The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 10: Home

!!!!!!WARNING SEASON 3 SPOILERS!!!!!!

CLICK LINK TO VIEW

After the explosive return that was episode 9, episode 10 continues strongly with some solid plot development to spur the season along at a sharp pace. Home mixes up the usual formula that has been employed thus far as we get the perspective of 3 groups of survivors in this episode. Rick and co are in a state of unrest at the prison, unable to decide whether to flee their drab sanctuary or stay and fight the counterattack from the vile Governor. The antagonist in question relinquishes some of his control to an irate Andrea, a smart move to keep her loyal to Woodbury while he takes care of more pressing issues. Finally we see Merle and Daryl on the road again; 2 brothers back to back against the walkers once more.

The choice of having a triple pronged narrative is certainly a smart one considering how relatively uneventful home is for a Walking Dead episode. Beyond the debating in the prison, Rick is still hallucinating, leaving command to a furious Glen who is eager to strike back at The Governor after the abuse he caused to girlfriend Maggie. Glen is showing signs of leadership with his strong will, but doesn’t seem fit to supersede the delusional Rick by any means, most notably for letting his emotions cloud his judgement. On a side note, it’s nice to see Axel attain some development and extra lines, although this attempt almost seems in vain considering how the episode concludes.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Home is Daryl and Merles adventure that sheds brief backstory on the pair, as well as one of the two action set pieces that get the blood pumping in this episode. We learn of their plans to rob the group when they were situated in Atlanta in season 1, only to be scuppered by Rick chaining Merle to a pipe and leaving him for dead. It’s also hinted at the abusive past that these 2 have suffered when they were young, more of which needs to be revealed in order to stop Merle from becoming a simple and one dimensional character.

Home is a moderately quiet episode that violently explodes during its conclusion as The Governor goes against his word to Andrea and attacks the prison. The ensuing gunfight is exhilarating; the shock of the confrontation is well matched by the intensity of the battle. It’s a stellar moment, and one that feels like it could be the last big action scene before the finale in the coming weeks. Up until the bullets fly Home was a solid episode, but that it’s this spurt of human vs. human violence that makes it a fantastic one.

9