[Ironmangray]

Some things I noticed when Darryl was searching the old house:

He sees the sardine can and knows it's freshly opened, so he knows someone is in the house/around the area.  Why didn't he do a more thorough search?  At one point he hears a noise upstairs, looks at the stairs, and then walks away to go pick flowers!

I know he was calling for her, but if you heard something in the house and you were as BA as Darryl...wouldn't you check it out instead of walking around outside?!  Especially after finding the small bed in the pantry!  He knows it's a child or at the very least someone small and probably not much of a physical threat!  Fear couldn't have been the motivation.  Darryl is only scared of poison ivy and his own epic-ness!

Thoughts? Bad writing or leading to something later on down the line...or did I just imagine the noise in the upstairs altogether?

[eatglitter]

I was actually wondering the same thing...

it just seemed very unreasonable to me. I think if it were Sophia that she would of come out of hiding to be reunited with her mother.
I guess we will have to wait until next week to find out for sure.

Ironmangray, on 07 November 2011 - 03:17 PM, said:

Some things I noticed when Darryl was searching the old house:

He sees the sardine can and knows it's freshly opened, so he knows someone is in the house/around the area.  Why didn't he do a more thorough search?  At one point he hears a noise upstairs, looks at the stairs, and then walks away to go pick flowers!

I know he was calling for her, but if you heard something in the house and you were as BA as Darryl...wouldn't you check it out instead of walking around outside?!  Especially after finding the small bed in the pantry!  He knows it's a child or at the very least someone small and probably not much of a physical threat!  Fear couldn't have been the motivation.  Darryl is only scared of poison ivy and his own epic-ness!

Thoughts? Bad writing or leading to something later on down the line...or did I just imagine the noise in the upstairs altogether?

[Blazeffd]

Perhaps sardines are Merles favorite food. Now what?

[Nathan921]

I did have a thought that it may be merle hidin in the house and he has found the wee girl and was keepin her safe or maybe as a hostage as revenge for being left on the shopping centre roof? but i think next week is guna be based around rick and his wife and weather or not shane is the dad or is rick cant wait for next week anyway!

[UniformSierra]

Interesting that Daryl didn't search the entire house. I know one thing though, I wouldn't have the guts to room-clear with a crossbow in an abandoned house. I'd be scared to death.

[Lizeroo]

Alright, so I'm going to go all soft-hearted here, but remember when Daryl was telling the story of how he went missing, and was gone for 4 days, and no one cared enough to look for him? Do you think he's becoming so tender over this Sophia thing because he wishes someone had looked out for him when he was a kid, so he's doing it for her? Or do you think he's got an ulterior motive here? I'd like to think him becoming more soft-hearted is a permanent thing, which will later cause friction between him and Merle when he comes back, but he was an enormous shithead before, so for him to pull a 180 and be one of the sweetest people in the crew is a bit bizarre.

[Daryl's Crossbow]

I'm of the opinion that Daryl did search the whole house (upstairs) and around the house. They just didnt bother showing it all. Only the most important parts of the search (finding the sardine can and the bed in the pantry).

[Blasko_Z]

Daryl, on 07 November 2011 - 08:34 PM, said:

I'm of the opinion that Daryl did search the whole house (upstairs) and around the house. They just didnt bother showing it all. Only the most important parts of the search (finding the sardine can and the bed in the pantry).

This is what I was thinking. I think people really want to believe there was more to the house than just what Daryl found, but I believe the house scene was there for two reasons:

1. Daryl would find the temporary haven of whoever had been living there first, which was more-than-likely Sophia.
2. The writers came up with that neat speech about the Cherokee Rose and just had to find a plausible way to work that in. Haha.

[Blazeffd]

So your ok with a pantry of food and the the last thing eaten was a metal hard to open can of sardines? And it was eaten by an 8 yo. And no real reason to show the stairs other than to show the house was a 2 story. Maybe he at first was relating to do the search do to his childhood. But now he wanted to do it alone. As many loops there has been in this series that don't make any sense you maybe right. But the signs sure do point elsewhere. what signs have been shown it couldn't be Merle? Certainly not the sneak peek.

[Zachris]

I agree with the last few post, I think he finished looking also, just wasn't part of the show.  I doubt he wouldn't have finished, so I am just basing that fact on how much he wants to be the person to find her.  

I think he is trying to do the right thing for Carol.  He is starting to feel bad for her and I think he is becoming a better person, which will cause issues later when his brother comes back.

[keith2772]

Lizeroo, on 07 November 2011 - 08:27 PM, said:

Alright, so I'm going to go all soft-hearted here, but remember when Daryl was telling the story of how he went missing, and was gone for 4 days, and no one cared enough to look for him? Do you think he's becoming so tender over this Sophia thing because he wishes someone had looked out for him when he was a kid, so he's doing it for her? Or do you think he's got an ulterior motive here? I'd like to think him becoming more soft-hearted is a permanent thing, which will later cause friction between him and Merle when he comes back, but he was an enormous shithead before, so for him to pull a 180 and be one of the sweetest people in the crew is a bit bizarre.

I never really saw Daryl as an enormous shithead. His brother, yeah. Daryl is certainly a hothead, and obviously mistrusting of males, but the only shithead thing I have seen from him is his temper tantrum over the group leaving Merle on the roof. I can imagine a similar reaction from anyone, whether they like their brother or not. I don't think it has been fleshed out yet that Daryl even likes his brother. The only thing positive he said about him is that he was a tough SOB.He happened to be traveling somewhere with his brother when the virus broke out since Merle's bike was in the back of Daryl's truck, but there has been no backstory involving their relationship with each other.

I guess what I'm getting at here is that people seem to assume that since Merle was a shithead, then Daryl must be one too. As much as the show has been basing characters on sterotypes, I think with Daryl they are tring to break that mold and sell Daryl as a redneck that is also thoughtful, educated ( or maybe just well read),pragmatic, and just happens to have grown up in a terrible environment. I think his desire to find Sophia is genuine, not necessarily because of his being lost at one time too, but just because that despite his rough edges he is a decent human being and thinks it sucks that everyone else in the group seems to have written her off as dead already. I hope they reveal alot about him in the backstory.

[DeadCave]

keith2772, on 07 November 2011 - 09:31 PM, said:

I  guess what I'm getting at here is that people seem to assume that since  Merle was a shithead, then Daryl must be one too. As much as the show  has been basing characters on sterotypes, I think with Daryl they are  tring to break that mold and sell Daryl as a redneck that is also  thoughtful, educated ( or maybe just well read),pragmatic, and just  happens to have grown up in a terrible environment. I think his desire  to find Sophia is genuine, not necessarily because of his being lost at  one time too, but just because that despite his rough edges he is a  decent human being and thinks it sucks that everyone else in the group  seems to have written her off as dead already. I hope they reveal alot  about him in the backstory.

Exactly my feelings as well. I wouldn't stop searching for a child in those conditions... what a horrible way for a child to die and everyone else being the real shit-heads (except for Carol) for writing her off.  
Daryl is definitely a more complex character than a lot of people originally thought. Hopefully the show will take time to do a prolonged character study (even one episode) of the man.

Seems to me that the writers don't or forgotten how to create a tense scene... sad, especially after they literally scared me with the first episode of the second season and all those walkers shuffling past them while they hid under cars...  I'd gone ahead with a camera-view behind Daryl as he searched the upstairs of the house investigating the noise and then finding it was just a cat or coon or something.  That'd crank up the tension.

Ah well
I guess that's why I don't get paid the big bucks...

Edited by DeadCave, 07 November 2011 - 09:40 PM.

[Zpoc]

Maybe Carol reminds Daryl of his mom.  I don't know if Daryl has ever spoke of his mom, but like the previous poster said, Daryl being missing himself as a child could've brought back painful memories.  There is something there for sure.

[keith2772]

Blazeffd, on 07 November 2011 - 09:09 PM, said:

So your ok with a pantry of food and the the last thing eaten was a metal hard to open can of sardines? And it was eaten by an 8 yo. And no real reason to show the stairs other than to show the house was a 2 story. Maybe he at first was relating to do the search do to his childhood. But now he wanted to do it alone. As many loops there has been in this series that don't make any sense you maybe right. But the signs sure do point elsewhere. what signs have been shown it couldn't be Merle? Certainly not the sneak peek.

I'm guessing maybe they had planned to show Daryl investigating the second story but the footage ended up on the editing room floor. Good point about the sardines, not that they are hard to open, I have seen peel top cans of sardines, but I dont think a 12 year old girl is going to be eating sardines unless it is the only thing she could open. I think they showed the makeshift bed, and the sardines and originally had Daryl go up the stairs and find some signs that Merle had been there, and since Sophia isn't, that Merle found her and took her somewhere. Maybe they didn't show that because they decided the audience wouldn't make the connection or just wanted to wait until a later episode for Merle's reveal. I don't think he's "back" in the next episode, I think that is part of a flashback as Daryl is laying in the creek feeling sorry for himself.

[Jonathan]

Daryl has a soft spot for ladies.

I can't really recall the conversations that he's had revealing his past off the top of my head, but it seems like he was always desperate for some affection of some kind. He knows by example that his dad and brother are jerky meat heads. But Daryl is a hardcore softie that just wants a hug. He knows what men are capable of, and to an extent he is capable of just as much as the next guy. But his heart gets soft every time he sees Carol pining for Sophia and wishes he had that same kind of love from his mother.

It's a genuine thing.

[Blazeffd]

Good points Keith.

[Blasko_Z]

keith2772, on 07 November 2011 - 09:43 PM, said:

Good point about the sardines, not that they are hard to open, I have seen peel top cans of sardines, but I dont think a 12 year old girl is going to be eating sardines unless it is the only thing she could open. I think they showed the makeshift bed, and the sardines and originally had Daryl go up the stairs and find some signs that Merle had been there, and since Sophia isn't, that Merle found her and took her somewhere.

As far as the sardines go, you really have to put yourself in Sophia's shoes here. She has been on the run for well long enough to be scared shitless, worrying if she'll survive, if there will be food, and other survival-related stuff. She probably saw the sardines, and after not having had much to eat for at least a few days, ate them without a second thought. The human body is quite marvelous. In a time of uncertainty, like scavenging for food on an empty stomach, it is able to repress certain aspects, such as the gag reflex, in order to ensure the body's survival. After enough hunger, she probably would have eaten dirt.

On the bed, maybe this is assuming too much about Merle's physical ability, but that pantry looked awfully cramped, even for Sophia. Maybe Merle could squeeze in there, but I highly doubt it.

[Blazeffd]

Blasko_Z, on 07 November 2011 - 09:59 PM, said:

As far as the sardines go, you really have to put yourself in Sophia's shoes here. She has been on the run for well long enough to be scared shitless, worrying if she'll survive, if there will be food, and other survival-related stuff. She probably saw the sardines, and after not having had much to eat for at least a few days, ate them without a second thought. The human body is quite marvelous. In a time of uncertainty, like scavenging for food on an empty stomach, it is able to repress certain aspects, such as the gag reflex, in order to ensure the body's survival. After enough hunger, she probably would have eaten dirt.

On the bed, maybe this is assuming too much about Merle's physical ability, but that pantry looked awfully cramped, even for Sophia. Maybe Merle could squeeze in there, but I highly doubt it.

Do you remember the shelves being full when you looked in the pantry? If they hadn't been I would agree with you.  Even if she was worried about expression dates, I could find alot more to eat in a pantry that full that hadn't been touched in a year or so, then sardines. Do girl scout cookies have an expression date?

[keith2772]

Blasko_Z, on 07 November 2011 - 09:59 PM, said:

As far as the sardines go, you really have to put yourself in Sophia's shoes here. She has been on the run for well long enough to be scared shitless, worrying if she'll survive, if there will be food, and other survival-related stuff. She probably saw the sardines, and after not having had much to eat for at least a few days, ate them without a second thought. The human body is quite marvelous. In a time of uncertainty, like scavenging for food on an empty stomach, it is able to repress certain aspects, such as the gag reflex, in order to ensure the body's survival. After enough hunger, she probably would have eaten dirt.

On the bed, maybe this is assuming too much about Merle's physical ability, but that pantry looked awfully cramped, even for Sophia. Maybe Merle could squeeze in there, but I highly doubt it.

Good point about the sardine thing. I wasnt assuming Merle was sleeping in that closet, but Sophia. I think any signs of Merle might have been upstairs. My apologies if I didn't make that clear enough. If the scene as I described was overlooked by the writers or edited out is anyone's guess.

[p0werpuff]

I honestly think that merle is around and that daryl maybe knew that it was his brother that had been there cause of the sardines.. Maybe merle like that and therefore he didn't search through the whole house. Still boggles my mind though (if what written above is the case) why he didn't check if his brother was there... So exciting! I was about to think that this episode wasn't one of the best until she took that pregnancy test and it turned out to be positive. Try to imagine how she must feel.. Very very good episode, shows that it doesn't have to be some zombie run every freakin episode. thumbs up!

[BigEd]

keith2772, on 07 November 2011 - 09:43 PM, said:

Good point about the sardines, not that they are hard to open, I have seen peel top cans of sardines, but I dont think a 12 year old girl is going to be eating sardines unless it is the only thing she could open.

I like sardines, I am not fully convinced it was Merle who ate them.

Ever tried to open a can of sardines with one hand? I know it can be done. But I think the house belongs to someone else... Possibly another relative of Dixons...

If Daryl knew about the house it was not someone Daryl vists periodically, otherwise he would have known more about Herschel and his farm.

[Ironmangray]

Daryl, on 07 November 2011 - 08:34 PM, said:

I'm of the opinion that Daryl did search the whole house (upstairs) and around the house. They just didnt bother showing it all. Only the most important parts of the search (finding the sardine can and the bed in the pantry).

I can see that point of view except for the noise.  If Darryl hears a noise and then looks up the stairs (leading the viewer to believe that he hears something upstairs) why would they not show him searching around up there?  Someone else posted that they probably did film that scene, but it was cut from the final episode.  I'll guess I can see that.

[gracie lou]

They should have showed Daryl walking up the stairs, but I still didn't think it was confusing. He searched the whole house - they just didn't show it. He certainly wouldn't have walked outside and started yelling Sophia's name, if he thought there was a chance that someone was still inside. Ditto for stopping to smell the roses.

[Blazeffd]

gracie lou, on 08 November 2011 - 01:30 PM, said:

They should have showed Daryl walking up the stairs, but I still didn't think it was confusing. He searched the whole house - they just didn't show it. He certainly wouldn't have walked outside and started yelling Sophia's name, if he thought there was a chance that someone was still inside. Ditto for stopping to smell the roses.

You would if you didn't want your brother to know you caught on. Ever seen cable guy? Remember when he was at the door and made footsteps like he was walking away but really didn't? Like that

[Blazeffd]

BigEd, on 08 November 2011 - 11:40 AM, said:

I like sardines, I am not fully convinced it was Merle who ate them.

Ever tried to open a can of sardines with one hand? I know it can be done. But I think the house belongs to someone else... Possibly another relative of Dixons...

If Daryl knew about the house it was not someone Daryl vists periodically, otherwise he would have known more about Herschel and his farm.

You like sardines? How many 12 yo do you know would grab them first before eating the rest of the food in a pantry? A sucker or candy sure, but sardines?