By Christian Kern
Episode 15 of The Walking Dead, This Sorrow Life, opens with Rick, Herschel and Daryl discussing their next play. Rick has given in and believes that sacrificing Michonne to the Governor is his only move. Even though both Herschel and Daryl feel this isn’t the group and how they operate, they side with Rick. However Rick needs one more onboard so he approaches Merle, asking him why he does what he does. Merle answers that he has no idea what has shaped him, however he sees straight through the sheriff and calls Rick on his mask of bullshit, telling him he hasn’t the guts or the spine for what he intends to do next.
Episode 15 of The Walking Dead, This Sorrow Life, opens with Rick, Herschel and Daryl discussing their next play. Rick has given in and believes that sacrificing Michonne to the Governor is his only move. Even though both Herschel and Daryl feel this isn’t the group and how they operate, they side with Rick. However Rick needs one more onboard so he approaches Merle, asking him why he does what he does. Merle answers that he has no idea what has shaped him, however he sees straight through the sheriff and calls Rick on his mask of bullshit, telling him he hasn’t the guts or the spine for what he intends to do next.
Tensions are on the rise at the prison. The group has seemingly been at odds with one another. Merle and Carol have a deep hearted discussion. If you remember in the first season, Merle was the terror of the camp playing a demon to his Brother Daryl’s angelic side. Merle realizes Carol is not the same woman he remembers almost as if he could finally respect her.
Outside, the group are debating ways to defend the prison, laying barbed wire for the Governors vehicles. Rick likes the idea and Daryl quickly adds that it was Michonne’s plan. We can see that Daryl, while respecting Rick’s authority, is not behind him one hundred percent with giving up Michonne. The dichotomy here between Rick Grimes in the comic book and Rick Grimes on screen is that in the comic Rick has a tendency to play cards close to his chest. Rick has been known to say one thing and express a certain idea or opinion while at last minute doing something completely different as he has done with Negan in the comic series.
Daryl and Glen talk about Merle. Daryl is all about forcing Merle to make things right with Glenn and Maggie, however Glenn makes it clear it’s not so much what Merle did to him but what was done to Maggie. Glenn cares more about Maggie than he does himself, which is why he hasn’t forgiven Merle.
Outside, the group are debating ways to defend the prison, laying barbed wire for the Governors vehicles. Rick likes the idea and Daryl quickly adds that it was Michonne’s plan. We can see that Daryl, while respecting Rick’s authority, is not behind him one hundred percent with giving up Michonne. The dichotomy here between Rick Grimes in the comic book and Rick Grimes on screen is that in the comic Rick has a tendency to play cards close to his chest. Rick has been known to say one thing and express a certain idea or opinion while at last minute doing something completely different as he has done with Negan in the comic series.
Daryl and Glen talk about Merle. Daryl is all about forcing Merle to make things right with Glenn and Maggie, however Glenn makes it clear it’s not so much what Merle did to him but what was done to Maggie. Glenn cares more about Maggie than he does himself, which is why he hasn’t forgiven Merle.
Meanwhile Merle has convinced himself that the deal with the Governor won’t work out. Daryl finds his brother down in the lower levels of the prison. He is looking for alcohol or some sort of contraband which he feels could be hidden somewhere. Merle tells his brother that Rick does not have the stomach for what he is proposing and Daryl shows a little hesitation of the plan. As brother taunts brother, Daryl calls his brother on the events in Woodbury between Glenn and Maggie. Merle feels that the whole prison is being hypocritical about him; as they are now going to do exactly what he did, give someone over to the Governor in exchange for a reprieve. For the first time in the series, Merle Dixon has more sense than everyone else. Merle sees what they can become and we’re left with this feeling that he does not want that for any of them.
We see Herschel giving a prayer from the Bible, something we haven’t seen for much of this season. As he speaks his prayer we cut to Rick walking alone, preparing to tie up Michonne. He once again sees Laurie who even seems to disapprove of his planned actions. The prayer is more for Rick’s benefit, Herschel tells his daughters that he would do anything to keep them safe as Rick comes into the prison and tells Herschel that he cannot go through with the plan. This version of Rick is much more realistic than the Machiavelli version of Rick from the comic book.
Unfortunately it’s too late, Merle has already taken Michonne and is in the process of bringing her to the Governor. Merle had no faith in Rick to go through with anything. He knows his place, he does the dirty work. He did so for the Governor and he’ll do so for Rick Grimes, saving them the trouble. Merle is almost not a bad guy in this episode as he does what he feels is right, he does what Rick and the others only flirt with knowing.
We see Herschel giving a prayer from the Bible, something we haven’t seen for much of this season. As he speaks his prayer we cut to Rick walking alone, preparing to tie up Michonne. He once again sees Laurie who even seems to disapprove of his planned actions. The prayer is more for Rick’s benefit, Herschel tells his daughters that he would do anything to keep them safe as Rick comes into the prison and tells Herschel that he cannot go through with the plan. This version of Rick is much more realistic than the Machiavelli version of Rick from the comic book.
Unfortunately it’s too late, Merle has already taken Michonne and is in the process of bringing her to the Governor. Merle had no faith in Rick to go through with anything. He knows his place, he does the dirty work. He did so for the Governor and he’ll do so for Rick Grimes, saving them the trouble. Merle is almost not a bad guy in this episode as he does what he feels is right, he does what Rick and the others only flirt with knowing.
When the prison realizes what Merle has done, Daryl goes off to look for him alone. He tells Rick that he needs to stay behind and ready for war with Woodbury. Merle wants to be with his brother and while his brother wants to be at the prison, Merle wants to ensure that the prison is the best place to be. We learn Merle’s body count is sixteen since the Zombie Apocalypse has happened, something he remorsefully shares with Michonne.
Amidst all this turmoil there’s still love in the air. As Glenn comes to terms with what has happened to him and Maggie he asks Herschel for his daughter’s hand in marriage, stating that he doesn’t even need a wedding he simply wants her to know that he is there and in love with her. Herschel, the farmer with the hot daughter as it were, has come to love Glenn as a son where as in season 2 he was ready to cast him out. We have always seen the two play the Father-n-Law and Son-in-Law game but now it becomes official. You also have to love how Glenn finds his wedding ring for Maggie, that’s just hardcore!
We see a bit of zombie action as Merle tries to hotwire a car, setting off the alarm and calling zombies like a moth to a flame. After fending off the walkers, the two drive the rest of the way to Woodbury where they have a small heat to heart chat. As much as Merle would love to turn that car around he admits to Michonne that he can’t go back. He knows what he has done and that there is no return. He releases Michonne to return to the prison on her own, Merle is going to make one last act of selfishness in a bid to save everyone.
Amidst all this turmoil there’s still love in the air. As Glenn comes to terms with what has happened to him and Maggie he asks Herschel for his daughter’s hand in marriage, stating that he doesn’t even need a wedding he simply wants her to know that he is there and in love with her. Herschel, the farmer with the hot daughter as it were, has come to love Glenn as a son where as in season 2 he was ready to cast him out. We have always seen the two play the Father-n-Law and Son-in-Law game but now it becomes official. You also have to love how Glenn finds his wedding ring for Maggie, that’s just hardcore!
We see a bit of zombie action as Merle tries to hotwire a car, setting off the alarm and calling zombies like a moth to a flame. After fending off the walkers, the two drive the rest of the way to Woodbury where they have a small heat to heart chat. As much as Merle would love to turn that car around he admits to Michonne that he can’t go back. He knows what he has done and that there is no return. He releases Michonne to return to the prison on her own, Merle is going to make one last act of selfishness in a bid to save everyone.
On the way back to the prison, Michonne meets Daryl who continues to go after his brother on his own. We see where Merle has even stopped at a liquor store and taken some shots of ‘courage’ before he heads off to confront the Governor at the meeting place. Merle’s plan is simple, lure an army of walkers and create a diversion. He will then wait for the Governor to show up and shoot him dead. As he had told Michonne, Rick did come back to the rooftop for him in season 1. In a way we see that Merle knows the Governor would have left him there if the roles were reversed.
What ensues is a firefight as the men of Woodbury fight off the zombies with Merle picking off the army, one by one. With the Governor in his sights, Merle takes the shot, but a walker intervenes and Merle is caught by the Governor and his men, who beat him to a pulp. The Governor steps in and a full on fistfight ensues, Merle seems to have the upper hand until the Governor bites off Merle’s finger. As the Governor beats Merle almost to death, he leaves him battered and broken. In one last act of defiance, Merle Dixon spits his final words before the Governor blasts him away.
What ensues is a firefight as the men of Woodbury fight off the zombies with Merle picking off the army, one by one. With the Governor in his sights, Merle takes the shot, but a walker intervenes and Merle is caught by the Governor and his men, who beat him to a pulp. The Governor steps in and a full on fistfight ensues, Merle seems to have the upper hand until the Governor bites off Merle’s finger. As the Governor beats Merle almost to death, he leaves him battered and broken. In one last act of defiance, Merle Dixon spits his final words before the Governor blasts him away.
“I ain’t begging!”
- Merle Dixon I knew him well, the bastard! He went down fighting!
Back at the Prison, Rick confesses in his plan to the rest of the group. Since meeting the Governor, he’s realized that his declaration at the end of season 2, that this is now a dictatorship, was the wrong call. He’s seen that they can’t live the way they have been and it’s time they started acting like humans again.
Daryl arrives at the carnage that was the meeting site and finds that Merle, his only family, has become one of the Walking Dead. We see omething in zombie Merle’s eyes, something of recognition as he hesitates. Then we feel our collective hearts break as Daryl cries for the first time in the series. Daryl does what must be done and puts an arrow through his brother’s eye. We are left with the final shot of Daryl Dixon mourning what his brother had become, what the Governor allowed his brother to become, a fate worse than death in this new world.
With only one episode left, Rick and the gang prepare for the worst that is about to come!
Daryl arrives at the carnage that was the meeting site and finds that Merle, his only family, has become one of the Walking Dead. We see omething in zombie Merle’s eyes, something of recognition as he hesitates. Then we feel our collective hearts break as Daryl cries for the first time in the series. Daryl does what must be done and puts an arrow through his brother’s eye. We are left with the final shot of Daryl Dixon mourning what his brother had become, what the Governor allowed his brother to become, a fate worse than death in this new world.
With only one episode left, Rick and the gang prepare for the worst that is about to come!
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