The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 7: When The Dead Come Knocking

May I come in?  I brought baby formula

From the preview they showed last week we knew that Rick was going to let Michonne into the prison.  But it was still great to see him delay the rescue.  I thought it was interesting that Carl shot first.  I think he forced his father into action.  It wasn't until Carl killed two zombies that Rick came out and started shooting. 

Once they got Michonne inside Rick took her katana away.  She was not happy about that (I think it makes her feel safe to be armed, especially when surrounded by strangers that could pose a threat).  It was reminiscent of the Governor.  Rick promises not to hurt her unless she causes trouble.  Michonne gives them enough information to satisfy the group on how she found them.  She tells them about Woodbury, the Governor (Jim Jones wannabe is the perfect way to describe him) and that someone working for him kidnapped the Asian guy and the girl he was with.  She tells them they can sneak into Woodbury.  Hershel patches her up and Rick along with Daryl and Oscar join Michonne for the rescue mission. 

Some thoughts on Michonne: How did she find the prison?  I don't think Maggie or Glenn said anything, unless that scene was cut out of the last episode. 

She didn't mention Merle or Andrea.  My guess is she knows this is Andrea's group.  Andrea mentioned that she had told Michonne everything about herself.  This makes me think she went into detail about the group.  I think Michonne is a very cautious person.  Her experience in Woodbury would just be proof that other survivors are not to be easily trusted.  I hope they let Michonne join their group.  She is brave, resourceful, smart, and has amazing sword skills. I understand why both groups seem hesitant to trust each other, but she did seek them out and bring the baby formula.  That should show some level of trust.


The return of Carol.  Carl wept again for his mother.  The first time we have seen him show emotion over her death since she died.  Michonne sees how this group is a family.  As Rick is preparing to leave he takes Carl aside and they talk about how Carl had to shoot Lori.  The kid seems to be holding up well.  He even gives baby girl a name, Judith (after his 3rd grade teacher).



Who likes science?

We finally found out what was Milton's experiment.  He is trying to see if any memory is left in a person after they become a zombie.  Is there really a point?  Zombies are technically dead.  It's a little weird that Milton never saw a transformation.  He must really enjoy living in Woodbury and being important since it sounds like he didn't have friends or family before the zombiepocalypse.  No wonder he is willing to follow the Governor.  I wonder how much experience he has had with zombies if he thinks they won't attack just because you show them a picture of their family.  Experiment failed.



It's torture time with Merle Dixon

Merle has Glenn with his arms duct taped to a chair in one room and Maggie in another. Merle mentions that he remembers Glenn as sneaky and unafraid of the zombies. 

This is the first time anyone other than Maggie has alluded to Glenn's bravery.  He is always putting himself in dangerous situations for the group.  It's interesting that Merle seems to notice that more than anybody from the original group. He gets mad at Glenn for leaving him behind in Atlanta (dude can really hold a grudge).  When Merle asks Glenn who is in his group Glenn mentions all the people from season one. 
This includes those who died (Amy, Jim, and Jackie) and Andrea.  At the mention of Andrea's name Merle knows that Glenn is lying.  So he beats him up.  Maggie is hearing all of this from the next room.

When he can't get an answer from Glenn he threatens him with a zombie.  When Glenn still won't give up his friends he lets the zombie go. 

Glenn pushes the zombie with his feet then breaks his chair by slamming it into the wall.  The zombie tries to bite Glenn's arm but gets a mouthful of duct tape.  Glenn brakes the arm of the chair and stabs the zombie with it.  Why Glenn is awesome: He is resourceful.  He can take a beating from a racist redneck.  He can kill a zombie while tied to a chair.  Boy has got some skills.

Looks like Woodbury is playing good cop/bad cop with the captives.  Of course the Governor is talking to Maggie.  He likes the ladies and likes to play the charming politician.  Good thing Maggie is nothing like Andrea or she would have given in a few seconds into the conversation.  When the charm doesn't work he forces Maggie to take her top and bra off or he'll cut off Glenn's hand.  If the Governor told me to take my clothes off I would refuse.  I think Maggie should choke him with her bra.  The Governor has crossed so many lines I shouldn't be surprised that sexual assault would be part of his torture game but I was still a little surprised and incredibly repulsed.  I would rather be shot in the head than be touched by the Governor.  Maggie doesn't brake so easily; this is why she is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters.

When the Governor sees that neither interrogation is working he takes Maggie (still topless) into Glenn's room. He points a gun at Maggie but Glenn won't budge.  He points the gun at Glenn and Maggie tells him that their group is in the prison.  I hated how he tried to soothe Maggie.  It was sickening.  If you didn't think the Governor was crazy and sick before you definitely know for certain now.

Grimes gang to the rescue

The rescue party must be in the "red zone."  They brake into a crazy hermit's house who doesn't seem to be aware that there are zombies in the world.

How did he not run into zombies around his house?  Or was he just plain crazy?  It seems hard to believe he lasted that long without any zombie encounters.  The crazy hermit starts yelling and tries to run for his front door where all the zombies are waiting.  Michonne stabs him with her katana.  She just proved that she will do anything to survive, that includes killing anyone that gets in her way.  The group then throws the hermit's body out the front door to distract the zombies while they escape out the back.


Final thoughts

The Governor seems surprised to find that Rick and the gang were able to clear the prison out.  Apparently Merle told him it couldn't be done.  This does not bode well for the Grimes gang.  This makes them seem like an even bigger threat to the Governor.  He took out those military guys because he saw them as a threat.  I get the feeling most of the people in Woodbury don't have experience killing walkers.  Now he comes to find out about a group that cleared out an entire prison filled with walkers.  The Governor no likey.


Where do Merle's loyalties lie?  He seems to shift between Woodbury and Daryl. He seems completely loyal to the Governor.  But when any information on Daryl comes his way he changes into this man obsessed with finding his brother.  The question is how will he feel about Daryl once he sees him again.  Daryl has changes a lot in the 11 months or so that they have been apart.  He is confident and a part of the group.  He's also Rick's second in command.  We know Merle does not like Rick since Rick is the one who handcuffed him in the first place.