SPOILERS AHOY, AS ALWAYS: So, now, a dozen episodes into the season, everyone on the farm seems to realize that hey, there are zombies out there, and maybe we should try to protect ourselves from them! It’s another instance of a show that doesn’t always seem to want to act logically; the farm has been a place of solace, almost entirely free of zombies, for the entire season, and now, all of a sudden, just when the show needs a bit of drama or excitement, it’s made clear that it’s not all that safe of a place, after all, and now there are hordes of zombies ready to bear down on the group. What changed?
Well, the death of Dale obviously acted as an impetus for beefing up security, but it’s still funny how no one thought it was worth maybe fortifying a bit earlier in the season, and funnier still how zombies simply don’t show up on the land unless it’s convenient for them to do so. Obviously, this being a written drama, zombies can appear whenever a writer wishes to budget them into a script, and the existence of the farm as a sanctum sanctorum has allowed the writing staff to explore internal issues as a driving factor this season, but still, the notion of zombies being a danger only now gives the universe that those writers are building a distance from the feeling of death lurking around every corner which it had in season one.
Those internal issues of course rotated around the persons of Shane and Rick, and came to a head in a moonlit showdown between the pair at the end of this episode. Shane’s portrayal has been somewhat inconsistent this season, varying between murderous and merely unsteady, but his plot to finish off Rick had a sick kind of logic to it: break the prisoner, Darrell, free from his cell, lead him out into the woods, claim that he’s armed, break off with Rick to hunt him down, and shoot him, leading everyone to believe that Darrell was the one who did it. It’s a smart plan, even if the director of the show pushed Jon Bernthal a bit too far into snarling, serial-killer mode.
The denouement also had some nice twists on the way Shane exited the comics; there, he was shot by Carl as he and Rick had an argument, which the writers here turned around into Carl shooting zombie-Shane after Rick stabs him to death. As to how Carl managed to sneak into the woods, though...for all her talk at Andrea about helping out around the house and performing more womanly duties, you’d think that Lori would be able to keep an eye on her fucking kid when there’s theoretically an escaped convinct with a gun, not to mention a buttload of zombies, in the very near vicinity of the farm.
And so, exit Shane from the show. His character has been an interesting one this season: his opinions on the defense of the group and the cut-throat, us-first need for survival are valid, which could’ve led to some interesting debates on the part of the group, but his portrayal as a barely-sane rapist/murderer have always seemed to make those debates a bit less impactful than they otherwise would’ve been. It’s fine for the writers to want to make this season about the group’s internal dynamics before focusing on external threats in Season 3, but making Shane such an obvious villain has always seemed to enervate those conflicts rather than intensifying them.
With him and Dale out of the way, it’s clear that we’ll have a tighter, leaner group fighting against the enemies of Season Three, the identities of which were spoiled by some casting news not too long ago. Now we only have one more episode to go, and as it’s the season finale, it’s pretty clear that we’re going to have a decent body-count. Who do you think is on the outs?
I will miss Shane. It was like he was the only one who read the Zombie Survival Guide.
I dont want to be "that guy", but i think the escaped guy's name was Randall, not Darrell. Could get confused with Daryl, imo one of the only good characters on the show.
As for whos going to die, obviously Herschel is going to do a "ill say behind, its my farm, and distract them as you all leave". I think his nameless son and suicidal daughter die too, leaving only Maggie left (the only bearable female character).
As long as they keep Daryl and Glenn alive, im cool. They seem to be the only characters they feel like writing actual good plots for.
Edit: Also, , you forgot! T-Dog actually had lines this episode! HE SPOKE!!
The whole crazy Shane went a little overboard. I literally laughed when he started smacking himself in the head. I was more interested in the fact that now once you die you turn into a zombie. I never read the comics(as I keep hearing how that exist in it). But I just wonder if they'll explain it beyond those cuts to zombies eating after Shane died.
Edit: Also what the hell is up with zombies hearing one gunshot? We're talking about the same area where 5-6 guns were going off simultaneously like 3 days before and they didn't hear it that time. I guess zombies have nocturnal ears.
@KeanuDowneyJr: Yeah, but he was still a complete dick that sooner or later was gonna get killed by a member of the group.
The first half of the episode was utter bore.
@KeanuDowneyJr said:
Shane kept the season interesting.
Carl being killed off would be great, every time he is on screen I cringe. The only character at this point that I really don't want killed off is Daryl, I quite like Herschel and I wish they would use T-Dog more. Oh and kill off Andrea too, because holy crap she is annoying.
Really looking forward to the all the zombie goodness next episode.
One of the best episodes yet, even T-Dog got some screen time.
I wasn't really on the Lori-hate-wagon much before, but man, she's such an idiot. She was dumb for chasing after Rick a few episodes back and she was even dumber for saying the things she said to Shane in this episode. Does she ever think anything through? Ever?
Daryl will make a much better wingman for Rick, especially now that he seems to have his head back in the game instead of being Mr. Lonewolf.
Very convenient that they're fortifying the farm right before a gigantic horde of zombies show up. Ah well, should still be an exiting finale.
One of the most boring first 20/25 minutes ever with a stunning ending. By the time Shane took the prisoner the episode redeemed itself. At the end of the episode when the zombies heard the gunshot it got awesome again. It's really convenient they hear one gunshot one episode before the end of the season, while a few days before we had six people emptying their guns into a bunch of zombies and nobody noticed. Also checking the fences? Finally? Hellooooo!!!
I feel like they wouldn't of boarded up the house and set up some plan of protection against the zombies because Hershel was in denial of what was happening out in the world, along with his constant reinforcement of "it's my farm!", he wouldn't along them to do that to his house.
Probably gonna try and make the last episode of the season really exciting, but after this season I don't even know if I wanna come back to it. Love the comic, show is way more stale
I had this spoiled for me thanks to some inconsiderate friends on facebook.
With the previous knowledge already in mine the episode did seem to be gearing up to kill him. Lori apologizing for everything, Shane assuming Rick can't take care of the prisoner or Karl.
This show sometimes feels like they only know what will happen for one episode and no clue where the season is heading.
@Rorie I believe at the beginning of the episode, the Doctor mentions that because of the change in season, the streams were drying up, so their natural "wet mud" barrier was going to dry up. This gives them an excuse for a horde on the farm. Maybe it also explains how Dale's zombie could get loose. This implies that the farm is surrounded by streams, with no bridges, which is very unlikely. Any reason for a massive zombie attack is fine with me. Gets us moving on for next season.
I guess this is why I don't really get all invested in tv show dramas.
Carl is a superhero. He can turn invisible, teleport, and he inherited Dale's latent telepathy. I mean, how else could he have slipped away unnoticed, appear anywhere he wants, and know where Rick and Shane are?
Either that or Lori must be really stuck in that male dominant mentality.
Lori: "Carl you're staying right here, don't you go anywhere cause it's dangerous out there."
Carl: "Quiet woman! I'll do what I want and if you try to give me orders again I will slap you!"
Lori: "Yes sir..."
Seriously, does Lori literally have to keep Carl on a leash? Well whatever, at least when he does use his teleportation powers this time it isn't to appear anywhere inconvenient and screw something up.
I really don't care about this show anymore. I loved the first episode of the first season so much. It just seems like everything since then has been downhill. Killing Dale was probably my last investment, considering there are so many other characters that would be better suited to 'exit'. I watch it on and off now. Disappointed with their direction.
@MiniPato: Carl must have....the shinning!
if they were still gonig to have Carl shoot zombie shane, Why didn't they make him shoot real shane to protect his father like in the comic? ugh...
Oh well, Better episode than the last few at least.
@jawbone957 said:
Also, remember that Herschel was reluctant to share his farm with the group, and was practically in denial throughout that entire first half of the season.
That would also explain why in the previous first half there wasn't any problem with gunfire when they were practicing. The horde wasn't right on them, it was in this season.
It's easy to pick holes when you're not paying attention. EDIT: That was a lot less rude in my sleep deprived mind.