Sunday, October 27, 2013

The Walking Dead 4.1

30 Days Without An Accident


Darryl, Zack and Micchone Discovering
"Deep Undercover Dixon"
One of my favorite scene was when a group went out on a run, the three were sitting there waiting for the walkers in the store to make themselves known and the smart-guy Zack (who was also Beth's boyfriend) decided that he was playing his own game - he wanted to discover what Darryl was before the outbreak... I would love to know the other attempts Zack tried. Here, he thought because of Darryl's abilities that he was an undercover cop or something. That's when the clever Darryl comments "deep undercover" - even Micchone got a laugh out of this.
The season premiere opens with the prison, it's been a couple months since we last saw the group. They have acquired more people and it seems like it is a well oiled machine. A little society within a prison walls. It has given them this false sense of security. In doing so, relationships have developed. Hershel's youngest daughter has a boyfriend it seems in a charismatic Zack. Tyreese and Karen have become a couple. As well, Darryl and Carol continue to kill us with anticipation over their flirts and suggestive comments.

Raining Walkers

The most intense scene was when the group was out and once they were inside a store, the shot pans out so we can see that there are random walkers on the roof with a helicopter that crash landed up there too! While the group looks around - suddenly, something comes crashing through the ceiling - it's raining zombies! This was gore to the max... a walker hanging by it's intestines and even more gruesome scenes follow. Most people seem to make it out, all except Beth's poor boyfriend Zack. When Darryl tells Beth about the incident, she seems emotionaless and walks gingerly over to her work related incident board and removes the number 3 from 30 and it now reads 0 days without a work related incident. Darryl's heart is revealed as he comforts her.

Didn't Your Mother Teach You? Don't Talk To Crazy People!

An eerie turn in the episode - while Rick is investigating int he woods he comes across what he thought was a walker. However, it was a living woman. After much debate, she pleads with him to help her and Rick's heart is revealed as well and he follows her to her camp in order for him to meet the man she is supposedly with. Rick explains to her there are three questions they have to answer in order for them to come back with him. It is evident that during their little walk that Clara isn't alright. Obviously, I mean there is a lot of trauma they all have been through. But, she repeatedly talks about what she's had to do. Unfortunately, her deception is also her demise (and at her own hand!). 

And Then...

Just when you think the rainbow will shine over the prison for the group, a member within becomes ill. He's coughing and having a real rough time. So, what does he do? He barely makes it into the bathroom and coughs all over their water supply before he collapsed on the floor as he's bleeding from his face! The last scene is his eyes opening and apparently affected. The terror is when we realize this happened at night -- everyone is asleep... (dramatic sound effects) "dun-dun-DUN"!

Where Are They Now

After watching the first three episodes now, this is what I've gathered about our favorite group of apocalyptic survivors:

Rick - the opening of the premiere we see Rick with ear buds in and enjoying the manual labor of their farming. It is as though they are trying to save their sanity in an insane world. Which is probably exactly what Rick needs since last season he checked out and was seeing his dead wife and questioning himself too much. I like that this season, so far, he's really starting to come back. He's able to make those hard decisions and to lead the people. 





Carl - Rick's son has definitely grown during the time there. I think the best thing for his humanity was this break. This gave him time to step-back and work on himself. He has definitely matured. This is evident when he witnesses Carol teaching children self-defense behind the other's backs. When she confronts him he plainly tells her the he isn't going to lie to his dad. He does tell his dad. I love the fact that he respects his father again. They definitely need each other and I hope Carl realizes that he needs his father as much as his father needs him.




Micchone - hell bent on finding the Governor, she is still taking trips out in attempts to find a new lead. However, as we've learned from this past episode, Darryl tries to tell her the his trail is cold. She is definitely an asset to the group. After she is slightly injured, we see more of her softer side when she is recruited to help with Judith. My thought is that she has lost her child, this is why she cries and has a harder time when Judith is crying. I'm looking forward to more back-story with her character.




Darryl - everyone's favorite hero. Rick's right hand and seems to be the leader when groups go out on their runs. He's the guy you want around. He was hailed as a hero in the encampment due to his hunting abilities, he's brought back game that helps feed the many acquired mouths. As well, we see more of his softer side. He proclaims "I'm tired of losing people" this is when he is consoling Beth after her boyfriend Zack didn't come back from a raid. He really cares about their family and he fights hard. Rick knows what an asset Darryl is to have.



Carol - the hardened woman. This season she is stepping-up trying to be a leader among the people. She is teaching children self-defense and what they could be facing outside the prison walls. I think she does this because of her daughter Sophia that was turned. After all, knowledge is power, and I think she hopes that what she teaches the kids can help them survive if they find themselves alone, like her daughter had. She's the mother of the group, people come to her. Like Rick pointed out - there isn't anything she wouldn't do for the people she loves.




Glenn - after a pregnancy scare, it becomes more evident that his relationship has confines, more so than the prison itself. He worries about everyone, he's always worried about everything. But then again, his over analytic comments helps the group to consider other possibilities and he's definitely contributed and contributes to their survival. I think with the pregnancy scare, he doesn't want Maggie to suffer how Lori did while she was pregnant. Now, Glenn is sick! Will they get the medications in time to save him?




Maggie - her inner strength is her super power. When her and Glenn were discussing the possibilities of them becoming pregnant, she flat-out tells her husband that she doesn't want to be afraid to live. Now that Glenn is sick, I think she is worried. When she confines in her sister, who is also quarantined for her own safety, they find strength in each other to get through this. I just don't want to even imagine Maggie having to go through this world without Glenn.





Hershel - it's wonderful to see him up and walking. They apparently were able to find him a prosthetic leg. This enables him to help work the farm. Since he had a farm of his own, I'm sure he's been a valuable asset. Even though he is a Veterinarian, he has been irreplaceable as a medical adviser.  Now that the group has a real physician on hand, it gives Hershel more time to help work the land and materials that they have to work with. However, once the other doctor becomes infected, it's evident that Hershel feels that it is worth the risk of helping those that are suffering from an infection attacking the prison.



Beth - the innocent songstress - she has been taking great care of Judith, otherwise known as "Little Ass Kicker" dubbed by Darryl. She might be one of the youngest of the group, but sometimes she is more intuitive and is there as almost a therapist to help those that need a little pep-talk before the big game. She believes that everyone has their duties and helps people to focus.



What's To Come

The Walking Dead 4.2


Infected

The season premiere left us reeling once we were witness to Patrick's suffering and waking up a walker. This episode develops the encompassed fear that within this world of the zombie apocalypse, there isn't a safe place. The little safe haven that they had build and were delusional in thinking they were safe, is now torn to shreds [no pun intended].

Cell Block D On Lock-down

Now that Patrick was let loose within a helpless (sleeping) cell block, havoc quickly erupts. People quickly come to their aide and put an end to those that have already turned. What they quickly learn is that somehow Patrick got sick during the night and turned. Now, not only do they have the threat outside but they also face a threat inside.
"What we've been fighting so hard to keep out has found it's way inside" Hershel (The Walking Dead, AMC)
When others start to have symptoms, it's quickly decided that they need to be kept apart from everyone else. There is another doctor on hand now that is able to handle the situation. The rest of the episode mainly deals with the aftermath.

Killing Me Softly

Hardened Warrior
Carol tries to help the father of two girls she has befriended. I think she probably connected with the girls because they are close in age to her daughter Sophia that she had lost in the second season. As she gently helps their father into his cell block bed, she informs him that she will have to amputate his arm (he had been bitten) when she discovers that the damage is done, he was also infected via the back of his neck - and there is not amputation for that. The inevitable, he is going to die and turn. She tries her best to prepare his daughters and to help them through the process of taking care of their own. The eldest daughter charged with the task of ending her father couldn't perform so Carol ends his suffering. 
I don't know how this is going to gel over with his daughters. The youngest actually seems the more sane of the two. It was brought to our attention previously that the girls liked to name the walkers that are outside of the gates. This also brings to light another discovery. While members of the group were trying to fight a horde trying to bring down the fence, they discover that someone how been feeding the walkers (they found a pile of dead rats). My point being, if the girls mentality is that the walkers are pets, what do we do with pets? We feed them...

Walker Herd Getting Restless
While dealing with the aftermath of the chaos in the cell block, Maggie calls out to Rick and Darryl who had been giving each other pep talks... the fence is starting to bow, the walkers are getting friskier then normal. They all go running to try to secure the fence. Nothing seems to be working. Then, Rick instructs the valiant Darryl to get the jeep and trailer and to load up the piglets that they had been raising. You can tell this is unnerving to Rick, he has to sacrifice the piglets to draw the walkers away from the fence in order to secure it. Why do you think this upset him so much?

Following The Trail

Did you order extra crispy?
Tyreese, with flowers in hand for his lady, is shocked to discover that Karen's not in her cell. The last he left her, she was coughing (the beginning symptom) but he was sure that she's fine. He follows the trail of blood and discovers two crisply burnt bodies, one obviously being his girlfriend. He easily recognized the bracelet he had adorn her with. 
Who would have or could have done this and why?

Preview For Infected


The Walking Dead 4.3

Isolation

Rick Confronts Carol
With this series, it's inevitable -- death. 
The big question though is who?
Literally, my stomach did a huge dive, plunging into the depths of my stomach when Glenn started having symptoms during their meeting. Actually this happened a couple times this episode. When Carl and Hershel were in the woods and they met two decrepit walkers. When Carol was cleaning out the hose so that they could have water again. And when the group were enveloped in a herd of walkers. But first things first; there was definitely a theme to this episode.
"We all have jobs here -- we don't get to be upset" Beth (The Walking Dead, AMC)

Discovery

Who's driving the car?
The end of the second episode, Tyreese found the two burnt bodies. One of which was his female love interest Karen. This sent him into a rage. Unfortunately, Rick and Darryl had to be the focus of this rage. It was an intense scene between the two trying to calm down Tyreese who was acting more like a bull seeing red; while Rick and Darryl were the two rodeo clowns trying to find control within the raging beast. This lead Rick down his slippery slope and once he unleashed his rage to reel in Tyreese, the damage was done. Rick had to have his hand bandaged up and Tyreese was left with only one eye to see out of. But, he's still insists that the two burned were victims of a murder and he wants justice. 

Infection

More and more people are coming down with the symptoms. While watching this episode I thought [the people from Woodsbury are the only ones infected] then, Glenn started having symptoms. All I can say is that I hope that they are able to bring the antibiotics back in time (as long as Darryl survives). This throws so many kinks in the line... Maggie is undoubtedly concerned and Hershel (feeling like Glen is a son) is going to do what he can to try to help them while others have left in an attempt to find medications. Another person that is infected that I think will have an impact on those that are left unaffected is Sasha, Tyreese's sister. Plus, I think this was the driving force why Tyreese agreed to join the group to go in search for medications to help the group (Darryl, Michonne, and Bob).

What's Left To Fear, But Fear Itself

Where's Tyreese?
I feel like each episode is building up, just like the clicking in a roller coaster - and then the world drops out from underneath of you. I think this is how Rick feels too, especially since Carol seems completely changed to him. Now, how (and does he even) tell Tyreese (if Tyreese returns)?
When the group that left to find the meds are on the road, Darryl tries to find something on the radio and they are concentrating on something they heard coming through... when -- WHAM!! The car crashes through some zombies in the road... leading to the mega herd. Eventually the car becomes obsolete and if they stay they will inevitably become completely surrounded by the herd. Darryl makes the call and they decide to break for it while they can and to reconvene in the woods that are nearby. 
Tyreese seems frozen in the car - seriously contemplating what to do - I think his need to help his sister is what drives him out of the car to begin fighting the herd. He is completely surrounded slaughtering his way through when the other three are close to the forest line and decide to leave Tyreese... is this strategy during an apocalypse? Never fear though, he catches back up to them as they continue to try to make their way through the woods.

Discover AMC The Walking Dead Sync 

http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead/story-sync/season-4-episode-3#

Sneak Peek 4.4 Indifference