We skipped reviewing episode 7 last week due to the hubub around the then upcoming holiday, so we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Episode 8: "Coda"
Alas the mid-season finale is upon us and once again we're wondering where the time went? As the episode opens, we are now getting the final buildup toward the hospital rescue mission, and are assured that at least one of our main cast members won't be making it out alive. Most people knew it would have to be either Carol or Beth, and true to form our prediction was wrong. Yes, we have noticed that characters who are a few episodes away from kicking the bucket usually get their "swan song" episode and in the first half of Season 5 both Beth and Carol could be argued as being given theirs. It would be better if there were more mystery about it, even if we did put our money on the wrong chick.
When trying to figure out what's going to happen next in the world of TWD, it's best to ignore what comes out of any of the cast and crew's mouths. One may remember in the convention season leading up to the end of Season 3, Laurie Holden choked back tears as she announced that a beloved character would be killed... and she was referring to herself though Andrea as a character was far from a fan favorite. It appears the same may hold true with this death and those closest to the filming having taken a stronger bond with Emily than we have as fans with Beth. When we saw Melissa tearing up at a recent convention panel and Reedus talking about his apple-box bawling session, we were sure it was Carol's turn.
Yes, we just let the cat out of the bag.
In general, there just wasn't enough emotional attachment to Beth to really make her end game arc satisfying enough to base half a season on. The way it was played did have an emotional impact and held the viewer to the edge of their seat for the final 10 minutes or so, but we were mostly distraught for the impact it would have on the others, not for the loss of Beth herself. Not that we don't love Emily and regret her not getting the chance to play with #TWDFamily anymore, it's just that the redemption for Beth that was built into this first half seemed forced... and much like with Andrea and season 3, just too little too late to make us feel all that bad for the loss of her character in and of itself. She needed to be one of the ones whose death came out of the blue without any warning at all so that the surprise of it added to the impact, but we could see at least three weeks in advance that it was likely to be either her or Carol to go in the mid-season and to be honest, we were getting quite comfortable with the idea.
The fan reaction to this first half has been widely varied. Some believe it to be the best season yet, but others felt it began to fall flat after episode 2 when it became clear that we were sprinting (like a Walker) toward a hospital-rescue mid-season. What this has really done for us is open us up to daydreaming of what lie beyond... now that everyone is back together and Morgan is closing in on the group, with the D.C. trip proven pointless, where do we go from here? Will Rick continue his transformation and go full-Shane? Will Morgan be our new voice of reason or end up our worst villain yet? Will we finally find a place to settle for a little while? Because Daryl needs a bath. Stat.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
The Walking Dead: Season 5 Episode 6 WDF Review
Episode 6: "Consumed"
Everyone was excited to see the return of Daryl and Carol to our story line with the internet abuzz before, during, and after the airing. If it weren't obvious before, we're inclined to say it is now officially official: Daryl is the hands-down favorite character, rounding the stadium in his chariot with his banner flying high.
We start off catching back up with the pair in chase of the white-crossed car in the dark, with flashbacks of Carol's experiences between being booted from the prison group and the showdown at the O.K. Terminus Corral. There's not much new information here as the sequences are meant to show us Carol's emotional journey more than her physical one.
The episode is heavy on emotion in general, and we get to see more emotional range from both Carol and Daryl. Their relationship is evolving as are they as people in a post-prison camp life, and their 24 hour journey to find Beth gives ample opportunities to review that change. The trauma of losing the security of the prison is far reaching and continues to make itself apparent throughout this first half. Although it is important to explore those effects, we do hope the group is able to rebound in the back half and begin to move forward.
The "Walker Burritos" on the footbridge provided a certain comic relief especially combined with those fumbling around in the tents, bringing back memories of what camping is like after having one-too-many by the campfire. The van-off-the-overpass scene provided adequate tension and a feeling of certain doom though with Daryl in tow you can hardly expect total devastation. One simply does not kill a ZA Chuck Norris by merely dropping him 50 feet. Such a spectacle was impossible to hide from passersby during filming and was thus spoiled quite a bit, but those who do not follow filming as closely were likely on the edge of their seats for the duration of that scene.
The only criticism continues to be one of pacing with a lack of quick progress toward an end goal, though we do get our answer as to who is with Daryl when he returns to the church. We guessed it was Noah, and that the mid-season finale would be the group returning to rescue Carol and/or Beth, so that does seem to be panning out (though predictability does not bode well in this show in general). Eugene's confession not withstanding due to it being a direct comic reference, our last big "surprise" moment came early in the season with the Bob-B-Q so we're reminded of Season 4's pacing with several episodes dedicated to The Governor's back story leading to the best mid-season finale there's been to date.
Next week's sneak peeks show us more build up toward a hospital rescue operation and it seems we'll be touching base with the DC trip crew, too. As mentioned previously, a lot of fans grow weary of single-focus episodes so it will be nice to see more of the group in one. With only two episodes left for 2014 and a Season 4 mid-season finale to top, we're going to need some fireworks soon, but as always with our beloved show, we will always find a reason to love each episode even if we nitpick them.
www.WalkingDeadFamily.com
Everyone was excited to see the return of Daryl and Carol to our story line with the internet abuzz before, during, and after the airing. If it weren't obvious before, we're inclined to say it is now officially official: Daryl is the hands-down favorite character, rounding the stadium in his chariot with his banner flying high.
We start off catching back up with the pair in chase of the white-crossed car in the dark, with flashbacks of Carol's experiences between being booted from the prison group and the showdown at the O.K. Terminus Corral. There's not much new information here as the sequences are meant to show us Carol's emotional journey more than her physical one.
The episode is heavy on emotion in general, and we get to see more emotional range from both Carol and Daryl. Their relationship is evolving as are they as people in a post-prison camp life, and their 24 hour journey to find Beth gives ample opportunities to review that change. The trauma of losing the security of the prison is far reaching and continues to make itself apparent throughout this first half. Although it is important to explore those effects, we do hope the group is able to rebound in the back half and begin to move forward.
The "Walker Burritos" on the footbridge provided a certain comic relief especially combined with those fumbling around in the tents, bringing back memories of what camping is like after having one-too-many by the campfire. The van-off-the-overpass scene provided adequate tension and a feeling of certain doom though with Daryl in tow you can hardly expect total devastation. One simply does not kill a ZA Chuck Norris by merely dropping him 50 feet. Such a spectacle was impossible to hide from passersby during filming and was thus spoiled quite a bit, but those who do not follow filming as closely were likely on the edge of their seats for the duration of that scene.
The only criticism continues to be one of pacing with a lack of quick progress toward an end goal, though we do get our answer as to who is with Daryl when he returns to the church. We guessed it was Noah, and that the mid-season finale would be the group returning to rescue Carol and/or Beth, so that does seem to be panning out (though predictability does not bode well in this show in general). Eugene's confession not withstanding due to it being a direct comic reference, our last big "surprise" moment came early in the season with the Bob-B-Q so we're reminded of Season 4's pacing with several episodes dedicated to The Governor's back story leading to the best mid-season finale there's been to date.
Next week's sneak peeks show us more build up toward a hospital rescue operation and it seems we'll be touching base with the DC trip crew, too. As mentioned previously, a lot of fans grow weary of single-focus episodes so it will be nice to see more of the group in one. With only two episodes left for 2014 and a Season 4 mid-season finale to top, we're going to need some fireworks soon, but as always with our beloved show, we will always find a reason to love each episode even if we nitpick them.
www.WalkingDeadFamily.com
Monday, November 10, 2014
The Walking Dead: Season 5 Episode 5 WDF Review
Episode 5: "Self-Help"
Wow, it seems we barely got started and we're already closing in on the mid-season finale. Just three more episodes before the long, excruciating winter break.
True to the form this season has presented thus far, this episode focused entirely on the group on the bus en-route to DC... so yes, another DoD episode. We see flashbacks to give us history on Abraham's family (no surprise they were all killed) and find out that Abe and Rosita are hooking up in the steamiest sex scene we've seen since Season 3, prompting Chris Hardwick to coin the phrase "50 Shades of GrAbraham". As was spoiled by sneak-peeks weeks ago, fairly early on in the episode the group loses the bus in a violent crash and is left to find alternate transportation, at which point Eugene makes a startling confession that comic readers knew was coming. He is no scientist; he just used his higher-than-average intelligence (go nerds) to formulate a plan of survival that included convincing stronger people that they needed to protect him. Except for those of his old group that were killed in the process and placing some of our survivors in the path of harm in the process, it's actually a pretty good idea.
Maggie and Glenn are giving each other hope by speculating that Rick & crew reunited with Daryl and Carol in time to follow right behind them. To be honest, it would have been nice to see something of our main group. A lot of fans feel like this single-focus episode approach is too reminiscent of Season 3's dual-campus issues (wherein the episodes that were too focused on Woodbury bored a lot of the casual audience since those characters were not our emotional focus though they were necessary for the story). It does tend to slow the pacing though this episode did cover a lot of ground in story telling to help make up for that. After last week we heard a lot of people kvetch about how they didn't care if it could be setting us up for some big conflict or reveal at the mid-season, they just don't care enough about Beth to spend a whole episode on her and felt last week was a major let-down. We needed a pick-me-up which this episode provided by way of posing more questions although we're still anxious to catch up with the main group... what now? Eugene's confession nullifies the direction we've had since meeting Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita last season, so do we keep heading toward DC anyway? How do we get everyone reunited now that they're 20 miles apart and the plan has changed? There are a lot of loose ends to tie up before that can happen, not the least of which being that Morgan's still out there... somewhere.
Next week promises to be the one everyone's been waiting for... what happens to Daryl and Carol after they jump in the car and drive off. This is where we will make the most significant progress toward getting the group back together and headed toward a unified destination since Rick & crew are just waiting for them so they can leave to catch up with the DC bus. The sneak peeks are intriguing but likely full of red herrings, so we look forward to a compelling episode that again leaves us aching for more.
We blew in and out of Terminus so fast that the fall of the prison was really the last major jolt we really got (and the last major death with Hershel, Bob being a newer "redshirt" notwithstanding though upsetting), and that was almost a full season ago (mid-season 4 finale). One thing is for sure: something must be in the works for the mid-season finale to knock us out of our chairs that we don't see coming.
www.WalkingDeadFamily.com
Wow, it seems we barely got started and we're already closing in on the mid-season finale. Just three more episodes before the long, excruciating winter break.
True to the form this season has presented thus far, this episode focused entirely on the group on the bus en-route to DC... so yes, another DoD episode. We see flashbacks to give us history on Abraham's family (no surprise they were all killed) and find out that Abe and Rosita are hooking up in the steamiest sex scene we've seen since Season 3, prompting Chris Hardwick to coin the phrase "50 Shades of GrAbraham". As was spoiled by sneak-peeks weeks ago, fairly early on in the episode the group loses the bus in a violent crash and is left to find alternate transportation, at which point Eugene makes a startling confession that comic readers knew was coming. He is no scientist; he just used his higher-than-average intelligence (go nerds) to formulate a plan of survival that included convincing stronger people that they needed to protect him. Except for those of his old group that were killed in the process and placing some of our survivors in the path of harm in the process, it's actually a pretty good idea.
Maggie and Glenn are giving each other hope by speculating that Rick & crew reunited with Daryl and Carol in time to follow right behind them. To be honest, it would have been nice to see something of our main group. A lot of fans feel like this single-focus episode approach is too reminiscent of Season 3's dual-campus issues (wherein the episodes that were too focused on Woodbury bored a lot of the casual audience since those characters were not our emotional focus though they were necessary for the story). It does tend to slow the pacing though this episode did cover a lot of ground in story telling to help make up for that. After last week we heard a lot of people kvetch about how they didn't care if it could be setting us up for some big conflict or reveal at the mid-season, they just don't care enough about Beth to spend a whole episode on her and felt last week was a major let-down. We needed a pick-me-up which this episode provided by way of posing more questions although we're still anxious to catch up with the main group... what now? Eugene's confession nullifies the direction we've had since meeting Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita last season, so do we keep heading toward DC anyway? How do we get everyone reunited now that they're 20 miles apart and the plan has changed? There are a lot of loose ends to tie up before that can happen, not the least of which being that Morgan's still out there... somewhere.
Next week promises to be the one everyone's been waiting for... what happens to Daryl and Carol after they jump in the car and drive off. This is where we will make the most significant progress toward getting the group back together and headed toward a unified destination since Rick & crew are just waiting for them so they can leave to catch up with the DC bus. The sneak peeks are intriguing but likely full of red herrings, so we look forward to a compelling episode that again leaves us aching for more.
We blew in and out of Terminus so fast that the fall of the prison was really the last major jolt we really got (and the last major death with Hershel, Bob being a newer "redshirt" notwithstanding though upsetting), and that was almost a full season ago (mid-season 4 finale). One thing is for sure: something must be in the works for the mid-season finale to knock us out of our chairs that we don't see coming.
www.WalkingDeadFamily.com
Monday, November 3, 2014
The Walking Dead: Season 5 Episode 4 WDF Review
Episode 4: "Slabtown"
As promised in the preview from last week, this is entirely a "Bethisode", with Beth being the only previously known character included (except for a brief appearance at the end by Carol). We pick back up with Beth as she awakens in a hospital after being driven off in the car with the white crosses on the back.
Beth quickly learns she has been "savenapped" by a group of people who found her fighting off walkers after she ran to the road to wait for Daryl when they were overrun. They are lead by Dawn, a former Atlanta cop, and subservient to her is a doctor who attempts to treat those they find injured and in need of help... but for a price. Beth is promptly told that she has to 'pay them back' for her rescue & medical treatment by working as a "ward" in their hospital/commune. Yes, even in the ZA you have to wash dishes to pay for your lunch.
She meets another ward, Noah, who explains that he had been there for over a year and had yet to be given a pass to leave, at which point they formulate a plan to escape. During the escape attempt, Noah is injured but the last we see of him is his escape past the outer fences as Beth is apprehended. Back inside (presumably a couple days later), she's seen contemplating another revolt attempt just as Carol is brought in on a gurney unconscious.
The meat of the episode really lies within the exploration of yet another group of survivors and their hierarchy, an examination of yet another leadership style that appears to work on the surface but has too much of a gritty underbelly to last. One can't help but notice that in the past when these groups come across one or more of our band of survivors, they don't last long... we've seen it with Woodbury, Joe & crew, Terminus, and Gareth's hunters so far... so we can only project that they will eventually fall as well, whether that be at the hand of Beth (and now Carol) in their escape or the other survivors who come to rescue them.
The episode is quite slow paced and is designed specifically to pose more questions than it answers. Although the episode may be intended to bolster Beth's character development, those who dislike the character will feel it to be a bit of a hiccup in the buildup to the mid-season finale (though it is more likely to be laying the groundwork for it). The Beth-haters are just not interested in an entire episode dedicated to the character though past patterns suggest when a character is finally given their moment in the sun, it turns out to be their Swan Song. Don't take that as a cue to start celebrating, however, because it's even more likely to be Carol's death they're building up toward (with her bigger than life Terminus-Rescue Redemption).
Being already halfway to the mid-season finale (and the sneak peaks of next week seeming exclusive to the group headed toward DC) this seems to suggest that the mid-season finale may be the conclusion of this hospital story line, though if we're being honest we probably would rather have had that go down in 4. Since it wouldn't be good story telling to simply bash through every threat so quickly, we're sufficiently pacified by the promise of finding out how Carol got separated from Daryl and picked up by these goons, and who it is he's returned to the church with... though we're starting to doubt Carol made it back and are starting to put more money on Beth and Noah for that one, though it could also be the doctor, since the group has been without medical expertise since the fall of the prison.
Although it is much to the dismay of us and most of the female fans, This was another DoD episode and next week is likely to be the same. For those who still insist that Daryl gets more screen time than he should, this and the several episodes in Season 4 that were Devoid of Daryl should be remembered. He and Carol will have their own dedicated episode soon, but it may just be the 'last dance' for Caryl. We shall see!
www.WalkingDeadFamily.com
As promised in the preview from last week, this is entirely a "Bethisode", with Beth being the only previously known character included (except for a brief appearance at the end by Carol). We pick back up with Beth as she awakens in a hospital after being driven off in the car with the white crosses on the back.
Beth quickly learns she has been "savenapped" by a group of people who found her fighting off walkers after she ran to the road to wait for Daryl when they were overrun. They are lead by Dawn, a former Atlanta cop, and subservient to her is a doctor who attempts to treat those they find injured and in need of help... but for a price. Beth is promptly told that she has to 'pay them back' for her rescue & medical treatment by working as a "ward" in their hospital/commune. Yes, even in the ZA you have to wash dishes to pay for your lunch.
She meets another ward, Noah, who explains that he had been there for over a year and had yet to be given a pass to leave, at which point they formulate a plan to escape. During the escape attempt, Noah is injured but the last we see of him is his escape past the outer fences as Beth is apprehended. Back inside (presumably a couple days later), she's seen contemplating another revolt attempt just as Carol is brought in on a gurney unconscious.
The meat of the episode really lies within the exploration of yet another group of survivors and their hierarchy, an examination of yet another leadership style that appears to work on the surface but has too much of a gritty underbelly to last. One can't help but notice that in the past when these groups come across one or more of our band of survivors, they don't last long... we've seen it with Woodbury, Joe & crew, Terminus, and Gareth's hunters so far... so we can only project that they will eventually fall as well, whether that be at the hand of Beth (and now Carol) in their escape or the other survivors who come to rescue them.
The episode is quite slow paced and is designed specifically to pose more questions than it answers. Although the episode may be intended to bolster Beth's character development, those who dislike the character will feel it to be a bit of a hiccup in the buildup to the mid-season finale (though it is more likely to be laying the groundwork for it). The Beth-haters are just not interested in an entire episode dedicated to the character though past patterns suggest when a character is finally given their moment in the sun, it turns out to be their Swan Song. Don't take that as a cue to start celebrating, however, because it's even more likely to be Carol's death they're building up toward (with her bigger than life Terminus-Rescue Redemption).
Being already halfway to the mid-season finale (and the sneak peaks of next week seeming exclusive to the group headed toward DC) this seems to suggest that the mid-season finale may be the conclusion of this hospital story line, though if we're being honest we probably would rather have had that go down in 4. Since it wouldn't be good story telling to simply bash through every threat so quickly, we're sufficiently pacified by the promise of finding out how Carol got separated from Daryl and picked up by these goons, and who it is he's returned to the church with... though we're starting to doubt Carol made it back and are starting to put more money on Beth and Noah for that one, though it could also be the doctor, since the group has been without medical expertise since the fall of the prison.
Although it is much to the dismay of us and most of the female fans, This was another DoD episode and next week is likely to be the same. For those who still insist that Daryl gets more screen time than he should, this and the several episodes in Season 4 that were Devoid of Daryl should be remembered. He and Carol will have their own dedicated episode soon, but it may just be the 'last dance' for Caryl. We shall see!
www.WalkingDeadFamily.com
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
The Walking Dead: Season 5 Episode 3 WDF Review
Episode 3: "Four Walls and a Roof"
This episode is a smidge predictable though necessarily so. We needed to see the conclusion of Bob's storyline, and there would have been no point to dragging it out. He was already in pain from having become part of the Termite's snackbob bar, and it would have been needlessly difficult to watch that get worse. But let's be honest, we all knew Bob was a redshirt since his character development had been minimal. In fact, those seem to be becoming more common.
Just FYI, in case you've never heard the term:
Redshirt:
A "redshirt" is a stock character in fiction who dies soon after being introduced. The term originates from the original Star Trek (1966–69) television series in which the redshirted security personnel frequently die during episodes. Redshirt deaths are often used to dramatize the potential peril that the main characters face.
Gareth's proclamation that it was their group leaving the marks on the trees seemed a bit forced-placed, though it was nice to learn they were the ones who did that... but now what of Morgan who was following the marks? Dun dun DUUUUNNNN!!!! Perhaps he's been lagging back watching all of this unfold until he decides Rick is a good guy again and decides to join them. Perhaps he has chosen to follow the group going to DC and saves them from the inevitable peril they will face. We can only hope someone will, but if there was anything disappointing about this episode it was that the group found itself split up again so soon.
The one thing that could be said to be surprising was the abrupt end to the "hunters", with Rick dispatching Gareth with the red handled machete as promised. That's too bad... Andrew J. West was as cute a little cuddlewump as any villain you'd ever want to see, but again, although we expected his storyline to last a bit longer to provide a significant threat for the season, he, too, was ultimately brought in as a redshirt. The one thing we all saw coming was that Rick & crew would return at the last moment to save those who had remained in the church. There wasn't any other way to play that.
This one makes us coin the phrase "DoD", which no longer means "Department of Defense", but "Devoid of Daryl" as he and Carol are still off on their Bethcapade. The episode ends with Daryl stepping out of the woods to reveal he has returned (and brought unknown survivors with him)... so we are assured that next week we will be catching up with Beth and getting to see Daryl and Carol's attempt to rescue her, but keeping us in the dark about whom Daryl has arrived back at the church with was a good teaser to end this episode with.
All in all this is a solid episode that is well paced and certainly not boring though there are predictable elements to it, and was perfectly placed to help amp back up the tension after a much slower paced episode 2, without risking overwhelming the audience before any major happenings to come. It leaves enough for speculation while continuing to answer other burning questions that the viewer feels compelled to await next week's episode with baited breath but satisfied at the same time, which is something past episodes (from other seasons) have lacked in. It would seem #TWDFamily has hit a stride that we hope to see more of.
www.WalkingDeadFamily.com
This episode is a smidge predictable though necessarily so. We needed to see the conclusion of Bob's storyline, and there would have been no point to dragging it out. He was already in pain from having become part of the Termite's snack
Just FYI, in case you've never heard the term:
Redshirt:
A "redshirt" is a stock character in fiction who dies soon after being introduced. The term originates from the original Star Trek (1966–69) television series in which the redshirted security personnel frequently die during episodes. Redshirt deaths are often used to dramatize the potential peril that the main characters face.
Gareth's proclamation that it was their group leaving the marks on the trees seemed a bit forced-placed, though it was nice to learn they were the ones who did that... but now what of Morgan who was following the marks? Dun dun DUUUUNNNN!!!! Perhaps he's been lagging back watching all of this unfold until he decides Rick is a good guy again and decides to join them. Perhaps he has chosen to follow the group going to DC and saves them from the inevitable peril they will face. We can only hope someone will, but if there was anything disappointing about this episode it was that the group found itself split up again so soon.
The one thing that could be said to be surprising was the abrupt end to the "hunters", with Rick dispatching Gareth with the red handled machete as promised. That's too bad... Andrew J. West was as cute a little cuddlewump as any villain you'd ever want to see, but again, although we expected his storyline to last a bit longer to provide a significant threat for the season, he, too, was ultimately brought in as a redshirt. The one thing we all saw coming was that Rick & crew would return at the last moment to save those who had remained in the church. There wasn't any other way to play that.
This one makes us coin the phrase "DoD", which no longer means "Department of Defense", but "Devoid of Daryl" as he and Carol are still off on their Bethcapade. The episode ends with Daryl stepping out of the woods to reveal he has returned (and brought unknown survivors with him)... so we are assured that next week we will be catching up with Beth and getting to see Daryl and Carol's attempt to rescue her, but keeping us in the dark about whom Daryl has arrived back at the church with was a good teaser to end this episode with.
All in all this is a solid episode that is well paced and certainly not boring though there are predictable elements to it, and was perfectly placed to help amp back up the tension after a much slower paced episode 2, without risking overwhelming the audience before any major happenings to come. It leaves enough for speculation while continuing to answer other burning questions that the viewer feels compelled to await next week's episode with baited breath but satisfied at the same time, which is something past episodes (from other seasons) have lacked in. It would seem #TWDFamily has hit a stride that we hope to see more of.
www.WalkingDeadFamily.com
Monday, October 20, 2014
The Walking Dead: Season 5 Episode 2 WDF Review
Season 5 Episode 2: "Strangers"
And so we catch back up to the merry band of survivors as they head off toward their next adventure. This episode is a much slower pace (one could hardly expect the frenetic pace of the premiere to endure without complete emotional exhaustion), and there is always a certain joy in watching the group get to take a bit of a breather. With an obvious threat absent for most of the episode, emotionally it is not unlike the reprieve of when the group enjoys the downtime of the relative safety and food stores of the CDC, way back in Season 1... just before things went off the rails again.
This episode took serious hints from the CDC sequences, hitting several of the same beats. There is the introduction of a new character (Father Gabriel Stokes played by Seth Gilliam, à la Dr. Jenner) and hints of something ominous brewing. And yes, there is a "big explosion" at the end, just not quite as literal.
The episode is heavy on character development, including a couple moments of humor and ruminations on the past. After such a hard hitting premiere, by the halfway point one might be wondering if this is a filler episode, but there are two major developments soon to pass... one of which is sure to shock even the most hardened fan. Without saying too much we'll just say that "Poor Bob" was trending on Twitter for a good while afterward.
So in true TWD style, the moment we get a little comfortable and feel a little bit "safe", the rug gets snatched out from under us. Another two-thumbs-up effort for team #TWDFamily.
WalkingDeadFamily.com
And so we catch back up to the merry band of survivors as they head off toward their next adventure. This episode is a much slower pace (one could hardly expect the frenetic pace of the premiere to endure without complete emotional exhaustion), and there is always a certain joy in watching the group get to take a bit of a breather. With an obvious threat absent for most of the episode, emotionally it is not unlike the reprieve of when the group enjoys the downtime of the relative safety and food stores of the CDC, way back in Season 1... just before things went off the rails again.
This episode took serious hints from the CDC sequences, hitting several of the same beats. There is the introduction of a new character (Father Gabriel Stokes played by Seth Gilliam, à la Dr. Jenner) and hints of something ominous brewing. And yes, there is a "big explosion" at the end, just not quite as literal.
The episode is heavy on character development, including a couple moments of humor and ruminations on the past. After such a hard hitting premiere, by the halfway point one might be wondering if this is a filler episode, but there are two major developments soon to pass... one of which is sure to shock even the most hardened fan. Without saying too much we'll just say that "Poor Bob" was trending on Twitter for a good while afterward.
So in true TWD style, the moment we get a little comfortable and feel a little bit "safe", the rug gets snatched out from under us. Another two-thumbs-up effort for team #TWDFamily.
WalkingDeadFamily.com
Monday, October 13, 2014
The Walking Dead: Season 5 Episode 1 WDF Review
We here at WDF are once again going to try to keep up with episode reviews as Season Five progresses, though we're going to do them in a slightly different format. Instead of a play by play that we're sure can be a tedious read after you've already watched, we'll give you a more standard review format. This way, it's less spoilery (although not completely devoid of spoilers) for those who haven't had the chance to watch yet.
Season 5 Episode 1: No Sanctuary
As promised, the episode opens with our friends still stuck in that train car they were imprisoned in at the end of Season 4. Straight away, we're treated to a flashback of the current Terminus leadership locked in train cars themselves, talking about how they led baddies there. Oops, looks like they previously lured in a few nasty bears with their "Sanctuary for All" signs. While the flashbacks were very welcomed (we desperately needed to know the back story on the Termites) and YAY TEAM for not leaving us in the dark there, one can't help but wonder if there could've been a more graceful way to go about it than "Then" and "Now" titles. Regardless, just a small gripe about otherwise spot-on segments.
Everyone knows by now there wouldn't be a Season 5 (much less 6, congrats team on being renewed) if the group didn't make it out of Terminus alive, so it's not so much of a spoiler to say they do, and without a single casualty as was predicted (a major death right out of the gate would have spoiled the long awaited reunion, particularly since it's just been a few "tv days" since Hershel died). Carol finally gets her day as the hero which did a lot to rehab her character after last season's Stabby Carol. It's funny how fans can predict things so well even if they seem unlikely; many were predicting she would ride in on her white horse to save the group at the last minute of the prison conflict... she didn't do that but she did eventually come to the rescue in a big, booming way. Rick's question to her afterward ("Did you do that") was amusingly slightly reminiscent of Steve Urkel while underlining the fact that even in this ZA world, one person can still make a surprisingly huge impact. The chaos she caused was impressive to say the least, yet worked in a believable way.
The emotional reunions were expertly played; this coming from a pack of people who don't like to overly praise actors. The sense of relief and joy emanated from Reedus' face and body language, mirrored again by Lincoln in the reuniting of the Grimes family and briefly by Sasha and Tyreese. By the end of the episode, we not only understood what had just happened and why, but felt an overwhelming satisfaction. One could almost walk away imagining our heroes linking arms and trotting off into the sunset together, and be happy with that conclusion to the series... but then we're baited into what's soon to come by the reappearance of a character who is incredibly beloved for the short amount of screen time he's had. MORGAN! His long rumored return is here! We are confident in saying we were not the only ones gleefully cheering (and loudly, to the chagrin of our neighbors) at his dramatic unmasking.
This episode was very well paced, with what wasn't jam packed full of action being more than intriguing enough to hold just as much attention as the scenes that were. You might worry that they can keep up to this standard, but we have the faith. It was overall a very fulfilling premiere, worthy of it's conclusion to a cliffhanger yet providing of sufficient nuggets to chew on for next week. We can't wait to see what's in store for our band of survivors next!
A note to any powers that be that stumble upon this: The complete synopsis of this episode was leaked prior to the airing. It was taken with a grain of salt since those are so often faked, but it was none-the-less a completely accurate play by play. Time to take out the branch trimmers and take off some fingers!
Season 5 Episode 1: No Sanctuary
As promised, the episode opens with our friends still stuck in that train car they were imprisoned in at the end of Season 4. Straight away, we're treated to a flashback of the current Terminus leadership locked in train cars themselves, talking about how they led baddies there. Oops, looks like they previously lured in a few nasty bears with their "Sanctuary for All" signs. While the flashbacks were very welcomed (we desperately needed to know the back story on the Termites) and YAY TEAM for not leaving us in the dark there, one can't help but wonder if there could've been a more graceful way to go about it than "Then" and "Now" titles. Regardless, just a small gripe about otherwise spot-on segments.
Everyone knows by now there wouldn't be a Season 5 (much less 6, congrats team on being renewed) if the group didn't make it out of Terminus alive, so it's not so much of a spoiler to say they do, and without a single casualty as was predicted (a major death right out of the gate would have spoiled the long awaited reunion, particularly since it's just been a few "tv days" since Hershel died). Carol finally gets her day as the hero which did a lot to rehab her character after last season's Stabby Carol. It's funny how fans can predict things so well even if they seem unlikely; many were predicting she would ride in on her white horse to save the group at the last minute of the prison conflict... she didn't do that but she did eventually come to the rescue in a big, booming way. Rick's question to her afterward ("Did you do that") was amusingly slightly reminiscent of Steve Urkel while underlining the fact that even in this ZA world, one person can still make a surprisingly huge impact. The chaos she caused was impressive to say the least, yet worked in a believable way.
The emotional reunions were expertly played; this coming from a pack of people who don't like to overly praise actors. The sense of relief and joy emanated from Reedus' face and body language, mirrored again by Lincoln in the reuniting of the Grimes family and briefly by Sasha and Tyreese. By the end of the episode, we not only understood what had just happened and why, but felt an overwhelming satisfaction. One could almost walk away imagining our heroes linking arms and trotting off into the sunset together, and be happy with that conclusion to the series... but then we're baited into what's soon to come by the reappearance of a character who is incredibly beloved for the short amount of screen time he's had. MORGAN! His long rumored return is here! We are confident in saying we were not the only ones gleefully cheering (and loudly, to the chagrin of our neighbors) at his dramatic unmasking.
This episode was very well paced, with what wasn't jam packed full of action being more than intriguing enough to hold just as much attention as the scenes that were. You might worry that they can keep up to this standard, but we have the faith. It was overall a very fulfilling premiere, worthy of it's conclusion to a cliffhanger yet providing of sufficient nuggets to chew on for next week. We can't wait to see what's in store for our band of survivors next!
A note to any powers that be that stumble upon this: The complete synopsis of this episode was leaked prior to the airing. It was taken with a grain of salt since those are so often faked, but it was none-the-less a completely accurate play by play. Time to take out the branch trimmers and take off some fingers!
Thursday, October 9, 2014
It's Aliiiiiiiiiiiiivvvveee!!!!
With the return of Season 5, we welcome all our loyal followers back into the TWD swing of things with a rare Sunday chat party!
To celebrate the Season 5 premiere, we will be hosting a scheduled chat beginning one hour before the airing SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2014, lasting at least one hour afterward. Come wait in anticipation with us and then chat about it afterward here at the WalkingDeadFamily.com Premier Walking Dead Chat Room!
To celebrate the Season 5 premiere, we will be hosting a scheduled chat beginning one hour before the airing SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2014, lasting at least one hour afterward. Come wait in anticipation with us and then chat about it afterward here at the WalkingDeadFamily.com Premier Walking Dead Chat Room!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Get Yourself Geared Up for February 9th!
The Walking Dead returns for the second half of Season 4 on February 9! For those who are counting, that's just 17 days away. It's been a long hiatus, but we're finally about to find out what happened to our beloved survivors after the long awaited prison conflict!
We apologize for never getting to post a full review of the mid-season finale; things in our own worlds got a bit crazy just as TWD was quieting down. We chose to leave it to your viewing and opinion, but we'll pick back up with our reviews in the back half! So, to get you caught up and ready to check back in with Officer Friendly and crew, here are your viewing options:
Episode Quick Summaries:
Episode 4.1: Days Gone Bye
We are back with the prison crew and what remained of the Woodbury survivors several months after the initial conflict with The Governor (after which The Gov killed off his entire "army" except Karen who survived). They have cultivated the prison grounds, established a leadership council, and formed a community. It is established that the walker hordes keep pushing in on the fences, and that Karen and Tyreese are now a couple. Part of the group go on a disastrous supply run while Rick comes across a stranger in the woods (who ends up dead when she tries to feed him to her husband who is now just a walker's head). Carl catches Carol giving the kids 'survival lessons'. Patrick (one of the children from Woodbury) and one of the pigs kept for food die of an unknown illness.
Episode 4.2: Infected
Someone is feeding the walkers at the fences. Patrick reanimates and attacks Cell Block D. After the attack, the group clears the prison of the threat and Carol is entrusted with the care of two young girls (Mika and Lizzy) now orphaned by the death of their father in the attack. The group begins to isolate the ill, including Karen and former Woodburian David. Michonne has a mysteriously emotional moment holding Judith. Rick, figuring the pigs to be lost to the illness as a food source, uses them to draw the walkers away from the fences. Tyreese finds the bodies of Karen and David outside, burnt and still smoking.
Episode 4.3: Isolation
"Dr. S" (a Woodbury survivor) and Hershel are tending to the ill while outside, Tyreese, Daryl, and Rick get into an emotional scuffle about finding who killed Karen and David. The sick are confined to Cell Block A while the children are taken into quarantine. Glenn and Sasha both take gravely ill. Daryl takes a group on a medicine run that goes South fast, as the group has to flee their car and head out on foot. Carol admits to Rick that she was the one who killed Karen and David.
Episode 4.4: Indifference
The group on the medicine run bump into even more trouble before making into the building to retrieve the supplies they need. Bob (a survivor previously established to have been picked up on the road by Daryl) causes issues as he's collected alcohol to satisfy his alcoholism instead of medical supplies. Rick and Carol go out on a run for food and other supplies, running into a young couple who offer to help them search but who quickly disappear and are presumed dead. Rick provides Carol with basic supplies and a vehicle, and tells her she can't come back to the prison with him.
Episode 4:5: Internment
The situation with the illness at the prison is at critical mass. This episode focuses heavily on Hershel tending to the sick while Dr. S gets sicker and dies. Glenn and Sasha are both near death. Rick returns and pulls Carl from quarantine to help fortify the fence that is about to give way against a walker horde; they mow them down with gunfire just as they break through the fences. Maggie rushes in to help Hershel deal with the survivors that have died and turned. The group on the supply run return in the nick of time to provide Glenn and Sasha with the medication they need to stabilize. Rick only tells Hershel of his banning Carol from the prison.
Episode 4:6: Live Bait
Episodes 6 and 7 revisit The Governor and trace his steps since the initial conflict at the prison. It is revealed that Martinez and Shumpert abandoned him on the road. On the road, he chooses the name "Brian Heriot" as his new alias just before he collapses in front of an apartment building and is taken in by two younger women (Lily and Tara) with a dying father and a young daughter. "Brian" helps the women in any way they ask (establishing him as a new type of man), and he forms an affection for Lily, the older of the two (the mother of the girl). Once the old man dies, the four take off in his delivery truck looking for a better place to live. The Governor and Lily consummate their relationship the night before they are overrun by a horde. While running away (and carrying the girl, Megan, in his arms), "Brian" falls into a walker pit and is found by Martinez.
Episode 4.7: Dead Weight
The Governor and his new family are trying to fit in with the group founded and run by Martinez, who live in a group of RVs and tents off the road in the woods. The Governor is trying to establish a relationship with Megan, and Martinez is trying to establish his authority over him. A group of men invite him to go on a run with them, but during the run The Governor is shown to still exhibit some of his old ruthless ways. Once back at camp, it is revealed that Shumpert was killed on the road, just before "Brian" secretly feeds Martinez to the walkers in the pit. A survivor, Pete, claims the leadership role once Martinez is discovered dead. Brian is again taken out on a run after which he realizes the men of the group are unstable and decides it's time to leave, but they are stopped on the road by a walker obstacle and return. Back at camp the next day, Brian kills Pete and assumes leadership and eludes toward taking a new place by force. The episode ends with The Governor peering through the woods at Michonne and Hershel outside the prison fence burning walker bodies.
Episode 4.8: Too Far Gone
The Governor delivers a rousing speech to the remaining survivors at camp about taking over a prison where they will be safe and have supplies, and informs them that he has taken two hostages from their group to help facilitate the takeover. The group reluctantly agrees to attack. Inside the prison, Tyreese has found a dissected rodent just before an explosion rocks the prison. The Governor's group has shown up outside the prison fences with several vehicles flanking a tank, and fired a shot into a guard tower. Calling Rick down to talk to him at the fence, The Governor reveals that he has Michonne and Hershel in his custody, giving them until the end of the day to vacate the prison peacefully before he will kill the pair. In the process, The Governor becomes enraged and uses Michonne's katana to slice into Hershel's neck... at which point Rick fires on him and the battle begins. The Governor emotionally beheads Hershel who has managed to crawl away between the tank and a vehicle. In the middle of the fire fight, Lily (who had stayed behind at the camp with Megan) arrives holding Megan's lifeless body in her arms as she has been killed by a walker back at camp. Tara hides from the fight and escapes while the rest of The Governor's new army is killed one by one by the prison crew. The Governor and Rick get into a hand-to-hand battle that is ended by Michonne running her katana through The Governor's back. Splintered in different areas of the prison, the prison group flees in different directions in small groups (all on foot except for the prison bus loaded with Glenn and the other sick survivors) as a wounded Rick and Carl discover Judith's car seat empty and bloody before escaping into the woods.
We apologize for never getting to post a full review of the mid-season finale; things in our own worlds got a bit crazy just as TWD was quieting down. We chose to leave it to your viewing and opinion, but we'll pick back up with our reviews in the back half! So, to get you caught up and ready to check back in with Officer Friendly and crew, here are your viewing options:
- Comcast subscribers can watch all eight of the first Season 4 episodes on On Demand currently. Just check your On Demand listings under the AMC network title to find it.
- The AMC website currently has all eight episodes in their full glory on their website here, though this is likely to be restricted to specific geographical areas.
- If you're interweb savvy enough, you can usually find a "pirated" copy of the episodes online, but since this isn't exactly legal we can't really endorse this method. However, to protect our visitors we do ask that if you're unsure, don't do it. Those websites can be shifty and may give you a virus if you're not careful and/or know what to look for and avoid.
Episode Quick Summaries:
Episode 4.1: Days Gone Bye
We are back with the prison crew and what remained of the Woodbury survivors several months after the initial conflict with The Governor (after which The Gov killed off his entire "army" except Karen who survived). They have cultivated the prison grounds, established a leadership council, and formed a community. It is established that the walker hordes keep pushing in on the fences, and that Karen and Tyreese are now a couple. Part of the group go on a disastrous supply run while Rick comes across a stranger in the woods (who ends up dead when she tries to feed him to her husband who is now just a walker's head). Carl catches Carol giving the kids 'survival lessons'. Patrick (one of the children from Woodbury) and one of the pigs kept for food die of an unknown illness.
Episode 4.2: Infected
Someone is feeding the walkers at the fences. Patrick reanimates and attacks Cell Block D. After the attack, the group clears the prison of the threat and Carol is entrusted with the care of two young girls (Mika and Lizzy) now orphaned by the death of their father in the attack. The group begins to isolate the ill, including Karen and former Woodburian David. Michonne has a mysteriously emotional moment holding Judith. Rick, figuring the pigs to be lost to the illness as a food source, uses them to draw the walkers away from the fences. Tyreese finds the bodies of Karen and David outside, burnt and still smoking.
Episode 4.3: Isolation
"Dr. S" (a Woodbury survivor) and Hershel are tending to the ill while outside, Tyreese, Daryl, and Rick get into an emotional scuffle about finding who killed Karen and David. The sick are confined to Cell Block A while the children are taken into quarantine. Glenn and Sasha both take gravely ill. Daryl takes a group on a medicine run that goes South fast, as the group has to flee their car and head out on foot. Carol admits to Rick that she was the one who killed Karen and David.
Episode 4.4: Indifference
The group on the medicine run bump into even more trouble before making into the building to retrieve the supplies they need. Bob (a survivor previously established to have been picked up on the road by Daryl) causes issues as he's collected alcohol to satisfy his alcoholism instead of medical supplies. Rick and Carol go out on a run for food and other supplies, running into a young couple who offer to help them search but who quickly disappear and are presumed dead. Rick provides Carol with basic supplies and a vehicle, and tells her she can't come back to the prison with him.
Episode 4:5: Internment
The situation with the illness at the prison is at critical mass. This episode focuses heavily on Hershel tending to the sick while Dr. S gets sicker and dies. Glenn and Sasha are both near death. Rick returns and pulls Carl from quarantine to help fortify the fence that is about to give way against a walker horde; they mow them down with gunfire just as they break through the fences. Maggie rushes in to help Hershel deal with the survivors that have died and turned. The group on the supply run return in the nick of time to provide Glenn and Sasha with the medication they need to stabilize. Rick only tells Hershel of his banning Carol from the prison.
Episode 4:6: Live Bait
Episodes 6 and 7 revisit The Governor and trace his steps since the initial conflict at the prison. It is revealed that Martinez and Shumpert abandoned him on the road. On the road, he chooses the name "Brian Heriot" as his new alias just before he collapses in front of an apartment building and is taken in by two younger women (Lily and Tara) with a dying father and a young daughter. "Brian" helps the women in any way they ask (establishing him as a new type of man), and he forms an affection for Lily, the older of the two (the mother of the girl). Once the old man dies, the four take off in his delivery truck looking for a better place to live. The Governor and Lily consummate their relationship the night before they are overrun by a horde. While running away (and carrying the girl, Megan, in his arms), "Brian" falls into a walker pit and is found by Martinez.
Episode 4.7: Dead Weight
The Governor and his new family are trying to fit in with the group founded and run by Martinez, who live in a group of RVs and tents off the road in the woods. The Governor is trying to establish a relationship with Megan, and Martinez is trying to establish his authority over him. A group of men invite him to go on a run with them, but during the run The Governor is shown to still exhibit some of his old ruthless ways. Once back at camp, it is revealed that Shumpert was killed on the road, just before "Brian" secretly feeds Martinez to the walkers in the pit. A survivor, Pete, claims the leadership role once Martinez is discovered dead. Brian is again taken out on a run after which he realizes the men of the group are unstable and decides it's time to leave, but they are stopped on the road by a walker obstacle and return. Back at camp the next day, Brian kills Pete and assumes leadership and eludes toward taking a new place by force. The episode ends with The Governor peering through the woods at Michonne and Hershel outside the prison fence burning walker bodies.
Episode 4.8: Too Far Gone
The Governor delivers a rousing speech to the remaining survivors at camp about taking over a prison where they will be safe and have supplies, and informs them that he has taken two hostages from their group to help facilitate the takeover. The group reluctantly agrees to attack. Inside the prison, Tyreese has found a dissected rodent just before an explosion rocks the prison. The Governor's group has shown up outside the prison fences with several vehicles flanking a tank, and fired a shot into a guard tower. Calling Rick down to talk to him at the fence, The Governor reveals that he has Michonne and Hershel in his custody, giving them until the end of the day to vacate the prison peacefully before he will kill the pair. In the process, The Governor becomes enraged and uses Michonne's katana to slice into Hershel's neck... at which point Rick fires on him and the battle begins. The Governor emotionally beheads Hershel who has managed to crawl away between the tank and a vehicle. In the middle of the fire fight, Lily (who had stayed behind at the camp with Megan) arrives holding Megan's lifeless body in her arms as she has been killed by a walker back at camp. Tara hides from the fight and escapes while the rest of The Governor's new army is killed one by one by the prison crew. The Governor and Rick get into a hand-to-hand battle that is ended by Michonne running her katana through The Governor's back. Splintered in different areas of the prison, the prison group flees in different directions in small groups (all on foot except for the prison bus loaded with Glenn and the other sick survivors) as a wounded Rick and Carl discover Judith's car seat empty and bloody before escaping into the woods.
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