I always ask myself what makes a great episode. An amazing episode should have drama, tension, great writing, amazing direction, and tremendous acting. The first time I watched The Walking Dead season 2x12 I was not sure what to expect. I knew it was setting up the finale, being the penultimate episode but I did not expect it to overshadow the finale. Better Angels follows the aftermath of Dale's death. With the group fully moved in with the Greene's Lori knows she can start over with Rick. However, before she can start over she must make amends with Shane. Lori knows she made a mistake but understands and appreciates Shane's love for her and Carl. Shane is refuses to admit it was a mistake and will not let Lori go. Shane leads Rick out into the woods to kill Shane before Rick gets the upper hand. Many characters have come and gone on The Walking Dead but none have been more beautifully executed than Shane. Many would expect this to come from the finale being how big Shane's arc has been in Season 2, but the show was gaining too much momentum to delay this moment any longer. Every character had a moment to shine this episode but Andrew Lincoln and Jon Bernthal steal the show giving the best performances of their careers. In the last 10 minutes Glenn Mazzara constructs a beautiful script that ends with two life long friends at each other's throats. Additional credit goes to Guy Ferland's brilliant direction. The tension in the open field, in the middle of the night, provides a dramatic yet terrifying backdrop to the drama. Even in the last moments of Rick and Carl unaware of the massive herd towards the farm, shows that the life they once knew is gone and our charcters will never be the same. The humanity that Andrew and Jon brought to the climatic scene convinces the audience that the life their characters fought so hard to have is just a dream in a nightmare of the a world. Even after seven years this episode still shows Hollywood grade A performances that I would rank over any show in television history.
Review of Better Angels
