or even a Woodbury defector like Milton, Tyreese or a random soldier (like Karen? That woman with the asthmatic son.)

I think Morgan may show up again, either to aid the group in battle, or to be executed by the Governor.  Woodbury knew about Rick’s gun run, so I wondered if he was followed somehow, resulting in Morgan’s capture.  Either way, if Morgan shows up, he’s probably a goner.  Honestly, I prefer his fate left back in King’s County rather than showing up again just to die real quick.

Tyreese I see as a wildcard; I’m sure his sister and Allen will die, but Ty has a chance of defecting and joining up with Rick’s group.  He is just as likely to get a bullet through the face, though.  And these are all just guesses.  I could be totally wrong, and I just honestly have no idea what exactly will happen, other than that the body count will be high.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 313 Arrow on the Doorpost

Arrow on the Doorpost, the thirteenth episode of the third season of the Walking Dead, maintained a slower pace in comparison to the shootout that happened a few episodes back, but it seems evident they are merely building towards an explosive season finale. By “slow,” I don’t mean that it was uninteresting, only that there was a lot of dialogue with little action. Personally, I just eat this stuff up. It gives us more time to develop these characters and care about them a little more. For example, Martinez finally showed another side to him that we haven’t really seen. It wasn’t much, but when he confided in Daryl about the Governor’s intent to kill off the prison group regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, it showed that he at least isn’t as heartless as his boss. He also revealed how he used to be a family man who had changed quite a bit since the onset of the apocalypse. Martinez is a man who would have been a decent guy under other circumstances, but now does whatever he can to survive, even if it means working under a menace. Plus, Martinez and Daryl’s walker-killing competition was pretty sweet, so I think I ended up caring a little more about Martinez by the end of the show, even if he’s living on borrowed time. When I noticed Rick and Daryl had both came along on the trip, I realized Merle had been left behind with Glenn and Michonne. I knew that was a recipe for disaster. Even if Merle’s idea of going after the Governor had some merit, there was no way the group was going to let him leave. Michonne and Glenn showed their loyalty to the group while Merle maintained his maverick ways, which of course resulted in a scuffle. Thank God Beth showed up with that handgun when she did, because it looked like Merle was about to slice up Glenn’s face! It does make me continue to question Merle’s presence in the group. Daryl can keep him at bay when he’s around, but as we saw, Merle can be quite a loose cannon when he is alone. Maybe Merle should be locked in a cellblock when his brother ain’t around, but of course we know he wouldn’t like that too much. Merle’s a strong fighter and definitely somebody the group needs on their side when the shit hits the fan, but damn, is he hard to trust. “Good for Glenn!” I thought when he and Maggie got it on like they used to back in season two. I didn’t like how they were at odds after their Woodbury trauma, but it’s quite apparent now that things are a-OK with the two of them. I still can’t believe Rick didn’t shoot the Governor the second he saw him in that barn. His henchmen weren’t even around yet, and here he was with this nightmare who intends to kill them all. I think it helped with Rick visiting Morgan and regaining some of his sense. If this meeting happened before that, ol’ crazy Rick may not have been as willing to talk. Speaking or Morgan, I can’t help being afraid for his safety. The Governor revealed to Rick how he knew about their gun run, so it’s possible they were somehow followed or tracked to King’s County. Could Morgan be captured for leverage against the group if the Michonne deal falls through? I really hope not. I would rather not see Morgan again, thinking of his fate and new role as the one who “clears” the world of walkers, than to have him show up just to get killed off real quick. I know Rick is considering the Michonne deal with the Gov, and I’m just a little disappointed about that. Rick even acknowledged that the Governor would kill them all anyway, even if they gave her to Woodbury, so I hate to see him think about such a cold offer. I guess I get it, since Rick has a son and daughter to care for, but he needs to wise up. Michonne is one of their best warriors, so willingly handing her over would be logically ill-advised aside from just being plain wrong. Michonne has earned her place within the group. In the end, though, I’m confident Rick will realize what’s going on and tell the Governor to go straight to Hell.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 311 ‘I Ain’t a Judas’

After the intense episode that was 310, it seemed natural to slow things down for a little while.  Episode 311 was definitely a recovery episode in the sense that it remained story-driven with little emphasis on action.  While we were catching our breaths after last episode’s assault, I Ain’t a Judas introduced us to the aftermath of the attack on both sides of the equation with poor Andrea caught in the middle.

Before I talk about the episode, let me take a second to address all of this Andrea hatred from many fans of the show.  It seemed that since Lori’s gone on to the big purple flannel factory in the sky, her haters were left without a lead woman to constantly bitch about.  Rather than attending therapy or at least taking their anger out on computer-generated enemies in violent video games, everybody simply decided to switch gears and start laying it on Andrea.

People, you’ve got to realize that the characters don’t always know what we, the viewers, know.  We can be disappointed with her falling for the Governor, since we knew what kind of despicable person he really was, but we can’t get pissed at her for not knowing that.  All she knew was that everything seemed safe in Woodbury compared to her eight months on the road and this handsome leader began putting the moves on her.  I’m willing to bet that any woman in that situation would’ve done the same thing.

Instead, Andrea’s “stupid,” even though she didn’t know about his murderous dark side (the walker heads and Penny was disturbing, but not that much weirder than her hanging out with Michonne’s pets for eight months, or Hershel’s zombie-filled barn).  And, Andrea’s a “slut,” even though she’s only been with two people since the start of the apocalypse, in a world where it’s extremely difficult to find any form of romantic comfort.

We can concede that Andrea doesn’t have the best picks with her men, but we’ve also got to remember that options are very limited, and out of those of us who have dated multiple people, who hasn’t made some mistakes?

In any case, after Michonne revealed to Andrea the Governor’s true colors, you could see everything clicking in Andrea’s eyes.  She knows what’s up now, but all the same, she doesn’t want anymore bloodshed.  A lot of people will give her shit for not offing the Governor when she had the chance, but I think they’re not fully understanding her position if that is the case.  While Maggie and others from Rick’s group have killed humans at this point, Andrea never has.  It’s quite a leap to go from that to slicing a man’s throat while he sleeps, even if he is an asshole.

It was very interesting seeing Andrea reunite with her long-lost friends in the prison.  I almost forgot she didn’t even know of the deaths of Shane, Lori and T-Dog, which had to be upsetting to hear.  Everybody has suffered so much loss, I can see why she wants to end the carnage as peacefully as possible.  Obviously, though, that’s not going to happen.

It seems Tyreese and friends have made their way to Woodbury.  The Governor no doubt would appreciate their services, but I’m hoping Tyreese thinks better of trying to help Woodbury attack the prison group.  Tyreese knows and respects all of the group members except Rick, and he knows there’s a baby there whom he’s already shown sympathy for.  I can’t see him willingly firing on the prison with that in mind.  I’m sure Sasha, his sister, will back him up should he choose not to go along with that, but those assholes Allen and Ben will definitely be a problem.

I wonder if the Governor will find out from Tyreese’s group that there’s a baby in the prison?  It will certainly make the Governor that much more despicable if he follows through with his attack, even with that information.

I was a little surprised to see Merle freely walking around the prison and later even holding a machine gun.  It sure seems like he was forgiven a little quickly, doesn’t it?  I’d figure they’d keep him in a cell like he was in the beginning of the episode.  Even with Daryl vouching for him, his inclusion still makes me a little uneasy.  Great call from Rick not to take Daryl on the supply run, so he can keep an eye on Merle.  I’m sure Merle will stay in line with his brother around, but I know I wouldn’t want to be left alone with him.  Evidently and understandably, though, it seems Glenn and Michonne still have not quite buried the hatchet there.

I’m pretty excited for the next episode.  My favorite badasses from the comics, Rick and Michonne, are going on a roadtrip!  It almost sounds like a comedy spin-off, but I’m sure the ride will be mostly full of awkward silence until they encounter inevitable major problems.  Or maybe they’ll just find a White Castle.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 310 ‘Home’

This blog contains heavy spoilers. Lori is back! Well, sort of. I actually loved seeing Sarah Wayne Callies again. In Rick’s vision of Lori, she looked better than she ever had on the show, and it was a touching image. Everybody copes in their own ways, and now that Rick has acknowledged these hallucinations I believe he is making progress. Now that the group is under attack, though, he’s going to have to work extra hard to keep it together. I hate to see Maggie and Glenn lashing out at each other. They barely escaped Woodbury with their lives with an impending war, and now they’re at odds. I guess they’re coping with her sexual assault in different ways, but I’m sure they will work it out. This episode developed the Dixon brothers and their relationship incredibly well. The scene where Daryl and a reluctant Merle saving a passing family from walkers, and then Daryl saving said family’s belongings from Merle, told us a lot about both brothers. The reveal of how Merle and Daryl originally planned to pillage the group in season 1 served to show exactly how much Daryl has changed while Merle has remained the same. Obviously, I always liked Axel, and have been disappointed with his lack of screen time. This episode provided Axel with a lot more to do and say, including the humorous details behind his arrest. As with Carol, I’ve really begun to appreciate the twirly-mustached fellow, and I liked the optimism he brought to the show. He even managed to throw in another, “You follow me?” to Carol for good measure. With that said, I’m sure my cries could be heard miles away when our beloved Axel took a bullet through the brain. There will be no more following of Axel on the Walking Dead, and that fact brings a tear to my eye. At least his death was as graceful as could be. He died with a smile on his face, in the presence of a lady, content with where he was in life, with no pain, suffering or awareness of his death. We also know he won’t turn, and even in his passing, helped save Carol’s life. The angels will follow you up to that big prison in the sky, Axel. You’ll be missed! There wasn’t much time to grieve, though. The Governor had launched his assault and everyone was under fire. This really kept me on the edge of my seat, as with Axel gone, there was a very real possibility someone else would get hit. I was pulling for all of them, and thankfully they were all lucky enough to survive, even with a zombie version of the Trojan horse. It kicked ass to see the Dixons make it back to the prison, though I still can’t help but wonder how this will go down. Glenn and Michonne are not going to be thrilled, exactly. Merle has done some evil things, but does he have valuable information about the man attacking them? At a time when extra soldiers are badly needed, is it wise to turn him away? I really don’t know how this is going to go down, but I’m ecstatic to find out.

Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 309 ‘The Suicide King’

This blog contains heavy spoilers.

Finally, the Dixon brothers are reunited and once again out on their own.  I figured Merle wouldn’t actually want to kill his baby brother, but I also knew he would never be welcomed back into Rick’s group.  Daryl’s brother or not, Merle hunted Michonne, then kidnapped Maggie and Glenn, and even tried to have a walker kill Glenn.  I’d say Merle’s just lucky Rick stopped Michonne and Glenn from killing Merle on the spot.

It’s sad to see Daryl go, but he is between a rock and a hard place.  He was forced to make a choice, and how hard would it be to walk away from his big brother who he has known all his life and presumed long gone?  In any case, with or without Merle, I think Daryl will second guess this decision and return to help protect the prison.  After all, he’s grown a special bond with all of these people, including baby Judith, and they’ve become pretty tight-knit amongst themselves.

Maggie’s really come a long way from the innocent little farm girl that she used to be.  After shoving that walker bone in some poor sap’s neck, now she’s gone and murdered Haley with a well-placed sniper round.  I get it, though; Daryl’s safety was the priority, and Haley stood nearby with an assault rifle.  She probably would have gunned down Daryl without a second thought if Maggie didn’t put her down.

Glenn, however, seems to be taking the Woodbury kidnapping experience a lot worse.  It makes sense, as he was the one severely beaten and barely escaped with his life, only to see the love of his life sexually violated.  At the time, he was powerless to stop it, but now, I think he’s hellbent on cold, hard vengeance.  It’s interesting to see him toughen up quite so much, but let’s just hope he doesn’t do anything too stupid and get himself killed.

Tyreese has proven to be a smart, good-hearted and rational-thinking guy by this point, on top of being a physical powerhouse.  He would be an incredible asset to the group, especially in the wake of Daryl’s absence.  He has grown on me pretty quickly and I hope he is officially let into the group soon, along with his crew.

It was great to see Lori again… sort of.  I liked that they kept her face completely darkened, though.  It really made it a lot creepier.  Just when I start thinking Rick is pulling himself together, he completely unravels.  I realize there is so much going on at once, but the group is going to need him to put his mental issues on hold before the Governor makes his way to the prison. Rick’s pretty damn scary these days.