The Walking Dead Ep 12 - Clear - Review

rick michonne carl guns

The Walking Dead Ep 12 - Clear (262 )

What did you think of the show?

  1. Excellent (218 [83.21%])

    83.21%

  2. Good - Some Critiques (30 [11.45%])

    11.45%

  3. Fair - Not What I Expected (9 [3.44%])

    3.44%

  4. Poor (5 [1.91%])

    1.91%

#26
Merc

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Fantastic episode, Lennie James gave an awesome performance as Morgan. The writing was good as well as the pacing. One of the better episodes of the entire show. I can't wait to have Morgan come back for good. Hopefully season 4 is his return!
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LONG LIVE RICK GRIMES!

#27
Rictatorship

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I think tonights episode was one easily one of the best episode of the show thus far. Up there with 18 miles out.
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#28
walkerbait13

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Omg I just loved this episode so freaking much! I'm too tired to write a detailed review right now, but I had to say something!!
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#29
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I think tonights episode was one easily one of the best episode of the show thus far. Up there with 18 miles out.


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#30
ApexPredator

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It's episodes like this when the walking dead is at it's best. Simply Amazing. One of the best episodes of this show.
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I can't believe you got him! You expert rooting-tooting, eagle-eyed, goth loving marksman! I love it. You managed to find a way to win. And everybody still loses!

#31
shrike

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I don't get why Rick wanted to go back to the police station; hadn't he cleared it out before?

Very unrealistic when Michonne came out of that walker infested cafe within seconds with that picture and that cat
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#32
Judari

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Hate to say it, but this episode bored me. Didn't get what Morgan meant at all, all this 'clear' business just confused me. I also felt like the actor laid it on too thick but that's just my opinion. The Michonne/Carl stuff was pleasant but their relationship is not one I really care about. I rated this episode 'fair'. It did make me laugh in places, especially 'we're eating his food now?'.,'The mat did say welcome' that made me chuckle. I hope Michonne continues coming out of her shell but I have a feeling she probably wont shine again for a while. Also, I found it very unrealistic how quickly Rick recovered from being stabbed, deeply in the shoulder yet Morgan gets shot whilst wearing a bullet proof vest and he's out cold.


Morgan felt overwhelming guilt because he could not kill his wife due to that failure it cost his son his life. That caused him visit crazytown. The reason for all the fortification as well as boob traps and cryptic messages is he feels because he failed to kill his turned wife it is his purpose in life as a type of "punishment" to "clear" all the walkers he can. It wasn't 100% obvious though. I made that connection at the end when we found out it was him who had burned the bodies and was about to burn more. Also I had found all the writing around the town/Morgan's apartment interesting and tried to read as much of it as I could. "Clear" was a word that came up many times and on "Duane Turned" writing had "clear" on it.

I agree, Morgan getting knocked out was weird but maybe it was his impact with the ground in the helmet that caused it and not the actual shot. Still doesn't excuse why Rick didn't seem to feel any pain after being stabbed.
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#33
Wazzup4567

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Morgan felt overwhelming guilt because he could not kill his wife due to that failure it cost his son his life. That caused him visit crazytown. The reason for all the fortification as well as boob traps and cryptic messages is he feels because he failed to kill his turned wife it is his purpose in life as a type of "punishment" to "clear" all the walkers he can. It wasn't 100% obvious though. I made that connection at the end when we found out it was him who had burned the bodies and was about to burn more. Also I had found all the writing around the town/Morgan's apartment interesting and tried to read as much of it as I could. "Clear" was a word that came up many times and on "Duane Turned" writing had "clear" on it.

I agree, Morgan getting knocked out was weird but maybe it was his impact with the ground in the helmet that caused it and not the actual shot. Still doesn't excuse why Rick didn't seem to feel any pain after being stabbed.


Knife could've been dull, Rick fixed himself up, Knife wasn't shoved in 100%, He probably took some painkillers as Morgan was stocked up, etc.

And he did show pain. He was holding his arm/making it appear limp/not using it.
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#34
Stan

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I suspect Morgan wasn't knocked out cold so much as his body just giving up when he was shot. If he was fighting an adrenaline world and really was crazy and wishing he was dead, his body was on the verge of collapse (true even if he had been getting sleep once in a while). When carl popped him his body went down and just shut off for awhile, like the deep sleep of a guilty man once he's been caught.


Morgan felt overwhelming guilt because he could not kill his wife due to that failure it cost his son his life. That caused him visit crazytown. The reason for all the fortification as well as boob traps and cryptic messages is he feels because he failed to kill his turned wife it is his purpose in life as a type of "punishment" to "clear" all the walkers he can. It wasn't 100% obvious though. I made that connection at the end when we found out it was him who had burned the bodies and was about to burn more. Also I had found all the writing around the town/Morgan's apartment interesting and tried to read as much of it as I could. "Clear" was a word that came up many times and on "Duane Turned" writing had "clear" on it.

I agree, Morgan getting knocked out was weird but maybe it was his impact with the ground in the helmet that caused it and not the actual shot. Still doesn't excuse why Rick didn't seem to feel any pain after being stabbed.


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#35
Boss

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Great episode. Sad to hear what happened to Duane.

Morgan will be back.
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#36
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Morgan felt overwhelming guilt because he could not kill his wife due to that failure it cost his son his life.


Another example of something that may have had more impact, had it not already been done once already.

Remember a certain walker stuck in the mud that Carl didn't kill?
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Shield yourself from those not bound to you by steel, for they are the blind. Aid them when you can, but lose not sight of yourself. 


#37
Judari

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What bothered you so much about Carl?


Don't get me started lol. I realize he's shown a bunch of emotional maturity this season, especially with Lori and Judith. However I felt like this episode he reverted back to S2 Carl, minus his interaction with Morgan. I get he still is a kid and that's fine but you think he would have learned for S2 by now to not go off by himself and especially try to lie about where he is going? He would have died at least 3 times this episode if Michonne hadn't of been there to help him and he is super ungrateful for it too. Sure, he said she was "one of them" in the end but the only reason he said that is cause she helped him get his way, it still doesn't really address any of the other concerns he brought up earlier. I don't fault him for the sentimental reasons of wanting the picture for Judith, I think its sweet, but jeebus way to be reckless at this stage in the game.
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#38
Bronxsta

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Such an awesome episode

If Clear and 18 Miles Out are anything to go by, then Season 4 is in good hands
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#39
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Great episode. Sad to hear what happened to Duane.

Morgan will be back.


Wish this was like a Marvel movie, "Morgan will return."
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#40
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Don't get me started lol. I realize he's shown a bunch of emotional maturity this season, especially with Lori and Judith. However I felt like this episode he reverted back to S2 Carl, minus his interaction with Morgan. I get he still is a kid and that's fine but you think he would have learned for S2 by now to not go off by himself and especially try to lie about where he is going? He would have died at least 3 times this episode if Michonne hadn't of been there to help him and he is super ungrateful for it too. Sure, he said she was "one of them" in the end but the only reason he said that is cause she helped him get his way, it still doesn't really address any of the other concerns he brought up earlier. I don't fault him for the sentimental reasons of wanting the picture for Judith, I think its sweet, but jeebus way to be reckless at this stage in the game.


Carl and Michonne were the show's high points, IMO. Seeing a young boy act so hardened is deeply disturbing. Lori's worst fears seem to be coming true with Carl acting cold and hardened.
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Shield yourself from those not bound to you by steel, for they are the blind. Aid them when you can, but lose not sight of yourself. 


#41
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Don't get me started lol. I realize he's shown a bunch of emotional maturity this season, especially with Lori and Judith. However I felt like this episode he reverted back to S2 Carl, minus his interaction with Morgan. I get he still is a kid and that's fine but you think he would have learned for S2 by now to not go off by himself and especially try to lie about where he is going? He would have died at least 3 times this episode if Michonne hadn't of been there to help him and he is super ungrateful for it too. Sure, he said she was "one of them" in the end but the only reason he said that is cause she helped him get his way, it still doesn't really address any of the other concerns he brought up earlier. I don't fault him for the sentimental reasons of wanting the picture for Judith, I think its sweet, but jeebus way to be reckless at this stage in the game.


On the contrary, I think they did a good job depicting that he's both a solider not afraid to do what needs to be done, such as shooting Morgan. But they also showed he's still a kid and immature, such as trying to go off on his own to get the picture. I can see you being annoyed by that, but teens that age have brains that literally aren't grown fully until their early twenties, the impulse part of the brain is the last to develop. I think the writers are doing a great job with Carl this year.
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#42
Valleyaggie

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Carl and Michonne were the show's high points, IMO. Seeing a young boy act so hardened is deeply disturbing. Lori's worst fears seem to be coming true with Carl acting cold and hardened.


He is and he isn't. He's hard in that he shot Morgan. But he's not completely hard or he wouldn't have cared about the picture for Judith or apologized to Morgan at the end or told his father that Michonne was one of them.

A totally hardened boy wouldn't want to teach Judith sentimentality, apologize for shooting someone or care whether or not Michonne was accepted by the group. He's toughened but not hardened.


Steph and I seem to usually think a lot alike. lol
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"My mind is my weapon ... and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister

#43
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On the contrary, I think they did a good job depicting that he's both a solider not afraid to do what needs to be done, such as shooting Morgan. But they also showed he's still a kid and immature, such as trying to go off on his own to get the picture. I can see you being annoyed by that, but teens that age have brains that literally aren't grown fully until their early twenties, the impulse part of the brain is the last to develop. I think the writers are doing a great job with Carl this year.


I agree. I also worry sometimes that Carl will become a hardened little soldier. So, to see that he still has an emotional side to him and a reckless teenager is believable.
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#44
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He is and he isn't. He's hard in that he shot Morgan. But he's not completely hard or he wouldn't have cared about the picture for Judith or apologized to Morgan at the end or told his father that Michonne was one of them.

A totally hardened boy wouldn't want to teach Judith sentimentality, apologize for shooting someone or care whether or not Michonne was accepted by the group. He's toughened but not hardened.


Steph and I seem to usually think a lot alike. lol


Yes we do, sister. :D
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#45
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He is and he isn't. He's hard in that he shot Morgan. But he's not completely hard or he wouldn't have cared about the picture for Judith or apologized to Morgan at the end or told his father that Michonne was one of them.

A totally hardened boy wouldn't want to teach Judith sentimentality, apologize for shooting someone or care whether or not Michonne was accepted by the group. He's toughened but not hardened.


Steph and I seem to usually think a lot alike. lol


True and my comment wasn't a swipe by the way. I thought it was unnerving but that was sort of the point. I meant his coldness toward Michonne and his insular nature in general are a disturbing contrast to what he once was. And watching a kid who's completely missing out on his childhood is disturbing.

He softened up a bit toward the end and was more accepting of Michonne though.
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Shield yourself from those not bound to you by steel, for they are the blind. Aid them when you can, but lose not sight of yourself. 


#46
taint

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I thought Michonne was bad ass BEFORE I knew she had killer taste in folk art! You go, girl!
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#47
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Talking Dead spoiler:
Spoiler

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#48
Steph

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Talking Dead spoiler:

Spoiler


Agreed. We need a thread of screen caps of that.
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#49
Robert F

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Best episode of the season so far, IMO.
Lennie James' acting managed to give it that push it needed for me to consider it so, as well.


Also agree. Best ep of the season. Shows what good acting and dialog can do. Enjoyed it very much.
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#50
Judari

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Knife could've been dull, Rick fixed himself up, Knife wasn't shoved in 100%, He probably took some painkillers as Morgan was stocked up, etc.

And he did show pain. He was holding his arm/making it appear limp/not using it.


I know that the knife wasn't in all the way but it doesn't need to be to cause a lot of damage. Perhaps it was realistic but compared to Morgan getting bruised early from a bullet and getting knocked out (it could have been the fall I know) it just seemed a bit ridiculous lol. Although it didn't bother me a lot, its just something I thought was weird.


Another example of something that may have had more impact, had it not already been done once already.

Remember a certain walker stuck in the mud that Carl didn't kill?


I feel like there was more depth to Morgan's case. That walker didn't mean anything to Carl, we saw on Morgan's walker wife on two different occasions I believe, and not to mention the result completely destroyed him. Although Dale's death did impact Carl, not on the same scale as Morgan. Those factors combined with Lennie James' acting is so believable gave this scenario another dimension, imo

Carl and Michonne were the show's high points, IMO. Seeing a young boy act so hardened is deeply disturbing. Lori's worst fears seem to be coming true with Carl acting cold and hardened.


Lol, then we enjoyed completely different parts. Rick and Morgan were the high points for me. Carl just comes off as too immature. I expect him to be somewhat immature because of he still is in his early teens. But in the same breath if they are going to set him up to be the cold and harden boy because he has had to grow up too fast then he needs to show a bit of maturity. At the very least learning from previous mistakes.

On the contrary, I think they did a good job depicting that he's both a solider not afraid to do what needs to be done, such as shooting Morgan. But they also showed he's still a kid and immature, such as trying to go off on his own to get the picture. I can see you being annoyed by that, but teens that age have brains that literally aren't grown fully until their early twenties, the impulse part of the brain is the last to develop. I think the writers are doing a great job with Carl this year.


Like I said before, I didn't have a problem with his Morgan scenes. More his suspicious attitude towards Michonne and how that was solved by her helping him get his way, which really didn't address anything he was suspicious of. Of course she isn't going to let anything happen to him when she still needs to make a good impression for Rick (not saying that was purely her intention but Carl doesn't know that). Also by him running off, yet again. I agree that overall I like where Carl is going I just thought in this episode he was regressing.

I suspect Morgan wasn't knocked out cold so much as his body just giving up when he was shot. If he was fighting an adrenaline world and really was crazy and wishing he was dead, his body was on the verge of collapse (true even if he had been getting sleep once in a while). When carl popped him his body went down and just shut off for awhile, like the deep sleep of a guilty man once he's been caught.


+1, I buy that, I thought it had something to do with the impact and adrenaline but I like your explanation.
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