Well … we certainly got a jam-packed hour’s worth of The Walking Dead this episode, didn’t we? Everything we expected from a season finale, I’d say. And satisfyingly so.
I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again right here: This show is different for me on several levels. Sure, I enjoy all the innovative walker situations that arise and the action sequences that crop up, sometimes when you least expect them. But it’s the turmoil and character studies that really trip my trigger. As an example, the slow burn of Lori’s as Rick launched into his speech and began confessing was a real doozy:
- You could see Lori begin to simmer with Rick’s admonition about what Jenner told him. Still, she goes to talk to him, wraps comforting arms around him and tells him “I’m sure you had your reasons” for holding the information back from the group.
- With his back turned to her, Rick confesses he killed Shane. At that point, Lori removes her arms from around him. Her face takes on a different tone.
- Rick tells her Shane planned his ambush against him. Her hands are completely off him now.
- Rick states, in no uncertain terms, he just wanted it over, he wanted Shane dead. Shane turned after he died, he tells Lori. That’s how he knew for certain Jenner was right. Lori’s eyes are wide.
- Lastly, he notes Carl was the one who put Shane down after he resurrected. This is where Lori hit her boiling point. She doubles over in grief and feeling and uncertainty. She glares at Rick, doesn’t let him touch her as he approaches. And then she walks away from him.
All this was terrific drama. Outstanding drama. Delving into the characters like this gives me more of a thrill than anything I can think of when it comes to this show.
And if that wasn’t enough, watching Daryl through this entire chapter was an added bonus. You can see his wheels turning. You can see him holding back and evaluating everything that’s going on. It’s no doubt he’s a favorite of mine. For everyone else, it may be the manner in which he spews at members of the group or others at various times, taking no guff from anybody. But for me, it’s the heavy-lidded concentration in his eyes that really turns my crank. We learned plenty about Daryl this season; I can hardly wait to see what is revealed about him come the fall.
Notes:
- I really liked the opening. We got an in-depth look at how walkers react, how they move, what they’re attracted to.
- 15 months ago, Keith posed the question of whether The Walking Dead was going to be one of those shows with a list of questions in need of answering before it got cancelled. Well, we know there’s not chance of it getting cancelled anytime in the near future. And the question of what was whispered to Rick by Jenner at the CDC got satisfyingly answered with certainty this episode. (I’ve wondered about it for some time and called out a definitive example last episode. Earlier episodes yielded plenty of clues, however.)
- (Warning: Spoiler) Nothing — nothing — says “kick and a half” as the image of the mysterious hooded figure standing over Andrea with a drawn sword (having just saved her life from an attacking walker) with two chained-at-the-throat armless, figures standing at either side. (Readers of the comics know who this is, show-only viewers do not. Of course, it’s Michonne. AMC itself announced, in a bit of a surprise this date, that Danai Gurira (Treme) has been cast as the fan-favorite characters.)
- Just my opinion, but Jimmy’s demise (as well as Patricia’s) was a long time coming. He was definitely a throwaway character. And T-Dog? Well … something better get to gettin’ with him quickly as he’s worn out his screen time as far as I’m concerned. Writers: Do something with him, already.
- What is up with the helicopter? We saw it in the premiere episode of season 1 … we see it here again in this season’s finale.
- What’s that structure in the distance across that body of water? Sure looks like a prison compound to me …
Quotes:
“Christ promised a resurrection of the dead; I just thought He had something a little different in mind …” — Hershel to Rick
“Let’s get one thing straight: If you’re staying, this isn’t a democracy anymore.” — Rick to the group
Photo Credit: AMC
Some posts that may be related to this:
Lori is one person I wish was dead!!! She has to be the worse Mother. Never knowing where the kid is. She wanted Shane dead, now she doesn’t???? It’s her fault Shane went off like he did. Lori is just a waste of character but you find her what??? Sheesh, next season I will watch the first 2 eps then the last 2. Who needs all this talk about the same stuff, plus filler til the writers figure they need some action and story so people return the next season. 3 decent or good eps, does not make a great or even good series. (look at what Dexter has become) . As someone else posted elsewhere… this show is really “Little House on the Prairie in the Days of Our Zombie Lives”. basiclly, it is mostly soap opera with some zombie action if we are lucky. Cut out the damn over talking, the tired drama between Lori and Rick. The kid should have grown alittle during this time. Lets go with the daily survival in a zombie world… -More Daryl for sure. Drama is ok, but not the same thing over and over again esp of it involves Lori. damn…..
*POST AUTHOR*
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“Lori is just a waste of character but you find her what???”
Lori is the basis of what is driving Rick, Richard. She may not be to your liking, but she’s a necessary character … especially right now.
I’ve never stated I find her anything but a bundle of uncertainty. I neither like her nor hate her. What I do like is the interaction that either sets up later scenes or explains certain behaviors.
I couldn’t handle a show like this if it was non-stop daily zombie survival. (Actually, it is non-stop daily zombie survival, just not the way you’d like to see it played out. Everybody has their preferences.)
I, too, was perplexed by Lori’s reaction to Rick’s confession to killing Shane. Didn’t just plant the seeds in Rick’s mind that Shane was basically a monster who had to be dealt with a couple of episodes ago? I was more expecting a huge grin on her face than what she did.
*POST AUTHOR*
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Nah. I’m not surprised by Lori’s reaction to Rick in the least:
Lori’s getting her ass chewed by Andrea and being called a little princess. Lori’s calling Shane down from a tower to make nicey-nice to him. Lori’s giving Carl what for. Lori takes morning after pills. Lori’s comforting Carl. Lori’s flinging vitriol at Shane. Lori’s running after Rick because She! Must! Find! Him! Now! Lori’s supporting Rick … no, she’s just standing by his side in solidarity … no … wait … she’s glaring at him with a demon’s eyes … I mean … she’s sooooooooooo glad to see him come back safe. Lori’s being the bad guy in not letting Carl get what he wants. Lori’s crying. Lori’s concerned. Lori’s strong. Lori’s off on one of her banshee modes.
Cripes, cripes and cripes! This chick’s got more personalities than Sybil. So no, I’m not surprised by her reaction to Rick’s confessions.
Remember the school flashback? When she was harping on Rick to one of her school mom chums? Even then, before the apocalypse hit fast and hard, she was a bundle of angst and uncertainty.
If there’s one thing she’s consistent at, it’s reacting in the moment. We saw several versions of those reactions in the couple minutes at the end when she was listening to Rick go on about Shane and Jenner and Carl.
Think about it, Chuck: Have we ever seen Lori with a big grin on her face?
Well, it would have been nice to have just one consistent reaction from her!
I enjoy this show, but it’s so overrated.
Glen Mazzara taking over as show runner really seemed to mark a change in this season. The first episode he took over everything seemed to kick into high gear and look what we got: an awesome sequence of events.
– The camera work during the attack sequences was pretty pretty pretty awesome.
– As a non-comic reader, that Andrea cliffhanger ending was totally bizarre.
– Rick: WHY CAN’T YOU BE HONEST AND SAY OUTRIGHT THAT SHANE PULLED HIS GUN ON YOU?! Jesus, you dug yourself into this hole by not properly explaining things.
– Lori is just the worst. She is the opposite of Batman.
*POST AUTHOR*
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Rick does have the tendency to do that at times, doesn’t he ac?
I think they are setting us up to hate Lori, for obvious reasons that will play out later at the prison…lol
Rick did end up saying that Shane pulled the gun on him. At the end, to the whole group. He didn’t say it to Lori, but maybe he felt he didn’t have to considering how she’d practically begged him to take Shane out previously. She’s a crazy pants and I can’t stand her. She’s the worst mother imaginable. She never knows where Carl is. Ummm, there is ONE child in the group. He should never be without an adult. Period.
I loved the end with the new character saving Andrea. I don’t read the comics, so I know nothing of this new character and can’t wait to find out!
I also really disliked Carol in this episode. So critical of everything Rick does, when he was very loyal to her about trying to find Sophia.
Lori es the worst wife ever. I truly hate her. I hope she dies and Rick finds a new partner (also, Carl is starting to act like her mother, neither of them appreciate Rick). DIE already!!!!!