I’d mentioned in the Weekend Preview on Friday that The Walking Dead — which is in something of a holding pattern, arranging the chess pieces for the final showdown between Woodbury and the prison gang in the season three finale — was due for a flashback or a bottle episode, another wheel-spinning episode to give showrunner Glen Mazarra some time to formulate the battle lines. Honestly, I was dreading the potential of that particular episode, worried that it’d something akin to one of Darabount’s episodes in season two, a forest-walking episode that provided little narrative momentum and even less character development. A snoozer.
Last night’s “Clear” wasn’t a flashback or bottle episode, but it was a side-trip episode, which fulfilled the same purpose. However, I was wrong to dread it: “Clear” turned out to be one of the best episodes of the series’ run, although it was the episode I suspect ultimately cost Glen Mazarra his job. Let me explain why, and because of the nature of the episode, we’ll skip the numbered list this week.
Two things struck me in the first minutes of last night’s episode, the 12th of the third season (there are four remaining). 1) it was clear early on that the focus would be entirely on Carl, Michonne, and Rick’s scavenger run, and 2), that we’d probably learn a lot about the future of the series from this episode because it was written by Scott Gimple, the man who is set to take over for Glen Mazarra as showrunner next season. What can we deduce about Gimple’s style from the episode? That the action may be slowed down, but that under Gimple’s supervision, The Walking Dead may benefit greatly from better characterization, more levity, and a better sense of humor.
Why? Because in 42 minutes last night, we learned more about Michonne than we have all season long. We now know she has a sense of humor. We know that she has been eager to be a real part of the prison gang. We know that she’s caring, that she actually has a personality, that she can be playful, and that she’s straight. WHAT? That actually came as a bigger surprise to me than it probably should have, but given her mysterious relationship with Andrea, I’d suspected — like most — that she felt something more than simple friendship toward her. (Of course, knowing that she had an ex-boyfriend doesn’t rule out the possibility, but it at least makes clear that she is capable of a romantic relationship, and that in the past, it’s been with men). Yes, Michonne is still the bad ass we’ve always known her to be, but now she’s something more: She’s a character, someone who we like and with whom we can better relate.
Moreover, late in the episode, when Michonne revealed to Rick that she knew that he was seeing people, and that she often used to talk to her ex-boyfriend, it brought out a better sense of humanity in Rick. No longer is he a crazy Ricktator, with some serious control issues, we also know that he
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Leaving back pack guy to die, and then subsequently robbing his corpse made Rick look like even more of an assh@le than ever before. It was one guy, no apparent trap, and your crew desperately needs able bodied people. Could have given the guy a chance. Rick didn’t get this cold until way later in the comics after way worse stuff happened. He has transformed from a good guy to a screw you guy pretty fast. Imagine if CDC guy did that, or Hershel. I have been hoping for a while now that he gets killed. Carl would be a better leader than him
Also why did they take like 20 guns? They need ammo more than multiple weapons. They also should have made a secret stash in the town for the future if they are ever low on weapons/ammo or have to run from there camp/prison in a hurry.
Should we expect to see more episodes like this? Focus on a few of the central characters and actually develop their story-line before moving the plot along? If so, I’m all for it (Except in the case of Andrea. They can just have the next episode start with her falling off a cliff, and that’ll be closure enough for me)
Nice job Dustin, I don’t often agree with a lot of the statements you make in Walking Dead articles, but I will always read them because of how well you write about this series. This is an especially great article, that I just happen totally agree with you on.
Lennie James gave the kind of performance that makes people want to be actors. He and screen writer Scott Gimple just set a ridiculously high bar!
I’m only one issue back on the comic, and I feel like the show and the books have a very similar “holding pattern” quality to them. I say that because I fear that the show will forever follow that same pattern and end up being trash in the long run. I’ve really never gotten a consistent sense of hope from either medium; it’s always the same no steps forward, then one step forward, then four steps back kind of thing. Basically I’m thinking out loud about why I even bother with the property…so thanks for listening
Maybe I assumed too much with her character, but I kind of always attributed those characteristics on Michonne before this episode.
Perhaps it was her protecting Andrea over the winter but I just took for granted that she was good but just keeping her cards close to the vest.
This episode would have been the perfect opportunity for Carl to lose the hat. When he dropped the picture running out of the cafe, one of the walkers could have grabbed his hat off of him. Then when Michonne came back out with the picture, she could have said “sorry kid, I could only get the picture”. He would have been okay with that because the picture was more important. In a later episode, Rick sees ghost Lori wearing the hat!
I’m waiting for Michonne to have one of her slipping in the darkness scenes like she did in the comic….ninjas have needs too
I do feel sorry for back pack guy. I understand Rick’s caution, however, for all they know, humanity could be wiped out soon. Every life is sacred at this point. For nothing else, but to repopulate the earth. I mean, Rick and his crew don’t know the extent of this plague as they’ve been in the same area for the whole time. They can prolly assume, since there have been no UN forces or anything similar, that this is a worldwide issue. It may even be an extinction level event.
you cant just pick up strangers when people are hanging around your place trying to blow your brains out…
I agree, they should have given him a chance. Even Daryl helped out those spanish people. Rick is being stupid/crazy. it was just one dude after all. With a war coming you need people. Why grab like 20 guns for only 6 ppl? Although they never really addressed the fact about the helicopter. It should leave them with the thought that there could be some kind of strong hold somewhere.
I think it highlights one of the main themes present in all zombie fiction (and The Walking Dead especially): if everyone universally agreed to not be a dick, rebuilding society would be so much easier. Think of how much time and energy is being put into the war with the Governor… the point is people are dicks and that’s why we (apparently) need a system of government or whatever.
My impulse when watching the show is always to help the dude or whoever out because, hey, maybe they have skills that my group could use. But that’s because I’m naive and I probably wouldn’t survive very long.
its really a shame what the show has done to the Andrea character compared to her comic version who kicks all kinds of ass
The way the show is going though time is on her side.
Best episode without a shadow of doubt. Total agreeance on adding some depth to Michonne (who I was hoping would get eaten ASAP) and having Rick at least somewhat sane. Heck even C(k)arl was kick A.
that rainbow cat had me laughing my A off for some reason. it was both ugly and beautiful rolled into one.
Has anyone here ever read “The Road”? I only reference it from a perspective of fictional near-hopeless desolation… I was reminded of something from The Road, in this most recent episode, and there’s a name for it. A patteran. Coincidences of desolate circumstances… I really enjoyed this episode, and its photographic direction. Epic and small, simultaneously.
I saw the movie : )
And I agree very similar.
Agreed!
I read The Road. I think I enjoy this show more than that though, for the reasons discussed in this post. The show offers a sense of hope where The Road did not. Not that the book is wrong for that, could just as easily be the case in the show.
Morgan and his son reminded me of them though. Especially when he talked about checking in a cellar.
Best episode of the season by far. The characters are no longer chess-pieces, with one-dimensional portrayals… the thing that always detracts from “comic-book conversions” to screen is the one-dimensional portrayal of characters… relying on pose, costume or background to fill-in-the-blanks. It would be important to any screenwriter lucky enough to write for this show, that the audience isn’t interested in a stage re-enactment of the comic book, which is sorely lacking in many respects even amongst its contemporaries. Bravo to this, and hopefully the top brass get the point.
That was a very good, insightful, review, Dustin.
This episode makes it hard for me because I have always hated Michonne and hoped for her demise. Now I like her a little bit so her death might not be so welcome. But Andrea can go, the sooner the better.
I never hated Michonne… it’s hard to place her character amidst the events due to poor character development (beyond having her sneer constantly), but she did benefit Rick’s group in many ways. Much more than any actual detriment she may have caused. She’s always been in my “positive” column, and proved her mettle beyond doubt in the last episode.
So damn good. Between the side bars and the hints of humor, this episode reminded me of the comics the most since the first few episodes in season one
Poor dude with a backpack. He got chomped not too far from the last place we saw him.
Poor rats used as Zombait.
Michonne likes chips and dick. That’s new.
Morgan was a nice see. I had wondered where he went to… No idea why I thought his son was named Walt
Racist Lost viewer?
Ahh LOST that’s right. Sorry I didn’t memorize the name of a character from one episode that I never saw again.
Zombait. Love it.
Beautiful and gripping episode.
If you want to become “One of Us,” you’d better have a skill. Having a backpack doesn’t cut it.
He was good at getting eaten.
If he had just lost his legs and gotten a rollie-cart, he could have become ONE OF US, ONE OF US!
Gooble gobble!
He was good at yelling for help
So after over a year of running around and migrating. Atlanta to the CDC, wandering to the farm then finding some prison, they’re only an hour drive from Rick’s home town?
Also, this episode taught me that if you’re gearing up for war, searching high and low for guns and ammo, when you finally DO find the motherload, only take about 3 medium sized duffel bags and leave the rest. I would have left Morgan with around 4 guns, not 40.
4 guns isn’t really enough to protect yourself. I understand it’s a survival of the fittest type of environment so your mentality is completely different and Rick’s squad is about to go to war, but I couldn’t imagine running into the guy that saved/spared my life (who’s also batshit crazy) and being like, “Hey, thanks for everything back in the day and oh hey, by the way, we’re taking all your guns.”
This was the episode that moved this show back into the “Drama” category and I think that thats what AMC wanted from this show so it can appeal to both the blood thirsty fans and those of good story/ heart. I think this episode will set the gameplan for season 4
What is up with Rick sticking that cartridge in his front shirt pocket like he is Barney Fife?
We can only hope that’s a chekov’s bullet? It was funny though.
Will Deputy Dipshit please take off that fucking hat already!
At first I thought the sniper must be Morgan. Then Carl shot him, and I thought: Nah, they wouldn’t get Lennie James back just for a shot of a corpse.
Sometimes it’s really nice to underestimate showmakers.
Game over, give Morgan all the Emmy’s.
_______
I think that Carl retrieving the picture was for himself more than his sister. It seemed like a part of him still thought there was a chance to go home until he saw where it had been burned out.
Raylan says no.
Raylan says no to what?
Who the hell is Raylan?
The good thing is that Raylan and Morgan would not compete in the same category, Lennie James would be up for a guest-starring Emmy. He probably should be nominated at least. His performance was very strong.
too many feels for me in this episode. this answered a lot of questions i had after season one. i just hope that with gimple involved, the show can progress from here. (though i am still excited to see the battle – which will be soon.)
What exactly was under the Welcome mat?
The food that Michonne was eating.
About 50 knives pointing up.
A bunch of spikes.
gotcha, thanks
Best episode!
I keep hearing Morgan’s voice as Morgan Freeman.
“I like to think that the last thing that went through that zomibe’s head, besides Michonne’s Katana, was the knowledge that he’d been outfoxed by a raving lunatic.”
“I wish I could tell you Rick fought the good fight and Lori let him be. I wish I could tell you that, but Rick’s psyche is no fairytale world.”
I hate that it took Talking Dead to point out to me that Rick was talking to himself with that speech to Morgan. The general theme of “this is what happens when you shut people out” I caught, but the other part…
Yea- this was one of the few times i stuck around for Talking Dead- and I was glad I did…also I really wanted Chris Hardwick to do the “Lana, Lana, LAAANAAA…Danger Zone” when Aisha Tyler wastalking about crying during the show
I was about to mourn the fact I just earned the Carl badge, until I realized Carl is a badass now.
Agree. Carl up, Andrea down!
Seriously, how is Andrea is above Glenn? Blasphemy!
I wanted Carl dead during season 2. Now he is a mother-killing bad ass.
I’ve been stuck on Hershel since he had both legs.
Does anyone else think RIck purposely left weapons and ammo behind because he wants an excuse to go back to Morgan and check up on him?
Last night, Rick reverted back to the good type of crazy, where he has perspective and compassion again. He and Morgan are zombie apocalypse soul mates, and Rick knows he almost became Morgan. I kind of think he didn’t take so many weapons and ammo because he wants to slowly re-introduce Morgan back into the world. Not only for Morgan, but for himself.
did you really expect him to clean the guy out?
Or maybe give Morgan a reason to come back.
Sort of “Hey, guys, I brought more guns!”. Then there’s an awkward stare between him and Tyreese as they realize only one of them is allowed to survive at a time.
I just had the horrible image of Tyrese and Morgan getting locked in a cell block with just a hammer. There can only be one.
No, but I expected he’d take more guns and ammo.
Now, our operation is small, but there’s a lot of potential for “aggressive” expansion. So, which one of you fine gentlemen would like to join our team? Oh, there’s only one spot open right now, so we’re gonna have…tryouts.
After never getting to see the “Interior Decorator” – “His house looked liked shit” – again after the Pine Barrens episode of The Sopranos, seeing Morgan again on The Walking Dead was some kind of closure. I’m thankful for that.
The recap here and the AV Club’s rare A grade had me anticipating something extraordinary. It was a benchmark episode but there have been others I’d rate higher. There was just no real tension and as welcome as the occasional touch of levity is into the apocalypse scenario, this show works best for me when the terror is ramped up; e.g the episode earlier this season where they were clearing out the prison corridors in the dark.
Carl needs to be ‘Jake’ in the Dark Tower movie. If they ever make one.
I was about to say “Aaron Paul, Bitch”, then I realized you said Jake and not Eddie and that I’m an idiot.
Yeah, I can see it. I always pictured some someone like young Bill Mumy from that Twilight Zone episode, but I think Carl can swing it.
My only beef with the show was in the “previously on” set up they showed Rick talking on the walkie talkie. I immediately thought of Morgan, which made his appearance not as shocking as it should have been for me.
Agreed. As soon as they showed highlights from the pilot, I said to my wife, “welp, looks like Morgan is the crazy dude shooing at Rick and Michonne.”
Absolutely.
My friend spoiled his appearance and state of mind before I watched the episode, but it didn’t lessen the impact of seeing how far he had fallen
I fast forward thru the recap portion just for that reason.
Having already been spoiled to Morgan’s reappearance, I was actually a little impressed that ALL they showed was the walkie talkie scene, as opposed to him being rescued, then showing Duane, and his reaction to his mom, and Morgan being unable to shoot his wife…
I mean, it spoiled it for people who know how the “previously on” works, but at least it didn’t treat us ENTIRELY like idiots, you know?
Same thing happened to me. I’m definitely skipping those recaps from now on. Damn
100% this. As soon as I saw the “previously on,” I said to myself, “Well, Morgan’s coming back this episode, I guess.” Immediately knew he was the shooter on the roof. But that really is my only gripe from this episode. Well, that and the fact that they didn’t take more weapons from Morgan. The guy had a huge fucking chest of grenades!!!
I second (or 52nd by now) what you said. Great episode. Looking for the Gimble season.
Last night’s episode was great. That’s what their slow episodes should be like: They should be having people do much needed tasks (or quests if you will), while the audience learns more about each character. The action doesn’t have to stop too much to get character development. This is what I’ve been saying the last few episodes should have been like. If they can make the next 2.5 episodes like “Clear,” we’re really going to feel the carnage of the the last 1.5 episodes of the season with all the deaths that will be involved.
The inclusion of the Hitchhiker was pretty brilliant. He’s probably sleep deprived and starving and clearly nutty to scream so loud in zombie infested woods. It was a nice touch and once again proving (to the moral of the episode), if you don’t have anyone with you in the zombie apocalypse, you will lose your wits and cannot be saved.
Morgan was pretty industrious! He’s live bait/self-impale traps were pretty clever.
Agreed. Times like this, I kind of wish they’d shoot a couple of extra scenes to put up on TWD’s website. Last night, they could have uploaded a scene where Morgan explains to Rick how to execute such traps. The fans who want more of TWD get an extra scene and it’ll make sense when Rick magically knows how to set up traps when the Governor inevitable attacks the jail again.
Given the arsenal Morgan had acquired, and the availability of free bourbon, I’d be spending the bulk of my days sitting on top of that building, sipping some Pappy, and honing my sniping skills.
So, the batshit crazy dude can protect himself in an open town better than the Sheriff in a prison? Perhaps they should let Rick go over the edge if they want to survive.
I agree. Great episode all things considered
Did anyone watch Vikings at 10?
SAIL!
Oh yes. It was excellent, and the actress playing Ragnar’s wife is welcome in any series.
Also, SAIL.
It was good shit. Caught the 2nd episode on demand.
How did Rick manage to get stabbed in the chest all the way up to the hilt of the knife and brush it off?
There was a med pack on the wall of the re-supply station.
For a website so concerned with showrunners and TV writing staffs (…Harmon!) you seem to misunderstand the duties and responsibilities of the two. I think you give far too much credit to Gimble, and far too little to Mazarra, for the episode. While the writing was well done, there were some glaring mistakes like the aforementioned lack of zombie glass breakthroughs, Rick’s invulnerability, and Michonne’s conjuring of the picture (seriously, I like Michonne, I get that she’s badass, but holy shit, she’s off screen for 10 seconds and navigates a horde of zombies that would be literally standing on the picture?) Mazarra (and to a lesser extent the rest of the writers room) would have had a major role in crafting the plot points and character developments that made this episode so spectacular.
Regardless, this was exceptional. The hitchhiker framing device was probably my favorite little aside the show has ever done. This was the closest we’ve seen the show get to the tone and feel of the comic books, and I hope they can maintain that as the season concludes.
Was Morgans speech foreshadowing Ricks death?
Great episode. Loved it. Best part was no Andrea.
If that was foreshadowing Rick’s death at the season 3 finale, that will be some grade A serious bullshit.
It’s always a good episode when Andrea doesn’t appear. Too bad that runs out next week.
Yeah the lack of Andrea was definitely a highlight, almost as good as if she had killed herself. Oh well, there’s always next week.
Why does the article cut-off in the first page? Anybody else notice that? Pisses me off to no end.
Try clicking “next page”.
Aptitude test failed.
Don’t worry Tony, everyone except these two noticed it too. Dustin cuts off mid-sentence on the first page.
Admittedly, my medical knowledge is quite limited, so can anyone clear up how a shot like Morgan took would knock him out that hard and long?
And I appreciated that Michonne got more lines last night than she has all season.
she has officially surpassed t-dog Senior in word count.
Shock…?
You can go into shock from pain, right?
Only thing I could figure out was that he hit his head when he fell.
I figured it was shock. I thought a shot from that distance likely broke a rib or two.
Episode was fantastic. Good/sad to see Morgan again after all this time.
Ok… panic about season 4 subsiding… subsiding… subsiding…
Look, I was bummed like everyone else when Mazarra did to the series, and he basically saved it when it was on life support story wise, but if this is what we have in store for a Gimble ran TWD, I’ll take it every time.
Anyone know how many eps are left in the season?
32 s3e13 “Arrow on the Doorpost”
33 s3e14 “Prey”
34 s3e15 “This Sorrowful Life”
35 s3e16 “Welcome to the Tombs”
I’m not liking the sound of episode 15.
or 16 for that matter
Sounds like ep 13 has a lot to do with Daryl… Please God don’t let anything happen to Daryl.
also great article
loved this episode, said it a while back on twitter will say it again. Michonne and Deryl will get together and form a fighting super couple
they would have bad-ass mixed race babies…that Merle would kill.
lmao