The Walking Dead Rewatch – Season 3, Episode 5 (Say The Word)

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.

After the high intensisty of the last episode, Say The Word mellows things down a bit but still throws things at us to let us not forget. Firstly, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is off the reservation, grief stricken. He goes into the prison to clear walkers and when Glenn (Steven Yeun) comes to help him he is thrown up against the wall. Rick heads to the boiler room where Lori’s body is gone, a fat walker sits tired and full bellied. There is no way he could have eaten her, bones an all? Rick collapses. A telephone rings.

The telephone stuff was quite good in the comics. It’ll be fun to see how well it plays out in comparison but essentially, it’s Rick’s way of dealing with the loss of his wife. It’s all in his head.

Outside, the inmates help dig graves and Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) visit a school to scavenge for baby supplies. There’s a lot there, including a crib, but they came on the motorbike so for now it’s only formula and clothes they can take. Oh, and a possum. When they get back, it’s Daryl who feeds the baby, such a paternal figure. He asks if they’ve got a name for it yet, but they don’t. So Daryl calls her “Lil’ Asskicker”.

In Woodbury, Michonne (Danai Gurira) finds some shifty goings on. The Governor (David Morrisey) had been keeping a notebook, but after the name ‘Penny’ it’s just scribbles. Outside, some walkers are being kept captive, Michonne soon puts an end to them but is caught and given a one to one with the boss. He wants to recruit her, but Michonne wants to leave.

Andrea (Laurie Holden) thinks Michonne is crazy, so they do a little test to see if they’ll be let out the gates. They are, which splits them up as Michonne wants out but Andrea quite likes it here. There is a festival going on at Woodbury and the evening’s entertainment is a fight pit, surrounded by walkers. Andrea thinks she’s seen enough but the Governor convinces her to stay when he admits it’s all for show and the walkers don’t have any teeth.

There are lots of violent zombie smashes here and the curtain appears to be opening up on Woodbury, but otherwise not a lot else is going on. Carol (Melissa McBride) is still missing and she now has her own grave that Daryl lays a Cherokee Rose at. Callback!

Overall Rating: 7