The Walking Dead: Season 2, episode 4 ‘Cherokee Rose’ is an episode from the critically acclaimed original series from AMC, based on the popular comic book series written by Robert Kirkman. The Walking Dead series from AMC was created by three-time Oscar nominee Frank Darabont and stars Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sara Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Dale Horvath, Steven Yeun, IronE Singleton, Norman Reedus, and Melissa Suzanne McBride. The series is about a police officer named Rick Grimes (Lincoln) who leads a group of survivors in a world overrun by zombies. In this episode, Glenn get’s busy with the farmer’s daughter, Lori might be pregnant, and is that a bloated zombie in a well? Warning: *spoilers below*

This episode, Cherokee Rose, made up for last week’s OK episode. We didn’t hear much of Rick’s babbling this time–and of course, it remains clear that the “faith factor” will remain part of the show. Now, if you remember last week’s episode, Shane (Bernthal) decided that it was going to be Otis—instead of a walker—he’d use his last bullet on, and as if to punish him for his survival tactic, he now has to wear the dead man’s clothes, watching him squirm in his guilt. Everyone, including the RV crew, is in attendance at Otis’s final send off. Shane gave a heartfelt tribute to Otis and laid a stone on his memorial grave. Don’t feel too bad for Otis dying, Shane. You did what you had to do.

It seems that Daryl (Reedus) is currently the single most interesting character on the show. Alone, he continued the effort to find Sophia, while everyone else’s concerns went elsewhere–well everyone else except for Sophia’s mother, Carol. After he searched an abandoned home and didn’t find her, he noticed a flowering Cherokee Rose and gave it Sophia’s mother, Carol (Melissa McBride). He told her that the flower is a sign of strength and hope.  This maybe a hint that Sophia would be found next episode. It is also worthwhile to note that Carl is recovering splendidly from his surgery, and his mother will soon be dealing with an unplanned pregnancy,and my guess, it’s Shane’s (of course it is!).

Their comfortable surroundings allowed T-Dog time to apologize to Dale about his illness-driven rant as they drew water from one of the farm’s wells–but wait–is that a bloated zombie simmering in the well water? How long had it been in there and just how much of that water did Hershel and his family already drink? The crew decided it would be safer to remove the bloated walker instead of just shooting it as not to contaminate the water. The decision was made to lower Glenn into the well in an attempt to get a noose around the zombie and pull it to the surface. The rope that held Glenn broke, and frantically, it took everyone’s strength to pull him out safely. The plan haphazardly worked, it seems, as the loop made it’s way around the zombie’s neck and they were able to remove it from the well—half of it anyway. With part of it’s upper torso still wiggling, T-Dog moves in to finish it off with a few calculated blows to the head.

Hershel must be ‘out of the loop’ on this whole zombie apocalypse thing. When reviewing the map for possible locations to search for Sophia, he announced to his guest that guns were not allowed on the farm. It seems as though Hershel holds resentment for Rick and the others for being there. It seems as if Hershel is thinking that “everything was fine until...” Rick and his crew showed up. Sad because everyone seems content at the moment: pitching camp, chatting on the porch, etc.. It’s good to see everyone getting along during these times of uncertainty. Since Carl is well on his way towards recovery, Hershel gives Rick the spill about being a private man, and that he is not extending the welcome mat for them to stay.

The bad: I need not consider the most annoying aspect of tonight’s show * ahem* Sophia *ahem* because she is still missing. Note to AMC: let’s be clear of something here–we are watching a survival horror’esq show. Fan’s need to get past all the “love fest” melodrama, and get on with the survival part. The show’s pacing is truly suffering at this point.

The highlight: Glenn (Yeun) is on his way to making up for some lost screen time, and what a way to go about it! Glenn and Maggie delved in on some ‘spontaneous relations’ in the feminine hygiene aisle.  Heck for all we know, they may die tomorrow.

The show improves with each episode, after it’s slow season starter “What Lies Ahead,” and last week’s “Save the Last One.” Definitely delivering a shocking episode, because this was an episode full of surprises! Keep em’ coming!

For more information, please visit AMC’s The Walking Dead site.