I’m going to start with the Walking Dead, and I think we all know why! What an episode! I feel like I should have made one of those reaction videos as I now understand how Game of Thrones fans felt when viewing the Red Wedding episodes. For a while now I’ve been covering up my jealousy of those who hadn’t read the books under a veil of smugness at knowing what was to come. In reality I really wish I’d been able to experience the complete shock and mayhem that ensued post the airing of Red Wedding. Finally this need has been fulfilled as the latest episode of the Walking Dead left me dumbfounded and in dire need of a hug.
Having had time to process the episode and read a few reviews on it, I am finding more and more that people are delving far too deep into the narrative to find flaws in the storyline for the sake it. It’s really starting to irritate me. I just wish people would sit back, relax (or scream) and enjoy the journey/emotional roller-coaster the guys at The Walking Dead are taking us on. Chill out y’all!
Several critics have noted that Hershel’s death was “cheap” and purely there for shock factor…lets be honest, this guy has been suffered and survived more than enough to justify a grizzly and hopeless death at the end of a samurai sword. I think we can all agree that deep down, if any of the major cast members where taken out we would be shocked. Hershel has dodged the cold hands of death on more than one occasion (I refer you to missing limbs and a prison block full of potential walkers), and when you really look at who would be missed the most by fellow characters, it would be Hershel. Every single one of those characters has had a meaningful moment with Hershel, he has been the glue that has held the group together and stopped it from tipping over the edge every time it seemed collapse was inevitable. If anyone’s death was going to cause everything to fall apart, it was going to be his.
Others have taken issue with the Governors return to his sadistic ways, did we really have any doubt that this would happen? Are we really that quick to forget what he did in Woodbury? Throughout the proceeding episodes we’ve seen a “changed” Governor true, but I for one have never bought the complete turn around. I can’t help but admire the writers’ ability to keep me on edge about the Governor despite his seemingly loving approach to his new found family. Critics seem to have completely bought the turnaround, and I can’t work out how given his history. It can be said that we must sympathise with a man who has lost everything, but when you see a kid like Karl recover from killing his own mother its hard to find any excuse for The Governors actions. His ruthless execution of Hershel was absolutely a shock, but a shock that was beautifully crafted. As previously mentioned, no character’s death would have a deeper impact on the group than Hershel’s. The ensuing battle took us through a myriad of emotions and turmoil as our group fought for their lives. As the walker presence increased the more everything seemed to fall apart. The writers took us to the very edge of concern for each of our favourite characters, Daryl is flanked by a group of walkers (had he died there would have been riots), Rick is beaten to a pulp, Karl goes missing, so does his sister, the list goes on! But thank god for Daryl eh, what a hero! I particularly enjoyed this summary of the episode…
Thankfully, after all this, I had How I Met Your Mother to calm my shattered nerves. A delightful episode wherein Barney engineers a fairytale rehearsal dinner for his bride to be. For me, this season has so far been a lot of “filler” to keep us watching until the climax. And it’s worked, I’m still watching. This season is still a long way off the laugh-out-loud hilarity of the first season, but I am enjoying it. But when a season promo is better than an entire season, its time to wrap it up methinks. I am confident that any whole created by this shows demise will be quickly filled by constant re-runs and the simple re-watchability of this great show!
There has been a lot more to the beginning of this month, but nothing has created as much of a stir as The Walking Dead did this week. Now its the long wait through a cold winter until the second half of the season beginning in February.
Thanks for reading.