The Walking Dead – Lots of tales

Sometimes, it’s rather amusing trying to figure out what could come out of titles to episodes. I had no clue what this week’s (“Cherokee Rose”) meant or where it would lead … but knowing how things work on The Walking Dead, there would certainly be a story in there somewhere. And there was. More on this later.

The opening held a very anticipatory moment: The first glimpse of the RV had me highly expectant the remainder of the group were coming to Herchel’s farm with a newly found Sophia in tow. But, as the group parked and revealed themselves, I literally threw up my hands and exclaimed: “What!? No Sophia … ?!?” (Yes, I talk directly to my television set sometimes.) I was somewhat amazed no one stayed back at the road during the daylight hours to continue the search for the girl. Just as befuddling was the fact Carol didn’t seem too distraught about her missing daughter, at least during the first few minutes of the episode. I may have even caught a glimpse of a smile as she came up to Lori and hugged her in understanding Carl was on the path to recovery.

And yes: Carl is out of the woods and well on the way to recovery.

The funeral for Otis was full of angst. Shane is put on the spot, Herchel asking him to say something on Otis’ behalf. Even though he claims he’s not good at eulogies, he’s further encouraged to speak at the behest of Otis’ wife. The interesting thing here is if you listen to him closely he never really does tell a lie about what happened. His manipulation of the story is pretty sly:

The downward spiral Shane is in — the continued degradation of his mind and justification of his actions — may be weighing heavily on him and he’s wrestling those demons the best he can. And part of the ulterior motive for him doing so? Beside covering his ass? The approval of Lori … as was evidenced by him later asking her if she “meant it” about him staying on with the group. More to come, be assured.

While the entire “well walker” debacle was a tad unique and innovative, I make comments about it below.

There were two spiffy character studies I got a bang out of during the episode: 1) The Herchel/Rick exchange about The Almighty and subsequent follow-up with our reluctant hero asking Herchel about reconsidering the group staying on at the farm; and, 2) The exchange with Daryl and Carol. It’s the latter I want to focus on.

While on the hunt for Sophia by his lonesome, Daryl finds evidence someone was recently at an abandoned house. He discovers a freshly opened tin of somesuch (Sardines? Biblical reference to the feeding of the 5,000?) and more. My first thought: “Meryl?” But it’s Sophia Daryl is focused on at the moment … and now the title of the episode comes into play: Daryl notices two Cherokee roses in the brush surrounding the house. Two of them, mind you. And while he emphatically states he isn’t “fool enough to believe there are no flowers blooming” for his brother in his exchange with Carol on his return to the RV, this is a little clue we could very well be seeing Meryl once more.

Then there’s the shopping trip to the pharmacy. Uh-huh. That scene … where we will now forever equate the term “going to the pharmacy” as a euphemism for sex as we witnessed Maggie and Glenn swoon and let their desire for one another take over. With all the goo-goo eyes they’ve been exchanging the last few episodes, you knew it was bound to happen. It was just a matter of when.

And everyone’s assumption Lori is pregnant was finally confirmed, too. We no longer need to think the little tryst she and Shane had in the woods last season or Jenner’s cryptic and unknown whisper to Rick at the CDC are fuel for our imaginations where she’s concerned. Lori certified our suspicions when she went out and peed in the bushes, pregnancy test in hand courtesy of Glenn’s shopping run with Maggie earlier.

The only question now: Who’s child is it? Rick’s? Shane’s?

Side Notes:

• Regarding Dale’s query to Maggie about water at the beginning of the episode: The group stumbled onto that water truck on the highway during the season premiere, remember? One would think they have plenty of water for the time being.
• The entire time Glenn was being pulled up out of the well during the “well walker” adventure? He had the noose with him. Right down to the very last scene before coming out the well. There was never any opportunity for him to snag it around “Bluto” … he was too committed to his panic at the time. Still, he somehow managed to rope that little doggie.
• Speaking of the well walker, it’s probably just me but … there were some pretty gratuitous blood and guts spilling back down into the well along with Bluto’s lower half. The “Gratuitous Blood & Guts” department at The Walking Dead, Inc. certainly poured it on for that scene … didn’t they?
• What was on the floor of the pantry closet Daryl saw? A blanket? A piece of clothing? I couldn’t tell.
• Nifty little aside: In the preview for next week, we get a glimpse of Meryl saying “I just don’t think you gonna make it” to someone. Yep: It appears Meryl’s back!

Quotes:

“There are aspects to this … things I can’t and won’t discuss. ” — Herchel to Rick while discussing the terms of the group possibly staying at the farm

“If not for Otis, I’d have never made it out alive. And that goes for Carl, too. It was Otis … he saved us both …” — Shane speaking during the funeral for Otis

“I’m like you now. We’ve both been shot.” — Carl to his father during recovery

Clacked by Michael Noble
on Nov 07, 2011 @ 12:30 EST5EDT