9. We’re No Stranger to Hard Work — Tyrese and his crew — Sasha, Allen, and Ben — have also developed a small internal fracture. Allen and Ben are all for a prison coup, while Ty wants to see how it plays out and hopefully become a member of prison gang. Ty’s crew was once at 25, and now they’re at 4, and he likes strength in numbers. There’s only one problem …
10. Rick Is Going Insane — First of all, what’s going on with Beth (better known as “Blonde Daughter”) and her little infatuation with Rick, and will her infatuation with Rick piss off Carl, who has his own infatuation with Blonde Daughter?
Second, why did Lil Ass Kicker give Rick the crazies? Did he see a resemblance to Shane?
Finally, just as it was starting to look like Rick was going to allow Tyrese into the prison gang, Rick lost his goddamn marbles when he saw a vision of zombie-ghost Lori.
Creepy? Absolutely. But where is this heading? A power vacuum? Will Rick lose control over the gang, and will Hershel — or Daryl — fill his position? I saw in interview, somewhere, where Mazzara did not rule out the possibility that Rick will be killed in the second half of the third season. Is that a possibility? Could that be what prompted Kirkman to fire Mazzara? Has Rick served his purpose? Would the prison gang be better served with a new leader? Their numbers are dwindling; they’re definitely going to need more help, especially once The Governor regroups. Where is this season heading?
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Way late to the party:
1. A piece-moving episode. Sure, a letdown from the mid-season finale which kicked all sorts of ass, but every episode cannot be an apocalyptic confrontation, or we would be out of characters in about three weeks. Pieces have to be moved around, new conflicts created, to move the show forward.
2. How much is crazy Rick just the logical result of stress, lack of sleep and everything else? In the last episodes time-range, dude has been up about, what, 48 hours with no sleep and boatloads of stress? Let him get some rest, and can logically reset his bearings.
3. Glen’s reaction is often normal for the loved ones of a sexual assault. He believes Maggie was raped, feels helpless and guilty, and is lashing out at her as a result. It happens.
4. Andrea’s speech hackneyed, and to think it would have worked to rally the troops in that situation is silly, but does set up a potential power struggle with her and the Governor.
5. Rick didn’t know who the Governor was, so Glen getting pissed that they didn’t kill him is silly. Maggie did, she was on the roof, and could have snipered him first, but she didn’t. Now that is stupid, but Glen is majorly conflicted, so… (See #3 above.)
6. Rick not letting Tyrese in, yet, isn’t actually crazy. How many examples can be given of dissension and problems in the “group” coming back to bite them in the ass can we give. No matter how nice Tyrese has been, still can’t really trust him at this point.
Weak episode, agreed, but necessary to move things forward.
May have been mentioned….but did anyone notice the Sheriff bag the Governor had? Any chance that is Rick’s? I can’t recall what ultimately happen to it (if he had more than one).
I was just reading the latest issue of the comic, and I’m starting to think we need some ort of deviation with the Rick character on the show, going ultra crazy, or getting killed, or even becoming the next villain is a great idea. Also, fuck ghost Laurie.
i also didnt like glenn blaming rick, when rick’s choice was based off of what he went thru. and also, i love how the gov played mind games on glenn. by stripping maggie topless, gave glenn the illusion that she’d been raped. then when the gov kissed her before shoving her to glenn really made glenn think she was raped. even tho she said she wasnt, he thinks she just hiding it.
couples that have to deal with rape, sometimes blame each other, or blame themselves, its gonna get ugly
what did the episode title mean?
Rick looking to lock up Father of the Year honors early on in the game.
Took the last screen cap and adjusted some things:
[imageshack.us]
Oh Hi Lori!
Now we can see that face we all missed.
Daryl & Merle going off on their own is basically advertising for that shitty FPS game that’s coming out featuring those two.
That’s so freaking awful how much sense that makes, especially considering how the other Walking Dead game is a masterpiece.
Punching zombies in the face doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy.
Zombies vs. Strippers addressed this almost immediately.
I’m so happy this show is back on!
And yes, can Michonne please say like two words at some point? I got that she was wary of the group at first but c’mon… I was literally yelling at the TV last night.
And Merle needs to die.
Agreed on all points.
the glenn/maggie thing makes perfect sense. he is mad at himself because he thinks he should be there to protect her.
Also, doesn’t Glenn think the Governor raped Maggie? Could be some blame transference going on there where Glenn is basically blaming Maggie.
Finally got to watch it. I hate having to skip these little discussions for a day. I liked the show more than the recapper. I was just happy to see an episode that was continuing to move forward. It was entirely possible the show would hit a “sit around and prepare” episode remiscent of every episode in the farm house and some when they were waiting for Sophia.
Michonne needs to oust crazy Rick.
Storywise, what do you do with Rick now? You’ve given the leader (and hero) a fatal flaw. Even if they rescued a psychotherapist and he was treated for months I’d never follow him again.
I feel like killing Rick would be instantly jumping-the-shark
Would it? It might actually be a kick in the pants for TWD, a way to show that no character is safe.
Man, I was pumped to watch this episode and it was so weak. Killing Rick would be crazy in THEORY, but after last night’s ep I don’t think I’d be too upset.
So wait, when Tyrese was like, “I must be the only black man to ever try and break in to a prison,” I was the only one who screamed “What about T-Dog?”
Poor T-Dog, may we never forget.
I did too! Like T-Dog never existed… *tear*
T-Dog will always live in our hearts.
I’m T-Dogg ’til i die (of a gruesome zombie bite), but Tyrese never knew T-Dogg. He was dead before they got there.
in my heart of hearts, I hope next week Merle and Daryl run in to Cody from ‘Dual Survivor’.
This was the first episode I’ve watched of this show, so none of it meant much to me. Having so enjoyed the game recently, I’d hoped to have a better time with the show, but I guess one episode ain’t enough to get into it. Rick going full-on looney when he saw the ghost was super-cheesy and off-putting, though.
Also, did anyone else notice the person/people walking around in the way background in the woods in the scene where Glenn stomped that zombo to death? I was wondering if that was Merle and Daryl or just some crew member straying into the shot.
Nevermind. I see in another comment that it was actually a zombie.
Kevin Smith on Talking Dead was horrid. Repeatedly seemed like he had never seen the show.
Kevin Smith talking about anything is horrid.
Wowza, totally just read that Walking Dead got 12.3 million viewers AGAINST the Grammys. As if there was nothing else to watch, it managed to take 12.3…
so shocked.
I’m not sure why you think Maggie and Glenn dissension is forced. Glenn thinks Maggie was raped. It’s actually a normal thing for a relationship dynamic to change after a sexual assault. Glenn is feeling helpless and angry that he let Maggie get violated. So now he’s cutting her off when she speaks because he’s trying to protect her and do what’s best for her. Maggie could clear things up though,
I thought it was a good episode that set the second half of the season up. My only complaint with the episode was how Merle went full redneck with the prison group. He knows better than to be a full dick bag when trying to enter a group. That was lazy.
That may have been Merle intentionally trying to get rejected by the group. It forced Daryl to choose sides and drove a wedge between him and the group.
It was tough to root against Merle since I’d seen managed to somehow watch the Outer Limits episode with Michael Rooker three time while the show was off.
“since I’d managed to somehow watch”. I don’t know where that “seen” came from. Maybe it’s a zombie ghost.
My brother read the best tweet from last night ” that awkward moment when you realize you are holding someone elses baby.”
Just started watching right now, I’m super pumped.
Let’s jump the kid and the woman and take the prison for ourselves…
Sure the kid just took out a bunch of zombies and lead us to safety. And could take us out retty quickly… But we have shovels now!
If all four were to cooperate, it wouldn’t have been a bad plan. I doubt they were going to charge them from a football’s field away.
Axel and blonde daughter would be goners, but Carl was close enough to hear but far away enough to pick off all 4. It wouldn’t go well for the 4. And that’s assuming Axel isn’t insane. He and Tomas were in the same cel block. Maybe axel takes one or two down.
You are working on the assumption that Carl would instantly pull his gun at first sight. Carol would have the jump, since she is already holding her fire arm. Though, I don’t think she should have what it takes to pull the trigger. Hershel with his shotgun would be the biggest obstacle.
Let’s jump the kid and the woman and take the prison for ourselves…
Sure the kid just took out a bunch of zombies and lead us to safety. And could take us out retty quickly… But we have shovels now!
Yeah, that was weird. Especially sine Carl has a gun on him at all times.
I hope they don’t drive Beth into crazy territory. They had her kissing Rick on his return, as well as being the only one who seems to care for lil’ Ass kicker. Her whole wanting a baby reveal just adds to my paranoia of her trying to take over Lori’s spot in Rick’s eyes.
Hadn’t thought of that. Now that you’ve put it in my head, however, it’s a pretty good analysis.
And: Eeeewwwwww!!!
A few points.
-This episode was horrible. I’m ready to abandon this season and a give the next showrunner a chance in the fall.
-SHOT THE GOVERNOR FIRST. Rescuing Daryl is fine, but cut the head off the damn snake.
-Michonne might make a case for staying if she ever talked. I’d kick her out too. Talk you bloody mute.
For a General who wants Rick to act strategically, you seem to miss important details.
1. Rick has only heard about the Governor to this point. He has not met him nor has anyone visual ID-ed him for Rick.
2. Maggie has met the Gov but never heard anyone call him that, nor did he ID himself to her.
So exactly how was Rick supposed to target the Gov during the rescue?
How funny is it that even Ghost Lori just stands there silently questioning Rick’s every decision?
lololol
i hate that dumb bitch
I wouldn’t expect anything else from ghost Lori.
“Glenn throws a hissy fit because Rick didn’t kill The Governor — but did save Daryl?” I assumed that was because Rick didn’t kill Merle. Regardless, last nights was the worst episode of the series. Damn near everything was either forced or boring, or both.
Regardless of his feelings, not killing the Governor was just downright stupid strategically. I’d be pissed too.
Thanks for confirming that. First episode I’ve seen; was quite underwhelmed.
I really thought Michonne would get to say something when Rick asked her a direct question. Instead she just looked at him and Merle answered it.
Well remember Michonne’s whole bit in the books is that she rarely says anything at all. The show has already given her more dialogue than the books ever did.
Personally, I wouldn’t be able to talk to crazy ass hallucenating Rick either, even if I did have a sword in my hand.
Ghost Lori make me cry to the heavens. Why can’t she just be gone! Rick is losing a lot of points with me and almost all of the cooler characters have been shipped off or told to leave. This prison is a rocky ship indeed.
But Woodbury is even worse. It’s like not being able to leave Orlando for the rest of Florida.
First of all, just steal “Just the Badass Parts”, already. You know you want to.
Second, Rick doesn’t trust Michonne because he can’t get a read on her. Sure, she led them to Woodbury, but she ran off when they got there and refused to tell them why. She hardly talks, clearly and deliberately withheld the fact that she knew Andrea, tells them nothing about herself or her past, and walks around looking pissed off and holding a giant sword all day. She didn’t even tell anyone she killed the Governor’s daughter. Not exactly a sure-bet for locking her in a confined space.
Smaller sidenotes: Yeah, part of Andrea’s speech was her affirming her role as a Woodbury leader, but I thought it was more about showing her as coming down more solidly on the Woodbury side of the line with the Governor, as opposed to challenging the Governor and/or running off to the prison. And Glenn and Maggie? Well, The Walking Dead is just all about manufacturing illogical lovers’ quarrels for no apparent reason. See: “The Great Case of Lori Getting Mad at Rick for Killing Shane When Lori Just Told Rick to Kill Shane”
Ah yes, and the famous “Shane don’t talk to my son anymore WHY WON’T YOU TALK TO MY SON ANYMORE, SHANE” situation.
Even against the Grammy’s, TWD killed it in the ratings last night. Did a 6.1 demo rating.
I have never been very good with names, but I NEVER forget a face! The second “audience member” named “Kevin” was not just an audience member. How stupid does the Talking Dead think we are that we wouldn’t notice an ACTOR! I know I have seen that guy before, just can’t place where. 20 points to anyone who can find me a name or program he’s been on!
if you can find a picture i will join your search
As freaky as zombie ghost, Lori was, during Lori’s speech, number 8 in the .gif, the crazy-haired, glasses lady freaked me out even more.
I do believe she was a member of the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
“during Lori’s speech…” yeah that’s pretty much how i spell Andrea’s name too these days. Might as well just look for things to head that way.
There was hot brunette in the Woodbury crowd shots that really stood out and I seem to remember her having a line of dialogue. Just a feeling, but might be foreshadowing the development of a new character.
Well judging by the scenes from next week, it appears that Glenn has taken a bit of a leader role right now. I’m hoping that Herschel found some drug to get Rick to sleep and he’s out for a couple episodes and we focus on the decisions and group dynamics with everyone else.
Also, why doesn’t Maggie just tell Glenn that nothing happened with the Governor and he just made me take my shirt off to F*ck with you? Because i’m under the impression that Glenn thinks Maggie was raped and he is upset that he could do nothing to help her.
Oh and Andrea is the new Lori. And that was solidified last night but now that hallucination Lori is running around, i guess Lori is the new Lori…
I expected Andrea to go full Jack Shepard and add a “live together, die alone” to her speech. I love the random zombies walking in the background in the wood while the group was talking it out or doing whatever they were doing. I wish we would see more of that. gives a bigger scope to what is going on beyond “our” circle.
This was a clinic of bad writing. Also, every scene shot in Woodbury looked like they found their extras in a Target parking lot and just threw a wardrobe rack at them. Anrdea’s speech might be the single most difficult moment of the series, in terms of suspension of disbelief. She’s the worst.
what was up with that beastly hybrid lookin zombie that peeled back that metal so easily?
the metal was already peeled back to begin with
decent episode but I felt it had some leaps in logic as well. Andreas almost intolerable now. The woodbury speech made me gag. I love the show still but I dont know where they are taking it and it worries me. Im going to chalk this up to mazzara and assume it is one of the reasons he is leaving. The plot is moving too fast and they cant slow down now to even make sense because they have already set a pace. This is worrisome indeed…..
The whole Glenn-Maggie tension really bothered me for the exact same reasons. It just didn’t make any sense to me, and it was weird to see Glenn take his frustrations out on someone who really did nothing to merit them.
Came completely out of left field.
Right after Glen curb-stomped the zombie, did anybody else notice somebody walking in the woods off in the distance? Not walking towards them, but crossing right to left. Walker? Or crew guy who didn’t realize he was in the shot?
It was a zombie. There were a few of them off in the woods, wandering through the shot.
There was also one on the road ahead. To be honest, I thought the whole thing was a trap. Certainly felt that way with the truck across the road….
That was a lazy,lazy episode.
Soooo Maggie didn’t get raped, right? Just mind raped, right?
Still brutal and evil and scary stuff…but shouldn’t she clear the air and just say the Govenor saw her tits and left?
Rick is terrible at first impresssions, his first date with Lori must have been a fucking disaster, which is why she married him, because, you know, “The Worst” and what not. Tydog and Co should be moving on, because Rick is now The Mayor, of Crazytown.
I
Not to be the guy that says that the comic is better, and I’m going to keep this spoiler free unless knowing rick is currently still alive in the comic is a spoiler to you in which case, fuck you. Robert Kirkman has said that the comic starts and ends with Rick, it’s his journey and the story dies with him. Now, if Rick dies in the show there will be no direction. My main beef is they’re drawing out the whole Rick going baby crazy way too much. He goes a little nutty in the comic, but he’s never as much of a crazy dick as he has been in the past few episodes. My point is, if he keeps going crazy it’s really hard to get un-crazy, and I feel with the lack of much of a group at all and the governor’s impending revenge, I’m seriously afraid the writers dug a hole the can’t get out of and are going to use some cheap excuse to get back to square one.
And fuck Rick for doing that to Tyreese. He has been nothing but a reasonable and nice person and Rick has no reason to expect anything bad out of him. I’m just saying the last person like Tyreese was Glenn and now he’s Rick’s single most trustworthy person.
truth, he keeps his crazy mostly under wraps besides a few trusted people in the comics, but never loses his cool in front of the group because he’s conscious enough to know that he holds the group together.
the comic was great for a while but for the last like.. idk.. 20-30 issues it’s been the same thing repeated over and over again.
Thought it was a decent episode. Nothing Rick does make a damn bit of sense anymore, though.
“I already miss Frank Darabont.”
Sorry to hear you “already” miss the guy who hasn’t worked on the show since 2011.
And did his damndest to ruin the show before leaving.
Yeah, that was a big oversight on my part. I have no idea why I thought he was still involved all the way through the first half of this season. Thanks for your condolences, though.
1) Glenn Zombie Headstomp wins the prize for best tribute to Drive by a traumatised pizza delivery boy.
2) Daryl and Merle are blatantly going to come back and save the day in two and a half episodes’ time. With any luck, Merle will die in the process.
3) Andrea is still kind of annoying, but her calmly reloading while under zombie attack was pretty badass.
4) That bit where Rick was holding the baby? For some reason that really worried me. Like, he looked like he was seriously thinking about killing her.
Jesus,
I am so tired of people giving Andrea badass credit for the most basic crap. I mean othere is a zombie apocalypse going on, does reloading really give you badass points?
Yes. Our expectations of her have fallen that low.
Also, Why did Andrea eave the house with 4 shots left in that clip?
Leave. Fucking keyboard.
You know what pisses me off! You never see anyone pick up their discarded ammo clips, they might come in useful later.
I already miss Frank Darabont.
To me, this episode was a mess. The editing at the beginning was noticeably bad, which is never a good thing because it means I’m paying more attention to what’s happening in the background due to a lack of interest in what’s happening up front.
“Follow my lead, little brother. I have a plan to get us both out of here.” Merle, you had no plan whatsoever, did you? They both get up, immediately go back-to-back, and start punching walkers. One of the Governor’s henchmen would have just put a bullet in the ground between their feet, told them to quit their team-up shit, and to get back to fighting. Instead, they just continued to push walkers around until the prison posse suddenly showed back up to get everyone out of this plot disaster. I thought Merle actually did have a plan at first because it seemed like they were trying to get the zombies free and push them into the crowd, causing a panic and a distraction for their escape, but nope.
The only character I actually liked this episode, besides Hershel, was Glenn. I think his attitude towards Maggie is due to self-hatred. He feels like he is to blame for what happened to her. He couldn’t protect her and that’s eating him up inside. I figure it will take two or three episodes for him to break down and confess this to her and then she will comfort him and their relationship will be stronger than ever. As far as character development goes, I feel like the writers are only focusing on Glenn and Maggie at this point.
I didn’t get the same vibe from Beth that a lot of other people did, but after reading people’s comments, I would love it if she had a crush on Rick, and it led to Carl feuding with him over it.
I hope the show gets better as it goes on, but last night was very underwhelming. They wrote themselves into a corner, and tried to pull a Kurt Sutter to get out of it, but they did it without his batshit-insane grace.
How long has it been since Frank Darabont has been a part of this thing?
He left in July of 2011.
And he was responsible for the abortion that was season 2. I do not miss him.
Yeah, I have no idea why I thought Darabont was still involved all the way through the first half of this season. That was a big oversight on my part. I’m going to go sit in the corner with my dunce cap on now.
loved glenn’s zombie stomp kill…also I hope they dig deeper into Rick going crazy.
I whole-heartedly agree with your first statement and vehemently disagree with the second.
dammit, darryl. kicked me right in the gut when he left with merle. rick should have cut off his other arm…..
I am making a drinking game where you drink every time you can tell they are keeping Hershel’s Not-leg out of the frame to avoid the CGI $$$
It got pretty noticeable in places. Can’t the actor just strap it up behind and stay facing the camera?