"Home," the second episode of the second half of "The Walking Dead's" season three debuted on Sunday, and viewers saw Rick's tenuous grasp on reality continue to slip away.
The show opened with Rick looking through his binoculars, watching Michonne in the overturned bus in the prison's yard. However, as he expands his view of the area, he suddenly sees the woman in white dress -- remember her from last week's denouement? -- standing over the graves of his wife and friends.
He takes his assault rifle, and heads toward the graves to meet her. We seem him get extremely close and then -- she disappears. He scans the area, and sees her again, but this time, beyond the prison gates. He leaves the prison yard, still trying to meet her.
Michonne, meanwhile, watches curiously, seeing him exit the prison. From Rick's perspective, he finally reaches the woman, and it is Lori in her wedding dress (actress Sarah Wayne Callies). Rick believes it is her, and she touches his face -- at least, from his perspective. He smiles and kisses her.
From Michonne's point of view, though, he is alone, and the look on her face shows that she is confused.
After the credits, we return to Woodbury. Andrea is in her apartment when the governor comes to call. He tells her that her speech -- from last episode, "The Suicide King" -- was perfect. Andrea, instead, wants to talk about the prison. He says that as long as they do leave Woodbury along, they will not be bothered. Andrea wants to see them.
Then, the Governor shocks her. He says he is not fit to lead Woodbury -- which could be a ploy. However, he then adds that Andrea is fit the lead the town, which takes her aback. He says he wants time, and no one else can fill in for him. He adds that he always thought Milton could come up with a cure, for his daughter.
On to the troubled twosome, Merle and Daryl. Walking in the middle of a forest, they are jousting verbally with each other. Merle is convinced that Daryl wants to head back to the road, and then back to the prison. Daryl likes that idea ... food, water and a "pot to piss in," he says, but Merle says "it ain't gonna be no damn party for me."
Which is true: Rick and group did not want to accept him.
But Merle then says something that takes Daryl by surprise. He says that the Governor is going to attack the prison. We, however, know he's not -- yet.
Back at the prison, while Rick is entranced by faux Lori, Glenn is questioning Carl about how Tyreese got into the prison. He wants to secure the breach, convinced that the Governor will attack. Michonne joins them, and discusses the trophy case the Governor had, and that convinces everyone.
Glenn thinks a raid -- to kill the Governor -- is the way to go. A preemptive strike, of sorts, is his plan. Glenn clearly wants revenge, and he tells Michonne the two of them could end it that night, if she leads him to the Governor's apartment.
Herschel says that instead, they should leave the prison. Glenn reminds him that they have a baby -- and a doctor with only one leg -- and that Rick is not in a position to make a decision on the matter. Maggie angrily leaves, rather than supporting either her father or Glenn. Glenn decides: they will stay and fight.
Glenn, currently the leader, it seems, tells Carl they will find the breach. When Glenn realizes that no one is on watch, he storms out.
Back at Woodbury, the Governor is seen sneaking up on Milton, who is trying to meditate. He, apparently, is not sure where Milton's loyalties lie. He asks if Milton will stay. "Leaving's never crossed my mind." The Governor is happy, though it's unclear what he might have done had Milton said no.
"I count on you, not just for your expertise, but I consider you a friend," the Governor says. He reminds Milton that "I counted on Merle, as well." Meanwhile, "Martinez is a good soldier; he'd take a bullet if I needed him to. Would you?" Milton says yes, but then -- the Governor, who just asked Andrea to lead in his stead -- says he doesn't trust her. He wants Milton to keep an eye on her.
Andrea, perhaps taking her "new responsibility" seriously, goes to a barricade, only to find that Martinez is gone, and that Karen won't tell her who he went with. She snags Milton, and asks where the Governor is, but he doesn't know, or he's stonewalling.
Back at the prison, Glenn and Carl noted that there is a steady stream of walkers in the tombs which had been cleared. Glenn continues to say running is not an option, but even Carol wonders if it's only a matter of time before the walkers push in where they are.
Glenn says they should take a car and scout the far side of the prison. Axel offers to drive, but Glenn wants to take Maggie. Herschel is not so sure. Glenn decides he'd better ask her.
Maggie, he finds in her bunk, seemingly depressed. The two finally -- finally -- discuss her near rape by the Governor. He moves to embrace her, but she pushes him away angrily, saying "Now go away. You got your answer. Now go away."
Carol and Axel are putting up barricades, but it is doubtful that folding tables will stop a bullet. Axel says that "Guns scare the bejesus out of me," and those who know what is his most likely fate wince. He tells his tale: He robbed a gas station with a toy gun he never took out.
When Carol says that he told them he was in for drugs, he responds, saying he didn't want them to think he was violent. When he described his arrest, Carol laughs when he says that he was arrested for armed robbery because his brother -- where he was staying -- had a .38.
He doesn't know how to use the semi-automatic pistol he has. Carol shows him a few things. He responds by saying "You're quite a lady." Despite her earlier rebuff of him in the first half of the season, she turns, and smiles.
Returning to the Brothers Grimm, Daryl and Merle are arguing about where they probably are. Merle thinks "I may have lost my hand, but you lost your sense of direction." However, when they hear what Daryl thinks is a baby, they change direction. Daryl goes to help them, while Merle argues about it.
A woman and a baby are trapped in one car, while two men are stuck atop a trailer rig. Daryl kills one of them the old fashioned way. He slammed the car's hatch on his head.
Eventually, the zombie attack is taken out. Merle, though, points his gun at one of the men, who only speak Spanish. Daryl tells him to cool it, which he does. However, Merle goes to steal the family's supplies. Daryl points his crossbow and him and tells the men to get in their car and leave.
As they walk off, Merle asks if Sheriff Rick told him to be magnanimous. Daryl responds by saying that Merle lost his hand long before he was left on the roof. "You asked for it."
Then, we find out something shocking. Merle says, "I'll be you a penny and a fiddle of gold that you never told him [Rick] that we were planning to rob that camp blind." And that's not all. Merle angrily rips Daryl's shirt, and we see whip marks -- something that Merle wasn't aware their father did to Daryl, but that their father apparently did to Merle, too.
Daryl decides -- finally -- to return to where he belongs, to Rick's group. Merle says he can't go. He tried to kill Michonne, and Glenn. "I may be the one walking away, but you're the one who's leaving -- again." Eventually, Merle follows.
Back at the prison, Glenn is heading for a car. Herschel stops him. "I trust you with her [Maggie] life. I still do. This rage is going to get you killed." Glenn doesn't listen. He says he is not going to Woodbury, though. Rick, Glenn says, is in Crazytown.
Speaking of Crazytown, Rick is outside the prison, and Herschel sees him and calls to him. "Glenn's on the warpath. We need you now more than ever." Rick tells Herschel to lead, but doesn't respond when asked about what he is doing. Finally, though, he tells him he has seen Lori, but there is sanity. He says he knows it's not her, but that it means something.
"Rick, come on in. You need rest. It's not safe out here." But Rick turns and walks away.
Back to the prison, Axel sneaks up on Carol. He continues to open up to her, which we who knew his fate knew was the end. A shot rings out, and -- not as we expected -- it's the Governor, who had promised Andrea no attack would take place on the prison. He has just killed Axel, though.
Along with the governor is ... who else ... Martinez. Carol is forced to crouch behind Axel's body.
Then, a van breaks the rough the gates. Out come a load of zombies. Maggie manages to take out one Woodbury agent on the prison tower. Glenn returns just in time to see the Governor leave. Daryl -- and Merle -- appear just in time to save Rick, who has run out of ammo.
As everyone surveys the damage wrought by the Governor, Rick, it seems, has no choice but to return to sanity.
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