That is true. Everything is either completely new, or it "sorta happened that way, but with different characters"

Michael Rooker and David Morrissey add SO much to this show, I hope they keep them both around for a long time. Rooker is so entertaining, I find it very hard to root against his character...he's totally the guy you'd want "having your back" in a zombie apocalypse...really looking forward to seeing what happens when he and Daryl run into each other again.

Hmm... seeing him kill the kid last week sorta makes him the last person I want to have my back. Rooker's character is in it for himself.

I do get the feeling that Merle serves the Governor/Woodbury only at his convenience. Merle's, that is.

I thought it was interesting that the Governor apparently had already considered clearing out the prison for habitation before Merle told him it was impossible.

It also helps if you're Caucasian.

I don't think he's a racist. I think he was making an obscure M*A*S*H reference.

Had my experience dampened a bit by AMC shrinking the screen two or three times during the episode with a message at the bottom telling viewers to contact Verizon because AMC is in danger of being ditched. Sigh, not this CRAP again! Get bent, AMC...

I'm sure that all those saying that Merle "saves the day" in the last episodes thread, know better, now.

I agree. I do think AMC is putting out some great shows these days, Mad Men, Walking Dead, etc. However they were pretty crappy before and begged for viewers, now they have them and are holding all the major carriers hostage. If anything, raise your advertising rates!
It's like those pro athletes that have one good year at the end of their contract and then expect to get paid major bucks.
Dish, Verizon, yada, yada. I won't support it. I'll just rent the season or find other means to get it done.

Since I have read the comics it is nice that the tv show is doing its own thing for the most part, aside from the basics like location and the concept plot line that plays out completely different.

I thought the cabin scene was pretty shocking in showing how full into savagry the group has decended in order to survive and I'm surprised no one has commented on that. I mean think about what happened; they broke into someone's shelter, murdered them, then ran out the back door. The crazy old guy in the shack died for nothing. It was worse then one of those no-knock warrent shootings.

Rick could try to justify it by saying "Well, the guy drew a gun on us," even though he and the archer draw weapons on anyone they see near their prison. He could also say the guy was running to the door and would have let the zombies in. For the sword chick to skewer him shows she's either heartless or too lazy to tackle some old fart.

These people live in a rough world and I have no trouble understanding them taking violent action, but they've lost the right to claim any moral highground over the Governor's camp, which might make it difficult to really care that much about the outcome of their trip to the town.

Yeah but did you see Maggie in her bra?!?!?! Points for the prison group.

I don't see Glenn getting out alive - the Governor is going to pit him against zombies in that arena-setting, and Glenn will no doubt lose after having to fight numerous zombies. Maggie has more of a chance, although I don't see how a car-full of people (Rick's camp) can beat down an entire town of people.

I don't think the Gov will have time to do anything like that, since Rick and Co. are about to sneak in and start some shit. And out of the 70 people in Woodbury, there can't be more than 20 or so that are the guards that walk the walls, etc. Which is still 20 vs. 4, but it's not 4 vs. a whole town.

Yea. But that kid was being a retard. He was ready to march into the 'red zone'. And Merle gave him a chance to reconsider.

I, too, like Merle. I think you guys will too, by the time the season is over.

I think Rooker is doing a great job with Merle, but I do not root for the character in any way. He's only in it for himself. He doesn't give a rat's ass about anybody and I wonder sometimes whether he wants to meet up with Daryl just to kill him for leaving him on the roof or not killing Rick when he found out.

I like Merle but its time for him to die, Daryl will kim him most likely

If it was wrong to chase somebody into the Red Zone, then why wouldn't Merle tell the Governor the truth? He lied, which means that Merle is not only mean, but a coward - which is a deadly combination.

The Merle character is richly written, and think Rooker is a helluva actor to make him so entertaining to watch. But Merle is bad, and there's nothing to love about him.

I'm paraphrasing someone's opinion from Talking Dead a little, but you could possibly be very wrong:

Team Prison, tho small in numbers, has gradually become a very efficient killing machine, doing things like clearing the prison that other groups could never handle. Whereas Team Woodbury may be a lot lamer than we think. The gal who was supposed to teach Andrea didn't know squat compared to her. The scientist had never seen a walker turn, and was hopelessly naive about it. How many people there have ever fought off zombies in huge numbers? Or even killed a single zombie? The townsfolk are useless, and the Gov's little security force has been dropping like flies before Team Prison even gets there.

Team Prison should find a way for the Walkers to breach the town first then attack.

That's actually a good idea Creo...hope they consider that option next episode.

Why would they put the people they are trying to rescue in more danger?

I agree with the OC. It's not the best way to handle things. You need a distraction, but not total chaos.

Well, that may be a step too far, unless the writers are really pushing the idea everyone's a bit bad now, and no one can afford to be good anymore. (Moreso than they already have, I mean. You can make a good case that line's already been crossed.) The townsfolk are useless yes, but also fairly blameless. I can easily see the walkers breaking in "by accident" during the fight, tho...