The Walking Dead Ep. 312, Clear

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 12: Clear

TV rating

TV-14

ZPAA rating

Teens and up

Gore level

7.5 out of 10--Plenty of zombie killing this week, as well as zombies skewered on spikes; the usual blood, head wounds, etc.; some human wounds and bruises; a bloody fresh human corpse.

Other offensive content

A little bit of bad language; trust issues; sanity issues; lying to loved ones; despairing attitude toward normal human reaction.

How much zombie mythology/content

Nothing new this episode.

How much fun

Michonne wins a kewpie doll, sort of. It was a funny moment in an otherwise fairly heavy episode.

Synopsis & Review

When we last saw our heroes, Rick, his son Carl, and samurai-sword-wielding misfit Michonne headed out to get more weapons to fight of the Governor (assuming he'll eventually attack the prison). They head back to Rick's old home town since he was a police officer there and can get into the police armory. On the way, they pass a hitchhiker who begs them to stop. They drive on, ignoring his pleas.

When they get there, the armory is emptied out. Rick remembers a bunch of merchants on Main Street who had hidden gun permits for their businesses. He decides to take Carl and Michonne downtown to see if the weapons are still there. Michonne thinks it's not worth it but goes along anyway, maybe to prove her loyalty.

In town, someone has set booby traps and lots of spikes to keep the zombies out. Also, there are plenty of signs warning those who can read (i.e. not zombies) to stay away. Rick and company go in anyway and wind up in a confrontation with whoever is left in their hometown.

The episode is pretty grim drama. Rick has to confront his past failures and his inability to make things come out his way. At the very least, it has the benefit of turning him from the implosive path that he's been on for the past few episodes. He'll be a better leader when he makes it back to the prison. I guess the episode is ultimately upbeat, but it sure didn't feel like it.