Let's Talk About The Walking Dead: "Hounded"

This week on The Walking Dead, Rick spent much of the episode either talking on or waiting for a mysterious phone to ring. Who was it that was on the other end? Dead people. Yes, that is right, Rick sat around waiting for help from the dead souls who have been lost along his journey. This was a fascinating revelation as it served to really highlight Rick's decent into madness. It also showed that Rick realizes that the prison, which he thought would be a safe haven to protect his group, is very far from that. Initially, I thought that the prison would actually serve to be similar to the farm and provide some protection for them. I mean, hey, they made plans to farm their own food, which they obviously have had no time to do. While they aren't confronted by zombies on a regular basis, the attacks they have experienced here have been brutal and intense and make this place is anything but safe. When on the phone Rick pleads for help because "they are all dying" and when looking at it, that really is true. Main characters are dying left and right this season and Rick has no longer been able to keep people safe and protect them. Thankfully, his little death phone led him to Lori and hopefully, it actually turned out to be a good thing because he might have finally been knocked out of his insanity haze. Lori's death was particularly hard for Rick because they were left at such a terrible place in their relationship, and I'm sure more than anything he was afraid she didn't know that he loved her. Since, in his mind, he feels like he was able to finally obtain this closure, perhaps he can finally turn back into some semblance of a human. It makes you realize you really should listen to that old saying and never ever go to bed angry, you never know what could happen next. In the end, we see Rick re-join the group for the first time since Lori's demise, and he even met and held "his" daughter for the first time.

While, I don't think it was a big surprise to anyone, Daryl finally found Carol and found her alive. I wish they had made her survival a little less obvious, because this could have been a very shocking and wonderful reveal, but instead the second I saw someone trying to open that door, I knew it was Carol. I'm not sure if they did that on purpose, or just didn't veil her death very well, but I am happy to be right that she was still alive. I think it was sweet how upset Daryl was over her "death" and I wonder if they are going to turn into one of the better "love stories" on the series. I'm not even sure if they will become romantically involved, but they certainly have formed more of a bond than many others in the group, which could be a good or lethal thing in this world. It will be interesting to see what happens when she rejoins the group and if her survival serves to reinvigorate anyone after the depression of losing Lori, T-Dogg and Carol all at the same time.

The two worlds of The Walking Dead season 3 collided last night and there was a switch-up in group dynamics. While out looking for baby formula, Glenn and Maggie were nabbed by Merle which reminded me of how much I hate that guy). I would have been happy if he had just stayed dead as I don't trust him and I really don't like what he is going to do to Glenn. I also admire Glenn for being a tough guy and not revealing Daryl's location and putting the rest of the group in jeopary. Although the prisons isn't the safest place in the world right now, he is smart enough to realize that Merle will likely not be too kind in forgiving the fact that he was left for dead by the group. I do think Merle has good intentions in wanting to find his brother, but I can imagine when faced with the opportunity for revenge, that might begin to look pretty sweet as well. While watching Merle abduct Glenn and Maggie, Michonne realizes there must be another group of people somewhere and sets off to find them. She was also smart enough to pick up the baby formula, which will likely force Rick to let her in, rather than leaving her out with the zombies. I am also curious what it means for everyone that she realizes that she can stave off the zombies when having their guts spread all over. Are we in for a lot of very disgusting scenes of gut armor in the future?

This has been an incredible season so far, and I really liked this episode, but the one thing that I do not like in any way shape or form is the "relations" between Andrea and the Governor. I understand why the story is necessary, as it shows another side of the story and how people will always strive to find some sort of humanity in dire apocalyptic situations. She is becoming comfortable at Woodbury and likes having the attention of the Governor. However, watching them have sex felt very weird and forced and I think possibly one of the only times I have laughed at the show was when he comes back from talking to Merle and gets all naked and yells out "Hell yes". I think there is a lack of chemistry between these two actors, so instead it made me feel uncomfortable to watch and like it was awkward parent sex. I also just don't like Andrea, so the fact that she is getting a front and center storyline makes me hope she will stumble over that wall and into the mouth of a hungry zombie.

While we have been living with two storylines for much of this season, the big collision last night seems as if they will become much more integrated from now on. Glenn and Maggie are now stuck in Woodbury, Merle knows he should be looking for Daryl, and Michonne has showed up at the prison. How this all plays out however, is something yet to be seen. The best part about this season of The Walking Dead, is there have been so many surprises and I really can't say where things are going. While we had a reprieve in the the last two episodes, another major character could up and die at any moment, and it is the way the show has successfully been riding that line this season that has made it great. I am only upset that we only have 2 more episodes before the mid-season finale. I'm simply not ready for it to end.