The Walking Dead (Season 3) – “Home”

The Walking Dead (Season 3) – “Home”

It’s another slow episode of The Walking Dead, but hang in there, it’s worth the wait.

A viewer might get the impression that the show plods along, highlighting random characters in various stages of post-Woodbury invasion. This is true, but like a good chess player, the show is thinking so many moves ahead of us. Everything that happens in this episode is done to carefully craft a dramatic finish. I, for one, appreciate the time that was taken to put everything in place for the payoff in the end.

I’m not sure why this episode was titled “Home,” unless it relates to defending your home or somehow wanting to return home, to the one you love (as is the case with Rick), or that you can never go home (as in, return to the way things were). A better title would have been “Pressure” or “Under Pressure” or “Crazy Town” – being that everyone is under a lot of pressure and going a little bit crazy.

You have to hand it to Glenn though; he’s really stepped up to the plate, even if a bit too zealously, as the last strong, healthy potential leader. You also have to give him credit for delivering one of the episodes two best lines: “With Daryl gone and Rick wondering Crazy Town, I’m next in charge.” Truth is, however, he’s pushing himself too hard, as right as he might be, and alienating some people in the process.

One important person Glenn seems to be alienating Maggie. While he has gone all commando, he should be spending emotional recovery time with his love interest. I get that he has a taste for blood right now, but spending a few minutes with the woman who humiliated herself to spare his hand/life is more than warranted.

On the other hand (pun intended), I don’t get Maggie being all cold toward Glenn; there’s a war going on and he’s the only one who can lead right now. But, so is the way when our human emotions interfere. And, yes, Maggie, Glenn does need to know if you were raped. He’s a man and that’s the way we’re wired. Besides, he needs to know if his desire to murder the Governor is justified. Both Glenn and Maggie need a bit of mutual understanding in the context of what’s going on around them.

While we’re criticizing the behavior of women, what’s with Carol. Slut. I mean, she just found out that Daryl chose his brother over her and the rest of the tribe. It’s been obvious for a long time that there’s been something between those two, and the least she could do is pretend to be heartbroken. But, no, as she and Axel fortify their defenses, both of them are immune to the reality of the situation as the exchange flirtatious comments and looks. Oh, well, that was short lived, and just in time too.

Although Carol revealed some of her character, the major character insights happened between Daryl and Merle. We learned, or we were led to believe, that their father beat them pretty badly and that Merle abandoned the home, leaving Daryl there to suffer alone. Every redneck asshole with one hand had a rough childhood these days.

We also learned that in their year or so apart, any differences between them have grown exponentially. While Daryl has learned compassion, Merle’s mean streak has been fostered. The scene with the Mexicans was poignant, and led to Daryl’s delivery of the episodes second best line, calling Merle a “simple-minded piece of shit.”

All this and more led us to the epic and adrenaline-packed conclusion of “Home.” It seems our tribe needs a life-threatening catalyst to come together and function as a group. They also need chickens, don’t you think? Why don’t they have chickens yet? Eggs, meat…

Rock Hard \m/