The Walking Dead Season 4 Ep 9 - After - Review

 

Hmm. I guess I'll concede my point, then. You were right, VA and Serenity

 

Semi-related: I wasn't able to fully understand all of the dream sequence because I thought the first half was a commercial and then when I realized it wasn't, I spent the rest of the time playing catch-up. Did they explain why Mike and Terry "deserved it"?

 

 

 

Lol. I'm sorry, Buttons

 

By the way they were talking I assumed they decided on a suicide pact and killed the baby along with themselves.

Everyone else has hit on all of the most pertinent points, but re: Carl's lashing out at Rick - "Shane taught me.  Remember him?"  Just...wow.   That was my favorite line, even above "It's for you." 

Edit: And thanks for the gif, DukeSilver! 

Excellent episode mostly because of Michonne. That woman is an amazing actor and I love her more everytime I see her. Wonder if she brought Carl his shoe?

For people wondering about the dream sequence, I thought it was pretty obvious that the husband decided the world wasn't worth living in and killed their child to save him from suffering.

I didn't make this, but here you go:

 

I cackled like an asshole during that scene. Good episode though! I like the tone it set for the rest of the season.

I think this and Internment are the two episodes that increasingly get better and better and BETTER throughout the episode. Internment has turned into one of my favorite episodes of the series and maybe this one will too. 

Some episodes, like the mid-season finale are blah blah blah and then AMAZING. 

Not the case, here. The more I think about this episode the more I like it. 

I cackled like an asshole during that scene. Good episode though! I like the tone it set for the rest of the season.

This is what made me cackle. What can I say? I'm sick.

omg feeding Hershels zombie head pudding? hahah!

Brilliant episode! Loved it!

Great episode from start to finish.

The first few minutes in I knew this was going to be a good one - loved the small detail as this season opened, as the audience is treated to an eagle-eye shot of walker surrounded tank, and a dead gutted horse off to the side - perfectly mirroring Season 1 - which in itself was a good juxtaposition hinting that no matter how things have changed in the ZA -and how far the journey has taken us - a lot of things are still just the same. THUMBS UP!

This is the first episode in a long time that spoke to me emotionally. It was heavy, and not in a "zombies are coming" way. I loved Michonne grieving her "family" by dreaming about her actual family. And instead of going it alone, she went back sought them out. It felt so amazing when she looked through that window. 

The Carl stuff was good, but I wasn't AS impressed as the Michonne stuff because he was back to doing foolish things trying to prove he's a man. I TRULY thought Rick was dead. That was extraordinary writing and special effects. And the moment where he is cradling Rick's head in his lap was just perfectly tender. 

After watching it again, I absolutely love the scene of Carl sitting on the roof eating a massive can of pudding. It's like in that moment he's just a kid again, not a care in the world, just gorging on junk and not too concerned about anything. That scene was just perfect  to me.

I thought this was a very good episode. Gimple as show runner is showing us that he will carry on just fine. Nicotero also showed his improvement as a director. Looking forward to the rest of the season.

I was pleasantly surprised that I actually jumped when the walker (behind the bedroom door) popped out. The show has been lacking somewhat in jump scenes lately. Still looking for the "sense of dread" or the "aww shit" stomach tightening tension that the opening scenes of S2-E1 provided. Hopefully that'll come later in the season. 

I still don't get why people are down on Chandler Riggs' acting. I think he's come a long way since season 1. VA and Serenity helped my point by noting that Carl is still trying to process all these emotions and Riggs is doing a good job portraying that IMO. The final scenes showed that I think. Imagine having to put down your mother and then realizing that you would have to do the same to your father. Pretty tough on a kid even after all he's been through so far. His reference to Shane shows that he still has resentment about the whole affair (pun sorta-kinda intended). 
 

Michonne's flashback/dream sequence wasn't as confusing to me as other folks stated. I thought the abrupt jump into the scene was a bit much, but then remembered that sometimes in real life that how dreams work, suddenly you're there. No fade in, just pop, you're in the dream. 
Mike wasn't her husband, but boyfriend/lover. But that's nit-picking. It was a nicely done dream sequence of where she's using a butcher's knife one moment then it's her sword the next. Also thought it was a nice effect of her sword going into the butcher's block as if she still see's it as a knife. The jump from one time period to another as she brings dinner to the table, then finally seeing the two men with their arms cut off and her freaking out (realizing that she is in a nightmare) before jerking awake in the car... again, nicely done. As for her child, yeah the Judith/crying scene was answered. I would've liked her to give a simple "I'm sorry old man" to Hershel's head before stabbing it, using her hand to hold the head down as she removed the sword was a nice show of respect instead of placing her boot on it. 
Surprised that the Governor's body wasn't being chowed down on, since it was fresh meat. 
Still no answer about Judith.

Yeah, Carl's "pile-up" was very much echoed Rick's from 18 miles out. The third walker was expected, though Carl kept looking around for others, he hopefully learned the lesson not to take "no other walkers around" for granted. It was a dangerous and stupid move however. The entire sequence I think helped serve to show (Carl) that, no, he probably couldn't survive on his own just yet. He did survive but just barely. 
The pudding scene was a nice touch and yeah, what kid could resist 112 ounces of still fresh chocolate pudding? But just how did he get on the roof of the porch? Presumably through another bedroom window. 

I think the mirror zombie that Michonne was seeing was there to show her what she will become if she didn't get back to (live) people again. I do love her handling of the sword very much. None of that bullshit Hollywood baton twirling. She handles it like she has had actual Kendo training. It definitely gives her a sense of realism to her character. Wonder where she got her training from? That'd be a nice little back-story tid bit.

From the "next week's episode" it looks like we'll get a Tyreese, Daryl/Beth/ Glenn, Sasha, and a bit of Maggie episode. I think they should stick to the two-fer formula rather crowd it with the rest of the survivors. Each deserves their own episode or half shared episode. Just my two bits. 

I'll shut up now. 

"It's for you."

Of all the houses in all the neighborhoods in all the world, she walked into mine. 

Hmmm, I'm not actually quite sure how I felt about this episode. I guess I was kinda expecting to see more of the groups.

I went back and forth and back and forth from sympathizing with Carl to then wanting to punch him in the face. I did really love the last few minutes though.I also liked the Michonne flashback and would like to see more about that.

I'm extremely happy that Michonne returned to put Herschel's head out of it's misery. And that she didn't pick up the head and put it into a tank or sack or anything. I think we've seen enough of that going around!  XD

I agree with Jesus Monroe that the dream sequence was confusing at first. I too thought it was a spoof commercial or something. Honestly, I really don't think it needed to be there. We know there is a child involved in her history. We know she had a personal relationship with the two walkers she had chained when we first met her. What we didn't know is why she thought they were monsters and we still don't know now. So, what was the point? I will say she looked beautiful in the scene. 

By the way they were talking I assumed they decided on a suicide pact and killed the baby along with themselves.

Huh, thanks. I never pick up on these things.

{snip}

Michonne's flashback/dream sequence wasn't as confusing to me as other folks stated. I thought the abrupt jump into the scene was a bit much, but then remembered that sometimes in real life that how dreams work, suddenly you're there. No fade in, just pop, you're in the dream. 
Mike wasn't her husband, but boyfriend/lover. But that's nit-picking. It was a nicely done dream sequence of where she's using a butcher's knife one moment then it's her sword the next. Also thought it was a nice effect of her sword going into the butcher's block as if she still see's it as a knife. The jump from one time period to another as she brings dinner to the table, then finally seeing the two men with their arms cut off and her freaking out (realizing that she is in a nightmare) before jerking awake in the car... again, nicely done. {snip}

Hah, I changed channels for a minute, and missed the first part of her dream sequence. In the 5 seconds that I saw just before she put her sword into the knife block, I thought it was a commercial of some sort. Wish I had seen it from the beginning.

Good episode, I enjoyed it. As far as nitpicking, they didn't have a rendezvous point in case the prison fell? And, this is just one day after the fight at the prison, right? And, I'm sorry, but Carl should have checked for a pulse, no? And, I wouldn't be sleeping next to nearly-comatose Dad, either. Maybe that was the point, though, that he couldn't bear to think of him dieing.

I really liked this episode. I especially loved the ending with Michonne showing up at the door... And Rick's line "It's for you". Pretty cool.

But do you know what my favourite part of this episode was? Michonne in a crop top. Yeah, it was during a crazy weird dream sequence (That actually felt like a dream) but just look at her sexy midriff!

Overall, I give this episode 8/10.

I was pleasantly surprised that I actually jumped when the walker (behind the bedroom door) popped out. The show has been lacking somewhat in jump scenes lately. Still looking for the "sense of dread" or the "aww shit" stomach tightening tension that the opening scenes of S2-E1 provided. Hopefully that'll come later in the season. 

 

I agree, I was like "OH SHIT!".

I also hope we get more "horror themed" episodes later on. I remember S2-E1 just fine, and you're right, it was fricken' terrifying.

 

I agree with Jesus Monroe that the dream sequence was confusing at first. I too thought it was a spoof commercial or something. Honestly, I really don't think it needed to be there. We know there is a child involved in her history. We know she had a personal relationship with the two walkers she had chained when we first met her. What we didn't know is why she thought they were monsters and we still don't know now. So, what was the point? I will say she looked beautiful in the scene. 

Yes she did. Danai in general doesn't do much for me, but in that scene, wow, she was stunning.

Really amazing episode!! Loved all the character development and can't wait for the next episode, so we can learn what going with everyone else. My question is why was David Morrissey's name on the opening credits? Anybody else notice that?

He made an appearance as a corpse in the cold open. Same with Scott Wilson, or at least his likeness as a head.

You could see her emotion. She was finally actually grieving for her family instead of being all closed off. She retreated to her closed in self when she made her two new pets but then snapped out of it and retaliated. Her joining the group of walkers represented how she was pretty much a zombie herself, emotionally. Then she realizes what she is doing and reacts and kills them all. When she sees Rick and Carl through the window, she has a moment to decide if she wants to go in or just keep walking. She chooses to knock on the door. She chose not to be alone, not to be a living walker. I think that's some pretty darn good character development.

Agree except for the last point. I think Michonne made the decision to not be alone when she doubled-back to the dirt road to follow the foot prints. I don't know that she knew at first who's prints they were though. When she saw Rick and Carl she was so happy because they ended up belonging to people she knew.

Aw dammit. I forgot we could say that now 

 

But yeah. To all of the people who said that the show should never follow the comic because it would be predictable, the comic is shitty, or blahblahblah. Many are calling this one of the best episodes of the season/series and 85% of this episode was an adaptation. Yes, I know I sound like a comic fanboy. It's worth pointing out, though...

It absolutely is not a coincidence that the best episodes of the series have been close adaptations from the comic. They have great source material. It boggles my mind that they don't use it more. And to "those people", I'm not saying the show should follow the comic 100%.

Part of me wanted more characters covered in this but I think not having them turned out better overall. It's funny how we sort of covered the A team (minus Daryl), in this one and it was more about emotions and adjustments that way.

I think next week with the others seems like we're going to get a little more physical adjustments for some like Beth and so on.