By Christian Kern
Welcome to the Tombs, the sixteenth episode of The Walking Dead season 3 was probably the most anticipated episode all year. We open with the Governor torturing Milton. As we know, Milton had betrayed his friend, the Governor by destroying the biters in the pit traps a few episodes back. We learn why the Governor takes the heads of his victims as he tells Milton; you take the heads not to forget, as he blames himself for the fate of his daughter. Milton gives Andrea a chance to escape, leaving pliers on the floor. The Governor gives Milton a chance to make amends by having him kill Andrea but Milton makes an attempt on the Governor and fails as the Governor stabs him repeatedly! He then tells Milton in life or death he will kill Andrea, leaving him to die.
Welcome to the Tombs, the sixteenth episode of The Walking Dead season 3 was probably the most anticipated episode all year. We open with the Governor torturing Milton. As we know, Milton had betrayed his friend, the Governor by destroying the biters in the pit traps a few episodes back. We learn why the Governor takes the heads of his victims as he tells Milton; you take the heads not to forget, as he blames himself for the fate of his daughter. Milton gives Andrea a chance to escape, leaving pliers on the floor. The Governor gives Milton a chance to make amends by having him kill Andrea but Milton makes an attempt on the Governor and fails as the Governor stabs him repeatedly! He then tells Milton in life or death he will kill Andrea, leaving him to die.
What with the events of the comics, we’re promised a magnitude of deaths tonight. The problem being one needs to remember that this is NOT the comic book and is something more. Something that Robert Kirkman is able to use as a way of expressing what he has learned through the comic.
Back at the prison, the group is ready to move on, packing up and preparing for war. Rick is still seeing Laurie everywhere. We see Darryl coming to terms with Merle’s death and the chance he has given the group by allowing them time to plan. Michonne confronts Rick about the deal with the Governor’s, statin that she understands why Rick considered it and thanks him for taking her in. We see the group coming together as a team.
As The Governor rallies his people with propaganda, Tyreese voices his opinion and feelings; he won't attack the prison but he will stay behind and help protect Woodbury. So the Governor just rolls on in to the prison with his men, Caesar leading the assault with some heavy-duty weaponry, not only taking out various parts of the prison but also the Walkers that are in the courtyard as well.
Back at the prison, the group is ready to move on, packing up and preparing for war. Rick is still seeing Laurie everywhere. We see Darryl coming to terms with Merle’s death and the chance he has given the group by allowing them time to plan. Michonne confronts Rick about the deal with the Governor’s, statin that she understands why Rick considered it and thanks him for taking her in. We see the group coming together as a team.
As The Governor rallies his people with propaganda, Tyreese voices his opinion and feelings; he won't attack the prison but he will stay behind and help protect Woodbury. So the Governor just rolls on in to the prison with his men, Caesar leading the assault with some heavy-duty weaponry, not only taking out various parts of the prison but also the Walkers that are in the courtyard as well.
Using vehicles, the men of Woodbury take point and infiltrate the prison but they quickly discover that the group is gone. They make their way into the heart of the prison. The Governor finds Herschel’s bible with a small passage highlighted and it is clear that even he knows deep down that he has crossed the line.
Milton helps Andrea escape in exchange for her to stab him in the head, he’s not dead yet bit he feels it coming and he knows what is waiting for him. It's a shame to see Milton pass on as he was becoming more interesting as the series continued. We also have Tyreese whose whole purpose is starting to come around, sensing something is wrong in Woodbury more than usual. Milton asks why Andrea stayed if she knew where her people were in the prison. Her answer is that she wanted to save everyone, she wanted to become the peacemaker; Andrea had seen enough death that she didn't want any more bodies to be built up.
As the Governor and his troops move deeper into the prison they set off traps left for them, allowing the walkers down there to do their job, forcing them out for the group to take them down. This assault and attack repels the Governor and his people flee the prison.
Milton helps Andrea escape in exchange for her to stab him in the head, he’s not dead yet bit he feels it coming and he knows what is waiting for him. It's a shame to see Milton pass on as he was becoming more interesting as the series continued. We also have Tyreese whose whole purpose is starting to come around, sensing something is wrong in Woodbury more than usual. Milton asks why Andrea stayed if she knew where her people were in the prison. Her answer is that she wanted to save everyone, she wanted to become the peacemaker; Andrea had seen enough death that she didn't want any more bodies to be built up.
As the Governor and his troops move deeper into the prison they set off traps left for them, allowing the walkers down there to do their job, forcing them out for the group to take them down. This assault and attack repels the Governor and his people flee the prison.
We see Carl kill his next victim as the little tike is beginning to rack up a body count. Herschel watches in disbelief as Carl simply executes one of the members of Woodbury. The group decides what to do next, most wanting to go back to Woodbury and confront them on their own turf. Carl and Herschel tell Rick about what Carl did in the woods. He is slowly losing his own sense of morality. Even though Carl says it was in self defense, Herschel says otherwise. He tells Rick that his son gunned a surrendering teenager down.
However the Governor is not returning to Woodbury, he wants to turn around. Even the people of Woodbury are not hearing it, turning their back on him. As the Governor begins to hear white noise, he opens fire on everyone in his group, gunning down his own people. Even Caesar doesn’t know what to make of it as he watches the Governor walk around the bodies, picking off the survivors, unknowingly missing one. With only Caesar and another man, the Governor drives away.
Andrea works on escaping as she is watching Milton. Any minute he can come back as it looks like he has died. We see Milton’s fingers move… as we cut to a commercial!
However the Governor is not returning to Woodbury, he wants to turn around. Even the people of Woodbury are not hearing it, turning their back on him. As the Governor begins to hear white noise, he opens fire on everyone in his group, gunning down his own people. Even Caesar doesn’t know what to make of it as he watches the Governor walk around the bodies, picking off the survivors, unknowingly missing one. With only Caesar and another man, the Governor drives away.
Andrea works on escaping as she is watching Milton. Any minute he can come back as it looks like he has died. We see Milton’s fingers move… as we cut to a commercial!
Rick talks to Carl about what he did. Carl sees how not acting can be a mistake. He gives examples from the past, not killing the walker that killed Dale in Season 2, he points out where his father failed to kill Andrew and thus Carl’s mother died as a result, and finally, how he failed to kill the Governor when he had the chance. Glenn, Maggie and company stay at the prison as Rick, Daryl and Michonne make their way to Woodbury. We see Carol kick some zombie ass, which was a nice touch.
The three find the Governor’s handiwork on the road and the female survivor, Karen, who hid from the Governor. We see more of the Governor’s handiwork as Milton finally comes back to life as a walker and attacks a frantic Andrea. We are left wondering who wins that fight as we fad to black.
Rick and the gang make it to Woodbury where they are fired upon. Karen is able to reason with Tyreese as she explains what the Governor did on the road. Rick tells Tyreese that Andrea may still be in Woodbury. Together they all go to the chamber Glenn and Maggie were held and find Andrea inside, discovering she was bitten by Milton before she killed him. Andrea is slowly turning into one of the undead with only enough left to make peace with Michonne and Rick. Daryl looks on as he contemplates having to do this again to someone he called a friend. Andrea wants to take her own life while she is able and asks Rick for his gun. Michonne sheds a tear for her friend, someone she spent time with on the road and demands to stay with her until the deed is done as one of the most gripping deaths of The Walking Dead comes upon us.
This is such a pyrrhic battle for Andrea, as she never wanted anyone to die. She wanted to save everyone and failed. In a way she clears Carl’s murder of the boy from Woodbury by showing that if you don’t act when you have the chance you can almost just about lose everything. Rick and everyone return to the prison with the members of Woodbury who have been abandoned by the Governor. Finally free from his grief over Lori, Rick Grimes is given a new sense of self and a new mission, in a world full of the walking dead he has found a sense of worth and a responsibility.
The three find the Governor’s handiwork on the road and the female survivor, Karen, who hid from the Governor. We see more of the Governor’s handiwork as Milton finally comes back to life as a walker and attacks a frantic Andrea. We are left wondering who wins that fight as we fad to black.
Rick and the gang make it to Woodbury where they are fired upon. Karen is able to reason with Tyreese as she explains what the Governor did on the road. Rick tells Tyreese that Andrea may still be in Woodbury. Together they all go to the chamber Glenn and Maggie were held and find Andrea inside, discovering she was bitten by Milton before she killed him. Andrea is slowly turning into one of the undead with only enough left to make peace with Michonne and Rick. Daryl looks on as he contemplates having to do this again to someone he called a friend. Andrea wants to take her own life while she is able and asks Rick for his gun. Michonne sheds a tear for her friend, someone she spent time with on the road and demands to stay with her until the deed is done as one of the most gripping deaths of The Walking Dead comes upon us.
This is such a pyrrhic battle for Andrea, as she never wanted anyone to die. She wanted to save everyone and failed. In a way she clears Carl’s murder of the boy from Woodbury by showing that if you don’t act when you have the chance you can almost just about lose everything. Rick and everyone return to the prison with the members of Woodbury who have been abandoned by the Governor. Finally free from his grief over Lori, Rick Grimes is given a new sense of self and a new mission, in a world full of the walking dead he has found a sense of worth and a responsibility.
We have lost a lot this year. When you’re emotionally invested in a television series, you lose when the characters you love lose. It’s a symbiotic relationship when you are part of fandom. Fandom can be an amazing thing and it has been a wild ride for everyone involved with The Walking Dead with a wild and crazy eight episodes this second half of season 3. I’ve enjoyed chronicling these episodes and discussing the lines and distances between the series and the comic book. It has been fun exploring this series with all of you and I look forward to the start of Season 4 this fall, with the news that David Morrissey WILL be reprising his role as the Governor, back with a motherfucking vengeance!
Until Season Four,
Christian Kern.
Until Season Four,
Christian Kern.
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