What They Say:
Bloodletting – Rick discovers a possible safe haven; Shane must go on a dangerous mission to get needed medical supplies.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
After the extended season opening episode, which was a bit overly drawn out in some ways but still appropriate for the nature of the series and its situation, it ended with one of those moments that thoroughly surprises viewers and leaves you wondering just what will happen next. So kicking this episode off with a bit of back story, going back to the time before everything went to hell, definitely shakes your perception of things. With the relationship between Rick and Lori being one of the main draws of the series, getting another brick in the wall with it is important since it plays heavily into the present, especially with Shane a big part of the picture that exacerbated the problems they were having as a couple before Rick got shot.
It’s an interesting and important moment, when you consider that the last episode ended with Carl being shot. To see Carl back when he learned his dad got shot and to go to this, focusing through the lens of Lori and Shane observing it all, is just solid. The emotion out of Rick with it as he races to the farm where Hershel is going to try and save him is spot on, but it has a neat twist with Shane doing what he can to comfort him in the way that he can. Remembering that it wasn’t that long ago that Shane was ready to shoot Rick colors it in a way, but the simple fact is that both men have been a part of Carl’s life for quite some time does make their concern all the more intense.
The show has a number of split stories going on here and each of them are damn interesting. While Rick deals with what Carl is going through, Shane has to head off to get medical supplies so that the next round of surgery can be dealt with and that has a lot of dangers to it. Lori, Andrea and the others are continuing their search for Sophia, but that leads them to their own dangers to be faced until things all come together when it comes to the farm. But back at the RV, there’s the continuing drama between T-Dawg and Dale which is really quite good, as T-Dawg is getting closer to really having a problem with his infection and his fever is spiking, causing him to panic a whole lot more. There’s some definite self-awareness to his panic though which is fun to watch, but Dale plays it seriously which is right and it comes together very well.
There’s some good fun to be had with the smaller moments as well, from learning the truth about Hershel (well, at least one truth so far) as well as getting a better idea of what kind of person Merle was as Daryl has what they need in order to try and help T-Dawg. But we do get some very good tense moments when it comes to the the dead themeslves with Shane and Otis going to do what they can to get the supplies that are needed. While Rick gets plenty of attention for his straightforward thinking and quick results, Shane’s no slouch either and he certainly shows some solid initiative here in a very, very tense situation.
In Summary:
While a lot of shows naturally end with moments that make you want to come back for more, giving you the right kind of cliffhanger, The Walking Dead continues to be a show that does that throughout each and every episode to varying degrees. It works a lot of angles to do so, from the action to the drama between the characters and the secrets that slowly come to the surface. This episode brings us a look at those at the farm and like everything else, you can’t help but to feel that there’s going to be some secrets coming out of this since there’s a varied cast of characters to explore. It’s hard to pin down what works the best here because everything has its advantages and the episode kept me pleased across the board and very much looking forward to next week. Watching this episode after coming off the three most recent graphic novels just ups the ante for me with the enjoyment.
Grade: B+
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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kno3Zbd2K-c?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]
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