The Walking Dead Season 3 Ep 9 - The Suicide King - Review

the walking dead season 3 daryl merle the governor rick the prison woodbury

The Walking Dead Midseason Premiere - The Suicide King (211 )

What did you think of the show?

  1. Excellent (90 [42.65%] - )

    42.65%

  2. Good - Some Critiques (84 [39.81%] - )

    39.81%

  3. Fair - Not What I Expected (32 [15.17%] - )

    15.17%

  4. Poor (5 [2.37%] - )

    2.37%

#151
DeadZedHead

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Over all pretty good episode. A lot of stuff has already been covered but I'll throw in my two cents.
I think the pacing had a nice balance of action and story. Remember they were light on character for a while.
What happened to all the head shots the group has been pulling off for three seasons? They should have done way more damage to Govs crew.
I think the episode was missing an "oh shit" moment. Daryll leaving was supposed to be that but of course he leaving with his brother. I would have been more surprised if they took merle back. Plus you know he's coming back when the gov shows. If during the battle he didn't show and instead the camera cuts to him and merle sitting by a campfire with merle saying "see little bro ain't you glad you came with me?", that would be an oh shit moment.
merle and Michonne are threats to Rick's group.
Tyreese and co are an extra responsibility that he didn't want. Everyone that joins his group is at risk.
I am not opposed to Rick's hallucination but the timing and length seemed way off. They should have flipped the banishment of Tyreese and co with Beth handing Rick Judith. That would have been a better time to see Lori. The phone scene made sense. He was in the well didn't even want to see his kids.(don't say it). Holding Judith an realizing what was coming an thinking how am I going to protect her. That would have been a better time to flip out. Holding her glances into a cell and sees a sheet hanging off of a bunk. Lori appears to be standing there with the sheet morphing into her dress. Beth grabs the baby when Rick starts yelling at an empty cell.
Am I the only one that noticed that Rick does the pee pee dance right before he delivers a line?
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#152
DayWalker

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Great start to the second half of the season. Glad that Glenn stepped up and said something about Merle's return. If that was me, I would have shot his sorry one-handed ass the moment I saw him.
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#153
saltydog75

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- Glenn is being soooooo annoying (imo). Ughhh


I sort of agree, but it's understandable. Keep in mind, he started out as this mild-mannered guy who just wanted to help everyone, your classic "nice guy". He's been thrust into this situation where he has to become someone different, but he really isn't. To me, this was like the school nerd (Glenn) being picked on by the school bully (the Governor), and the nerd is obsessed with getting back at him. He just can't get around his hatred for the Governor, and I think that inability to process that hatred is coming out as all of this behavior that's coming across as annoying.

Just a theory.
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#154
Deadpelican

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I disagree. Emily Kinney has a very youthful look. IRL on the red carpet and such she doesn't even look her age of 27, I'd say she looks about 20-23 like you say. However on the show, with no makeup, and playing the sweet and innocent farmers daughter she believably could pass for the 17 year old girl she plays. Even the way she talks sounds young in the show and different then how she sounds in interviews. If she was in mini dresses and heels all vamped up that would be different but don't objectify her and inject sexuality into a character who clearly gives off none. Even if Beth did have feelings for anyone on the show it would be in an innocent capacity. She didn't even pick up on Axel hitting on her, Carol had to tell him to back off. I get the innocence thing is a turn on for some guys but its getting ridiculous the amount of discussion going into her needing to hookup with someone when that isn't even what her character is about at all.


Yeah you're technically right but as an aging horror film buff, it's always hard for me to see "teen" characters as underage kids because nine times out of ten they're played by people 25 and up lol. Always been that way.

But the character is a teenage girl so I guess I should stick to thinking of her in those terms.
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#155
DeadCave

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#156
DeadZedHead

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Sorry for the long post. I forgot two other points Daryll leaving should give some other characters some screen time. Looks like they are trying already. This is sorely needed.
I didn't think I could like the way Govs character was handled even less but Damn they managed to do it. Walking slowly, with that stupid look on his face, holding his gun at an awkward angle so the camera could see it. Uuugghh!!
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#157
saltydog75

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I think this is all reminding me of when Michonne was first introduced. Everyone was like wtf! We just need to give these hullicinations a little more time for the people who don't understand the psychological aspect of it.


I think people just want Rick to be confident, badass, capable, etc. They don't like their hero to be flawed.

Personally, I love it, and I think it's a brave choice. It would be much easier to make this a bland good versus evil story where the Governor is all bad and Rick is all good, and good wins over evil after much struggle.
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#158
Judari

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Yeah you're technically right but as an aging horror film buff, it's always hard for me to see "teen" characters as underage kids because nine times out of ten they're played by people 25 and up lol. Always been that way.

But the character is a teenage girl so I guess I should stick to thinking of her in those terms.


Haha I can understand that. It also doesn't help that in like almost every classic horror film you always have the stereotypical cute virgin teen who ends up hooking up right before they die or their boyfriend gets killed, you almost come to expect it. I'm not totally against Beth ever hooking up with someone but as it stands now her character is just so emotionally innocent and almost naive in a way that anyone hooking up with her at this point would be them taking advantage of her which just isn't cool.
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#159
Not_Undead

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I think people just want Rick to be confident, badass, capable, etc. They don't like their hero to be flawed.

Flawed is acceptable. An emotional cripple is not.
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#160
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Am I the only one that noticed that Rick does the pee pee dance right before he delivers a line?


I hadn't noticed, but now that you've said this, I'm going to watch him extra closely now. I have noticed that he can barely talk without either holding his hand out, and/or getting in really close to the person with his head down/cocked to one side.
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#161
That Guy

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I think people just want Rick to be confident, badass, capable, etc. They don't like their hero to be flawed.

Personally, I love it, and I think it's a brave choice. It would be much easier to make this a bland good versus evil story where the Governor is all bad and Rick is all good, and good wins over evil after much struggle.


Rick has been flawed from the very beginning. Going back for Merle, the way he dealt with Randall, to name a few. I remember reading somewhere that Sarah Wayne Callies wanted to be paid for an entire season and I think that is why they have Rick hallucinate her. It's Mazzara attempting to please everyone again. Just my personal speculation, ofcourse.

I'll see how crazy Rick will turn out after a few eps. It might be done well and turn Rick into the tragic hero that his comic counterpart is. I'm not feeling it right now and feels, I don't know, a little contrived and forced like Michonne. It's there because it happens in the comics. But we shall see. I may be critical of this season but I will give it a fair chance.
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#162
Not_Undead

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I get the innocence thing is a turn on for some guys but its getting ridiculous the amount of discussion going into her needing to hookup with someone when that isn't even what her character is about at all.

What IS her character about?

She's a young single woman in dangerous times. It is perfectly natural to want to pair up with an alpha male.
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#163
Not_Undead

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I'd like to speak for the evolved male contingent and say that, yes, the actress who plays Beth looks like a 15 year old that just popped out of the womb and there's nothing sexy about that.

Speaking for the un-neutered males:

Compared to who else is in the group, she's not unattractive. 15 year olds used to get married all the time in pioneer times.
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#164
Darylrocks

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I thought it was good. Could have been better. I thought it was weird when Glenn asked Daryl what about Carol because the last Glenn knew is that Carol was dead. So that didn't make sense to me. And then when Maggie saw Carol she didn't say anything like dang glad you are alive. Just thought it was weird.
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#165
That Guy

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What's this obsession with Beth? Can't we just discuss the episode? Geez, all it takes is a pretty young girl and the entire thread goes off course.

She is hot though.
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#166
Judari

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What IS her character about?

She's a young single woman in dangerous times. It is perfectly natural to want to pair up with an alpha male.


So she is a "young single woman in dangerous times" automatically means she has to jump the nearest alpha male or man for that matter around because that is the most natural and logical choice of action and clearly what her character as a "young single woman in dangerous times" is all about? :rolleyes: Where is Teaspoon's Kathy Griffin gif when I need it? That is absolutely ridiculous.

Granted we don't know that much about Beth as in S3 she just started to pick up lines but I don't know how people are picking up on this raging hormonal teen with sexual repressions from a sweet, innocent and clearly naive girl. Is there a porn spinoff people are mistaking for canon out there? :srug:
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#167
Rainbowpony

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Speaking for the un-neutered males:

Compared to who else is in the group, she's not unattractive. 15 year olds used to get married all the time in pioneer times.


Oh, yeah, back in the good old days when women had no rights and were treated as little more than chattel. TG we still have Asian mail order brides to turn to...
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#168
nclifter

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So she is a "young single woman in dangerous times" automatically means she has to jump the nearest alpha male or man for that matter around because that is the most natural and logical choice of action and clearly what her character as a "young single woman in dangerous times" is all about? :rolleyes: Where is Teaspoon's Kathy Griffin gif when I need it? That is absolutely ridiculous.

Granted we don't know that much about Beth as in S3 she just started to pick up lines but I don't know how people are picking up on this raging hormonal teen with sexual repressions from a sweet, innocent and clearly naive girl. Is there a porn spinoff people are mistaking for canon out there? :srug:


Look if the girl is portrayed as legal age in the series and she wants to hook up with someone or the writers want it to happen big deal. Its a ZA people are murdering, raping, pillaging, etc etc if she falls for one of the male characters big deal. I could care either way, but you come off as some southern baptist holy roller get over it.
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#169
Grénádé

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Okay pedos, the age of consent in Georgia is 16.
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#170
Tyler

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Great first episode. I thought it was refreshing to get a slower paced episode after the crazy first half. This is how episodes needs to be, a mix of action and drama and still have stuff happen.

- Rick has snapped completely, not to mention it was in front of everyone. Now we know why Carl suggests he steps down as leader. Oh and that Lori scene was creepy.

- I expected a little more, fight from Rick about Daryl. But i guess blood is thicker then water.

- I don't have that big of the problem with the Woodbury scenes, minus that lolworthy speech.

- Don't know about everyone else, but i already like Tyreese and Sasha. Already more development then Oscar and Axel, and i just find them likable.

- Ben and Allen still might try something. I hope someone sets them straight.

- Beth is getting more lines, she seems to be the one holding Judith the most - which makes me think... well - comic book readers know

- Loved Hershel's scenes, and good on him for telling Rick that he is wrong!

- Carol's scene with Carl was nicely done. A mother who lost her child and a child who lost his mother. I think this was the first time since Lori's death that Carl has really 'opened up' and allowed himself to feel grief and emotion aswell

Went back, thought i'd take some screens of some stuff i was like 'damn that's badass'

Want to learn to shoot walkers with style, ask the governor.

Spoiler


I laughed. Daryl's like - No bitch that's mine. Badass.

Spoiler


Carl's cold deathstare. Don't try anything stupid now.

Spoiler


To be honest, any frame which Tyreese is in is badass. He's like don't ruin this for us you white boys!

Spoiler


I guess this could me more of the lines of Rage-Filled Glenn but still somewhat badass.

Spoiler


4.5/5
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#171
Judari

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Look if the girl is portrayed as legal age in the series and she wants to hook up with someone or the writers want it to happen big deal. Its a ZA people are murdeirng, raping, pillaging, etc etc if she falls for one of the male characters big deal. You come off as some southern babtist holy roller get over it.


Right. Except for she isn't portrayed as someone of legal age at all and most people seem to agree on that. If you cared to read any of my other previous comments on the subject you would know I don't have a problem with the idea of Beth hooking up if she wants. Just people objectifying and sexualizing this clearly non sexual character (who in fact doesn't want to hookup), just because she happens to be the only female who hasn't shown any interest in men or sex yet. The fact that it's ZA shouldn't have anything to do with it. Contrary to popular horror genre belief women's panties don't go flying off at the first sign of danger. I know I crushed your dreams right there but I think you will survive.

ETA: I know she was in a relationship with Jimmy but even that seemed pretty causal and innocent. They didn't seem like they were sneaking off for some barn action like Glenn and Maggie. Also I don't think Jimmy would have tried anything with Hershel and his shotgun around lol.
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#172
Grénádé

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Also, isn't punching a walker in the face/jaw area a pretty bad idea?
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#173
Valleyaggie

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I'm new to the forum but I have to share my thoughts; it's why I came.

1) I'm heartbroken about Daryl leaving with Merle but I get it. As Carol said, Daryl live by a code. Even though Merle has been a total shit to him his whole life, blood is blood and he'll be loyal to Merle just because of that. I also think that Merle is firmly in Daryl's head, and has been mind-f*cking him since early childhood, as seen in "Chupacabra" and referenced in other episodes. But I really, really hope Merle does something that even Daryl can't take and Daryl goes back to the group.

2) Michonne has got to start speaking up. I agree the mute thing isn't working for her. She's a total badass and has a lot to contribute but she has got to be more of a people person.

3) Carol, Hershel and Beth stepped it up. I think they all did great this episode. I really, really hope none of them die soon.

4) Beth was just saying "Thank you" with the kiss to the cheek. Get over it, people!

5) Glenn has a touch of PSTD. Understandable. He'll mellow out. He feels that he couldn't protect Maggie and weak because Merle beat him up.

6) Rick. Rick has had no sleep, lost his wife a week ago, has a daugher that may or may not be his, lost Daryl, etc. The guy is understandably have difficulty coping. He needs sleep, rest, and time to cope. Unfortunately, he's not going to get it.

7) Tyrese and Co., left the room but I don't know if they left the prison. It seems to be a lot of character build up for them to just disappear.

8) Andrea. I've disliked her from the first time I saw her with a gun iin Rick's face. She's always been a whiney-hiney grouch potato who is never happy. Amy died. Dale made her live. Rick wouldn't give her a gun. Shane didn't want to run off with her. She had a bad cold and didn't want Michonne to take care of her. Blah Blah Blah. Let her die already.
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#174
Boss

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I thought it was good. Could have been better. I thought it was weird when Glenn asked Daryl what about Carol because the last Glenn knew is that Carol was dead. So that didn't make sense to me. And then when Maggie saw Carol she didn't say anything like dang glad you are alive. Just thought it was weird.

damn good catch
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#175
Valleyaggie

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damn good catch


Agreed.
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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





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