Hey guys, this is my first time creating a blog post. I'm hoping people enjoy it, but nonetheless, here goes.
8.5/10
I thought it was a great episode. I'm glad we really get to explore Beth and Daryl as a solo group and we get to see Beth expand some more. However, compared to other episodes I can understand why people thought it was boring. What I don't understand is that people are asking for more development in Beth, and when there is the slightest bit, they start complaining that it didn't propel the main storyline forward enough. At this moment in time, it's all about the individual groups and for the next episode it's going to stay that way until they all meet up.
For what it's worth, I am happy that Beth had some nice screen time and we got to understand her character more. Fans call her boring because she isn't badass like Maggie, Michonne and Carole -- something in which she admits in the episode itself. But the show would be completely farfetched if every character was a zombie killing machine. She displayed in todays episode that she is more than capable of looking after herself if needs must. However, she also admitted that it's inevitable that she WILL die at some point -- but so will every character on the show, I'm sure.
I'm struggling to understand what Beth and Daryl got their own episode though. Of course Rick, Carl and Michonne did because they are major characters. But Daryl and Beth? Not so much. I can't help but feel worried that they are getting more screen time because they are both going to be killed by the end of the season. I hope not, because I like them both, but because of the nature of this show I'm not going to cry if they do. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the season, I would have been absolute certain that Daryl is safe for a LONG time and that Beth's time is coming to an end. But after watching todays episode, I can't shake the nagging feeling that it's in fact Daryl's time that is coming to an end.
Put it this way. In retrospect, Beth doesn't contribute much to the dynamic of the show. She has -- up until season 4 -- been a glorified extra. But now they are exploring her character much more. To me, it seems pointless to kill her off as we are beginning to see a different side of her. However, Daryl on the other hand -- what more does he have to contribute to the show? He has become the shows "cash cow" as I've seen people around here; highly proficient with all types of weapons. Very rarely in danger. Master of all trades. Storyline wise, his character has been explored so it would make much more sense that it is him who meets his maker at the end of the season. That, combined with the fact Norman Reedus mentioned he is working on other projects at the moment, and in the promo for the next episode, Beth screams that she "will not leave him." To me, it seems like he may sacrifice himself to let her live. In todays episode, Beth mentioning that Daryl will be the last man standing, and that she will die sooner rather than later, is like they are tempting fate... They want to subconsciously let everyone believe Daryl will be the last man standing, but inevitably it will be other way round, he will die by the seasons end, and perhaps Beth will make it to season 5. I read that the season will end on a happy note. I'm not sure of the validity of this, because I've read conflicting statements. The season finale will leave everyone shocked. Filming reports of Andrew Lincoln screaming. That doesn't sound so happy to me.
In all honesty, I think Beth brings a breath of realism to the show. Without it, the show would become too farfetched and without a sense of realism and strong character understanding, I think I'd quickly bore of the show. Admittedly, Michonne is my favourite character. Why? I'm not entirely sure. I think it's her mystery that draws me in and makes me want to understand her character more. Or maybe it's because I have a weakness for strong women who can handle themselves. But I'm not biased -- I can admit that Michonne is a little farfetched herself and quickly runs the risk of becoming the female cash cow. Example number 1: Her Katana is always sharp. We have NEVER seen her sharpen it, yet it still remains 100% effective. Example number 2: When season 4 returned after the winter break, Michonne fashioned herself 2 new zombie pets. Now we all know she uses these to mask her human scent so walkers don't notice her. But to me it all happened too quickly. If memory serves, Milton mentioned to the Governor that when Michonne removed the walkers arms and jaws, because they can no longer feed, they SLOWLY lose interest in the desire to feed. However, when Michonne fashioned two new walker pets, they INSTANTLY lost the desire to feed and were 100% effective. I know I could be looking into it too deeply, but it appears as though people are willing to overlook these smalls indiscrepancies when it comes to their favourite character. In essense, I think a few people didn't like this episode because it contained -- for want of a better phrase -- "boring Beth." However, I don't find her boring in the slightest. She is real. Her character is an 18 year old girl in a zombie apocolpyse. What? She isn't a zombie killing survival warrior? Well though. Not every female character can and should be. She brings realism to the show and in my opinion stops the show from becoming too farfetched.
I see comments about it being a filler episode. I've mentioned this in the comments below but thought it deserved a mention in my post. Technically speaking, the main storyline for this half of the season is the survivors making their way to Terminus. Therefore -- in essense -- everything we see before this is filler material. Rick hiding under the bed? Filler. Michonne trying to cheer up Carl? Filler. Michonne finding a dead family in a house? Filler. Carole meeting up with Tyreese and the girls? It's all filler material. What we did get in the previous episodes is CHARACTER PROGRESSION. That's exacty what we got in this episode!! I saw nothing but good reviews for the previous episode, but why? For most of it, Rick hid under the bed. Not a single ounce of story progression. Everything so far has been character progression with a hint of storyline progression -- i.e. the survivors arriving at Terminus. It doesn't look like they will all arrive until the season finale, or perhaps a little earlier. So until then, I don't think the majority of you will be happy.