The Walking Dead Season 3 Spoilers - Episode 15 This Sorrowful Life - Synopsis, Review

The Walking Dead Season 3 Spoilers - Episode 15 This Sorrowful Life - Synopsis, Review

It’s a little like last week’s episode in the fact that we are focused on the occupants of the prison. Okay yes the Gov and his crew does make an appearance for a short five minuet period but the main focus is on the preparations for Rick and his group. Only one more episode to go until the big finale and yet again, like last season’s second from last episode, where we lost Sean, we lose another one of the main characters. But who is it?

Last week we witnessed a massive cat and mouse chase between Andrea and the Gov as she head back to the prison to warn Rick. Apart from that we saw that the Gov’s preparations for the attack were well under way with him already planning what he will do to Michonne. At the end the Gov caught Andrea just before she reached the prison and took her back to Woodburn, strapping her up in his workshop chair.

At the start of this episode we see Rick contemplating the cards he has been dealt, whether or not to hand over Michonne. Rick seems at this point to be panicking and ignored his previous thoughts that the deal was never going to go his way. Rick decides that they will hand over to Michonne whilst talking to Daryl and asks for help of Merle with him seeming reluctant.

Michonne is definitely someone the Prison needs, she is a threat to the enemy (though I don’t think I’ve seen her fire a gun as of yet) and is pulling her weight by preparing defences around the prison.

Whilst this takes place Merle is on the hunt for some spirits, mainly whiskey or vodka, and stumbles upon Carol. They begin speaking and Carol again proves why she is a capable leader with her words “it’s time to pick a damn side” to Merle. He has even seen the changes she has undergone, by calling her a late bloomer, since he first saw her; the death of her child in season two has hardened her shell in this new brutal world.

This episode is the calm before the storm at the prison, they know what is coming. Hershall has some alone time with his daughters; I think this may possibly be the last chance he does. We always see a cast departure on the season finale and with how little Beth has featured in season three I feel that she is the most likely to exit the show.

We are reminded that there is still a sense of craziness living inside Rick when he sees Lori standing above him again. I hope this isn’t something that carries on into the next season, I hope this ghost Lori and crazy Rick saga ends this season. But it does look like it is near its end when Rick says to her that she isn’t really there.

Merle also seems to have made up his mind. He has taken Carol’s words in and I think he is trying to do the right thing and pick Rick’s side. He takes into his own hands what Rick asked him to do earlier by trading in Michonne for the Prisons safety. He knocks Michonne unconscious and ties her up when they are alone.

We then skip forward to where Merle and Michonne are outside, Michonne still tied up, but conscious heading towards the meeting point the Gov gave. But with Merle begin unaware Rick has changed his mind and decided not to trade in Micchonne, this then leads to Daryl going after his brother, alone.

The calm before the storm is emphasised again when Glen asks for Hershalls blessing for marrying his daughter. This also got me thinking, why now? Does this mean either Maggie or Glen could soon be leaving us? It’s definitely a possibility.

Meanwhile Merle is messing around hot wiring a car just outside a motel. The car alarm goes off and yes Walkers are attracted whilst Michonne is tied to a wooden column and Merle is still messing around with the car. This is a brilliant scene and we see the cleverness of Michonne come into action as she takes out a few Walkers whilst still tied up. They both then soon exit the scene in a car. After this, inside the car, Merle tells Michonne about the bargaining chip she is being used for but then lets her out the car. He tells her to head back and there is something he needs to do on his own.

Daryl bumps into Michonne on her way back and asks where his brother is and heads off without Michonne. Merle meanwhile, who has come into contact with some spirits, turns up the radio full with the window slightly open. We think he has gone insane at this point. This would be correct but he is attracting the Walkers for a reason. He drives the car slowly towards the meeting point, slow enough that the Walkers are just behind. Merle then jumps out of the car as it continues to roll down the hill towards where the Gov’s men are waiting.

Then we witness possibly the most exciting fight scene of this season. The Walkers come around the corner and begin their attack on the Gov’s men and they proceed to fire back. Merle sneaks off into a building and fires upon some of the Gov’s men. He shoots four of the Gov’s men including Ben (one of the two people that entered in with Tyreese and Sasha). Merle gets caught out by Martinez and Ben’s father. The Gov enters and beats Merle up whilst he is down. The Gov bites two of Merles fingers off and then we get a camera shot of the Gov pointing the gun barrel towards Merle and fires. We don’t know where the Gov shot Merle or what state he is in.

Back at the prison Glen uses his improvisation to acquire a wedding ring off the finger of a Walker and proceeds to proposing to Maggie almost telepathically. He doesn’t even need to ask the question or get down on one knee for Maggie to say yes.

Rick, after that, gathers the prison occupants and tells the group about the real outcome from the Gov and Ricks meeting. He says that at one point he was going to trade Michonne in but changed his mind. But he also says that Merle has gone out there and is about to trade her in without knowing Rick’s change of heart. He then gives this emotional speech about the reason for their survival this long being down to them and not any decision he has made. He says it’s up to everyone and not one man, we can stay here and fight or we can leave.

We then undergo probably one of the most emotional encounters off The Walking Dead; it’s up there with Lori’s death. Daryl arrives at the place where the fighting broke out earlier. He comes across a Walker eating the remains of Ben. As the Walkers head rises up and looks at Daryl we see its none other than Merle.  You can see the emotion running through Daryl and his heart looks as though it breaks when he sees the body of his dead brother walking towards him.

He pushes Merle away twice as his sadness is still his main emotion. Then you see the anger wash over him as he stabs his brother in the head. He breaks down and now more than ever Daryl is the one character who looks strong enough to kill the Gov due to him wanting revenge.

I thought this was a very good episode. One of the emotional scenes, two great fight scenes and this can only get better next week. I’m a little worried that some areas may not be ended like Rick’s craziness as I’d like to see the end of this. I haven’t seen any previews to next week’s finale as I don’t want anything to be given away. I want to be surprised as this moment has been building up since the second half of this season begun. It will be sad to see the end of The Walking Dead until next season, but with one great season ending another begins with Game of Thrones season 3 on Monday 1^st April.