You can't run from trouble, ain't no place that far!

This last season of “The Walking Dead” was a mixed bag for me. For the most part, I didn’t enjoy this season as much as others in the past and based off of what happened last night, I’m not sure if next season holds anymore promise. It was alright; the last two episodes really stepped it up. But at the conclusion what I was left with was what turned out to be an alright season finale that wasn’t as epic as I hoped it would be (or as epic as past seasons for that matter.)

For starters, the thing that really threw things off for me was the attempted explanation of what exactly re: the outbreak, was going on. Rick coming out (from nowhere mind you) and telling the group that they’re all infected sounds stupid to me. If you understand the history of the modern western zombie paradigm, I would argue that of course it’s something that we are all “infected with” because we are all alive. The difference between being a zombie and being infected (I.e, 28 days/weeks later) is that there is no rational explanation; outside of a miracle, that can explain a zombie outbreak. During an infection, the lines for contracting said malady (bight, scratch, etc.,) are known. In a zombie outbreak it has always been my understanding that science has no explanation, thus it is more viewed as divine punishment if you will.

From George Romero’s work in this genre, you can see this very theme being played with. Take for example “Day of the Dead.” This is my favorite zombie film as well as being a prime example of what the zombie mythos is/should be.  There’s a scene in that film when the rather lively Jamaican helicopter pilot points out that all the records and paperwork they are entombed with serve as nothing more than reminders of a world that has been forgotten–and that we are being punished for trying to “figure God out.” Another example would be the Zack Snyder’s remake of “Dawn of the Dead” where a pastor on television at the beginning of the film (not to mention Johnny Cash playing in the opening credits) also hints at divine intervention. Outside of this being a curse visited upon mankind, I don’t see any scientific explanation that would work. Infected is one thing, but taking dead individuals who have undergone varying stages of decomposition, does nothing to explain how they can be re-animated with full strength and motivation to kill.  If you’re missing muscle, flesh, blood and bone, there is no explanation that I have seen or read of that can explain this other than divine intervention. Divine intervention doesn’t always work in our favor. Sometimes God needs to make a point and that usually happens when we get too big for our britches.

The ending with Andrea was intriguing as well. I haven’t read the graphic novels but the mystery Lady Gaga hooded with chained, gimped, zombie slaves…while wielding a katana…is a no go for me. If I had known we were entering Xena warrior princess territory, I would’ve bowed out long before. I’ll give it a chance but that was really, really lame. I told my wife and son that the finale would have to end on some Resident Evil/Silent Hill type shizzle and I was semi-right. A hooded warrior pimping two chained zombies with a katana?

Whatever.

There were however some interesting character developments, or rather conclusions. I will start with Rick and Shane.

There was a changing of the guard this last episode. When Shane was more or less the leader of the group and Rick came back, no one believed Shane‘s story of what happened in the hospital. I‘ve never blamed him for that, I understood and so did Rick. But that helped him to change into the person he became. Likewise, Rick is now in that same position albeit more justified. The group may or may not believe him, but for sure, they look at him different. That’s what Shane went thru. The difference will be how they react to it and how he exacts his rule. Shane needed to go; I didn’t want him to die per say but, he needed to go. For starters, he tried to kill Rick and jack his family. It’s one thing if you’re a step-daddy because the previous male was an S.T.D. (Sorry Trifling Daddy) or it just didn’t work out. That isn’t the case here. Shane wanted to kill Rick and take his family. Period. This isn’t about survival of the fittest, it’s about satisfying your own wants and needs. And if I were Lori and Carl, I would be wondering how long it would be before he traded us out for a newer version. If you’re willing to kill Rick and lie about it for “loves” sake, then you’re not somebody I’d want to roll with if this type of thing actually went down. Proclaiming survival of the fittest isn’t the case here: he was an emotional wreck that was a liability to the herd. He needed to leave of his own free will or be killed. The latter prevailed.

However, Shane isn’t completely to blame. Lori totally made the situation worse by talking to Shane last episode and gassing his head up. Shane’s story about what happened at the hospital was true, and I feel for him on that. But, that doesn’t mean you plot against your best friend. That doesn’t mean that you set people up as bait (even though if he’d waited a few seconds it probably would’ve ended up with dude being gutted). What’s more disgusting than Shane turning hater is Lori turning hater! How do you blow up at Rick for telling you an obvious truth–unless you loved Shane more to begin with. If that’s the case, be honest and let Rick know. At least that way when he goes Palpatine it won’t be as big a surprise. Lori really showed her true colors and if I were Rick, I’d keep an eye on her and Carl for that matter. Carl loved Shane and he almost shot Rick. Now that he’s strapped and has a sympathetic mother, Rick better sleep with one eye open. That or get his own set of zombie slaves.

You can’t trust anyone. Not even during a zombie outbreak.

Daryl is still the man and along with Rick, my favorite character (other than Glenn and Dale…rip.) and I’m glad he’s the 2^nd lieutenant to Rick. However, what I wasn’t expecting was my sympathy for Andrea. I have never liked her character. She’s way too emotional and a liability (as was Shane) to the group but her standing by Dale before he died did a lot to gain favor in my eyes. It was odd because I honestly did feel bad that she was about to get jacked. I guess the writers/actors and the like, have done a good job then. If they can make you hate and like people then that’s pretty good. It’s just like your family and friends. There are people you love and those who annoy you–but you still love them, they’re family. As much as she pisses me off, she’s been with the crew since the beginning. Besides, she shot freaking Daryl and he got over it so I figure since I’m watching a fictional show, I can as well.

I’m still amazed that T-dog has made it this far: primarily because other than the Cosby show, very few brothers have made it this far on a show…let alone a horror show/movie. Props. Don’t believe me? They killed freaking Samuel Jackson dude. Samuel Jackson…by a shark no less. Not only that but he had the best reaction of the night. When Lori told him to go back, his facial expression was like “uhm, no we aren’t going back” was priceless. Glenn is still Glenn (love me some Asians) and riding shotgun with, well, a shotgun; hanging out of a Kia no less, was epic.

So in short other than annoying wives and girlfriends plotting coups, jealousy and new found manliness, this season was so-so but the finale was pretty darn good. I don’t know how I feel about Xena showing up with zombie gimps but we’ll see how that plays out. I’m sure I missed a few things but I have class in an hour or so and have yet to indulge in my first cup of coffee.

Peace.