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Top OMG TV Moments of 2013

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There’s no denying that there has been some shocking and incredible “OMG” moments this year on television.  From Game of Thrones to The Walking Dead and Pretty Little Liars, these moments immediatley incur bouts of crying, laughing, anger, yelling and everything in between.  Check out my list of my top OMG moments from 2013!

RICK SENDS CAROL PACKING: The Walking Dead

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After admitting to Rick (Andrew Lincoln) that she was the one who killed Karen and Dave, Rick takes it upon himself to tell Carol (Melissa McBride), while out on a supply run, that she is no longer welcome to stay with the survivors within the camp grounds.   We’ve seen Carol, who has been a member of the group from the beginning, emerge as a strong player this season and Rick’s decision and her subsequent absence split fans right down the line.

TRAVIS AND LAURIE KISS: Cougar Town

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Travis (Dan Byrd) and Laurie (Busy Phillips) have always had a fun and flirty kind of relationship, but it’s always been that one where the guy likes the girl more than vice versa but when Laurie decides to explore her growing feelings for the teenage son of her best friend, it results in a rather awkward feeling kiss between the two.  We’d all been hanging for Travis to finally get his, but now it’s happened, most of us were wishing it didn’t.

THE BIG TWIST: Homeland

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Well were we all not played for fools!  Here we all are bitching and moaning about how bad Homeland had become.  We couldn’t figure out why or where such a great show had gone wrong.  Brody (Damien Lewis) was MIA and Saul (Mandy Patinkin) had Carrie (Claire Danes) committed to an asylum and we were getting too much focus on Dana only to have it all turn around and be revealed that Saul and Carrie were in fact working together all along in a bid to draw out a foe that could become an ally.

ASHLEY MARIN HITS DETECTIVE WILDEN WITH HER CAR: Pretty Little Liars

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Poor Ashley Marin (Laura Leighton) found herself on the receiving end of some unwanted harassment from an overly inquisitive Detective Wilden (Bryce Johnson) who demands that her daughter Hannah (Ashley Benson) keeps quiet about an indiscretion she witnessed involving him and a young lady.  never one to listen to demands, Ashley finds herself in a screaming match with Wilden before suddenly putting her foot to the pedal and throwing him over the bonnet of her car before speeding off!

THAT TAMPON SANDWICH: Orange Is The New Black

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New inmate Piper learnt the tough way not to piss off the lady who rules the prison kitchen!  When word get’s back to prison chef Red (Kate Mulgrew) that Piper (Taylor Schilling) has been less than impressed with the food on offer, Red takes it upon herself to ensure that Piper will never make comments like that again by serving her up a bloody tampon sandwich!  The scene itself was highly unsettling and intentionally confronting.

DEBRA MORGAN DIES: Dexter

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In the series finale, we knew someone was going to die.  Most of us expected it to be Dexter, or even Hannah, perhaps Quinn…it was never meant to be Dexter’s sister Deb.  After being involved in a shoot out with Oliver Saxon, Deb is wounded and is rushed to hospital.  The doctors all seems to think all should be ok but complications following the surgery lead Deb to have suffer a massive stroke leaving her in a permanent vegetative state.  It’s here Dexter lands the final blow, removing Deb off her life support effectively killing her.

RAYMOND DENIES BEING LIZ’S FATHER: The Blacklist

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It’s the theory that everyone seems to have – Raymond Reddington (James Spader) is actually Elizabeth Keen’s (Megan Boone’s) birth father.  It’s been hinted at right from the get go…his selecting her to be the only one he deals with, his wanting to know more about her life, his knowing certain things about her husband, but in the closing scenes of the final episode of the first series, Liz flat out asks Red over the phone “Are you my father?” to which Red replies “No.”

THE BOMB: Home and Away

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Known for it’s annual end of year shake-up, Home and Away offered up one heck of an explosion involving fan favourites and unexpected faces and leaving us not knowing who has survived.  After continuously butting heads with her boss Bianca (Lisa Gormley) and Bianca’s husband Heath (Dan Ewing) Jade (Tasma Walton) decides to get her revenge in the form of a bomb placed inside Bianca’s laptop bag.  We then spent the whole episode wondering when the bomb will go off as the bag changes hands numerous times before going off inside the hospital in which pregnant Ricky (Bonnie Sveen) is being treated.  Irene (Lynne Mcgranger), Bianca, Heath and Doctor Nate Cooper (Kyle Pryor) are also there when the bomb goes off.

HELENA CUTS OFF OLIVER’S TAIL: Orphan Black

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Things got a bit weird when it was revealed Neolution club owner and believer in self-directed evolution Oliver (David Richmond-Peck) was actually sporting a real life tail.  After coming to Sarah’s (Tatiana Maslany) aid while in a fight with Oliver, psychotic clone Helena wins the upper hand and swiftly chops Oliver’s tail off…then makes her way back to the dancefloor to partake in a rather ghastly dance with said tail still in her hands.

TULLY CHEATS ON HER GIRLFRIEND: Big Brother

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Fun and funky social media expert and lesbian Tully quickly turned into a sullen and sobbing mess after entering the Big Brother house.  She missed her girlfriend Tahlia but thankfully she had housemate Drew to lean on and talk to.  Quickly though that talking turned into sleeping in the same bed and sharing sneaky kisses when suddenly the two swapped secret “I love you” bombs leading to Tahlia to make a very public break-up via twitter.

MATT AND KIM’S FIRST ROOM REVEAL: The Block

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Not ones to be left hidden among the pack, West Australian couple Matt and Kim had planned to something controversial when it came to styling their first room – the guest bedroom.  Their inspiration?  Artist Jackson Pollock, he of the abstract expressionist movement (or paint splash era).  While the final result was clearly shocking, it was more ‘kids gone wild’ than Pollock admiration.

THE RED WEDDING: Game Of Thrones

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I don’t watch Game of Thrones, but even I found myself on YouTube watching the events that led to THAT video going viral showing fans reactions to the wedding as it aired.  While I may have no idea who was who or why everyone was being killed, but the red wedding sure stuck to it’s name after half the people in the room celebrating were slaughtered, including a very heavily pregnant woman!  “May the rivers run red with the blood of the non-believers.”

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The Walking Dead: LIAR. Midseason Finale

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Photo by Gene Page/AMC

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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The Walking Dead: Woodbury 2.0

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Can you imagine how happy I was to discover we were in store for another Governor centric episode of The Walking Dead?  Two in a row!  I want to ask the writers if we, as viewers, had done anything wrong.  Had we pissed you off? Granted after watching this second episode, I understand why we had to revisit the Governor, but in reality, did we need two whole episodes?

So picking up from last weeks closer, The Governor (or Brian as it turns out his name is) along with Lilly, Tara and Megan join Martinez’s camp.  There seems to be some decent muscle within the group and enough ammo to ensure their safety.  It all seems pretty peachy until The Governor realizes his past may come back to haunt him thanks to former right hand man Martinez.  It’s funny how, in a zombie apocalypse, a game of golf can turn deadly.  One minute you’re wolfing down whisky, hitting golf balls off the top of a camper-van, the next you’re getting whacked over the head with a 9 iron and being fed to a bunch of walkers.

It’s here all the work of last weeks episode of trying to convince us that The Governor has turned a new leaf come undone as the diseased animal within him begins to yearn for leadership again and return to the ways of Woodbury and that means taking no prisoners and killing those that may step in his way.  He wants a Woodbury 2.0.

Now The Governor is back in his element, standing above the camp survivors, ensuring all see him as their only hope for survival. He puts them all to good use, building fences and whatnot but his plan to try and move the camp to ‘safer’ grounds needs that one final push – cue a walker inside the camp.  Clearly The Governor planted the walker. The immediate threat of death was the perfect example to ensure there would be no hesitation from any member to move camp.

So where could be the perfect safe place for the Governor and his new camp?  The prison of course!  He’s been staking it out.  I wonder if he was surprised how well the place has held up since his last attack on the place?  Anyways we see him spying on Rick….who’s farming of course.  He also happens across Hershel and Michonne….I think.  It someone who looks like Michonne but she’s smiling so clearly it’s not actually Michonne.

After playing his own version of Spy Games, The Governor heads back and informs his peeps that he’s found their next camp.

Next week’s episode is sadly the mid season finale.  It seems there’s a turf war between the two camps, and someone brings along a tank for good measure.  I bet Rick is wishing he hadn’t sent Carol packing now.

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The Walking Dead: I Spy With My One Eye

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Maggie storms the quarantined zone

After spending almost the entirety of the last episode away from the prison, this episode (titled ‘Internment’) brings us back to the prison and those struggling to deal with threat of death on the outside (the walkers clawing at the fences) and the the threat of death on the inside (that dreaded killer flu).

We start of with Rick driving.  He’s alone of course after sending Carol packing.  We get some overtly close-up shots of his brooding eyes, his bandaged hand and the watch Carol gave him.  I’m sure these are some sort of metaphor but I’m still smarting over Carol’s forced exit to really care…plus Rick’s eyes are too broody.

Back in the farm prison, Hershel, Glenn and Sasha act out scenes from Greys Anatomy with a man named Henry who is on the brink of death.  I’m pretty sure words like ‘myocardial infarction’  and ‘severe haematoma’ were used while Hershel shoves a breathing tube down Henry’s throat to keep Henry alive.  Afterwards, while doing ’rounds’, Hershel and Glenn discover someone we don’t care about his died.  They decide to move him to another location before stabbing him in the head so as to not upset the others but not before little Lizzie pops up (she’s like an annoying Velma from Scooby Doo, always snooping around) asking questions.

The amount of screen time Lizzie is getting surely leaves one to ask “what’s her end game?”  She’s being built up more than seasonal veterans like Beth…I’m actually hoping though it’s not a bad end for her.  Anyways, Maggie and Hershel have an emotional chat through the glass divider about Glenn and her wanting to come in and help.  Hershel gently cuts her down and she decides to focus her pent up sexual anger on the mass of walkers at the fence.  It seems like a never ending f*ckery of stabbing. Thankfully though, Rick and Carol arrive to help out…you know the old saying ‘many hands make quick work!’  Oh but wait….Rick sent Carol packing.  Hmm….

You all know I ain’t on Team Rick.  I’m the anti-Rick.  Maggie on the other hand is head cheerleader for team Rick. She agree’s he did the right thing by sending away a healthy and strong woman who is also great with a gun.  Idiots.  Rick decides that Maggie should be fine fending off the walkers by herself and visits the kids quarantined area.  He talks to Carl about needing to shield him from the horrors of the world (let’s just forget about Carl killing walkers and that one kid in the forest) and basically sends him off to the naughty corner.

It’s been sometime since any action has happened so we head back to the infected zone (or Grey-Sloan Memorial for Greys fans) where Hershel is visiting patients, checking on the very sick Doctor Caleb (not McDreamy or McSteamy – maybe McSneezy?) who has made some IV bags to help the sick and then moving around to ensure all the cell doors are closed.  We gets scenes where it seems the same woman always has her cell door open (born in a tent much?) and a passed out Sasha who comes to thanks to the use of the IV bags (god bless McSneezy)

While helping characters we know, those we don’t are slowly one by one, dying off and turning into walkers.  Now it’s time for the usual all out Zombie attack.  Inside while Glenn is choking on his own snot and blood, Hershel is fending off those who have turned while outside, the fence has finally given in and the walkers are chasing Rick and Carl, who have taken shelter inside a small room. Cue lots of stabbing and chewing of necks and blood.  Then in a scene right out of Last Action Hero (remember that terrible movie from the 90’s where some little kid becomes a sidekick to Arnie?) Rick and Carl pick up some rather large guns and go nuts on the walkers who have made their way into the prison grounds.

On the inside, Maggie channels her inner Jack Nicholson and attempts to use an axe to break through into the infected zone, but with no luck.  Eventually she breaks in through the glass divider and runs to Glenn’s aid who has managed to stave off completely choking to death.

Once all is done and all the walkers killed off, Darryl, Michonne, Tyreese and Bob arrive.  Great timing.  They don’t really offer much though, well except for life saving animal medicine.  Finally, it looks like the evil of this first half of the season (the flu) has been eradicated.  It’s just a shame that killer the flu has been replaced with the killer Governor who is seen looking on with his one good eye, from the safety of the bush-land outside the prison grounds. DUN DUN DUN!!

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The Walking Dead: No Goodbyes For Carol

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Rick uses his captains hat for wrong

No.  No.  No.  I’m passing on the traditional recap and focusing on the end of this episodes events.  I have to.  It was such a shock to see that happen that it’s all I can really think of when writing.  I’m angry at Carol for not fighting for her place in the prison.  I’m angry at Rick for being a dick.

Rick tells Carol she is no longer welcome back at the prison and sends her packing.

Seriously?

I am loving this stronger and determined to survive Carol.  She’s like what Andrea was before she started having lie down kisses with the Governor and went all girly.  She’s making the decisions that Rick it no longer wants to make, she’s teaching the youngings what needs to be done in order to survive and in my eyes, should have been chosen to lead the survivors when Rick turned pussy.

So then why does Rick get choose when to put on his captains hat and make a decision that will change the course of Carols life and not allow her to return to the safety of the prison?  I understand his reasoning’s behind his decision.  In his eyes, Carol began making risky choices (teaching the children how to use weapons, killing Karen and Dave, allowing the two injured survivors to help look for supplies) that affected the well-being and existence of the prison camp that was not hers to make, but that said, at least someone was making these decisions.

Then noting that this was also for her safety as he felt, he had no other option but to inform the survivors that she was the one who killed Karen and Dave, was a cop out.  As Carol noted, Rick didn’t have to like what she did, she doesn’t like what she did.  But someone did it.

So we last see Carol getting into a stocked up full of supplies car and driving off.  No goodbyes.  No tears.  It’s a bit rough.  So what does this mean for Carol’s future?

I’ve noticed on imdb.com that Melissa McBride (who plays Carol) has been listed in only a handful of season 4 episodes including the season finale.  Could she be the one used to propel the talked about spin-off?

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The Walking Dead: Happy Thoughts Happy Vibes

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Rick asks Carol the Tough Question

Last nights episode of The Walking Dead picks up directly where the last left us.  Tyreese, Darryl and Carl (and possibly Carol – I don’t remember) are looking at the burnt bodies of Karen and some random named Dave.  Tyreese demands that Rick find out who did this before the two get into a god almighty fist fight.   There’s a lot of emotions going on (apparently Tyreese and Karen were in love)  The whole fight is a bit weird as it wasn’t that long ago, Rick found himself going through the same thing when Lori died, but instead of punching on with his mates, he locked himself away in the depths of the prison taking his anger out on zombies.

Anyways, Rick is doing much better these days.  Must be all that gardening he’s been doing lately.  Unfortunately, the flu crisis is beginning to get out of control and the others begin to look to Rick to step up as leader again but he’s not really into the idea.  Gardening is more his thing.

The group form a meeting and decide to do a medicine run at a vet clinic 50 miles away.  As Hershel states, it’s not the flu that’s killing people, it’s the symptoms that is and animal medicine is just like people medicine and will save lives.  Darryl (who thankfully is still running around in a shirt with no sleeves) and Michonne take up charge to do the long trip. They decide to take Bob along as he can read long medical type words and should be able to pick out Xanax versus Iodine, but Bob’s got that “you know i’m gonna eff up” look about him.

Back in the prison, Sasha, along with Glenn are now sick.  Both have been quarantined to keep others safe.  Apparently according to Tyreese, Sasha don’t need no medicine, she needs happy thoughts, happy vibes and she’ll be right. Somehow her over-excitement about learning of the medicine run leads to Tyreese joining the Darryl and Michonne. While he still wants answers surrounding Karen’s murder, being able to help Sasha is now his main aim.

There’s now also a generational gap for those in quarantine and Carl is the watch-keeper ensuring everybody stays where they are supposed to.  Maggie and Beth sit on opposite sides of a door – Beth, holding Judith, makes note about not being able to get sad, we just got to get stuff done – she’s such a wise girl.  Hershel, who’s tired of being treated like old father time thinks he may be able to stave off the symptoms with herbs and needs to get outside.  Carl ain’t having none of that as Hershel is in quarantine.  The kid has a gun and says “I’ll have to tell my father.” – This now puts Carl Grimes alongside Homeland’s Dana Body as most annoying child character.  In the end, after a lot of talking, Carl and Hershel go bush-walking for herbs.

Carol is feeling a bit all over the place.  She’s been in this episode quite a lot, but aside from a run in with walkers (when trying to unclog the hose that provides water to the prison) she really hasn’t done much, but, there is something off about her.  Her talk with Tyreese sets this off.  That look she flashed after he walked away – something’s not right.  Anyways, Rick decides to berate Carol for almost getting herself killed when playing with the hose.  To me, people should be looking at Carol to take charge.  She seems more level headed even though she is quite emotional.  She get’s stuff done and by getting stuff done, I mean, she, off her own back, was the one who killed Karen and Dave.

We know she did it.  She just told Rick.  We know why she did it.  For the safety of the prison.  It’s just a shame it was all in vain as now the flu is rampant through the prison.  But, good on her for having a crack.

Hershel and Carl are back with berries from the forest.  After a confrontation with Rick and Maggie, Hershel goes into the danger zone to give those who are sick his berry medicine.

Back with Darryl and the gang, they’ve found a radio station on the car radio.  It’s sketchy though.  Too much static.  I reckon The Governor is behind it.  Either way, it leads to lots of Darryl not looking while driving and he plows the car into a pile of walkers.  Well not so much pile and more like Jollimont station after a Collingwood Versus Carlton footy match at the MCG.  Walkers are everywhere!  They have to make a run for it as the car is bogged on zombie heads (don’t you hate it when that happens?)  Tyreese gets left behind.  He’s too consumed with anger to move.  Cut to lots of action scenes of Michonne going all ninja with her sword, Darryl shooting his bows and being all sexy and Bob pretending to be Annie Oakley with his gun.

All are safe, oh and so is Tyreese.  He made it!  Yay?  But now they have no car and are in the middle of no where.

Will Carol pay for her crimes?  Will Darryl and the gang make it back to the prison?  WIll Beth have anything else to say besides “We don’t get to?”  All coming up next week!

 

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The Walking Dead: Babe Bait

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The Walking Deads’ Melissa McBride

So we finally got to see the aftermath of Patrick’s mystery death is the shower on Monday night and I for one am confused.  Surely, someone would have heard a walker eating like he was at the last supper on a poor unsuspecting and peacefully sleeping fella.  Well apparently not, and this starts off a domino effect of the walker infestation in the prison.

Apparently hours fly by and no one has heard a thing.  Outside, life is as normal, Maggie is noticing the walkers are gathering in one section of the fencing, pushing and clawing at it like they were waiting for Myer’s doors to open on Boxing Day sales.  Rick and Carl are farming, talking about guns and stuff…it’s a normal day.  Then the gunshots start piercing the air.  It’s always calm when gunshots fire out isn’t it?

A mass fight takes place and thankfully no one we actually care about is injured (well except Michonne, but it was her own fault tripping over that rope).  Back inside, the crew discover that a deadly flu like illness is sweeping the prison.  Seeing that Hershel really hasn’t had much to do so far, it’s put upon him to decide that yes, those with symptoms must be separated from the group (he IS a doctor or is it a vet?  It all becomes so intertwined after a few limb amputations).  Now hysteria begins to spread as quickly as the virus and those suffering even a mild cough are segregated off – including Karen.

By now, the walkers gathering at Myer’s doors are beginning to break in, they must have seen the 50% off all white-goods sign.  Cut to a mass stabbing involving Rick, Glenn, Maggie and Darryl and a moment where Rick is so worried about his farming plot he actually stops and stares at his work before deciding to use the possibly infected piglets as bait to lure the walkers away – hence my title ‘Babe Bait’.  Man did those pigs squeal!  They squealed, but didn’t run when Rick placed them on the ground (how convenient)  After all the killing, death, murder that has taken place over three seasons – apparently it’s only now that Rick decides that violence is the only way to survive and happily hands Carl back his gun and holster.

I’m really liking Carol so far this season.  Her private ‘weapons for kids’ class is going well and puts one of her students to a test to see if she can use what she’s learnt to kill her father who has just been bitten.  One would possibly think a small animal would be the first test…but then again, i’m not teaching the class.  Carol also finds herself pleading with Carl not to tell Rick about her class.  Personally, Carol should have laid the smack down and told Carl not to rat on her, but then again, i’m not Carol.  Of course, the little twat scuttles off and tells Rick, but thankfully, both are on Carol’s side and decide to keep mum on the topic.

Finally, Tyreece (who is using the prison as a dating service) is seen heading off into the quarantined zone to give his lady love Karen some wild flowers he picked all himself.  It seems there’s a lot of blood smeared all over the floors of her room and a trail leading somewhere else.  Has she turned?  Nope, Tyreece follows the blood trail (which is going to be a bugger to clean up) outside where after what feels like 3 hours looking at a close up shot of his shocked facial expression, we find Karen’s and another segregated persons burnt to a crisp bodies.  Guess someone is terrified enough of this virus to burn some people alive or we’ve begun an American Horror Story: Coven cross-over.

Side note: Am I the only who thinks the girl who couldn’t stab her dad in the head is the one feeding the rats to the walkers?  She has a habit of naming them, cried when her walker Nick was killed off, even her own little sister told Carol that “She’s messed up”.  Girl aint’ right is all i’m saying, but then again, this is a zombie apocalypse.

Drama, FRONT, The Walking Dead, TV

It Happened Last Night – Walking Dead Season 4 Premiere

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Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes

What a way to start off a fresh new season!  It seems some time has passed since we last saw Rick and the gang taking refuge in the prison (I’m not entirely sure just how long) and now, with the addition of new survivors being added to the refuge, the prison has now become sort of a community – just like the one the Governor had run at Woodbury (but with less sadomasochism)

While inside the refuge, we see Maggie cooking breakfast in a makeshift outdoor kitchen (she also runs a kids reading club that secretly acts as a weapons workshop), Darryl has become the refugee’s hero, Hershel and Rick are tending the vegetable garden and Michonne is out on runs (for comic books we’re led to believe but she’s still on the hunt for the missing Governor) outside, the perimeter fences are becoming more infested with walkers with each new day that passes.

Carl is still around (he’s my new Lori) and there’s still major conflict between him and Rick, but we start to see Rick finally take parental actions towards Carl, doing his best to remove him from the violence that he was forced to endure before the end of season three.  Beth is there too.  She seems more at ease with the predicament she’s in.  She’s even met a new fellow called Zach – though as we find out, he becomes zombie chow during a supply sweep at an abandoned shopping mall, but handles the news well about his death…perhaps a new Beth is finally starting to emerge?

The supply run is where most of the action takes place.  Darryl along with Zach, Tyreese, Sasha, Glenn (who stopped Maggie from joining because it turns out, they were in the middle of a pregnancy scare) and newcomer Bob find themselves literally fighting zombies dropping from the sky.  We know someone’s going to die, we’re all expecting it to be Bob – he’s new and seemed too eager to participate, but Darryl to the rescue saves him leaving an unguarded Zach to have a bite taken out of him.

There’s a weird scene between Rick and a stranded survivor named Clara out in the forest.  She’s searching for food for her husband before Rick stumbles across her and asks for help.  She talks about being at an airport in lock-down before the zombies break through and they run for their lives.  Back at her little camp she suddenly attacks Rick…turns out her husband is a walker, she wants to join him and stabs herself in front of Rick.  It took me a bit to realize this scene was about Rick understanding that no matter what the future may hold (cure or no cure) there really is no coming back from the decisions you make and the actions you take during this zombie apocalypse.

Keeping up the pace until the end, we see newcomer Patrick making his way to the showers.  He’s clearly not well.  Coughing the place down and dripping in sweat.  No one seems to take notice.  He collapses on the floor.  When we cut back to him we see where next week will take us – Patrick has turned.  We don’t know what killed him, but now there’s a walker inside the prison.

The Walking Dead 4×02 airs next Monday night on FX on Foxtel.

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Drama, FRONT, The Walking Dead, TV

A Look Back at The Walking Dead Season 3

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With Season four just over one month away (still that long?!) I wanted to take a look back at the season that was – Season three, of The Walking Dead and offer some of my own musings from the season and season finale.

Season Three as a whole:  What a clanger of a season!  It’s great to see the show step it up a notch by increasing the action, bringing back old and bringing in new characters and upping drama and tension created between two sides of survivors and the internal turmoil the characters find themselves experiencing.

Rick’s downward spiral into ghostly visions of Lori were annoying to watch (Can Lori just disappear already?), but we couldn’t expect him to just brush Lori’s death off and move on – no matter how much tension there was between the two before she died.  The introduction of new characters were dynamic – The Governor and Michonne were welcome additions to the season and when their paths crossed, created for some amazing scenes to watch.  It was also good to see Merle back after a long absence – at least we finally got to see what happened to him after he hacked his hand off!

Carl is also one more zombie kill away from turning complete emo.  He’s almost at that age where brooding, back chat and apparently killing innocent survivors is to be expected.  He’ll be exchanging the sheriff’s hat for a black hoodie before we know it.

Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon
Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon

The Death of Merle:  Yes it was a shock that Merle found himself all zombie like and yes, when his little brother Daryl had to kill him, all we wanted to do was take Daryl in our arms and tell him everything would be ok.  Merle’s death was inevitable.  He needed to pay for his actions against Michonne, Glen and Maggie, and we knew he knew that too, it was just a case of when, where and how.

You didn’t love to hate Merle, you just hated him, but wanted to see more of him and we almost felt sorry for him and the situation he was in after taking refuge with the Governor only to be found by members of his old survivor group and the way he was able to divide Rick and his group (simply just but being in the room) was a feat only Merle could achieve.  His brotherly hold over Daryl was painful and saw Daryl flit between his alliances to the group and his brother.  In the end, it was Merle’s zombie apocalyptic life choices that led to his death, and I for one will miss him.

Emily Kinney as Beth Greene
Emily Kinney as Beth Greene

Why Is Beth Still Around? I can’t help but feel as though Beth’s only purpose in season three was to hold baby Judith, sing joyful songs of praise and make inappropriate sex eyes at Carl.  Beth had no real story-line, no real impact, no real anything this season, and i’m surprised she’s actually lasted this long when compared to her sister Maggie who has been an integral player this season.

I think the writers may have missed a big opportunity with Beth this season.  It would have been interesting to see a sort of sibling rivalry between Beth and Maggie, not for anyone’s affections, but just to prove each others worth to the group – which Maggie has done effortlessly in season three.  Let’s just see how true the rumors are that Beth is due to be bumped up in season four.

Laurie Holden as Andrea
Laurie Holden as Andrea

Andrea, Andrea, Andrea:   I want to say “Girl can’t see what’s in front of her” when it comes to discussing Andrea in season three.  Perhaps it was all the sexy-times Andrea was having with the Governor that blinded her to all the very clear warning signs (about his insanity) that were being flashed her way.  A zombie daughter, a room full of severed heads in water tanks, zombie’s used for tests, Michonne walking out, Merle being a trusted part of the team…seriously, Andrea needed to take the blinders off and see what was going on around her.

Add in her constant need to ‘save everyone’ and stop the killing and it’s no wonder Andrea found herself swallowing a bullet in the season three finale.  I felt like Andrea was ‘maimed’ during season three.  Gone was the ballsy blonde who wouldn’t take any crap and in her place was a mumsy do-gooder who could not see evil even when it was sticking its tongue down her throat.

While I found myself questioning my fondness of her, I always hoped that Andrea, in the end, would find her way back to Rick and the group.  Guess not.

Other Bits and Pieces:

*I loved how, towards the end of this third season, Daryl somehow managed to find time to color his hair a deep chocolate brown.  It hit me, smack bang in the face…Daryl’s gorgeous face framed by newly colored locks.

*Zombies or no zombies, Glenn and Maggie, it seems, will have sex anywhere.  Sure they’re at that early stage of their relationship and keeping hands to oneself is hard, but, apparently, the threat of death is an aphrodisiac.

*Will they or won’t they?  You know i’m referring to Carol and Daryl right.

The Walking Dead season 4 premiere’s Monday October 14th on FX channel on Foxtel.