Hmm,
I was disappointed by this episode in a lot of ways. Herschel, who I never much cared for to begin with and even distrust to a significant degree, is coming down as unfeeling, controlling, suspicious (acting, not his demeanor towards others) and just....off. The effort at the well was the big constructive goal this episode (though also made me ask how a Walker got down there to begin with) was a total disaster, everything took a big step backwards with the re-institution of gun-seizures, and well....nothing really significant and/or meaningful happened.
Now, some will say "Wait, how can you say that. Lori's pregnancy test, Shane's almost-confession to Andrea etc. etc." To which I respond: I need a bit more meat than some touchy-feeling conversation and a few plot devices lifted straight out of daytime soaps. BAD daytime soaps at that (not as if there's such a thing as GOOD daytime soaps, but still). The endless search for Sophia continues, and the scenes from next week reveal Merle's reappearance (Ugh, a potential season-killer right there, and DEFINITELY something that's going to eat up multiple episodes dealing with the awful character they saddled poor Michael Rooker with) and Herschel as much as telling his daughter he's going to kick Rick's group out, despite what he said to Rick. The whole "You need to realize these people won't always be around, and some firm boundaries need to be set" set my teeth on edge.
The bottom line for me is this: I was looking forward to this episode as something that would start building momentum into something more interesting than Herschel's creepy behavior, Shane/Rick/Dale's grr-inducing decisions, Carl's convalescence and the endless Sophia search. I got none of what I was looking for from this episode and normally thats ok. One of the great things about TWD as a rule is that they might go in a different direction than you were anticipating, but that's cool because the different direction is almost always at least as enjoyable as what you THOUGHT you were gonna get.
It feels weird to say it, but this was the first AWFUL episode of S.2 of TWD for me. About the only positive thing I can say about it is at least they were decent enough to warn me Merle's back next episode, so I can skip that one and just catch a real quick plot synopsis from one of my friends/acquaintances who will no doubt watch it. At another time the Merle thing coulda been cool, but given the in-limbo momentum-absent episode this week, my knee-jerk reaction...the first thought/non-word that popped into my head when I saw that few second clip of Merle was "UGH!"
Sorry to be a downer all, but this one gets a 1.5/10 from me, and I'm only giving it the 1.5 solely on the improbable but interestingly gory bisection of the "swimmer."
Edit: JDFP, I was writing my post while you were writing yours, and I agree with about everything you said except enjoying the episode. Seems we were reading each others minds on a lot of aspects of this week's episodes, though I had a gut feeling it was birth control pills/contraceptive or a pregnancy test Lori sent Glenn for. Glad to know someone else felt let down too. Least I know I'm in good company. 
I haven't read the comics, but as characters/a character location so many of the comic-fans seemed so excited to see unveiled, Herschel's farm and the events there have been for the most part IMO, very meh and something that drags in much the way that Sophia continuing to be missing has. Then, at the nadir of what has been a good season in a lot of ways, they fling Merle back into the mix...an event which will, no doubt, take advantage of all but Shane and Dale running around unarmed (Daryl and his last crossbow bolt don't count anymore).
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TWD 2x04 "Cherokee Rose" episode discussion... **SPOILERS WITHIN**
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Originally Posted by babomb
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