If you happen to be actively surviving in an undead apocalypse, or know someone who does, you might have an inkling as to how utterly exhausting it is to cling to this mortal coil on a day to day basis. It’s even more of a bother when a maniacal sociopath rolls into your camp with a tank and small army in tow.
Unfortunately, for Rick’s group, that’s exactly what happens when the Governor comes knocking in the mid-season finale, “Too Far Gone”.
Right out of the gate, the Governor wets his silver tongue once again and charms the RV camp survivors into aiding him in the attack on the prison. Tara is reluctant and Lilly begins to question Philip’s motivations. He reveals he has captured Hershel and Michonne to use as bargaining chips. The Governor would like to oust Rick’s group without violence, but he is prepared to do whatever it takes to claim the prison.
Hershel suggests that they could live together, but Philip believes it’d be impossible. Lilly tries one last time to convince the Governor to forget about the attack and find a new place to live, but fails. Meghan is playing in a mud pile nearby and the Governor hugs her before he departs.
At the prison, the survivors of the sickness are recovering and Rick finally explains what happen to Carol to Daryl. He is understandably upset, but keeps a relative cool. The go together to reveal the news to Tyreese as well, but Tyreese cuts them off to show them a mysterious, dissected squirrel left in the Tombs.
While they debate who could have done it, the prison shakes as an explosion erupts outside. Everyone frantically runs into the yard to discover the Governor patiently waiting for them. They also make note of the tank and army that accompany him.
Meanwhile at the RV camp, all is not well. A lone walker trying to make his way across the river distracts Lilly long enough for another walker to rise from Meghan’s mud pile. Her mother arrives too late and the hidden walker manages to bite Meghan’s shoulder before it is put down.
The Governor convinces a hesitant Rick to come to the outer fence and talk with him. The others prepare for a fighting retreat if things most likely go south. The group is weak and outnumbered. Philip brings out his hostages and demands that Rick’s group leaves peacefully by sundown or he will force them out.
Rick mentions that the sick children will die out on the road, but the Governor doesn’t care. Rick then sincerely offers that they could all live in the prison together. Everyone can leave their terrible pasts behind and join forces. Hershel smiles at this, seeing a positive shift in Rick. However, the Governor is not convinced and beheads Hershel in a fit of rage.
All bets are off.
Lilly arrives with the limp form of Meghan and the Governor immediately takes Meghan and shoots her without a word. He signals the attack and the tank rolls over the fences and crops, the army following behind for cover. As the tank fires upon the prison, Rick’s group fires back to cover those evacuating. The Governor hangs back and a wounded Rick ambushes him, initiating a fist fight.
Everyone is scattered, fighting their own fights. Hordes of the undead are being drawn to the prison by the commotion of battle. The Governor’s less experienced fighting force is quickly losing manpower as they’re cut down by the more entrenched members of Rick’s group. Daryl juggles both the undead and tank, using a walker as a shield to clear the soldiers away from the war machine with a grenade. Following up, he chucks another grenade into the barrel of the tank, forcing the operator, Mitch, out of the hatch. Now exposed, Daryl finishes him with a signature crossbow bolt.
Lizzie and Mika, using Carol’s teachings, save a pinned down Tyreese by expertly neutralizing Alisha and another soldier. Bob, Maggie, and Sasha are fighting from the cover of a vehicle, downing more soldiers. Bob takes a clean hit and they watch the bus leave without them shortly after.
Rick is losing his fight with the Governor and is about to be strangled to death until the blade of a katana sprouts from Philip’s chest and he collapses to the ground. Michonne finally gets her revenge. She debates killing him, but decides to leave him to bleed out. Rick catches his breath and goes to search for Carl.
Rick and Carl meet up and search for Judith, but find an empty, and bloody, baby carrier instead. Heartbroken, they flee the prison. Daryl finds Beth and they escape as well. Lilly finds the dying Governor and puts a bullet through his head in anger. The battle is won, but the prison is lost. The survivors retreat in all directions in small groups. In the final scene, Rick and Carl run into the forest. “Don’t look back”.
Why does the Governor have to destroy everything he touches? Because he’s too far gone! There’s the episode title for you. Really though, if he wanted to protect his “family” he should have accepted the offer to live in the prison. If he, personally, can’t stomach it then he should have stayed outside. Take one for the team. Instead, he had to let his own issues get everyone killed. Again. Honestly, I think I’m most disappointed in Mitch. The Governor joins your group, kills your leaders, kills your brother, turns you into a lapdog, and has you fighting strangers in a span of three days? The second the Governor turned down that spectacular deal of living together in the prison, Mitch should have taken him out. Bullet right to the back of the head. Problem solved, everyone else lives. Instead, he does absolutely nothing. Nice backbone, Mitch.
Why does Hershel smile at the end and what will the group do without him? He smiles because he realizes that the message he’s been trying to send to Rick all this time has finally gotten through. That he can trust in people again and give them all a chance to prove themselves. That it’s possible to come back from the monster that pure survival can make of you. As for carrying on without Hershel, it’s probably going to be rough. He was the guru of the group. The wise, moral center. Now that everyone is scattered to the wind and chased out of their relative safety, I think things are going to get worse before they get better. At the very least, I think a little piece of Hershel is with everyone now. Especially Rick.
How is it that the Governor seems to fail at just about every grand scheme he attempts? It’s because he overplays his hand. His second attack failed for exactly the same reason the first did. Neither of his armies were all that experienced and they both were actively confused by the situation because they saw the Governor’s lies unraveling during the act. He also has a tendency to destroy his own resources. He’s wasteful, prideful, and has a mean streak a mile wide. There’s also that part where he’s completely insane.
Why does The Walking Dead hate little girls? I really don’t know, but one of the writers must have some kind of vendetta. There was the little zombie girl in the first season that Rick shoots, Sophia in season two, Penny in season three, and now Meghan is season four. Hide your children!
That’s it for the mid-season finale! See you guys again when TWD returns in February.
