The Attack is On: The Walking Dead Episode 308 Review
A look of super seriousness is absolutely in order. This episode was on par with the season 2 break finale, when Shane takes it upon himself to clear that barn full of walkers, consequentially exposing a walker Sophia in the process. And speaking of Shane, of the wonderful Jon Bernthal, it was a heart-warming moment of reunion with Mr. Walsh for fans across the land- even though we knew it couldn’t be real. We see that Rick still hasn’t gotten all his marbles back after the death of his beloved, but this episode left no time to focus on the mushy stuff. What was a prison takeover in the comics will likely be a war of revenge for the one-eyed Governor and his cronies.
“Made to Suffer” raises many a question; questions about who the new prison group is, when Andrea will play a role of any caliber, and most importantly- the fate of fan favorite Daryl Dixon.
Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?
In the “screamer pits” of course! After we found out Merle was actually alive at the beginning of this season, the question remained: would Daryl ever be reunited with his big bro? We got our answer at the very end of last night’s episode. In scenes from the next, we can see Daryl running around with his crossbow; I have a feeling post production didn’t do this so we knew the answer that would obviously keep us on our toes until February, but because that is where the twist lies. I think Merle is going to make it out alive. I have not a clue how that would even work, but how awesome would it be if they did a little trickery to get out together, giving the Governor more reason to wage war on anyone who calls prison “home.” I do believe that Andrea will finally come through in some small way- or possible even Milton- because afterall, in the very last profile shot of the Governor, Milton appears as a blur. Very clever.
Does Merle deserve this punishment? It’s hard to say because there is something eerily likable about the dude. Am I right? He has this passion to see his brother- understandably so- but at the same time is everything I would never want in a boyfriend, a friend, a neighbor. He is a degenerate pig. I also loved Shane. Does that explain things?
Today I have a guest blogger to help me out with my review. Sean O’Donnell is a fellow uber fan of the show and graphic novel and watches it over and over to make sure he has caught all those little details that make up the backbone of suspense, skepticism and those which further our predictions for coming episodes.
Panels vs Channels: Does AMC do justice to our ass-kicking heroines?
Michonne
For fans of the comic, Michonne was probably one of the more highly anticipated characters to appear on the TV adaptation of The Walking Dead, other than the original Atlanta crew. Even those who hadn’t read the series were probably immediately wowed by this katana-wielding, ninja-esque figure at the close of season two. However, is the AMC version of Michonne living up to the ass-kicking standard of Kirkman’s graphic novels?
Needless to say, the show is not completely syncing up with the story in the comics. There are many details and characters that have been altered, omitted or completely invented for this TV series. Michonne is definitely no exception to these artistic liberties. In the comic book she warms up to the group pretty quickly – not that you have much choice when you’re all alone on the run from rotting corpses. She and Tyreese (welcome to the show, comrade!) take showers together and Rick confides in her his darkest crazy secrets, once it turns out that she’s a little cray herself (having in-depth conversations with yourself is apparently not uncommon once the world goes to shit). The comic book Michonne leaves a constant and indiscriminate trail of headless bodies behind her using her katana. She is the epitome of a survivor, and doesn’t take shit from the living or the dead. Her most defining moment thus far in the comic series for me: taking her sadistic yet well-earned revenge out on the mentally disturbed Governor.
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TV Michonne has been a somewhat different story, almost serving as a caricature of her comic self. She was defensive in the comics, but the Michonne we’ve been introduced to on AMC is like a Fort Knox of emotion. Andrea and the Governor had a real knack for evoking Michonne’s signature bitch-face. The way this new Michonne forms relationships is completely different as well. It was unclear for me whether or not Michonne needed anybody in the comics – I’m sure she did, no woman is an island, but it just wasn’t as obvious as it is in the show. After expressing her concerns about Woodbury to Andrea while she was still hanging out in the town, she had every opportunity to escape on her own, but she stuck around and tried to drag Andrea along with her. Not three episodes after she decided she didn’t need anyone, she is doing everything she can to join Rick and his posse. From bearing gifts of baby formula, to trying to convince them she is needed (in the scene I’m referring to, just after they escape Woodbury and Michonne returns from her eye-gouging, it was revealed on Talking Dead that they actually omitted a line of her begging them “Please” as in ‘Please let me stay with you’. I don’t think you’d catch the comic book Michonne begging!).
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That being said, I do enjoy TV Michonne for the obvious reasons – she is a crazy, sword-swinging killing machine. I do believe that once she is acclimated to this group and feels more comfortable in her own skin, she will be quite the likable character. Until then, wipe off that bitch face!
Andrea
“Don’t even get me started”, is what you might find yourself saying when asked about Andrea. I would say of the other characters to appear in both the illustrated and filmed version of this series, Andrea has been portrayed most differently.
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There are not many reasons to dislike Andrea in the comic book series. Her story starts off quite similarly in both productions: she’s a part of the original Atlanta group, and is closest with her younger sister Amy. She tends to the kids and does the laundry, but it all turns around when Amy is attacked and killed. This was Andrea’s major turning point; after losing her sister she began to take on the role of a protector of the group. Her exposure to the harsh and violent reality of the world they lived in hardened her through and through, and was ultimately what allowed her to become the bad-ass that she was. She turned out to be a natural with everything from a pistol to a sniper rifle, and never missed an opportunity to blow something’s (or someone’s) head off. As far as relationships go, she fancied Dale in the comics. You remember; the larger, pasty gentleman with the fisherman’s cap? That’s the one! Granted, it started off as a ploy to get to stay in his sweet RV, but it turned into something as close to love as you can hope for in a zombie apocalypse, and even turned physical during their sleepover in the zombie-infested Wiltshire Estates. Despite the obvious gap in age and I can only assume attractiveness, Dale was good for Andrea. He acted as her voice of reason and truly cared for and appreciated her. He kept her grounded and at the same time allowed her to spread her wings. The same cannot be said for the men in TV-Andrea’s life.
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And that’s what it really comes down to – the biggest difference between the two – her choice in men. The turning point was the same, little sister gets chomped by a passing herd, but after this point she takes a turn for the worst in the television series. Mistake number one: Shane. This is more of a foreshadowing of her somewhat questionable taste, as the relationship was more of a dashboard romance and there were no far-reaching consequences. Honestly, I know he has a hot bod, but it’s never wise to bed with someone who has obvious psychotic tendencies. The most recent blemish on Andrea’s dating record is the Governor: the older, whiter, more psychotic and even more domineering version of Shane. It may be that Andrea is using this guy just to fulfill some of her own animal desires, but all signs are clearly pointing to him being a N-O. If it wasn’t enough that Michonne, whose gut instinct had kept them alive in the wilderness for the better part of a year, begged her to get out, he also gets off on hosting zombie death matches and tells her to “do as she’s told” on more than one occasion. That’s certainly not something you’d expect a woman as independent as the comic book version of Andrea to stand for. She needs to and will smell the coffee sometime soon, and revert to the ass-kicking group member we saw emerging in season two. A word of advice, TV-Andrea: If there are that few fish in the sea, it might be time to put down the pole.
I was thinking there’d be another big casualty – at least bigger than Oscar. I don’t know if I feel relieved or disappointed. My question is – who gets his slippers?
I saw an interesting theory elsewhere – that somehow the pit scene was staged by the Gov so that Merle could go back and be a mole inside the prison. That’d be interesting because I want to see the bro reunion played out more. But I don’t htink the Gov could possibly have been thinking straight enough to plan that.
I agree. I thought at least three people would die in this episode. My prediction was Oscar, but also Beth and Hershel. I don’t really know why though. I really like that theory you read. It’s totally possible and I will remember that when the season kicks back up again. The Gov. could have been thinking to send Merle as a mole before shit hit in the fan at Woodbury, perhaps.
To answer your question about Oscar’s slippers… I think Rick deserves them most.
dude that is an interesting theory except I think its Andrea whos going to do the dirty work. I think shes going to be really confused about where her loyalties lie and I just have that feeling she might do something stupid that will get some people killed.
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I was thinking there’d be another big casualty – at least bigger than Oscar. I don’t know if I feel relieved or disappointed. My question is – who gets his slippers?
I saw an interesting theory elsewhere – that somehow the pit scene was staged by the Gov so that Merle could go back and be a mole inside the prison. That’d be interesting because I want to see the bro reunion played out more. But I don’t htink the Gov could possibly have been thinking straight enough to plan that.
I agree. I thought at least three people would die in this episode. My prediction was Oscar, but also Beth and Hershel. I don’t really know why though. I really like that theory you read. It’s totally possible and I will remember that when the season kicks back up again. The Gov. could have been thinking to send Merle as a mole before shit hit in the fan at Woodbury, perhaps.
To answer your question about Oscar’s slippers… I think Rick deserves them most.
Thanks for coming by
dude that is an interesting theory except I think its Andrea whos going to do the dirty work. I think shes going to be really confused about where her loyalties lie and I just have that feeling she might do something stupid that will get some people killed.
What? Andrea make poor choices?
Hi! I nominated you for the Liebster Award. Thanks for having such a great blog!
https://imagineastylishworld.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/liebster-award/