Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 3 Episode 13 Arrow on the Doorpost on Seat42F.
Grade: 98%
Grade: 98%
AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD builds tension
this week in “Arrow on the Doorpost” not with armed conflict, but with a
peace treaty negotiation. Andrea (Laurie Holden) arranges a meeting in a
barn between Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the Governor (David Morrissey).
They quickly kick her out of the negotiations and, rather than calm
fears, their time together only heightens the drama.
I did not think about it until “Arrow on
the Doorpost,” but Rick and the Governor have not spent a lot of time
face to face. It’s one thing to know about the crazy, dangerous man that
lives next door, but it’s quite another to look them in the eye,
especially when he only has one. In order to better understand the
danger they face, and to decide how to deal with it, Rick needs this
time with the Governor, and it builds a relationship between them that
the fans want to see. It’s a satisfying and necessary episode.
This also gives a brilliant showcase for
Morrissey and Lincoln, both terrific performers. The way Lincoln keeps
it together, acting tough, even though he is faced by such a great
threat, is wonderful. Morrissey flits around, his character trying on
many faces, attempting to find a tact that will get through to the other
man. So much is left unsaid, played out in facial expressions and
movements, and it’s a triumph for the actors as much as the roles they
play.
In the end, the Governor tells Rick
he’ll leave the group alone if they hand over Michonne (Danai Gurira),
whom took the Governor’s eye. It’s a lie, of course, but how can Rick be
sure? If there’s even a small chance that giving him Michonne, which
will mean certain death for the woman, will protect everyone else, it’s
something Rick has to seriously consider. He has children to think
about, as well as people he has known much longer than she’s been
around.
Hershel (Scott Wilson) tells Rick that
Michonne has saved their lives and has earned her place in the group,
and Rick admits that Hershel is right, but still considers sacrificing
her. This is where things get tough. Before last week’s episode, Rick
probably would have been fine with the deal, not caring about Michonne.
Now, though, he likes and values her. Plus, there are her practical
skills and the protection she offers the group to consider. She would be
sorely missed.
Giving Michonne to the Governor to die
will cost Rick a piece of his soul. He is willing to do things that in a
non-post-apocalyptic world, some would consider cruel. But leaving a
hitchhiker on the side of the road and actively giving a woman to her
enemy are two entirely different things. Rick would be making a
conscious, preventable decision to let someone he knows be murdered. Her
death would be on his hands.
The bottom line, though, is the Governor
is not trustworthy. Rick needs to realize this, and also understand
that giving up Michonne makes him weaker in the inevitable battle. If
the Governor is going to attack them no matter what, and everything Rick
knows about the man points to this, there is no sense giving into his
demands, especially when said demands hurt Rick’s group as a whole. It’s
a no-brainer, and whether Hershel succeeds in talking Rick out of it or
it’s a decision the leader comes to on his own, Michonne must not be
given to the Governor.
Andrea, for her part, has almost as
tough a decision to make. Speaking with Hershel outside of the meeting,
Andrea knows she is welcome back with the prison group and must choose
sides. The issue is, Andrea hasn’t seen the Governor’s cruelty
firsthand, and admitting he’s a monster also admits a failing on her
part, as she has put her trust in him, even telling him about Rick’s
baby and Shane. She still hopes things are just a misunderstanding
between the two groups and can be peacefully resolved, as any other
option is a failure, but it’s time for her to accept responsibility for
her failure. Her decision to return to Woodbury at the end of the
episode is as much about faith in own judgment as it is about faith in
the Governor, and it’s the wrong choice to make. I just hope it’s a
decision that doesn’t get her killed.
The end of “Arrow on the Doorpost” does
give us some hope that the Governor can be stopped. Milton (Dallas
Roberts) overhears the Governor tell Martinez (Jose Pablo Cantillo) to
kill anyone in Rick’s group he can when they return to hand over
Michonne or discuss tactics, and Milton clearly doesn’t approve. After
all, he has a nice conversation with Hershel, and I can’t imagine Milton
wants to see him, at least, die. Knowing Andrea’s connection to Rick
and the others, Milton should definitely grow a spine and confide in
her. It’s the only way to stop a slaughter.
It’s true that Andrea and Milton alone
don’t stand a chance of accomplishing anything in Woodbury, especially
since Milton is not a fighter. However, if Andrea can rally others to
her side, perhaps Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman), then maybe something can be
done.
Back at the prison, Merle (Michael
Rooker) is not happy sitting by while Daryl (Norman Reedus) risks his
life protecting Rick at the meet and wants to go after him. No one will
help Merle, feeling that Merle will put the others in danger. This is
not only a summation of Merle’s standing in the group, realized by the
character himself when he can’t get even “outsider” Michonne to join
him, but also the beginning of a new threat. Merle isn’t one to be put
in his place easily, and if he senses that he has no power or respect
here, he could react badly.
The unknown quantity is Merle’s
affection for his brother, Daryl. Merle definitely cares about his kin,
and Daryl is the reason Merle is at the prison in the first place. Will
Daryl be able to keep Merle in line, or might Merle switch back to the
Governor’s side at a crucial moment, hoping that a betrayal might be
enough to earn him the Governor’s forgiveness, even though viewers at
home are pretty sure by now that it won’t.
A touching scene in “Arrow on the
Doorpost” is when Glenn (Steven Yeun) reconnects with Maggie (Lauren
Cohan). They finally talk about their relationship and their feelings,
since things have been strained between them ever since their captivity
in Woodbury. It not only lets them work through the issues, but also
reaffirms their love for one another. It’s a little unsettling that they
leave the watch post to have sex, as that leaves the group in danger,
but I guess in this wasteland of a world, you have to take it where you
can get it, no? And it’s very nice to see them work things out.
“Arrow on the Doorpost” is an excellent
installment, ripe with heavy drama and wonderful character development.
There are some serious questions raised, and it puts everyone in an
interesting holding pattern as we near the end of the season. How it
will all shake out, and who will be among the bodies left on the floor,
as there will surely be more major deaths by the finale, is anyone’s
guess at this point.
THE WALKING DEAD airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.
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