Tonight’s episode is the penultimate installment of Season 3.
We have a break from Andrea’s turmoil this week and instead spend time with
Rick and the gang, where ones conscience plays an important theme.
After Rick and The Governors previous meeting, they
had supposedly made a deal, a truce. If the prison hands over Michonne, they
will be safe and forever left alone. Under the Ricktatorship in which the
prison had been following, Rick was effectively the decision maker regarding
Michonne and the rest of the groups lives. He had to address the age old
debate, would you sacrifice a life to save many? Rick had decided to hand over
Michonne and after clueing in Herschel and Daryl, they formulated a plan in
which Merle was the appointed person to accompany Michonne to The Governor’s vengeful and torturing ways. Merle
acts out Rick’s wishes by effectively kidnapping Michonne and taking her from
the prison. Typically after this happens, the conscience cogs start turning and
Rick changes his mind - he cannot go through with sacrificing Michonne for the
safety of the entire group. Only it is too late and Merle and Michonne are well
on their way. Daryl makes haste, in a hope to stop them.
En-route to Woodbury, the chemistry between Michonne and
Merle is evident. In a sort-of mini road movie typology, both assess
their behaviour and roles in this new apocalyptic life, whilst trekking and driving through various landscapes. In a bizarre way, they both have a lot in
common as outsiders of the group. Merle emotes this position of his more so,
accepting his given role by both The Governor and Rick. His job is to do the dirty work no one else wants to, because morally, he has no issues
in getting it done. Not this week however. For the first time we see Merle
dealing with his conscience and a glimmer of humanity is present. He gives
Michonne her sword and lets her go, declaring there is something else he has to
do. This character discourse is an effectively shot sequence by Greg Nicotero
who, ironically for a man of visual flare, kept the framing simple and static,
letting the talking well...do all the talking.
Now alone in the car, Merle enjoys a few swigs of some
non-descript whiskey whilst listening loudly to country rock’n’roll,
attracting a sizeable horde of walkers. He slowly leads the car and these new un-dead companions into the path of The
Governor and Woodbury gun men. Executing a perfect ghost-car prank, Merle
exits the vehicle and takes cover in a close by abandoned building, shooting
down the gun men whilst they are bemused and distracted by this sudden
disruption. It is Merle’s way of righting his wrongs, rectifying his past
actions. All goes to plan for a while until he is inevitably caught by The
Governor, who wastes no time in letting Merle know what he thinks of this act
of deception and attack.
Cut back to the prison, post-Glen and Maggie engagement (it’s
nice to see chivalry isn't dead even if the world has gone to shit), and Rick
has gathered the group together. After losing a few lives in the prison and his
mental stability, and accidentally
sending a group-worthy Michonne to her death, Rick‘s conscience is plaguing him
more than ever. He tells all and apologises to everyone. Understandably he concludes
that perhaps a one-man leader, a Ricktatorship, is not a good idea. He eloquently
states, “I am not your governor”. It is decided that they stick together, make
joint decisions, and stay in the prison or run. We have to wait until next week to see what
the group decide to do.
Elsewhere, Daryl eventually reaches the carnage that had unfolded
post-ghost-car prank. Various half-eaten dead bodies litter the ground and
walkers are still casually feasting. What follows is a brilliantly executed
piece of acting by Norman Reedus, comprising this series second most tear jerking moment. With that... I shall say no more.
Another brilliant episode this week, showcasing Nicotero’s
penchant for directing and the shows clever, continual build of emotion, tension and
suspense between characters. Next week is sure to be a dramatic and
explosive finale. I’m thinking, get your tally chart ready for those body
counts.
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