18 February 2013

Running Thoughts: The Walking Dead 3x10

My mental vomiting of thoughts while watching the walking dead continues. I want to share my thoughts on the latest episode of The Walking Dead with my buddy "Sheriff Claw" and all of you...

If you have not seen this episode yet, do not read on, lots of spoilers ahead for episode 3x10



The Walking Dead 3x10 - "Home"

Tonight's recap might be a little shorter than usual as I am just back from the gym and my trainer ran me into the ground tonight. I think he broke all the muscles in my shoulders, but hey when the zombie apocalypse comes I will be ahead of the curve! I had a very vivid dream about zombies last night and I know from that completely made up experience that I will need all the help I can get!


This episode started very nice and calm with Rick checking over the grounds with his binoculars. It looks a bit like Michonne is living, or at least taking shelter in an overturned bus. Rick is clearly still having the mental breakdown that he was having at the end of the last episode as he sees Lori standing looking at, what I can assume, is her grave. When he tries to chase after her she disappears and reappears on the other side of the fence. Rick starts to unlock all of the gates so that he can follow her outside. Michonne, in her usual calm and collected self, is watching him and very sensibly closes the gates after him, not trying to talk to him or question him about what he is doing. I really think he needs someone like that looking out for him and letting him get on with processing everything. Rick finally catches up to ghost Lori, and I'm surprised that it is actually her. I assumed from the bad lighting in the last episode that they could not actually get Sarah Wayne Callies to make an appearance.

Credits... creepy!

Damnit! Woodbury is still standing. There are a number of young guys guarding the front of the town. Are we supposed to believe that in a town like this they have people standing this close to each other all the the way round guarding all directions? I would guess they don't have that many people. Stupid Andrea is being visited by One-Eye-Mcgee, sorry the Guv, and he is refusing to let Andrea go and see the others at the prison because he thinks that she should stay and run the town. He is admitting that everything he has done was for Penny and now he needs time to get himself back together. I think he needs time perfecting his psychotic tenancies!


Yay, the Dixon brothers and Merle is, as usual, being a total dick and undermining his amazing little brother. Listen to him Merle, it's not like he was in a sweet cult, he looked after himself! Daryl just wants everyone back together and getting along, it;s very sweet and makes me like him more... and then he spits! Seriously!

So it looks like this lot have it a bit more together, trying to work out where the weak parts of the prison are. I like they way they are working all of this, teamwork and chalk. Michonne starts contributing to the conversation, and what does she decide to bring up? The heads in the fish tanks!! Well now Glen is hatching plans to go in and kill the Guv in his sleep. This can only lead to trouble and now Michonne has agreed to go with him. Hershel is trying to talk some sense into Glen, and I do see Glen's point that they are in a slightly weaker position now, so running is not an option. Looks like Michonne has been accepted by everyone except Rick now! Yay, happy dance.


The Guv and the Doc are discussing if the Doc is considering leaving. This has all suddenly turned into a conversation about loyalty, and everyone still believes Merle betrayed them and they are questioning if Andrea is loyal too. Just kick her out and be done with it!

Andrea is questioning someone on the wall that looks very familiar. I think she may have been someone's mother in something I have seen recently, gah, now I am going to have to look it up. No bother I will do it while the Doc and Andrea have a pointless conversation about where the Guv is. Nope, can't find her... yet.

It looks like the walkers have broken through a perimeter and the prison is slowly being over run by walkers again. Glen is going to do a drive by to see what the rest of the prison looks like and he is going to take Maggie. When he goes to look for her they have a conversation and it seems that Glen stills thinks Maggie was raped by the Guv and that is probably what is fuelling all his rage towards the Guv and Maggie. Aw man, I really like Glen and Maggie as a couple.

Bahhhahaha, it seems that Axel is in prison for robbing a store with a toy gun and was then set up. Carol gives him a badass gal's lesson in guns. She is my favourite character now. Awesome!


The Dixon brother's are annoying me as it reminds me a lot of me and my sister and they need to just lay off each other. Dudes, there are new people on the bridge. They may die in a minute, but it is still super exciting. Merle does not want to help, but Daryl the hero does! Daryl is super cool at killing the walkers and sweeping in where needed, I also think he get's walker kill of the week. When pulling a walker out of the boot of a car, he utitlises all functionality of the model by slamming the car boot on the walker's head and smushing it all to bits!! Amazing! Then he stabs one in the face! Racist Merle is back out to play when stealing from the Mexican family they just rescued! Daryl finally realises how much he has changed (for the better) being without Merle and Daryl lets the family go. Daryl then tells Merle some home truths and they bond and finally Daryl goes back to the prison where he belongs! So long Merle! - No don't follow Daryl! Damn!


Hershel is trying to psychoanalyse Glen and get him to realise that he is not to blame for any of it, but he can't run off on his own. It seems like everyone is trying to battle personal demons in this episode!

Beth uses some good old baby therapy to get Maggie to be a useful person again.

Rick is running round the perimeter looking for dead Lori and Hershel is trying to call him back inside by telling Rick how much the camp is falling apart without him. There is then, possibly my favourite piece of Walking Dead dialogue to date, it might even beat out "he threw a walker at me". Hershel asks Rick what he is doing out there to which Rick replies: "I've been.. I've got... stuff out here... stuff"
It is the kind of response you give when someone walks in on you doing private... stuff! Lol! Rick finally tells Hershel that he has been seeing Lori and Shane and Hershel takes this like the awesome guy he is and tries to get Rick in to rest and have a cup of tea.

I really like Axel. I think we are finally getting to know a bit about him and see him as a person and not just a potential threat on the fringe of the group. I think that Axel and Carol are quite cute together. Funny guy too! And I spoke too soon. Of course they gave him more dialogue, they were planning to kill him off!! I should have seen the signs! And it was the Guv, that guy is such a dick!



Shit, so much just happened that I am going to have to watch it a second time... Everyone pretty much hits the ground as soon as the shooting starts, and Carol has to use Axel's body as a shield. Everyone seems to be missing everyone else, except for Axel's body, which is being shot to shit! Maggie comes running out with more guns and they get Carol to cover. Everyone then pauses when they hear the sound of a vehicle coming up fast, and it is some kind of truck that crashes through the gates. Fuck me, I was hoping it would be Daryl coming to save the day, but instead it is the walker version of a trojan horse! Walkers are pouring into the yard where Hershel is hiding. We all know dude is getting better with one leg, but I'm not sure he can outrun the Walkers. Looks like Rick is going to get fucked up by some walkers and it looks rather dicey for a minute, and then the Dixons are back - Rick is saved (for the moment). Michonne is single handedly taking out all the Walkers with her katana so that she and Glen can go and get Hershel.


We end on Daryl, Merle and Rick outside with everyone else safely inside.

Next time... Carl steps up, Andre finds her balls, Merle is in, Carol loves Daryl (don't we all?), Ricktatorship could be over, Andrea gets a pet, Michonne does not look happy and Merle brigs back his sword hand! Oh yeah and there is a close up of the Guv's mangled eye hole!


Kill of the week: Daryl, smashing the head in the car boot
Bitch of the week: Andrea and Lori (still fucking Rick up even after her death!)


Now that was the kind of episode I love. It was well paced and then raced towards the end. I also did not expect a lot of the end action so I was caught off guard and that does not often happen. I can't wait for next week.


All pictures via amctv.com

13 February 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Dirty Little Secret

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're pining after.

Title: Dirty Little Secret
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: 13th July 2013
Publisher: MTV Books

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.
Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

I have made my love for Jennifer Echols' books no secret on here. I love the way she can infuse a story with passion and longing. I am just a little upset that I will have to wait so long for it to be released.

12 February 2013

Running Thoughts - The Walking Dead 3x09

My mental vomiting of thoughts while watching the walking dead continues. I want to share my thoughts on the latest episode of The Walking Dead with my buddy "Sheriff Claw" and all of you...

If you have not seen this episode yet, do not read on, lots of spoilers ahead for episode 3x09



The Walking Dead 3x09 - "The Suicide Kings"

I am so excited, I just can't tell you! For a while it looked like I was going to have a rehearsal tonight and I would have to wait until late tonight to be able to watch this episode, but due to some general "fuckwittery" on the part of people who were supposed to have our new premises ready for us today, I have a free night! Hazzah!! So my dinner is on the stove simmering and I am ready to watch and share my thoughts!


Previously - Naked Maggie, glen, Carl in the prison, new folk, rescue mission, Michonne stabbing him in the eye (I forgot how gruesome it was!), Daryl staying behind, and him and Merle in the ring.

The crowd in Woodbury are screaming for death for Daryl and Merle. Who would have thought that such peaceful looking people were all such dicks. Andrea looks like she finally has some balls again trying to push past to get to Daryl shouting that he is her friend. Like all good dictators The Guv pushes the crowd to want blood and then claim that it is all out of his hands. Merle makes it look like he is going to kill Daryl to show his loyalty, but blood is thicker than water (most of the time) and Merle asks Daryl to play along. When the walkers are brought in the brothers stand together to fight... then the cavalry appears in the form of Rick, Maggie and a smoke bomb. Girl from the wall is shot dead and Andrea seems upset about this hanging about when she should be running after Daryl and Rick trying to get back to the gang. The Guv looks like he has pulled a stitch with all his anger and there is blood running down from under his bandage. He gets a pretty good kill this week with a quick pop to the head as he passes a walker.



Credits... creepy!

Still in Woodbury, the gang are about to leave, but Rick does not want to take Merle. He is being fairly brutal kicking out part of the tin wall and killing zombies with his metal stump, that they seem to just let him tag along. After they run one of the more observant walkers looks through the hole they just left in the wall the same way a kid looks at a sweet shop (if that kid was super creepy). And so starts the invasion of Woodbury. Michonne and Glen are waiting out on the road and a fair bit of time must have passed as it is daylight. When they hear the others coming there is relief and then anger at the sight of Merle. I would be pissed to see him too if I was either of them. Merle makes some lewd comments about Andrea and Michonne's relationship and Rick seems really pissed that Michonne knew Andrea and didn't mention it. You mean in all the long conversations you too have had, it never came up? Seriously it took her ages to tell people her name, don't act surprised! I never got the feeling that Michonne and Andrea had a romantic relationship. I just thought she was super intense. Did I read the whole thing wrong? Finally Rick just knocks him out. Bout time!

Back at the prison and Hershel is helping patch up the new kids on the block. They are all getting to know each other and Sasha jumps to the conclusion that Beth is the mother. Well this is awkward... We get some background info on Tyrese, Sasha, Ben and Alan. There is some good chat about breaking into or out of prison, lol! Sasha and Tyrese say that their camp was overrun. I wonder if this means it is gone for good or could be another place for everyone to go to if the prison falls. Hershel warns them not to get too comfortable since the Ricktatorship will be back in force soon.

Still in the middle of the road Maggie, Rick, Glen and Daryl are all debating who stays and goes. From what I can tell for Merle it is 3v1 to boot him and for Michonne it is 2v2. Daryl tells everyone that if they boot Merle, he is going too... Nooo... don't go! Daryl wants Rick to say bye to Carl and Little Asskicker, I am finding this all very sad! Daryl and Merle walk off into the woods together. They take Michonne back to the prison for medical attention and then a nice product placement shot of the car (still working even after the end of days!).



B-Team are taking the body of Donna out to the field to bury and they see Carl and Carol. They foolishly start spitballing ideas about how to get the weapons from the "little kid and the woman". How stupid can you be? If they were vulnerable do you think they would still be alive? You are going to get your ass handed to you son! At least Sasha and Tyrese don't want to do it. They could try acting a little less shifty round Axel and Beth, but I'm good with them. Alan and Ben - watch your back!

Watching the drive back to the prison my mind started wandering... why was there a truck in the road? Was is there when they left? Did they drive round it before but the branch was in the way? Was there a storm? So when the walker came out of the cab of the truck towards Glen I actually got a rather large shock. Damn it Emma, pay attention when watching zombies! Glen kills it with his foot! The boy has some issues. Apparently the issues are that Rick didn't murder the Guv and Glen wants him dead. Well that and Daryl and Merle are gone and I think Glen knows that they are screwed without him.

Andrea leaves the Woodbury town meeting and reports to Doc that there are 9 injured. Doc tells Andrea that the Guv is sulking, just wait until the walkers invade, you know they are just waiting round a corner until everyone is unprepared! And we have walker lift off. Yeah!! Just a few walkers have come out to feast on the fine folks of Woodbury. Andrea gets one kick ass point for not forgetting how to shoot. Bless, one of the villagers asks Andrea to do something to help the man dying. The Guv has it all under control though and shoots him in the head like a boss.

Carol and Carl have a nice little bonding moment over noise pollution and Lori. Carl feels guilty for being mean to her. I love both of these characters so much now. I couldn't stand either of them for a while, but I think they have developed nicely with layers and interest. The A-Team come back and Carl is happy, but Carol is worried when she can't see Daryl. She looks really worried and sad, and then a little heart broken when she finds out that he left and chose Merle. She really loves him and is heartbroken. This makes me super sad.



Back in the Guv's apartment and he has Rick's Sheriff gun bag out on the chair. Andrea gives him shit for being a dick, finally, but he couldn't care less. I am so ready for this whole town to be overrun by walkers and fall already. I am so over Woodbury, if I was Taylor Swift I would just write a song about it and be done, but I'm not so I will moan about how shit it is a while more. FINALLY Andrea knows about Maggie and Glen and that her group is still going! OH MY GOD she is not running away!



Aww, a nice sweet home coming with Maggie, Beth and Hershel. When Rick finds out about the B-Team he walks past them like a boss with Carl and Hershel following. If only Hershel was not such a hop-along that would have looked really cool (although he mastered hopping down the stairs like a champ!). When Rick holds the baby, looking like he has never held a baby in his life, it starts to cry and Rick looks like he is about to have an "episode"!

Everyone is in a flap because the Guv shot Richard!! Remind me who he was again... oh yeah a member of Woodbury and there for irrelevant. Andrea gives a rousing speech about how in generations they will write of this town in the history books and she uses people's names like a good politician. Isn't that write Karen (seriously they have to stop naming the walker food, just call him soon to be dead guy 1 and soon to be dead girl 4.) The Guv watched from behind the shutters and his team all look a little twitchy!

Beth and Carol talk about the pains of screaming children and then they discuss losing Daryl. Carol wonders if she could stand up to her abusive husband now. Beth, oh wondrous font of wisdom Beth, tells Carol exactly what I have been thinking. Carol would sure as hell tell her former hubby to get packing, and that they are weak without Daryl. Never a truer word has been said on this show. OMG Carol I feel your pain and I love when she tells Beth not to be pissed at Daryl... "He has his code and the world needs men like that."

We will all be pleased to know that glen has no broken bones, so will be back to his fine self within 2 episodes. Hershel thanks Glen for looking out for Maggie and tells him that he is like his own son. Aww sweet! Maggie and Glen can't look at each other. What did I miss? Is he still pissed that she didn't shoot the Guv in the arena? Get over it, I am sure your paths will cross again in a few episodes and you can get revenge then. Hershel will figure it all out to help us viewers. He tries to chip away at Maggie but she is giving nothing up.

Rick is being all creepy and asks Hershel when they can kick Michonne out. They then have a super quick summit meeting and agree that the Guv will retaliate for what has happened and that they are outgunned. Rick with all the charm of a brick wall goes in to meet the others and basically tells them to bugger off. I really think this is like a weird bluff on Rick's part as he needs them. He also seems super suspicious of how they got in like they could be spies, I guess they could? Hershel pleads for them and then Rick sees Lori's Ghost!! She is wearing a super clean white satin dress that probably represents something. Also a little tip for making friends, screaming at the ghost of your dead wife is probably not the best way to do it. Hershel does not even look remotely surprised that this is happening. Bummer, meltdown number 2!

Next time... People on a bridge, possibly Glen? Hershel knows staying in the prison is dangerous, Andrea wants to go to visit the A-Team, Hershel confronts Glen about going back, Daryl and Merle have a car, Glean and Michonne team up to be the A*-Team, Rick still crazy, Andrea still stupid, The Guv suspects Andrea, NEW PEOPLE!!


Walker kill of the week - Glen stomping the head to pulp
Bitch of the week - Andrea and Daryl (say no to your psycho brother!)


I am super happy that TWD is back, I felt a little disappointed in this episode. I felt that this was a bit of a bridging episode to get from the end of the last series to the point of this series. Nothing much happened after the fight at the beginning. I am looking forward to the series getting back to the meat of the story.

What did you think?

11 February 2013

So Excited - The Walking Dead!!

The Walking Dead is back. I am bouncing in my seat today, excited to go home and watch what happens to Daryl, Carl, Michonne, the new people in the prison, creepy paedo Axel and everyone else!!

While chatting about my excitement to my buddy Sheriff Claw today on the phone, I happened to say something vaguely complimentary about the Governor. This unleashed a small anti-Guv rant and 10 minutes later the following poem popped into my mailbox...


Emma and the guvnor sitting in a tree, 
Fingering the hole that used to be his E-Y-E, 
First comes love, 
Then comes marriage, 
Then comes him eating off your face like a savage

Posted with permission from Luke (AKA Sheriff Claw!) cheers buddy!!