'Walking Dead' recap: Gore begets gore
My dear Kathleen,
When we had what was a literal watercooler conversation about last night’s episode of “The Walking Dead,” I was struck by how tricky it was to answer your question of “Did you like it?” In terms of content and drama, yes, I thought it was a very good episode, but what I didn’t like was the strange turn our band of “heroes” took last night. Remember how I used to not really like anybody on the show? Last night’s episode didn’t help.
I think some very important red flags popped up during the horrific slaughter of Gareth and co: let’s watch and see what happens to those who did the grotesque, messy killing (Rick, Michonne, Sasha, Abe) and those who didn’t (Maggie and Glenn … did I miss anybody?). I’m not sure what I think it all means, but the fact that Abraham, Leader of the People, really wanted Maggie and Glenn to come along on his holy mission AND that they didn’t participate in that gross slaughter is important (maybe).
As for Rick’s flippant reason for the slaughter re: not wanting to waste bullets: feh. He’s as crazy as the Termites were. He’s turned, so to speak, and I’m wondering who else goes from humane survivor to judge, jury and executioner next. I wish Maggie and Glenn took Judith with.
With brow furrowed,
M.
***
Marisa, Marisa, Marisa,
I disagree in the “turning” of Rick and company. Gareth was pure evil and he had to be killed. There’s no question. He could not be controlled or contained and therefore was a danger to EVERYONE. He had to go. I have no problem with those killings. He ate people! He had them for dinner! He ate Bob’s leg in front of him! And he was about to kill Rick’s family and everyone in the church and maybe take Judith. Did you hear him say, he kinda liked that girl. Soooo creepy. It is behavior there is no coming back from. Rick is my hero. And so is Michonne, Sasha and Abe.
Maggie and Glenn may have looked aghast, but I think they would have acted the same way.
So, I liked this episode. We had Abraham leading his “chosen” people to the promised land, er, Washington, D.C.? Father Garbiel, the messenger of God? Maggie losing faith — It’s not the Lord’s house, “just four walls and a roof.” And Bob’s revelation that before the prison he didn’t think there were any good people left.
Rick is beginning to look like Moses, don’t you think?
Love ya,
K
***
Kathleen, Kathleen, Kathleen,
I didn’t say Gareth WASN'T a menace and I also didn’t say he shouldn’t have been killed. What I’m saying is the brutal method by which Rick and co. carried out their sentences signals a change. Maybe it’s a necessary change in a post-apocalyptic world, but do you really want them as role models for Judith? Maybe Carl will spirit her away to D.C. too.
And seriously, at the beginning of the episode when Gareth was running on about how women taste better, I nearly left the room. That was vile. I was greatly cheered when Bob soon thereafter laid it on him that he and his crew had just eaten “tainted meat.” Indeed, I couldn’t help but post this on Twitter:
I think it's fair to say Bob's enjoying some just desserts, ay? October 27, 2014
I think it's fair to say Bob's enjoying some just desserts, ay? #couldntresist #WalkingDead
— Marisa Nadolny (@TheMDesk)
So yeah, I’m no Gareth apologist. I’m just saying things might get a little “Lord of the Flies” before too long. Judith’s going to be a warrior monster if she grows up exclusively in that group. Kinda like poor Arya on “Game of Thrones,” which you should watch. Just look up the Book of Judith for another red flag.
As for Rick and Moses, now, didn’t Moses’ crew run around the desert for some time? Just sayin’…
And Maggie’s response to Father Gabriel was spot on; it was a childishly absurd (and ethnocentric; folks of other faiths might say the entire universe is God’s house…) thing for him to have said. Clearly Father Gabriel has lost his ever-loving mind if he still believes in a Christian God. Maggie did him a favor by kindly shutting him. Well done, girl!
I seriously had little to no use for Bob before this season, but I really thought his last scene was pretty well done. His observation that little Judith indicates that there’s still good in the world tied a perfect bow on his whole “find the good in the bad” game.
And dammit, if Rick wasn’t holding that baby with Termite blood and gore on him! I can’t HANDLE it. And did Tyreese HAVE to strike the final blow on that nice clean couch and pillow? Sheesh.
And another thing: why on god’s green earth was Tyreese wearing that fracking knitted cap whilst digging a grave in the warm sun? What is going on with him?
Incensed,
M.
***
Dear Incensed,
I can see we disagree on the method and the madness. And I think you have a soft spot for our hip little cannibal. He is kinda cute. But I say kill or be killed. There is no mercy anymore. Doesn’t matter to me if you shoot him once in the head or beat the crap out of him. I don’t think it changes their humanity. But that’s me. Gareth was going to kill everyone they love. I have no problem with Rick and company getting angry.
Not sure why Tyreese keeps wearing that hat — it must stink! And why has no one asked what happened to the girls? I think Rick tried but got nowhere. You’d think they’d be more curious.
One complaint about last night, why did everything happen at night? Who runs off into the woods at night, especially during an apocalypse? It reminded me of the car commercial where the scared teenagers want to hide in the attic, the basement, or in a barn where 100 chainsaws are hanging up. Geez. Think people. They should have had a look-out while everyone else slept.
And what about Daryl showing up? It was weird when he said, “OK, come out.” Who is with him other than Carol?
k
***
Kathleen!
I couldn’t STAND that Gareth! I didn’t even like him on “Talking Dead” after the episode. I was doubly annoyed with Mary Lynn Rajskub for being so fluttery around him, too. I wanted her to be much more Chloe-like in her assessment of Gareth, but, ah well. However, LOVED her hair. PS. Why, exactly, was Slash there? I kept getting distracted by how much weight he’s put on!
Listen, we are agreed that Gareth had to go. If you recall, I said I AGREED with Rick’s desire to go back and clean house entirely in episode one of this season. Had Rick just shot everyone else with his newly silencer-equipped gun, I wouldn’t be complaining. But for him to opt for the machete-hacking, speech-giving, play-with-my-mouse-before-I-eat-it technique puts him on equal ground with the savages at Terminus he so deplored.
I was a little puzzled at that weird non-conversation Rick and Tyreese had out in the graveyard; it seemed like Rick was asking how Tyreese got back to the group and Tyreese muttered something that sounded like “…killed/kill me”? What? Seems the show is sort of using that less-is-more dialogue, which typically I like, but let’s enunciate a bit, people, OK?
Now I want to burn that hat with every stitch of clothing Rick’s ever worn. And that damned sheriff’s hat.
I was yelling at the TV when Michonne went to go investigate that tiny noise out in the woods that only she would hear. Like, hello, did we NOT just learn that there are several creeps about? I mean, I loved that it was Daryl, but yeah, then got mad again at that stupid episode-ending edit: “OK, you can come out now” FADE TO BLACK, ROLL CREDITS. Hard to tell from the “next on” scenes whether that hidden person could be Beth (perhaps next episode tells the tale of Daryl’s Great Busting Out of Beth) or whether it’s Carol and Beth’s still in that weird hospital-looking place, or whether it’s someone else entirely. Your thoughts?
-M.
***
Dear M,
OK, OK, OK about Gareth. Don’t go all Rick on me because I thought you had a crush on him.
I think the scenes for next week look fabulous.
Beth is in some alternative universe where there are beds and linens and windows. Well, there were also some mean-looking nursing types and some needles too, if I’m not mistaken, so there’s that.
But maybe Daryl has Beth and those scenes are flashbacks and now the gang has to hurry up and catch Abraham and stop them from going to D.C. because it is not, in fact, the promised land.
We’ll see.
’Til next time … Unless some news breaks about “Honey Boo Boo.”
K
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