Great episode but as a reader of the comics, I knew what was going to happen. I even knew Herschel was going to get his head cut off and Michonne would save Rick (though different from the comics).
I'm watching it again right now and, for all of the excitement and big moments, you have to question the writing. It wasn't very realistic. Was the Governor's speech really that convincing? It's the second time he's convinced simple folk to attack like soldiers. How'd that lady get to the prison with her dead daughter so fast!? Why didn't the Governor kill Michonne when he found her and Herschel? He wanted her so badly at the end of last season. That's just off of the top of my head.
I know a lot of people just want action and hate the slow moments of the show but, for me, the show was at its best when the story was compelling. When you couldn't tell if Shane was right or wrong and it was asking the moral questions. When Sophia was missing and you didn't know if she was okay. When you didn't know if Lorie's baby was going to be a walker. That was when the series was at its best. Seeing Darryl using a zombie as a meat shield (holding the zombies full weight on an arrow) when bullets go right through the black guy five seconds later....it just seems like a bad B movie.
I still enjoy it but I hope they step it up, soon. Not on the shock value--on the writing.
