Well this is certainly a possibility. I’ve never read the comic, and my view of things will certainly be different from someone who did. But taken in isolation as a tv show that had a lot of initial promise, with great characters and a very interesting premise this one “feels” a lot like Lost, BG, Heroes, etc to me. Of course it is possible this is just a bad stretch and the ship will right itself, but based on historical events of those other shows I’m not going to hold my breath for it.
I never got into BG, but I watched Lost for 2 seasons and change, and watched Heroes until it become utterly incomprehensible (not sure what season that was). Both those shows lost all semblance of realism for me. It comes down to whether or not I find the characters compelling. Lock was fascinating until he became a plot device. And Heroes was pretty great until they painted themselves into the Peter-is-God corner. By comparison, the characters on The Walking Dead are still entirely compelling. Really, on a character level the show is still exceptional–particularly for a genre piece. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that this show would feel like those–particularly when we’re really talking about all of two episodes in the middle of an excellent season.
tgb123
3283
You know what show lacked realism? Bonanza
But it had brilliant fight scenes!
I enjoyed the episode even with the flaws. For one thing, it was obvious from the goings on, Rick flaking out/Glen leaving, that they didn’t have a defense set up or even in progress. They were stalled by the absence of their leadership, no one had the power to make anything happen. Part of the storyline is they lack cohesion as a group at the wrong time. I can buy that, this group has never functioned well, even in their best moments.
The other thing was this was the first time both groups were in armed combat with an equally armed group of human opponents. Rick/Glen/Herschel had some contact, but not the group as a whole. The Governor’s people are ambushers from what I saw. Add in Rick’s group fighting without leadership and it should be a comical clusterfuck. The Governor got a good shot to start with only because it was by complete surprise. Yeah the body by Carol got hit a lot, as it should because lots of bullets were flying. We saw the bullet impacts from the shots that were on target, we didn’t see all the shots that wildly missed. So it’s not like they were accurate when only shooting at Carol, even though considering she was pinned down out in the open and not shooting back it makes sense that she’d be the one closest to being shot at accurately.
I really liked it until the last scene with long-legs and the guvnuh at which point I was LOST again.
garin
3288
I thought it was a good episode. I’d rather have a “boring” one like this than ten minutes of clumsy gunfire.
Two things:
-
The many facets of Merle. Seems to fit into the bad-assery of the main killing group pretty well.
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Andrea’s exasperated, “Rick!?!” For some reason I thought this was pretty amusing.
Yeah it was a little boring, but it was an episode that really needed to happen actually. There’s some important stuff going on in that boringness.
— Alan
I don’t know, it seems like we were no further along at the end of this episode as we were at the end of the last one. Both sides still hate one another, Merle is still a wildcard, as is Michonne, and Andrea is still wishy washy and naive and just wants everyone to either go away or get along so she can sleep in on Saturday mornings. The only real progress was that Tyrese’s people have joined Woodbury after being expelled by crazy Rick (which made no sense since he wasn’t talking to them and technically never made a real decision either way) and the Governor is forming his own army of children and arthritic old ladies. I suppose we could point to the fact that multiple people pointed out to Rick that he’s a few sandwiches shy of a picnic lately as progress as well.
Honestly, it felt like the events of this episode could have been condensed to the first 20 minutes of next weeks episode pretty easily.
HEX716
3291
I’m finding that an hour just isn’t enough and I think they are too. The episodes go really fast once you factor in the many commericals. The show is trying to balance character development and a more adult show with the action, zombie kills and what not. You are bascially trying to please one crowd that wants more adult themed problems and discussions and another crowd thats waiting for the next cool zombie head bash or shot. I for one wouldn’t watch the show if I didn’t care about some of the characters while others want mindless zombie action (not that I don’t mind this but need balance) with very little character development. That hour goes really quick and I find myself wanting more time for both most of the time.
Last night’s episode was slow but I felt a need for it…the only problem was they focused mostly on Andrea and I think she proved she can’t carry an episode. I would have no problem if she were to get killed this season. If next season they are still at the prison this show will hit the wall quickly. I miss the city episodes where the zombie threat was greater…I hope they get in a situation again where the numbers increase.
I don’t think the group is going to stay at the prison indefinitely. In the last episode Glen even mentioned that the food was running out. Plus they’re starting to make references to the fact that there are many insecure areas in the prison, and I think they’ve seen that planting crops in the outer yard is too risky with the Governor out there. So it feels like they’re setting things up to have the group eventually move out.
Seems to me that this season will end up with them resolving Woodbury and then deciding to move on. The only problem is, from an “interesting plot development” point of view, what happens next (I have no knowledge of the comics)?
As for Tyrese and his gang leaving the prison, I know Rick wasn’t speaking to them, but since nobody else could see Ghost Lori, I think it’s reasonable to assume Tyrese thought Rick was kicking their group out. Not to mention he was all crazycakes. I hope we can hurry up and get the two sidekicks in Tyrese’s group killed so Tyrese and his wife can re-join Rick’s group.
It wasn’t a “bad” episode. Most of it was forgettable, but I did like the interaction with Merle. He’s actually becoming a favorite character second to Daryl. He brings drama to the party, but in a good way. It’s pretty much needed. If he wasn’t there, everyone would be singing kumbaya around the campfire. He loyal to himself and his brother. I found it interesting that the group trusted him enough to give him a rifle.
I just want to bitch-slap Andrea. After ALL the evidence, everything that happened, she still has some loyalty to “The Govener”. Even using his real name to make him sound more personal? Please.
I did find it interesting that they forgot how Axel died. Again… they’re just milling around the court yard without a care in the world.
Guard Tower would make a poor lookout btw. Merle knows the kind of hardware they have. A 50 cal truck mounted gun will turn it into swiss cheese. They have no communications so if you did spot someone, you have to somehow rely the message to the group, etc.
Gov’ doesn’t have the resources to track them down if they left. That’s an option. The other is Guerilla warfare and hit and run tactics on part of rick’s group if they wanted to mount an offensive. Pot shots at their guards. Doesn’t have to kill but if you wound it does several things: Removes them from battle, drain their resources to heal them, and demorilize. Prison will pretty much have to be abandoned and stay on the move. Certain members would have a tough time doing that. You can’t have the gov’ know where your base is.
What I wouldn’t do is sit there like sitting ducks or stuck in a tomb. They are blind to the gov’ movements if they hide in there waiting for an attack.
Yeah… i over think this way too much.
Okay, now it feels like Lost.
The scene of him watching Michonne workout was pretty funny. It was like every creepy dude loitering around a gym, gawking at the women. “Don’t forget your cardio…”
-Tom
robsam
3296
Plus her workout was in no way at all impressive. Unless it was some yoga type stuff I don’t understand. “Let’s let bygones be bygones.” I’m kind of starting to like racist asshole murderer jackass Merle. I hate me.
High point for me was Carol’s advice to Andrea and Andrea ALMOST carrying it out! That surprised me. Andrea’s still the biggest jackass in town, but now she’s a halfway sympathetic recovering jackass who just might make it out alive. And I was glad to see Rick halfway functional again, glad to see folks holding him accountable. And yeah, I think Merle adds some welcome complexity to the moral landscape. Shane was the twisted heart of TWD and when he died, everyone kinda went back to being “good” or “bad” or “clueless.” Oh, and looked to me like Michonne was doing pilates which isn’t very impressive from the outside.
jason
3298
I loved Hershel calling him out on the “this isn’t a democracy” stuff.
HEX716
3299
new show runner with I’m sure Kirkman pulling the puppet strings.
Kyle700
3300
I just wish they would get back to the zombies being a main threat. They’ve moved from zombies to other survivors. I find it boring, as that isn’t reallllly why I want to watch the Walking Dead. It was better when the threat of zombies chewing your face off in the middle of the night was the most important thing.
However, it seems pretty likely that they will move on soon. That’s what tend to happen in this show anyway; once they find a comfortable spot, it always gets screwed up and they have to move.
