The Walking Dead Ep 315, "This Sorrowful Life"

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 15: This Sorrowful Life

TV rating

TV-14

ZPAA rating

Teens and up

Gore level

8.5 out of 10--Zombie kills a plenty with lots of heads being smashed or stomped or stabbed on screen; one decapitation by wire; a field of gory entrails; Merle describes how the Governor might torture Michonne.

Other offensive content

Foul language; human on human violence; lots of discussion about accepting the role of villain or bad man; drinking; loud rock music.

How much zombie mythology/content

Nothing new this episode.

How much fun

I didn't laugh at all this episode.

Synopsis & Review

Rick goes ahead with the plan to turn Michonne over to the Governor so that the prison and everyone else in it can be safe. He lets Hershel and Daryl in on the plan and then recruits Merle to help. Merle can't believe it and is pretty sure Rick does not have what it takes to follow through on the plan. He goes ahead just before Rick changes his mind, leading to a tough journey for Michonne and Merle and hot pursuit from Daryl, who insists that Rick stay behind and get the prison ready for war.

As is often the case, lots of interesting conversations and character interactions fuel the drama much more than the blood and guts. The show can make even a questionable fellow like Merle complex and sympathetic, even if the viewer does not like him. Merle grapples with the idea that he is an evil man that people keep around to do the "dirty" work. He learned to embrace that role under the Governor but it's a lot harder for him in the very different environment at the prison.

The very end of the episode is heart-breaking. One more to go, presumably the epic showdown between Rick's group and the Governor's Woodbury (if the Governor isn't too busy torturing Andrea)!