Who's Really in Charge? Review: The Walking Dead - “Dead Weight”

Season 4, Episode 7

Air Date: Sunday, November 24, 2013, at 9/8c on AMC.

Rating: ★★★★★

“You seem different now, changed. Are you?” – Martinez

Here I thought the baddest man on The Walking Dead had turned over a new leaf and was showing us his softer side. Oh no … that’s not what he was up to at all. The Walking Dead continues its foray into the psyche of the Governor (David Morrissey) as we discover his true motivations. He’s a man with a family he has to protect—at any cost.

Observations and thoughts:

Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad, Gov?

Once you see the Governor take out a few walkers bare-handed, you know he’s not a changed man. I don’t think he’ll ever evolve from the killer mindset because he’s become a monster. Not only that, the Gov has an utter fearlessness when it comes to walkers now. He doesn’t flinch or attempt to flee when under attack. He’s a product of his environment and constantly surrounded by death. “You can’t think forever. Sooner or later you’ve gotta make a move.” And that he certainly does. The persona of Brian Heriot may have worked for him momentarily, but it isn’t who the Gov is. He’s a man with a purpose; I just don’t know if I’m sure what his purpose is anymore. He wants to be the normal survivor, the one with a mundane job to do to keep the camp going. He doesn’t want to be the man in charge because of what that entails. He says it himself: “I don’t want it, dammit! I don’t want it. You hear me?! I don’t want it. I don’t want it.” I hear you, crazy pants. So what I don’t get is if he doesn’t want the responsibility, why take it? Is it because he wants to protect his new family? Lilly (Audrey Marie Anderson), Meghan (Meyrick Murphy) and Tara (Alanna Masterson) have pulled him from the darkness. Does he feel he owes them restitution for saving him or is he subconsciously trying to rebuild what he had in the past?

Everybody’s Got A Weakness

Meghan is the Governor’s Achilles heel. (Let’s hope a certain katana wielding badass doesn’t find this out.) He’s lost his daughter yet now has a replacement. It’s quite the dynamic the writers provide because they continue to show us another side to the Governor, even though his neurosis still shines through. You want to hate the man and not think about his humanity, but when you see him with Meghan, you realize he’s still capable of compassion. Having this new family brings out the protector in him. Morrissey is such a great actor and compels me to change my feelings about his character every time I see him. I don’t know whether to hate the Gov or to forgive him and see he’s not all bad. But I know better. No matter how much he appears to have changed, he hasn’t truly gone good.

Random thoughts:

“You come back with us, there’s two things you gotta get straight: one, I’m in charge. Two, no dead weight. And that means everybody.” I don’t think Martinez (Jose Pablo Cantillo) realizes what he’s saying here. He’s essentially sealing his fate with the Governor and the fate of the entire camp he’s built. You can’t tell a psychopath there will be no dead weight because they’ll start cleaning house.

I always find it interesting that during the end of the world, mofos can still find alcohol and indulge as if they haven’t a care in the world. I’d never want to be incapacitated in any form or for any amount of time. It’s not worth the few minutes of blitzed out bliss. Just ask Martinez.

Every time new survivors are introduced, I get a bad feeling. I know something is going to go wrong and these new people won’t be around for too long hence my hesitance in getting too attached. I’m talking to you, Tara! She’s all talk and I’d hate to see her get eaten because she isn’t the tough girl she claims to be.

In a scene similar to one from Lost, Martinez and the Gov play golf to pass the time. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a bonding moment or a penis measuring contest. Martinez is pushing his leadership role to the forefront, trying to prove he’s just as worthy as his former commander. Though the roles have been reversed, I don’t think Martinez is the man the Gov is. I don’t think Martinez has what it takes to be the big man on campus. And the Gov is bat-shit cray cray, which further pushes his agenda. We can’t forget that.

The Governor is definitely smarter than I realized. He plays a game to see who he can trust, who’s as crazy as he is, and what people will do to survive. “If you join me, you’ll never have to worry about whether you’re doing the right thing or not. ‘Cause we’ll do the only thing.”

Memorable lines:

Meghan: “It’s your turn. Brian? It’s your turn.”

The Governor: “I’m thinking.”

The Gov: “People believe what they want to believe. Everybody loves a hero.”

I’m sure you’ve noticed Lilly looks like Maggie (Lauren Cohan). Coincidence? I think not. Mid-season finale airs next week. Will the Governor finally exact his revenge on Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the other survivors? Does the ending scene end with a shot or a second guess? Do the survivors at the prison have any idea of what awaits them? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Tune in to The Walking Dead, Sundays at 9/8c only on AMC. For more on the show, visit the official site.

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Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle