After the previous disappointing season of TWD, I considered to stop watching it all together. It was once fresh, new & exciting, but now it lacks suspense & imagination. I decided to give this season one last chance. The first 2 episodes of this season drew me in: The fallout from Terminus & the arrival of a new group who were seemingly a match for Rick & the rest. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next; would the Cannibals pick them off one by one? What lead them to become Cannibals & what happened to them at Terminus?...Unfortunately this supposedly intelligent group of Cannibals lead by their charismatic leader were all killed off early on & it's been downhill since, culminating with this second-rate mid-season finale.
The biggest problem the TWD has is that it's difficult to care about the characters when they constantly act irrationally. We are 'supposed' to care that Beth died, but not when her actions can best be described as naive. Anyone with a functioning brain would know that stabbing Dawn in the shoulder with a pair of scissors, whilst surrounded by 2 opposing, heavily-armed gangs is not exactly a wise move. Am I seriously supposed to believe the Beth thought she could kill Dawn & avoid harm coming to herself, & to her people who had risked their own safety to rescue her & Carol?! All the work put into developing Beth's character this half season was all for nothing to see her die in such a pathetic fashion.
Beth's actions seem a lot more plausible compared to Father Gabriel's big day out. A guy who is so scared of walkers, & has somehow survived for so long, decided to break out of the church to walk to the school, unarmed. He then sees what remains of Bob's leg, wusses out a bit, before all the walkers at the school suddenly break out. That's just great timing, Father G obviously can't catch a break! Our favourite Priest then hobbles back to the church, leading a few dozen dead with him. Which leads us to the really moving*, yet ironic scene of him locked outside of the church, begging to be let in. Am I supposed to feel something at this point apathy?
Ultimately Michonne & Carl give this turn of events about as much thought as the script writers. Unless they have early onset dementia you would expect them to be at least a little bit aggrieved that Gabriel's illogical & unnecessary actions have disrupted their afternoon & put their lives, & Judith's life at risk... Or not, neither of them seem in the least bit bothered. Michonne asks him what happened, & his reply is only "I had to see it".
You had to see it?
You simply had to see Bob's half eaten & badly burnt leg? If there's one thing worth risking your life for, & the people who are helping to keep you safe, it's to sneak out to take a look at a group of cannibals' leftovers.
In second place for great timing this week was the firetruck coming out of nowhere. Fresh from sulking for an episode & a half, Abraham must have some new psychic ability, as within a split second of turning into that driveway he knew where the optimum place was to park: through the church steps & block all the walkers inside, just when they were set to escape. TV gold!
A previous reviewer pointed out that a scene that should have been shown was Carol & Beth's reunion in the church. They haven't seen each other since Carol left the prison. Another interesting scene would have been the firetruck group's decision to return to the church. What would they have said to Eugene once he came round? Especially Abraham, how would he have reacted towards him? I'm pretty disappointed that there's been plenty of filler episodes, & a bunch of stuff that makes no sense, at the expense of potentially interesting & coherent story lines.
This show's not on till February now, I think I can wait till then. If I will actually bother to watch another episode.
*That was sarcasm, you know that.
The biggest problem the TWD has is that it's difficult to care about the characters when they constantly act irrationally. We are 'supposed' to care that Beth died, but not when her actions can best be described as naive. Anyone with a functioning brain would know that stabbing Dawn in the shoulder with a pair of scissors, whilst surrounded by 2 opposing, heavily-armed gangs is not exactly a wise move. Am I seriously supposed to believe the Beth thought she could kill Dawn & avoid harm coming to herself, & to her people who had risked their own safety to rescue her & Carol?! All the work put into developing Beth's character this half season was all for nothing to see her die in such a pathetic fashion.
Beth's actions seem a lot more plausible compared to Father Gabriel's big day out. A guy who is so scared of walkers, & has somehow survived for so long, decided to break out of the church to walk to the school, unarmed. He then sees what remains of Bob's leg, wusses out a bit, before all the walkers at the school suddenly break out. That's just great timing, Father G obviously can't catch a break! Our favourite Priest then hobbles back to the church, leading a few dozen dead with him. Which leads us to the really moving*, yet ironic scene of him locked outside of the church, begging to be let in. Am I supposed to feel something at this point apathy?
Ultimately Michonne & Carl give this turn of events about as much thought as the script writers. Unless they have early onset dementia you would expect them to be at least a little bit aggrieved that Gabriel's illogical & unnecessary actions have disrupted their afternoon & put their lives, & Judith's life at risk... Or not, neither of them seem in the least bit bothered. Michonne asks him what happened, & his reply is only "I had to see it".
You had to see it?
You simply had to see Bob's half eaten & badly burnt leg? If there's one thing worth risking your life for, & the people who are helping to keep you safe, it's to sneak out to take a look at a group of cannibals' leftovers.
In second place for great timing this week was the firetruck coming out of nowhere. Fresh from sulking for an episode & a half, Abraham must have some new psychic ability, as within a split second of turning into that driveway he knew where the optimum place was to park: through the church steps & block all the walkers inside, just when they were set to escape. TV gold!
A previous reviewer pointed out that a scene that should have been shown was Carol & Beth's reunion in the church. They haven't seen each other since Carol left the prison. Another interesting scene would have been the firetruck group's decision to return to the church. What would they have said to Eugene once he came round? Especially Abraham, how would he have reacted towards him? I'm pretty disappointed that there's been plenty of filler episodes, & a bunch of stuff that makes no sense, at the expense of potentially interesting & coherent story lines.
This show's not on till February now, I think I can wait till then. If I will actually bother to watch another episode.
*That was sarcasm, you know that.