What’s more Christmas than some good old cheer song about fighting love from the creators of South Park.
Let’s Fighting Love
I have a wonderful penis
There is hairs on my balls
Is that the sound of a baby monkey?
No! Ninjas are here!
Hey hey let’s go! Getting in a fight!
The important thing is to protect my balls!
I am badass, so let’s fighting
Let’s fighting love!
Let’s fighting love!
This song is a little stupid
It doesn’t make any sense
English is all fucked up
But that’s ok, we do it all the time!
Hey hey let’s go! Getting in a fight!
The important thing is to protect my balls!
I am badass, so let’s fighting
Let’s fighting love!
Let’s fighting love!
“We’re not too far gone. We get to come back.” — Rick Grimes
[some spoilers]
The Walking Dead had it’s mid-season finale over this past Sunday and like previous mid-season and season-ending finales of the past three season this one went for the gut-punch. Season 4 of the show has seen a major improvement in how the writers were finally treating some of the major characters on the show.
The first five episodes were pretty much using a plague situation within the prison community to explore the growth of some of the lead roles in the show. We saw how Rick tried to escape the burdens of leadership by attempting to just be a farmer and a good role-model for his son Carl. It didn’t necessarily work out the way he wanted it to. In the end, Rick finally realized that leadership was what the group needed from him and what he was really best suited for.
We saw a major character shift in one of the show’s less realized characters in the past meek Carol Pelletier. This season we see how she has grown into becoming just as much a cold, calculating survivor as The Governor, but still retaining some of the humanity the latter seems to have lost when the zombie apocalypse happened to the world. It was a surprise to see Carol in such a new light. A person who would do anything to protect the group with special attention to the young children — especially two young girls — who have survived this far into the zombie apocalypse.
Then we had Hershel finally get to have his time in the limelight. Episode 5 has been a near-unanimous choice as the strongest episode of the first half of the season and nothing about the mid-season finale changes that. That’s how good “Interment” really was in the overall scheme of this new season’s first half. We saw Hershel finally become the show’s moral center but one that didn’t have the rigidity of ideals that Dale had. Hershel kept his humanity but also knew that this new world meant having to put one’s life on the line and not just pay lip-service to one’s ideals. I know that Dale would’ve done the same, but we never truly saw him put it all out there. He was great with the speeches, but the writers could never have him act on them. With Hershel they were able to reset the show’s moral compass and write the role properly.
The last two episode saw the return of The Governor. It was a peculiar two-parter which focused only on the return of Season 3’s main villain. Scott M. Gimple and his crew of writers tried to dial back the cartoonish way the character had become a villain by the end of Season 3. They tried to put the character back on the road to redemption. They even gave him a new surrogate family with a young girl who looked eerily like his previous daughter pre-zombie. Yet, while the attempt was an interesting one the character arrived full-circle to the very Governor we first met in the early episodes of Season 3. He wasn’t as mustache-twirling evil that he had become by the end of last season, but that redemption road that episode 6 and 7 was all about ended up being a red herring.
Now, we come to the mid-season finally which literally reset’s the finale of season 3. It was a finale that was underwhelming at best. The war between Rick and the Governor never truly materialized. This was finally rectified with the arrival of the Governor and his new band of camp followers but this time he has a tank. It’s a scene straight out of the comics and it was one that readers and fans of the books have been waiting for years to happen.
“Too Far Gone” marks a turning point for the series in that we finally leave another fixed location but do so with some major characters never to return. It was an episode that started off like a sizzle reel of every complaint detractors have about the show. Dialogue that went nowhere and just seemed to spin the episode’s wheels to fill time. Yet, as the episode progressed the entirety of the first half’s story-arcs began to take shape.
Rick was willing to share the prison with his worst enemy. He wasn’t too far gone that he would put himself as innocent of doing some heinous things to survive. He might not like the Governor, but for the sake of both groups not killing each other he would swallow his pride and accept everyone. The prison has room for everyone and the didn’t need to interact. It’s a major character growth for Rick who always saw his group as the good guys in any conflict. But like any leader he was getting tired of the battles that hurt only the survivors. The real threat were still the zombies who were slowly gathering outside. Hershel’s reaction to finally seeing Rick realize that one didn’t have to sacrifice their humanity to survive in this new world was one of the most poignant scenes in the series to date.
What followed it moment’s later would become one of the most heart-wrenching scenes of the series and one fans of the books were dreading to see.
Hershel was the MVP of this season’s first half and it was only appropriate that he went out in such a memorable, albeit very gruesome manner. It’s not often we see someone decapitated on any tv show. What had been an episode that threatened to meander just the way the finale of season 3 ended up doing instead became a final 20-minutes of intense action that saw both groups fail to hold onto the prison and the survivors scattered to all points of the compass. In the comics, this particular story-arc saw Lori and Judith die just when readers thought they were about to be safe from the battle. With Lori already dead a full season ago the only question which remained during this mid-season finale was whether the writers would actually pull off the unthinkable and do the same to tv version of Judith.
Children have never been seen a sacred cows on this show, yet infants seemed to remain safe. The episode ends with the question of whether Judith is dead or alive hanging in the air. It’s to the visceral power that this show brings to the table that peope will wait the near to three months of hiatus before the show returns of the second half of season 4. The show will remain one that’s obsessed over by the general population while derided by a minority who have valid complaints about it.
“Too Far Gone” could almost be the motto of this show. Any sort of major change on how the show’s stories has been told might be too late to implement. The fans like the show for it’s violence, gore and the soap opera stories. It’s not perfect television, but it is television which seems to have grabbed, caught and held the attention of not just the American tv viewing public but the global tv viewing public. Maybe, it’s just time to just make the that decision each viewer has to make. Either stay on the ride and hold on until the rollercoaster ends or jump off now and forever hold their peace.
Drive Angry came out in early 2011 and it was one of those films which everyone thought was going to flop and flop hard. It did flop like a dying carp on a desert dune, but it was also one of the most fun flicks of the year. People just didn’t get what the film was about and trying to do. I, for one, was of the minority that got “it”.
This film starring Nicolas Cage going the subdued crazy route had so many funny and WTF sequences that it was difficult just to pick one, but pick one I shall.
I think the sequence where William Fichtner’s supernatural bounty hunter, The Accountant, chasing and assisting the undead John Milton on his vengeance ride against a Satanic cult leader, and to the tune of the KC and The Sunshine Band’s “That The Way (I Like It)” classic song was a major favorite. It emphasized just how over-the-top Drive Angry turned out to be, but in a fun and hilarious way. William Fichtner just chews the scenery in this scene. I also like how Tom Atkins, himself a veteran of grindhouse flicks, matches Fichtner chew for chew.
Yes, I agree with the philosophy of one Issei Hyodo of the anime series High School DxD. This is just one of over 200+ anime titles which were picked to comprise the 5-minute running time of the latest “AMV of the Day”.
“Animegraphy 2013” by qyll pretty much takes every anime title that is currently showing in the year 2013 and puts selected scenes into the video. This is quite a feat considering that some anime titles appear more than just once and for more than a second. I like how the video shows an early form of anime with 1963’s Astro Boy as a sharp contrast to how anime looks like now 50 years later.
Anime sure has grown since these last 50 years.
Anime:A Certain Scientific Railgun S, Accel World EX, Ace Of Diamond, Ai Mai Mi Aiura, AKB0048: Next Stage, Aku No Hana Amnesia, Ano Hi Mita Hana No Namae Wo Bokutachi Wa Mada Shiranai. Movie, Arata Kangatari, Arpeggio Of Blue Steel, Arve Rezzle: Kikaijikake No Yosetachi, Astro Boy, Shingeki no Kyojin, Aura: Maryuuinkouga Saigo No Tatakai (Movie), Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman, Berserk The Golden Age Ac Lll – Descent BlazBlue: Alter Memory, Blood Lad Blue Exorcist (Movie), Boku Wa Tomodachi Ga Sukunai Next, Brother’s Conflict Buki Yo Saraba (Movie), Cardfight!! Vanguard: Link Joker-Hen, Chihayafuru 2, Chitose Get You!!, Chokotan! Code:Breaker, Coppelion, Corpse Party: Tortured Souls – Bougyakusareta Tamashii No Jukyou, Cuticle Tantei Inaba, D.C.III ~ Da Capo III ~, Dakara Boku Wa H Ga Dekinai, Danganronpa The Animation, Dansai Burni No Crime Edge, Dareka No Manazashi Date A Live, DD Hokuto No Ken (2013), Death Billiards, Devil Survivor 2 The Animation, Diabolik Lovers, Dokidoki! Precure, Dragonball Z Battle Of The Gods Ebiten: Kouritsu Ebisugawa Koukou Tenmonbu, Encouragement Of Climb, Fairy Tail, Fantasista Doll, Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma☆Illya Free! Freezing Vibration, Futari Wa Milky Holmes, Galilei Donna, Gambo (Movie), Kotonoha no Niwa, Gargantia On The Verdurous Planet, Gatchaman Crowds Genei Wo Kakeru Taiyou Genshiken Nidaime, Ghost In The Shell: Arise (Movie), Gifuu Doudou!!: Kanetsugu To Keiji, Gingitsune, Gintama Girls Und Panzer Specials Gj-Bu Golden Time, Gundam Build Fighters, Haitai Nanafa 2nd Season, Haiyore! Nyaruko-San W, Hajime No Ippo: The Fighting! – Rising, Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun, Hal (Movie) Hanasaku Iroha: Home Sweet Home (Movie), Hanayaka Nari, Waga Ichizoku: Kinetograph, Hayate No Gotoku! Cuties, Henneko: Hentai Prince And The Stony Cat, Hidamari Sketch: Sae Hiro Sotsugyou-Hen, High School DxD New, Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Kaku: Outbreak, Houseki No Kuni, Hunter X Hunter (2011), Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Bride, Hyperdimension Neptunia Inazuma Eleven Go Vs Danball Senki W (Movie), Inazuma Eleven Go: Chrono Stone, Infinite Stratos 2, Inu To Hasami Wa Tsukaiyou Ishida To Asakura, Jewelpet Happiness, Kakumeiki Valvrave Kamisama Kiss, Kamisama No Inai NIchiyoubi Kara No Kyoukai – The Garden Of Sinners (Movie), Karneval Kick Heart, Kill La Kill Kimi No Iru Machi, Kindaichi Shounen No Jikenbo: Kuromajutsu Satsujin Jiken-Hen, Kingdom 2nd Season, Kiniro Mosaic Kira Kira 5th Anniversary Live Anime: Kick Start Generation, Kiss×Sis, Kitakubu Katsudou Kiroku, Koitabi: True Tours Nanto, Kono Naka Ni Hitori Imouto Ga Iru!: Ani Imouto Koibito, Kotoura-San, Kuroko’s Basketball 2, Kyoukai No Kanata Kyousougiga (2013), Little Busters! Refrain, Little Witch Academia, Log Horizon Love Lab Love Live! School Idol Project Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions (Movie), Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions: Depth Of Field – Ai To Nikushimi Gekijou Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions: Kirameki No… Slapstick Noel Magi: The Kingdom Of Magic, Majestic Prince Maji De Otaku Na English! Ribbon-Chan: Eigo De Tatakau Mahou Shoujo, Makai Ouji: Devils And Realist, Mangirl!, Maoyuu Maou Yuusha, Meganebu!, Minami-Ke Tadaima, Mirai Nikki Redial, Miss Monochrome The Animation, Miyakawa-Ke No Kuufuku, Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Memory Of Eden (Movie) Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Mondaiji-Tachi Ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sou Desu Yo?, Monogatari Series: Second Season Mushibugyo My Little Monster, My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute, My Mental Choices Are Completely Interfering With My School Romantic Comedy, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Nagi No Asu Kara, Namiuchigiwa No Muromi-San Naruto Shippūden, Nekomonogatari (Black), Non Non Biyori, One Piece OreShura, Otona Joshi No Anime Time, Outbreak Company, Patema Inverted (Movie), Persona 3 The Movie, Phi-Brain: Puzzle Of God (2013), Photo Kano Pokemon: Origins Pretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live, Puchimas!: Petit IDOLM@STER, Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie Part III: Rebellion, Recorder To Randoseru Mi☆, Red Data Girl Ro-Kyu-Bu! SS, Rozen Maiden (2013), Ryo, Saint Young Men, Saki: Achiga-Hen – Episode Of Side-A Specials, Samurai Flamenco, Sasami-San@Ganbaranai, Say “I Love You”, Seitokai Yakuindomo, Senhime Zesshou Symphogear G, Senran Kagura, Senyuu, Servant X Service Silver Spoon Sket Dance (OVA) Space Brothers, Sparrow’s Hotel, Star Driver The Movie, Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryouiki No Déjà Vu , Stella Jogakuin Koutou-Ka C³-Bu Strike The Blood, Super Seishun Brothers, Tamako Market Tamayura: More Aggressive, Tanken Driland: 1000-Nen No Mahou, Tantei Opera Milky Holmes: Alternative (OVA), Teekyuu 2, Tesagure! Bukatsu-Mono, The Devil Is A Part-Timer Toaru Majutsu No Index: Endymion No Kiseki Tokyo Ravens, Uchouten Kazoku Unbreakable Machine-Doll, Uta No☆Prince-Sama Maji Love 2000%, Vanquished Queens (OVA), Vassalord (OVA), Vividred Operation, Walkure Romanze, Wanna Be The Strongest In The World, WATAMOTE ~ No Matter How I Look At It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular!, White Album 2, Wind Rises, World God Only Knows III, Yami Shibai, Yondemasu Yo Azazel-San. Z, Yonhyakunijuu Renpai Girl (OVA), Yowamushi Pedal, Yozakura Quartet: Hana No Uta, Yuusha Ni Narenakatta Ore Wa Shibushibu Shuushoku Wo Ketsui Shimashita Yuyushiki, Zettai Bouei Leviathan, Zettai Karen Children
Song:“Love Lost” by the Temper Trap and “If You Wanna” by The Vaccines”
Today is the date that will forever become a date of remembrance for me and my family.
My father, Fernando Sandoc, passed away after losing his battle with cancer. He’s been a huge influence in my taste in music. I remember listening to him when I was younger singing songs by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin to The Beatles, Tom Jones, The Temptations right up to The Eagles and Elvis Presley. His was an eclectic taste in music, but one that I didn’t appreciate at a young age.
Yet, as I grew older I began to listening to the very same bands and singers and really become fans of them as well. It was one of many ways he and I bonded throughout the years. This was especially true as I grew into adulthood.
One song which always stood out for me was of the Sammy Davis, Jr. song “Ive Gotta Be Me”.
I remember him singing this song with as much enthusiasm and vigor as Sammy himself. It became a sort of anthem (in addition to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” which was another favorite of his and mine) as if he tried to live his life just how the lyrics spelled them out. I can’t say whether he succeeded or not, but he definitely lived his life “his way” and remained to being true to himself.
He and those he called his closest friends were lived to be their very own Rat Pack.
So, I shall be forever grateful for having such a loving, understanding father and a great friend and mentor who will remain eternal as I take up the mantle he has finally set down to rest.
I’ve Gotta Be Me
Whether I’m right or whether I’m wrong Whether I find a place in this world or never belong I gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me What else can I be but what I am
I want to live, not merely survive And I won’t give up this dream
Of life that keeps me alive I gotta be me, I gotta be me The dream that I see makes me what I am
That far-away prize, a world of success Is waiting for me if I heed the call I won’t settle down, won’t settle for less As long as there’s a chance that I can have it all
I’ll go it alone, that’s how it must be I can’t be right for somebody else If I’m not right for me I gotta be free, I’ve gotta be free Daring to try, to do it or die I’ve gotta be me
I’ll go it alone, that’s how it must be I can’t be right for somebody else If I’m not right for me I gotta be free, I just gotta be free Daring to try, to do it or die I gotta be me
Just going to be brief with the description of the latest “AMV of the Day”. The latest pick was the winner of Anime Weekend Atlanta (AWA) 2012.
“See Who I Am” is the title of the video and also the title of the song used by the video’s creator (Speedy180). This particular song is a favorite of mine from symphonic metal band Within Temptation and also used in one of the very first AMV’s I watched (Alchanum) and one which got me into the scene to begin with. The video itself is an anime mix of so many anime titles that I could only recognize some of the one’s that I’ve actually seen. I’m sure there are many more I missed.
It’s a well-done video that uses Sheryl Nome of Macross Frontier singing to sub in for Within Temptation’s Sharon den Adel. It’s a very dramatic song and the anime visuals picked and they’re put together more than matches the emotional content of the song.
Anime:Guilty Crown, Macross Frontier, Fairy Tail, Fate/Stay Night, Fafner in the Azure, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Bleach and many others…
“And I ask for no redemption in this cold and barren place.” — Ben Nichols
[some spoilers]
Season 4 of The Walking Dead, from the very beginning, has been exploring the theme of whether those who have managed to survive this far into the zombie apocalypse could ever return to who they were in the past. Could they return from the brink of having to do some unthinkable acts in order to survive? It’s this running theme which has dominated this first half of the season, so far.
We’ve seen Rick trying to leave behind the “Ricktatorship” of Season 3, but only to find out that this new world won’t allow him to go back to the way he used to be. He has changed, and so has everyone, some of the better and some for the worst. We’ve seen several main characters of the show go through this very crucible and some have turned out much colder while others have seen their moral center strengthened.
The series has been hinting that the Governor was still out there and last week’s episode ended with a sudden reveal that he’s back and has now set his sight back on the prison. While quite an ominous moment considering the Governor’s past actions towards Rick and the prison group, tonight’s episode has put some ambiguity on what the Governor’s agenda in regards to the prison really is.
“Live Bait” is the title of the latest episode of The Walking Dead and it takes a risky move by concentrating on the Governor only. We don’t see Rick or anyone from the prison community. This episode was all about the Governor and what happened to him after his failed attack on the prison in the season 3 finale. We already know that he massacres pretty much every member of his attacking force with the exception of his two most loyal lieutenants in Martinez and Shumpert. We see during the episode’s cold opening the total breakdown of not just the Governor but also the full destruction of everything he had built with Woodbury both literally and symbolically.
Yet, we don’t see him continue his rampage against those who he sees as having been the architect of his downfall. We see that he has blamed no one else but himself for turning into something that Rick and his people always feared he was: a charismatic, but psychotic leader who would destroy anyone and everything if he can’t have it. Tonight’s Governor has come a long way from Season 3’s version. Tonight he’s become a wandering, disheveled loner who looks to have more in common with the very zombies he hates. He’s on automatic with the barest sense of survival in his mind. Yet, just when we think he has finally given up the image of someone in a second floor window of an apartment complex peaks his curiosity enough to want to live another day.
This begins the meat of this episode as we see the Governor encounter a family who has survived the past year of the zombie apocalypse on their own. A family of a cancer-stricken father, his two daughters and a granddaughter. A group that has managed to survive without having learned just exactly how to destroy zombies they encounter and the true nautre of the infection.
For some this latest episode was too much talking and exploring the state-of-mind of the Governor, but it was actually a very strong episode that shows not every week has to be action-packed. While the episode (written by series regular Nichole Beattie) wasn’t very subtle about having the granddaughter becoming a stand-in for the Governor’s daughter, Penny, it still doesn’t diminish the fact that we see a sort of reset on the Governor as a character. The almost cartoonishly villain that the character had become by the end of Season 3 looked to be getting a sort of rehab to something that retains some complexity. This is not crazy Governor tonight, but a damaged individual who doesn’t see redemption in the future for the sins he had done in the past.
By episode’s end we see him having built a sort of surrogate family from the two daughters and the granddaughter who took him in, but his attempt to try and escape his Woodbury past (going so far as to use a name he had seen during his aimless wanderings) goes for naught as we see his past literally come back to confront him from the bottom of a pit. Like I said, not the most subtle episode, but for the most part the ideas and themes explored stick the landing.
Now, time to see if the sudden change in the Governor in his road to redemption will continue with the next episode which, hopefully, will catch up to the reveal of him watching the prison in episode 5. Some may decry the loss of lunatic Governor, but I prefer my villains to be much more layered in their personalities and motivations. The Governor has come out of this latest episode a sympathetic villain, but who might still have that dark side just waiting in the shadows of his psyche for a chance to assert itself.
Notes
Tonight’s episode was written and directed by series regular Nichole Beattie and series newcomer Michael Uppendahl.
The barn spraypainted with the name Brian Heriot and instructions for this unseen individual on where to go was another reminder of how much the world of The Walking Dead has lost in terms of society and civilization.
The first episode of The Walking Dead where the original cast (those that still remain) don’t make any sort of appearance.
This episode also marks the very first flashback-only episode of the series.
The characters of Lilly and Tara look to be this show’s version of two characters from the comics and the novels. Lilly was one of the Governor’s loyal supporters in the comics while tv version of Tara was much closer to the novel version of the same name.
When the Governor gives the sisters his name as Brian it’s a little detail that fans who have read the novels know as the Governor’s real first name. Philip is actually the name of his brother whose identity and personality he takes.
The episode didn’t have much zombie and gore until the end and much props to KNB EFX for finding new ways to kill zombies. Best kill of the night being the use of a femur bone to rip off the head of zombie by pulling back it’s top jaw off violently like a pez dispenser.
Talking Dead Guests: Ike Barinholtz of The Mindy Project and David “The Governor” Morrissey.
Weekend was busy, but still found time to catch a few favorite flicks on TV. One of these happened to be the classic early 90’s western Tombstone starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. I already profiled my favorite scene from this film awhile back, but as I watched the film again I realized there was another sequence that totally made the film for me.
So, the latest “Scenes I Love’ once again comes from Tombstone and it does a great job in showing the darker and vengeful side of Wyatt Earp as played by Kurt Russell. The first scene I loved about this film was more about the cool, calm and badass Wyatt Earp who can spot a bullshitter, blowhard, coward from a miles away. This scene shows Earp in his scary, God’s Wrath mode as he begins his vendetta ride against the Clantons and the Cowboys.
Just love the look of fire and brimstone from Russell’s eyes as he confronts a cowed Ike Clanton and lets him know what he has planned for his clan and group. Better yet, in addition to Kilmer’s Doc Holliday, we also see a younger Michael Rooker aka Merle Dixon. He plays one of the members in Earp’s posse.
Some turmoil of the personal kind of late, but that won’t stop me from sharing a new AMV that has caught my eye. The latest “AMV of the Day” comes courtesy of one TheLastSamurai2011 who seems to realy enjoy making a particular type of video.
This particular AMV creator loves the anime series Black Lagoon and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s an anime series that’s pretty much great not just because of all the crazy gunplay and hand-to-hand combat action, but for the fact that it’s most badass characters are pretty much all women. These ladies are not your typical cutesy “magical girl” types that’s popular with many anime fans. No, Black Lagoon has ladies that range from psychotic, sociopathic, unstoppable killing machines to just plain old badass.
This AMV focuses on the tragic backstory of one of the series’ most intriguing characters. Roberta could only be described as a lone wolf killer. Her violent past and the tragic loss of her original family was only tempered by being taken in by a soldier who molds her to become the protector of his son. Things happen as they’re wont to happen in violent tales. Roberta’s psychotic side soon becomes unleashed on those who has destroyed her adopted second family and she’ll carve of blood trail to find those responsible.
This video does a great job in telling part of her story.
“If you’re not ready to lose one, then you’ll lose them all.” — Dr. Caleb Subramanian
[some spoilers]
As this season’s of The Walking Dead gets closer and closer to it’s mid-season finale it’s time to take stock on what has happened, so far. There human-on-human conflict w hich dominated season 3 has now been replaced by a new and more insidious danger: disease outbreak. It’s a concept rarely explored in apocalyptic stories and barely even mentioned in zombie fiction. We’ve seen how the progression of the disease going through the population of the prison community has become an even bigger danger to everyone. Glenn said it best in episode 2. Zombies and raiders they can take on and succeed, but this disease is something that they can’t see until it’s too late. With the state of medical healthcare in the zombie apocalypse being horrendous at best and non-existent for the most part, this new wrinkle in this group’s survival since the world went to hell was a good move and start for new showrunner Scott M. Gimple.
We’ve seen characters we;ve grown to love in the first four episode grow in surprising and, at times, disturbing ways. Carol has become a hardened survivor who will do what it takes to protect the group from dangers both outside and inside the fences. We’ve seen Rick deal with trying to shed the mantle of leadership for the sake of his children, but quickly realizing (with some help from Carol) that it’s what he’s good at and something he needs to rediscover once again to help the group survive.
Even Carl has shown that he’s not just marching straight into sociopathy in this new world order. He’s realized what his father has sacrificed to try and bring him back from the brink of losing his humanity. So far, it has worked and we see more and more of his father in how he’s handling situations that in the past he would’ve used violence as a solution.
Tonight’s episode, “Internment”, we get to see the opposite image of what Carol has turned into by focusing on the group’s spiritual leader. Hershel Greene has taken over the spiritual and calming guidance that Dale used to provide. Where Dale seemed too entrenched in trying to live life as if the world still operated under the old rules and morality, Hershel has been more flexible. He doesn’t let his idealism get in the way of doing what’s necessary in the end. Yet, he still believes that saving everyone should still be a goal they as a community need to do. He’s willing to sacrifice his own well-being if it means keeping the sick from dying even if it means just providing that calming presence. He’s not just trying to save their lives but give their soul a semblance of hope that things will work out for the best in the end.
The episode played out like a calm before the storm. Some would say that it was unfolding like a throwaway episode that’s trying to give it’s viewers a breather before moving on to the next couple episodes with something more meaty and considerable. But like all slow burns this one exploded into action when we least expected it even though the writers dropped crumbs throughout that something big was about to happen.
Followers of the show won’t be disappointed when that slow-burning fuse finally leads to that gathering explosion. An explosion that once again saw the prison community become smaller and smaller with loses both to the disease that’s overtaken it and the zombies who have awoken inside the prison walls because of it. Showrunner and series writer Scott M. Gimple promised to make the zombies scary once again and in tonight’s episode we finally get the payoff the first four episodes have been working on achieving. Yes, they’re the faceless horde that has made killing them become more a chore than an act of survival, but the way the episode used them tonight made them scary once again. Their numbers will always be legion and this season has shown just how that still remains the scariest part of this show. Human enemies and even diseases are scary as well, but the zombies have once a gain returned as that patient, ever-encroaching symbol for the inevitability of death.
“Internment” has seen one of the more quieter members of the group who was becoming Dale 2.0, but tonight saw Hershel was just as much a badass survivor as Rick, Carl, Carol, Daryl and, his own daughter, Maggie. His faith in whatever plan God has in testing them might have taken a blow, but he still looks to his faith to get him and his friends and family through it all. He hasn’t let his physical handicap slow him and down. He’s even come through the crucible of tonight’s episode with his eyes much more open to the new realities of this new world, but still keeping his faith.
Time to see what the final reveal of tonight’s episode will now mean to the survival of what remains of the prison community.
Notes
Tonight’s episode was written and directed by Channing Powell and David Boyd respectively.
Interesting opening shot of Rick driving back to the prison with a very serious look on his face. Rick almost looked as if he’s steeling himself for the reaction on the news of what Carol did to Karen and David.
Looks like we now know that zombie flesh and blood is not toxic to animals. The two feral dogs feeding on the immobile zombie by the shoulder of the road was a nice detail.
Give Scott Wilson the first star for his incredible performance as Hershel tonight. He pretty much carried the episode from start to finish and there wasn’t a fake or boring section with him in it.
Great to see Rick finally see Carl as someone who is not just willing to provide help and protection for the group, but one who is more than capable of doing so. Carl looked more capable than Rick tonight.
Maggie has been pretty absent this season, but great to see her rush into the teeth of danger just like her father to try and save Glenn and the rest.
This is the second episode this week where half the cast doesn’t get any airtime which more than helps the episode’s pacing.
I still believe that Carol is protecting the real killer of Karen and David by confessing to Rick about it. My money is on scary-sister Lizzie who has taken on some very disturbing habits of treating zombies like pets and then using blood to make patterns on the floor with her shoe. The creepy-meter on this girl is reaching record levels.
Love the use of Ben Howard’s “Oats In The Water” during Hershel’s moment alone after taking down all the zombies in the cellblock and saving Glenn.
Through the Shattered Lens 