The Great Divide: The Walking Dead Episode 309 Review
The highly anticipated second half of AMC’s hit zombie drama, The Walking Dead, returned this Sunday to again, shatter cable records with over 12.2 million viewers during the 9 p.m. showing alone.
The audience was left on the edge of their seats last December when the show’s mid-season finale cut off for two months while we got to sit and wonder what the hell is going to happen between the Dixon brothers in those darn screamer pits.
Well, the wait is over. We learned that blood is obviously thicker than water when Merle plotted to help his “baby brother” out of the shit-tastic situation the Governor left them in; all the while a portion of the Grimes gang headed back to Woodbury post shoot-out which left prison inmate Oscar, among others, dead, to find and rescue Daryl. The opening scene was just what hardcore fans like myself had anticipated: nail-biting suspense, questions answered, and a killer action sequence that set up the rest of what will most certainly be an amazing second half of season three.
I want to go over the possible outcome and inevitable carnage the rest of season three is sure to bestow on nail-biting, anxiety-ridden fans across the globe.
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Blood is thicker than water: The “Departure” of Daryl Dixon
A very vulnerable Daryl Dixon emerges in the first moments of Sunday’s episode, confused and shocked by the presence of his brother Merle, he’s gets beaten to the ground soon after, in which he’s given instructions to follow his big bro’s lead. If Rick and Maggie hadn’t gone back to save him, I am not too sure how the Dixon brothers would have gotten free from the tenacious grip of the Governor and his goons. Unfortunately for everyone who has ever been “Team Daryl,” the crossbow-wielding badass took off when the option to have Merle back at the prison was non-existent. A part of me, after watching this episode five times since it aired, thinks Darly was hoping Rick would try harder to get him to stay.
I sincerely believe that Daryl had a hard time leaving the group, especially Carol. He saw the bond between brothers greater than the bond he developed with the Grimes group, no matter how much of an asset he was since Shane’s death. I am almost 100 percent certain Daryl will rejoin the group. My prediction is that when the Governor is en route to prison takeover, Merle and Daryl will show their faces on the Grimes’ side, Merle’s killed by Woodbury crew, and Daryl rejoins the group. Strictly a prediction, my friends, so fear not. Daryl’s character is a wildly popular one, with an enormous fanbase for his actor, Norman Reedus. He’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: Rick Grimes Edition
If one more person bitches and moans about Rick’s mental state, I, myself, just might lose it. Look people, his wife just died, he’s got a newborn baby in tow (who may not even be his!) and most importantly, he is bogged down with the title of leader for the foreseeable future. With his group’s whereabouts known to the Governor, now more than ever is Rick a little screwy, especially without the added help of a powerful advantage that once was Daryl. He will indeed snap out of it, but right now, there is a weakness in Rick that viewers are seeing since the first time since he made it out of the hospital in season one, episode one. Embrace the crazy!
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Woodbury: There Goes the Neighborhood
Well now, it seems the good folks over at Woodbury found reassurance in Andrea, a newcomer to the makeshift community of nearly two, maybe three weeks. Her “rebuild Woodbury” speech was hardly touching to anyone who loathes Woodbury, but why are people even listening to her? I can’t put my finger on it. It’s odd that she has so much control and stature after being a resident for so little time, but nonetheless, Andrea is beginning to show how great of a character she was always meant to be (ahem, comic book status). She finally gets a little sneak-peak when the Gov answers her ‘why didn’t you tell me my friends were here’ when we had sex (because even in a zombie apocalypse sex leads to feelings which leads to that feeling of obligation), “you’re just a visitor here, passing through… so why should I tell you?” The walls have been breached, the Governor has openly gone mad, plotting the eventual war for the prison. Woodbury is breaking, and I just know we will get to see its fail and fall within the next seven episodes.
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As much as of an affront to humanity he is, Merle was fricking AWESOME when he was taunting this rescuers. I’m with you on the Dixon bros coming to the rescue, but not sure Merle’s going to die. I mentioned on another person’s blog that I’m worried that Rick seeing the ghost is a jump the shark moment. I get that he still hasn’t fully recovered and it made sense. But this was a little silly. I thought the phone hallucinations were better because it was a mystery for the viewer as well. HAving him see the ghost seemed too blunt. And if he thought he saw his wife, why was he pissed off at her? He wasn’t like that when he phone hallucinated her.
But hey, it’s still one of the best shows ever. And great review, btw.
Thanks for reading! I hope you’re right about Merle lasting a little longer than I anticipate, because I do like him and appreciate Michael Rooker as an actor. I, too, am hoping they stop with the hallucinations… time to get this show on the road- no time for silliness!
I enjoyed reading this post. The episode was fantastic. I keeled over with laughter when Merle not only called Michonne a nubian queen but, wagged his tounge at her suggestively. That was too gross and funny at the same time. I agree Rick is loosing his mind and is in my opinion “the suicide king”. The Governor is on the war path and Andrea got what she deserved.
I hope that Rick will open up and allow more people into the group. They need all the help that they can get. Seriously.
I also agree that if Maggie and Glenn had intervene in the “fight to the death” it would have been a blood bath,
Thanks for reading, Violet! Merle is quite the character… I enjoyed his little mockery of Michonne and Andrea and the Gov as well. Cannot wait for next week!
I love The Walking Dead, the show and the comics. I was kind of “eh” about this episode though.