This episode slowed things down - dramatically. This was a very good episode in terms of the acting and developing the characters and plot, but it also had some serious missteps.
Firstly, what was done well:
Maggie's character was handled perfectly. We got just the right amount of Maggie we needed in this episode and the fact that Aaron was with her was an added bonus. They both gave compelling performances as they explained to one another how they feel guilty for what has happened.
The sewer-walkers were very interesting and a welcome, clever change to the regular walkers.
Deanna's emotional trauma was well-executed. She remained silent during the episode for quite a while before finally speaking, refusing to be the leader she made herself out to be. After losing her son and her husband, she is in ruins and we can clearly see how desperately she is struggling. She even concedes to Rick that the Alexandrians don't need her: they need him. But this emotional turmoil that she is going through is what is necessary for her to experience to become like Rick. In order for her to be the leader she wants to be - she has to be - she must endure this pain and suffering. That is the only way Rick is able to be as good a leader as he is now. Deanna is learning the basics of loss and survival. Now, she can become the leader she wants to be.
Rick teaching Ron (Jessie's son) to shoot is bound to end in disaster. We know very well how much Ron detests Rick - and even Carl too - so we can see right through his little charade of coming to Rick and telling him what he wants to hear. This will surely come back to bite Rick (pun intended) later this season.
Now for the weaknesses:
Where on earth was Carol? There was no excuse for her not to be in this episode. She is in Alexandria at the moment and we should have certainly seen her reunite with Rick.
What about Morgan? Why was he only featured in this episode during the opening scenes?
In fact, this episode makes last week's episode seem even more out of place. You see, after watching last week's episode, one would be inclined to think that the following episode would be fairly Morgan-centric. Given that we have just learned so much of Morgan's past and where his ideology comes from, it only makes sense for the following episode to have him featured in it, exercising this ideology - right? Well TWD's creators seem to think not. And I have no idea why. Morgan was in this episode for a matter of seconds, which makes last week's episode seem totally out of place.
So, in essence, this episode was a preparatory episode for things to come. It wasn't a filler episode: a filler episode is almost entirely irrelevant - this episode will be important later on, but right now seems somewhat insignificant.
This was a good episode, don't get me wrong, but it missed out on some serious potential.
Let's hope next week's episode brings us what we're hoping for.
Firstly, what was done well:
Maggie's character was handled perfectly. We got just the right amount of Maggie we needed in this episode and the fact that Aaron was with her was an added bonus. They both gave compelling performances as they explained to one another how they feel guilty for what has happened.
The sewer-walkers were very interesting and a welcome, clever change to the regular walkers.
Deanna's emotional trauma was well-executed. She remained silent during the episode for quite a while before finally speaking, refusing to be the leader she made herself out to be. After losing her son and her husband, she is in ruins and we can clearly see how desperately she is struggling. She even concedes to Rick that the Alexandrians don't need her: they need him. But this emotional turmoil that she is going through is what is necessary for her to experience to become like Rick. In order for her to be the leader she wants to be - she has to be - she must endure this pain and suffering. That is the only way Rick is able to be as good a leader as he is now. Deanna is learning the basics of loss and survival. Now, she can become the leader she wants to be.
Rick teaching Ron (Jessie's son) to shoot is bound to end in disaster. We know very well how much Ron detests Rick - and even Carl too - so we can see right through his little charade of coming to Rick and telling him what he wants to hear. This will surely come back to bite Rick (pun intended) later this season.
Now for the weaknesses:
Where on earth was Carol? There was no excuse for her not to be in this episode. She is in Alexandria at the moment and we should have certainly seen her reunite with Rick.
What about Morgan? Why was he only featured in this episode during the opening scenes?
In fact, this episode makes last week's episode seem even more out of place. You see, after watching last week's episode, one would be inclined to think that the following episode would be fairly Morgan-centric. Given that we have just learned so much of Morgan's past and where his ideology comes from, it only makes sense for the following episode to have him featured in it, exercising this ideology - right? Well TWD's creators seem to think not. And I have no idea why. Morgan was in this episode for a matter of seconds, which makes last week's episode seem totally out of place.
So, in essence, this episode was a preparatory episode for things to come. It wasn't a filler episode: a filler episode is almost entirely irrelevant - this episode will be important later on, but right now seems somewhat insignificant.
This was a good episode, don't get me wrong, but it missed out on some serious potential.
Let's hope next week's episode brings us what we're hoping for.