"The Walking Dead: Hounded" EP Recap

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This episode opens up with Merle leading three of theGovernor’s men are in the woods and are looking for Michonne. They hear arustle in the woods. They come across severed body parts. The men don’t knowwhat to think of it when one of the men named Neil figures out that it’s a signthat means “go back”; he explains the severed arms make a “G”, the legs make an“O” and the back part of the body is self-explanatory. Merle gets a kick out ofit and dubs it a “bitergram”. Neil is becoming emotionally affected by hisbrutal surroundings but Merle grabs Neil’s shirt and tries to “man it up” andget him to not show emotion. Merle asks him his last name. “Gartuleleau,” Neilresponds (I don’t know the correct spelling but I’m hoping I’m close).   Merlelets go of Neil and taunts Michonne: “what’s the deal…one against four?” hetaunts. He gets his wish as Michonne sneaks out from the back, decapitates oneof the men and stabs the other one in the stomach; Merle shoots towardsMichonne, getting her in the hip. Michonne escapes but not without Merle goingafter her.

"This shit is getting serious, son!"

Back in the prison, Rick is talking to the mysterious womanover the phone. The woman seems thrilled to hear from Rick; “We’ve been callingsince it all started!” she exclaims. “Are you someplace safe?” Rick asks. Thewoman responds with; “I can’t tell you where we are, we’re sorry.” Rickdesperately pleads his case to her; “I have a son….a newborn baby, I’m with agood group of people….could you take in others?” The woman says she will talkto the group. Rick begs her not to go and tells them that they are dying in theprison. The woman says she will call him back in 2 hours and despite Rick’spleads, hands up. Back in C-unit, Rick comes back in as the whole crew iseating a meal. He tells him he’s cleared out the boiler block and took out 1-2dozen walkers. Glenn suggests that he helps out clear the rest but Rickdismisses the idea, saying he only came back to check on Carl. Rick makes sureeveryone has a gun and knife.  Glenntells Rick that him and Maggie are going to make a run. Rick leaves C-Unit….Hersheltries calling out to him but Rick ignores him. 
Back in the woods, Merle goes back to an emotionallydistraught Neil, who is physically nauseated at the gruesome remains of hiscomrades. Merle kicks Neil and yells him to rise to the occasion, reminding him“some serious shit is going down!” He commands him to get up and also remindshim that they never let their own turn. Merle stabs one of the dead men in theface. Neil stabs the decapitated head. They go back in the home to hunt afterMichonne.
Back in Woodsbury, Andrea bumps into the Governor and askshim if she can ask him something but he says no. But the Governor then asks herif she “gets it”. “If it’s an escape, it’s not the right one,” Andrea says inregards to the fighting. “It’s brutality. The world is brutal as it is”. Andreasays she does want to stay in Woodsbury and contribute to the wall so she canshoot a gun and also learn to use a bow.
Back at the phone room, rick is sitting and picking up thephone when it rings. This time, it’s a man’s voice. “You the guy she wastalking to?” the mystery man asks. He tells Rick about the safe place they’rein; “It is safe here….no one’s been attacked, bit, died…no one’s turned, noone’s gone crazy.” The man said it could be dangerous for rick and asks howmany he has killed. Rick confesses he killed people but only because they werea threat. The man asks Rick how many he’s killed. “Four people: two outsiders,one who threw me to the walkers and one of our own…he lost it….” Rick explains,remembering Shane and his tragic fate. “He lost who he was and threatened meand tried to kill me.” The man asks how he lost his wife. Rick wonders how heknew about Lori. The man says Rick mentioning his kids gave it away. Rick doesn’twant to talk about it. The man hangs up. Rick screams out and kicks the tableout of frustration. 
Back at the wall in Woodsbury, a  woman and Andrea are on guard. The womansuggests she can start training tomorrow. The woman said she was taught huntingby her father and that the bow she carries is more expensive than her car. “Ikilled him for it,” she confesses; “My father wasn’t himself and neither was mybrother.” “I had to kill my sister” Amy said. But their conversation isinterrupted when a walker approaches . The woman shoots her bow but the arrowbounces back. She tries again but misses. Andrea says she’s got this taken careof. The woman yells at her to not go over the wall but Andrea walks straighttowards the walker, elbows him and slashes his head, a look of satisfaction onher face. But the woman isn’t too thrilled. “WHAT the hell was that??” sheyells at Andrea.  “That is how it’sdone!” Andrea says proudly. “I TOLD you I had it!” the woman says, storming off(this is the point where I actually root for Andrea).

"Hello? I am your mind...."

Back in the “phone room”, Hershel hobbles in to where Rickis to check on him. “May I?” Rick pulls up a chair for him. Hershel chuckles athis leg. “I can still feel it, I’m wiggling my toes!” he laughs. “You saved mylife Rick…she was sorry for the things that happened and she told me that. Sheplanned on telling you. Take your time, whatever you need. You carried us andgot us here” Rick said it wasn’t safe enough. Hershel said nowhere else is safeand the prison was their best bet. Rick tells him about the phone call with ayoung woman who was part of the group who said they had a safe place. Hershelpicks up the phone and hears the phone has been disconnected and looks at Rick.Rick is telling Hershel how he’s trying to convince the woman to get him andthe rest in the group involved but to not tell the group yet. Hershel wants tokeep him company but Rick would rather be by himself so Hershel hobbles away. 
Back in the woods, Michonne sneaks on Merle and Neil tofight once again. Merle knocks Michonne down but she kicks Merle where it hurtsand all the men get knocked down. To make matters much better, walkers approachthem and one gets on top of Merle. Neil stabs the walker in the head. One goesafter Michonne. She grabs her katana just in time to slash the walker’sstomachs as it’s intestines and blood cover Michonne.
Back in the prison walls, Oscar and Daryl are investigatingthe hallways when they hear a door rattle. Daryl said it was a couple walkersbut they aren’t leaving so they’ll take care of them on the way back.  He whistles at Carl to stay behind and beginsto tell Carl about his mother’s tragic fate; “My mom, she liked to…smoke inbed. Virginia Slims. I was playing out with the kids in the neighborhood….theyhad bikes, I didn’t. We heard sirens getting louder and they jumped on theirbikes and ran after it, hoping to see something worth seeing. I ran after thembut I couldn’t keep up. I ran around the corner and saw my friends looking atme. I saw everyone look at me,” he explained; “Fire trucks everywhere, peoplefrom the neighborhood…my house is what they were there for. My mom was in bedand burnt down to nothing. That was the hard part. She’s just gone, erased.Nothing left of her. People said it was better that way. I don’t know, justmade it seem like it wasn’t real.” Carl tells him that he was the one that shothis mom and ended it. “It was real.” They both exchange condolences on theirmothers’ passing.

The trio clearing out the prison of walkers

Back in the office in Woodsbury, the Governor hears a knock.It’s Andrea. She knows what she’s there for. “You were told we don’t go overunless we have to,” he scolds her. Andrea said she wanted practice. He said shewasn’t needed on the wall. “I liked the fights” Andrea confessed. “I didn’tlike that I liked them.” The Governor acknowledges it and noticed it; “youcould’ve walked out and started but you stayed…like you stayed right now to tellme that.” He said. 
Back in the woods, Merle tells Neil he rose to the occasionand owed him a beer. Merle said they are going to get a car and drive back.  Neil is mad because they killed the others andwere going to cover it up. Merle said to Neil that to tell the governor thatMichonne was killed as well. Neil mouths back to Merle, “This was some seriousshit, that’s what you said. I’m not going to lie about it.” Merle asks Neil hislast name again. “Gartuleleau,” he replied. Merle repeats his last name beforeshooting him in the head and picks up Neil’s gun. Not too far away, Michonnecomes across 4 walkers and she prepares to slash them but they walk passed her becauseof the blood and guts on her.
Back in the “phone room”, phone rings again. This time, it’sthe woman and she asks Rick how his wife died. “How do you know my name?” Rickasks. The phone hangs up again and disconnects.

Michonne sneaks around a deserted grocery store to observe.She hides behind a car as she sees a truck drive up. Its Maggie and Glenn goingto pick up necessities. 
Back in Woodsbury, Merle and Andrea are having a drink ofwhiskey in the patio when the Governor confides in her about never feelingproud about what he had done with his life pre-zombie apocalypse. He drinkswhiskey to forget the bad times…even the good times before the apocalypse. Heconfesses that he’d rather be in Woodsbury with whiskey, in a patio…withAndrea. “You don’t have to be ashamed liking the fight, or liking to fight. Ilove it. It’s not the only thing but nowadays its part of being alive,” hereassures her. “Most people don’t have what it takes to see the wholestory…that’s why there’s a lot more them than us” he said. “Us?” Andrea asks. “Yes,us!” The Governor says. “You have it Andrea and you made it…so enjoy it! Eat,drink and be merry!” The Governor and Andrea exchange a glance before theybegin passionately kissing.

Drawing guns at an unexpected Merle

Back at the store, Maggie and Glenn are stocking up on whatthey need outside the truck. Merle comes up from behind the store with a gun drawn,asking them where they are from. Maggie and Glenn draw their guns, commandingMerle to back up. Glenn comes into a state of shock once he sees who it is. Merleasks if Daryl is alive. Glenn says he is. Merle tells them to take him to Daryland it’ll make up for everything that happened back in Atlanta. “I’ll telldaryl you’re here and he’ll come up to meet you,” Glenn insists. Merle is stilltrying to convince them but Glenn isn’t having it and tells Merle to wait. Merledraws the gun, shoots the truck window and holds Maggie hostage Merle tells Glennto open the door and to get in the car and drive…Michonne looks on.

A tired Michonne continues looking on

Back in the prison hallway, Daryl and the others areinvestigating. Oscar notices a cell with slippers and takes them. A walkerapproaches them and they all shoot him Daryl notices carol’s knife is stickingin the walker’s neck. He hears a racket in a door nearby. Daryl is terrifiedthat Carol is now a walker. Not too far from the trio, the phone rings againfor Rick. Rick is hesitant but picks it up. “How did you know my name?” Rickdemands. “Because I know you….” The woman replies.  “and you know them…Amy, Jim, Jackie, all whoyou were talking to…” “Lori?” rick asks, realizing who it is.  “What happened rick?” Lori asks. Rick breaksdown and said “I loved you…..I couldn’t put it back together…..” Rick is in anintense state of grief and finally expresses his thoughts; “I made a deal withmyself that I would keep you alive and I’ll find a place and then….i couldn’topen that door, I couldn’t risk it, I was going to keep you, Carl and babyalive” Rick confessed. “I loved you…I LOVE you. I couldn’t put it backtogether. I should’ve said it….” Lori soothes Rick: “You have a baby, our baby.You have Carl. The group. I love you,” Lori says. “Can you dothat…..Rick…..Rick……Rick…….” the phone begins to disconnect and all that’s leftis static. Rick hangs up the phone. 
Meanwhile, Andrea and the Governor are in his room doingsome sexytime when the door knocks. The Governor grabs his robe and opens thedoor. It’s Merle and he wants to talk to the Governor. “We lost all 3 guys….”Merle explained.“(Michonne) cut him down and biters gone in the middle of itand got her.” The Governor is disturbed by this news. “We’ll give them a hero’sfuneral…do you have them? The sword?” The Governor asks. Merle hesitates andtells him it all happened too fast. “they all got torn and in the middle ofthem….I got something else. Guys I knew at the Atlanta camp” Merle says. “Theyknow Andrea?” The Governor asks. Merle tells him that they are set up “prettygood” and will find out more.

"The Good Son"

Back in C-Unit, Beth, Carl and Hershel (with baby) comeback. Rick slowly approaches Hershel and for the first time, holds his newbornbaby in his arms. Meanwhile, outside the door blocked by a dead walker, Darylis repeatedly stabbing the knife. He kicks in the door and paces, readyinghimself to finish off Carol. But when he moves over the walker’s body and opensthe door, he realizes that Carol, although clearly exhausted and covered inblood, is all. He carries her in his arms to safety (as Jane imagines that sheis Carol because she’s turning to…not into a walker but into a shameless NormanReedus fangirl). 
Rick with baby, Hershel, Beth and Carl go outside in thefresh air. “She looks like you” Rick tells Carl. Ricks sees something in thedistance….he gives the baby to Carl. Rick goes through the prison yard and seesa herd of walkers once again shaking the gates getting to him…. But in themiddle of the herd is Michonne, shaking from her leg injury and holding thebasket of necessities and  formula,pleading with her eyes to Rick...



Jane’s Notes: Usually, it takes me 2 days the most to dorecaps but I’m a little late for this one. It’s the holidays, does any moreneed to be said? But let’s get down to business! First of all, I am SOGLAD my predictions on Andrea and Carolwere on the dot. I will admit, that whole thing with Rick and the phone had meall kinds of confused until the very end when it was Lori…at least, in Rick’smind. Once again, Michonne is kicking ass and taking names but I think now sherealizes what a threat the people of Woodsbury are, deep down, she wants a safehaven. She’s still one of the baddest of badasses in the history of femmefatales. I’m also glad they show a softer side to Daryl and also it shows thatCarl now has someone he can rely on (when his dad isn’t losing it). Last butnot least, who was that dumb broad with the bow?
So, with that said, I'm seeing a lot of reoccurring themes this season from the phone ringing, to losing the loved ones to walkers, to setting up a safe haven, to Daryl stepping up to the plate. So with Merle holding Glenn and Maggie hostage, I predict Glenn will outsmart Merle and help Maggie escape. I think that Rick will take in Michonne and Rick will immediately want to go to Woodsbury out of desperation, while Hershel and the rest will step up and plan things out. I think Carol, while she's okay now, I think she's been bitten/scratched but Daryl will be a lot softer to her than he was in season  2 after with what happened to Sophia. 
Hope you all have an awesome thanksgiving! xo
Picture Credit: AMC, TV.com
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