Most of the viewers watching "The Walking Dead" finale were finally happy to see the group leave the farm. I couldn't be more happy to see the barn go up in flames. Now my response isn't a "Finally, they left the farm" because it is just the opposite. I was happy to see the farm become overrun by walkers because of Rick's speech that I will get to later.
The episode itself started off with walkers seeing a helicopter fly by in a city (the same helicopter that Rick saw in the Pilot) and they begin to walk in that direction. As the walkers continue to follow the same direction, they hear Carl's gunshot and they immediately change directions and enter the vicinity of the farm. While I personally don't think it was a good way to show how the walkers came out of the forest, it doesn't ruin the experience. Because by the time the credits role, you are ready to see Hershel and his family team up with the group and defend the farm. The first half hour or so is all about killing zombies and they did it pretty well. Whether it was Andrea shooting out of a car while T-Dog ran over zombies or Rick setting the barn full of walkers on fire with Carl, the episode never ceased to be suspenseful.
However, some were unable to make it out alive as Jimmy was eaten alive in the RV and Patricia's neck was completely torn off. But they are the only two characters that died. I was actually surprised that Hershel did not come to his end especially when he told the group, "This is my farm, I'll die here." but it never came to be. Though I am happy that he is alive as he is one of my favorite characters. The other person I thought was going to die was Carol who basically serves no purpose whatsoever. After losing Sophia in the mid-season finale, you have to wonder if there is any reason to keep her alive.
There are many other strong points to this episode. One of the biggest is Andrea running for her life in the woods. Sure she wasted all of her ammo and even bashed some heads in with her gun but I was really surprised when a hooded person comes out of nowhere and decapitates a zombie attacking her. Now I never read the comics so I have no idea who this character is but I can't wait to finally see who this person is. Another big plot twist was that Rick told the group that they are all infected with this virus. The doctor at the military base at the end of Season 1 whispered into his ear but didn't believe him until he saw Shane come back from the dead. But the whole group felt a little betrayed that Rick did not tell them when he first heard it. This then led to an amazing speech by Rick. His speech was filled with so much anger. He's sick and tired of everyone questioning his actions even though he had to kill his own best friend to save the group. The last couple of words he said was, "This isn't a democracy anymore" which basically says that the group will listen to Rick no matter what anyone else believes. Outstanding way to end the season. I couldn't have loved it anymore.
The episode didn't come without it's problems unfortunately. The main problem was Lori. When Rick said that he killed Shane, she felt betrayed that Rick would actually do that or she felt so angry that it actually came to this . . . I don't get it. In one episode, she was telling Rick that Shane is dangerous and won't stop until he gets what he wants and in another she was telling Shane how she feels so bad for screwing up Shane's life. The writing on Lori's character is so dumb it's not even funny. Fix the writing or drop the character because it's not working.
"Beside the Dying Fire" wasn't the best episode of the season but it sure was one of the more exciting. They ended the season very well. They got rid of the farm, Rick has become a more darker character and the democracy they once knew is completely gone. Dale would be ashamed.
9.6/10
Season 2 Review: Season 2 started off slowly. The whole Sophia plot was unnecessary and it lasted way too long. Sure the change in Shane's character kept us interested in the first half of the season but it wasn't enough to really make us feel emotional for any character. But when the second half began, it was fantastic. The episodes became fast paced and characters that we loved died. Dale and Shane were some of the best characters this series has to offer and with them gone, it'll be interesting to see how the other characters become. There are memorable scenes from this season: Shane killing Otis, everyone's infected, and the climatic scene between Shane and Rick. Sure the season had its problems (mostly in writing) but they weren't really noticeable to be problem. "The Walking Dead" will return in the fall and hopefully this prison (seen in the final moments of the finale) will bring some new characters and new conflicts to a group that is now being ruled under a dictator.
Season 2: 9.4
The episode itself started off with walkers seeing a helicopter fly by in a city (the same helicopter that Rick saw in the Pilot) and they begin to walk in that direction. As the walkers continue to follow the same direction, they hear Carl's gunshot and they immediately change directions and enter the vicinity of the farm. While I personally don't think it was a good way to show how the walkers came out of the forest, it doesn't ruin the experience. Because by the time the credits role, you are ready to see Hershel and his family team up with the group and defend the farm. The first half hour or so is all about killing zombies and they did it pretty well. Whether it was Andrea shooting out of a car while T-Dog ran over zombies or Rick setting the barn full of walkers on fire with Carl, the episode never ceased to be suspenseful.
However, some were unable to make it out alive as Jimmy was eaten alive in the RV and Patricia's neck was completely torn off. But they are the only two characters that died. I was actually surprised that Hershel did not come to his end especially when he told the group, "This is my farm, I'll die here." but it never came to be. Though I am happy that he is alive as he is one of my favorite characters. The other person I thought was going to die was Carol who basically serves no purpose whatsoever. After losing Sophia in the mid-season finale, you have to wonder if there is any reason to keep her alive.
There are many other strong points to this episode. One of the biggest is Andrea running for her life in the woods. Sure she wasted all of her ammo and even bashed some heads in with her gun but I was really surprised when a hooded person comes out of nowhere and decapitates a zombie attacking her. Now I never read the comics so I have no idea who this character is but I can't wait to finally see who this person is. Another big plot twist was that Rick told the group that they are all infected with this virus. The doctor at the military base at the end of Season 1 whispered into his ear but didn't believe him until he saw Shane come back from the dead. But the whole group felt a little betrayed that Rick did not tell them when he first heard it. This then led to an amazing speech by Rick. His speech was filled with so much anger. He's sick and tired of everyone questioning his actions even though he had to kill his own best friend to save the group. The last couple of words he said was, "This isn't a democracy anymore" which basically says that the group will listen to Rick no matter what anyone else believes. Outstanding way to end the season. I couldn't have loved it anymore.
The episode didn't come without it's problems unfortunately. The main problem was Lori. When Rick said that he killed Shane, she felt betrayed that Rick would actually do that or she felt so angry that it actually came to this . . . I don't get it. In one episode, she was telling Rick that Shane is dangerous and won't stop until he gets what he wants and in another she was telling Shane how she feels so bad for screwing up Shane's life. The writing on Lori's character is so dumb it's not even funny. Fix the writing or drop the character because it's not working.
"Beside the Dying Fire" wasn't the best episode of the season but it sure was one of the more exciting. They ended the season very well. They got rid of the farm, Rick has become a more darker character and the democracy they once knew is completely gone. Dale would be ashamed.
9.6/10
Season 2 Review: Season 2 started off slowly. The whole Sophia plot was unnecessary and it lasted way too long. Sure the change in Shane's character kept us interested in the first half of the season but it wasn't enough to really make us feel emotional for any character. But when the second half began, it was fantastic. The episodes became fast paced and characters that we loved died. Dale and Shane were some of the best characters this series has to offer and with them gone, it'll be interesting to see how the other characters become. There are memorable scenes from this season: Shane killing Otis, everyone's infected, and the climatic scene between Shane and Rick. Sure the season had its problems (mostly in writing) but they weren't really noticeable to be problem. "The Walking Dead" will return in the fall and hopefully this prison (seen in the final moments of the finale) will bring some new characters and new conflicts to a group that is now being ruled under a dictator.
Season 2: 9.4