For a penultimate episode of the winter season, last night’s The Walking Dead could’ve hardly been more perfect, moving all the parts into place, highlighting what a despicable couple of villains we are dealing with, and establishing conflicts of loyalty. It was an insanely intense episode, another strong one in a series of strong episodes this season. There’s been no letdown.
One quick reminder before we get started: As usual, please limit graphic novel spoilers to the thread at the bottom of the page created by Maske.
1. The Continuing Evolution of Carl, Bad Ass Mother Killer — The Michonne zombie perfume trick only lasted so long before even those brain-dead zombies caught on and lunged toward her.
Leave it to Carl to save Michonne, taking out a couple of zombies on her behalf and earning an elevation of his Uproxx badge for next year. Carl, in season four, you will now be placed above Axel (assuming Axel lives). You’ve earned it, kid. Three months ago, you and Lori were the least liked characters on the show, and now you’ve earned our respect.
2. Judith Grimes — Later on, Rick gives Carl a man of the house speech in one of those Leave It To Beaver moments. Then Carl decides to name Lil Ass Kicker the much less glamorous Judith, which sounds like an elementary school teacher or the Mom in Who’s the Boss. Damn, Carl. That’s the best you could come up with? Way to ruin all your good will. YOU’RE BADGE LEVEL IS BUSTED BACK DOWN. I’ll still put him ahead of Beth, Hershel’s other daughter, who I nearly forgot existed until last night.
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This show just keeps getting better and better. So glad we don’t have to watch them on that stupid farm anymore.
Anyone else think it was kind of fucked up to kill the hermit? I mean, dude was just chilling at home, people break in, he gets mad, they kill him. Michonne couldn’t have used the butt of her katana to knock him out? I get that he was gonna get them killed, but shit man.
I thought the exact same thing when I first saw it, and that Rick just allowed it. But ultimately the dude was an idiot, probably had overdue library books and the gang needed a distraction to get away from that herd.
My prediction for next week’s episode:
Carl single-handedly takes out the guys that the governor has sent to check out the prison.
Jesse and Merle lay eyes on each other, subtly nod, and kill everyone else (except for an amnesiac Maggie, who hit her head and has forgotten how to wear shirts).
Jesse and Merle head back to the prison, kill Carl for naming his sister Judith, and raise little Ass Kicker as their own.
The survivors throw a big party, while the force ghosts of Obi Wan, Yoda, and Dale watch, smiling.
And Thats What Happens When You Piss Off The Pizza Guy!!!!! Merle Vs Pissed Off Glen !!!!!!! Who WOuld Win FIndout On Episode 8 at least i hope
One on one, Merle would be the shit out of Glenn
*beat
me no type gud
Governor: “Hey, are you that topless chick from Van Wilder 2?”
Maggie: “Uh, no.”
Governor: “Really? You look just like her.”
Maggie: “They made a Van Wilder 2?”
Governor: “You’re fucking with me. Only one way to settle this: Take off that top and let me see them tittes.”
And f.y.i did we quickly forget T-Dog uttered the immortal line “Oh hell nawl!”? Pretty sure on this show sassy black stereotype and Token Black Character go together like PB&J.
Fuckin Judith…… Good one Carl, apparently TWD takes place in 1943.
“Ass – Kicker” and the addition of Michonne to the team is just perfect!! You´re right, this is a nail.chewing epi of #TWD!!
fantastic episode, cant wait for the showdown.
cant wait to see this episode
I wonder if the Governor is going to repeat his Maggie torture on Hershel next episode.
I don’t want to see Hershel without his shirt on. I can most assuredly tell you I don’t want to see him get raped by The Governor either.
that episode was so much bad ass. especially with glenn. dude’s been getting more and more metal every week.
Andrea has zero ounces of sexy. You watch your mouth.
Agreed. Even when we got a shot of her thong, all I could think about was her shooting Daryl in the head.
More Michonne, more killin’. That’s all.
I really thought once Glenn knocked the zombie over he was going to impale it with the chair leg.
I was screaming at him through the TV to do just that. I gotta start taking Valium before watching this show for now on.
Exactly! Since their heads are as soft as rotten fruit I too thought that would be his move.
Milton’s character exists in pretty any sort of horror movie/tv show, but goddamn if he’s not annoying. Accept the reality of your situation you goddamned idiot!
Badge whore signing in. I have to say this show is very exciting.
Damn it, how many more comments do I have to leave to get the next one!
Is it number of comments that counts or number of times you retweet or post to facebook? Click, damn you. Click.
I don’t know. What I do know is that I don’t want to have Carl’s badge any longer, his badge is just about as bad as a Judith badge. Damn Carl.
Hi, Badge Whore!
… and that comment got me up to Rick.
Hi, if I talk about this after I’ve actually watch it, will you all come back to read my insightful commentary?
No?
Can I at least earn new badges? I’m pretty sick of whoever I’m stuck on right now.
I wish you well in your attempt to earn new badges.
After the mid season finally, when is it coming back on?
Sometime after the new year. Season 2 rebooted in February, if that’s any indication, I dunno.
February.
Better not be later than February this year.
I hate this mid-season break crap. I’d rather they just wait until a complete season is ready to go before they start airing shows. These breaks give me the DTs.
hard to watch the governor scene with my wife…
she keeps asking for spoilers, especially about merle and daryl… and se doesn’t seem to get that the comic book and the TV show differ….
I learned long ago to not watch a rape with my wife. It is a lesson I had to learn twice before I got the hint.
What? There was no rape in that scene.
Merle’s Chinese Food joke about the zombie eating Glenn did get me to chuckle.
I think they called it on the blog last week that Merle would make at least 1 asian joke.
That is why it surprised m that I did chuckle. I knew it was coming but I still laughed.
I wonder if the experiment the dumb ass dr/scientist tried to perform was to see if you could somehow return the mind/memories to the gov’s kid. otherwise it seemed really pointless. Or maybe they want to make docile zombie slaves/fighters
So they’re testing to see if the zombies have memories of their former life….seems like they could use the time better trying to come up with a cure. Pump those fuckers full of random chemicals and see what happens.
The last thing you need is a walking bio waste recycling bin right?
The first .gif on number seven was from the week before. Last nights gif would have been better seeing her put on her pants in her underwear
my thoughts exactly
the things i noticed last night
when glenn broke free and killed the zombie i love that he yelled like he was some kind of action hero, and then they dont cut to commercial and u see glenn sort of come back down to earth. showing that average glenn is capable of action hero qualities when backed into a corner.
i hope glenn has put together that merle must have andrea or some kind of information. when he called maggie farm girl. and also when glenn started naming names, the look on merle face was such a give away glenn had to have noticed it.
i wonder is sending the woodbury troops to the farm house was an option to buy some time instead of telling them the truth. they couldve wasted a day atleast going to the farm house and seeing nothing. i know andrea said it was over run by walkers, but they could always have gone back there to look for her, or atleast sold that story
and lastly, the gov, not the part about making maggie strip topless, those moments were hard to watch for us fans, but the part that really hit me was when he held the gun to glenn’s head. he already knew maggie would give up the group if she saw glenn in danger, the gov sees that she was willing to let her self be raped for her love of glenn, so threaten him with death and she will give up the location. that was a chess move worth of benjamin linus. and to top it off he kissed and hugged maggie, in front of glenn while she was still topless. that image will never be erased from glenn’s head and he might not ever be able to love maggie the same way. he has to believe she’s been raped, even tho she hasnt. all because he made her take her top off.
brilliant
A couple of things:
1. Andrea looks to have a nice ass.
2. Maggie has a great body.
3. Judith…really Carl?
4. Glenn is the bad-ass of the week.
I’m none to impresses with Andrea’s face, but what an ass on that one.
Couldn’t agree more
How awesome would have it been after Glenn had killed the zombie, he yelled out “Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?” and then just walked out like a certifiable gangsta.
great episode!
When these past few episodes end,I’m actually angry! Can’t wait for next week!
so CANNOT WAIT for next week. i was so happy when glenn broke out of the chair and went apeshit on that zombie. this season is streets ahead of season two. (and hey. i think judith is a fine name for lil’ ass kicker! even if it was from the comics!)
I don’t get why Carl loved his 3rd grade teacher that much though. Odd.
For as much uproar there was about Darabont getting fired, it was clearly the right thing to do. The second half of season 2 was an improvement, and this season has been amazing.
how could amc get any better? i didn’t realize how lame last season was until i started watching season 3. not that i hated season 2, but damn they upped the ante this year.
Glenn has become quite the bad-ass. I knew him back when he was the wimpy-sounding guy on the radio with Rick when he was in the tank in episode 2.
He was always kind of badass in that he would nominate himself to run through the streets to get shit done. He’s always stepping up.
As an Asian-American man, it’s great to see an awesome character like Glen on a major TV show.
What you dont like the Asian guy on 2 broke girls?
Yo, when Glen broke himself out of that chair and fucked up a zombie at the same time, then went native with all the screaming and stuff, I got chills. Next week, shit gets real!
Was i wrong to laugh at the “he’ll be hungry again in an hour” line?
I just got the lori badge… how is that better than the carl badge?
Because Carl used to be just the worst.
It was a great line, but, far too clever for Merle to come up with.
Cant wait to see Merle get it
Great line. I’m hoping lefty sticks around for a little comic relief.
I was a little infuriated by the whole killing the crazy hermit guy. I mean wtf?
Needed to be done. Dude was gonna screw them over.
why/how was he there in the first place? Hasn’t it been something like a year and a half since the outbreak?
I was confused by this too. Someone so crazy wouldnt have lasted
yeah, it seemed like the woods around his house was pretty infested. Can’t see how he wouldn’t have known about the zombies.
Well, he didn’t seem to notice the rotting dead dog on the floor, so what’s a few cannibals roaming the woods outside your front door? That, or he’s TWD Snow White and Michonne mixed up ‘kiss’ and ‘skewer’
Not to mention he was less than a mile from Woodbury?? Guy still had to eat, drink, and poop. Pretty weak point of the ep. Not even sure why in the middle of this huge wooded area running from zombies you would even lock yourself into a tiny cabin. Just keep it movin’ Rick! Stay in formation!
Why are they waiting so long to have Hershel lose an eye and get a peg leg? If you’re gonna go pirate go full pirate.
You never go full pirate. Dont believe me? Ask Matthew Modine, Cutthroat Island.
I did not see the Modine reference coming. Bravo.
NOBODY expects the Modine reference.
***slow clap***
I realize that the plot needed to move forward to get us where we need to be for the mid season finale, but at some point they are going to have to give us some Michonne backstory. Her character, while badass, is completely one dimensional at this point.
I don’t know if the writers read the negative things people said about the quiet moments from last season, but it seems like that backlash has gotten them to focus on that plot and work in the character development where they can.
Agreed, and im not complaining either, but she needs more backstory at some point. Maybe in the early part of the second half of the season. When things settle down I see someone just asking “So what’s your deal?”
It’d kind of be funny if Hershel just randomly asks Michonne what’s up, only for Michonne to give this long winded story about her existence.
I don’t know, I kind of like not knowing everything. Whatever I can make up in my head is always going to be cooler than anything the show gives us, anyway.
They’ve hinted at it with her knowing the ‘pet’ zombies. I can see them eventually getting further into her life, but I don’t think it’ll come next week.
Yeah, it was pretty great when they just introduced her as the quiet badass, but the perma-scowl on her face is getting a little annoying.
Back story didn’t come in the comics until pretty well into it. She gave little bits and pieces, but the whole thing didn’t come until she was well established in her mysterious bad assery.
Made the whole thing that much better IMO.
I know everyone is going to disagree but Michonne is the worst. Definitely my least favorite character. Hopefully she gets killed soon so we don’t have to wait for any character development.
I enjoyed the Governor’s realization that the group coming for Glenn and Maggie wasn’t going to be a cake walk. Between his comments and Michonne’s about clearing the prison I am gaining a new appreciation of the badass level of the Ricktatorship.
The townsfolk have gotten a bit complacent, it seems. The nomadic lifestyle seems to keep one’s skills sharp.
I can’t recall how many are in the town, but it doesn’t seem like all of them are ruthless killers.
If they were going to plant seeds of doubt with Merle and the Gov, I kind of wish they would have Glenn tell the Gov why Merle was chained up. Maybe even play an extra mind f*ck by asking the Gov if Merle has ever gone on a mission with a colored guy only for Merle to return. That would have made “Neal’s” death more meaningful in terms of long term story telling.
I’m not sure how this finale is going to go down. Both sides are going to lose important supporting characters. I am curious to know what’s going to happen with Daryl and Meryl. After last night, Merle joining the group doesn’t make any sense.Which in TV world means Merle will be killed by Daryl.
Im guessing the first showdown between the group and Mayberry should be a lopsided prison group victory. As we already saw, most of the guards in Mayberry can’t shoot for shit.
Oh, Merle is definitely going to die. I dont think it will be at Daryl’s hands though.
I think Jessica Dwyer’s comment a little lower oin the comments section is more on the right track.
The Governor is supposed to be the major villain of the graphic novels, so I wonder if they’ll want to kill him off after one season, or if Merle is being used as the big bad that will give us a satisfying big bad death while the Governor survives to live another day.
Hmm, both of you raise interesting points.
He didn’t kill neil because of race, he killed him because he was going to tell the gov that she escaped
It would seem like a waste to setup the Gov to be this big evil character, only to have him last just 1 season. It would be cool if he at least spills over into next season, then gets killed off by mid-way point or earlier.
….and I wish this show was on Showtime or HBO so we could have seen Maggie’s rack, although being under terrible circumstances, would have been nice….
this
HBO would have been great for this. Although i have to hand it to AMC for some good ol fashion gore.
That scene was pretty disturbing and difficult to watch, but yeah, Maggie sure is pretty.
I stand by my point, Daryl is going to kill Merle in the first couple of episodes of the spring season….
Am i the only one that thought that the black guy climbing down the fence with a bow in his hand towards the end of the episode looked a lot like Chad Coleman (the actor rumored to play Tyreese)?
I could be really wrong about this, but, from the look Michonne gave Oscar, I get the feeling we’re going to find out Oscar is Tyreese.
Yep
I actually thought that guy was Cutty, as I will call him forever, from the back 1/4 profile in the first episode with Woodbury. He has the same build and though his face doesn’t look that much like him, when you just see ear, jaw, and beard he does look like him.
As much as the show frustrated me during the first two seasons, I have forgiven it this year. This years has been fan-f**king-tastic. The writer’s finally screwed their heads’ on correctly and learned how to make a show.
I’m still a little disgruntled about Michonne since she is so awesome in the comics and beyond her zombie-killing prowess, her character is nowhere near what she is in the comics. Hopefully she gets fleshed out better in the back half of the season.
Other than that, I’ve been pretty happy with this batch of episodes.
I agree with Michonne statement you made, she just bugs, me I want her more badass
But you must be a braindead zombie if these episodes have not tickled your fancy lol
You must ave misread my statement. I was saying that Seasons 1 and 2 frustrated me but Season 3 has been incredible.
Obviously, I’m speaking totally out of my ass here, but I think it probably has a lot to do with Darabont getting fired as the showrunner. I only noticed it because I had been running through The Shield recently, but Glen Mazzara, the new showrunner, I think, was an executive producer on The Shield.
I cannot take any more stares. It bothers me so much.
Oh man, I can’t wait for next week.
It’s going to suck not having this on Sundays for a while.
I’m with you. I’m thinking about going back and rewatching the first two seasons to fill the void. Anyone else want to have a viewing party?
Grab the graphic novels (comics) somewhere and read through those. I’m about half way through them, and I’ve caught up to where the show generally is now. Looking forward to what the other half holds.
when is it coming back?
I guess re-watching the first two seasons would give you a greater appreciation of how much better this season is, but then, why would really want to put yourself through those awful episodes?
I thought it was kinda pointless what the Governor did to Maggie. I mean, im not saying he shouldve raped her but it seems like the show went halfway and then stopped. In the comics the governor didnt stop halfway. He went above and beyond. It felt like the show went halfway to appease the comic fans who saw it coming but stopped short to make sure they didnt cross any lines. Either have him go all the way or leave it out completely and dont even enter rape territory at all. Kinda pointless tactic IMO…..
it was effective the way they pulled it off.
the Governor didn’t need to rape Maggie because the scene showed that she was willing to be raped and not give up the group’s location. Basically a scare tactic that didn’t work. But when Glenn’s life was on the line, she gave up the information. That’s all he wanted.
I think it was his fear tactic to get maggie to break. I don’t think he intended to ever rape her. Once he saw that wouldn’t work then he resorted to ye old, I’ll kill your asian lover if you don’t tell me where your group is trick.
Maggie probably should have walked into the room Glenn was residing in with racoon eyes.
It would have been extra bad ass if Maggie said something along the lines that she probably wouldn’t feel anything from the governor anyway.
I wish Glenn or Maggie had just shot Merle as soon as he pulled his gun on them.
It wasn’t pointless. In the show, it got him in Maggie and Glen’s heads. For us viewer’s that have read the comics, it subverted our expectations after already making us question the possible change.
I thought it was very effective.
I thought it was done well. Raping Maggie was the automatic assumption everyone made (whether you read the comics or not). Having the Governor not do it took it to another level. When he didnt do it my first thought was, “What the hell does he have up his sleeve.” My next logical assumption was one of them was going to die. Even though none of what I expected to happen happened it created way more tension.
Great points Paul. For a week straight all the comic book readers chimed in with their input regarding Maggie’s potential rape. It was a nice tease as to how crazy the Governor is.
He got what he needed with her topless, standing in front of Glenn, and playing with her hair. That is enough to throw that seed into Glenn’s mind for a small while at least.
the mental warfare he engaged in last night is far better than just plain old raping maggie. the image of topless maggie is going to haunt glenn and possibly ruin their relationship. there is no therapy or grief counseling for them to go to. and she wasnt raped but glenn will live the rest of his life thinking she was, thinking he caused it by not shooting merle. he might also be mad that she gave up the group after he didnt.
the long term effects of this non-rape will last for plenty of seasons of this show
kudos to her for not breaking though…
TV Governor is more cerebral and in control than comic Governor, but he’s still a psychopath.
Nothing gives me more joy then watching Michonne slice off a head whether its a Walker or a living person!
Amen brother. I hope she’s on the show for the long haul!
Okay, so I couldn’t find a section with book spoilers so, I’m going to post it here. Please don’t read if you haven’t read the books or don’t want to know. This scene was a pretty big part of the Woodbury storyline, but I feel due to the intensity of that scene they are going to diverge from it. I thought it was going to happen with maggie last night. [nerdsayswhat.wordpress.com]
I think the writers are making a big old changes to the story because this moment in the show was a huge divergence from the book.
[nerdsayswhat.wordpress.com]
THIS FUCKING GUY AGAIN?
The spoilers section is in the same place it always is. The bottom of the thread.
you have to click on show more comments, cause it is way down there
The Governor didn’t rape Maggie because he just got it in with Andrea.
Ha, that is true. Do you think that this mid-season finale will live up to last season’s?
Very true. Nice shot of Andrea pulling up her pants.
Gov’s Viagra supply must be running short, can only get it up once per day
i, too, enjoyed the andrea ass shot
As James Bond once said “Once a king always a king, but once a (k)night is enough.”
This episode was way better than last week’s. I’m curious to see if certain things from the book are going to still happen. I won’t post here but there is one thing I’m curious how it would play out and I’ll post it in the book section, if there is one.
Writers pussied out…..
you needed the Governor to complete that act…. now hes just a sleeze and not a super villain.
In the comics he rapes Michonne. The bashing aside…. best episode of the season
You know what, give them time. Also the character is a different from the comics. I think when he realizes Michonne brought Team Prison to Woodbury the anger and crazy will come out to play.
I don’t think the writers pussied out. I think they have some big things up their sleeves. Plus, I think it will be awesome if the writers give maggie some retribution.
I think yall are giving the writers too much credit…..
Maggie or Glen will end up killing the governor.
having the gov rape maggie was the easy choice. instead giving glenn the elusion of the rape is a punishment for both of them. he might treat her differently like used goods or something, and she will spiral downward knowing that she wasnt even raped but feels like she has
I’m not a big fan of watching a rape occur. Call me crazy, but it just doesn’t do it for me.
Yeah, just the lead up and the horror of you anticipating what was going to happen was enough for me.
I would actually really like to see power rankings on this show. It is always fun to nit-pick the little details!
Tyreese will break in at number 2