It was brilliant to separate the characters and create new groups. The idea to focus on each group (or two) per episode is good, but it can have its limits. I must admit last week, I didn’t really like “Alone”. But, it’s probably because I don’t really like or care for Bob and Sasha. So, it was hard to be entertained by characters I’m not attached to. For Maggie and Glenn, I just want them to get reunited so watching them apart could not interest me for 45 minutes. Anyways, this week I’m very happy because Carol is back, and she is one of my favorite character.
I know a lot of people don’t share my view on Carol. What I love the most about her is her evolution. Back in season 1, Carol was very weak, under her violent husband influence. It felt like she had no personality and she was likely to get killed sooner than later. But everything started to change when she lost her husband. Her real turning point was Sofia’s death. From this moment, she became a different person because her family had died and there were no one she knew from before who was still alive. She changed because she focused on herself instead of being a wife or a mother. Her survival instinct kicked in and I loved watching it.
Now, she became a murderer but I forgive her, because I can understand why she did it and she is not a psychopath. It was a questionable decision she took by herself, that’s for sure but she is not a danger to others. Carol won't kill someone by pleasure.
For me, Carol is the mother of the show. Carol taught the children so they would be more prepared and have better chance at surviving. She has learnt from Sophia’s death. Keeping the children out of the danger won’t help them survive, overprotecting Sophia may be have caused her death. (Why did she go ? She should have stayed right where Rick told her). Those kids need to know some basic rules. Because, the children are their future, if they can’t survive in this new world, humanity will cease to exist.
So, Lizzie and Mikka are the new generation, they represent hope…. And, it’s a bit scary because they seem very disturbed. I understand they are just kids and it must be awful to have to live like that but still… Lizzie has been showing signs of mental illness, she has this weird idea walkers are still people and can be friends... I don’t know if she is just crazy or stupid. Anyway, we will find out n this episode.
I’m very fond of Mikka. Even though she is younger than Lizzie, she really seems stronger and more clever. It looks like she has a better understanding of the world. Of course, she is terrified and she is weak so she has to be extra careful…. Because nobody wants to fall while running away from walkers. It’s terrifying. And Carol can’t be always here to protect you.
Since The Walking Dead has shattered its characters, every time a group finds a shelter, a safe house, they question whether it’s a good place to stay and catch a break. This week in “The Grove”, Tyreese will have that same question. The house he will find is an excellent place to stay for a while. so, maybe he will stay there a bit and try to get things back to normal.
So, what do expect from “The Grove” :
• Since they escaped the prison, all the characters managed to survive… Yet it’s a dangerous world, with all those walkers around, popping up at any time… But they are not the only threat, as I’ve said before, in my review of “After”, so are people....
• Justice will be served for one character. And of course, as there is no trial anymore, it will be served by another character…
• When there is fire, there is smoke… So the aftermath of Daryl and Beth’s fire in the woods will be seen.
• Zombies… A lot of zombies actually ! They’re so disgusting and frightening… I love them !
Are you excited about “The Grove” ? Don’t miss it this Sunday on AMC, and on Monday 17th on Fox (UK).
Are you happy to see Carol and Tyreese ? Do you think Carol will tell to him she killed Karen ? Hit the comments !
Thanks for the preview Romain, glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeletePretty brutal episode.
Thanks. It was quite brutal and disturbing yeah and I loved it :)
ReplyDeleteTrès bonne review Romain!
ReplyDeleteSans vouloir être indiscret, comment tu fais pour voir les épisodes à l'avance?
@Madani Bah The networks send us advanced copies of the episodes.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the hint about justice being served involves Carol and Tyreesse.
ReplyDelete"Justice will be served for one character. And of course, as there is no trial anymore, it will be served by another character" I guess this means that Lizzie will be killed for killing Mika in this episode.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so because we find out that Lizzie is a Psychopath before. There will probably be a double grave for offender (Lizzie) and victim (Mika) at the end of the episode.
ReplyDeleteI wondered about that fire. First, I worried they'd start a forest fire, then I worried that the walkers would see that and go "Oooo, pretty," because they're not that bright, and walk toward it. As for Mika and Lizzie, I don't think anyone's dying, because Romain didn't hint at that. But Lizzie will do something odd, again. I always thought it was ironic that, before the prison attack, Tyreese was seeking the person who killed his girlfriend and the psycho who pinned roadkill to a board, thinking they were one and the same. But they were two people, and by luck, he's been grouped with them both. Oh, this will be good.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I can take both girls getting killed in one episode.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the preview Romain! It's a great read!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree about Carol -- love, love the evolution of her character so far, and Melissa McBride has portrayed the emergence of that inner grit and strength so powerfully. Based upon the promo pics, I'm really liking how they've used the charred "fire walkers" in this episode to suggest that the fire started by Daryl/Beth wasn't all that far away.
ReplyDeleteOver at my house we're definitely betting this is going to be one of the most disturbing TWD episodes ever, based upon several different factors. It seems (to us) like things have been building toward a very specific and disturbing climax -- and IF we're right, Melissa McBride could rise to a new level of acting awesomeness. :)
I believe tyreese is going to forgive her.
ReplyDeleteGreat preview, seriously. I have my issues with Carol but I love how you articulate yourself here. That said, some thoughts on Carol. Carol, I think, began to feel extreme guilt after Sophia. She didn't prepare her child (circumstances she was in limited that as well), she didn't look for her child, etc. I'm sure she feels guilt for what happened to her. This made her determined to never have that happen to her again with anyone she loved, and she set about to protect the children, teach them how to survive, etc. The problem is she seemingly ignored the signs from Lizzie, that something was wrong, she knew there was as Mika had told her and my blind dog could see Lizzie had issues, but she ignored it in the face of only teaching her survival. She did go cold from what happened to Sophia as well, up to this point she's shuttered Sophia's memory away (I can imagine the pain of it would be horrific).
ReplyDeleteSo in reality Carol has done a complete 180, she went from one extreme to the other and her actions with Karen and David flew in the face of logic (she'd already seen the infection had spread, so killing them to prevent the spread was pointless)..and why she didn't just go to the council to express concern is weird as well. She overcompensated, not so much to prove at point (which is what Andrea was doing, as I saw it, when she shot Daryl), but because her mind has gone to the "Sophia, never again" mode.
My hope isn't that she should have to fall on her knees and beg forgiveness forever, but at least acknowledge who what she did was wrong, acknowledge how it affected others. If Rick has to account for banishing her, she should have to do the same in kind.
My hope is to see that and I'm also curious as to what the nature of her relationship with Tyreese will be. Will they go by way of the GN? Tune in, eh?
Thanks for answering!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I see Lizzie finally turning into the comic book version of Ben and offing Mika which in turn will surely shock Carol and Tyreese. One of the two will take Lizzie out. It could end up being Tyreese which would surely make he and Carol even but I believe it'll be Carol who does it.
ReplyDeleteRomain's smart enough to leave out any hints towards a death but I personally do believe there will be a death in this episode.....maybe two.
ReplyDeleteJust looking again at the burned walker pic that Romain put up. Could that be what Tyreese saw on coming toward him on the tracks?
ReplyDeleteThat's actually a different one :)
ReplyDeleteAh. Gotcha:)
ReplyDeleteMelissa McBride is going to be AMAZING!!!!! Carol is my fave since season 1..
ReplyDeleteCarol Can Now Add Child Killer To Her Resume. Yes ThisEpisode Is Very Dark. BY Girls
ReplyDeleteit will be intense and possibly heartbreaking but it will, it think, tie up this whole is, lizzie psychotic , will ty kill carol when he finds out, is carol the actual murderer. what I have seen and read, they acting is incredible with several strong actors, plus I love carol, mmb and missed her
ReplyDeleteI guess as usual, I don't agree with your opinions, I will enjoy an exiting ep. Team Carol 100%
ReplyDeleteOH GOD! Carol as long as she lives i will be completely happy, i share your view i believe she has grown a lot and she is capable of doing anything to protect the ones she loves ever since she lost Sophia and i think that's why she acts the way she does cause she doesnt want to see the people that she cares about get hurt.
ReplyDeleteI think Carol will loose it when she sees one of the girl has been bitten and she has a Sophia flashback kind of thing and she just freezes in the spot and it will be her decision to kill the girl.
Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you, Carol has gone from an extreme to another. Of course the guilt of Sophia's death made her that way. She didn't prepare her kid for this new world and at the prison, she took extreme measures to prevent people from dying.
She has done a terrific job in this episode.
ReplyDeleteWell, you are right it will be one of the most disturbing episode of Walking Dead. The writers really push their limits and it's very interesting.
ReplyDeleteMelissa McBride is even more than awesome. Her acting is so great, she really makes Carol a real person.
Thank you for the compliment :)
ReplyDeleteCarol is one the best character on The Walking Dead, she has become quite strong and proved herself to be a good survivor. She is a good element for the group, she protects others... but anyone can die, anytime. There so many threats against them. No one is safe...
ReplyDeleteI just say it's The Walking Dead and nobody is safe. People can die at anytime. That's the rule.
ReplyDeleteI'd agree with the exceptions of Rick and Daryl. The lead character and the closest person to being the lead? If they were ever to be killed, I would be stunned.
ReplyDeleteI won't be that shocked if Rick would die, if Carl is old enough (like in his 20's) to be the lead character. I can see Daryl die, sacrifcing himself to protect the group. But yeah, they're safe for at least two seasons but everyone else is not.
ReplyDeleteI remember how stunned I was when Dale died back in season two.
Dale's death didn't shock me. It was the only death on the show I didn't know was coming (since I've been watching from the start for the past 4 weeks). Unless they have some massive time jumps, and improve Carl a hell of a lot (seriously, how has he become so annoying in season 4?) he will never be leader. If Daryl was to die, that would be how it happens. But I don't think it would happen. The problem with Kirkman and everybody else saying that no one is safe is that until one of Rick or Daryl is killed, it isn't believable. Sure, they can kill off Andrea, Hershel, Dale, Shane etc. but those two are at the helm, and unless one of them die, it isn't really a case of no one is safe.
ReplyDeleteI have my own crazy theory that actually, it's all about Carl, it's the lead. I must say I've liked him better this season. He really touched me in After, ina way he never had before. For me, he always was the annoying kid, but now he has grown and he is way more interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's true Rick, Carl, Daryl and Michonne are protected ffrom the rule for now. But still, the writers could decide to kill one of them by the end of the season. I'd love it actually, but I'm not sure if AMC would let them do it.
I know, she is so wonderful..!! I think she deserves MORE screen time.
ReplyDeleteI watched 'After' a few hours ago and jeez I have never seen anyone so annoying. The whole "I don't need you speech" then almost dying twice in the next 5 minutes. Firing a gun how many times when it draws the walkers? Leaving his dad alone, unconscious? Eating the food he found? He broke pretty much every rule to survive in that episode, and it annoyed me.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, Michonne is safe too. Everyone else is liable to die.
Yeah, but at the end, he admitted he needed his father after all. It was touching and for me it put him on another level. He grew, he knows he has to be a man, and fights walkers but he is also still a boy who needs his father. And, he needs someone to survive with. Survivng alone is too hard. I'm glad Carol pulled it off btw :)
ReplyDeleteCarl still makes bad decisions, but he learns from them.
Yeah, that was good. But it was a lot to get through to get there. I liked him the first few seasons but now he's just an a**hole.
ReplyDeleteWell, I feel the opposite. I hated him so much in the first seasons. I feel a bit ashamed but I was when he got shot.... At least, he was unconscious and not talking for a while
ReplyDeleteCarol didn't really survive on her own. Wasn't it only a day or two between Rick banishing her and the prison attack? It also seemed that she stuck pretty close to the prison for those couple of days since she found Tyrese so quickly. I think the only character that really survived on their own for a long period of time was Michonne before she met Andrea.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that this storyline will finally be wrapped up, but I'm not happy that it sounds like Rick, Michonne and Glenn's group will not be in this episode again. Thanks for the preview though.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly it. I miss that part of the Old Carol, I don't like the one who was the way she was with Rick in Indifference.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Chandra! You see a lot of things the way I do:)
ReplyDeleteI'm actually wondering if she could eventually be up for an Emmy for her work here -- but then again, if "The Grove" is as dark and controversial as I'm almost sure it will be, not certain it would end up being nominated. :) Either way, I'm thrilled the writers are finally giving Melissa McBride a nice, meaty (eeew, no pun) story arc. She has more than proven herself over these last couple seasons (in my opinion), and her character's evolution has been both fascinating and powerful. I think this episode will be a crowning achievement for her. Although probably very, very difficult to watch!!
ReplyDeleteChandler Riggs is 14! Carl is meant to be that age or younger...
ReplyDeleteThey can jump in time and act another character... But I know my theory is crazy :p
ReplyDeleteCarol survived more than two days I think. She stayed close to the prison and watched the attack but still she was all alone... Michonne had her pets to protect her.
ReplyDeleteMellisa McBride deserves an Emmy that's for sure but I don't think they will give it to her. She plays so well the different level of emotions Carol will feel in this brutal episode.
ReplyDeleteI understand, I also miss the Old Carol sometimes but I guess this is what walkers do to people, they make them tougher and colder. But I think the Old Carol isn't totally gone ;)
ReplyDeleteI understand your point. Hershel was a father figure, that was clear. But he had his flaws too, back in season 2, it took him time to realize what the walkers really were and what surviving with others meant. He was also saved a lot by others because he wasn't the strongest one.
ReplyDeleteCarol made mistakes, she acted behind everyone's back at the prison and killed two people. That was wrong, but her intentions weren't. She wanted to protect people. She cared for the children and taught them how to survive so they won't end up as Sophia.
I find her evolution particularly interesting and well done. I can understand her and what she does, I couldn't do that for Shane, Andrea or even when Rick went cuckoo after Lori's death.
I actually heard we see Rick & Carl again this episode
ReplyDeleteMichonne creating her pets just further shows her smart survival skills. The fact still remains that she was on her own, while the others had other survivors to help them survive. I don't consider two armless zombies good company. If someone was alone and covered themselves in blood for protection like Glenn and Rick did during season one, they are still alone. You can't discredit their strong ability to survive alone because they had zombie blood to protect them. You can't compare survival tactics against the zombies to actually having living survivors around to help you kill zombies, set up camp and for emotional support. You have to be a tough person to be alone for months in that world with no other people (living people).
ReplyDeleteBut again, that's just the way I see it.
I don't think it was more than a day or two.
- They went on the run and he banished her in Indifference (it was still daytime)
- Returned the same day in Internment (still day time) tells Maggie what happened.
- The end of Internment was the next morning (Rick/Carl in garden and Mich/Hersh go dump bodies)
- End of Dead Weight is that same day when the Governor sees Rick and Carl in the garden and Michonne dumping bodies.
- The attack on the prison is the same day. End of Dead Weight carries over to the mid season finale where he sees Mich/Hersh dumping bodies and he kidnaps them.
- Prison attack happens that same day and in Inmates, Carol says that she saw Tyrese and the girls run from the prison and she followed them.
So she was on her own for about a day.
Great preview! I'm just so happy to have Carol back on screen, I have missed her so much! I feel like this is going to be a heartbreaking episode but will show the amazing strength of this character that has been through so much. I want people to see that Carol feels every bit of the decisions she has been forced to make. She's NOT devoid of emotion.
ReplyDeleteHope this gets Melissa a much deserved Emmy-nod. :)
Yes, it's this one
ReplyDeletehow would you have dealt with a dangerous psychotic child. heartbreaking choice and she did talk about taking lizzie and keeping her away from others she could harm. ty pointed out that he and Judith would be less safe. so the decision was made
ReplyDelete