The Walking Dead Review: S3E10 “Home”

Start of a brand new week means that there was a new episode of The Walking Dead for us to appreciate and review. Last night’s episode, titled “Home,” follows up last week’s total collapse of Rick’s mentality.

Hit the jump to read the review for episode ten of The Walking Dead‘s third season.

Beware the SPOILERS below!

After last week’s mental break, we follow up with more terrifying looks at Rick’s fall. For a horror/drama series, this has to be one of the best ways to infuse a sense of terror without using the zombies as the scare tactic. We don’t see much of Rick this episode, maybe 4-5 scenes throughout the episode, but each time we are treated to a Rick who is slowly slipping. What I find the most horrific is the fact that Rick knows that Lori is not really there but he still needs to follow that train, wherever it lets off.

Elsewhere in the zombie universe, we get to see the Governor manipulate and plan his way into getting his way. He does not give a damn either. He woos Andrea (who is still pretty much useless) and Milton for different objectives, but mainly to distract both of them. The Governor is showing a ruthlessness that would put the two-eyed Governor to shame. And have I mentioned how much I enjoy the intensity the Governor gives off with only one eye?

But then the episode gets a little overly dramatic for no reason until the end of the episode.

First let’s talk about Glenn with some of the other survivors still at the prison. Glenn is burdened with the role of leadership without Rick and Daryl around. In previous episodes, it felt like Glenn was coming into his own right as part of the group instead of just a gopher. But this episode shows that Rick is not the only one going crazy as Glenn becomes reckless, contrary to everything we have learned about the character. Then there is Maggie who lashes out at Glenn because of how he is acting and what the Governor did to her. I may be wrong, but I thought she already told him nothing happened and this felt like it was rehashing old news.

Let’s check in with the Dixon brothers. Daryl is still quietly arguing with Merle and trying to convince him to head to the prison. Merle seems set to drag his brother through the wilderness. This status quo does not seem to be changing anytime soon until Daryl hears a baby cry. The brothers, led by Daryl’s heroics, save a family by clearing a bridge full of walkers. This action sequence gives one of the best zombie kills of the season. Character-wise, we are shown how Daryl has changed in his brother’s eyes since the last time these two were together. The brother dynamic is real and will be a great boiling point for the show for a while. The only problem I had with the scene was the Spanish-speaking family; because while we know Merle is a racist, I feel that this point was a little forced down our throats. While we have yet to see Merle misbehave to other Caucasians, it would be nice to see Merle be the right out ass that we know he is. Minor gripe.

Another gripe that I have, which may be a major one, is the lack of subtlety to which characters are killed off in the show. I am a fan of the comic books, because for a long time it was often a surprise which of the fan favorite characters would actually die. On the other hand, in the TV series all we have to do is basically look at which supporting character is receiving more attention in the episode. In this episode, we learn a tiny bit about Axel as he flirts with Carol but we end his stint on the show with a pin-perfect shot from the Governor.

This brings us to the most exiting moments of the episode as the Governor and other Woodbury men shoot at the prison survivors from the safety of the woods. The Governor is crazed with his determination. It is hard to read the emotion of the man as he carelessly fires his rifle. The man has a plan but aloofly plays it, especially the dine and dash truck barreling into the prison fence containing a dozen zombies. Unfortunately, all of this was only to wake Rick from his slumber. The Woodbury men retreat and the survivors start clearing a safe area, all of which seems as harmless as cleaning the windows after some hooligans egg the house.

3/5

David Morrissey defines his character and represents the evil that still flourishes in this zombie-filled world. Unfortunately, the rest of the episode continues to lack any real substance. The story continues to feel like the beginning of a new season instead of the second half. Zombie killing is fun, but character depictions are beginning to become difficult to root for.