And I thought it was a good episode.

Because there was NO Andrea.

I saw the same thing, had to rewind to be sure.

Nah, I think there will be 3, maybe 4 deaths from the main group (plus many nameless Woodburyians). Basically this is how I'd rank it, from safest to least safe:

1. Rick
2. Carl
3. the baby (Maggie's non-rape makes me think they don't quite have the balls to kill a baby)
4. Michonne
5. Glenn
6. Tyreese (it'd be a waste of the character if they killed him now)
7. Daryl (the biggest gut-punch they could pull)
8. Andrea
9. Carol
10. Maggie (it feels like they're setting this up, but I think one of the farm family will survive and the other two will die)
11. science guy from Woodbury
12. Maggie's sister
13. Hershel
14. the rest of Tyreese's group
15. anybody else from Woodbury
16. The Governor

Anyone else think the zombie attack scene triggered by the car alarm was incredibly stupid? Merle is never gonna look up? Really??

Another thought.....what was Merles original plan with Michone going to be? Did he intend to take out the Govenor and his men all along? Or was that a spur the moment thing after he let her go? I was a little confused by that....

Well I think something struck a cord with him when Michonne was talking to him.

Remember when she asked how many men he had killed and he was real proud of his 16?

Then she asked when did he kill them....and it seemed to come out that he had done all that killing under the Governors Watch. I think at this point Merle figured out he had been played by the Gov.

So this pissed him off because he basically said the same thing to Daryl about Daryl being Ricks Bitch and that Daryl would have called them all pussies. So blinded by the way Merle thinks.... Merle takes off and decides to do what he thinks is again the right thing to do and sacrifices himself.

Just my take on it all.

That’s exactly what Mrs. Radar and I both said as soon as he grabbed the phone and packed it in his stuff.

I think Merle knew the Governor well enough to know he wasn’t going to just leave the prison group alone if they handed over Michonne. I think he had planned to use her to get close to the Governor and kill him along with as many of his men as he could.

Bingo. That's exactly what I was thinking when they were in the car. Michonne played off that really well, but I think she was even surprised when he let her go.

The entire episode you can see him struggling with himself and what he was especially with the interaction with Darryl.

I watched a little bit of the Talking Dead and one of the directors said something really interesting, he said the sad thing is Darryl and the rest of the group will never know what Merle did for them. Basically sacrificing himself for Darryl and the group by evening the odds.

So.... was Zombie Merle the leaked picture from last week?

Yes.

It's upsetting to me that they tend to really focus on fleshing out characters mainly just prior to killing them off or bringing them into play (Michonne is an example of that... they're finally making her "real" because they have to due to her being a focal point now). It becomes a little predictable and forced.

I thought the same thing about Herschel. He said "I'd do anything to protect you two", and then gave Glenn his blessing to marry Maggie. Knowing the trend of the show, he's probably going to be offed.

Rick tells the "group" about his change of mind in handing over Micchone and that Merle is continuing with the plan, and Glen/Maggie/Carol don't speak up and say anything about being out of the loop but Merle being in the loop on the plan?

It's getting old how when there is a shootout they always aim for the scrubs and don't wait for the leaders to show up.

I'm not certain it'll be Herschel. I wouldn't be surprised to see two get killed: Herschel, Glenn, Maggie.

Kill off Carol or the blonde girl who babysits all day.


heh, which brings up a thought.....the show basically needs to keep one of these two around so they dont have to deal with the "Judith" thing much. The audience just accepts that one of these two are always tending to her needs.

ROFLROFLROFLROFLROFL

Somebody mentioned it earlier in the thread. Doing brief vignettes of the characters in the "regular" world before the shit hit the fan would be a fascinating way to flesh them out. Lost, for all the good and bad it went through as a show, did a great job of this. Learning about the characters before the world changed and how they changed along with it. It would fill time but give viewers a great view into the psyche and history of each of the characters. Who isn't intrigued by what Michonne, the Governor, Milton, etc. did just before the apocalypse and their evolution into the people we see today?

Or I'm off my shit.

Nope, I think an episode dedicated to everyone's life before the zombies would be awesome. Hell, you would only really need to show 5 - 10 min each person and could combine some characters (Hershel, Maggie and her sister) in one flashback.

Who wouldn't like to see what Glenn was like before? Or Carol or Michonne?

Flashback: Phillip and Milton were Wal Mart sporting goods associates.

There is no way Glenn and Maggie get killed off! They are still in the comics as far as i know, i havent read the last 5 or so. I need to get on it! Herschel is a possibility because of his bum leg. He may not make an escape. lol I could see it now, him fall n saying just go go lol

They are a huge part of the comic series and imo the tv show. Plus she's like the only ****ing eye candy on the show. Hopefully we get some more very soon.

Thanks for the spoiler tags on the comic info, dickhead.

I thought it was a good episode. Almost entirely Merle focused as they attempted to redeem him before his death. Kind of disappointing, though, that that was how Merle's character arc ends (rather needlessly sacrificing himself for the group while not really accomplishing all that much as the Governor still lives on), but I suppose it's pretty fitting to his crazy, unstable character.

"I don't know why the hell I do what I do..."
-Merle

Ended up fitting perfectly.

One hoopty had rims, the other didn't. Crazy.

Thank You Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus
 

I read in this thread all the time how people think slow, seemingly wasted episodes or scenes are ruining this show, but they are wrong. Episodes that focus on the subtleties in character development are just as important as any other type of episode. This is a show about people, and if people don’t change, or grow, or regress, then it is not authentic. And if you don't love or hate characters like Lori or Andrea or Shane, what's the point?

Norman Reedus provided me with the best moment of the entire series. All the other characters in the group had lost something, or had been torn away from something, but Daryl had found something. He had found a group of people who loved and cared for him, respected him, gave him validation, and had filled in all the things that had been missing from his life before the end of the world. And he desperately wanted Merle to be a part of that. The look of anguish and loss on his face as he sees Walker Merle was heartbreaking. Daryl was devastated, and then he broke down to tears, and then transitioned from pushing Walker Merle away, to taking all his pent up frustration out on Walker Merle while in tears, brought me to tears.

And Michael Rooker gave a virtuoso performance. The writing was superb because it not only carried Merle through an internal debate, spurred on by his conversations with Rick and Daryl, but the dialogue between Merle and Michonne revealed insight into Michonne's character, and the audience didn't even realize it.

For me, this will always be one of the best episodes of the series.

I think they'll know. Michonne knows she flipped a switch in him. And the fact that he let her go should say to them he wasn't going to do the Govs bidding anymore. I was wondering if Daryl would blame Michonne, but after thinking about it, I'd hope he'd notice Merle's gunshot.

It was such a great scene. Daryl pushing him away, not wanting to fight him again, hoping Merle would recognize him and be the stubborn man that wouldn't let the disease control him.

Watching the talking dead, what I didn't like was when they talked about why Daryl stabbed him so many times. There's so many ways to explain it, but it seemed like they just said, "Well, we don't leave our fallen as zombies." Well sure, but that doesn't explain the violence in that scene. To me, Daryl was releasing all of his anger towards Merle. The anger from all the fights they had growing up, the frustration that Merle wouldn't listen to him and not go it alone. I also thought he couldn't stand seeing his brother's face zombified and wanted to destroy it.

Enjoyed the ep even though some dickhead spoiled it in the IL/MIA ESPN bball chatroom.

It's pretty obvious there was more to that scene that "we don't leave our fallen as zombies."

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thread says with comic spoilers jackass

OP says put 'em in spoiler tags, illiterate.

But the OP also asks to "spoiler" all comic talk that hasn't aired. The thread title should be changed IMO.

Waste of a Merle.

Serious spoiler. Called it.

I don't see that as terribly shocking.

quoted wrong person

last night's episode was great! Michael Rooker is one of my new favorite actors now, what a great performance!

see post #4139

Nice.

me too.

goddamned allergies.

next week should be pretty friggin' epic.

stop reading right now if you haven't seen sunday's episode........





......did anyone else notice how brutally, or maybe animalistic is a word to use, on how the gov retaliated against merle.
i mean, completely unhinged, like a wild animal.
this is why he is such a dangerous man.


next week will be a bloodbath.

If it is anybody but Milton or Tyreese, how the **** would they know where the pit is? If it is Morgan, they had better have a great ****ing way to explain how he knew where it was, how big it was, how much fuel to use, if it was guarded, if he would need a ton of ammo since the tower attracts zombies, etc.

+1.

you pretty much said everything i wanted to.

reeruned.

Stumbling upon something is not a huge stretch of the imagination. Hell, God forbid he hear the damned thing.

Most likely though, he crossed paths with their group, saw them before they saw him, and in his state of mind, kept his distance, laid low, watched from afar, then waited ample time to make sure it was clear. After that, it's just investigate, burn, flee.

Also, he already has a measuring cup for gasoline in his zombie incineration kit, everyone gets one in the apocalypse. Duh. Dump gasoline, light match.

Also, did you see how many rounds he pumped out in that scene! Zero. So it's safe to assume that the amount of ammo he needed was nil. Not that having enough would have been a problem, unless you think he is going to travel without a portion of his armory.

Prediction time. I have read neither spoilers nor comics.

Beyond question: Carl. This is his story.

Survive: Rick, Darryl, Maggie, Michonne, Andrea, Tyrese (who joins the group). They meet up with Morgan at his stronghold at the end of the show, leading us into season 4.

Probably Survive: Glenn, Carol, Tyrese's daughter, Milton (who rescues Andrea, then joins the group).

Probably Won't: Herschel (he's slow, he had his torch-passing moment, and his death would cause Maggie some angst), Martinez (the Darryl-Martinez scene from the negotiation episode makes me think there's a slight outside chance he could become the new leader of the survive Woodburians, or even join the group.)

Dead Meat: Baby Judith (there's no way they saddle this crew with a baby forever), Beth (really there just as a babysitter; she'll maybe die while caring or trying to shield or save Judith), Allen (filled with rage, blaming the survivors for Ben's death, shot dead), The Governor (of course), the Gov's big black henchman. Karen, if she takes place in the assault, will also die horribly, but she is such a non-character they may just not show her.

The other big question around my work these days is who gets to kill the Governor? Just about everyone has motive by now. My boss said Andrea. I said Maggie at first, but changed my answer to Rick.

Now next Sunday, we'll see how wrong I am.

I'm starting to think they don't kill off the Govenor and they just roll him into next season.

There is too much to wrap up in 1 more hour. A lot of this will carry over....

Not sure if srs...

In the extended teaser for the next episode, they made it look like the group changed their mind and voted to flee. The prison looked empty.

Yea, I thought the same. It would be the smart play IMO.

Gov doesn't die yet. Guaranteed.

Can you imagine how mad audience's will be if there isn't a climatic battle?

Wait, were you serious?

There will be a climax, but probably not what many expect. It will build, I think Woodbury attacks just as the group attempts to flee, some die, and group gets separated. Episode ends just before some major event for the cliffhanger.

LMAO.


The Gov and Gang are going to blow the **** out of the tower, blast throught the gate guns a blazin', and after they settle down they are going to look around and think,"WTF did they go?"

As someone who hasn't read the comics, I'd be very surprised if any one of Rick, Carl, Daryl, Michonne, or Tyreese dies.

I'd be somewhat surprised if Andrea, Glenn, Maggie or the baby dies.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Hershel, Carol, Beth, Milton, or Martinez dies.

I completely expect the Governor to die.

If he doesn't die in this one, that would probably be the biggest surprise outside of one of those top five I listed (and maybe Glenn/Maggie) going down. The entire season has been a set up for a fight with Rick in this episode and I think it ends for Phillip next week and they move on to a new story line in S4. Not completely sure who does it, but Andrea would probably be my guess considering her arc this season.

Well I would assume his truck is loaded with gas, a: for cleansing, b: for fuel.
I doubt it was guarded per the episode,and is seems far away from the town..

And he hasn't spoken to anybody that could tell him it even exists....

My vote for kill offs are Hershel and Hot baby sitter/farmers daughter.

I would say Carol, but then who will watch the kid?

The baby doesn't really add to the story but I could see them developing that into a future character.

Who knows.

I won't miss the baby if it goes.

The town knew of him and Ricks getting weapons from there.. Safe to assume he knew of them.. And if he is headed towards the prison, it is not far off that he could of came across the pits.. Anything that is not overgrown would stand out..

I suggested it and I'm a ****ing genius. FWIW, I think Judith and the blonde girl get it next episode. They won't show the baby, blondie will die trying to protect, all for naught.

The way they've blown over the baby and from what I've seen on the preview looks like they're leaving tells me there's no room on the outside for it.

It's kind of weird, how initially the biggest threat were the zombies, but now they are nothing more than walking landmines. The biggest threat in all of this has come down to the living.

I don't think you can trust the comics regardless. Hell, from what I just read, Maggie is raising sophia after carol offs herself.

Why would he need to?

Apparently your first post was serious. Wow. Ok, here it goes. Follow along. Morgan is on his way to the prison, where Rick told him they'd be. Don't understand how it's a stretch of reality to assume he comes across this.

That's kind of the whole point behind the comics. The dead aren't as big of deal after a while. It's the living that are the problem.

Comic spoiler in tags.

That's not a spoiler .

It's something that's entirely different.

yup

A page from the comic to show how twisted the governor really is. Doesn't spoil anything from the show.

My thoughts exactly. My biggest question:

The Gov is going to end up with the baby while everyone else thinks that she perished.

That is something that could be brought back in a later episode for a huge HOLY SHIT moment.

MOAR EXPOSIONS!!!!! It was a pretty good episode setting up the finale nicely.

They will go to Morgon's place after fleeing the Prison.

ok, now that would make a really good cliffhanger as we head into next season.