Blogging Dead: The Walking Dead, Episode 409 ‘After’

The Walking Dead returned February 9th after a painful wait.  The deaths of Hershel and the Governor, along with questions about Judith’s fate and the destruction of the prison, left us all wondering what happens next with our remaining characters.  After picks up right where we left off, dividing its time between Rick, Carl and Michonne, in what ended up becoming the best episode of the season thus far.

First of all, I loved Hershel, but I enjoyed the cameo made by his head.  I couldn’t help but be impressed by the realism of his noggin, and Greg Nicotero certainly deserves respect for his work on it.  Michonne putting him down was a nice nod to the comics in which she does the same, but to a different character that was beheaded by the Governor.

I’ve already heard a lot of complaints about how Michonne reverted back to her “walker pet” technique to camouflage herself amongst the zombies.  I can understand how it seems nonsensical, but this doesn’t break any rules that the show hasn’t established.  I think of Milton back in season three, talking about her previous pets, where he said something like, “Take away their ability to eat, and they become docile.”  Somehow, they know when they can’t attack and somehow just become even more mindless.  It’s weird, but we still don’t know a damn thing about the virus or how it exactly works, so I couldn’t begin to explain to you the science behind it.  I still wouldn’t recommend trying it, though.

I especially loved Michonne’s dream sequence, even if it took more than one viewing to fully understand it.  Everything about it was so surreal, while at the same time giving us slices of the zombie slayer’s mysterious past.  I felt so horribly for Michonne, who in her dream was holding her son in her arms in one moment, and then in the next he was gone… that’s probably a lot like how it felt like in real life for her when she evidently lost him.

The scenes with Rick and Carl were incredibly accurate to what happened in the comics, which I guess proves that Scott Gimple is preferring to stay closer to the original story than the last showrunner was willing to.  I’m all for deviation, but it scares me a little after the show fumbled quite a bit with the Woodbury and prison storyline, which was probably the peak of the books.  This episode, meanwhile, stayed very close to its source material, and ended up becoming my favorite episode of season four so far.    So I suppose I don’t have any problems with adhering to the original story.

I also thought this was a great developmental episode for Carl.  I felt that the episode told a great self-contained story with him, showing needed character progression.  It was sad seeing him admire the big-screen television and stack of video games before realizing he would never be able to play them again.  After narrowly avoiding death multiple times when he was on his own, and coming to terms with the fact that he’s still a kid unfit to survive on his own, I felt so happy for him when he got to enjoy that 112 ounce can of pudding on the roof.  In that moment, he was a kid again, and nothing else mattered.

I especially loved the end of the episode.  I found it to be very touching, and a fitting finale of a great show.

“It’s for you.”

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 312 ‘Clear’

Holy crap, what a hell of an amazing episode. The Walking Dead’s twelfth episode of its third season served as a kind of standalone from the others. ‘Clear’ saw the return of Morgan, a character who a lot of us have been waiting to hear from again. It was awesome to see him again, even if it turns out things hadn’t been going too well for him since the last time we saw him. I’ve gotta say, I’m pretty impressed with Morgan’s elaborate set-up in the new King’s County. Apparently, he’s been keeping busy fortifying the place and scrounging up any and all supplies in the area. Coming up with caged animals to lure walkers into booby trips is also an incredibly genius idea. I was sad to learn of Duane’s passing, especially knowing it was because of the fact that Morgan couldn’t put his wife down when he had the chance. That mistake costed him his son’s life, and that’s just so very tragic. I can’t blame the guy for completely going off the deep end. He was even more far gone than Rick, which I think helped Rick to see that he was on that very same path if he couldn’t get his act together. I can understand why Morgan didn’t come back with Rick. I love the character, and his actor as well, who did an amazing job. But, I think Morgan’s found his new place in the zombie apocalypse. With nothing else left to live for, Morgan’s dedicated his life to clearing the world of the walkers. That’s his only purpose now, and I think it’s better to leave it that way than for him to tag along back to the prison just to inevitably eat a Governor bullet. I think it’s possible we may see him again though, since he’s still alive. Honestly, though, it seems like a good ending for the story of Morgan, and it might cheapen that if they bring him back later just to kill him off real quick. Michonne’s finally showing her personality and I love it. Seeing her smile at Carl helps us see that she is human underneath her stone cold exterior after all. She still has her trust issues and callousness with strangers, but I’m thinking she has her reasons for that. But it seems she and Rick are finally accepting each other, which was a big geek out moment for me since they are two of my favorite badasses. I couldn’t help but feel terrible for the poor hitchhiker, though. It’s a tricky situation, where I can understand why they didn’t stop for him. For all they knew, he was a Woodbury scout posing as a helpless straggler, or he could’ve wanted to try and kill them or take the car. Rick had his son with him along with someone else he didn’t quite trust. It still seemed cold, though, especially the second time they saw him. I guess that’s the world they’re living in now. The line of the episode, though, is of course, “The mat said welcome.”