The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 12

Episode 12: Clear

Family Vacation!

Okay, not really. Not even close to one....it would be the most dysfunctional and morbid 'family' trip ever...Rick takes Michonne and Carl out to scout for supplies. Rick chooses to take Michonne more so because he doesn't trust her. Carl shares similar feelings...I think their first stop is in the town Rick and Carl or from...I didn't realize it was so tiny. Literally looks like a town of population 100. Anyways, there doesn't seem to be any guns or food.

She speaks. 

Michonne. She has a voice, she uses her words--finally. And shows us some p-e-r-s-o-n-a-l-i-t-y. She's been so blah and angry up until this point. Small breakthrough in her character development. I'd love to see more. 

Enter Morgan. 

I have to admit. I was shocked to see him again. I wasn't sure when/if they were going to reintroduce him into the show. Morgan has survived and has booby trapped the town to prevent anyone or anything from entering. Rick should take some pointers from him...Morgan has also stashed away what seems to be all the remaining ammunition and weaponry in the Atlanta metropolitan area. This should be good for Rick, Michonne and Carl, except for one thing: Morgan has lost it. Completely. His only function is to 'clear'--eliminate. I thought Rick had it pretty bad, but no, Morgan is on an entirely different level. Fortunately, it works out that when Rick sees what Morgan has become, he realizes what he has to fight for and that he can no longer be a space cadet.

Carl's quest.

In their hometown, Carl feels the need to make his own run alone...to put his life in danger to acquire something. Michonne tags a long for added protection and somehow they end up bonding. It's weird...I understand symbolically why this quest is important to Carl, but realistically--this is the zombie apocalypse! No picture is worth all that. Just sayin'

This is easily the most impressive, most emotional, the best episode this season...and potentially one of the best of the series. Lennie James, really breathes life into Morgan's character and brings something that's been missing this season. You can pull quote after quote from his speech to Rick. Really fantastic.

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 11

Episode 11: I Ain't a Judas

Call Rick on his bullshit

Everyone's doing it! As they should...well by everyone I mean Hershel and Carl (in his corny, sad little way). But that's enough. Rick needs to wake the fook up! While I don't think he needs to stop being the leader (silly Carl) I think he needs to reevaluate their situation because for some reason he thinks they'll fair another attack by the Governor. No. No and No. He's training an army Rick...

Andrea. Stop. Just Stop. 

Her reasoning, her logic and most of all, her timing are wrong. I can't even...she's about to be on the same plane as Lori, as far as my wanting her to survive. That is all.

Can we dedicate a moment to the walker mutilation in the forest via Andrea with the axe? 

Woah.

Karma Rick, Karma.

Yeah so the small group he kicked out of the prison somehow came across Andrea, who told them about Woodbury. They go to Woodbury and meet the Governor. Now the Governor has a map of the prison. Great. Things just keep working in his favor. 

My questions: (1) Am I the only one who thinks the Governor is going to kill Andrea? (2) What the hell is wrong with Andrea??

This episode was better than last, but next week's episode looks even better. I apologize for all the Andrea-hate...well not really. 

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 10

Episode 10 - Home

Begone Lori! 

I know why she's lingering in Rick's head/imagination, but that doesn't make it any less annoying. Rick needs to get it together--for the group!

Hold down the fort or abandon?

I don't see the point in staying in the prison where they can easily be found by the Governor. Rick and the group are outnumbered and outgunned...if they stay it's only a matter of time before they get wiped out. And yet there's always the risk of encountering a wave of walkers if they leave...I don't know. But I do think Glenn needs to chill out. He's been on edge because of his situation with Maggie, but I don't see the point in trying clear out the tombs again.

First move goes to the Governor

The Governor launches the first strike against Rick and the group in the prison. Fortunately, everyone has terrible, TERRIBLE aim, and there are only a few casualties. No one I liked died...but I get the feeling this is just one attack of many. Sending a van full of walkers into the prison's field was pretty smart. Now they no longer have a secure barrier against anything...this was easily the most interesting part of the episode (next to Daryl saving lives and slaying walkers on the bridge) Also, Daryl returns with Merle and basically saves Rick's life...I hate Merle but his persona adds something to the show. Not sure how his presence will tip the balance.

All in all...it wasn't a great episode. But as always I look forward to the next one.

My question: Will Michonne get to stay with the group now? or will Merle be allowed to stay? Both? 

I need more zombie melee!

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 9

Episode 9 - The Suicide King

It's back! AMC's The Walking Dead. We waited, what? three months for the second half of season three. And there was a lot packed into one episode. Some good and some bad. 

Crew shakeup

Okay, so the first five minutes after Rick and the crew escape Woodbury, there's a big argument over who's staying and who's going--Merle and Michonne that is. When all is said and done, Daryl ends up leaving with his brother, Merle, because nobody likes or trusts Merle and they won't want him at the prison Also, Michonne is only allowed temporary citizenship in the prison. I don't like how Rick is treating her right now. Without her, he wouldn't have been able to rescue Glenn and Maggie. The group needs Daryl and I don't see how just the two of them can make it out there on their own. 

Andrea, Governor of Woodbury?

I'm still not sure what the hell Andrea is doing in Woodbury. She found out the Governor was keeping Glenn and Maggie hostage behind her back and she still stuck around. Not to mention, the Governor has gone completely over the deep end, and doesn't give a damn about her or anybody else in the town...The townspeople are all sheep, so if Andrea wants the position she'll probably get it. What she lacks in sound decision-making, she makes up for in communicative skills. I'm not sure how this will end up. 

Lovebirds no more. 

Maggie is obviously distancing herself from Glenn. I think this is because she sees how savage he's become after the incident with the walkers and the Governor. I also think she's come to the realization that even with Glenn, she's not as safe as she thought she'd be. I don't know. It's weird. I actually support this romance or whatever it is.

Lori's ghost

In the midst of deciding whether to let the newcomers to the prison stay, Rick has another hallucination. The first time it was Lori phoning the prison, this time it's her wearing a long, white, Grecian-style gown, in the shadows ::sigh:: I don't get it. I didn't like her character alive, I won't like the phantom of her character. Once again, Rick needs to get it together. The Governor is plotting an invasion and their numbers are down.  

My questions: (1) Does Rick still think the baby is his? and (2) Why does Michonne care so much about Andrea? 

 Next week's episode looks equally as busy. Can't wait.

Note to self: 2013...

I don't like the word resolution. It's much too strong, carries too much weight and too formal for what this is...

This is more of a personal memo, a note to self type thing.

Anyways, in 2013 I will:

Read more books.

I don't know how many I read in 2012, but I can do better. Let's try fifty. That's not bad for a slow reader. Right?

     

Write better reviews.

Honestly, I don't think I write terrible reviews. But I realize they are brief...and that bothers me a little. On the other hand, I know I don't read uber long reviews (and I sure as hell don't want to write them)--I skim them, until something interesting forces me to do otherwise. So I'm conflicted. Also, I never have the patience to produce a plot summary, so it will never be part of my review writing formula...I don't know. I just need to do better. I'll figure it out.

Connect

I am terrible at reaching out. It goes against my nature. I'm a loner. I tend to connect to only a handful of bloggers on a frequent basis (you know who you are) But to successfully do this blog thing, I need to get over it. I'll try to do more read-alongs and blog surfing and challenges and what not. It's the right thing to do I guess...I don't know how memes will go this year though. I suffered from meme exhaustion around late summer, early fall, so I may or may not continue some of them. FYI - I am on Goodreads, but I only use it for organizational purposes. I am also on Twitter: @ AnbearJay (I'm new to it/ don't tweet that often, haha)

Find a niche

I already kind of have one...sort of. I don't want to read only one type of fiction, or stick to certain authors or groups of authors, but I am going to read along similar themes...does that make sense?

...I'm forgetting something...I know I am. There was one more...oh yeah.

Continue with Quest Alpha 

Completely abandoned it. On accident. 

image: flickr-jetalone

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 8

Episode 8: Made to Suffer

Who are these new people?

The group from the opening scenes, the ones carrying around shovels and machetes...I'm wondering about their background and how they survived. If they've always been that small of a group or if they've had casualties. I'm wondering how they'll fit in with Rick and the crew. I don't think Rick will want them to join. Too many outsiders. First the prisoners, then Michonne...and Daryl is gone. I don't know. Maybe he'll allow them to join because his own numbers are dwindling...hard to say. Meanwhile, Carl is stepping up. Kudos to the corniest character on the show. Oh yeah, and they need to cull the woman that got bit. 

Glenn + Maggie = most hardcore couple ever.

Glenn detaches a walker's arm (with his bare hands!) and gives the ulna (I have no idea if that's the right bone) to Maggie as a weapon. Maggie then proceeds to stab the sharpened bone into the jugular of one of the captors. Badass. 

Michonne versus the Governor

I was a little worried about the end result of their scuffle, but I should have known better--Michonne can hold her own. Nothing like glass in the eye socket...and then Andrea walks in completely unaware and misinformed--annoying as usual.

Daryl versus Meryl

Thanks to the lying and conniving of the Governor, it seems there will be a face-off between brothers. I'm team Daryl all the way. He's the better brother, obviously. He's also another one of my favorite characters. He can't die...well he can, but it would upset me, gravely. Who's going to kill walkers with a crossbow and infinite amount of arrows?! No one, but Daryl. 

Mid season finale
This episode was it. What the hell am I supposed to do on Sundays at 9pm now? And then we have to wait until February for more episodes. FEBRUARY!

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 7

Episode 7: When the Dead Come Knocking

Glenn = Badass

No explanation necessary. He continues to be one of my favorite characters.

Woodbury Research

We're given another glimpse into the research they do on walkers at Woodbury--an attempt to determine if walkers can access memories prior to transformation, or if they remain in their 'unconscious' state of mind...aka flesh eating mania. Still unsure of where that's going. And I'm with Andrea on this one, just stab them in the head.

The Governor is a megalomaniac

Not that I didn't know that already, but his little scene with Maggie truly disgusted me. Pig. 

How is the rescue mission going to go down?

I don't see how Rick, Michonne, Daryl and the new guy can successfully infiltrate Woodbury, find Maggie and Glenn, and then somehow stumble upon Andrea and make it back to the prison, without someone or multiple someones getting killed. I just hope it's not Glenn. Maybe Meryl will bite the bullet. I don't know. 

We'll find out in the next episode...which is a mid-season finale I think (I hate those) 

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 6

Episode 6: Hounded

It's all in your head...

Okay, so the phone call was still part of Rick's temporary insanity  unavailability. I knew something was wrong when the woman on the other end said they were perfectly safe with no walkers...I'm thinking nowhere is safe from walkers except for in death--and Woodbury perhaps. And I'm not sure how long they're going to have Rick grieve like this. Too long and it becomes awkward and viewers stop caring...good thing it seems like this was the last episode of a detached Rick. 

Why did Andrea hook up with the Governor?

Not that I didn't see that one coming...I'm sure everyone did. She hooked up with Shane and now the Governor. She just likes to be close to leaders I guess. It's her way of gaining some sense of control--I don't know. I don't want to over analyze because she could just be a skank, right? I predict she will regret this decision...and it could very well be the end for her. 

How is it Michonne can stand next to walkers?

Seriously? I know Rick and Glen used the same zombie-guts camouflage in season one to get out of the city but it seems like such an unlikely way to avoid detection. How is it walkers can distinguish between the living from walkers? Smell? Very curious...Michonne is literally right next to them, wounded and bleeding and they didn't even notice her. 

The next episode looks like it will be good. With Michonne's help I think the Rick and crew will be making a trip to Woodbury to rescue Maggie and Glenn and possibly Andrea.

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 5

Episode 5: Say the Word

Woodbury: Walker Technology and Entertainment Capital

I'm still not sure of the 'research' they're doing at Woodbury. They've got a few held captive within Woodbury (hidden of course) and a well off site, where it seems the Governor's cronies go fishing for them...but why? Michonne said something very interesting to Andrea in an argument this episode. Something to the effect of: you don't leave until they make you. So I'm thinking until they make you--as in turn you into a walker. All subversives and defectors within Woodbury are turned into Biters? Could be a stretch, but the Governor is capable of many things (except controlling Michonne) and full of many secrets. I can't believe so many people in Woodbury were excited about that party. How bizarre! Michonne is right--time to get the hell out. 

Rick is temporarily unavailable

Okay, he's lost it. He's decided to go on a solo trip and cleanse the entire prison of any remaining walkers. Just him, his axe and his pistol...great. He won't acknowledge anyone, not even his newborn child. I mean c'mon Rick. The group needs you. You're the leader...meanwhile Daryl steps up, but I still don't think this baby is going to make it.

Ring, Ring? 

Apparently, someone is alive and of all the places in the world to call, they've decided to phone the prison. Rick has a moment of clarity and answers it, but we won't know anything else until the next episode--which is fine with me. Some of my friends said this episode was 'weird' but I thought it was appropriate because it still moved the story along. I think everyone was so on edge from last week's episode, they didn't know what to expect, or were expecting more carnage. But we needed a transition episode and a glimpse into the future (which came in the form of a phone call)

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 4

Episode 4: Killer Within

Holy sh*t, I didn't expect that

I honestly have no idea how I went almost an entire week before posting anything resembling a reaction to this episode.

It was one the best things I've ever seen.

The entire episode I was yelling out some variation of: "Oh Nooooooo!" or "Oh my gosh!!!"

Seriously. It was that awesome.

...and in the end, I even teared up a bit because I felt bad for Rick (very good acting there)  He is no doubt a broken man now.  I still don't understand why Lori had to have a c-section. Why couldn't she have the baby the old-fashioned way? Part of me thinks she wanted to die...which was okay by me. But now without a mom, this baby doesn't have a great chance of surviving either. Also Carl is all hardened and soulless after shooting his mother blah blah blah. And then T-dog--I was bummed he died too. However, he did last longer than I (and probably everyone else) thought he would. Luckily it seems the group will have another resident black man very soon.

I can't believe that prisoner set those gates open. I don't know how he survived because I thought he was surrounded by walkers and bitten in a previous episode...curious.

There were some scenes with Merle, Andrea and Michonne in Woodbury, but I didn't care so much about that. 

I wonder who will die next. That's what I love about this show; no one is too important to die. Everyone's light will be put out.

The next episode looks like a good one too. Rick seems to have lost his mind. 

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 3

Episode 3: Walk With Me

Welcome to Woodbury!

We spend this episode with Andrea and Michonne (formerly known as the lady with dreads) as they stumble upon Woodbury, a perfectly safe town, mostly free of walkers...bizarre, right? At first Andrea and Michonne are in a state of disbelief.  They meet a lot of new faces like the Governor, and one old one--Merle. Their disbelief switches to suspicion near the end, as the "Governor" is so obviously full of secrets...are we surprised? Well, no. Anyone who goes by Governor and is not an elected public official is suspect in my book. And Merle is a cyborg now...well not really, but he's using some sort of modified homemade bayonet for the forearm that he sawed off in Season 1. Merle is aiding the Governor with his twisted efforts...you can tell he misses his brother Daryl.  

I think I understand why the Governor did what he did with the military. Was it the right thing to do? No. Not by any means, when you're protecting almost 100 people in a town. But considering the fact that he's a power-hungry maniac, it makes sense. I'm also wondering how many other times he's done this--picking off small cells of people who threaten his position...What I don't understand is the purpose of his awkward scientist buddy. Is he going to try and use the walkers in the way that Michonne did...how much more does he know? 

Also even though Andrea's cautious, I think she wants to stay. Whereas Michonne just wants to get the hell out. I think Andrea wants to stay because she too seems a little power hungry and eager at times. I don't know, that could be reaching...but I also think that the Governor won't let them leave alive, so they might as well stay. 

The next episode looks great! We're back with Rick and the crew in the prison, and someone is playing mind games with them...I think it's whoever was watching Carol from the trees at the end of the last episode. I thought it was the Governor but now I don't know.

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep. 2

Episode 2: Sick

Am I the only person that wanted Lori to get bit?

False alarm--Herschel isn't dead...yet. I really believed it was the end for him. And consequently, I hoped it would be the end of Lori. Her character is so damn self-righteous and annoying, and I wouldn't mind if she somehow didn't make it out of the prison. I know, I know--that's terrible considering her condition and all...but I sort of don't care.

I still don't think it makes logical sense for Herschel to survive or not turn, but I'm not a staunch undead purist, so it doesn't really ruin the rest of the story or anything for me.

Why did it take Rick so long to kill that crazy convict?

Okay, so when I saw the prisoners in the last episode I wasn't thrilled. Additions to group are bad because 1) This whole thing is about survival--more people equals less resources to go around and 2) Those prisoners are criminals; potential thieves, rapists and murderers. The only good news to take from them being there is the fact that they lasted in the prison for a really long time, almost a year...so it's secure and there's food somewhere. How much? I don't know.

But now Rick and the crew have to explain what's been going to the prisoners, give them a hands-on lesson on how to protect themselves, split the leftover food supply and clear out an additional cell block. Who has time for that? ugh. They need quick learning curves...

Yeah, so the one prisoner who was trying to tell Rick and crew what to do? The crazy one--the one that bashed his co-prisoner's head to pieces. Rick should have put him down when he started delegating who would be where and who got what. But no, Rick waits until he's almost been killed (on accident by the crazy guy) to get rid of him....dumb.

I can't wait to see episode 3. Apparently, there's a whole village of people still living with food and guns and a helicopter? Where the hell have they been?

The Walking Dead - S3 Ep.1

The Walking Dead is one of my favorite shows--ever. I jump around like a six-year old when it's on television. I'm so impressed by the story and characters and makeup and effects...It's not scary, but gruesome (which I like) And what it does best is create tension; that constant underlying simmer between characters, the high stress of seeing loved ones devoured by the undead and the stark truth about every one's fate that no one wants to talk about but accepts.

It really is a great televisions series. I'm not going to recap seasons 1 and 2--I think everyone should just watch them. They're on Netflix and most likely on whatever 'on-demand' function your cable provider offers and there's always the Internet. What I do want to do is post my reaction and questions for each episode of the third season from now on, simply because I can...spoilers likely. Yes, I know this isn't exactly book-related. But it is a graphic novel (which I haven't read)

So briefly...

Episode 1: Seed

Would you rather be exposed to herds of the undead but have the freedom to move about OR be fortified within a confined space that offers security but will eventually run out of resources?

Listen, I personally wouldn't want to be confined anywhere with limited resources, but considering the circumstances of the group (ahem--Lori) they need the shelter. There has to be so many undead in the prison...but Rick has his mind made up, so whatever.

Whose bright idea was it to bring the old guy (who also happens to be the only trained medical person in the group) on a recon. outing?

Common sense, Rick! I blame everything bad that happens on Rick, but that's another discussion. I still don't understand why Herschel came with them...Why were they wandering dark hallways? Oh yeah, for food, medicine and ammo that may or may not be there. I just think Rick is doing too much right now. They have the courtyards, and one cell block--what more do you want?

Anyways, at this point I'm pretty sure Herschel is going to die. When your ACL is torn out by a zombie and then your lower leg is hacked off...you're going to bleed out and die. And those prisoners they stumbled upon? Bad news, Rick. Bad news.

Who is the lady with the dreads? And where did she get a Kitana?

I think it's a kitana...I could be wrong. She's taking care of Andrea. Not sure why. She seems to have everything under control with her undead pets.