The Walking Dead Season 3 Ep 13 - Arrow On The Doorpost
#76
11 March 2013 - 05:11 AM
Rick laid out his demands, the boundaries, and let the 'Governor' know what his opinion of him is. The Governor countered with jabs about Lori and Judith (Thank you! Andrea) which was really telling about the guy. But Rick held his own even though he gave a bit away when he drank the whiskey after hearing Phillip's sad dead wife story. And you could see by his one good eye that the Gov was pleased with Rick's reaction. But he was stymied because Rick stopped with the one. When he wasn't bragging about all the details he knew about Rick and the prison he was bragging about how his people needed him and thought he still knew what he was doing. Narcistic much?
This episode was all about mind games and it was nicely laid out in contrasts. Rick vs the Governor, Herschel vs Milton and Rodriguez vs Daryl but the Gov was so cocky he took on Andrea, too. She had nothing to answer him with and Rick didn't give her any comfort but Phillip's biggest mistake will be in underestimating people and, as disappointing as I've been in Andrea, I think his biggest is in underestimating her. The Governor can't see how his psychosis is getting out of control because he's unable to read human reactions. People aren't a reliable mirror any more. His smugness turns everyone's reactions into stupidity and manipulated calm. He thinks he's winning but eventually even Milton won't be able to stomach the Governor's appetite for revenge and control.
Merle vs Glenn was fun. Merle is like a caged animal trying every weakness in his cage but he found none. He has to play along and accept equality. Glenn didn't win the wrestling match but he did get the reward and so did we when Maggie and Glenn finally made up!
I especially loved how Rick centered this episode was. I don't think he's completely sane yet but he passed the testing with the Governor pretty well. Now he's got the grinding fear to deal with. Two days will seem like forever for him because he has Michonne's future in his hands. Will he stay strong and not give her up? That mental test can't be salved by a glass of whiskey. And leaning on Herschel for advice! That was very cool.
Also eating away at him is knowing that they are being watched. I hope we see how the Group handles that but it might be a detail that gets lost on the way to war.
I think Andrew Lincoln did a great job telling us how Rick felt listening to the Governor spew his nonsense. "You're the town drunk and you've ruined my front lawn" (or w/e he did to the yard). He followed that up nicely with several looks of incredulity, amazement and disbelief when the Governor bragged.
It didn't have much physical action but this was a well done and necessary staging for the season finale. When the writers write dialogue they do a terrific job!
#77
11 March 2013 - 05:18 AM
I really enjoyed the chess game between Rick and the Governor.
Rick laid out his demands, the boundaries, and let the 'Governor' know what his opinion of him is. The Governor countered with jabs about Lori and Judith (Thank you! Andrea) which was really telling about the guy. But Rick held his own even though he gave a bit away when he drank the whiskey after hearing Phillip's sad dead wife story. And you could see by his one good eye that the Gov was pleased with Rick's reaction. But he was stymied because Rick stopped with the one. When he wasn't bragging about all the details he knew about Rick and the prison he was bragging about how his people needed him and thought he still knew what he was doing. Narcistic much?
This episode was all about mind games and it was nicely laid out in contrasts. Rick vs the Governor, Herschel vs Milton and Rodriguez vs Daryl but the Gov was so cocky he took on Andrea, too. She had nothing to answer him with and Rick didn't give her any comfort but Phillip's biggest mistake will be in underestimating people and, as disappointing as I've been in Andrea, I think his biggest is in underestimating her. The Governor can't see how his psychosis is getting out of control because he's unable to read human reactions. People aren't a reliable mirror any more. His smugness turns everyone's reactions into stupidity and manipulated calm. He thinks he's winning but eventually even Milton won't be able to stomach the Governor's appetite for revenge and control.
Merle vs Glenn was fun. Merle is like a caged animal trying every weakness in his cage but he found none. He has to play along and accept equality. Glenn didn't win the wrestling match but he did get the reward and so did we when Maggie and Glenn finally made up!
I especially loved how Rick centered this episode was. I don't think he's completely sane yet but he passed the testing with the Governor pretty well. Now he's got the grinding fear to deal with. Two days will seem like forever for him because he has Michonne's future in his hands. Will he stay strong and not give her up? That mental test can't be salved by a glass of whiskey. And leaning on Herschel for advice! That was very cool.
Also eating away at him is knowing that they are being watched. I hope we see how the Group handles that but it might be a detail that gets lost on the way to war.
I think Andrew Lincoln did a great job telling us how Rick felt listening to the Governor spew his nonsense. "You're the town drunk and you've ruined my front lawn" (or w/e he did to the yard). He followed that up nicely with several looks of incredulity, amazement and disbelief when the Governor bragged.
It didn't have much physical action but this was a well done and necessary staging for the season finale. When the writers write dialogue they do a terrific job!
Welcome T&S. Love your name.
Good analysis!
#78
11 March 2013 - 05:29 AM
#79
11 March 2013 - 05:33 AM
Also, I love sex as much as the next person but the Maggie/Glen sex scene just seemed like too much.
It seems out of place from the entire show and it's so irresponsible to do that on guard duty.
I do't think Rick will give up Michonne though, he's not dumb enough to think that the Govenor isn't going to kill him (I mean they randomly shot up the prison hoping to kill anyone).
#80
11 March 2013 - 05:35 AM
And yeah the horse scene removed. No wonder the episode title was changed lol.
#81
11 March 2013 - 05:55 AM
#82
11 March 2013 - 06:08 AM
Heck, even Michionne and Merle, both have similar interests, but Michionne had the self restraint enough to control hers while Merle is all Rambo ready. She sees his side, but had to restrain herself, I thought she even smiled at him a little before she walked away.
It even shows the contrast of Beth. She was so sweet and innocent, couldn't come to terms with the ZA last year to the point of wanting suicide. Now, she's a gun toting, bar room brawl breaking up bitch.
I enjoyed seeing Andrea being put in her place, made me chuckle, along with the Daryl/Martinez macho man hour.
I'm fine with this episode, I find it a necessary evil, like I have felt a lot of them are this season. I just felt like it was a little forced with what they were trying to achieve.
I don't know why, but my love for Daryl is starting to find its way to Rick. Maybe cuz he's a little scruffier, a little more bad ass, more unstable. I don't have any issues or anything, huh?
#83
11 March 2013 - 06:27 AM
#84
11 March 2013 - 07:32 AM
#85
11 March 2013 - 07:48 AM
1: Setup
2: Drama
3: Action
4: Hybrid (I tend to be very conservative using this as technically each one would be a hybrid in some way)
Tonight was a Setup episode, plain and simple. When deciding how I felt about it, I looked at it from the perspective of a setup episode. As far as setup episodes get, this is as good of one as you are going to get. Too tired to go into details, but I rated Excellent and stand by my decision.
#86
11 March 2013 - 07:56 AM
I really enjoyed the chess game between Rick and the Governor.
Rick laid out his demands, the boundaries, and let the 'Governor' know what his opinion of him is. The Governor countered with jabs about Lori and Judith (Thank you! Andrea) which was really telling about the guy. But Rick held his own even though he gave a bit away when he drank the whiskey after hearing Phillip's sad dead wife story. And you could see by his one good eye that the Gov was pleased with Rick's reaction. But he was stymied because Rick stopped with the one. When he wasn't bragging about all the details he knew about Rick and the prison he was bragging about how his people needed him and thought he still knew what he was doing. Narcistic much?
This episode was all about mind games and it was nicely laid out in contrasts. Rick vs the Governor, Herschel vs Milton and Rodriguez vs Daryl but the Gov was so cocky he took on Andrea, too. She had nothing to answer him with and Rick didn't give her any comfort but Phillip's biggest mistake will be in underestimating people and, as disappointing as I've been in Andrea, I think his biggest is in underestimating her. The Governor can't see how his psychosis is getting out of control because he's unable to read human reactions. People aren't a reliable mirror any more. His smugness turns everyone's reactions into stupidity and manipulated calm. He thinks he's winning but eventually even Milton won't be able to stomach the Governor's appetite for revenge and control.
Merle vs Glenn was fun. Merle is like a caged animal trying every weakness in his cage but he found none. He has to play along and accept equality. Glenn didn't win the wrestling match but he did get the reward and so did we when Maggie and Glenn finally made up!
I especially loved how Rick centered this episode was. I don't think he's completely sane yet but he passed the testing with the Governor pretty well. Now he's got the grinding fear to deal with. Two days will seem like forever for him because he has Michonne's future in his hands. Will he stay strong and not give her up? That mental test can't be salved by a glass of whiskey. And leaning on Herschel for advice! That was very cool.
Also eating away at him is knowing that they are being watched. I hope we see how the Group handles that but it might be a detail that gets lost on the way to war.
I think Andrew Lincoln did a great job telling us how Rick felt listening to the Governor spew his nonsense. "You're the town drunk and you've ruined my front lawn" (or w/e he did to the yard). He followed that up nicely with several looks of incredulity, amazement and disbelief when the Governor bragged.
It didn't have much physical action but this was a well done and necessary staging for the season finale. When the writers write dialogue they do a terrific job!
Very nice dissection of the episode.
My pros were mainly:
- Glenn and Maggie patching it up.
- Milton and Andrea finally seeing Phillip's true ways.
- Daryl and Martinez/Hershel and Milton.
- The Gov's backstory about his life coming through.
My cons are:
- Rick considering giving up Michonne. I thought by now he'd know that Phillip will kill them all anyway.
- Merle. Not sure if this is just me misreading him, but he seemed a bit off (aside from the whole "I'm going to leave with some of your ammo" act).
Overall, I enjoyed the episode, but as many others have said, it's more of a build up for things to come. Can't believe there's only two episodes left!
#87
11 March 2013 - 10:20 AM
#88
11 March 2013 - 11:40 AM
#89
11 March 2013 - 11:42 AM
Oh, may I also say that this episode did not drag on? I've seen a few people claim that but I disagree. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and it has been a long time since TWD has managed to immerse me into the story like this.
I highly doubt Mazzara was very involved in the making this episode, which excites me for season 4. Look how much better episodes are when he doesn't have his grubby fingers all over them. This was the best all season, no doubt about it.
#90
11 March 2013 - 11:45 AM
Also did anybody else notice when they were tearing eachothers clothes off that one minute Maggie was only in her bra then the next cut she had that American apparel type sports bra thing on, then the next clip she didn't? For some reason I found that amusing. Bad cutting on the editors parts. Haha
#91
11 March 2013 - 11:56 AM
#92
11 March 2013 - 11:58 AM
I think the Maggie/Glen scene was there to show that the rift between them has healed. Not that unusual for couples that have been fighting to have make-up sex and I am glad to see the ZA has not changed that.
In regards to the gun under the table, I think the Guv was trying to goad Rick into doing something and then he planned to shoot him. When Rick failed to take the bait the Gov changed tactics.
#93
11 March 2013 - 12:06 PM
I found this to be a pretty damn good episode. A good setup for the last few of the season, and some great dialogue.
#94
11 March 2013 - 12:11 PM
Why exactly does the Governor want to slaughter Rick and his group? The Governor told Milton that it's so they can "stand as one (whatever that means)," but Rick poses no threat to Woodbury.
I have the same question - While I can now why he wants them dead - but why when he first heard them existing - same with the national guard unit he gunned down?
I think Rick touched on it when he said "they can put up a statue of you...." does the Gov want woodbury to be the sole survivors of the ZA?
#95
11 March 2013 - 12:36 PM
The fact that it occurs is fine-it's been shown how you're alive one momemt and dead the next-it's natural. i think most of the problem with that scene was how long they stayed with it - cut away and it's implied they had sex - especially since nothing came from it (prison breached/Merle escaped, etc)Maggie and Glenn sex scene...I remember being ~20 ... Yep, careless, hormonal, throw caution to the wind, right now and maybe several times OK sure. That is what 20 year olds do biologically this is prime sex time.
This scene was not gratuitousness at all... and comics comparison spoiler:Spoiler
#96
11 March 2013 - 12:55 PM
#97
11 March 2013 - 12:58 PM
-Am I the only one surprised Andrea got them together to talk in the first place?
No, the Governor would be more than willing to talk. He thinks Rick is psycho and an easy target to manipulate. I think he gets off on playing Mr. Nice guy then killing his victims. The look on their faces is his payoff, sick bastage. And Rick is always open to talk things out.
-I'm surprised Andrea didn't know about Maggie. You would have thought someone would have told her.
Since they didn't and it wasn't shown it looks like Andrea didn't make any progress in getting the Group to accept her any more than they did the first visit. Maybe because she didn't kill the Gov like she was supposed to?
-I thought Rick was going to jump across the table and snatch an eye patch when the Gov said Judith probably wasn't his. The look on Rick's face was one who was ready to kill, great scene.
Did it make you nervous when he drank the whiskey? I covered my eyes as if they were killing walkers!
-Just decided I really want Daryl and Martinez to have a bromance. I totally ship that. Love them both and they seem like under different circumstances would be good friends. Hopefully he makes it out of the Woodbury drama in one piece.
Kirkman is softening you up so you will care when Martinez meets a gruesome death.
-Love Milton putting back on his glasses and going into scientist mode once he found out how Hershel lost his leg. I love Hershel's humor about it though.
He had to keep Milton from discovering that he was 'legged'.
-Merle's scene seemed off to me.
Ditto but for a different reason. He won't go up against Rick face to face. He is going to test Glenn's and anyone else's authority to find his place in the group's pecking order. He likes to get what he wants. I found the delivery of his line to Michonne about being mesmerized by her something whatever was a bit forced and not as charming as he's been before. Maybe some of the sass has gone out of him? The look on his face the last time we see him made me think so, too.
-Thought the Maggie and Glenn sex scene was a bit random. I don't know why they chose this exact time to focus on it story wise.
I coudn't enjoy it the first time. Again, hands were over my eyes. I kept thinking about someone sneaking past them into the prison or shooting them from the woods.. Ah!!
-Honestly I still don't see why they just don't run (other than it wouldn't make for as an exciting story). They act like the prison is as cushy as the CDC was, doesn't seem worth all of the trouble. Seems like it would be easier to just fortify another building somewhere safer.
Judith and Herschel. Plus they paid a heavy heavy price for that place. But, just as important and with longer lasting implications is the idea that if they start running, they may never stop. Rick is already fighting down the fears that make him want to turn Michonne over to the Governor.
It just occurred to me that Andrea's story arc might show her sobbing with regrets over all she had been blind to. If the writers allow her regret to be compensation for the stupidity that led to so many deaths then I will be really really angry. I love so much about this show but she will have to sacrifice something herself. Maybe she should lose the hand or an eye or something. She cannot come out of this without paying a price that isn't measured in just tears.
#98
11 March 2013 - 01:24 PM
#99
11 March 2013 - 01:51 PM
#100
11 March 2013 - 02:16 PM
AMC's The Walking Dead TV Series →
The Walking Dead TV Series →
The Walking Dead Season 8 →
Rick, Negan And What Is Coming In Twd: A Rant03 Apr 2018 Negan, Rick, AOW |
|
||
The Walking Dead Comic Book →
The Walking Dead Comic Series →
The Walking Dead Issue #164 Review15 Feb 2017 Issue 164, Review, Maggie, Carl |
|
||
The Walking Dead Comic Book →
The Walking Dead Comic Series →
Issue 162 Review04 Jan 2017 Issue 162, Rick, Carl, Andrea |
|
||
AMC's The Walking Dead TV Series →
The Walking Dead TV Series →
The Walking Dead Season 7 →
The End Of Rick's Authority16 Nov 2016 Rick, Negan |
|
||
The Walking Dead Comic Book →
The Walking Dead Comic Series →
Issue #158 Review07 Sep 2016 Issue 158, Review, Rick, Negan |
|