Out Of The Grave: This Week on The Walking Dead (Episode 12 / March 3, 2013)

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

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EPISODE 12: Clear

THE HOOK: With Hershel’s farm overrun, Rick and company are on the move again. They come across a prison which Rick feels would be perfect…once it’s purged of walkers. But the dead aren’t the only danger lurking in the shadows.

THE LOWDOWN: (The following column contains MAJOR SPOILERS, so I don’t recommend reading this if you haven’t watched this episode). I knew tonight’s episode was going to be something big, and what’s bigger than a reunion with the man who saved Rick’s life and set this whole fiasco into motion, Morgan. I’ve been wondering about Morgan lately, especially after playing the five Walking Dead game episodes on Xbox. I hoped we’d see Morgan again, as I hope to someday see them introduce some of the characters from the game (which featured a Glenn cameo). As much as I’d hoped Morgan and his son would be alive and ready to join the group, deep down I knew that’s just not how the world works anymore.

Another reason I mentioned the Walking Dead game is because Morgan’s lair looks and feels a lot like a place the survivors of the game encounter, with walkers impaled upon spikes and caught in booby traps. It’s like watching an dark adult themed version of HOME ALONE–the welcome mat was an especially nice touch. Morgan looks like he has it all figured out, tactically anyway, but it’s heartbreaking to learn about his son. He and Rick’s talk was well done and pulled at every one of my heartstrings. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for that’ll snap Rick out of his crazy spell. He doesn’t want to become as detached as Morgan and I don’t believe he will. I’d also like to think we’ll see more of Morgan in the future, once he’s had time to let this all sink in. At least I hope so.

Carl’s hunt for baby stuff is also a cool avenue, especially because you can tell there’s more to it than that just by looking at him. It was a surreal moment when he looked at that map and saw his neighbourhood and house, but finding out the true purpose behind his excursion was also quite moving. The picture was a welcome dynamic, because again, it’s good to see Carl is still connected on an emotional level, but cooler still was the fact the Carl and Michonne both tested one another and bonded over the affair. I’ve been waiting for her to get welcomed into the group, so when Carl actually says to Rick, “I think she’s one of us,” my smile was ear to ear. Rick even jokes around with her after she opens up to him and pretty much says, don’t worry, we’re all a little crazy these days. The reunion with Morgan was interesting, but it was the mending of fences with Michonne that ruled the day.

THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 3’s twelfth episode brought us back full circle to the beginning of the series and showed us just how much things have changed. The opening scene with the hitchhiker went as I figured it would, they didn’t stop for him and nobody said shit. Poor bastard. I knew he’d play some sort of roll here or why in hell show him? Their drive out, past his torn up body was a slap in the face, and not just because they stop and pick up his backpack (all I could hear in my head was Dave Chappelle saying “that was…coldblooded”, but hey, supplies are supplies. It was a slap in the face because it’s then we realize that THIS is what its come to, this is what the world has become. It’s a bit gloomy, but after all these characters have seen, I can’t exactly blame them. Oh, and congrats Daryl, you got a new crossbow brother. Yay! I love happy endings.

ZOMBIE KILL OF THE WEEK: Rats are a great distraction, but nothing does the deed better than a sword through the skull. Michonne 1, Rats 0.

BLOOD AND GORE: We get walker deaths via blades and booby traps, but I really wanted to see more hacking and slashing…and someone fall down the welcome mat pit. Yes, I’m sick.

WHOSE HEAD BELONGS IN THE GOV’S FISHTANK: Morgan. I know he’s been made to suffer, more than any one man/father/husband should have to, but all that ingenuity should be put to practical use and joining Rick and his crew would be doing just that. It would take time, but Rick was willing to help the guy heal, and how often would you get the chance to reunite with someone you actually knew in that world? Again, I hope he comes around.

COOLEST SCENE: The coolest scene by far is when Rick breaks through Morgan’s line of crazy and has a straightforward talk. It’s not sunshine and rainbows, but this is one hell of emotional scene and you know we were all tearing up when we heard it.

FINAL VERDICT:

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