The Walking Dead is far from "Pretty Much Dead Already"

     AMC's The Walking Dead ends its fall run with "Pretty Much Dead Already," the seventh episode, with six more to begin in mid-February. In this week's entry, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) confronts Hershel (Scott Wilson) about the Walkers in the barn, whom Hershel thinks of as people. Hershel considers letting the group stay, as Rick begs, if they will respect his opinions on the undead. But before Rick can appeal to his party, Shane (Jon Bernthal) takes matters into his own hands, leading a slaughter of every zombie in Hershel's barn. The last Walker out (SPOILER ALERT!) is the little girl the whole group has been searching for: Sophia (Madison Lintz).

     One interesting, nagging question: why do most zombies stay away from Hershel's farm, and how is he able to protect it without keeping constant watch? How come only a couple of stragglers get stuck in his swamp? Where are the crowds that decimate surrounding lands? Is there more to this mystery, or is it happy coincidence that he is able to keep his family safe?

     The Walking Dead spends this entire batch of episode searching for Sophia, only to learn she is a zombie in a barn on the property they are staying at the entire time in "Pretty Much Dead Already." This isn't exactly a shocker, since comic book readers already know that Walkers are in the structure, and the barn is within the vicinity that Sophia could be in. It might be assumed, even if not confirmed, that Sophia is one of the captives before this episode. Of course, the one person who would have been able to tip off the group as to Sophia's whereabouts is killed by Shane before he even knows that they are looking for the lost girl, and Daryl (Norman Reedus) discovers enough clues to keep some off balance.

     But whether Sophia's sudden appearance in "Pretty Much Dead Already" is a shocker to you or not, there is much impact in the reveal. Hershel is watching the group kill his family, friends, and neighbors, as he still sees them as such, as Shane and the others shoot the Walkers in the head. These people mean nothing to them. But when Sophia emerges, they all stop shooting. Suddenly, both the main characters and the audience are really given a face to the tragedy of the epidemic. Sophia is not the first actress shown before and after turning zombie in the series, but it is done with such raw emotion, that one cannot help but be moved. Of course, she must die, too, and does. But now none can deny understanding Hershel's stance on the Walkers, even if they don't agree.

     Will Hershel kick the group off of his farm now, since they murder his loved ones, or is he finally seeing the Walkers for what they are? This is a debatable point that will not be answered until February. He is still insisting it's only a sickness in "Pretty Much Dead Already," which may someday be cured, as the zombies are released. But he gets a first hand look at a hoard of hungry flesh eaters, and it must be very scary. Also, watching Rick take down one of his own has got to mean something, and maybe Hershel will take pity on the travelers, despite what they do.

     The people who suffer the most over Sophia's death are Rick, Carol (Melissa McBride), and Daryl. Carol's grief is obvious, being Sophia's mother. Rick takes the loss as a father himself, and the leader who cannot protect everyone. But Daryl's connection is less obvious. He invests a lot of himself into the search for Sophia, and one cannot help but think that Daryl sees finding Sophia as a chance to really be an appreciated member of the group. Often an outsider, rescuing the missing girl would allow everyone to separate him from his also missing, good-for-nothing brother, as Carol begins to. It also gives him a chance to do something good and selfless, something his brother does not approve of. Sophia's death is a set back for Daryl, and there is no telling how he will respond to it.

     Shane is going down a very, very dark path in The Walking Dead. He thinks that he can make the tough choices that Rick can't, and only be being completely logical and ruthless, does anyone stand a chance to survive. He applies this theory when he kills Otis, and continues to bellow it throughout. He is the one who gets the guns and opens up the barn, even when others try to convince him not to. Can he recover from such bad choices?

     Yet, Rick is the one who must kill Sophia in "Pretty Much Dead Already." Despite Shane's insistence that he is a better protector, Rick saves the group from one of their own. Why doesn't Shane act first? Might his theory falter when confronted with a living person that he cares about? If so, then maybe he isn't too far gone to be saved.

     No one will convince Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) that Shane is salvageable, though. Dale is the one who tries to hide the guns from Shane, and cautions Andrea (Laurie Holden), who shares sex with Shane, not to follow the former cop down his chosen path. Dale tries to act as father and conscience to everyone, but his biggest challenge is Shane. It isn't likely that Dale is strong enough to help Shane, given the way that Dale backs down in "Pretty Much Dead Already." But maybe he can help Andrea see the truth, even if she likes the way that Shane makes her feel, not being a victim anymore.

     Is Lori's (Sarah Wayne Callies) baby Shane or Rick's? Does it matter? Can she ever know for sure? In the world of The Walking Dead, a DNA test to determine paternity will be nearly impossible to come by. Lori's resolve to raise the baby as Rick's, no matter what the truth is, also determines that Rick will be the dad, whether he is the biological father or not. Maybe someone can use a calculator after the baby is born to give a good guess. But given Lori's decision to cut Shane out, as well as Rick's forgiveness towards his wife for sleeping with Shane, given the circumstances, it probably doesn't matter anyway which genes the baby has.

     In the midst of all the darkness in "Pretty Much Dead Already," love finds a way to bloom. Which is kind of a metaphor for the hope that springs in each character in The Walking Dead, no matter their conditions they endure. Of course, the couple referred to is Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Glenn (Steven Yeun). Despite Maggie's insistence that their relationship only be physical, and her anger at Glenn for telling his friends about the barn, the two manage to forge a bond that seems strong. Especially after Glenn expresses some real care for her. Maggie may love Hershel, but she isn't above questioning him. If the group is allowed to stay on the farm, Maggie will be a big influence in the decision. And she will be so because of how she feels about Glenn.


     The Walking Dead will return in February to AMC.

    If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Click here to read all of my The Walking Dead reviews.

     To buy The Walking Dead DVDs, Blu-rays, streaming episodes, and books, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: The Walking Dead - "Pretty Much Dead Already" on Blogcritics.

"What Lies Ahead" for The Walking Dead

     AMC's second season premiere of its smash hit The Walking Dead, "What Lies Ahead," broke basic cable viewing records this week. In the episode, the survivors camp is traveling to an army base when Dale's (Jeffrey DeMunn) RV breaks down in the middle of a sea of wrecked cars. While gathering supplies and fixing the vehicle, a herd of zombies walk by. While the others hide, Sophia (Madison Lintz) gets scared and flees into the woods. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) takes off after Sophia and kills the zombies, but after two days of searching, there is still no sign of the litle girl.

     "What Lies Ahead" asks a very tough question of the main characters. How long should they continue to look for this little girl? How long can they afford to? With the zombies roaming the country, it is unlikely she can survive long at all. With a second night approaching, is there even a chance she is still alive? Are they putting themselves in jeopardy by continuing to look, when they should be moving on and trying to find a safe haven? How much search time is owed to grieving mother Carol (Melissa Suzanne McBride)?

     There are no right answers to these questions, though in the new talk show following, Talking Dead, they post a poll in which they claim 99.9% of voters wouldn't search at all, hardly likely. Which is why each character has their own opinion. Dale pretends the repair is taking a long time to keep the search party looking. Rick, wracked by guilt, doesn't want to give up, either. Honestly, neither does anyone else, really. The loss of an innocent child is a tough twist to take. But with little hope, some of them will want to start moving on again soon. Is that an evil desire, even though it is logical when their lives are definitely in danger?

     As if the writers aren't cruel enough to children, the only other one in the group, Carl (Chandler Riggs), is shot, presumably by a hunter. Who the hunter is is still unknown, but hopefully it is just an accident, and the shooter will provide help for the wounded little boy. How cruel can one series be, focusing all of the misery and strife on the kids? It's unexpected, shocking, gut wrenching, and the reason so many people tune in.

     Will Shane (Jon Bernthal) leave the group? It's something he wants to do, and Andrea (Laurie Holden) even tries to get in on it. Shane wants to leave because Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) rejects him, but it's still not a good idea. He is a valuable defender of the group, someone they cannot afford to lose. It also lowers his own survival rate if he separates. For drama's sake, it seems unlikely he will end up deserting. But The Walking Dead is nothing if not surprising, so we'll just have to wait and see.

     If there is one positive about the zombie apocalypse, borrowing from an actual good point made in Talking Dead, it seems to be helping reduce racism. Daryl (Norman Reedus) hates black people, like his brother, a fact highlighted especially when T-Dog (IronE Singleton) contributes to Daryl's bother going missing. But in "What Lies Ahead," Daryl rescues T-Dog, who is injured just as the zombies begin to walk past. This may not be the beginning of friendship, but not allowing another man to die shows that Daryl is not nearly as one-dimensional as his still-missing sibling.

     Something completely unexpected in "What Lies Ahead" is Andrea's anger at Dale. In last season's finale, Dale forces Andrea to leave the CDC just before it is blown up. Dale thinks he is doing her a favor, and expects gratitude. Instead, she is furious, his actions ripping their bond apart, rather than strengthening it. Andrea is desperate and hopeless, wanting to go out on her own terms, which do not include suicide-by-zombie. Sitting in a building as explosives go off would be instant and nearly painless. Now she faces continuing to try to live in a ruined world, mourning the loss of her sister, and traveling with a group she doesn't quite fit into. Powerful stuff, showcasing deep, rich character development. Major kudos!

     Intensity is something The Walking Dead does well. Not just when hurting children or allowing characters to long for death, but also when seeing a zombie herd. The characters huddle under cars, on top of an RV, bury themselves under dead bodies, and Andrea locks herself in a bathroom. This is an extended sequence as undead person after undead person slowly shuffles past the caravan. Viewers are on the edge of their seat, waiting for something to happen, and while a couple of incidents do, it just keeps going on. It's a level of commitment to creepy that is nearly unmatched anywhere else, and it's impossible to relax until it is all over.

     Why are the zombies traveling in herds now? This begins to question the undead's actions as a group. It is known they have no high brain function and act on instinct. Apparently, hunger is the driving force. Wouldn't lone zombies be more able to sneak up on potential prey, though? In the city or tight spaces, having a group can force a trap and be beneficial, even if the prey is shared. But shuffling across the countryside, such a large gathering will scare off animals and humans alike. The few wondering solo in the woods chow on game, but the mass goes largely hungry.

     Also, how long can the zombies survive without feeding? With the human population dwindling, food will grow more and more scarce. When will these creatures begin to die off once and for all? Technically, they are dead, but they need some type of sustenance to keep the body moving. Without food, they will stumble a final time and die. As far as has been seen, water is not something they go after. Maybe they get all the liquid they need from blood? Still, it doesn't seem like this particular herd could make it very far before collapsing.

     To find out how long the zombies last, watch The Walking Dead Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on AMC. Season two will consist of seven episodes this fall, and six early in the new year. The series also stars Steven Yeun.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To buy The Walking Dead DVDs, Blu-rays, streaming episodes, and books, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: The Walking Dead - "What Lies Ahead" on Blogcritics.