Incredible. Now that's a pretty damn powerful season finale! The build-up made it even more jarring than the fourth season finale of Dexter, which I know shocked quite a few people.

I would say that it even goes beyond all the bullets fired at the very end. Just as disturbing is the fact that Shane was proven right on one of his points—and the lingering fear that he might be right on the others as well. In just a few minutes, he effectively shattered the faith of everyone on the farm.

The writers did a terrific job on this one. While the first season ended on an optimistic note, this one did the opposite and I'm sure it will keep viewers impatiently waiting for the next season.

You know I've been keeping up with this as well. One day late each week... I get it on Monday (we rpg with friends on Sunday, even got a zombie inspired game going on ).

And yes I was completly shocked with the end of the episode.

Having read almost all of the graphic novels I have certain things that I expect to happen and I have really liked how the show is giving me enough of those things to make me not roll my eyes, but changing enough to keep me on my toes.

I just sat there for a bit after the show and stared at the TV blankely as I tried to mentally catch up.

Can't wait for February where I guess I'll get more zombies for my birthday!

OOhhh... and on the religious aspects, I recall there being quiet a bit of religious idea's being brought up in the 'novels'. And even when it was not blatently religious there was often debates about morality and such in this new world. In some of the more recent volumes they even get a priest in their group... who is a really interesting character. So I think the TV show has been true to that feeling. And I think it is an important thing to look into in a zombie world.
M.

Is there any way to justify the fact that Hershel's family knew whom the group was looking for and still didn't tell them about the girl they had locked in the barn?

It could be a plot hole, seeing as how the family offered to help look for Sophia even though they had reason to believe she was in fact the girl in the barn, and also because Maggie seemed to care enough about Glenn to reveal something like that.

If it's not a plot hole, it seems like an incredibly selfish and shortsighted thing for Hershel to do, and it makes me dislike him even more.

Any suggestions on how to view this?

... if you watch/listen again, you'll notice that Hershel says that Otis was responsible for "gathering the zombies" and putting them in the barn. So, it's entirely possible that Otis collected Sophia and put her in the barn prior to Rick and company showed up and, therefore, didn't "have a chance" to tell the others that there was a little girl "walker" in the barn that "could have been" the girl they were searching for before he and Shane went to the school (and, thereby, before Shane went all survivalist and sacrificed him) for the others realized that there was a"little girl" among the walkers in the barn...

*shrugs*

Struggled with that one myself before I re-watched the last episode and caught on to the way things worked at the farm before I caught on.... Of course, in the graphic novels, Sophia lives considerably longer than she did in the TV series so there's that little bit that throws everything off... but, given the way the series diverges from the GNs, is totally understandable. Personally, I'm interested in where this is all going as far as the series is concerned vs where the comics.. after all, Shane should be looooong dead by now.

Another thing I liked in this episode was Glenn's conversation with Maggie about how the rest of the group had been using him as "walker bait" and so on, and that he basically agreed. Was this in the comic? Because it feels a lot like something the writers could have put in after noticing just how often Glenn really does become walker bait throughout the series—a bit of meta-humor, if you will.

I don't know the publication dates of the comics, so here's another question: If that conversation was indeed in the comics, did he also mention the game Portal? It was pretty funny regardless.

..... after buying the First Season (from reading some of the earlier comments here) and getting caught up (since I have not read any of the Graphic Novels.

Zombie flicks are not my forte per se, but I do enjoy a good storyline and well written characterization.

That is what this series has going for it in my humble opinion. I really enjoy the character driven storyline.

[As a side note after my laptop was attacked last Saturday with Trojan Viruses and I just got it back on Thursday with new drivers etc and a different Virus Protection, this evening I clicked on one of the Walking Dead links and the Anti Virus Alarm was activated and the site Blocked because it was infected with Viruses!]

Anyway, I did watch the midseason finale on www.bluehost.com (which did not set off a Virus Alarm) and it does have all the episodes available from both seasons.

EDIT: the bluehost.com is Not the one I was at as it is showing my Web Hosting Provider is Bluehost.com [now it is not showing so maybe it was the link afterall] (the link I use is one where you only have 72 minutes to view the episode ... so a couple times I have had to go back and view an episode again to see the outcome because it had "timed out" after watching one episode and then another ... and I did not download the episode ... only played the episode).

I do not dislike Herschel because from his entire episode to episode characterization he was trying to do what is right from his understanding of the Bible.

He was a man of Faith whose Hope was slowly eroded away and he held to a slim chance that a cure for the 'Walkers' would be found and his second wife and stepchild and other friends would be restored ... and thus his previous way of life on the farm with family and friends.

The loss of his first wife (the mother of Maggie) was possibly too much to bear for the thought of losing his second wife ... which may be why he kept his hope alive by keeping the 'Walkers' in the barn and feeding them.

His heart to heart talk with Maggie and her telling him that a 'Walker' almost killed her (saved by Glenn an Asian ... and probably a Deep South attitude bordering on the KKK who Herschel may or may not have been a part of or at least sympathized with earlier in life ... mere speculation on my part here ... added to the irony and prepared us for the grim ending of the episode!)

We saw his Humanitarian side as they reached out to save the 'Walkers' from the bog and the terms that Rick would have to agree to for the group to stay on the farm.

The confrontation between Shane and Dale and that outcome setting the stage for the climax of this episode was a Great Piece of Characterization and Writing for the Storyline ... not to mention that when the chips were down it was Rick that had to pull the trigger on the girl ... and his responsibility for her becoming what she became will probably weigh heavily upon him in future episodes ... again more speculation on my part here!

I have read in posts elsewhere that many people are disappointed there are not enough zombies in each episode ... but it is the Character Driven Plot that has kept me following this series online and buying the dvd of the First Season!

It will be interesting to see how shattered Herschel becomes from this incident (mayhap a delerious old man in a rocking chair ... with his mind snapped ... who knows?)

I would like to see Maggie go off with the group ... as they probably will have to do now ... but she may have to stay behind and nurse her father now ... who saw his last shreds of hope for the restoration of family and friends Shattered in a few moments of time!

Looking forward to further episodes!

Surprised no one has posted from the Sunday Night Return Episode!

I just watched the new Episode 8 on the AMC website ... but No Spoilers from Me!

I would have liked to have seen a little more "action" given that this was the first episode after a lenghty, mid-season break but, given that the mid-season "cliffhanger" was so intense and the group(s) needed to "deal" with the fallout and aftermath of all of that I think, over all, it picked up quite nicely and covered the bases it needed to cover... *nods*

Besides, that little "visit" in the bar towards the end (and the outcome of all of that) kind of made the lack of any (moving) walkers worth it. I almost didn't expect things to end up the way they did, there, and, if the previews of the coming episode are any indicator of what's to come of Rick's "end-of-discussion-quick-draw..." *shuddergrins*

And, Lori... seriously... you're pregnant in the midst of the zombie apocalypse and you're gonna get in a car and drive off into town, alone and unarmed, to look for Rick??? WTF, woman?!?!?

I've only seen one episode but

http://www.calgaryexpo.com/


If any of you are coming up to Calgary, Alberta around april 27-29, two people from the walking dead are coming as guests, along wiht the co-creator of the comic.

Without knowing what's to come, I think the most important moment in this latest episode was what happened at the very end, with the "visit" at the bar as Eol put it. At this point, Hershel was devastated and more or less seemed to want Rick's group to pack up and leave. When those two thugs entered the bar with their threats, however, you saw how Hershel immediately united with Rick to protect everyone at the farm. When faced with a greater threat, the two groups realize that despite their disagreements they are on the same side - or at least on the opposite side of any thugs out in the world.

Although for story reasons I don't expect Rick's group to stay nor Hershel to leave, I believe this kind of event could make them stick together despite the tragedy at the barn. I'm waiting to see what happens!

she had a revolver in the passenger seat, though seeing as she flipped the car, there's no telling where it ended up. I just hope she's ok. But yeah, stupid move on her part anyway.

..... was very entertaining!

What is most enjoyable for me is the Characterization in this series!

Others complain about the 'Soap Opera' but I Enjoy the Characterization!

Stupidity must run in the family. Carl is ate up with Dumb-a$$. Carl must have peed his pants and the walker followed the trail back to the farm. Now Dale, the voice of reason and humanity, is dead.

Can't wait to see how the Randal situation pans out.

...personally, I the character development/interaction that goes on in this show, too! I think what a lot of folks fail to realize (particualrly those that bash the show for the "soap opera" that surrounds the survivors) is that The Walking Dead is not about the zombies, it's about the survivors and their attmepts to keep on living in a world that's turned suddenly and terribly to a waking nightmare. If you want mindless zombie mashing and the hopes of "discovering the cause of the epidemic and maybe a cure" might I recommend playing any one of the Resident Evil games, or perhaps watching one of Romero's films (or any number of the flat-plotted B-movie imitators)... you'll get plenty of what you want, there, I'm sure.

On the other hand, if you want a damned entertaining look into what "survivors" are faced with day-to-day (aside from the zombies that are the catalyst for their changed existence), then, The Walking Dead is, IMO, the perfect vehicle for that kind of catharsis... Sure, the zombies are likely always on one's mind in these sorts of situations but they can't be the focus every minute of every day, can they? I mean, if all you're concerned about is mashing the next walker who's going to mind the shop, so to speak, and keep some semblance of "normalcy" in the group, right? You've got to think about keeping your "family" (whomever that may include and however it may be defined in such a changed world) alive and safe... you've got to think about feeding them, keeping them warm and sheltered, getting them to a safe place, etc... not to mention, as has been evidenced in more than one episode over both seasons of the series, so far, you've got to consider that zombies aren't the only threat to your way of life (such as it is)... In fact, it seems to me that it's been other groups of "uninfected survivors" that have posed the greatest threats to Rick and company... the zombies, as I mentioned before, have simply been the catalyst for the whole thing and serve as speed bumps and obstacles along the way more than being a "threat" on their own... *shrugs*

Anyway... *climbs down off the soap box* ... "18 Miles Out" and "Judge, Jury, Executioner" were both fanatstic episodes (and, both great examples or supporting points for my above diatribe, I think)... Lot's of surprising developments and, especially last nights episode, another one of those "OMG WTF" moments that I've come to love where the TV adaptation of this tale is concerned! I'll hold back on the spoilers as I know that many of you, for whatever reason, don't watch when the episodes are first aired but I will share a thought or two.

1) Carl - you little dumb@$$!

2) Rick - dude, get off the fence or you're going to do nothing but cement Shane's position and verify his opinion that you can't protect the group.

3) Glenn - way to impress "Daddy," kiddo. Don't take that watch he gave you for granted and quit being such a douchenozzle toward Maggie. Maybe someone needs to have the conversation with you that Lori had with Maggie concerning the whole thing last episode?

4) Dale - I was not expecting that!!! Although, in retrospect, I guess it was kind of forshadowed a bit, wasn't it? Still... daaaaaaaaaaammmmmn!

There are some others like Scarab and myself who do not watch the episodes until a few days later, so please refrain from mentioning Spoilers if at all possible!

Thank You