Bob's Burgers gets "An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal"

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Unlike the Halloween special, which aired almost a month before the holiday, FOX let Bob's Burgers put out their Thanksgiving episode at an appropriate time, the Sunday before. Of all the animated comedies the network has on this night, Bob's Burgers is my current favorite. To see the family celebrate a holiday that is so much about family is heartwarming. And, this being Bob's Burgers, also funny.

The story, "An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal," begins with the landlord, Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline), bribing Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) to cook a meal for himself and a lady friend, and also hiring Bob's family to pose as his own. See, Mr. Fischoeder's love interest only goes for married guys, so he plans on using Linda (John Roberts) and the kids to hook her in.

Bob is very resistant. Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday, and he has traditions with each child. To him, preserving these rituals is more important than money. Unfortunately, the children don't feel the same, and are excited to escape their father's corniness to get involved in a scheme. This is not only a typical portrait of a clan, painting Bob as the family man he truly is at heart, but also illustrative of the generational divide, parents being more sentimental than their offspring.

This, in of itself, would be a good enough tale. Bob grows ever jealous in the kitchen, while his kids compete for Mr. Fischoeder's affections, and Linda horribly overdoes things, as she is wont to do. But "An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal" adds in a twist when Bob finds a bottle of absinthe in the kitchen. Suddenly, he is hallucinating and talking to the turkey, whom he has named, which makes things spiral even quicker out of control, and in very humorous ways.

Bob's Burgers works because of so many elements. One, it has a unique sense of humor that isn't found in practically any other series I can think of. Two, the characters are incredibly well defined, and are always played to their strengths. A fine balance is walked between repeating already known character traits, and overusing the same jokes, and it is pulled off expertly. Third, the show and its vocal cast can really land a joke, over and over again. Like when the family is naming holidays in the order of importance and Gene (Eugene Mirman) says the season premiere of Game of Thrones, though quickly admits to never having seen the show. Fantastic!

Louise (Kristen Schaal) remains the best part of Bob's Burgers. The fiendish young girl with her pink bunny ears is as clever as she is ornery. She will do whatever she must to meet her goals, and her brain just thinks on a different wave length than everyone else. And yet, when combined with her siblings, Gene and Tina (Dan Mintz), as she so often is in many a story, she works well in the group, too, without stealing too much focus.

"An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal" has a happy ending for the family, of course. Like The Simpsons, no matter what happens during the episode, they can all come together in the end, and there is deep love between them. Bob's Burgers may be a little quicker to show it than The Simpsons, though, and only three seasons in, it still feels fresh and original, definitely designed for the modern sensibility.

Bob's Burgers airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

Revolution is "Nobody's Fault"

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NBC's Revolution brought its fall run to a close this week with "Nobody's Fault But Mine." Miles (Billy Burke), Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos), Aaron (Zak Orth), and Nora (Daniella Alonso) finally make it to Philadelphia. It doesn't take long for them to be found out by Tom (Giancarlo Esposito) and his men, though, which in turn leads them to discover that Rachel (Elizabeth Mitchell) is still alive. As expected, this installment ends with a big showdown against Monroe (David Lyons).

Revolution continues to struggle to find its way. There are some things it does correctly. The concept behind the story - all electricity stops working, but a conspiracy could bring it back, years later - is interesting. Burke and Esposito deliver fantastic performances, and Lyons makes an intriguing villain, especially once some back story is revealed. The production team knows how to stage a thrilling fight sequence.

But Spiridakos, who seems to be the de facto lead of the series, is not nearly good enough in the role, at least not yet. The main quest to rescue Danny (Graham Rogers), completed in "Nobody's Fault But Mine," isn't half as interesting as the implications of the loss of power and the struggle for control of the world. Focus should be on the political factions, the military campaigns, and the science behind it all, but instead, we get tales about characters who just aren't developed enough.

Now, they might yet be. There have been hopeful signs, such as finally seeing Miles and Monroe as friends, and dealing with their falling out. But Revolution doesn't go far enough, fast enough. Why did Miles try to kill Monroe? Why has Monroe turned his back on his friend, and why does he continue to go down a terrible path? The show might be trying to tease a tidbit at a time, but it's no Lost, so it's unlikely that viewers will have the patience to wait for nuggets if the present storyline isn't that compelling.

One thing that is highly intriguing is seeing Flynn's (Colm Feore, The Borgias) fully electrified base. What is he doing? Will he be a friend or a foe to the Matheson clan and their friends? This is actually more interesting than anything else that concerns the central players.

Of course, as I said, Revolution does know how to deliver adrenaline, and the showdown that results in the Mathesons narrowly escaping, only to see that Monroe has a working helicopter, is an awesome cliffhanger that will hopefully draw viewers back when the show returns in March.

So, moving forward, what needs to happen are larger, sweeping arcs with big scale stories. I'm sorry, but Revolution just isn't pulling off too much of the character-driven stuff, so it should play to its strengths. Fixing the plot holes is also important, because it's a little tiring to keep making unbelievable leaps to arrive at the next set story point. And either help Spiridakos grow into a true leading lady, or shift the focus more towards characters like Miles, Tom, and Aaron, who can handle the increased scrutiny.

Revolution isn't a bad show, but it's not yet living up to its potential, and if it doesn't find it's way, it may not get a second season. We don't need yet another FlashForward or The Event, which are hurting the genre, and could prevent more brilliant fare like Fringe and Lost from even being attempted. That would be a shame, and it's the reason Revolution's failures are so frustrating.

Revolution will return to NBC in March.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter! First posted on TheTVKing

"Dark Cousin" visits American Horror Story: Asylum

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Overall, I have been disappointed with season two of FX's American Horror Story, subtitled Aslyum. Season one had awesome characters that I really cared about, the Harmon family. They were what drove the plot, and kept me returning week after week, even as all the craziness went on around them, constantly adding new players to the story, much as this season is doing. They were decent people (for the most part), who didn't deserve what happened to them.

By contrast, the characters that populate season two make much of their own trouble. I'm not saying that Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson) deserves to be kept in the basement by Dr. Thredson (Zachary Qunito), or that Kit (Evan Peters) should be in Briarcliff at all. But, the characters this year are more flawed, do not always do the smartest thing, and put themselves in danger. They are also less relateble than the Harmons.

That being said, the deeper we go into the season, the more I begin to appreciate them. Sister Jude (Jessica Lange), who started out the season looking like a villain, almost cruel in the way that she ran the "hospital," is now almost as much a victim as the others. Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) has become so much more intriguing when possessed by the devil.

This past week's installment, "Dark Cousin," was fantastic! A lot of the credit should go to Frances Conroy as the Angel of Death. Here is this character dressed in black that can kiss you and take away your life. And yet, she is kind, non-judgmental, and is here to bring relief, not cause suffering, a stark contrast to the others around who have power over people. As Briarcliff dissolves more and more into chaos, and there doesn't appear to be a happy ending possible for any of the characters, death may be the best release. Coming at the midpoint of the season, "Dark Cousin" offers a desperately needed ray of hope, even if the result is permanent sleep.

It is also cool to see Death clash with Satan, as he lives inside Sister Mary Eunice. Clearly, Dr. Arden (James Cromwell) doesn't realize what he is dealing with in Mary Eunice, and Sister Jude is in no position to save anyone. This has made Briarcliff a sort of playground for Satan, and Death may just be the only one who can stop her.

This is good, because Lana's plot is pretty depressing in "Dark Cousin." She escapes from Briarcliff, ends up somewhere worse, and then escaps back to the asylum. Even should she get out completely, her lover is dead, and her secret homosexuality, a major scandal in the 1960s, could hurt her professionally. While she is the one I most want to see get out, and I would hope that she gets to publish an article blowing the lid off of the facility, I could also see her dying instead, and that might actually be a blessing.

Grace (Lizzie Brochere) actually did die this week, and I'm conflicted as to how I feel about this. On one hand, I don't know where else her character should have gone, and she was the most expendable, in my opinion, of the series leads. On the other, I was somehow rooting for her, even once she has been revealed to actually be a murderer, and she has sex with Kit after telling him that his wife, Alma (Britne Oldford), is still alive. This kind of makes her despicable.

What will be more interesting than Grace's death is what the effect of it will be on Kit. I honestly can't predict this.

So, despite a rocky start, American Horror Story: Aslyum is finally picking up the pace, and making itself worthy of the title. It's not that the first part of the season wasn't good; it was still better than most shows. It just didn't live up to season one. With a third outing already ordered, hopefully season two will only grow from here, continuing the trend of improvement.

American Horror Story: Asylum airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

This article first posted on TheTVKing

Liz Lemon ties the knot

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Halfway through the final season, NBC's 30 Rock does the unthinkable: marries off Liz Lemon (Tina Fey)! In the episode that aired this week, entitled "Mazel Tov, Dummies!" perpetually single and goofy Liz goes to City Hall and ties the knot with her soul mate, Criss (James Marsden).

It isn't a smooth ride, of course. Liz wants to do it in jeans and a t-shirt, with no fanfare. But the two men in her life, Criss and Jack (Alec Baldwin), know her better than that. Criss does everything he can to sabotage Plan A, and Jack waits on standby, ready to swoop in as soon as Liz admits that she'd really like to be a princess for a day. In the end she gets to be, walking down the aisle dressed as Princess Leia.

When Liz is first introduced to television audiences, she is completely inept with guys. Some series might seek to change their lead character until she becomes more "normal." 30 Rock goes in the opposite direction, keeping Liz true to herself for seven seasons, and only allowing her to get hitched when she finally found a guy who likes her the way she is. That is Criss, and their marriage will probably last, not just because the series is close to ending, but because he and Liz seem made for each other.

Many over the years have wondered about a possible Liz / Jack pairing. This is flirted with very early on, but ultimately backed away from, never to be revisited again. For many series, this decision would be unthinkable, as the current trend is to let the two main characters be a couple. But for 30 Rock, that would mean changing who the characters are, and that would have killed the show. Besides, 30 Rock has always marched to the beat of it's own drum. Why stop now? It's what makes the show special.

Besides the wedding, "Mazel Tov, Dummies!" like other episodes this season, feels like a bit of a victory lap. The returning guest this week is Dennis (Dean Winters), an ex-boyfriend of Liz's, and the spark for Liz's nuptials no. He shows up with an adopted African American son whom he has named "Black Dennis." This humor may be a little edgy, but it's also very funny, and it's gratifying to have the talented actor once more on screen, no matter how many problems his character has caused.

In one of the 'B' plots, Tracy (Tracy Morgan) worries that he has become too successful and too healthy, and feels like his life is over, having to give up the weird and wild things that he does because he will now have to deal with middle age and consequences.

The challenge for 30 Rock in its last year is to set up the characters to move on with their lives after the inevitable cancellation of TGS, the show within a show, but not to make them too soul-searching, as this clashes with the general tone. Not only does the outcome of Tracy's story do this brilliantly, it also allows Jack to play Harriet Tubman in a dream sequence that totally rocks.

This review is just skimming the tip of the iceberg. In twenty minutes, we get all of the above, plus John Hodgman playing a simpleton that trades Jenna (Jane Krakowski) for money, a reference to an old soda pop, some additional vaguely racist jokes that don't seem at all mean, and so much more. Fantastic!

In short, 30 Rock is having a great final season, and "Mazel Tov, Dummies!" satisfies in unexpected and hilarious ways. Going with the current trend, the series should go out the way that it wants to, staying true to itself, and rewarding those fans who have made the journey with them.

30 Rock airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

I'm going to end up owning 5 copies of Insurgent by Veronica Roth...

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If you haven't read, HarperTeen is released a copy of Insurgent by Veronica Roth for the holiday's. This special new copy includes

• "Free Four": This pivotal thirteen-page scene from Divergent, retold from Tobias's point of view, reveals unknown facts and fascinating details about Four's character, his past, his own initiation, and his thoughts about new Dauntless initiate Tris Prior.

• A ribbon bookmark

• An exclusive, full-color foldout poster

• Faction tattoos

• Deckled edges

Forty-eight pages of bonus content, including interviews with Veronica Roth, playlists, faction party tips, and much more!"

All things that make me really want the new edition. The only problem with this is the fact that I already have not one, but TWO copies of Insurgent. One being the copy that I bought when it came out, the second a signed copy from BEA. At this rate I'm going to own 5 copies of this books. I have no self control and it's hard to see the bad in buying a book that you already have just because it has a few extra things... How can you not get the book with Four's point of veiw????

Well HarperTeen, you got me to buy this book, AGAIN! How many of you are going to repurchase Insurgent for the collectors edition?

Give thanks for Glee

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 There is much to be thankful for in this week's episode of FOX's Glee, "Thanskgiving," even if it aired a week late. (I can gripe about that because Glee, unlike most shows, actually aired an episode on Thanksgiving, but it wasn't this one.) In the episode, most of the recent McKinley alumni return home to assist Finn (Cory Monteith) in getting the New Directions ready for Sectionals. They work with the newer students, helping to ease the transition.

It's easy to complain about the frequent appearances by recent grads on the show this year. As I've said before, the writing has allowed Finn an unbelievable reason for sticking around, but at least it serves a purpose and furthers the character. The others, on the other hand, just seem unwilling to move on with their lives, refusing to let go of their high school glory. However, in "Thanksgiving," because it is a holiday, and because they are there to help their friend Finn with an important milestone, it doesn't feel as forced.

The episode opens with Puck (Mark Salling), Mercedes (Amber Riley), Mike (Harry Shum Jr.), Santana (Naya Rivera), and Quinn (Dianna Agron) returning to the McKinley stage (and Finn) with a performance of "Homeward Bound" / "Home." Musically, it's pretty good, and in terms of staging, it works very well. The number is pleasant, and gives a satisfying reintroduction, especially for Quinn, who is the sole graduate no longer in the main cast, and "Thanksgiving" marks her first return this season.

It still bothers me that Artie (Kevin McHale) and Sam (Chord Overstreet) are not part of this, though. Without having specific dialogue on hand to prove it, I am pretty sure that it was established that Artie was in the same grade as the others, and I know that Sam returned from Kentucky for his senior year. Plus, how could Sam, as a junior in high school, work as a stripper? It's this little inconsistency that eats away week after week.

And Brittany (Heather Morris), who has a valid reason to still be in school, should be included in the reunion. These are her friends, too, and she was in their grade for thirteen years. Does that not matter?

But what is most strange is the way that the alumni act like they are so much better than the current students. Finn declares his classmates heroes, and the glee club cheers adoringly. Isn't this beyond patronizing? Most of the current members were in the group during the Nationals win, too. Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) and Artie were two of the first members of the New Directions. This arc should really have been held back a couple of years, though one wonders if Glee will still be on in that much time.

Taking the leap and setting aside these complaints, we next get to see Quinn, Santana, and Brittany reunited for "Come See About Me." It's a great number for them, and it does feel like other pieces that they have done in the past. It may not be necessary to school the students with it, but it's enjoyable for the audience. I also like when the cracks do show between Quinn and Santana, not sweeping any drama under the rug, and acknowledging that, although they are friends, their relationship isn't perfect.

Kitty's (Becca Tobin) obsession with Quinn is weird and creepy. Weren't they in school together? Surely, Kitty isn't a freshman this year, given her social and cheerleading standing. Her character comes out of nowhere enough as it is, as it would have been better to set her up at least a year earlier, but her fawning over Quinn seems completely out of character. Kitty is a confident, manipulative girl. She shouldn't be defining her life based on someone else.

Thankfully, everything else set at the high school goes pretty smoothly. We get some more nice Jake (Jacob Artist) / Ryder (Blake Jenner) bonding, and a callback Brittany joke about Unique (Alex Newell) and Mercedes. Then it's time for Sectionals!

The Warblers are back in peak form with "Whistle" and "Live While We're Young." During their recent attempt to recruit Blaine (Darren Criss), the music falls flat, but "Thanksgiving" proves that they still have it. This is what the group is known for, and why fans of Glee worship them. Fantastic performance!

And then there's the other group, The Rosedale Mennonites. Their "Over the River and Through the Wood" / "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" is entertaining and fun, but the whole thing smacks a bit of bigotry. Glee often tosses in goofy, cartoonish characters, but for some reason, this time it feels more wrong and mean spirited than previous efforts.

The Sectionals section of the episode ends with the New Directions taking the stage for their first number, "Gangnam Style." Setting aside what a silly song it is for the group to do, because it is currently a viral sensation, and it does seem like something Finn would pick, practically everything about it is awkward. From the Ryder / Jake / Marley (Melissa Benoist) lead up, to the camera editing that seems to cheat the big dance moves, it just doesn't quite work. The vocals are decent, and Tina actually ends up being a good choice for the opening solo, but it things don't come together as we would normally expect from these kids.

"Thanksgiving" ends immediately after "Gangnam Style," leaving the other two songs in their set for next week's episode. This is the first time that Glee has ever split a competition performance, and it makes for good dramatic effect. Marley's collapse, something pretty predictably set up, occurs at the end of a song, so it might be possible for them to go on without her and still win.

But it will likely throw everyone off of their game, seeing Marley like this, and considering that she has a solo coming up, it would be pretty far-fetched for the New Directions to cement a victory this year, especially after the weak-ish opening.

That being said, it would be a shame to see them lose Sectionals, and there are a couple of ways to salvage this. One, Dalton Academy could win and later be disqualified. They've become villains since Blaine left them, so it's conceivable that they could step out of line enough to warrant such a punishment. The Mennonites might not be able to travel all the way to Regionals, because of their religious beliefs preventing use of vehicles required for long distance travel (ignoring the stage lights they used earlier). That would leave the New Directions to compete by default. It would, indeed, be a hollow victory, but at least it would get them to Regionals.

One last complaint about "Thanksgiving:" a high school show choir Sectionals competition would never, ever, ever be held on Thanksgiving Day. Parents would throw huge fits. To expect us to buy that bit of scheduling is preposterous.

Besides the Sectionals story, "Thanksgiving" also has some action in New York. Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) stay in the city, rather than face their exes back in Ohio (because if they returned, for some reason, they couldn't just stay at home with their families?). They plan to eat by themselves, but each invite a party crasher. Rachel's addition, Brody (Dean Geyer), cooks for them, while Kurt's, Isabelle (Sarah Jessica Parker), turns a quiet dinner into a huge bash, complete with fashionable dance moves and drag queens.

Isabelle is a fantastic addition to the Glee cast. She brings Rachel and Kurt exactly what they need, and embodies the type of life they'd hope to find in the Big Apple. The song she leads them in this week, "Let's Have a Kiki," mixes beautifully with Rachel's "Turkey Lurkey Time," creating the most energetic, memorable Glee number in quite some time. Hopefully, she won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

In the midst of this, Rachel and Brody seem to be making up. She is hurt because he slept with her enemy. He points out that he had no reason not to, but he won't do it again to avoid hurting her. This is an adult attitude, and seeing this helps Rachel transition into a different world, maturing.

Kurt is also struggling to grow up, taking Isabelle's advice and trying to forgive Blaine. It doesn't necessarily mean that they will get back together (though Glee fans might seriously revolt if they don't), but it does mean that he is going to try to see past Blaine's indiscretion, and maybe they can repair their relationship. Obviously, there is still plenty of love present between the pair.

Once more, though, I am annoyed that all the blame for what happened is placed on Blaine. Some objected to my assertion in an earlier review that Kurt deserves a huge share of responsibility because he was ignoring Blaine. I admit, Kurt's behavior doesn't justify cheating, but he gives Blaine plenty of reason to be unhappy prior to Blaine's mistake. This has to be taken into account, and it's unfortunate that this isn't addressed more.

The New York stuff in "Thanksgiving" is fantastic, overall, but it still feels likely a completely different series. The more Glee jumps back and forth in an episode between McKinley and the city, the more jarring these jumps become. It would be very nice if a way could be worked out by next year to separate the two, either sacrificing one completely, or by splitting them into different series.

Glee airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Thanksgiving" on Blogcritics.

The Walking Dead fans are "Made to Suffer" a long hiatus

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Wow.

So much happens in The Walking Dead episode "Made to Suffer" this week that is important. People die, a true villain is born, allegiances are tested and shift, a new major character makes his introduction... The list goes on and on. The hard part is knowing where to start. I'll just jump in.

The opening of "Made to Suffer" unveils a new group of survivors. There isn't a clear leader among them, but one name will jump out to fans of The Walking Dead comic book: Tyreese (Chad Coleman, The Wire). In the books, Tyreese joins the group very early on, before they even get to Hershel's (Scott Wilson) farm. On the page, Tyreese serves as the muscle and pretty loyal best friend to Rick (Andrew Lincoln). Given the decision to keep Shane (Jon Bernthal) alive on TV longer, and the inclusion of non-comic character Daryl (Norman Reedus), Tyreese seemed unnecessary. But, with how things play out in this episode, now seems the perfect time to bring him in.

I'm not saying that Tyreese will be instantly part of the core crew. He's off to a good start, though. He respects Carl (Chandler Riggs), and calls him "the man." He holds back those in his group who would like to threaten the balance of power in the jail. He is kind, and seems to sense kindness in the main characters. If you watched the spoiler scene presented in Talking Dead this week, it looks pretty clear that Tyreese will have an in early on.

This is fortuitous because Rick needs a friend. Hershel is the voice of reason, but he's just not from the same generation as Rick, and no one else in the group connects with Rick that well, as he stands apart as a leader to them. And Rick is starting to lose his marbles a bit, talking to his deceased wife on the phone, and even hallucinating Shane in Woodbury! (Awesome surprise cameo, by the way!) Tyreese could serve as that balance to Rick, allowing him to blow off steam with a buddy, rather than bottling it up in front of everyone to appear in charge.

This occurs as Rick and company attack Woodbury to rescue Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan). Their mission is not easy, many bullets are fired, and Oscar (Vincent M. Ward), who is not a very important character, but seems to be the only "good" former prisoner, bites the dust. The main contingent of the group gets away, thankfully.

The tragic leave behind is Daryl. Hanging back to cover the rear (and probably hoping to get a glimpse of his brother, Merle (Michael Rooker)), Daryl is captured by the Governor's (David Morrissey) men and held responsible for the attack as a "terrorist."

We know that Rick and the others are not terrorists. They would never attack people just for the sake of attacking people. They know their friends are being held hostage, and so they go in, guns blazing, and get them out. If anything, the mistake here is treating the whole town like the enemy. Rick doesn't know it, of course, but most of the residents are blind to the Governor's true activities and brutality. Given this, it is only too easy for the Governor to spin the rescue attempt as something more sinister.

What might be Daryl's salvation is that Merle is also paraded out as a criminal, even though he has nothing to do with what happened. Daryl isn't alone, and the brothers are tough. Complain all you want about Merle, because he's not really a very nice guy. He threw a zombie at Glenn! But he does love his brother. They can try to fight their way out together, and they might stand a slim chance.

Things will go even better for them if Andrea (Laurie Holden) takes their side. She now sees some of what the Governor is up to, and what he keeps in his own house. Desperate to find that safe, stable place, it will be hard for her to let go of the Governor, who has given her a home and a bed. But she is smart, and I think that, in the end. she will make the right decision.

This exposure occurs because Michonne (Danai Gurira) attacks the Governor. She goes to his apartment to settle the score for him sending men to kill her. While there, she slays the Governor's zombie daughter, Penny, breaks some of his fish tanks full of Walker heads, and takes out one of the Governor's eyes. Visuals speak louder than words, and seeing all this, Andrea is starting to have doubts about the man she is sleeping with.

Quick note about this sequence, it illustrates just how damaged Michonne is. We've seen her tortured soul in pieces. She is definitely scarred badly by something. The tenderness she shows towards Penny, and the sheer determination in taking sharp glass in her hand to stab the Governor, are different sides of a complicated woman. Seeing her look pleadingly at Rick when she tells him that he needs her is the final piece of the puzzle. Michonne needs him more. She has been through a lot, and it's time for her to become part of a bigger group, contributing and loving, not just being a lone wolf.

Because of Michonne's attack, the Governor is turning into the huge nemesis that comic fans love to hate. Soon he will be sporting an eye patch, and he is definitely out to destroy the prison group. While the television version of the character has been more layered, which is nice, giving us a better understanding of him, it would be folly to assume that this incarnation will be less dangerous. Look for the back eight episodes this winter to feature a full on war between the Governor and Rick. Rick may win, being the lead of the show, but when the Governor comes at them, there will be severe casualties.

First, though, there may already be a danger in the prison. The way that Axel (Lew Temple) acts towards Carol (Melissa McBride) and Beth (Emily Kinney) while the tough members of the group are away is creepy. I'm a little surprised he didn't rape and / or murder either girl in "Made to Suffer." I do worry that it's coming, though, and we may soon lose another member of our little group, long before the Governor arrives at the gate.

Part of the price of great television is long breaks where the creative minds behind such projects can wind down, or recharge, or just think of more great ideas. AMC seems to make this doubly difficult in the case of The Walking Dead because we just get two short waves of new episodes every year. Given just how big "Made to Suffer" ended, and that the series is breaking all kinds of viewing records, I know I am not alone in being anxious for February to arrive, when the series will return.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing