Home. Back where you belong.

The Walking Dead (3:10) Home just felt right. We have Daryl (Reedus) back, and Merle (Rooker) seems to be with the group for the moment. Andrea remains confused, and Glenn (Yeun) finally pops Maggie (Cohan) the question. I don’t know about you–but this is shaping up to be a mighty fine season. I was wrong in assuming that this season would drag along. Touché for getting this quarrel with the Governor (Morrissey) started. We knew that it was only a matter of time–especially since he lost his eye–that his inner monster would surface. Too bad Andrea (Holden) isn’t catching on to his deception. Scratch that, too bad she is still in denial and not seeing the Governor for who he truly is.

This is truly disappointing. I guess the show has to have that one character that is on the “outside” of what’s all happening with Rick and others at the prison. What is it with all this Andrea BS anyway? I should have seen this coming. Remember when she had this weird attraction to Shane even when she knew that he was all messed up over Lori? Maybe her television character will always hold a strange attraction to charismatic nut jobs? Whatever. Guess we have to take part in this delusion until a revelation of sorts. Sure she will be reunited with the group. Andrea has missed out on a lot of what has happened since they all left the farm. Queue in a lot of emotional reckoning.

Speaking of nut jobs, is anyone checking on Rick (Lincoln)? The dude is starting to see Lori as a pristine goddess dressed in all white despite all of the emotional drama between Shane and Rick in season 2. Oh I get it–Rick has to go through the process of grieving before his knack for taught leadership kicks in again. I was worried there for a moment because I thought we were going to lose him. What a save! Daryl showing up just in time to save Rick earned him the super anti-hero badge. Sending that arrow through that walkers’ brain matter, and nearly missing his eye may have been Rick’s wake up call and Daryl telling Merle where to get off was his–walking away from Merle’s “forever alone” nonsensical thinking. Hopefully, Merle’s return will only be temporary. Scratch that, maybe Merle’s return will be the turning point overall for the group? At least his return will incite with certainty, another brilliant fisticuffs between Glenn and Merle.

Meanwhile, Glenn (Yeun) is stepping up to the leadership role. He may be thinking with Rick dealing with Lori’s ghost and Daryl’s departure he needs to step up. We all know that Glenn isn’t leadership material, and his “rise” in the ranks is short lived. Better he repair his relationship with Maggie and give Hershel’s nerves a rest. He is trying to keep the group together, and no one wants to listen to him.

Now it’s up to Carl (Riggs) to continue to mature, and become everyone’s ray of hope. Something tells me that Carl will continue to impress everyone with just how much he has grown over the last couple of seasons. I neglected to comment on Michonne’s (Gurira) lack of firing skills. Let’s just keep her doing what she does best–wielding her Katana. Also, what an intense 10-minutes of television and the Governor dropping off that bread truck filled with walkers was genius. Poor Axel (Lew Temple) taking a bullet to the head while putting the moves on Carol (McBride).

Overall I am looking forward to episode 11, I ain’t a Judas. I am thinking that this episode will have a lot to do with Andrea from the title.

Image source and synopsis courtesy of AMC. All rights reserved.

Boys will be boys.

The Walking Dead (3:9) ‘The Suicide King‘ [Spoilers] is the long-awaited, and one of the most highly anticipated and addictive series premieres on television. Seems like insanity reigns in with the Governor (David Morrissey) pitting brother against brother; Glenn (Steven Yeun) wanting to avenge his woman; and Rick (Andrew Lincoln) with the ghost of Lori haunting him. All this in addition to family reunions and break-ups. Tyreese (Chad Coleman) and his crew are being housed at the prison on borrowed time, and things aren’t looking good for the sparse crew at the prison and the misinformed folks over in Woodbury.

What’s more, it seems as though we may lose one of the best characters on the show–Daryl (Reedus)–because no one wants to have Merle (Michael Rooker) hanging around for long. Who can blame them? Not only does he have an antisocial personality (blatant disregard for the rights of others), he beat the crap out of Glenn and tried to kill Michonne. Besides that, Merle is a constant shit stirrer who refuses to admit that he needs help, just like everyone else. Lucky for him, Daryl chose him over the rest of the group–mostly due to it being his only surviving relative, and not because of Merle’s winning personality. Also, Kirkman, don’t even think about misplacing Daryl until the very end. It seems you like to get off in making fans suffer unnecessarily due to your obsession with pleasing yourself. If you treat your television audience like you treat the fans of your comics by making us wait long and hard before the real shit happens–then shame on you, Kirkman, and shame on the other writer’s in the series who are forced to put up with your nonsense.

I don’t know about you, but I am pretty fed up with Michonne’s silence. Granted, she isn’t as verbal in the comics, but this is television. Will Michonne become this season’s T-Dog with barely any dialogue to contribute? Maybe it will help her relationship with the rest of the group–especially with Rick; that guy is about to lose his damn mind–oh wait, he already has. Time to put Carl (Chandler Riggs) in charge. The kid has grown a lot since last season; he is starting to make much more sense than anyone else in the show. I have to admit that this Woodbury back and forth is already getting old, as well. Spare us this mediocrity as a post-apocalyptic zombie version of the Hatfield’s vs. McCoy’s, we all suffered enough with being on the farm last season. Let’s roll hot with the rivalry between the one-eyed Governor and his crew.

I decided to leave out my extremely opinionated and utter disdain for Andrea’s (Laurie Holden) TV character. It sickens me that she isn’t half the woman she is in the comics. I am not enjoying watching this strange bedfellow relationship she has with the Governor. Does Andrea think that she will become “Governess of Woodbury” just because she is sleeping with this guy?

Here’s luck that the rest of the season will flow seamlessly without a lot of nonsensical drama and overly complicated, underdeveloped hold ups.

Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Image source and show synopsis courtesy of AMCs The Walking Dead. All rights reserved.

Let not a hair on Daryl’s head be harmed!

The Walking Dead (3:8) Midseason FINALE! I am a week late posting my review of the midseason finale of one of the best damn shows on television. The way things are turning out is of concern. Especially where Andrea’s concern. I totally understand where she is in regards to being part of the Governor’s entourage in Woodbury. She has a safe place to rest her head and keep warm–with benefits. It’s good to see the Dixon brothers together again. I just wish it were under better circumstances. T-Dog is out, and Tyreese (Chad Coleman) is in! Tyreese made his debut appearance in this episode bashing in heads with his hammer in an Oldboy knock-em out sorta way (Tyreese in the comic  favors the hammer as well), and he is not alone, he is leading his own group of survivors and are heading towards the Prison when one survivor from the group “Donna” was bitten. Now she is one less person Tyreese has to be concerned with.

That brings us to Carl (Riggs) handling things like his daddy would have–this kid has made a fantastic transition from wandering trouble maker to stacking up massive points one successful head-shot at a time. I don’t think Tyreese will make trouble for Carl and his group. He had to calm his sister Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) down about being sectioned off from the other prisoners. She isn’t a character in the Walking Dead comic–so there are no assumptions here on her role significance just yet. Along with Sasha and Tyreese–Donna (now deceased) husband Allen and son Ben make four more people to feed at the Prison hold.

It was all fun and games until the Governor lost an eye, and Penny–again.

I wasn’t too sure at the beginning of the season if we all would get to see Morrissey’s Governor wear an eye patch. Thankfully, Michonne appropriately seen to it. Not only that, she saved the Governor the trouble of worrying about his Walker daughter remembering whom her father was. Glad Michonne was able to get away unscathed which did not happen in the comic, but she may be in a spot for mistrust yet again with Rick, but the thing here is this: whether they know this or not–they most certainly need each other.  Especially if any harm were to come to Daryl’s (Reedus).

Daryl and Merle. I’m all about family reunions–just not in an arena, teeming with riled up Woodbury residents by the one-eyed Governor. After accusing Merle (Rooker) of betrayal, the Governor will pit him against his own brother in Woodbury’s makeshift arena. I kinda wanted to Daryl reconcile with his long lost brother. Just not on these terms.

There were a lot of cliffhangers in the midseason finale with bonds broken, and loyalties tested.

At this point:

• Will Daryl and Merle escape Woodbury?
• Will Andrea come to her damn senses and rejoin the group at the prison? Will she be welcomed back? How forgiving will Michonne, her former BFF be?
• I am so happy that Glenn and Maggie were rescued. I was not ready to see either of them come to an unfortunate and premature end.
• Will Tyreese and Michonne “get together” like they were in the comic? How will Tyreese fit in with Rick’s crew?
• We lost another one of the prisoners. Someone had to go to make room for Tyreese.
• Did Rick see Shane Walsh’s (Jon Bernthal) ghost? Seems Shane’s death still haunts him.

This has been a great season. Carl is handling his new bad assity so well it has become almost disturbing that he no longer shows any emotion to what must be done. The show has come a long way realistically–everyone is struggling for survival, and your favorite characters die unexpectedly, and I am really enjoying the conflict dynamics going on. Hang tight, everyone. We won’t have long until the premiere.

The Walking Dead returns February 10, 2013 9/8c on AMC with The Suicide King.

Hang in there Glenn!

The Walking Dead (3:7) When the Dead Come Knocking was a powerhouse of an episode!  I hated watching Glenn (Yeun) get beat on by Merle (Rooker). Merle really needs to get off the whole “losing his hand” business. It’s getting old. Sure he has some animosity against Rick’s group–he was abandoned on a rooftop and had to lose his hand in order to be freed. But enough about that damn hand! I am concerned when he is finally reunited with his brother, Daryl (Reedus). Will there be conflict? Daryl is Rick’s (Lincoln) right hand–they are a team, a force to be reckoned with. Will that bond change when the two brother’s meet? What was evident in this part of the episode, Merle realized that Glenn isn’t the same “Glenn” he met once upon a time ago in Atlanta.

I have mad respect for Glenn. Glenn is an excellent character for the series–to lose him would be like, really bad. What was evident about last night’s show, the Governor is scared. He just learned that Rick’s group cleared out an entire prison of biters. Just that thought alone is going to give the Governor nightmares. He knows that they will be coming for Maggie and Glenn–and he has to prepare for the impending confrontation. We will soon see their two worlds colliding. Even though we all know just how formidable Rick’s group is–we stand to lose at least one of them.

Indeed. War is coming.

Michonne arrives at the prison bearing gifts when she is suddenly surrounded by walkers. If not for Carl (Riggs), Michonne may have died before Rick got there. Good thing about this meeting–Michonne is now part of the group. Her arrival definitely got Rick out of the doldrums and forces him to pay attention to the group. From Michonne, they learn that Glenn and Maggie were taken to Woodbury. At the same time, Rick is made aware that Carol (McBride) is still alive. Carol also learns about Lori.

Is it just me, or did Rick look good firing that weapon?

The course is now set. Rick says his goodbyes and Carl is now the man of the group while Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Oscar head out to rescue Glenn and Maggie. The team heads out, and Michonne suggested they go  on foot. They run into a herd of walkers, and a lone man hold up in a cabin. Of course, he didn’t cooperate with the group and wound up being fed to the herd following Rick and his team. Meanwhile, stupid is as stupid does back in Milton’s lab. Luckily, Andrea (Holden) was there to put an end to the walker Mr. Coleman.

The show has to have a character that everyone will hate. Not liking the Governor is a given, but not liking Andrea? She is so wrapped up in the imaginary ”safe” world of Woodbury, and its leader, she cannot see what’s really going on. What a disappointment she has been. For now, I am done with talking about the “television show” Andrea.

At this point: SPOILERS!

—  Now at this point in the comic Made To Suffer (volume 8) the Governor and his band of merry men are headed to the prison to overtake it. Lori was still alive at this point before the raid. It is also in the comic she was killed–her and baby Judith, by one of the Governors people.

— What an impression the Governor made on Glenn–tricking him into thinking that Maggie was raped. Shame on you Governor. But you will pay for that cheap, emotional trick.

Overall, what an awesome episode. We are going into the midseason finale next week, and all the pieces are strategically set. The Governor knows about the prison, but it will not be the stand off I was expecting in volume 8 of the comic. It will be very curious to see just how this confrontation will play out.

We are in for a lot of surprises. 

AMCs The Walking Dead returns next week with Made To Suffer 9/8c

Damn. We in a tight spot.

The Walking Dead Hounded (3:6) Spoilers! Sunday’s episode Hounded was not my favorite episode of the season so far. I just knew Merle (Michael Rooker) would stick to his bitter intentions, and now he has captured two of my favorite characters in the show (Norman Reedus aka Daryl being the first) Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Glenn (Steven Yeun) and all are heading to Woodbury. I think what made me the most upset is that Michonne (Danai Gurira) hid behind the car and watched it all go down. So I am thinking–this may be a tactical move by the producers of the show. Aside from Rick (Andrew Lincoln) losing his mind and Andrea (Laurie Holden) giving in to the Governor (David Morrissey), something big is coming guys–the big prison standoff–between Rick and his team, and the Governor.

Before I make too many speculations too soon, let me get back to why this episode was a bit disappointing. Merle led a group of men out in the woods to look for Michonne. Somehow I knew that camp Woodbury would let her go in peace. Evidently, she knew this as well. So she ambushes them, killing two them on the spot and as a small heard of walkers interrupt, she gets away–and Merle successfully shoots her in the leg. See, this is what I am talking about. I’ve never know Michonne’s character leave confrontation even if injured. The characters in the show, Andrea, Michonne, even Hershel became well soft. Even though it featured a few scenes from the comic–mainly Rick’s phone call with “Lori.”  I like that Hershel (Scott Wilson) realized Rick was talking into a dead phone and not say anything.

What I also didn’t like was that after making us think that Carol (Melissa McBride) was dead–you know, with that whole grave and Cherokee Rose biz only to find her behind some door dehydrated and very alive. I am sensing that Daryl has a romantic interest in Carol. Not too sure that I agree with this aspect of the show. The sweet paring of Glenn and Maggie is enough for the group.

I thought she was dead.

The most important things in The Walking Dead ‘Hounded’ were that we all get to see that Rick is still sinking into a slow psychosis since losing Lori–and just the weight of the overall situation that they are all in. Everyone sees it. Also, we are getting to see Carl (Chandler Riggs) evolve into the grizzled character that he is in the comic. After voicing to Daryl that he was the one to shoot his mother–at that moment, all his childhood innocence was lost. Let me tell you, Carl–if his role on the show proceeds in the same manner as in the comic, you all are in for a special treat.

Forgive me for referring to the comic when I watch The Walking Dead television show–it takes the fun out of guessing about what will come next–which is a good thing. More than anything, the producers are careful not to go overboard with situation changes and misguided events. That said, I really hope that Andrea’s character return to the definitive stronger character that she is in the comics. The romance scene between her and the Governor just did not work. I hope that she soon realizes what an asshole he really is and “end” this Woodbury dictatorship.

Is it safe to say that Merle ruled in this episode? His character is truly two sided, on one side, he wants to see his brother–the other kill or be killed. Maybe the great thing about this new dynamic that there isn’t any room for complacency in the series. They just better not hurt a hair on Glenn’s head. Kirkman already screwed us over with Glenn’s character in the comic. Just don’t want to relive the same horrors twice.

At this point:

—  I usually take this opportunity to compare and contrast the show and the comic book. Right now, I am going to leave where we are in this episode up in the air because honestly, I don’t know where to go with it after this episode.

—  Rick seeing his daughter and finally holding her only sated matters for the moment. Rick seeing Michonne at the gate with the supplies Maggie and Glenn collected will most likely send him over the edge again. I am sure of this point.

—  If you all haven’t noticed, Beth is still there. Why?

See you all next week. 

AMCs The Walking Dead returns Sunday with When The Dead Come Knocking 9/8c