At the refugee camp we
see people foraging and scratching an existence and discover that
Lori (Rick's wife) is having sex with Shane (who isn't dead)
therefore setting us up for a love triangle the idea of which makes
me cringe (I do tend to find love triangles are a distraction in most
plot lines).
Meanwhile in Atlanta,
Rick is saved from hiding in the tank by Glenn who uses the radio to
guide Rick to safety while the Walkers are distracted eating the
horse. Glenn's one of my favourite characters – plenty of humour
and sarcasm and he leads Rick to the rest of his group – foragers
from the refugee camp. But things are not good – Andrea in
particular is furious because Rick's actions have attracted so many
Walkers who are now battering their way into the building.
We get a quick
introduction to the other foragers, including Merle who is an all
round arsehole, using racist slurs against T-Dog and Morales,
physically attacking T-Dog and calling Andrea sugar-tits and an
anti-lesbian slur for not wanting to sleep with him. Pleasant chap.
Rick steps in, plays saviour (yeah that's a side-eye that it's the
brave white guy who save them from the bigot), punches Merle down
(but not neaaarly enough) and handcuffs him to a pipe on top of the
building and giving a pep talk.
They try a series of
plans to try and get out. One thing I do like is that Rick doesn't
just take command (as I feared he would) but people are listened to
based on their expertise – even Glenn whose a teenager. It's a good
survivor dynamic and surprised me. There's another good development
moment when Andrea wonders about the morality of looting – even
with society collapsing around her she is conscious of the law.
Jacqui suggests
tunnels under the building, but Glenn exploring leads to a dead end.
Plan B involves coating
Rick and Glenn in rotting flesh from a corpse so they smell like the
Walkers. The disgust and horror of it is presented realistically
without any attempts to sugar coat or hide how horrendous it is or
that this is a person they're cutting up (personally I wouldn't have
read aloud the contents of the corpse's wallet before mutilating the
corpse – it's necessary, the extra emotional impact just hurts
more). It pulls no punches in terms of revulsion here.
So anointed, Glenn and
Rick sneak past the Walkers (despite an incredibly unlucky rain
shower which I'd say was convoluted and unlucky, but hey, if it can
rain every freaking time I put the washer on, sure it can rain every
time you want to sneak past zombies covered in rotting flesh, right?)
Meanwhile T-Dog
succeeds in contacting the refugee camp to tell them they're trapped,
leading to Amy (Andrea's sister) wanting to go help – giving Shane
(who isn't dead) chance to talk down to her as well (she doesn't kill
him, alas).
Back in Atlanta Glenn
and rick steal a van and a sports car and Glenn uses the car alarm in
the sports car to create a distraction while Rick takes the van round
to the side of the building. T-Dog debates it but finally tries to
unlock Merle's handcuffs but he drops the key down the drain (and
knocks over the toolbag). T-Dog chains the doors to the roof to stop
the Walkers getting to Merle (which is more than what I'd do) then
joins the others in the escape.
Frankly I'm very much
in the “leave Merle to die” camp. When you're in an apocalyptic
survival situation with only 7 of you having to rely on each other
(and not many more back at the camp) the last thing you need is a
raging, violent bigot willing to make trouble with half of your
group. There's no space for people who don't play nice with others.
