TV Review: THE WALKING DEAD: Season 3, Episode 16: Welcome to the Tombs

The Walking Dead Welcome to the Tombs Review. The Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 8: Welcome to the Tombs ended with the evolution of the TV series from a small band of survivors against the world to people becoming the caretakers of what is left of humanity. It was an unexpected shift (I have not read the comic book series the AMC TV series is based on yet) but a welcome one. Because of this episode’s ending moments, it seems as though season 4 will be more like season 2 in many ways as well as action-orientated like season 3.

This evolution came at a cost though.

During Welcome to the Tombs, The Governor (David Morrissey) was completely revealed for what he was on the inside. When he splashed his rage and megalomania in everyone’s face, it was the moment his fans and his detractors had been waiting for: The Governor unleashed. No more  pretense. No more thinking before acting or speaking. His rage toward Rick’s group at the prison boiled over and was repositioned against Woodbury towns people he thought were betraying him. It was wonderful to watch and witness.

Milton Mamet (Dallas Roberts)’s decision to do what he stopped Andrea (Laurie Holden) from doing in Prey was the completion of his character arc no matter how his attempt turned out.

The Governor’s speech to Milton after Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker)’s sacrifice was good, nearly matching the power of Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs)’ to Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) but not quite.

Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) staying behind to defend Woodbury was a brave move and one of the best dramatic (non-action) moments of the episode. The Governor’s restrained response was a joy to watch. Seeing him control his anger instead of letting it out in front of his assembled assault team made the scene that much better.

Two questions Welcome to the Tombs did not answer was: a.) why didn’t The Governor return to Woodbury after the gun-down incident? and b.) why didn’t Rick and his group take Woodsbury for themselves? The answer to the second question I am guessing is that The Prison is more defensible than Woodbury.

The assault on the prison inter-cut with Andrea trying to escape the torture chair was well-balanced: one scene ushering in death, the other trying to escape it.

I was very surprised that Rick’s group did not try to kill the Governor’s assault team. I believe this was an illustration of the group regaining its humanity and being compassionate.

The juxtaposition of this was Carl and his decision-making when faced with one of The Governor’s men during the aftermath of the prison assault. When confronted about his decision and its resultant action, Carl gave a short speech to his father that was so mature and rational (for their world) that it revealed that there was no child left in Carl. It was a man speaking to Rick. Even their positioning during their talk: Carl was standing over Rick and looking down on him. Carl was not only looking down at Rick but at the decisions he has made and their effect on their group. He was standing in judgement over him. It was a brilliant set up and a brilliant scene.

The reemergence of Michonne (Danai Gurira‘s emotions trumped Andrea (Laurie Holden)’s final scene, even though they occurred simultaneously. Michonne’s tough exterior vanished when Andrea’s fate was revealed, producing Gurira’s finest thespian moment as the character. Acting sullen and anger comes easy to some actors but devastation and sadness have got to be much harder to conjure.

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