Michonne (Danai Gurira) on The Walking Dead Copyright 2012 AMC TV
Warning: This Walking Dead Season 3 post contains spoilers. Please wait until after watching, before reading further. Similarities and differences between the show and the comic are also discussed, but whenever possible, details of the comic are left ambiguous in case you decide to start it later on.
Summary: A new group of survivors stumble upon the prison and take shelter there. Back at Woodbury, Rick launches his rescue operation, Michonne finally faces off against The Governor, and Andrea uncovers some of her new boyfriend’s dark secrets.
The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 8 pulls a Lost with its opening. Remember that exciting moment right before stuff was supposed to down in the last episode? That spot where you were focused on all your favorite characters? We’re not going to pick up there. Instead we’re going to be in a completely different place with brand new characters, and we’ll get back to everyone else later. Normally I would be annoyed by that kind of tactic, except it’s hard to stay mad when an awesome new character from the Walking Dead comics is introduced right in the beginning.
We start out with Tyreese (Chad Coleman) and his daughter, his daughter’s boyfriend, and some other random couple fighting their way through walkers in the woods, until they come upon the broken backside of the prison. Unfortunately the woman is bitten and with zombies hot on their trail, they must make the quick decision to seek shelter there. Luckily for them, Carl hears their screams of terror and tracks them down to help. He escorts them back to safety and even offers to shoot their doomed friend. Already displaying excellent character, Tyreese waives off the assistance with the line “We take care of our own,” as he wields a ball pein hammer. Then his daughter flips out when Carl locks them up together (smart move Carl), but Tyreese continues to be a cool cat with the response “His house (his rules)…” Heck he’s just grateful for a place to sleep.
For those unfamiliar with the comics I’ll briefly explain why Tyreese’s appearance is so great. In the comics, Tyreese and Rick become total besties because they’re both strong, determined guys. They often disagree about how their group should be run and who should be the leader. Sometimes their arguments are so serious that they get physical. One of the most beautiful two-page pieces of art in the comics, involves fists flying between the two. I’m looking forward to fascinating drama and complex dilemmas Rick will have to face with Tyreese around.
Anyway, how could we forget about everyone else at Woodbury? First off, props to Glenn and Maggie for their escape attempt. Glenn’s plan to rip sharp bones out of a dead walker for weaponry is pretty genius. Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and Oscar infiltrate Woodbury and not a moment too soon, considering they save Glenn and Maggie right before execution. The ensuing firefight left me on the edge of my seat constantly wondering who would get killed. I wasn’t surprised that Oscar goes, though I was a bit sad that he gets a throwaway Star Trek red-shirt style demise.
Michonne’s showdown with The Governor is fun, although a bit agitating because she leaves everyone else high and dry just to fight him. She kills The Governor’s walker daughter, smashes his zombie televisions with her head, and shoves a glass shard into his eye. Believe it or not, that’s Michonne being nicer to him than she is in the comics. She brutally mutilates The Governor there, but she has more reasons to.
I love (sarcasm) how Andrea stumbles onto the whole nasty scene and still manages to stay with The Governor, even after he dodges her inquiries about what happened. As a Daryl fan, I was so mad that he stayed behind to find Merle, and that he was taken prisoner. I was legitimately surprised that the scumbag Governor gave that big speech in which he sold out Merle, outing him falsely as a traitor. I’m extremely nervous for Daryl and Merle, since The Governor whipped the crowd into a murderous frenzy. Hopefully Andrea will intervene on their behalf.
Were you surprised that The Governor turned on Merle? Let me know in my poll.
What do you think is in store for the characters when the season resumes in February? Will Daryl and Merle survive? Will Rick and The Governor come directly to blows?
First I don’t think Daryl stayed behind, i think he was just caught. I also think what the Governor did was right. Merle has done nothing but lie about everything “killing” Michonne was just the start. I think there could have been an easier way to get information about where Daryl and the others were. Although I do understand that Merle just wanted to find his brother but he did it in a really bad way, lying and beating people close to death really doesn’t get you very far.
I would love for all of this to come out, as the Governor gives this speech to the town. Oh by the way we did kidnap some people and that’s why these people broke in to rescue their friends… How did they not see this coming? Rick has trained am army! And if they kill Daryl I am going to be so sad, i may tear up…
I can’t wait to see what is up with these new characters. Like I had said before I never read the comics but it will be nice to see some new characters that are not just put there to be killed in an episode or two.
Lastly, the part when they are fighting in the street and Rick envisions Shane shooting at him was amazing! For a minute I felt as clueless and dizzy as Rick was. What a beautiful scene in the mist and blood of it all.
Can’t Wait till February!
It seemed to me like Daryl stayed behind because he volunteered to be the last one out. But you’re right he just could have gotten caught. He seems too smart for that to me. I love the actor who plays Merle for sure. however the character is a complete scumbag just like The Governor. He deserves misfortune. I’m also surprised that The Governor didn’t see get that Rick and his people would come at them like a hurricane.
And yes that scene with Rick hallucinating Shane was amazing. Left me feeling dizzy too. A nice touch from the writers. Also can’t wait for February! Thanks for reading Kristina!