Eh. I figure it's a well-known fact by now that episode threads after an episode has aired, regardless of the series, are going to contain spoilers. It's just that I've been indirectly told off for spoilers in a thread before now, which confused me somewhat.
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Anyway, the episode! And yes, I shall spoilerise.
I liked it. I hadn't realised how much I needed my zombie fix, and it seems that TWD has returned at the right time of the year.
I find it somewhat hard to believe that it's taken the group around eight months to find the prison, particularly when you'd expect it to be on that map they happen to have, but I'm happy the series has started with them finding the prison, rather than already having set up camp.
The initial clean-up showed that the group has bonded in our absence - they take orders well, and carry out their respective tasks without [much] fear. It seems they've become better marksmen, too.
The scene around the fire didn't do much for me, and I spent it playing the guess-who-will-be-the-episode-one-sacrifice game. It's a television series about a group of people trying to stay alive, it's the first episode, so someone has to die. I chose the young girl, seeing as she's returned to good spirits after trying to commit suicide last series.
The second clear-out worked well, and it amused me to see the small team struggling with the riot gear zombies (they reminded me slightly of the Zombine in
Half-Life 2!). Again, they worked well as a unit, and even managed to keep formation for most of the scene!
Inside the prison, I didn't really get a feel of the tension as Rick was going up the stairs to the perch, which was a shame. I'm also surprised that no-one commented on what looked like slain zombies as they cleared out the cells.
Beds for all - looks like Carl has a crush.
And it looks like things are really starting to get to Rick.
Lori's worries about a zombie foetus painted a somewhat amusing picture. I'll be interested to see what happens here - I'm not sure a healthy baby fits the feel of the show, but at the same time, the writers might want it to give the survivors false hope. A sense of Futility or belief? I'm not sure which will be best.
Trust Rick to go all Captain Foreshadowing on us all before the team dives into the maze of the prison. Although I got the character wrong, as well as the fact that they're not quite dead, do I still get points for guessing that there would be a first episode sacrifice?
The forced amputation was gruesome (indeed, the whole episode had a lot of gore), and I can't help but think that Rick has just killed Hershel quicker than the infected bite.
In other scenes, it was nice to see Michonne, and I'm looking forward to her backstory.
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A good episode, and a strong opener to the series, which is what I've come to expect from TWD. I'm hoping that we don't now get seven episodes of the two groups planning how to get back to the other, with the mid-series finale (I'm guessing that there will be one at the end of November, like last year) ending as one group sets out.
What I
am hoping for is a frantic series (or, at least, first half of the series) following the group, along with these prisoners, trying to survive against the constant barrage of the zombie inmates (zombates? Zonmates?).
Yes, I do know a few of the characters who are rumoured to be in this series, but even I'm not that spoiler crazy.
