"The Walking Dead" and Blowing the Roof Off: A Television Review ("Beside a Dying Fire")

Raise your hands in the air!


*here be spoilers (of course).

Director: Ernest R. Dickerson.

Writers: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Robert Kirkman, and Glen Mazzara.

Wow, what a great ending to the second season of "The Walking Dead!" The thirteenth episode titled "Beside a Dying Fire" introduced a new character, Micchone, a new setting, the prison, and a whole lot of action! It was like the wild west on Herschel's (Scott Wilson) farm as a swarm of zombies seemed highly motivated to kill Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and his group. Only Jimmy (James Allen McCune) and Patricia (Jane McNeill) fell while Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) became unhinged by Rick's murderous confession. Carol should have been left behind at the farm, but this finale really seemed well put together.

What was motivating those zombies to move about? There was a scene involving a helicopter flying over a major city, but the zombies impetus to start moving is never explained. Were they just on a blood-thirsty stroll? This story element could have been developed a little. Once on the road, the undead hear Rick's gunfire and come to investigate. The next twenty minutes or so is like a shootout in a boozed fueled pioneer town. Daryl is shooting the undead on his motorcycle, Glenn is taking the term "riding shotgun" to new heights and even Herschel is giving it to the infected swarm. Too bad some unspoken words put a damper on the thrills.


Drop her off at the burning barn!

And that sour mood was brought about when Rick revealed Jenner's words from the CDC. Rick and his group are infected by the zombie virus and it is just a matter of time before they rise from the dead. One hard knock to the noggin and T-Dogg (IronE Singleton) might be the next character looking for blood, instead of Randall (Michael Zegen).

Rick had something else to reveal. His killing of Shane (Jon Bernthal) in self-defence seems to unsettle Lori, strangely. Would she have preferred that Shane had won? The actions of her character scream inconsistency as earlier in "Triggerfinger" Lori had hinted that Shane needed to be dealt with. The group in general seemed taken back by Rick's violent confession. But his actions were obviously justified.

Maybe not so justifiable is keeping two zombies attached to you on a leash. The character Micchone is introduced late in this episode behind a shroud. Actress Danai Gurira (My Soul to Take) will play Micchone in Seas. 3 and in this episode a stand-in was used for her introduction. This reviewer admittedly scoffed at the ridiculousness of her first showing. However, this series is based on a comic book, which is something to continually keep in mind.

There was one other introduction in this episode. Yet, this introduction did not involve a character. Instead, the prison was shown for the fist time. And it is here that Rick will meet his next foil, the Governor. The Governor will be played by David Morissey (The Reaping) in Seas. 3 and he is a leader of a similar group of survivors. Whose personality will overcome the other?

Carol's (Melissa Suzanne McBride) will seems broken as she acts like a scared hamster in the final scenes. She should have been left behind at the farm with Jimmy and Patricia. Yet, she prattles on and this character needs to find a backbone soon. Otherwise her expendability will increase and we all know what happens to the expendable in a zombie apocalypse, right?

Well, they sure do not get the right to vote as Rick reminds the group "this is not a democracy!" Rick also seems to come unhinged in the face of so much death and chaos. Perhaps Rick's next character arc will involve showing a darker side much like Shane's.

Overall, this was a well developed episode with an unusual balance of drama, tension and action. Subplots continue to simmer and in fourty-five minutes there was a great deal of forward movement in the plot and within the characters. A new character was introduced along with an unfamiliar setting. T-Dogg actually had some lines and scenes! Glenn (Steven Yeun) admitted his love for Maggie (Lauren Cohan), Carol added little to the show and Andrea (Laurie Holden) was fighting for her life against some very motivated undead. All of these elements and a few more are what keep this zombie television fan coming back for more. And this reviewer will be watching what happens next in the sixteen episodes of Seas. 3 in the Fall. Let's just hope that Seas. 3 of "The Walking Dead" is as exciting as the last third of Seas. 2.

Overall: 8.5 out of 10 (an exciting showing, lots of conflict, the s&%^ hit the fan for once).

Some final thoughts on this season from creator Robert Kirkman:

Robert Kirkman at TV Line (Interview)

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