"18 Miles Out" sticker on GetGlue (from AMC)
*SPOILER WARNING*
Starting the episode with a tense zombie filled scene. I love it. Few series can make that work as perfectly as this series can, as now I'll be on the edge of my seat the rest of the episode almost every time this happens.
I hate the way Dale "deduced" that Shane killed Otis, but I do like that it has created some great threads amongst the characters. Rick's and Shane's conversion at the beginning was one of the scenes I have most wanted to see in the comics (even though it will never happen now). But Rick, side note, don't let the crazy guy hold the shot gun. Small thing (big gun), but don't want your brains blown away. Zombies will make a nice soufflé out of that.
And Beth is out of her coma. I'm assuming it was a Buster Bluth type of coma, where it's a fairly light nap. Beth had to have "the talk" with Lori about where babies come from. Awkward.
Andrew Lincoln has really come into his role as Rick. He's found that nice balance of who Rick is and what he's about. It helps that Jon Bernthal has been doing a great job as Shane, and also that Shane takes some of the crazier moments away from Rick.
Many have complained about how the characters have been acting mighty stupid around zombies. The whole knife conversation should put an end to that. It's good to see the writers working in small rules that the survivors in the book have taken to heart. Having the characters use knives instead of guns also adds some tension to all the action scenes.
The writers made a big mistake in writing the whole Beth coma thing. It feels really forced and we have no reason to care about her. She has been a side character at best, and her little arc should end fast. I didn't even care when she took the knife from Lori.
Shane's becoming the character that's most fun to watch. You know he's crazy as all hell, but he makes a lot of good points, so you want to keep him around. He's that wild card.
Shit. Rick and Shane's fight was intense. Brutal, gut wrenching, and a long time coming. It's a big story arc coming to fruition. Kudos to Ernest Dickerson for directing a tight scene, making us feel apart of their fight.
The opening just made you sit there the entire time wondering "how did they get there." And then you second guess yourself the entire episode. When the zombies finally started pouring out of the church, it just made you more tense. Rick's move to stay still was a nice touch after the big fight they just had.
Andrea has been a big douche this season, and she was especially in tonight's episode, but Lori needed to be kicked down from her high horse a little bit. Lori might do more of the traditional mother things around the house, but someone needs to keep watch.
ZOMBIE DOG PILE!!! Best zombie kill of the series by the way.
Beth's conversation with Maggie was a nice call back to the comics. At least I think it was a call back. If it's not, then my nerd brain is clouding my judgement.
Yes Shane, cramped school bus to escape. Great choice. Although great strategy with cutting his hand.
Fucking Andrea. Add another thing to the list of douche things she has done recently. Although it seems to have been a good thing in disguise, as Beth realize she wants to commit suicide. There had to have been an easier way to do this. Could we have called Mat Foley?
Rick walking away really hit hard, and it was all helped by Bernthal's reaction. Great stuff. The driving away scene gave us one of the more amusing things, with the kid duck taped, by the neck no less, to the drivers seat. Gave me a chuckle.
Am I the only one who thought that during Rick's speech in the end, I was expecting him to finish with "I am Maximus Decimus Merdius"? Then Russell Crowe kills the kid while no one is looking.
Overall, "18 Miles Out" was a great episode. I wouldn't call it THE best episode, but up there in the top five. It had everything. Lots of talking and character development, tons of action, and a plot that kept us involved and interested the entire hour. As stated before, a lot of shows pull the "see the ending and see how we got there" angle. And not a lot of shows pull it off as well as The Walking Dead. I sat on the couch just waiting for the ball to drop, getting more anxious every time that the ball DIDN'T drop. The only real weakness is the Beth story. It seems to be over, thank god for that. Andrea's role as ranch villain was executed well, and as much as you hate her, you have to love watching every misguided move she makes. "18 Miles Out" further solidifies my theory that a big arc from the beginning of the comic book series is going to happen in the last episode. I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about, but I don't want to spoil just to be safe.
18 Miles Out gets 5/5.
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