Air Date: Sunday, March 11, 2012, 9/8c on AMC
RATING:
“We’re all a bit torqued up at this point.” – Andrea
What did you think Carl was going to do with that gun?
I had to take a few minutes after watching “Better Angels” to think about what to put in my review because this is not your typical The Walking Dead episode. The actions taken during the hour I spent riveted to my television left me reeling and not knowing what to expect for the season finale. I’m speechless—there are too many “holy shit!” moments to count, and I’m not sure I can stand the suspense of waiting seven more days until I can get my next The Walking Dead fix.
Observations and thoughts:
While I’m not sure what the all-out slaughter of a few Walkers means (though I may have some ideas), I think the group is heading toward its breaking point. They’ve come together under heinous circumstances and are doing what it takes to survive. The hatred shown toward the Walkers kind of makes me wonder what everyone is turning into. Killing for survival—to not be eaten—is one thing, but seeking out the zombie menace and pulling a Rodney King is something else entirely. I always have a tendency to remember Walkers used to be people too.
Another one bites the dust. I'm sad to see him go because I love a bad guy.
I see why Carl (Chandler Riggs) looks up to Shane (Jon Bernthal). Shane was there when his father wasn’t and took care of a distraught kid and his mother. So to Carl, Shane is a sort of big brother and confidant who doesn’t judge. But dang it if Shane doesn’t go about things the wrong way. Telling Carl he’s not to blame and that he’ll need to protect himself is not the way to prevent the same thing from happening again. The kid needs to grow up and learn from each of his mistakes but having a gun in hand sets things in motion—the wrong things. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) tells Carl, “No more kid stuff. I wish you could have the childhood I had, but that won’t happen now.” He gets real morbid real fast talking about death and dying, but it’s what Carl needs to hear. There is no way to prepare for death; you just deal with it as it comes. Eventually, Carl will stop blaming himself for what happened to Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) because when faced with a similar situation, he doesn’t make the same mistake twice.
Rick makes a big speech about honoring Dale and changing their way of thinking from here on out. I’m curious to see how things will work out now considering they’ve just lost someone who’s been with them for so long. Facing a zombie horde with no plan will put things in perspective, that’s for sure.
Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) shocks me. She’s so kind to Shane and treats him as no one has for quite a while. Do you think he deserves it though? Had she said “thank you” and “sorry” to him sooner, would that have broken something in him—made him see things as they truly are before his imagination and undying need for his own family pushed him into psycho-ville?
I wonder how many more familiar faces will fill this graveyard.
“Freeing that prisoner more important to you than Carl.” Shane makes a good damn point here and I bet Rick doesn’t realize things appear that way. Rick thinks he has to be the leader, has to make all the tough calls, but there are others around able to step up and do what needs to be done. Like Daryl (Norman Reedus). When no one else wants to do the dirty work, Daryl always ends up as the fall guy. I hope this group knows what they have in each member because if they lose too many more of them, they’ll all suffer.
After all the crap that’s been done to Randall (Michael Zegen)—tying the man up, putting a gun to his head, treating him like a prisoner—payback would definitely have been on his mind. But then again, it could’ve worked another way. Maybe Randall would’ve been scared to death (pun intended) and wouldn’t go back to his people. Who knows? Thanks to Shane and his crazy ass, we’ll never find out now, will we? Truth be told, the survivors have bigger fish to fry.
Memorable lines:
Rick to Hershel about Shane being left at the farm: “Oh he’s turning over a new leaf.”
**
T-Dog to Lori and Hershel about sleeping on the couch or Hershel’s bed: “If you two can’t decide, I’ll take it.”
**
A few reviews back I may have mentioned something about the Walkers Shane and Rick ran into outside of town that weren’t bitten. It was glazed over a bit as Rick shrugged it off, but I’m glad I paid attention. Now it seems that when you die, you turn into a Walker. But it’s possible if you’ve been scratched by a zombie, you then become a carrier for the mutation and dying activates it. All I know is, things are going to get real serious in next week’s season finale. The implications of Carl listening to his father and protecting himself, how zombies are now coming into being, and the danger that awaits the farmhouse is all too much for one final episode. I don’t want to think about how long we’ll have until the next season starts. The Walking Dead is the leader of killer cliffhangers and you can bet the season finale will not disappoint.
Tune in to The Walking Dead season finale, next Sunday at 9/8c on AMC. For more on the show, visit http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead.
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Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC © 2010-2012 American Movie Classics Company, LLC. All rights reserved
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