The Walking Dead Review: “Arrow on the Doorpost”

Great. He brought his butler.

This week brings us another strong episode that emphasizes a few characters and conflicts. I enjoyed it, but we all recognize that the show must now bring on the coming war.

Title: “Arrow on the Doorpost”

Cast and Crew

Directed by David Boyd
Written by Ryan C. Coleman

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes
David Morrissey as the Governor
Danai Gurira as Michonne
Laurie Holden as Andrea
Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon
Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon
Scott Wilson as Herschel Greene
Dallas Roberts as Milton
Jose Pablo Cantillo as Martinez
Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes
Melissa Suzanne McBride as Carol Peletier
Emily Kinney as Beth Greene

Additional cast and crew information may be found here.

Premise

Rick and the Governor meet in an effort to prevent further warfare and death.

High Point

This episode features a number of character moments, not so effective as last week’s, but memorable nonetheless. We learn a little more about the governor, while soldiers from both sides reveal their commonalities. None of this will prevent a war; it will just engage us more when it happens, and make us concerned with the eventual fate of all involved.

Low Point

If Rick willfully sent last week’s hitchhiker to his death and now contemplates sacrificing a member of his group for a peace he must know he won’t actually get, why wouldn’t he just shoot the governor when he had the perfect opportunity? He has some idea of what he’s dealing with, and killing the governor would make peace with Woodbury more likely.

The Scores

Originality: 3/6 Generals share a drink before going to war, while the soldiers realize they’re not so different. They handled the tropes well, but they’re hardly original.

Effects: 6/6

Story: 5/6

Acting: 5/6 The more understated performances really sold the episode this week, rather than the histrionics and rutting back at the prison. David Morrissey continues to make an excellent, quietly human monster.

The interplay between Daryl and Martinez will get more attention, but Milton and Herschel were amusing, and most viewers will see the significance in Merle turning to Michonne for help. The actors really made these moments work.

Emotional Response: 5/6 Despite some uneven pacing, this episode kept my interest.

Shots will soon be fired.

Production: 6/6 The show continues to convincingly create believable post-apocalyptic settings.

Overall: 5/6 I recognize they show probably has some ongoing deal with the recorded music industry, but the new format, ending with a song, is already wearing on me.

In total, “Arrow on the Doorpost” receives 35/42