The Walking Dead 3-10: Pardon the Interruption

The Walking Dead episode “Home” reminds viewers of what most season one and two episodes were like- mostly talking, minimal zombies. But… just when you’ve been lulled into complacency by the endless jibber jabber, all freaking hell breaks loose and hits you in the face like a big smelly doo doo pie.

Before we get into the recap, let’s check in with Dale.

Action Chick, I don’t know how, but I got my foot stuck in a toilet and I can’t get it out, no matter how many times I try flushing.

Thanks, Dale. Now onward, to the recap!

In Woodbury, The Governor spits out more lies and Andrea eats them up as fast as she can. He tells her she needs to be the leader for a while until he can get himself together. She agrees and feels sorry for him, then he mysteriously disappears.

In the woods, Daryl and Merle’s camping trip has met with zero success. The hungry hungry Dixon boys run across some people being attacked by zombies and Daryl comes to the rescue while Merle sits back and watches. This makes Daryl realize he needs to head back to the prison to be with his real family, and Merle reluctantly follows since he can’t survive out there alone. For most of this sequence you see an interesting reversal in Daryl- where he’s normally strong-spoken and fierce, his voice was softer, his body language more timid. Just being around his older brother made him act weaker. Plus, you can really see how far he’s come from season one. Where once he was somewhat like Merle, now he’s a loyal friend and brave hero, whereas Merle’s the same violent, racist ass.

At the prison, Rick wanders outside the fence, acting crazy and searching for Lori, while Glen tries to lead the group in coming up with a plan. He eventually gets all pissy and drives off in his truck to secure the perimeter. Hershel hobbles down to the fence line to see if he can talk some sense into Rick when Sheriff Grimes finally admits he’s seeing dead people.

Carol and Axel bond a bit, with Axel revealing his non-violent criminal past, but just when we’ve really warmed up to the guy, he falls over, dead, with his blood on Carol’s face. The Governor was hiding out in the bushes and shot Axel in the head! Just when you’ve accepted Axel, and accepted that there’s going to be a lot of talking, the poop hits the fan.

The gang at the prison are all separated and caught off guard. The Governor and his posse take advantage of their confusion and open fire, then drive a truck full of freaking zombies through the gate like a Fedex package from hell. While the zombies do their wandering, moaning ting, Gov and his guys exit stage left. Total fatalities: Axel, and one unnamed Woodbury badguy.

While everyone deals with the outpour of zombies, Rick fights off as many as he can until he’s out of ammo and pistol-whipping any zombies who come for him. But, just as they start to overwhelm him, the Dixon bros show up. He and Daryl have a manly “What up/thank you/I value you as a friend and partner” nod, and Merle cackles as he bashes in a zombie’s skull.

RIP Axel, your role as a human meat shield was invaluable in saving Carol. Say hello to Dale for us.

Likes:

• Daryl smashing a zombie’s head in with a car door.
• Rick pistol whipping zombies.
• The Gov laughing evilly while spraying a final semi-phallic cascade of bullets during his escape. He needs to die the most horrible death ever!
• Season three Carol— not having that damn Sophia around has made her funny and cool.
• Merle gleefully fighting zombies at the end. That Merle, all he’s interested in is fighting. He’s like a mean-ass junkyard dog.
• Michonne slicing and dicing some walkers.
• The gang coming back together at the end.

Dislikes:

• I like fighter/survivalist Glenn, but not mean, bordering on losing his crap Glenn.

This is the Action Flick Chick, and you’ve just been kicked in the ass!

(Dale’s Deeds by Alex Langley)