A look back at the Governor’s first attack in The Walking Dead ‘Home’
By Wade Wainio
We take a look back at the Governor’s first attack in The Walking Dead episode “Home.”
In prior episodes, The Governor was more of a distant threat to the prison. However, now that the two groups have become intimately acquainted through violence, the Gov’s next attack is only a matter of time. It’s a classic “fight or flight” scenario for our prisoners, who have surely heard of the principle, “An eye for an eye.”
Of course, The Governor wants to take more than Michonne’s eye in retaliation. The prison itself could be an excellent acquisition for Woodbury, providing its walls can’t easily be breached. So, as the Governor schemes his takeover, he’s also testing the security merits of his would-be conquered territory. It’s an interesting strategy, but definitely still a dangerous one.
Previously, the Governor had underestimated Rick and crew. After Merle kidnapped Glenn and Maggie for no good reason, the plan proved consequential for Woodbury. No longer did Woodbury play the role of safe haven for its inhabitants, and the Governor came out looking both incompetent and uncaring. He did have one factor on his side, though: Most people of Woodbury had no idea why they were being attacked. To them, Rick’s crew were just a bunch of hostile invaders, trying to conquer or at least ruin their community.
Meanwhile, due to her previous association with Rick’s camp, the Governor has a growing distrust of Andrea. For one thing, she’s the type of person who asks questions, and she could potentially be an outright threat to his leadership (such as it is). Also, it’s likely he’s cynical about their own relationship, believing she only pursued it attain status in Woodbury.
Daryl and Merle Reflecting Strained Relationships
As this controversy and paranoia brews, Daryl and his brother Merle have struck out on their own — although things aren’t like they had been. While Daryl tries to talk his brother into rejoining the prison, Merle expresses the understandable belief that the Governor will eventually kill everyone there.
Also, for obvious reasons, the group does not happily to accept Merle as one of their own. Indeed, one wonders what someone with such a tarnished reputation could contribute.
In fact, a burgeoning conflict happens between the two brothers themselves. After they encounter a Hispanic family struggling to fend of roving walkers, Merle is only stopped from stealing from the family by Daryl himself — who actually points his trademark crossbow at him! It’s quite a development, and really shows that Daryl is a changed person, with greater principles at stake than mere family bonds and shared abuses by their father.
In some ways, this was the first episode to really show the dynamics between the two brothers, whereas previous episodes basically just hinted at it. (As a side note, one wonders how the show could have progressed if these two had left Rick and the prison behind. While it never developed that way, it’s certainly grounds for some interesting parallel universe fan fiction).
The Governor Strikes
While Dale and Merle are away, the Governor will play. Yes, it is both an anticipated and feared moment for the Walking Dead saga, as any conflict in this world inevitably has victims. Immediately, it becomes clear that Rick and crew probably shouldn’t have stayed in the prison, as the Governor does an expert job at launching his first retaliatory attack.
The attack begins after prisoner Axel reveals why he was incarcerated: A botched robbery committed with a water pistol. Unfortunately, his story (and life) is cut short by an assassin’s bullet — bang! It illustrates just how ineffective their perimeter fence really is. Yes, Rick and the rest are definitely vulnerable here, as the Governor’s military-style battle even brings in some walkers (almost as a form of biological warfare).
Surprisingly, though, the Governor’s gang actually leaves the group to fend off these walkers, which almost suggests it was like a game for them. This, of course, is tantamount to psychological warfare, as a demonstration of power. If this is just the beginning, how would our heroes really know what else is in store?
The final impression is that they are fenced in, destined to die in the prison if they do not leave. Yes, the walkers are still a threat, but they aren’t quite as sophisticated as this, and the home viewer is is forced to understand the nature of overt violence. No longer is this merely about self defense or misunderstanding — this is about a deliberate, seemingly permanent threat to everyone at the prison. How would you react?