In May you can expect new coverage of comic books, reviews of several new game titles, as well as a recap of our May the Fourth (Star Wars Day) celebration!
Monday, April 29, 2013
May Blogging Challenge
To help myself start blogging on a more consistent basis, I've decided to join a new blogging challenge started by my wife's friend April of Delightfully Inspired.
In May you can expect new coverage of comic books, reviews of several new game titles, as well as a recap of our May the Fourth (Star Wars Day) celebration!
In May you can expect new coverage of comic books, reviews of several new game titles, as well as a recap of our May the Fourth (Star Wars Day) celebration!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Game of Thrones: And Now His Watch Is Ended
Greetings fellow citizens of Westeros! Untypically Jia here, back to recap and review last weeks episode of Game of Thrones. Apologies for not getting to it sooner. You could say we've been too busy recovering from the awesomeness that was Episode 4, or you could say that we got sick.
And as we all know, this is not a spoiler-free zone.
And as we all know, this is not a spoiler-free zone.
---
Riverlands:
I have a great joke.
So a one-handed Kingslayer rides into a forest and . . . what? Too soon?
I have a great joke.
So a one-handed Kingslayer rides into a forest and . . . what? Too soon?
Apparently a Kingslayer without a sword-hand is not much of a Kingslayer at all. After losing his hand to Locke (the head of this House Bolton brigade), Jaime has the sads. After letting himself fall off a horse and then tricked into drinking horse piss, you'd think all the fight would be embarrassed out of him. But good ol' Jaime steals a sword and attempts to . . . get away? No, not that. Go on a murderous rampage? Umm . . . yeah, I think he tries to poke a few guys, but let's face it, this is not the same Jaime who went toe to toe with Ned Stark two seasons ago. In fact, we're almost liking this Jaime. It's amazing what pity will do to a character.
But Brienne isn't putting up with any of his pity. Later scolding him for not eating in order to stay alive, the Beauty of Tarth instructs Jaime to live so that he can one day take vengeance.
Arya, Gendry and the Hound are secretly transported to the underground clubhouse of the Brotherhood without Banners. Inside, they are introduced to Beric Dondarrion, the man Ned Stark sent out (in Season One) to hunt down The Mountain That Rides. There, with a red priest (seriously, these guys are popping up everywhere) Beric puts Sandor Clegane on trial and calls him a murderer. When none can actually point out specific murders, Arya Stark is finally able to stand up for her friend Mycah, the Butchers boy that the Hound killed early on in Season One. Properly accused, Dondarrion challenges Clegane to a trial by combat.
Beyond the Wall:
Forced to sling pig shit, Edd, Grenn and Rast complain about Craster and the fact that the Nightswatch is starving beyond the wall instead of returning to Castle Black. After a funeral for their fallen brothers in black, Karl - overwhelmed by hunger and anger - calls Craster a bastard (which shouldn't actually mean anything to Wildlings - but whatever) and the old man throws the Nightswatch out of his keep. The situation grows dark very quickly, something Commander Mormont attempts to fix until he is put against his own men who have now killed Craster. Mormont fights Karl face to face until Rast stabs him in the back (cause how else could you even think to take down the Old Bear?) Once down, Mormont is then repeatedly stabbed in the chest, and then as they say . . . Now His Watch Is Ended.
Naturally avoiding confrontation, Sam takes advantage of the fight and runs to rescue Gilly and her newborn son, hoping to take them both far away from Crasters Keep, and the backstabbing brothers of the Nightswatch.
Kings Landing:
Tyrion seeks advice from the one person in Kings Landing who might actually be worth trusting - or is he? Seeking proof that his sister tried to have him killed, Tyrion looks to Varys for answers, but the Spider has none to give him. Instead he tells the great tale of how he once lost his balls in a land far, far away when he was sold to a sorcerer. Varys gives great details on the pain he endured and how instead of greeting death eagerly, he forced himself to live a long life and that in the end, patience would reward him. As he opens a nearby crate to reveal the bound and gagged sorcerer, we are suddenly aware of the truth behind Varys words and how patient the Master of Whisperers truly is.
Later, after visiting Littlefingers brothel and speaking to Ros about Sansa, Varys meets with the Queen of Thorns to speak about the potential future of Sansa Stark. Littlefinger is dead set on removing Sansa from Kings Landing when he travels toward the Eyrie, and should Robb Stark fall in battle, Sansa becomes heir to Winterfell (what's left of it anyway) and if Littlefinger has Sansa, he could become more powerful than anyone dared to think, and would in the end destroy the Seven Kingdoms, if only to be King of the Ashes.
Joffrey - now Margaery's eager little lap dog - escorts his betrothed around the Sept of Baelor. It's the first time we're given images of the inside of a sept and it's much bigger than I'd imagined in my head while reading the books. The statues of the seven gods are enormous and tower over the characters (who also include Lady Olenna and Queen Cersei). Margaery encourages Joffrey to open the doors and greet his people, an act that Cersei believes is far too dangerous and is annoyed at his ignoring her. But ignoring Cersei is what Lannister men are good at doing in this episode, as her own father Tywin grows more and more bored with his daughter who only wants a pat on the head and to find out where they are in recovering Jaime. Unfortunately instead of an A for effort, Cersei is reprimanded for being unable to control Joffrey and reminded that such efforts resulted in this war and Jaime's capture in the first place.
In the Godswood, Margaery finds Sansa in prayer and seeks to know what she prays for. Sansa, clearly not knowing who to trust these days, is subtle with her desires. That is until Margaery befriends the young Stark, inviting her to see Highgarden one day and then asks if Sansa would like to be married to Loras Tyrell. And then right afterwards, my brain imploded for lack of book continuity - but then I got over it because I'm nice.
Winterfell:
Theon and his saving grace, a cleaning boy from Winterfell ride through Deepwood Motte where the boy claims Theon's sister Yara awaits him. The boy gives tales to Theon about how he too is Iron born and remembered the day when Theon was taken away from the Iron Islands to be a ward of Winterfell. Gaining Theon's trust, the boy learns that Theon never actually killed the young Stark boys. Once inside the castle where Yara supposedly awaits, Theon is sad to discover that he's actually back at the dungeon he escaped from earlier, and the boy who helped him is none other than Ramsay Snow - the Bastard of House Bolton!
And fans everywhere went, "HOLY SHIT!" in unison.
Elsewhere in the North, Bran continues to have dreams where he can not only walk and run, but climb again. I'm guessing because the actor was like, "OMG do I really have to keep sitting?! I was not told this when I got the part! I've literally been sitting for more than two seasons!" Or you know . . . something. Either that, or it's just a nice way to stab fans in the gut by reconnecting Bran with his family in his dreams. Previous dreams have shown Robb and Jon with him, and this one has Catelyn throw him from a tree, commanding him not to climb.
Across the Narrow Sea:
With her favored dragon on a long chain, Daenerys approaches the slaver, Kraznys to exchange Drogon for the 8,000 Unsullied. Jorah and Barristan both silently protest this decision, knowing that dragons will win her the Iron Throne, not slaves. But Dany does not listen as she hands over the leash holding her dragon, and receives the whip to command the great army.
But Brienne isn't putting up with any of his pity. Later scolding him for not eating in order to stay alive, the Beauty of Tarth instructs Jaime to live so that he can one day take vengeance.
Arya, Gendry and the Hound are secretly transported to the underground clubhouse of the Brotherhood without Banners. Inside, they are introduced to Beric Dondarrion, the man Ned Stark sent out (in Season One) to hunt down The Mountain That Rides. There, with a red priest (seriously, these guys are popping up everywhere) Beric puts Sandor Clegane on trial and calls him a murderer. When none can actually point out specific murders, Arya Stark is finally able to stand up for her friend Mycah, the Butchers boy that the Hound killed early on in Season One. Properly accused, Dondarrion challenges Clegane to a trial by combat.
Beyond the Wall:
Forced to sling pig shit, Edd, Grenn and Rast complain about Craster and the fact that the Nightswatch is starving beyond the wall instead of returning to Castle Black. After a funeral for their fallen brothers in black, Karl - overwhelmed by hunger and anger - calls Craster a bastard (which shouldn't actually mean anything to Wildlings - but whatever) and the old man throws the Nightswatch out of his keep. The situation grows dark very quickly, something Commander Mormont attempts to fix until he is put against his own men who have now killed Craster. Mormont fights Karl face to face until Rast stabs him in the back (cause how else could you even think to take down the Old Bear?) Once down, Mormont is then repeatedly stabbed in the chest, and then as they say . . . Now His Watch Is Ended.
Naturally avoiding confrontation, Sam takes advantage of the fight and runs to rescue Gilly and her newborn son, hoping to take them both far away from Crasters Keep, and the backstabbing brothers of the Nightswatch.
Kings Landing:
Tyrion seeks advice from the one person in Kings Landing who might actually be worth trusting - or is he? Seeking proof that his sister tried to have him killed, Tyrion looks to Varys for answers, but the Spider has none to give him. Instead he tells the great tale of how he once lost his balls in a land far, far away when he was sold to a sorcerer. Varys gives great details on the pain he endured and how instead of greeting death eagerly, he forced himself to live a long life and that in the end, patience would reward him. As he opens a nearby crate to reveal the bound and gagged sorcerer, we are suddenly aware of the truth behind Varys words and how patient the Master of Whisperers truly is.
Later, after visiting Littlefingers brothel and speaking to Ros about Sansa, Varys meets with the Queen of Thorns to speak about the potential future of Sansa Stark. Littlefinger is dead set on removing Sansa from Kings Landing when he travels toward the Eyrie, and should Robb Stark fall in battle, Sansa becomes heir to Winterfell (what's left of it anyway) and if Littlefinger has Sansa, he could become more powerful than anyone dared to think, and would in the end destroy the Seven Kingdoms, if only to be King of the Ashes.
Joffrey - now Margaery's eager little lap dog - escorts his betrothed around the Sept of Baelor. It's the first time we're given images of the inside of a sept and it's much bigger than I'd imagined in my head while reading the books. The statues of the seven gods are enormous and tower over the characters (who also include Lady Olenna and Queen Cersei). Margaery encourages Joffrey to open the doors and greet his people, an act that Cersei believes is far too dangerous and is annoyed at his ignoring her. But ignoring Cersei is what Lannister men are good at doing in this episode, as her own father Tywin grows more and more bored with his daughter who only wants a pat on the head and to find out where they are in recovering Jaime. Unfortunately instead of an A for effort, Cersei is reprimanded for being unable to control Joffrey and reminded that such efforts resulted in this war and Jaime's capture in the first place.
In the Godswood, Margaery finds Sansa in prayer and seeks to know what she prays for. Sansa, clearly not knowing who to trust these days, is subtle with her desires. That is until Margaery befriends the young Stark, inviting her to see Highgarden one day and then asks if Sansa would like to be married to Loras Tyrell. And then right afterwards, my brain imploded for lack of book continuity - but then I got over it because I'm nice.
Winterfell:
Theon and his saving grace, a cleaning boy from Winterfell ride through Deepwood Motte where the boy claims Theon's sister Yara awaits him. The boy gives tales to Theon about how he too is Iron born and remembered the day when Theon was taken away from the Iron Islands to be a ward of Winterfell. Gaining Theon's trust, the boy learns that Theon never actually killed the young Stark boys. Once inside the castle where Yara supposedly awaits, Theon is sad to discover that he's actually back at the dungeon he escaped from earlier, and the boy who helped him is none other than Ramsay Snow - the Bastard of House Bolton!
And fans everywhere went, "HOLY SHIT!" in unison.
Elsewhere in the North, Bran continues to have dreams where he can not only walk and run, but climb again. I'm guessing because the actor was like, "OMG do I really have to keep sitting?! I was not told this when I got the part! I've literally been sitting for more than two seasons!" Or you know . . . something. Either that, or it's just a nice way to stab fans in the gut by reconnecting Bran with his family in his dreams. Previous dreams have shown Robb and Jon with him, and this one has Catelyn throw him from a tree, commanding him not to climb.
Across the Narrow Sea:
With her favored dragon on a long chain, Daenerys approaches the slaver, Kraznys to exchange Drogon for the 8,000 Unsullied. Jorah and Barristan both silently protest this decision, knowing that dragons will win her the Iron Throne, not slaves. But Dany does not listen as she hands over the leash holding her dragon, and receives the whip to command the great army.
After testing the army for a brief moment, Daenerys reveals to Kraznys that she speaks Valyrian (Ooo . . . probably shouldn't have called her a whore all those times, huh?) and then she orders the Unsullied army to free all the slaves in the city, and to massacre the slavers. With one final word, she reveals her true plan: Dracarys.
Obediently, Drogon fires down upon Kraznys and then with his brothers, takes to the sky setting the city of Astapor to flame. Now free men, the Unsullied are asked to join her of their own will in taking back the Seven Kingdoms. All slam their spears on the ground in unison as they march to battle.
Okay, so I've had a bit to complain about this season, but this moment they got so wonderfully. It's not perfect. Far from it. There are characters missing not to mention a few minor plot holes but I don't even care! Anytime Daenerys turns Stormborn, blood of Old Valyria, the Last of the Targaryens, everyone shouts in triumph at the massive destruction that's about to unfold.
Definitely and by far the best episode so far this season!
Favorite Character: Daenerys. Clearly.
Favorite Quote: This whole scene....
Kraznys: Tell the bitch that her beast won't come.Daenerys: A dragon is not a slave.Kraznys: You speak Valyrian?Daenerys: I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, of the blood of Old Valyria. Valyrian is my mother tongue. Unsullied! Slay the masters, slay the soldiers, slay every man who holds a whip, but harm no child. Strike the chains off every slave you see!Kraznys: I am your master! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!Daenerys: Dracarys.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Game of Thrones: Welcome to Season Three
Hello folks! I'm Untypically Jia, wife of The Amazing Spider-Matt. Since ASM also works full time and there's a ton of girly shit to occasionally cover in the wide world of geek, he's permitted me to guest post from time to time. With the weekly slot on this blog left empty by the season finale of The Walking Dead, I've opted to recap and review Game of Thrones.
And as we all know, this is not a spoiler-free zone.
Saved at sea, Davos eventually makes his way back to Stannis' side - which as usual is attached to Melissandre. In an attempt to out her as an enemy to the crown, Davos ends up securing his own arrest. No one puts Melissandre in a corner.
Elsewhere in the Riverlands, Arya, Gendry and Hotpie travel away from Harrenhal, hoping to seek refuge in Riverrun. Unfortunately they meet the Brotherhood Without Banners first, and are threatened into going with them for a short time. When they're found not to be kidnapped persay, the three misfits are eager to leave, that is until The Hound (who has been captured by the Brothers) identifies Arya. Eventually, Gendry and Arya move on with the Brotherhood, leaving HotPie behind as a baker at a local inn.
Tune in next week for my recap and review of episode four, "And Now His Watch Is Ended" which sounds like a basket full of puppies and rainbows!
And as we all know, this is not a spoiler-free zone.
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The quick catch up.
There have been three episodes aired since season three premiered ("Valar Dohaeris", "Dark Wings, Dark Words", and "Walk of Punishment") and instead of giving a long drawn out description of each, I thought I'd just catch you up on what's happened so far in each of the Seven Kingdoms (plus whatever Daenerys does across the Narrow Sea.)
Fist of the First Men:
Season three brings us right back to where we were left at the end of season two. You remember season two right? Big fucking ice zombies. Caught up? Good. Post battle sequence that I assume was omitted due to the budget being spent on dragons, the Nightswatch - sans Jon Snow - is licking their wounds while Samwell Tarly attempts to catch up with his brothers. Commander Mormont asks if Sam sent the ravens, their only means for backup and help - to which he confesses that no, no he didn't.
The Nightswatch continues making their way back to the wall, Sam deciding to fall down from time to time being either heckled by his fellow crows or forced to keep going by his brothers and Commander. Once back at Crasters Keep, we're reminded for about the twentieth time that Sam is fat (sigh) and then he sneaks off to watch Gilly give birth to a boy. And we all know what Craster does with the boys.
King Beyond the Wall:
While the Wildling scene isn't at all what I pictured in my head while reading the books, I was easily distracted by the amazing Ciaran Fucking Hinds. For those who know me, I have a massive love for ancient Rome, and to have Julius Caesar himself playing the King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder . . . just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Jon meets Mance and confesses his "reasons" to join Mance and is met with equal amounts of friendship and threats of death should he turn out to be a liar.
Jon then gets to meet Giants and Wargs and Wildlings, Oh My! The warg was added in to explain how humans are able to see through the eyes of animals - so thankfully we now know what to call Bran (and several other characters if you follow the books). After reaching the Fist themselves to find White Walker art in the form of dead horses, Mance orders Jon sent with a group to Castle Black, where they'll climb the wall and attack the Nightswatch.
Jon Snow has been one of my favourite characters since the beginning of the show (and the books) and I'm disappointed that they aren't spending more time with his story and his relationship with Mance and Ygritte. I'm hopeful for more time in coming episodes, and as a fan of book and show I understand that sacrifices have to be made to keep the story moving.
Kings Landing:
If you've forgotten that Game of Thrones offers mass amounts of nudity in the shape of whores, then welcome to Kings Landing! Despite Tywin Lannisters distaste for whores (and smiling), there are hookers aplenty in the first few episodes.
A distraught Tyrion seeks to visit with his father - who has yet to visit him despite his wounds gained from the Battle of Blackwater. Once father and son are reunited, Tyrion states his rightful claim on Casterly Rock seeing that Jaime is ineligable as a members of the Kings Guard (not to mention currently missing), and Cersei is a girl. Tywin goes off on a rant about how worthless Tyrion is, how he killed his mother, how he's nothing but a whoremonger and only still alive because he's a Lannister. While watching this moment, I turned to Matt and said, "Hey remember a few years ago when I was reading the books and I came out of the bedroom, threw the book across the room and screamed, 'You fucker!'? That was essentially because of this scene."
As if Tyrion doesn't have anything else to worry about, he's given Littlefingers job as Baelish is now preparing to wed Lysa Arryn and leave Kings Landing. Not only that, but Cersei seems to be constantly up his ass having a flashback of sibling rivalry. Having Tywin in the capital is providing Cersei and Tyrion with some great scenes!
Back to whores.
Master of Coin and Whores, Baelish approaches Sansa to inform her of his need to have sex with her since her mother is no longer an option thoughts on getting her out of Kings Landing. Ros and Shae catch up to the side where Ros warns Shae about Baelish getting too close to Sansa. When bringing the subject up with Tyrion, Shae has a temper tantrum (that apparently only a blow job can fix) about Tyrion commenting on Sansa's beauty and how suitors will be looking to marry her now that she's no longer betrothed to Joffrey.
And speaking of the reason Sansa's free . . . Margaery Tyrell. Damn. I remember people being all pissy when she was cast as the young Queen to be due to her age, but damn. I'm reminded of how much I loved the first few seasons of The Tudors because she knows how to play that coy, smart, seductive woman who knows how to play men really, really well.
She also knows how to dress for her man and play with orphan children, all things that really get under Cersei's skin. In addition to her many skills, Margaery can apparently use weapons to spark what little sexuality Joffrey might actually have in him, and all this without getting beaten.
Assuming that Margaery learned her skills from her Grandmother, as we're introduced to the great Queen of Thorns who chastises her Cheese Boy while coaxing Sansa kindly to tell the tales of Joffreys greatest sins. I love the Tyrells. They're so smart and clearly not afraid of even the Lannisters.
Dragon Stone:
The Onion Knight lives! But he's lost his fingers! Again.
Saved at sea, Davos eventually makes his way back to Stannis' side - which as usual is attached to Melissandre. In an attempt to out her as an enemy to the crown, Davos ends up securing his own arrest. No one puts Melissandre in a corner.
But the red woman isn't so ready to stand by her man, as she's got plans to leave Dragon Stone for a while. Stannis throws a hissy fit and begs her for another creepy smokey shadow baby. Cause apparently this King likes to fight his own battles, unless he can have his mistress give birth to demons to do it for him.
I honestly think they're going to be changing the story a bit with her and Stannis from the books, because I have no idea what's about to happen.
Harrenhal / Riverrun:
One of my favorite jokes is by Mitch Hedberg. "They say Diet Dr Pepper tastes just like regular Dr Pepper. Well, then, they fucked up!"
This is probably the best way to describe what the show is doing with Robb and Cat Stark.
Robb married a girl who was not his betrothed last season. Well guess what? She's ALSO not the same girl he married in the books. He ALSO married her in the wrong order. Cat ALSO let Jaime out of prison in the wrong order. Cat ALSO goes to Riverrun where he father lays dying.
But the show takes us through Harrenhal where Robb can see first hand what the war is doing to people, making an extra note to add that Cat is still technically under house arrest for treason. Eventually word reaches them that Theon possibly killed Bran and Rickon, not to mention that apparently Cat's father, Hoster Tully is already dead.
Robb's new fake wife has a conversation with Cat where Lady Stark confesses some tale about how she wished Jon Snow would die when he was a kid, and then when he got sick she begged the Gods to spare his life, and promised to love him as a mother should. But then that didn't happen. It's okay though, because this is one of those fun parts of the show that also didn't happen in the book! It puts this strange guilt on Cat who thinks that everything bad that's ever happened to her family is because she couldn't love Jon. Because as we all know, if Cat had loved Jon, Joffrey would have grown into a nice young man, Jon Arryn would never have died pushing Ned to become Hand of the King, and Bran would be able to walk. Oh wait, none of that's true.
When the group reaches Riverrun for the funeral, Cat says to her uncle, the Blackfish, "I should have been here with him." To which I screamed at the TV, "YOU WERE!!!" The few redeemable bits in Riverrun are Edmure Tully's inability to shoot an arrow, lead an army or follow Rob's orders.
Elsewhere in the Riverlands, Arya, Gendry and Hotpie travel away from Harrenhal, hoping to seek refuge in Riverrun. Unfortunately they meet the Brotherhood Without Banners first, and are threatened into going with them for a short time. When they're found not to be kidnapped persay, the three misfits are eager to leave, that is until The Hound (who has been captured by the Brothers) identifies Arya. Eventually, Gendry and Arya move on with the Brotherhood, leaving HotPie behind as a baker at a local inn.
Winterfell and Beyond:
Remember Theon? Well in the books he does this really cool trick by disappearing for a really long time so you don't have to listen to him bitch and moan about how everything is terrible in his life. And instead, on the show we get to watch his terrible life. House Bolton's symbol is a flayed man. Nuff said I think. Oh except someone helps him escape and now I'm annoyed again.
But don't think House Bolton is happy just torturing Theon! A small band of Bolton bannermen come upon Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister fighting on a bridge after Jaime swiftly pulled a sword from Brienne only to get beat down by Brienne the Beauty.
The two are identified by a random passerby who recognized Jaime, and the Bolton Bannermen capture the two, eager to bring them back to Robb Stark - but not before attempting to rape Brienne (who is saved by the words of Jaime) and then cutting of the hand of the Kingslayer.
Luckily, Bran, Osha, Rickon and Hodor ("Hodor!") continue to flee away from Winterfell. Bran continues to have warg dreams where he's in Summer's body, only sometimes the three-eyed raven returns, and now another boy has joined his little dreamland. The boy, who Bran soon meets face to face is Jojen Reed (a fellow seer) and his sister Meera, children of Howland Reed who was a great friend of Ned Stark. The Reeds are soon let into the group after Jojen makes friends with Summer.
Across the Narrow Sea:
Dany and her dragons.
I'm really sad that the emotions of the book are so often overlooked in the show. Do you know the names of Dany's dragons? I do, because I read the book. Because they are important! Rhaegal, named for her brother Rhaegar. Viserys, named for her brother Viserys. And Drogon, named for her beloved Drogo. This shit is important! She constantly mentions how they are her children, and yet they don't apparently have names in common conversation?!
I digress. Dany and her small Khalasar reach Astapor where she intends to purchase a slave army. But not just ANY slave army. We're talking super soldiers who kill babies and puppies and don't need nipples or testicles! Men who are trained from birth to not feel pain and to obey regardless of command. An army that Dany needs to take back the Iron Throne. An army - as Jorah points out - that won't rape, or murder innocent people as long as she commands them not to.
But there's one small problem for Jorah, and that comes in the form of Ser Barriston Selmy himself! Having been kicked out of Joffrey's Kings Guard two seasons ago, Barristan the Bold reappears across the Narrow Sea to find the rightful ruler of the seven kingdoms. He begs forgiveness from Daenerys, and pleads to join her Queens Guard, eventually proving to be a thorn in Jorah's side. Because hey, this Targaryen only has room for one really old creepy stalker who secretly wants to nail her.
Dany however can't deal with their pety fighting, because she's got some negotiating to do. 8,000 Unsullied Slave Warrior, plus whoever they've still got in training. Oh but the cost is so dearly, and the slave trader knows it. In addition to calling Dany a filthy whore and a beggar Queen in his own language (with the slave Missandei politely translating) he reminds Dany that she cannot afford a handful of the Unsullied. And so the Mother of Dragons makes an offer - one of her dragons, in exchange for the army.
GASP! dun Dun DUN!
Tune in next week for my recap and review of episode four, "And Now His Watch Is Ended" which sounds like a basket full of puppies and rainbows!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Welcome to the Tombs: The Walking Dead Finale Review
You should know this by now but if you don't this post contains full episode spoilers, please enjoy at your own risk.
A lot of people have asked me how I felt about this episode as I have been outspoken in my distaste for Andrea on the show. I honestly have to say that she is one of my favorite characters in the comic - until recently, as she's been kind of relegated to the background and has had nothing interesting to do or say so they've paired her with Rick. I dont have a problem with the relationship, Lori was unfaithful and she has been dead for quite a while in the comics, I just think at this point she's not being fully utilized. Regardless, I loved this episode, it surprised me.
The episode opens on a first person view of The Governor punching at the camera and making disparaging remarks while doing so, really making it feel like The Governor is kicking our collective asses. The camera pulls out to show its not Andrea he's giving the business to but Milton, who doesn't look like he knows how to take a punch. The Gov let's him know he knows he torched the walkers in the hole, and he ain't happy. Govvy gives Milt the option to make it up to him though and hands him a pretty big blade.
He leads poor bloody Milton to Andrea's kennel and tells Milt he can come out when Andrea is dead. Milton wheels on the Governor to stab him but is too slow and nerdy. The Gov catches the blade easily and spins Milton into a wall and shanks him - prison style - repeatedly, leaving him to bleed out in front of Andrea. Milton will now turn, and as a zombie will likely snack on the handcuffed and helpless and poorly implemented Andrea. The Governor was right about one thing: Milton won't be leaving without killing Andrea, he just won't be alive himself.
The Gov loads up his attack force without a second thought given to Andrea or Milton, and apparently the rest of the town. Tyrese has no inclination to head off and fight Rick's group and offers to stay and protect the women and children staying behind. Without this offer the town would've been defenseless during the attack on the prison. Great leadership there Phillip, (Governor's real name).
The Woodbury folks show up at the prison with a literal bang, launching rockets and grenades into the guard towers and storm in. The Governor leads the charge in and they clear room by room slowly realizing Rick's group vammed the moose a while ago. As this realization sets in, in a confined hallway tear gas grenades land among the Woodburians' feet forcing them to run out of the prison for air, where they are fired upon by riot geared Maggie and Glenn. The Woodbury folks run back to their vehicles for safety where they find the rocket and grenade launchers as well as the mounted machine guns have all been disabled. They do the smart thing and high tail it out, leaving an asthmatic kid behind.
The kid makes his way into the forest around the prison and happens upon the prison groups women and children guarded by an armed Carl. The kid surrenders and Carl wastes him anyway. I really love Carl and so far I am excited to see that he's pretty much the only character on pace with his comic book counter part.
We catch up with the Gov who is enraged that his people ran. He has drives ahead of the lead car and screeches to a halt. Everyone unloads from their vehicles and he asks them what the hell they're doing running away. The lady who has been most opposed to the militia this whole time deems the attack a massacre (despite none of their people dying at the prison, as far as she's aware anyway) and gets other people to walk away with her to head back to Woodbury. The Gov has had enough of whiney villagers and opens fire on the townsfolk killing all but his two loyal henchmen, the large black guy, "Bowman", and the kinda weasely Martinez. The Gov walks out into the field of bodies and finishes off a few stragglers and we see the whiney lady alive and using a dead body to hide under, the sole survivor of an unwilling army.
Rick assembles his troops at the prison and surveys any damage done. Hershel tattles to Rick that Carl is a little badass and killed a dude. Rick checks with Carl who claims the kid was pointing a gun and Hershel tells Rick that it was cold blood, that the kid was surrendering. (Still following? Sorry for the he said she said bit there.)
Rick suddenly wants to be seen as a concerned father and interviews Carl as to why he's so awesome. Carl lays it out straight. Every time they let someone live, someone else dies. Back in season 2 Carl left a zombie alive and it killed Dale. They let the Gov run around and he killed Merle and Axel. Not to mention one of the prisoners they let live in the first half of season 3 that used zombies as weapons and it led to T-Dog (miss you dawg) and Lori (no big loss) getting dead. Carl is a stone killer, and with good reason. God, I love that kid.
Rick ends his bid for father of the year by choosing (again) to do nothing with Carl, and gathers Daryl and Michonne to head to Woodbury and finish things. When they arrive they're fired upon and fire back at Tyrese and his sister guarding the gates. Rick yells out he's coming out and not gonna fire. Daryl clearly doesn't like not firing but silently follows, as does Michonne. They have a quick conversation and its revealed that Andrea left and was headed for the prison and Rick lets loose she never arrived. Since Rick sprung Glen and Maggie he knows just where to look for prisoners and they quickly locate Andrea.
Andrea, who appears to be incapable of multitasking and therefore unable to attempt to free herself and talk to the dying Milton, has got herself bit by the zombified Milton. I guess if you like Andrea this is sad. For me I'm so indifferent to her now that I don't give a shit and her tear filled moment with Michonne was lost on me. Yet again Andrea elects to kill herself (see season 1 episode 6). If only Dale hadn't been so stubborn we could've not had any Andrea the last 2 seasons and the viewers/humanity would've been the better for it. This "sacrifice" leading to Andrea's death, lead to no one at the prison dying during the Governor kerfuffle, which believe you me, in the comics was nowhere near as bloodless.
We see the prison a short while later with a bus pulling up, in it along with Rick are Tyrese and his sister, are all the people from Woodbury that were left behind. I like Rick, I understand his motivations and I love The Walking Dead, but here's where I differ in a zombie apocalypse situation. Rick is now taking in all the people too weak/old/sick/young to be deemed able to defend themselves by the asshole Governor who forced an asthmatic kid and 70 year old woman with arthritis to fight. I hate to put a value on human life, but how worthless are these people in the zombie apocolypse?
Yep. That's how season 3 ends. Not with a bang but with a whimper. The Governor has high tailed it and Rick has more than tripled his people. Had Rick not shown up the people at Woodbury would have been left to fend for themselves with only Tyrese to defend them. Well the action was great but the end was not everything it could have been. Season three had much more action than season 2 but season 2's ending was far and away better.
Best Character: Carl. Every time he's got screen time I can stop my self from saying, "He's the one that should've been named little ass kicker."
Best Kill: Well, the only kills aside from Carl are the Governor's, and he's a team killin' asshole, who woulda been kicked if he was to play CoD or Halo. That being said, he's stone cold and Rick shoulda killed him when he had the chance.
Well that's it for The Walking Dead, I'll be picking up the show again in October but I may run a review of the blu-ray when it drops in August.
Let me know what you thought of the season finale in the comments below.
-ASM out.
---
A lot of people have asked me how I felt about this episode as I have been outspoken in my distaste for Andrea on the show. I honestly have to say that she is one of my favorite characters in the comic - until recently, as she's been kind of relegated to the background and has had nothing interesting to do or say so they've paired her with Rick. I dont have a problem with the relationship, Lori was unfaithful and she has been dead for quite a while in the comics, I just think at this point she's not being fully utilized. Regardless, I loved this episode, it surprised me.
The episode opens on a first person view of The Governor punching at the camera and making disparaging remarks while doing so, really making it feel like The Governor is kicking our collective asses. The camera pulls out to show its not Andrea he's giving the business to but Milton, who doesn't look like he knows how to take a punch. The Gov let's him know he knows he torched the walkers in the hole, and he ain't happy. Govvy gives Milt the option to make it up to him though and hands him a pretty big blade.
He leads poor bloody Milton to Andrea's kennel and tells Milt he can come out when Andrea is dead. Milton wheels on the Governor to stab him but is too slow and nerdy. The Gov catches the blade easily and spins Milton into a wall and shanks him - prison style - repeatedly, leaving him to bleed out in front of Andrea. Milton will now turn, and as a zombie will likely snack on the handcuffed and helpless and poorly implemented Andrea. The Governor was right about one thing: Milton won't be leaving without killing Andrea, he just won't be alive himself.
The Gov loads up his attack force without a second thought given to Andrea or Milton, and apparently the rest of the town. Tyrese has no inclination to head off and fight Rick's group and offers to stay and protect the women and children staying behind. Without this offer the town would've been defenseless during the attack on the prison. Great leadership there Phillip, (Governor's real name).
The Woodbury folks show up at the prison with a literal bang, launching rockets and grenades into the guard towers and storm in. The Governor leads the charge in and they clear room by room slowly realizing Rick's group vammed the moose a while ago. As this realization sets in, in a confined hallway tear gas grenades land among the Woodburians' feet forcing them to run out of the prison for air, where they are fired upon by riot geared Maggie and Glenn. The Woodbury folks run back to their vehicles for safety where they find the rocket and grenade launchers as well as the mounted machine guns have all been disabled. They do the smart thing and high tail it out, leaving an asthmatic kid behind.
The kid makes his way into the forest around the prison and happens upon the prison groups women and children guarded by an armed Carl. The kid surrenders and Carl wastes him anyway. I really love Carl and so far I am excited to see that he's pretty much the only character on pace with his comic book counter part.
We catch up with the Gov who is enraged that his people ran. He has drives ahead of the lead car and screeches to a halt. Everyone unloads from their vehicles and he asks them what the hell they're doing running away. The lady who has been most opposed to the militia this whole time deems the attack a massacre (despite none of their people dying at the prison, as far as she's aware anyway) and gets other people to walk away with her to head back to Woodbury. The Gov has had enough of whiney villagers and opens fire on the townsfolk killing all but his two loyal henchmen, the large black guy, "Bowman", and the kinda weasely Martinez. The Gov walks out into the field of bodies and finishes off a few stragglers and we see the whiney lady alive and using a dead body to hide under, the sole survivor of an unwilling army.
Rick assembles his troops at the prison and surveys any damage done. Hershel tattles to Rick that Carl is a little badass and killed a dude. Rick checks with Carl who claims the kid was pointing a gun and Hershel tells Rick that it was cold blood, that the kid was surrendering. (Still following? Sorry for the he said she said bit there.)
Rick suddenly wants to be seen as a concerned father and interviews Carl as to why he's so awesome. Carl lays it out straight. Every time they let someone live, someone else dies. Back in season 2 Carl left a zombie alive and it killed Dale. They let the Gov run around and he killed Merle and Axel. Not to mention one of the prisoners they let live in the first half of season 3 that used zombies as weapons and it led to T-Dog (miss you dawg) and Lori (no big loss) getting dead. Carl is a stone killer, and with good reason. God, I love that kid.
Rick ends his bid for father of the year by choosing (again) to do nothing with Carl, and gathers Daryl and Michonne to head to Woodbury and finish things. When they arrive they're fired upon and fire back at Tyrese and his sister guarding the gates. Rick yells out he's coming out and not gonna fire. Daryl clearly doesn't like not firing but silently follows, as does Michonne. They have a quick conversation and its revealed that Andrea left and was headed for the prison and Rick lets loose she never arrived. Since Rick sprung Glen and Maggie he knows just where to look for prisoners and they quickly locate Andrea.
Andrea, who appears to be incapable of multitasking and therefore unable to attempt to free herself and talk to the dying Milton, has got herself bit by the zombified Milton. I guess if you like Andrea this is sad. For me I'm so indifferent to her now that I don't give a shit and her tear filled moment with Michonne was lost on me. Yet again Andrea elects to kill herself (see season 1 episode 6). If only Dale hadn't been so stubborn we could've not had any Andrea the last 2 seasons and the viewers/humanity would've been the better for it. This "sacrifice" leading to Andrea's death, lead to no one at the prison dying during the Governor kerfuffle, which believe you me, in the comics was nowhere near as bloodless.
We see the prison a short while later with a bus pulling up, in it along with Rick are Tyrese and his sister, are all the people from Woodbury that were left behind. I like Rick, I understand his motivations and I love The Walking Dead, but here's where I differ in a zombie apocalypse situation. Rick is now taking in all the people too weak/old/sick/young to be deemed able to defend themselves by the asshole Governor who forced an asthmatic kid and 70 year old woman with arthritis to fight. I hate to put a value on human life, but how worthless are these people in the zombie apocolypse?
Yep. That's how season 3 ends. Not with a bang but with a whimper. The Governor has high tailed it and Rick has more than tripled his people. Had Rick not shown up the people at Woodbury would have been left to fend for themselves with only Tyrese to defend them. Well the action was great but the end was not everything it could have been. Season three had much more action than season 2 but season 2's ending was far and away better.
Best Character: Carl. Every time he's got screen time I can stop my self from saying, "He's the one that should've been named little ass kicker."
Best Kill: Well, the only kills aside from Carl are the Governor's, and he's a team killin' asshole, who woulda been kicked if he was to play CoD or Halo. That being said, he's stone cold and Rick shoulda killed him when he had the chance.
Well that's it for The Walking Dead, I'll be picking up the show again in October but I may run a review of the blu-ray when it drops in August.
Let me know what you thought of the season finale in the comments below.
-ASM out.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Prey and This Sorrowful Life: A Walking Dead Two-Fer
You should know this by now but if you don't this post contains full episode spoilers, please enjoy at your own risk.
I have to be honest to myself first and foremost, and then second I have to honest to my readership. I didn't initially want to review or talk about the episode before last, Prey.
To me it was the worst episode of this season, and not just because I don't like the handling of Andrea's character (which can only be explained as "fucking mishandled") but because it was such a filler episode. Prey had no character development and no change in the status quo for the characters involved. However I will have a brief synopsis and my favorite moments. Since it will be short I am including the next episode as well and include headers to tell the difference.
Prey
We start the episode in Woodbury with Milton sharing with Andrea The Governor's secret: he plans to slaughter the prison group if and when they show up to trade Michonne for their safety. Milton also shows Andrea the torture chamber Govvy has prepared for Michonne's return. Andrea decides to return to the prison to warn the group. At this point with all her dumbass decisions I'm not sure that after delivering the message that she wouldn't return to Woodbury again.
Andrea's story kind of stalls out as she hops the wall in front of Tyrese and his sister and goes on foot to see the group. Ultimately after some decidedly creepy cat and mouse hunting of her by The Governor, he recaptures her just outside the prison gates, and good old "sees-dead-people Rick" catches a potential sight of her for a brief second before she's tackled by The Governor and Rick dismisses it as lingering crazy.
The episode ends with Andrea tied to the torture chair. My wife turned to me and said at this moment "I feel like if this had been a character I gave a shit about this episode would've been super tense."
Exactly baby. Exactly.
There is a bit of a side story with Tyrese and his people and their reaction to Andrea running and Tyrese's group telling him to report her and to stop making waves and get in line with Woodbury's rules. Tyrese is taken along with his group to "prep" for the attack on the prison people. This preparation consists of stopping by a large hole in the ground that is being used as a pit to trap/hold zombies and Tyrese objects to use the zombies as a weapon toward the other survivors. This causes a fight with his people again and stirs shit with The Gov.
These zombies are eventually torched, burned alive (undead?) by Milton. A fact the governor has figured out, but hasn't acted on. . . Yet.
Favorite Kill: Gov chops up a Zombie head with a shovel. Disgusting, but great.
Character of the Episode: Tyrese. He don't take no shit.
Favorite Line: Wasn't words, Governors whistle while hunting Andrea, so haunting, great stuff.
This Sorrowful Life AKA AMC makes you feel sorry for a one handed racist asshole
I gotta get this outta the way first: it feels like this episode moved backwards and not in a good way. In the episode: Arrow in the Doorpost, Rick tells Hershel he knows that the offer to give up Michonne is a blatant trap, but this episode opens with Rick telling Daryl that he has decided to give up Michonne.
Now I'm all about letting crazy people change their minds (I mean I did marry a woman, amirite fellas?!) but it feels like the show isn't developing plot lines, it just opens with no preamble and we just have to accept it as it comes. This happened a few weeks ago when we were told mid-episode that Andrea setup the meet between Rick and The Gov but we did not see that happen during her visit to the prison. I don't like a show assuming I'm stupid and that I won't notice the fleece over my eyes.
That out of the way, I loved this episode. Perfect blend of story and zombie/human killin' action.
So, after Rick tells Daryl his decision to give up Michonne he moves on Merle. Merle sizes up Rick (correctly as it seems) as not having the stones to give Michonne over to the megalomaniacal Governor. Regardless, Merle sets the scene for the Michonne abduction advising Rick of the best way to fuck her over - using wire rather than rope so she can't chew her way free. Rick goes on the hunt.
Rick announces to everyone - but Michonne - his intentions on giving her away to The Governor to mostly disapporving looks, especially from Carl. Later Daryl goes looking for Merle and finds him downstairs. Merle seems to be hiding something but starts ripping into Daryl's lack of interest in leadership eventually driving him away. After Daryl leaves we see that Merle has been a busy little rascist and he has made a little kidnap kit. At the same time we see Rick gathering supplies and - after hallucinating a disapproving Lori - changes his mind again (bitches be tripping', right Rick?) to not harm the incredibly useful Michonne.
Merle takes it upon himself (what with not getting talked to by the flip flopping Rick) to take the hostage situation upon himslf and creates a fake zombie problem after getting Michonne alone. He goes all caveman on her, clubbing her, and after dispatching a few of the zombies, drags her away.
Rick finds Daryl first and reports his new outlook immediately to America's favorite crossbow wielding survivor. Daryl accepts the change like water off a ducks ass, just as its reported that Michonne is missing . . . and so is Merle. Daryl heads out after Merle on his own after getting a jab in on Rick about his terrible tracking skills (everyone remembers Sophia died alone in a forest because of Rick right? That happened) and everyone gets a little happy because we haven't seen a crossbow kill in a couple episodes.
Merle, the honey badger he is, apparently doesn't care about getting tracked as he's walking Michonne down a dirt road letting her lead as he's got a wire line leading from her to him, and her katana. He takes her to a hotel and ties her to a post as he starts to hotwire a car. The car's alarm starts to go off as the one handed madman works on the car, signaling a mini herd to show up. Merle stays hot wiring and let's Michonne fend for herself for a bit, which she does quite well stomping the head of one and using her wire to garrote another. Eventually Merle does jump to the rescue using her sword to cut her free. They get in the stolen (is it stealing from zombie owners?) car and speed away.
Michonne pleads her case with Merle appealing to the man he was before the zombies. Merle somewhat proudly talks about how he's killed 16 men since the outbreak. Michonne asks how many before. None. How about after the zombie but before The Gov? None. Maybe Merle isn't so bad and The Governor changes people; makes them like him. Merle lets Michonne go and gives her back her sword and let's her know he's got a mission to do.
Merle gets to a bar and finally gets that whiskey he's been wanting. He cranks the radio and draw in some zombies and leads them to where the meet between Rick and The Governor was supposed to be. Bailing out of the car Merle hits the ground running, letting the zombies pass him by, they follow the car as he heads into a warehouse. The Governor's men respond to the radio blaring from the car and find about 20 zombies or so waiting; they open fire. As they fire upon the zombies, Merle fires upon them, hurting them enough to put them down and let the zombies finish them off.
Merle finally sees The Governor and takes aim. Aas he fires, one of Tyrese's group unknowingly steps in front of the bullet saving The Governor. Merle gets attacked by a zombie coming from his blind side and while killing it he falls through a door exposing his location. The Governor lays in and kicks the shit out of him. Merle gets a hit or two in and it looks ok for a second until The Governor bites off two of Merle's fingers on the remaining hand! Merle says he'll never forfeit, so The Gov shoots Merle in the chest.
Undisclosed time passes, Daryl has tracked Merle to the meeting location were he finds a zombified Merle munching on the member of Tyrese's group he previously shot.
Daryl's heartbreaking reaction to seeing his brother is the reason I love this show and continue to watch. The human drama of The Walking Dead is amazing. Daryl realizes that he can't leave without ending his brother's existence, a problem that zombie-Merle hastens by attacking the grief stricken Daryl. During their struggle the brothers end up on the ground and Daryl repeatedly stabs Zom-Merle in the face. Daryl is alive and well and we bid adieu to his racist asshole kin.
Favorite Kill: Definitely zombie-Merle with a close second to the kills that Live-Merle got in his rampage against The Governors men. Also close third to Michonne's bound hands kills. Man she's a bad ass.
Character of the Episode: Daryl. How can I not put him up here? He had to kill his older brother. Stone cold man.
See you here again shortly for the finale review.
Any comments question shit talking do so in the appropriate area below.
-ASM out.
---
I have to be honest to myself first and foremost, and then second I have to honest to my readership. I didn't initially want to review or talk about the episode before last, Prey.
To me it was the worst episode of this season, and not just because I don't like the handling of Andrea's character (which can only be explained as "fucking mishandled") but because it was such a filler episode. Prey had no character development and no change in the status quo for the characters involved. However I will have a brief synopsis and my favorite moments. Since it will be short I am including the next episode as well and include headers to tell the difference.
Prey
We start the episode in Woodbury with Milton sharing with Andrea The Governor's secret: he plans to slaughter the prison group if and when they show up to trade Michonne for their safety. Milton also shows Andrea the torture chamber Govvy has prepared for Michonne's return. Andrea decides to return to the prison to warn the group. At this point with all her dumbass decisions I'm not sure that after delivering the message that she wouldn't return to Woodbury again.
Andrea's story kind of stalls out as she hops the wall in front of Tyrese and his sister and goes on foot to see the group. Ultimately after some decidedly creepy cat and mouse hunting of her by The Governor, he recaptures her just outside the prison gates, and good old "sees-dead-people Rick" catches a potential sight of her for a brief second before she's tackled by The Governor and Rick dismisses it as lingering crazy.
The episode ends with Andrea tied to the torture chair. My wife turned to me and said at this moment "I feel like if this had been a character I gave a shit about this episode would've been super tense."
Exactly baby. Exactly.
There is a bit of a side story with Tyrese and his people and their reaction to Andrea running and Tyrese's group telling him to report her and to stop making waves and get in line with Woodbury's rules. Tyrese is taken along with his group to "prep" for the attack on the prison people. This preparation consists of stopping by a large hole in the ground that is being used as a pit to trap/hold zombies and Tyrese objects to use the zombies as a weapon toward the other survivors. This causes a fight with his people again and stirs shit with The Gov.
These zombies are eventually torched, burned alive (undead?) by Milton. A fact the governor has figured out, but hasn't acted on. . . Yet.
Favorite Kill: Gov chops up a Zombie head with a shovel. Disgusting, but great.
Character of the Episode: Tyrese. He don't take no shit.
Favorite Line: Wasn't words, Governors whistle while hunting Andrea, so haunting, great stuff.
---
This Sorrowful Life AKA AMC makes you feel sorry for a one handed racist asshole
I gotta get this outta the way first: it feels like this episode moved backwards and not in a good way. In the episode: Arrow in the Doorpost, Rick tells Hershel he knows that the offer to give up Michonne is a blatant trap, but this episode opens with Rick telling Daryl that he has decided to give up Michonne.
Now I'm all about letting crazy people change their minds (I mean I did marry a woman, amirite fellas?!) but it feels like the show isn't developing plot lines, it just opens with no preamble and we just have to accept it as it comes. This happened a few weeks ago when we were told mid-episode that Andrea setup the meet between Rick and The Gov but we did not see that happen during her visit to the prison. I don't like a show assuming I'm stupid and that I won't notice the fleece over my eyes.
That out of the way, I loved this episode. Perfect blend of story and zombie/human killin' action.
So, after Rick tells Daryl his decision to give up Michonne he moves on Merle. Merle sizes up Rick (correctly as it seems) as not having the stones to give Michonne over to the megalomaniacal Governor. Regardless, Merle sets the scene for the Michonne abduction advising Rick of the best way to fuck her over - using wire rather than rope so she can't chew her way free. Rick goes on the hunt.
Rick announces to everyone - but Michonne - his intentions on giving her away to The Governor to mostly disapporving looks, especially from Carl. Later Daryl goes looking for Merle and finds him downstairs. Merle seems to be hiding something but starts ripping into Daryl's lack of interest in leadership eventually driving him away. After Daryl leaves we see that Merle has been a busy little rascist and he has made a little kidnap kit. At the same time we see Rick gathering supplies and - after hallucinating a disapproving Lori - changes his mind again (bitches be tripping', right Rick?) to not harm the incredibly useful Michonne.
Merle takes it upon himself (what with not getting talked to by the flip flopping Rick) to take the hostage situation upon himslf and creates a fake zombie problem after getting Michonne alone. He goes all caveman on her, clubbing her, and after dispatching a few of the zombies, drags her away.
Rick finds Daryl first and reports his new outlook immediately to America's favorite crossbow wielding survivor. Daryl accepts the change like water off a ducks ass, just as its reported that Michonne is missing . . . and so is Merle. Daryl heads out after Merle on his own after getting a jab in on Rick about his terrible tracking skills (everyone remembers Sophia died alone in a forest because of Rick right? That happened) and everyone gets a little happy because we haven't seen a crossbow kill in a couple episodes.
Merle, the honey badger he is, apparently doesn't care about getting tracked as he's walking Michonne down a dirt road letting her lead as he's got a wire line leading from her to him, and her katana. He takes her to a hotel and ties her to a post as he starts to hotwire a car. The car's alarm starts to go off as the one handed madman works on the car, signaling a mini herd to show up. Merle stays hot wiring and let's Michonne fend for herself for a bit, which she does quite well stomping the head of one and using her wire to garrote another. Eventually Merle does jump to the rescue using her sword to cut her free. They get in the stolen (is it stealing from zombie owners?) car and speed away.
Michonne pleads her case with Merle appealing to the man he was before the zombies. Merle somewhat proudly talks about how he's killed 16 men since the outbreak. Michonne asks how many before. None. How about after the zombie but before The Gov? None. Maybe Merle isn't so bad and The Governor changes people; makes them like him. Merle lets Michonne go and gives her back her sword and let's her know he's got a mission to do.
Merle gets to a bar and finally gets that whiskey he's been wanting. He cranks the radio and draw in some zombies and leads them to where the meet between Rick and The Governor was supposed to be. Bailing out of the car Merle hits the ground running, letting the zombies pass him by, they follow the car as he heads into a warehouse. The Governor's men respond to the radio blaring from the car and find about 20 zombies or so waiting; they open fire. As they fire upon the zombies, Merle fires upon them, hurting them enough to put them down and let the zombies finish them off.
Merle finally sees The Governor and takes aim. Aas he fires, one of Tyrese's group unknowingly steps in front of the bullet saving The Governor. Merle gets attacked by a zombie coming from his blind side and while killing it he falls through a door exposing his location. The Governor lays in and kicks the shit out of him. Merle gets a hit or two in and it looks ok for a second until The Governor bites off two of Merle's fingers on the remaining hand! Merle says he'll never forfeit, so The Gov shoots Merle in the chest.
Undisclosed time passes, Daryl has tracked Merle to the meeting location were he finds a zombified Merle munching on the member of Tyrese's group he previously shot.
Daryl's heartbreaking reaction to seeing his brother is the reason I love this show and continue to watch. The human drama of The Walking Dead is amazing. Daryl realizes that he can't leave without ending his brother's existence, a problem that zombie-Merle hastens by attacking the grief stricken Daryl. During their struggle the brothers end up on the ground and Daryl repeatedly stabs Zom-Merle in the face. Daryl is alive and well and we bid adieu to his racist asshole kin.
Favorite Kill: Definitely zombie-Merle with a close second to the kills that Live-Merle got in his rampage against The Governors men. Also close third to Michonne's bound hands kills. Man she's a bad ass.
Character of the Episode: Daryl. How can I not put him up here? He had to kill his older brother. Stone cold man.
See you here again shortly for the finale review.
Any comments question shit talking do so in the appropriate area below.
-ASM out.
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