Wow,
That'sa Spicy Meatball! Agree 200% with everyone talking about the plot having kicked into overdrive. T-Dog was actually beginning to grow on me (a little, and only as of this season), but I would've found his doomed-yet-still-sacrificial death for Carol MUCH more satisfying if they hadn't gone ambiguous with Carol's fate. It's a subjective view, but I feel they missed an opportunity to keep the hammer blow pacing coming by not nailing down her fate. Either dead within moments of pushing open the door, or surviving via narrow escape, in this case the ambiguity doesn't heighten tensions so much as diminish the grit of how T-Dog chose to go out knowing his number was up.
As for Lori, that was just wild. Once again having Carl perform the coup de grace, and on his mother no less was just amazing. The Shane shooting felt like a snap act of necessity, almost unconsidered in its execution by comparison. I totally don't get all the Carl-hate. Sure he was an annoying git for much of Season 2, but this season he's been the freaking MAN. I really enjoyed how they flashed back to the "Kid stuff is over. People are going to die, I'm going to die, your mother....you can never be prepared for it" speech Rick gave him back on the farm. THEN it came off as a bit trite, but in montage-combination with performing the "Last Rites of the Zombie Apocalypse" on Lori, coupled with that icy no-bullshit unblinking gaze as Carl marched past Maggie within two seconds of firing the shot it really gave the scene even more gravity if that was possible.
As to Andrew the Sociopath: Man, that was a hand-grenade-like detonation of bad karma. Rick opts not to expend the bullet, and pays with T-Dog's, Lori's and perhaps Carol's lives....and another crushing responsibility forced on Carl. No one can see the future, but it couldn't be a more crystal-clear example of a leader being responsible for the consequences of his decisions, no matter how improbable or unintended. Leaving aside last week's debate, the message that I get from many of TWD's events so far SEEMS to be that expedience ultimately leads to disaster, however instantaneous or delayed.
Kudos to Maggie for that glazed yet responsive traumatized expression as she emerged with the baby in her arms. Kudos ad infinitum to Rick for that hands-on-knees "No, oh no. NO, NO!!" denial as he looks at Carl and takes in the monumental scope of the horror. I truly felt for the character. Which was damned refreshing, given how glacially stiff Rick has been of late. Opportunities deferred are opportunities no more, and that's something I think everyone can empathize with. Andrew Lincoln really surprises me during some clutch moments by hitting them so picture-perfect. He may miss a few pitches, but when he connects the ball is headed downtown.
The Woodbury stuff just felt like fluff that reiterated last week, other than the brief back and forth between Merle and The Governor about Merle wanting to go look for Daryl. That's one of the few genuinely interesting nuances (beyond the obvious) about Woodbury that's really prompted my appetite for speculation.
A great episode in all. Yet I still think they erred by not tying Carol's fate to T-Dog's sacrifice in an immediate-shot sense. If she survives now, seven days from now the connection between said survival and T-Dog is intellectual rather than emotional. At least IMHO.
My .02, your mileage may vary.
|
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by kidgloves
Bookmarks