The Walking Dead Rewatch – Season 2, Episode 13 (Beside the Dying Fire)

Because The Walking Dead season 10 finale has been delayed thanks to the real-world virus, I have decided that to fill the void left in the schedule, to start a re-watch of the series. I live tweeted the episode as if it were playing live in the regular 9pm GMT slot on FOX TV UK. You can see all the tweets here or embedded below.

The episode opens with a helicopter flying over Atlanta. Walkers begin to follow it and we watch as they migrate for miles toward the farm. Then there is the gunshot from Carl (Chandler Riggs) putting down zombie Shane (Jon Bernthal) and they turn and become the catalyst for an electrifying opening.

The group is split, some take cars and try to flank them, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Carl are in a barn. Carol (Melissa McBride) is off who knows where doing who knows what. There is a huge zombie showdown with, of course, some deaths along the way. No major upsets really, which is a relief considering we’re just coming off the back of a dead Dale and Shane. However, in the confusion, a dead walker collapses on Andrea (Laurie Holden) and Carol thinks she’s dead so the rescue team drive off and leave Andrea to fend for herself. She manages OK, finding her way into the woods but runs out of ammo. Luckily, she is saved by a mysterious, katana-wielding stranger. Exciting!

The episode then transitions into a “what do we do now” situation and the truth is revealed about what Rick did to Shane. Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies), despite asking for this, is furious with her husband for killing her bit on the side. Confusing. This all leads to the remaining survivors, now out of fuel and late at night, having to huddle around a fire and gossip. Rick then stops all that with a tirade about how he never asked for this, but now he’s taking it. If you want to stay, it’s no longer a democracy, it’s a RICKTATORSHIP!

Overall Rating: 9