I agree. Even at his peak he wasn't a very good bad guy. He always came off like more or a whiner then a cold-blooded killer. Like a screwed up used car salesmen when he should have been intimidating and scary. No charisma at all. So this new story direction is pretty uninteresting for me. I don't care if he's good or bad or lives or dies. I would rather see that screen time used on someone I actually like or dislike. He's just filler at this point.

I actually disagree Rich, and I'm a lot like you in thinking that the second half of season 3 became a joke- making the Governor a caricature of himself (along with incredibly dumb back an forth excuses for the groups to intertwine/conflict).

However in this episode I think the writers effectively showed (this also has to do a lot with Morrissey's good acting) how this world changes people. That's something we rarely get in WD without it being abrupt and comical, and suddenly out of character. Shane's decent into madness was portrayed well by Jon Bernthal, but it was done way too quickly and almost felt like a light switch. In this episode I wasn't looking for redemption of Phillip Blake from bad to good. Instead we got a character who has essentially lost everything twice, and is a shell of man. I mean even the way he barely dodges walkers, he doesn't care if he even lives. He's dwelled for months on end in solitude about everything that's happened. So much so, that when he finally encounters other people he doesn't instantly revert into bad guy Governor again. He's a disheveled mute. I mean it's easy to see once he opens up to the little girl- his motivations for doing things and helping, but I like that the writers allude that he could go either way (just on what we know of him).

Last night I found myself almost wishing we never go back to the prison (and believe me I was really skeptical about a stand alone Governor episode given last season). I just can't get into that group at all, nor do I like the centralized location. I watch this show for the survival aspect (the what would you do in impossible situation after impossible situation). Rick & Co just annoy me. I half expect them to talk the walkers to death.

I just read "The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor" and the acting was spot on - answers a lot of questions. I do agree that it was a good episode and completely unnecessary, but then again I don't know where they're going next so who knows.

Loved it. What the show needs. Now they'll probably fuck up and instead of continuing to evolve the Governor as a human being they'll take him back to being a cheap 2 dimensional villain. I hope not though.

That is exactly what I am worried about as well, especially how the episode ends. I can see them making him do the almost comical insta-revert back into his old ways. I like this vulnerable, not sure if he wants to live anymore Gov. He seems much more human, and I like that they delve into how broken someone can be when they've had everything stripped away from them multiple times. I also share the sentiment that the prison was just getting boring. I was damn happy not to have to see the whine-fest for a whole episode. Hopefully the governor will stumble upon the prison again with everyone turned from the disease

well we know he goes back... will probably kill Rick and take over as the "Warden." His new #1 will be Ricks son.

Money says the new group (that saved the Govenor) has Carol!!!

Given Kirkman's relentless control over the material I'm sure he'll revert back to the guy who attacks the prison. I would be nice if they deviated and fleshed him out more but that's the main issue with WD. Only 43 minutes of screen time each week, so they cram too much in and never get into backstory or show motivations for the characters actions.

Even though the spin off will probably be just a money grab, I'm hoping focus will be on the outbreak with very developed characters.

I liked the Governor episode and it was a nice break away from the prison group (the outbreak story line is wearing very thin).

I am however getting sick of the musical montages. The WD and now SOA (2 an episodes)

For sure, the music sucks.

I'd just rather the Governer NOT be a villain at all for the rest of the series. People aren't these black and white things. We know he goes back, but not why. It could go so many different and interesting ways but won't. I bet that girl dies, he goes "crazy" again and blah blah blah lame.

But like I said, I'll ride it out till the end of the season.

Hes on the edge, if the girl turns he's probably going to let it bit him- "i'll never let anything hurt you" recipe for disaster.

Okay Lixx, please tell me your still feeling the way you felt after watching this weeks epp.


This only makes my point even that much stronger. Again pointless waste of time.

Nope, this week's episode: complete and utter bullshit. Completely rushed, and totally devoid of motivations by the characters. Well maybe one- the writers just said get this shit moving so we can make the Governor bad and he can have another army to attack the prison. How that ties together? We don't give a shit.

im thinking doubtful... the new girl (sorry cant remember her name) said shes the only "Nurse" on the camp. while Carol isn't a nurse... she has gotten more than her fair share of experience in helping out with wounds.

I dont think that they did the best job last week with the governor regaining his humanity. The shift from killer to caregiver was too sudden. Anyways I do appreciate that they're trying to make him more than just some crazy nut who holds grudges. And I also appreciate that they didn't go the cliche route and kill his little girl. It was more of "Martinez can't take care of this group, and neither can the other weakling. So i'm killing them both, taking command, and keeping the other version of Shane as my right hand." It wasn't that simple though. He wanted to escape, he didn't want to kill anymore. Still, his motives to take the prison are forced. Can't he just find someplace else to settle? it has been established now that no matter where they go nobody will ever be safe. Plus I think the writers forgot about the big gaping hole in the back of the prison. Was that supposed to build up to anything?

Excerpt from an AVC interview with David Morrissey



Read the entire interview here
http://www.avclub.com/article/the-walki ... cre-106033

Man foreign countries get way better previews (do not open if you don't want to know at least part of next week's plot, but this doesn't really spoil what everyone is already guessing):

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17sxc ... shortfilms

I was hopeful for like 1 second when he took them in the car to escape. Like he realized what was happening to him and the camp and made an effort to change. Then what? Some mud zombies stopped him? Huh? Lame. So stupid. That shit was Getty Lee, RUSHed.

Yeah I never got how come a bunch of mud zombies (stuck and basically immobile) impeded their escape! Guess no one has ever tried to or thought to drive around anything or maybe just take a different road? 25 mud zombies?! Shiittttt this party is over! Seeing a massive herd would have convinced me that yeah maybe this road is not the way out, but 25 extras from a rainy outdoor festival?

Also everyone of the Governor's 'new army' seems shaky except that psycho tank driver who doesn't seem to mind that Phillip killed his brother. I long range sniper headshot from group Prison would pretty much end the attack. If that preview foreshadows the whole episode and they talk for 40 of the 43 minutes, saving the battle till February my head will probably explode.

I really wish my wife was as over this show as I am. Haha.

Who do you guys think is going to die tonight?

Good finale actually. None of that governor build up was necessary though and I'm sticking to it.

Now, if the road ahead builds on what's left behind it should get much better.

I also enjoyed the episode. No more prison, no more gov. Sad to see the moral center go. His death, a tv adaptation of Tyreese's death in the comics? Looking forward to see whats in store for the rest of the season.

I returned to watching the show, this time with my mom (she has netflix). Swear, sometimes watching my mom react to the show is more entertaining then the show itself.

AS much as I hope that's the last we've seen of the Governor, we didn't actually see a scene where he could confirmed dead. Stabbed with a sword in the chest and then a shot fired at him (but we don't see hit) doesn't mean much in TV land. Lily could have lost her cool and fired the shot into the ground for all we know. I'm probably over thinking it but you never know with AMC.

Overall at least we got some actual action, but some of that acting was the worst- especially Beth. I wish they'd kill her off already. They should have had the Governor slice off Hershel's head in one swoop and hold it up. I mean what was the point of him crawling away like that? Was he going to get that final death scene chat with Michonne? Only for the Governor to go ahead and chop away and finish the job?

I'm just glad the prison is done!

The only episodes worth watching are the finales, and even those arent that great. Things just actually happen for a change.
Only one main character died of the whole group amidst all the gun fire and zombies?
And the baby doesnt matter. Herschel and the baby's death only make it easier on the group in the long run, and easier for the writers.

Also, the governors death was totally unsatisfying. Rick should have Kill Billd his good eye right away.