THE WALKING DEAD – “Nebraska” – RECAP

When you come back after a long break in between new episodes, as The Walking Dead has done, you run the risk of losing any momentum built up. TWD left things on a truly harrowing note, with all peace on Hershel’s farm having broken down, the reveal of Sophia’s zombification and subsequent death at Rick’s hand. With a cliffhanger like that, how do you pick things up again? How do you keep the same feeling present despite an 11-week gap?

TDW manages it by focusing on that final action of putting a bullet in Sophia’s brain. We’re focused on Rick’s gun, racking to see Rick, the hardship of his decision still weighing on his face. Everyone is silent except for Carol. The sounds of her sobs bring us pack into the tragedy of this event. It’s a strong opening. Everyone is internally on completely different levels, with some disagreeing with the situation and others just mentally broken, but now is not the time for anyone to voice their opinions. For this opening scene, everything is pure grief. It’s a powerful emotion and one I wasn’t necessarily expecting. I had myself convinced Rick or Shane would fly into a rage at discovering Sophia in the barn, and while that does happen, I’m glad it wasn’t the very first thing to be seen.

When you start with a great sadness, it’s important not to dwell on it. It’s good for setting the stage, but things need to move on if you want decent drama. Thankfully, just when the depressing nature of the opening starts to become too much, Shane attacks Hershel with accusations of knowing about Sophia. The anger is coming out, causing Shane and Rick to butt heads. It perfectly sums up what you can expect from the rest of the episode; sadness mixed in with differing ideas.

As a whole this was a great reintroduction to TWD. The stuff with Hershel and Rick was wonderfully handled, and Shane continues to be a nut job. For much of the first half of the season, Rick did very little. His son was near death and he was a mess at his bedside. Now that he’s had to kill Sophia he realizes the kind of man he has to become to keep his family safe. That’s the Rick I want to follow. Making tough decisions shows you what kind of person you’re dealing with. When it comes to Shane, you begin to see just how easily unhinged he is. He thinks he’s looking out for everyone’s best interests, but really he’s just a sick, twisted man. Rick on the other hand won’t be as easily swayed toward psychopathic tendencies. Shane would rather give everyone guns and take whatever they want. He sees that as a tough decision, when in reality it’s a lot easier to take then it is to come to an agreement. Rick still sees the value in trusting people and making things work as a group. But he isn’t stupid.

When those two men, Dave and Tony, entered the bar, it wasn’t quite clear what their motivations were. They seemed like nice enough guys. They shared a drink with Glenn and Rick, but when they started asking too many questions it started to become clear what they wanted. Somehow they knew about the farm and Rick quickly picked up on how dangerous they were. And when his suspicions were proved right, he killed them. That was hardly a snap decision. Rick likely knew he would kill them if he needed to as soon as they first entered the bar. And he can kill two men he just met and it won’t change him. Shane murdered Otis and he’s a completely different person because of it. Rick will go on from this a little more hardened, but just as compassionate. I’m sure if he could have changed things, he would have let them live and go on their way.

I’m mostly interested in where Hershel will go from here. He’s now come to the realization his assumptions about the walkers has been wrong, and he accepts that he has to put aside his hopelessness for his family, the same that Rick has done. This is a drastic change in character and I’m fascinated to see how it will be handled. But forget Hershel, Rick, Dale, Glenn, Lori (who stupidly got in a car accident and was then promptly forgotten for the rest of the episode, not that I’m complaining), and even Shane. For me the standout character was Daryl, who only appeared in three or four scenes and had even fewer lines. The two people most affected by Sophia’s death were Carol and Daryl. Carol reacted in a typical way, with sadness, apathy, and rage. Daryl, who is supposed to be this tough, country boy who doesn’t give a crap about anyone but himself, almost died looking for Sophia. He’s pissed all his hard work was for nothing. He gave everything he had to find her, even forming an unlikely bond with Carol. And now it all means nothing. He didn’t find her and Carol wants nothing to do with anyone right now. What does Daryl have left?

Plenty of things moved forward this episode and it has me excited for the direction of the rest of the season. I have a feeling Dale and Shane are heading for a big confrontation that will end in one of them dead (my money is on Dale finally pulling the trigger on Shane). Rick has finally stepped up and declared himself a threat to anyone who tries to take away his family’s safety and Hershel stood by him in silent agreement of his tactics. Glenn and Maggie are fast heading toward a serious relationship, while Daryl and Carol are united in their feelings of grief and loneliness. Not every scene with the cast was a winner (I hope you died in that car crash Lori), but it’s hard to be picky when there was so many positive developments. Here’s hoping the rest of the season (which are the first batch of episodes from new showrunner Glen Mazzara) lives up to “Nebraska.”