The group has split and danger rises as the calm before the storm rumbles something fierce…
There’s a lot of loss in this returning episode of The Walking Dead and it’s not a good thing for anyone involved. There’s loss of allies, loss of family, loss of innocence, and loss of mind. It’s not exceptionally surprising but it is still kind of bewildering and saddening to see everyone split up and things literally fall apart before our eyes. As the smoke from the latest battle clears, no one will be the same. “The Suicide King” picks up right where the action left off bringing us back into this world of brutality, darkness and uncertainty. Again, the series puts emphasis on humans being the new main threat in the post-apocalyptic world full of zombified freaks. Is it suicide to push everyone away while one slowly loses their mind? The way Rick is going right now, I think it’s safe to assume the worst. Is the Rick-tatorship over?
Opening right where we left off, The Governor sets the Dixon brothers on each other for his entertainment and to give his town more reason to grow hateful of these new outsiders. It’s no mistake that that the Governor labels Merel and Daryl terrorists. Even in a post-apocalyptic zombie world “terrorist” is still a trigger word for a group of scared and angry people. Merel, just as sneaky as ever fights his way out of this one. Luckily for the Dixons, Rick and his group rescue them from what could have been a brutal disaster and a brotherly brawl to the death. This bloody attack only exacerbates the Governor’s monstrous lust for revenge and the town’s fear rises. This rescue mission lets in a few Walkers that shakes Woodbury to its core and gives Andrea a chance to step up in a leadership position, when the Governor completely turns into a despicable tyrant. These Woodbury citizens are so fearful at the moment that they are easily calmed by Andrea’s words of momentary comfort. Andrea knows the worst for this town is yet to come, and she comes to realize that truth even more when the Governor finally lets her in on his less than innocent secrets.
The Governor has absolutely no reason to lie now. His world is shattered, his one weakness (Penny) is gone and he’s preparing for his revenge. Andrea is but a fly pestering him compared to everything on his mind. The Governor’s concerns for Woodbury are gone and it seems he’s ready to turn the citizens of the town into his own personal army in the weeks to come. The Governor’s actions right now are unpredictable and disruptive, scaring everyone and bewildering even Andrea, who was too caught up in the unbelievable security of it all to piece this puzzle together and realize Phil is not the man she hoped he was. It seems as though Andrea has no choice but to step in as the leader while the Governor recuperates and festers in his mindless anger and vengeance. If Andrea is disturbed by his behavior now, she’ll be horrified soon, as this is just the troubling calm before the bloody, brutal storm of revenge. While that bit of drama occurs, Rick’s group begins to split apart…
Working on emotion might let you down at times. In Season 2, Glenn avoided Maggie for a while because of his affections for her deterred him from survival and his duties for the group as a whole. His emotions are all over the place right now due to the horrific trials he and Maggie suffered at Woodbury. It doesn’t help that Glenn is still a rather young man, still learning from the experience of a first love stuck in a ravaged world. It’s a miracle to even find love--young love--in a world like this, so Glenn and Maggie are like a beacon of hope for normalcy, even though normal has been long gone. These young lovers might get so caught up in the affection of it all that they forget the real horrors people can commit and after what Glenn thinks Maggie went through, all he can perceive Maggie as is a victim. Maggie has proven herself as a strong woman who can hold her own. Besides the fact that she was not violated in the way Glenn believes she was, it is the entire theory that a victim needs protection that irritates Maggie, who is surprised and by Glenn's rage. Maggie detests the idea of being a victim. She doesn’t want to be seen as some poor damsel in distress, which is something Glenn doesn’t really understand right now. He went through hell at Woodbury, so it only seems obvious that Maggie did as well. Maybe even worse than him. Maybe once they communicate these concerns, they can move past this...
Hershel remains a voice of reason for the two young lovers as he attempts to calm the situation. Hershel may not realize what Glenn and Maggie went through at Woodbury, but his intuition tells him that something is up. Hershel continues to protect these two young lights of the group with a gentleness that maybe Dale would administer if he were still alive. A gentleness and wisdom that is most likely rare in the world now. Some might see Hershel as just a simple supporting character without much to offer to the group; however, Hershel remains a wise protector that helps the group see eye-to-eye on some debatable situations. He’s helped snap Rick out his most destructive moments and this Glenn and Maggie situation is no different. Seeing Glenn as a son and helping Maggie find a way to not let her latest traumas change her view of the world. He's a father to all of these people. As the world grows darker and crueler, Hershel will become an even more valuable member the group. I’m just not sure he can snap Rick out of his latest episode…
Daryl only relies on his past reflexes--a reflex which makes him submissive enough to let his older brother sort of punk him into following his lead. Merel has always been a bully and these are some the first scenes we get to see with the two Dixon brothers together that prove just that. It’s obvious that Merel has quite a bit of influence over Daryl. It’s the crossbow carrying redneck’s biggest weakness in this world. Whatever Daryl’s breaking point with Merel may be, it will have to really affect them both to split them up. I don’t think it would take exceptionally long before Daryl comes to realize he made the wrong choice by leaving wit Merel, who we have no reason to trust. Not to rely on redneck stereotypes, but most Southerners have a rely a huge importance on family and bloodlines. Daryl says it himself, “Blood is blood”. Again, it’s a natural reflex for him; however, I feel like Daryl will soon enough realize that he has abandoned a new family that took him in and accepted him. Daryl was always developed as a character who isn’t one to integrate seamlessly with other members of society. He's somewhat of a misfit. It took him a while to get comfortable with Rick’s group at first, but he soon became a very valuable member of the group. It’s sad to see him revert back to his less than trustworthy brother so quickly after all the progress he’s accomplished and the relationships he’s built, with Rick, Carol, Carl, and even Little Ass Kicker (Daryl should be Judith's godfather).
Glenn is certainly conflicted about this loss, but no one seems more effected by it than Carol, who is exceptionally hurt by Daryl’s exit from the group. Since the second season, Carol has been developing a special bond with Daryl and now it is sadly come to a standstill. Hurt and disappointed by how easily Daryl reverts back to his smart-mouthed bullying brother, Merel (as we all are), Carol understands Daryl's decision. She makes peace with it. Of course, Carol is no stranger to reverting to abuse. When we first met her in Season 1, she was trapped in an abusive marriage. She’s changed quite a bit since then. Her husband died, her daughter died and she’s grown stronger through these trials. Carol knows the position Daryl is in very well and realizes he just needs to come to his own breaking point and preserver over the bad influence in his life. I gotta say that this season has made me appreciate Carol a lot more than I used to in previous seasons. She’s tough, she’s a protector, and a caregiver. A natural nurturer, but she’s still a strong woman with a surprising iron will. If Carol is confident that Daryl will come back to her and to his new, true family than there's no reason for us to fret.
Rick spends this entire episode unhinged and paranoid--worrying who his allies really are. He so easily lets Daryl slip away and his trust issues grow even larger, which is understandable, yet erratic in this environment and under these new threatening circumstances. Rick isn’t thinking about what is going to fortify the group in the long run. He’s constantly assessing the threats that might come in and betray him. Is Michonne a threat? Is this new group of people Carl let in the prison a threat? Rick is ultimately rooting out all of the strength in his group and kicking them out, scared that they will soon take over. The thing is, he’s completely disregarding what could be valuable for him and the others in this time of impending doom and war. Rick knows the Governor will come after them, but he's making blind decisions due to irrational fear of new betrayals. And it is destroying what was once a powerful group of survivors. Their numbers are depleting and the pressure to make the right calls are weighing in on Rick. Just like the Governor, Rick is breaking…
Both leaders are broken in two very separate, yet equally destructive ways. They’ve lost way too much, especially their loved ones. Rick has been betrayed multiple times and his decisions have frequently gotten those he loves hurt or worse. For the Governor, his whole world has been disrupted by outside forces. One’s sanity is easily in question when they are hit with losses and betrayals that immense. It changes a man--makes them trust a lot less and destroys their perception on the world. It doesn't help that his baby girl, Judith isn't taking well to him. Could it really be Shane's baby? Rick never even got a chance to fix his relationship with Lori before the world took her away from him. And in a way, Carl is suffering the same kind of guilt his father is grappling with. Carl was never exceptionally nice to his mother after discovering the mistakes she made involving Shane and Rick. However, Carl is young and resilient so he might be bouncing back better than his father. Plus, Carl is beginning to step in as secondary leader. It’s a huge evolution for a young boy of his age. Carl has been forced into manhood far sooner than he--any kid should have. And he’s surprisingly stable about it…for now.
Rick has been slowly deteriorating all season and he finally breaks in the strange final moments of this episode. Tyresse, Sasha, Allen, and Ben are all newbies of the prison and Rick's group feels it is in their best interest to enlist them for some much needed assistance. While Tyresse and Sasha prove to be surprisingly loyal and valuable additions, Allen and Ben are rather shady. We gotta keep our eye on them! Even with that worry on their hands, Rick is still wrong to throw out and let slip all of the valuable, strengthening allies in his group. A war is coming to Rick's prison and there is no time to be picky. His mind is already shot, especially when he spots an eerie phantom of his dead wife, Lori. Rick’s group looks on disturbed and shocked, as their leader totally cracks under pressure and sends away possible allies that could help save his defend the land he and his people took. This isn’t really the first time Rick has lost it, but the continued implications of Rick’s recurring episodes (from the phantom prison phone, to hallucinating Shane at Woodbury) have led to the deaths of his allies and loved ones. In Rick's mind, he cannot have new stragglers coming along to complicate an already complex and tired group. By driving out those on his side, Rick in indirectly choosing suicide. And not only for himself, but for everyone…
To no surprise, The Walking Dead returns in rare form, again proving to be one of the most complex and thrilling drama series on television. The stakes are risen and alliances are altered for what should prove to be a very troubling time. The war between the prison and Woodbury is coming and with both leaders breaking under pressure, there is no clear winner thus far. Instability may be the demise of both of these groups, but there might be a secret weapon in hidden for one at least one of them. All of these characters will be driven to their breaking points sooner or later. It’s already happening to a fair amount of them, from Glenn, to Maggie and even Daryl. We’ve been warned that there are more deaths and concerning plot twists on the way so everyone should be ready for more of that good old chaotic violence and drama. While the groups endure some big losses, they also prepare for a war. It‘s an intriguing, albeit slightly slow returning episode that definitely pulls us back into this brutal world with dark style and continued creative storytelling. “The Suicide King” gets 4 out of 5 stars!
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a comment!
© Patrick Broadnax 2013
Comments