Episode 2.07 “Pretty Much Dead Already” Recap and Analysis by “The Wilf”
A Little Introduction
Well, the time for hiatus is finally upon us after a shocking midseason finale. This episode ended the crucial “search for Sophia” plotline and opened up the doors for what is sure to be an intense second half to season two.
On a side note, I will be starting a “Things to do During Hiatus” series of articles during the break, as well as covering comic reviews. In those I’ll cover zombie movies, games and other topics that will hopefully ease the two months of waiting.
With that said, let’s dive into episode seven.
Bearer of Bad News
The episode opens with Glenn divulging the secret of the barn to the other survivors as he’s torn between his feelings for Maggie and his duty to the group. He literally gets two contrasting head nods from Maggie and Dale, ultimately feeling that the group deserves to know.
Glenn has been put into a very tough spot emotionally. He knows that the information will cause dissention, but is also fearful of the chaos the walkers could bring if unleashed. In his mind, he knows that telling the truth was the right thing to do, and Maggie agrees begrudgingly.
As the group approaches the barn, Shane and Rick continue to butt heads about what to do. Shane has become fed up with Rick and his perceived lack of leadership skills, eventually telling Lori that he is not meant for this world. A feeling that is echoed later when Dale says Shane belongs in it.
Hershel just wanted to enjoy his peaches before he was rudely interrupted.
Shane takes a much more vocal approach, essentially telling Carol her daughter is dead, and Daryl jumps to defense. These two men haven’t had much of a chance to interact with one another, but as tensions fly they nearly get physical. I doubt that this will be the last time Daryl and Shane come to blows, as neither man seems to forget unfinished business.
Clearly Shane is becoming rapidly unhinged; mistaking that safety is simply staying clear of walkers. He hasn’t seen the bigger picture Rick has, and even after he’s told of Lori’s pregnancy, he still doesn’t understand how important peace with Hershel could be for the group.
Losing Faith
Daryl and Carol share another scene in the stables. Carol has nearly given up on finding Sophia at this point, causing Daryl to react the only way he knows how. Later he apologizes, realizing that he was wrong and Carol’s words were only meant to protect him.
This relationship has proven to be one of the more interesting elements of the season. Carol provides Daryl with the support and care he needs to maintain his relatively peaceful existence amongst the group. Daryl has been a source of hope for her, never giving up on Sophia and keeping her safe during the climactic barn shootout. I’m eager to see how Sophia’s absence will affect this relationship.
Dale and Shane got very heated last week, and nearly boiled over in this episode. Dale simply doesn’t trust Shane and knowing his secrets, attempts to hide the guns in the woods. When Shane follows him out there, the two men have a standoff and Shane proves once again that he is the dominant force in the survivors’ camp.
I honestly though for a moment that Dale was a goner. After his brief talk with Andrea (which sets up her new attitude nicely) and his hat donation to Glenn, I thought he might be saying his final goodbyes in a way. I was glad to see that I was wrong however; as I feel that he has a lot to offer in the future.
Eviction Notice
Rick talks to Hershel about the barn, trying to convince him that it’s right for the group to stay and even going as far as telling Hershel about the baby. Hershel gets visibly angry at Rick’s pleas, marking the first time we’ve seen the character act in such a way.
It’s really easy to see why Hershel is so torn. If the survivors were simply Rick and his family, I have no doubt that Hershel would welcome them. He knows that Rick is level headed enough to deal with the walkers his way, and he knows that they need sanctuary.
However, Hershel is no dummy, and has also noticed Shane. He knows that Shane has garnered more respect from the group, and in these dark times Shane’s “survival at any cost” mentality can seem like strong leadership. He feels he can’t afford to risk what Shane may do, along with the practicality of losing food, supplies, etc. faster.
He does approach Rick later on after his more charitable nature takes over, in part due to Maggie’s own pleas. He takes Rick and Jimmy to a swamp where two zombies have become trapped in quicksand. It appears that the farm group have been capturing and escorting these undead into the barn by using animal traps.
Rick doesn’t believe in Hershel’s way of thinking, but he is willing to adapt to keep the group at the farm. He knows the true potential a place like this could have, and is willing to hogtie a few walkers to keep it.
Shane on the other hand, is taking a different approach. After hearing the news of Lori’s pregnancy, he speaks to her about it. As convinced as she has made herself that Rick is the father, Shane is equally convinced that he is. When she tells him he will never be the father, Shane’s face says it all.
There is no doubt he will be making moves to assure that “his child” is safe, even if it means that Rick has to go. His brief talk with Carl also back this up, as it seems he making small steps to take back his father figure role. I did enjoy that Carl stood up to Shane; it’s nice to see him becoming a contributing member of the group.
Daryl makes sure he stands as far away from Andrea's gun as possible.
Choosing Sides
As each of the smaller groups reconvene at the farmhouse, all hell breaks loose. Ultimately, the group has to make their choice. Side with Shane, adopting his more aggressive but more realistic approach; or with Rick, who refuses to risk leaving and holds onto a strict moral code.
Standing next to Shane we have Andrea, T-Dog, Daryl and Glenn.
Andrea has made the conscious effort to not become a victim. She chooses to side with Shane because she believes he shares this quality. Unfortunately, if she continues to follow in his footsteps it could lead her down a much darker path.
T-Dog chooses to shoot because he is a survivor. We don’t know much of anything about him, but he definitely has that instinct. It can be assumed at this point that T-Dog will stick to whatever side he thinks will keep him alive.
Daryl simply wants the walkers cleared out. He doesn’t particularly like either Shane or Rick, but he feels that the zombies are a threat, caged or not.
Glenn only goes to join them when Maggie gives her silent blessing. He is certainly still on Rick’s side, but in this instance he felt he had to protect Maggie.
The rest of the group stands back and watches with Rick. His family will not abandon his side and the farm group obviously doesn’t agree with Shane’s actions. Carol’s fondness of Lori and Rick keep her with them, while Dale will do anything to stay clear of Shane.
This scene is perhaps most crucial for Rick and Hershel, as it destroys their faith. Rick has always had faith in small miracles (finding Sophia, finding his family, etc.) and Hershel has faith in a religious sense.
When Hershel sees the walkers for what they really are, his faith in a cure and God stepping in are ripped from him. When Sophia emerges from the barn, Rick similarly loses his faith that she will be found. How this event changes these two critical characters will be a major topic for the second half of the season.
The show did a fantastic job of making you feel for Hershel, even if you don’t agree with his choices. That is a true testament to Scott Wilson’s great performance. I also felt for the walkers for the first time since episode one. Well done writers, well done.
Inevitably, Rick proves Shane wrong. When the tables are turned and one of the group turns out to be a walker, even Shane can’t bring himself to take necessary action. Rick steps up and becomes the man that Shane (and others) didn’t believe he could be. This is going to be a major turning point for Rick as well.
Pretty Much Dead Already
The episode was an enjoyable midseason ender. I thought that Sophia becoming one of the undead was a bit of a copout at first, but did think it was handled well and was a necessary event.
Unfortunately, I feel like most viewers were probably so sick of the Sophia subplot that they’ll feel more relieved than anything. Despite that, the blowout was one of the most intense moments I’ve seen in recent TV history.
The second half of the season should feel more fast-paced, with the search over and Carl back on his feet. I hope that the show delves more into individual characters and keeps up the pace that ended this episode. Until then, we’ll just have to wait and see…
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Will Gibbs is a Michigan native and journalism student at Oakland University. He is a long time Walking Dead fan and self proclaimed "zombie survival expert." When he's not writing, Will enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and reading comic books. |
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