By John Keegan and Gregg Wright
I hadn't really realized until just this episode how much of a chore it's become for me to watch "The Walking Dead". Anymore, my appreciation of the show seems to be more a matter of begrudging respect than actual enjoyment. I tried to ask myself why this was, but the answers didn't come easily. What next came to mind was the realization that this has been the case for much longer than I would previously have been able to admit. "The Walking Dead" has coasted for a long time the sheer novelty of being a well-produced TV zombie saga. But does that mean that "The Walking Dead" is bad?
On the heels of the previous episode’s fiery and bloody massacre, marking the apparent mid-point of the season thus far, it makes sense to take a step back and explore the depths of the fallout. In the process, the writers remind us of the cardinal rule of the “Spartacus” franchise: underneath all the sex and violence, the strength of the series is the character development.
Those familiar with the game know that new television series, especially those for traditional broadcast networks, are generally given an initial 13-episode order. Based on the strength of those initial episodes (primarily in the ratings, if we want to be honest), the network can then pick up an option for the “back nine”. While “Grimm” received that honor earlier in the season, it’s pretty clear that the producers didn’t do much to adjust the original plans for the initial order.
One of the more well-known elements of Arthurian legend is the forbidden romance between Sir Lancelot and Guinevere. Given the generally family-friendly nature of "Merlin", this story isn't something I ever expected to appear in the show. But "Merlin" continues to surprise me, from time to time, with its unexpected forays into more mature subject matter. Still, I was a little apprehensive about how well they could handle this storyline and make it work.