Gotham Season One: Red Hood

"Bang!"

When several banks are robbed by the Red Hood Gang Gordon and Bullock investigate meanwhile Fish does something drastic and Alfred reunites with an old friend.

Finally get two origins I have been wanting to see for ages; Alfred and the Red Hood Gang and I didn't expect the latter until season two, I'll start with them first and I got to say that the Red Hood Gang is one of my favourite origins so far. I always enjoyed seeing them in the comic and that they are connected to the Joker however I liked that in this the red hood itself became sort of a symbol of power. It was interesting that the gang members fought and killed over it and the way it saved one of their lives, made them famous and gave other confidence made me sort of believe that it could be a kind of cursed object. I do hope the red hood surfaces again and maybe the Joker could be part of the gang in the future; I still believe he was in the last episode and not the kid at the end. As for the gang themselves I did really like them, their different personalities and goals, the cool shootout with the GCPD and that the citizens started to cheer them on as vigilantes; all in all the Red Hood Gang was pretty damn great in this episode. As for Alfred it was of course obvious for a while he had some dark military past but it was great that we got some light she'd on it. He had some great scenes with Reginald like how good friends he is with him but didn't approve of his less honourable method of fight Reginald was teaching Bruce. I think for the next few episodes it might focus on Bruce tracking down Reginald but the reveal of the Wayne board behind Alfred's stabbing was a pleasant surprise and I just wonder how Bruce will deal with them.

Avenge him Bruce!!

As for the rest of the episode Fish's eye stabbing was gruesome and cool and it is great we may see the Dollmaker soon but it felt over the top. I mean is being leader of a group of nobodies in a basement important enough to mess with the Dollmaker or stab her own eye out? However I was more interested in her former comrade Butch whose brainwashing is not what I thought it would be like. He still seems to act like himself but the scars and shaky hands is a reminder that he is different now and very helpful to Penguin by securing some booze for him. I had read some criticism that Penguin doesn't seem to know anything at all but they need to remember that he is young and new at this and I like that the brainwashed Butch is teaching him a few things. Finally the Barbara moment with Ivy and Selina would have been nice if she still wasn't drinking heavily; why do writers (Gotham and Arrow) feel the need to put their female characters through substance abuse? It gets no sympathy from me, especially with Barbara when it is ALL HER FAULT things ended with Gordon, and I just think these characters can go through different crucibles to change. Also props to Selina for wounding Barbara like that; honestly what the hell was Barbara going on about with that whole beauty weapon stuff?

Got to admit that, that is really cool

Overall despite just two minor flaws this was a really solid episode with a great origin story to the Red Hood Gang.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Origins on Alfred and the Red Hood Gang
                   Penguin and Butch team up
                   Fish stabbing her eye out but........

Let - Downs: ...........Might have been too much just to be leader of a basement?
                      Barbara as always

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;





http://screencapped.net/

Gotham Season One: The Scarecrow

Really cool!

Gordon and Bullock attempt to stop Gerald Crane from murdering more victims meanwhile Fish tries to gain more power and Penguin officially re-joins Falcone.

 

Its the second part of the Scarecrow origins and I got to say that even though everything about Scarecrow was just as good as last week's this episode was let down by other events in this episode. First off it's awesome seeing the first fear toxin and that's it's real purpose was to suppress fear, which actually could have been a good thing for mankind if not for the questionable way of making it. I really liked Gerald's story and how he had a twisted way of dealing with his wife's death so it is a shame he is dead now when it would have been interesting seeing him without fear in future episodes. Jonathan of course is the opposite now since he is consumed by fear and will grow up to instil fear in Gotham, still this origin story does place Scarecrow in a more sympathetic light and I hope this isn't the last we'll see of him. Also those CGI scarecrows where so cool and really done well!

"We're going to be super villains one day"

As for everything else it is always good seeing Penguin's dilemma in the mafia and since Falcone gave him the club and saved him makes me think Penguin is really valuable to him. However the best scene was the interaction he had with Nygma because it was so funny; loved Penguin's expression when being asked a riddle and how Nygma wasn't scared to tease a Mafia guy with riddles. It is also good to see the issue with Gordon wondering whether or not to get aid from Penguin addressed again however briefly but it was kind of annoying to see him making things unnecessarily awkward with Leslie about professionalism in the workplace, I know its a small thing but it was annoying him going on and on about it. Then there are the scenes with Alfred and Bruce and it was really great emotional moment for Bruce dealing with the hikes he went on with his dad and it is always great seeing Alfred fill the role as best as he can and help Bruce in his own way. Finally while I said I was interested to see where Fish was taken now that she is there I actually don't feel bothered at all because I don't really care about Fish trying to get her power back or anything that takes place outside of Gotham.

Ironic that the famous fear toxin could have helped people

Overall it wasn't as good as the first part of the Scarecrow origins but it was still a good watch.  

 

Score: 7/10

 

Highlights: Fear toxin/Scarecrow origin
                   Bruce and Alfred moments
                   Penguin and Nygma confrontation

 

Let - Downs: Fish's subplot
                      Gordon workplace attitude

 

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/ 

Arrow Season Two: Keep Your Enemies Closer

You should call this episode Diggle, not Arrow

The episode begins with Felicity interrupting a meeting Oliver is having with Isabel because Roy has contacted them with information on counterfeit plates. Oliver gets there as Arrow however Roy is unable to stop himself from helping and is arrested and Diggle is abducted by an unknown group. Turns out Diggle was kidnapped by A.R.G.U.S and Amanda Waller (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) wants him to rescue Lyla who is being held in a Russian cell while tracking Deadshot meanwhile Quentin lets Roy go because of his involvement with Arrow. When Diggle announces his plan to go to Russia Oliver and Felicity decide to help as well and at the airport Isabel invites herself. In a Flashback Sara advises Oliver to give a fake name and when Ivo arrives he says he is at the island to retrieve a super - solider serum the Japanese where working on called Mirakuru and wants Oliver to help find it. In Russia Isabel is angry believing Oliver is using a company jet to be with Felicity later Oliver and Diggle meet with Oliver's old friend Knyazev for help in getting into the Gulag Lyla is in, Diggle then reveals Lyla is his ex - wife.

"Now what shall we talk about Mr Queen?"

Diggle gets himself arrested so he can be sent to the Gulag and in a Flashback it is revealed Slade and Shado are alive but Slade his badly burned. In the Gulag Diggle gets into a fight with one of the prisoners and is sent to the freezer and chained up along with Deadshot meanwhile Isabel and Oliver bond more. One of the guards releases Diggle so he can rescue Lyla however Deadshot kills him so he can be involved in the escape plan, outside Oliver, Felicity and Knyazev stand by to help out. In a Flashback Sara leads Oliver to the radio room who confirms Slade and Shado are alive however she is forced to sever the connection when Ivo arrives. Deadshot leads Diggle to Lyla and they escape when Oliver sets off explosives, Diggle reluctantly lets Deadshot go but Deadshot then says it was an organization called H.I.V.E that wanted his brother dead. Back home Diggle thanks Oliver and Felicity then starts to research H.I.V.E and in prison Moira urges Thea to get together with Roy; Thea having broken up with him earlier because the lawyer said he would hurt her mother's image. The episode ends in a Flashback and Sara has convinced Ivo to spare Oliver life as long as he leads them to the skeletons he found earlier.

Wonder if he would have done it if Deadshot didn't help him?

Finally this season we got a Diggle centred episode that we needed and it was a great and something different from what we have had so far. What I mean is that we actually got to get out of Starling City and Diggle had to go undercover himself to rescue Lyla. We also got the reunion between Diggle and Deadshot and it was great seeing those two characters confront each other again and Diggle proved more honourable than I thought in letting Deadshot go. However it seems Diggle may soon get even more of a story to work with as Deadshot mentioned the H.I.V.E organization which also exists in the comics, hopefully they will play a major role soon. I did like everything else in Russian such as a change to a snowy setting and that Knyazev from the Flashbacks is there, I'm really interested in seeing how he got off the Amazo now. However what I didn't like in the Russia moments was the forced love triangle between Isabel, Felicity and Oliver because it was kind of silly and even though I'm sure Isabel has a larger role to play she felt kind of pointless here.

Pick a fight Diggle, you need to build some cred

As for everything else I was also disappointed in Waller in this, her character and her casting. She doesn't come across as the intimidating and commanding individual she is in the comics and in fact she looks more like a secretary than anything else; I'm just not feeling that Robinson was the right choice at all with the stuff I just mentioned. I also didn't care that much for the Roy and Thea moments because it was just them basically breaking up and getting back together and they did that last season. However the Flashbacks where really great and I feel like we are making some progress finally and that is when Ivo talked about the super - solider serum. I was really glad when he said that because this is the kind of thing I wanted to in season one, if they do feature super - soldiers it will make this seem more like the comics. Plus since Slade an Shado are revealed to still be alive maybe we will get some cool rescue operation for Oliver.

"You trying to cosplay as me kid? Cause you haven't even got the colour right"

Overall I enjoyed that Diggle got the spotlight and we got some great action with him and scenes with Deadshot, however it should have focused more on them because I feel that it was a slight let down after how awesome the last episode was and now that Sara has left.

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: Diggle and Deadshot
                   Having it set in Russia
                   Flashbacks

Let - Downs: Hated Waller
                      Isabel could have had a better role/purpose in this episode
                      Roy and Thea subplot

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net           

Arrow Season One: An Innocent Man

"I'll join if I get a costume"

The episode begins where the last one left off with Diggle waking up and finding out that Oliver is The Hood. Oliver asks him to join him in his fight to help Starling City but he refuses, believing Oliver to just be a murderer and walks off. Oliver then meets Laurel at his manor who gives him a lecture which causes him to have a Flashback to him back at the cave and the hooded man sees him looking at pictures in his wallet. In the present Oliver and Thea manage to bond again but while watching the news Oliver discovers a connection between Peter Declan, a death row inmate, and Jason Brodeur, one of the men on his list, in the morning Oliver is shocked to find out Diggle has quit. Oliver is then seen making new arrows in his hideout while investigating that Declan is accused of killing his wife.

"I like to think of this as my art"

At night Oliver, as The Hood, visits Laurel and convinces her that Declan was set up and Brodeur is the guilty one; Laurel then visits Iron Heights in the morning and believes Declan is innocent. Meanwhile Quentin tries to convince Laurel to drop the Declan case while Walter becomes suspicious of Moira and thinks she knows more of the Queen's Gambit. Oliver later visits Diggle at his sister - in - law's restaurant to convince him it join him and manages to get to Diggle by saying that Deadshot was the one who killed his brother. Later Laurel then contacts The Hood and says that she needs more evidence and Oliver manages to get more by threatening Declan's former supervisor on why Declan was framed meanwhile Walter enlists the help of Felicity to find out more about the Queen's Gambit. We then have a Flashback to when the hooded man tells Oliver he must kill an animal for food and back in the present The Hood tells Laurel that Declan is definitely innocent.

"Everyone else hogs the screen time, I say we take some"

Laurel then tries to get Declan released but still doesn't have enough information and is even stopped by Brodeur and Quentin, she tells The Hood about this. Oliver then visits Brodeur and finds out of a plan to kill Declan and Laurel during a "prison breakout" which is happening now. Oliver manages to save them both as a masked prison guard but has to be stopped from killing someone by Laurel, we then have a Flashback where Oliver does manage to kill an animal. Later Walter finds the remains of the Queen's Gambit with Felicity's help and Quentin sees security footage of Oliver retrieving The Hood costume the night he fought Deadshot. The episode ends with Moira meeting a man named Malcolm (John Barrowman) and Diggle agreeing to work for Oliver again and help him but Oliver is soon arrested by Quentin for being The Hood.

Oliver's backup costume

Seems like Oliver's identity may be revealed to the public soon and after only 4 episodes lol. I admit that ending was quite a surprise because I just didn't expect it and I wonder how Oliver is going to get out of this one. It is possible that he has some plans for his new ally Diggle because if he is in a holding cell next episode than having someone on the outside could help. Speaking of Diggle I am really glad that he has come round to accepting Oliver as The Hood and I hope this means that if Oliver manages to convince everyone is isn't The Hood that he will help take out the bad guys. Also it was interesting hearing that Deadshot killed Diggle's brother and that is another reason why Deadshot has to be alive; there just has to be a confrontation between these characters.

"Don't you touch my fries!"

As for the rest of the episode I liked that Felicity is back (everyone just seems to give her their IT problems) because you just can't help but like her and I'm glad she is helping Walter because it gives these two character's their own subplot. I wonder how Moira will react when she finds out about this and I wonder what part Malcolm plays in all of this. I think Thea was a lot better in this episode because she was more of the helpful little sister in this and was there more for Oliver when he needed her. Also the Flashbacks was really good because I like how Oliver could barely bring himself to kill an animal for food yet had to be stopped from killing someone in the present. This kind of shows that Oliver is used to the killing by now and the experiences on the island has dulled of impact of taking a human life.

How is he going to get out of this one

Lastly while I think that the whole "prison breakout" scene was awesome and The Hood kicked some serious ass, after including Deadshot in the last episode I was disappointed that we didn't get to see another comic villain. I guess I shouldn't expect to see a comic villain in every episode and it probably is better that way because we just can't have one every time. This does lower the excitement slightly however because unlike Deadshot I don't think these corrupt businessmen on his list pose much of a problem for Oliver at all.

Lucky he is a skilled negotiator too 

Overall this was a good episode; the excitement has died down from the aftermath of Deadshot but I am glad we learned more about Diggle and Oliver is sure going to be in trouble next episode.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Diggle and Deadshot connection/ Diggle joining Oliver
                   The prison breakout
                   Walter and Felicity now have a larger part

Let - Downs: Villain or his plan in this was not as threatening as Deadshot

The Flash Season One: Things You Can't Outrun

The episode begins Barry and Iris exiting a movies and Iris telling Barry that she is getting more intrigued with the red streak that has been spotted throughout Central City. Barry then uses his speed to intervene in a high speed chase and get back before Iris even noticed what had happened. Elsewhere one of the crime families is having a meeting but a man locks the door and then we see a green gas kill everyone in the room. West and Barry are then called to the scene, after West reopens Barry's dad's old case, and Barry suspects that the murders where done by a Meta - Human.

"Lets just admit it; all my cases now will involve Meta - Humans"

At S.T.A.R labs West admits that they can't just kill every Meta - Human and Iron Heights can't hold them but Dr Wells suggests that they use the particle accelerator. We then have a Flashback to the night the particle accelerator was turned on and Dr Wells, Caitlin, Cisco and Caitlin's finance Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell) are all there but they notice something has gone wrong. Ronnie and Cisco run down to the turn off the accelerator, Ronnie volunteers to go in, however Cisco was forced to lock him inside when he failed to return. In the present Iris and Eddie are still hiding their relationship but Eddie admits that he can't take much more of it. At CCPD Barry and Caitlin are analysing traces of the poison gas left on the crime family and are stunned to learn there are also traces of someone else's DNA. Elsewhere the same man who killed the crime family kills a woman in a mall elevator and this woman was surprised to find this man still alive.

Look on the bright side at least it didn't soak everyone

At CCPD Barry comes to the conclusion that this Meta - Human actually becomes the poison gas, they then hear the killing at the mall over the radio and Barry suits up and gets there. He runs in to the man, The Mist, but is unable to even land a hit on him and is poisoned however he manages to race to S.T.A.R labs where they extract the gas in time. At CCPD Barry tell West he regrets not being able to save the woman but West says that, from experience, he can't save everyone. At S.T.A.R labs Caitlin has another Flashback where she races down to the accelerator but is unable to do anything to save Ronnie. Dr Wells and Cisco have finished analysing the gas and finds out that it contains a sedative only used in executions and after running a search on who was executed the day of the storm they find out it was a hit man named Kyle Nimbus (Anthony Carrigan). The crime family turned him in, the woman was a judge who sentenced him and the lead detective on the case was West.

"How many times have we had to heal him already?

At Iron Heights West has gone to see Barry's father Henry Allen (John Wesley Shipp) but is poisoned by The Mist however Barry arrives in time to give West the antidote they managed to make and even hides his face from his father. Barry then goes to fight The Mist and Dr Wells tells him that he can't remain in mist form for too long and Barry manages to defeat him in the small interval when The Mist has to become solid again. Later at a hospital West admits he knew about Iris and Eddie's relationship but accepts it and at S.T.A.R labs the team has locked away The Mist and agrees it should be enough to hold him and any other Meta - Humans. The episode ends in a Flashback and Dr Wells uses his secret room during the explosion and watches through a camera of Barry being struck by lightning.

Now that is one fast gas cloud

Every single episode of The Flash has been great so far, just like the Arrow we are getting some perfect quality superhero TV series from DC.

What I really like about this episode was that the Flashback was something different other than another look at Barry's childhood. Glad we got to see some more background on the night of the explosion and on Caitlin as well because it added a bit more depth to her character. I don't think Caitlin's finance died in the explosion, I think he became a Meta - Human because they'll probably like to have a big reveal that he is still alive. Now I don't know if he does live in the comics because I admit that I haven't read The Flash that much but I have read some of his storylines and I do know some of his villains (for example I know enough to suspect who was in the yellow light). Also we once again get Dr Wells doing something sneaky and that is he must have known about Barry for a while and it just again raises some more questions than answers. Also like that they have a prison now for the Meta - Humans and I can't wait to see how many they put in there.

And he never got to go to Italy

As for The Mist just like Multiplex I am glad they have given us a villain with a bit of backstory and interesting motive. It was cool how he got his power; that he was struck by the lightning during his execution and now he is like a walking gas chamber. His fight with Barry was cool as well on that prison road, how Barry had to keep dodging the gas we got some really close shaves. I also like his weakness as well (all great heroes and villains need a cool weakness) of how he has small intervals when he has to re - materialize. I really liked The Mist but I still prefer Multiplex because The Mist didn't seem to have that much of a personality, maybe that's because he was a hit man.

"Forget about me man, I can't survive outside these walls anymore"

Other quick mentions is that I liked the dilemma Barry had on whether or not he should bust his dad out of prison and if I am honest I kind of wished he did. I can understand him wanting to get him out the legal way but even if he finds the man in the yellow light will a court really believe him? I doubt Dr Wells or even West will think its a good idea to reveal the existence of Meta - Humans to the public. Also while I didn't really care too much for Iris dealing with how to tell her dad about her and Eddie (why not just tell him?) I am interested in her interest in The Flash and I wonder how long it will take her to figure out that it is Barry. I admit though that they are only really having her investigate The Flash because the need her character to be more relevant to the story.

If Barry knew it was poisonous beforehand why didn't he bring a gas mask? 

Overall this was a great episode with The Mist vs. The Flash being the best fight so far however if I am honest I do want some more answers about Dr Wells. I know its just episode three but they really got me intrigued, I guess the show is doing it's job right then lol.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: The Flash vs. The Mist
                   A better Flashback this episode
                   Really want to know more about Dr Wells' true agenda
            
Let - Downs: The Mist could have had a bit more personality
                      Even though its interesting to see where they go in it the only reason they are letting Iris investigate The Flash is to make her seem important and it's obvious.

Film Review: Resident Evil Afterlife

Finally got round to reviewing this one!

Afterlife takes place a year after Extinction and Alice (Milla Jovovich) has destroyed the Umbrella Tokyo base and seemingly killed Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts) but at the cost of all her clones and her powers. She then spends six months trying to find any more survivors but only succeeds in finding Claire Redfield (Ali Larter) who has lost her memory. The two must battle new types of zombies and monsters within a prison in L.A. along with Claire's brother Chris Redfield (Wentworth Miller) and other survivors led by former pro - basketball player Luther West (Boris Kodjoe). They try to get to escape and reach the haven called Arcadia but it might not be the salvation they are looking for...

"Few more lessons and I'll be able to fly"

This film marks the return of Paul Anderson as the director not just the writer and producer and while I like that it is a shame not to have Russell Mulcahy who I praised in my Extinction review but I will touch on that later. Just like Extinction, Afterlife is a completely original plot that is only loosely based on the game however unlike Extinction this one brings in a lot more references to a certain game which I will explain during the review.

"Okay who wants to go first?"

The only two characters to return from the previous films are Alice and Claire and while I really like those two I would really liked to have seen L.J. or Carlos again (mostly L.J. because of Retribution) even though I know they are dead. However they bring in two of Resident Evil most known characters Chris Redfield and a re - casted Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts). I really like these two casting choices because where brilliant throughout the whole film and they really looked like the characters they where playing. As for side characters there really isn't as much in here as I really would have liked and that is my first complaint about the film because in Extinction and Apocalypse there where lots of great characters and a big draw for the film for me. Two worth mentioning however is Luther West, he is really cool liked his no nonsense attitude and Bennett Sinclair (Kim Coates) as a film producer who only cares about himself. There are some other characters with them but I never really liked them as much as the members of Claire's convoy.

Three Milla Jovovich......yeah I've had that dream loads of times!

Also something I really have to mention and that I didn't like too much was that the majority of the film takes place in a prison in the middle of L.A. One of the reasons Extinction is my fav Resident Evil film is because I really liked the bright and big locations in the desert, thanks to Russell Mulcahy. I guess after Apocalypse and Extinction I wanted the films to always be out doors but no its confide indoors; Tokyo Base, Prison, Ship. However I do really like the set designs especially the hi - tech whiteness of the Arcadia ship or the extensive underground Tokyo Base.

Just as badass from the game

As for the monsters they have once again brought back zombies (of course) but this time they are a lot more dangerous because they are more like the ones from Resident Evil 5; this means they run and have a parasite in their mouths that latch on to enemies. Normally I would not have liked this because I don't like the zombies in 4, 5, and 6 however they are done really well in the film here and their parasite look gross. Other then that we have The Executioner from 5 making an appearance and once again even though I disliked 5 because of its enemies I have to praise it here because it was a perfect adaptation of it from the game and its involved in one of my favourite scenes in the film. That's about it unfortunately (apart from two dogs five minutes at the end) and that is my biggest criticism about this film and the others; they need more monsters! I can't believe they only chose three, well two if you don't count zombies because they really have to be in it every time!

"Bring it on!"

Some of my favourite moments that I just want to quickly mention is the beginning of the film where Alice and her clones storm the Tokyo Base. That was just so epic with all of her clones killing the Umbrella soldiers and using guns, swords and explosives. Next is when the zombies break into the prison and Alice has to jump off it holding a cable while detonating the roof. Shortly after that we have the show room fight between Alice, Claire and The Executioner and that was choreographed really well with the massive swinging axe and the use of slow - mo. Finally is the final fight between Chris, Claire and Wesker because it too is such a perfect adaptation of the fight from 5, I think shot for shot.

Surprise cameo

Overall this isn't as good as Extinction because of a location for the film that I didn't like as much, the severe and I mean severe lack of monsters and I guess it wasn't as fun as the third. However it is influenced a lot from 5 (chest pieces as well I forgot to mention) and even though it is my least fav Resident Evil game they have done it so well that I really enjoyed watching this.

SCORE: 7/10

Highlight: Heavy influences from 5 which are adapted perfectly in this
                 Shawn Robert as Albert Wesker and Wentworth Miller as Chris Redfield
                 Awesome action sequences throughout the film

Let - Downs: Not much monsters
                      Don't care for much of the side characters
                      After such great locations in the Nevada Desert  I don't like that its set mainly in a prison and them just trying to escape from it

You can find all of the great screenshots I used right here;

http://ladymanson.com/ShadowofReflection/home.php

TV Series Review: The Walking Dead Season Three

Finally it is time for my review of The Walking Dead season three, after this I will be up to date on the series and will wait until season four is finished to do another review on it.

This season takes place after the winter (based on Lori’s pregnancy almost nine months after the conclusion of season two) and is based on the prison arc of the graphic novel. The prison arc was one of the longest settings in the comic and also one of the most iconic. During this season the group not only have to deal with the undead but also the threat of other humans, in particular the near by town of Woodberry run by a man who calls himself the Governor (David Morrissey). This season also brings back the character of Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker) and introduces fan favourites from the comics Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman).

I will start by saying that this season was a major improvement over season two since not only does it focuses on a popular arc in the comics it all so stick more closely to the source material on several occasions it also introduces another threat to the group besides zombies and that is another group of humans. Because of this and probably because there was not that much of it in season two this one has a lot more action in it but it does not sacrifice character development in the slightest.

If there is anything I disliked is that we have more insight and time in the town of Woodberry than we did in the comics, they used original material for this and I have to say that a lot of it I did not like. Not that I am saying that it was all bad it was just that if it was not about the Governor I just wanted it to go back to the group at the prison. My opinion might be affect because Andrea is at Woodberry and those who have read my previous reviews know how I feel about that useless character.

The prison however was something I always enjoyed watching; from the old inmates who where staying there to the breaking down of Rick’s mental state was all superb.

Now as for the new cast I will say first that David Morrissey was great as the Governor, sure he looked nothing like him but he was really menacing when he needed to be. I have heard complaints that they dialled down some of the truly gruesome acts (e.g. raping and mutilating) of the Governor and I have to admit they are right however I blame the writers for this because I am sure David Morrissey would have nailed whatever scene they gave him. Another one I really liked was Tyreese because not only did Chad L. Coleman look exactly like him but he is just how he was in the comics. He is one of my favourite characters from the comics and I cannot find a single fault in the TV adaptation. As for Michonne however while I do really like her in this she it a lot quieter and withdrawn in this; in the comics she is more open and I guess cheerful with the other characters. She does get better in later episodes but it was annoying to begin with.

Some more characters that I also have mixed feelings about were the old inmates at the prison that Rick and the group find locked up. On one hand I really liked the character from the comics and Nick Gomez as the murdering Tomas and Markice Moore as Andrew where really great as their roles however I was slightly let down by the characters of Axel (Lew Temple) and Oscar (Vincent Ward). Don’t get me wrong their portrayals where great but it was how their characters where treated; Axel in the comics struggles with trying to prove himself to the group even though he was a prisoner and he does, he becomes a major help to the group. In this season he does do that as well but he does not get as much interaction and much screen time as I would have liked and is killed off just way too early for my liking. The same goes for Oscar, an original character who plays a similar, I really thought he would be a great character for the series yet they just go a head and kill him off. 

Now just like my last review I want to talk a bit about the previous cast members;

Firstly there is the character T – Dog (IronE Singleton) someone I have not mentioned before and that was because he was a minor character who with barely any character development. Sure there is the feeling that he is trying to prove his worth to the group but that is never really built upon. However in an episode in this season, which is also the one he dies in, he really stands out for once and trying to convince Rick about trusting the prisoners and saving Carol from zombies. Just when was becoming really interesting they go a head and get rid of him which I have to say was a shame.

Next is the character of Lori and I have to say that even though I knew she would eventually die I was completely taken by surprise at how they did it. She sacrifices her life at so her daughter could live and her death has an emotional impact on the group (especially Rick and this begins his mental break down, which I have to say is one of the highlights of the series).

Now it is the character of Andrea worst adaptation of a comic character to film/television I have ever seen. Her story does not improve in this series at all; she is at Woodberry and becomes involved with the Governor while being conflicted about stay with him or going back to the old group and it was just utter rubbish. It takes her so damn long to make up her mind and a lot of unnecessary screen time but the good thing is this eventually leads to her death. That is right; she may be a major character in the comics but the TV writers messed her up so bad that they thought it would be better to get rid of her and I say good riddance.

Finally the return of Merle was also another highlight of this season, during the first one he might have been a one dimensional racist but he is a lot more developed now and one hell of a good character. Along with Daryl he is one of the best zombie killers in the series and his death and reanimation was just so well done. He tired to take out the Governor all by himself and he was just so badass in the episode and Norman Reedus gave a great performance when he had to put the zombie Merle down.

All in all this has got to be one of the best seasons of The Walking Dead let down slightly by the waste of good characters, some scenes in Woodberry involving Andrea that I did not like at all and the disappointing finale with the lacklustre attack on the prison by the people pf Woodberry. I have gone on longer than I thought with this review but with good reason because despite what I have mentioned above this season was damn good with adapting one of the best parts of the comics. I think this one was better than season one and season two.

SCORE: 8/10