My oh my, did every Walking Dead fan not just explode after the incredibly long build-up over the hostility between Rick and The Governor finally came to a front in the midseason finale?  After what I’m pretty sure has been a years worth of fake outs and build ups, the Governor finally declared all out war (including a tank) on Rick and the gang.

Over at the camper-van camp, Brian aka The Governor is rallying his ‘troops’ as to why it’s a good idea to overtake the prison.  Of course his ideas are all lies as he spits one out after the other telling them it was Rick’s gang that tore apart the camp that he and Martinez stumbled across.  It’s then we’re given a flashback to events that occurred after last weeks finale where single handedly, he manages to take both Michonne and Hershel captive.

Brian tells the group he’s captured two of them….Tara seems to be the only one actually surprised by this news.  He explains his actions by saying they will be used as collateral in ensuring they take the prison without bloodshed…yeah right.  It’s here more of the lies come out where he says it was Rick’s gang who burnt down Woodbury, that killed his people, took his eye (well that’s not a lie) and killed his daughter.

Everyone is now on board, including Tara – well except for Lilly (or Andrea 2.0).  She’s not too keen on having to fight for another place to keep them safe and he responds with a deadpan ‘It’ll keep you and Meaghan alive’.  The look she gives him after her “I don’t know who you are” reply is uncannily like that of Andrea back in season 2, after she discovered just who exactly the Governor really was.

Back in one of the mobile homes we see Michonne and Hershel being attended to by Brian.  He’s applying some first aid 101 on Michonne while informing them of his evil genius plan.  Of course old man Hershel tries to reason with Brian.  “We can all live together” he states.  Even I am with the Governor here when he shoots the idea down noting both Rick and Michonne still want to see him dead.  He walks out to Meaghan who’s making turd burgers in some red mud, gives her a hug and moves on his merry way.

FINALLY, we’re back at the prison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I see Daryl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He’s still in that sleeveless moto jacket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  But he’s angry.  Rick’s just informed him that FOUR episodes ago he sent Carol packing because she killed Karen and that other random guy.  Daryl states that he could have handled Tyreese but then finds out Rick hasn’t told him yet.  Not one to waste any time (I loves ya Daryl!) he heads off in search of Tyreese.

Then there’s some weird scene in which Tyreese shows Rick and Daryl a rat splayed wide open and attached to a door that he discovered.  It’s the same person who’s been feeding rats to the walkers (this has to come into play later in the season for sure). Tyreese is convinced it’s the same person that killed his beloved Karen but before Rick and Daryl can let him in on the big secret a massive explosion rips through the prison…..

The entire prison gang run outside to be greeted by the Governor, a small pack of gun wielding followers and a tank.  Yes, a tank.  Answering the Governors demands to talk, Rick states he no longer solely makes decisions (hello Carol?) and that there is a council.  Here the Governor brings out Michonne and Hershel asking if they are part of this council.  Knowing he has no other choice, Rick moves down to talk while Daryl arranges everyone to stick to their escape plan that has been arranged.

The Governor informs Rick that he and his people have until sundown to move from the prison grounds or Michonne and Hershel will die.  Rick pleads back saying there are sick children inside who won’t make it on the outside (really though I’m convinced he’s more concerned about his farming plot) and that they can’t move.

Back at the camper-van camp, it seems Lilly has been left alone with Meaghan, who’s still playing in the mud like a pig in shit.  She’s sitting atop one of the vans when across the water, a walker appears out of the brush.  She goes into danger mode, gun ready at the aim, but before she can take action, it’s swept away down stream.  While this is happening, Meaghan digs up an old sign “Warning Flash Flooding”.  Apparently the walker across stream or this warning sign about flooding aren’t the most impending danger, it’s the walker buried under that sign that is.  There’s screaming and grabbing and a dash for life from Lilly who doesn’t arrive in time.  Meaghan has been bitten…a nice chunk out of her neck.  (was I the only one a little happy this happened?  Meaghan never really did anything to annoy me, but it was sort of like a ‘Eff You!’ to the Governor.

Back at the prison, everyone is ready with guns aimed.  Nearby Mika, Lizzie and some other kids – including Judith are heading for the escape bus but Lizzie stops and reminds them that Carol was teaching them to be strong – and to have guns – I miss Carol.  It’s good to know her teaching was actually getting through to these kids when Lizzie states “We should all have guns”.

Back at the stand-off between Rick and The Governor, Rick is still trying to plead his way out.  Apparently he believes they can all live together in the prison – in separate cells.  They’d never have to see each other.  The Governor is having none of it and grabs Michonne’s katana and holds it to Hershel’s neck.  In a desperate bid, Rick tells the Governors followers that the two have fought before and that in fact, Rick has taken in survivors from Woodbury.  He tries again with the ‘We can all live together’ plea, that they’ve all done horrible things, but by putting down their weapons and walking through the gate, they can all start afresh.

Some of The Governors people, including Tara, seem to want to take Rick’s argument.  There’s hesitation –

You can just feel that something is going to happen….something bad.  The Governor utters the word “liar” and takes the katana to Hershel’s throat!

THEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

Both groups are firing on each other (with some really bad aiming) and in the onset, Rick takes a bullet to the leg, the Governor one to the shoulder and Michonne manages to slip away unnoticed.  Noticing Hershel is still alive, the Governor picks up the katana and completely decapitates Hershel.  Magically, Lilly appears holding Meaghan’s dead body.  She walks over to Brian who immediately puts a bullet into her head to stop her from turning and then yells “Kill them all!”

Back with the prison gang, Tyreese, Bob and Sasha are providing cover fire while Beth and Maggie start getting people on the escape bus.  Bob takes a bullet in the shoulder and he and Sasha run off to find better cover.  By now the tank has destroyed the fencing around the prison and the Governors fighters have entered.  Tyreese finds himself cornered by Tara’s girlfriend Alicia and another guy – he’s dead for sure.  That is until Mika and Lizzie put a bullet in each of them.  Was this Lizzie’s end game?  Was this build-up we’ve had of her this season so far leading up-to this?

There’s now an all out fist fight between Rick and the Governor.  They’re going at it like two women fighting over a flat screen TV at a Black Friday sale.  Rick’s winning!  No, the Governor is winning.  Now Rick’s winning again!  It’s very topsy-turvy (like all good on screen fights) until the Governor gains the upper hand over Rick.  He’s got his hands tight around Rick’s throat and he’s turning blue.  It’s here I actually asked myself “Where the heck is Michonne?” ahhhh, there she is!  She put that katana blade of hers right through the Governors chest!

I was hoping Michonne would go and take the Governors other eye, but she runs off and Rick stumbles away and finds Carl.  Sadly Carl is still alive.  He doesn’t have Judith.  It seems there’s been some confusion in the mayhem and they stumble across Judith’s carrier.  It’s empty and covered in blood…..They join the others in running from the prison as quick as possible.

Back in the field, the governor is still alive – well just.  He’s gasping for air.  Lilly appears holding a gun.  She’s realized his bloodthirsty desire to kill Rick has caused the death of her child.  He quickly puts a bullet into his head and walks off.  A hoard of walkers appear including Clara, the Irish tourist Rick stumbled across in the season four premiere.  They make their way into the prison grounds to feast on the dead while Rick can be heard saying to Carl “Don’t look back”.

And that was the end.

The Walking Dead returns FEB 9th?!  Dammit!

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