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EPISODE 15: This Sorrowful Life
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). Well here we are, down to the last two episodes, so at the risk of sounding repetitive, this article will contain spoilers so continue at your own risk. Still with me? Good. I loved the opening conversation between Rick and Merle, he calls Rick’s conscience out and it’s beautiful. Rick was making the wrong call, he knew it, Merle knew it, hell, everyone knew it, including Lori who comes back and gives him a much needed moment of clarity…for all the good it did.
Merle knows how to play not just the game, but each and every player in it. We all knew he was out for himself from the start. Sure, he wanted to be with Daryl, but he’s been coming to the slow realization that Daryl’s rooted in with the group. I truly believe Merle could have endured and earned his place like Michonne did—despite Glenn telling Daryl it wouldn’t happen—but I can’t blame him for seizing the opportunity with Michonne when it presented itself. That said, Merle knows the Governor better than anyone and told Hershel straight up how this game would play out, so I have to wonder why he bothered acting on the Michonne thing when he knew damn well he’d get shot in the face after handing her over.
Merle’s chat with Michonne felt as real as any conversation between two people in this series thus far. Here we have two outsiders, two lone wolves with no reservations as to how the world is and how people are faring, and despite being at odds with one another there’s a measure of respect between them. I didn’t think Michonne would be able to talk him down, honestly, I thought she’d have to kill him. Merle isn’t the devil he appears to be, or wants people to think he is and we finally see that tonight. I loved his walker plan, but I felt he ran a little headlong into that fight. Personally, I think he could kick the Governor’s ass, one on one, but we all knew that wouldn’t happen.
THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 3’s fifteenth episode was eventful, but did feel a bit like filler before the main event. The whole thing with Glenn asking Maggie to marry him was heartwarming (I just hope she doesn’t ask him where he got the ring), and I dug Rick’s “greater good” speech, but it was the ending that really shook me up. Poor Daryl. I knew nothing would happen to him, I even believed for a while there that he and Merle might battle it out for Michonne’s life, but no, Daryl got something much worse…having to see his brother turned and feeding on some random carcass. We knew we’d lose Merle, but damn, going out like that is going to mess Daryl up big time. I envision the Governor attacking the prison much like he does in the comics, but I also want to see a battle royal between him and Rick. Thing is, Daryl’s definitely gonna want a piece of that action. Season finale next week folks, how do you think this will play out?
ZOMBIE KILL OF THE WEEK: Michonne manages to kill a walker with a damn wire while tied up, taking its head clean off. She really is queen of the apocalypse.
BLOOD AND GORE: Merle leads a small army of walkers to meet the Governor’s crew which results in mucho carnage and mayhem.
WHOSE HEAD BELONGS IN THE GOV’S FISHTANK: Rick. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he got off the crazy train, but it took far too long for him to come to his damn senses about this Michonne trade, and telling Merle about it was the absolute worst play possible.
COOLEST SCENE: There’s nothing “cool” about how tonight’s episode comes to a close, but if you want a powerful scene, this is it. Seeing Merle’s eyes when he rises and looks at Daryl is enough to chill just about anyone to the bone.
FINAL VERDICT:
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