AMC's 'The Walking Dead' brings back an old friend in 'Clear' (part two)

More thoughts, recaps, and analysis of Sunday's episode of "The Walking Dead," "Clear."

(For part one of this article, please click here.)

Rick finally gets through to Morgan, and he recognizes Rick. He tells Morgan how he told him he'd check his radio for him every day at dawn, and Morgan gets angry because Rick stopped doing that as he got farther and farther away from the town. Morgan tells Rick about his family turning, and reminds Rick about the gun he gave Morgan to kill Jenny, his zombie wife. He didn't kill her, and she eventually attacked and turned their son, Duane. He killed them both with the gun Rick gave him. Morgan tells him everyone is going to die, and the weak people like him have inherited the Earth,

Carl and Michonne happen upon a restaurant full of walkers, which Michonne distracts with a couple of rats in cages taken from Morgan's traps. Carl takes down a picture, but the walkers notice them and attack, and they flee without it. Carl wants to rush back in, but Michonne sneaks back in instead. She gets the picture, which is of a birthday celebration with Rick, Lori, and Carl.

Rick tells Morgan he wants him to come back with him, and says the prison is safe. Morgan points out that's where Lori died, and Rick is taking a lot of guns back with him which means there's a battle coming. Rick tried to talk him into it, but Morgan is adamant about staying.

Back down at the street, Morgan is clearing bodies as Michonne and Carl rejoin Rick.

Michonne: He's okay.
Rick: No. He's not.

As they leave, Carl stops and tells Morgan he's sorry for shooting him. Morgan tells him "don't ever be sorry." As they load the car, Carl tells Rick that Michonne might be one of them. Rick pauses and Michonne asks him if he's seeing things, then she admits she used to talk to her dead boyfriend. They share a quick binding moment, and drive off.

As they pass the spot where the survivor was, and all that's left is his backpack. The car stops, and they pick it up, then drive off.

Related: Aisha Tyler and Scott Porter talk about "Clear" on "Talking Dead"

This was a very odd episode, and one that will probably play a lot better on DVD where you can watch the next episode immediately after this one, and get back to the main plot. Last week we were preparing for open war, and this week we get a three-man show where Rick finds an old, deranged friend. It's not that this episode was a bad one at all, it was very strong and should have an affect on Rick going forward. It was just a very odd choice to break up the rhythm of the season.

Rating: Eight out of a possible ten walker-go-rounds.

-- Reid Kerr thinks in some ways it makes more sense for Morgan to be crazy than it does for everyone else to still be sane. Follow Reid on Twitter and yell at him there.