TV: 'The Walking Dead' Season 3 Episode 2 - "Sick" Recap + Next Episode's Promo!

The third season of The Walking Dead concerns the remainders of mankind, particularly Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the rest of the survivors who are forced to become a "fortified" unit in order to continue surviving the undead menace. The show, adapted by Frank Darabont (director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Mist), will also shine the light to some comic book characters like Michonne and The Governor played respectively by Danai Gurira and David Morrissey, in this season.

RECAP

In the second episode, in continuation to the season premiere's cliffhanger, Rick's (Andrew Lincoln) group crosses paths with a group of detainee survivors when Hershel gets (Scott Wilson) bit. Which of these prisoners are mild-heartened and which of them are purely violent, Rick measures. Meanwhile, as Hershel is being treated by Carol (Melissa McBride) and the remainders of the group, all of their lives are threatened with Hershel's probable turning and the inestimable detainees.

REVIEW

I have to come clean: I didn't like the second season very much, if I was to exclude the last episodes of it. The second season was set entirely in Hershel's farm, and from there we're kind of watching a weekly Big Brother, involving a volume of zombie kills each time. It was implausibly paced and was exacerbated with a little too schmaltz, unimpressive dialogue and black and white characters. The ending (in which Rick and his son Carl gets to kill Shane) is the only thing likable in the season, half-amending the disappointment the second season may have brought.

The third season gimmickry: "It's not democracy anymore...it's RICKtatorship," and don't stress it, it ain't spoken of in the season by far, is working wonders. Rick utters, "...but you got more food, than you got choices. You pay, we'll play." He continues with: "Well, let's get clear. If I see you out here, anywhere near our people, if I so much as even catch a whiff of your scent, I will kill you." Rick has been developed to this character who is a formidable choices, making choices you will frequently disagree on and sometimes you will root for. Nonetheless, Rick's character, by far, has become more human, morally grey if necessary for their group's survival.

Carol, who in the last season was busied crying over her turned child, becomes more important for their survival (although the romance between her and Daryl isn't resumed in here). She preps herself on Lori's (Sarah Wayne Callies) forthcoming delivery if Hershel becomes unable to chief the procedure. Maggie (Lauren Cohan), Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Carl (Chandler Riggs) all have been emotionally pushed to one higher level. Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Andrea (Laurie Holden), meanwhile, are not to be found in this week's episode.

TV Director Billy Gierhart (Sons of Anarchy), manages to build a fleeting episode using balanced dramatics and pulpy violence. From the looks of where the third season is heading to, quite frankly, The Walking Dead is becoming a worthwhile series to follow, and more than that.

NEXT EPISODE'S PROMO

Next week, we are likely to focus on what happens with Andrea and Michonne. Michonne, the samurai-gal walking with two chained walkers as her pets, helps Andrea to her survival. The episode is called "Walk with Me". Here's the synopsis: "Andrea and Michonne meet a new band of survivors, but conflicts arise". Head inside for next week's promo.

More recaps as episodes come in.