Nature throws another curveball in The Walking Dead episode 213
By Wade Wainio
After the more human-based drama of The Walking Dead episode 212, “Beside the Dying Fire” reminds us that Hershel’s farm is not immune to walkers.
It seems like no location is truly safe in The Walking Dead’s zombie apocalypse, as a bad-ass walker horde heads from Atlanta, into the countryside, and onto Hershel’s farm. This is especially emphasized when Rick and Carl Grimes flee the walkers and take refuge in one of Hershel’s barns — throughout season 2, barns have seemed like symbols of trouble.
Still, even with the presence of walkers, human drama has ample room to unfold wider. Daryl and Glenn inform everyone that Randall, a young prisoner, had been found as a walker himself, even though he had no visible bite marks. The obvious implication is that Randall had been murdered, but no one knows how he was transformed. Life just gets rougher and rougher, and the world of the Walking Dead doesn’t even offer rest for the deceased.
Next, a quick-thinking Rick decides to coordinate with Carl to lure walkers into the barn, then set it on fire. Luckily, the fire draws the attention of farm resident Jimmy, who rescues Rick and Carl with his RV, even at the cost of his own life — a pretty major sacrifice for a relatively minor character! So, with this episode, we are once again greeted with the drastic issue of fight or flight, and reminded that flight is not always a matter of cowardice. Sometimes it is necessary for survival.
With Hershel, we see a man trying to stand on principle. He sees the farm as his land, his property, and he is willing to die for it. Then, after pondering that fate, he seems to switch gears on it. Perhaps he realizes that the ways of old no longer apply to this world. There is simply no way to see the world as it once was, because every place on earth risks being overrun now. How could he regard his farm any differently? It is a painful realization, but necessary for survival.
As everyone’s leaving, it would be virtually impossible for Hershel to fend off the walkers alone — though, for a little while, he almost seems to benefit from a weapon containing unlimited bullets. Still, he must leave. Hershel had already been questioning his faith, telling Rick: “I can’t profess to understand God’s plan, but Christ promised the resurrection of the dead. I just thought he had something a little different in mind.”
Hershel is not alone in feeling scattered, as everyone has seemingly gone their separate ways — fleeing while a massive barn beautifully burns. However, it makes one wonder if they should have spent more time planning for such an event, instead of arguing and fighting with each other so often. Perhaps it’s a naïve belief, but it seems as though a good plan could have addressed even a massive walker swarm. However, the petty squabbled may have squandered that opportunity. The dearly departed Dale had considered the group broken, and these events only enhance that observation. Hershel’s precious land had been seen as a safe haven, but people rendered it unsafe even before the walker horde showed up. The walkers are the icing on the cake.
Still, all is not lost. Previously, Daryl seemed on the verge of “going rogue,” but now he is a team player again. The only one who is lost — other than those scarfed down by walkers — is Andrea, who is alone in the woods, and on foot. Thankfully, even she is saved by the katana-wielding Michonne (though we don’t actually hear her name spoken yet).
Everyone else finds each other, though some doubted it would even be possible.
Also, on the bright side: Rick is also reminded he has Carl to defend, which is something. As Hershel put it: “You’ve only got one concern now… Just one… Keeping him alive. Nature may be throwing us a curveball, but that law is still true.”
When Rick’s vehicle runs out of gas, it is decided that the group should stay the night near the woods. Rick finally informs everyone why Randall had turned without being bitten — everyone is already infected and changes into a walker upon death. This information, when paired with Rick’s admission that he killed Shane in self-defense, leads many to be disturbed, and to lose faith in him as a leader. It is indeed debatable whether Rick should have kept that secret, as such knowledge could hypothetically help save lives.
Rick — seemingly taking a page from Shane — tells everyone at this point that they can leave, but that if they stay, he’s going to be calling the shots: “This isn’t a democracy anymore.” Thus is born what Walking Dead fans call “The Ricktatorship,” although the seeds for that were already planted, as the group seems to long for a leader, for someone to tell everyone else what to do. It’s a frustrating aspect of The Walking Dead which is, unfortunately, only a mirror of how people often think in reality.
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Also, we see what looks like a prison somewhere off in the distance as the camera pans away in the final scene of the episode. What’s that all about?