Observations from Walking Dead episode 305 (Say the Word) [Spoilers are included, so if you didnt watch

yet, consider watching first, before you read!!]

Within the first 5 minutes of the show, we realize that the leaders of both groups (Rick and the Governor) are insane. Rick's insanity is over-the-top yet temporary, while the Governor's is subtle yet permanent. The Gov's walker-daughter still has her jaw it appears, though no teeth. Daryl's offing of the possum is not shown on camera. Proving once again that you can show all sorts of extreme carnage when it comes to humans, but heaven forbid you kill a critter on camera! What the heck are those markings in the book? I say it's a tally of women the Gov's nailed. Should the prisoners have been killed when first seen? Lori and T-dog would still be alive. But it would have furthered the theory that our survivors will never be able to bring in new people. Why does Glenn ask Axel/Oscar to dig 2 more graves besides Lori's? Is one for Andrew? Even so, who's the third for? The Governor alternates between extremely cooperative behavior and psychotic behavior. Milton is an uptight dude, but it hasnt seemed to ruin his standing so far, other than an occasional joke at his expense. After Michonne slaughters the caged walkers, a dude who allegedly was going to feed them drops his feed bucket. Whatever was in the bucket didnt look alive, once again straying from the rule" that walkers only eat living flesh. Michonne is a rebellious loose cannon. It appears shell break into anywhere, steal whatever, and risk her tail as a result Still having a hard time thinking Woodbury is completely horrible. They sure know how to celebrate. Give it to the Governor - he's usually honest! He tells Michonne the truth about the caged walkers. The only lie he's told so far is about the military unit to the Woodbury crowd. When Rick goes on his spree, is he doing vengeance or is it "suicide by walkers"? (Variant of "suicide by cop"). The fact that he acts out on Glenn leads me to believe it's the latter. Merle's "ground box" is the first time we've seen a "walker trap" of any sort. Milton is not a brave guy apparently. Wonder how he made it into the Woodbury inner circle? Maybe he's an old friend of the Governor or something. Regarding the house Daryl/Maggie broke into to find baby supplies. I'm suspicious that the former residents wouldn't have or used up or taken with them the baby formula. Stands to reason you take care of the little ones first.

 Be honest. When Daryl heard that noise in the closet, and they carefully opened it, you all were hoping to see the show's first "baby-walker" right? Daryl is all too smooth handling Rick's baby after his return to the prison. Wonder if he had any of his own pre-apocalypse. Wedlock? Hmm. Rick picking at Lori's entrails is bizarre yet sad. When I saw no body where Lori was and walker-groans coming from the corner of the boiler room, I honestly thought we were gonna be treated to a walker-Lori encore. Where do I begin on the fighting arena? This is the epitome of bread and circuses within this closed community. If Woodbury is intended to be an attempt at recreating society, how telling that they have also chosen to recreate the shallow, crude entertainment diversions as well. Love the way Gov says "Its staged" to Andrea regarding the fight! Pulling out the arenawalkers teeth, is comparable to pro-wrestling being fake. The lead up to the fight-match marks the first time we have heard characters play music within the actual script of the show in this case Street Soldiers by Lynyrd Skynrd. When the Gov is trying to explain why he stages these fights using walkers, one reason he states is that he doesnt want the residents of Woodbury to "be afraid". That is remarkable considering that dictators tend to use spectacle to showcase the power of their rule to their subjects. But, conversely, one can also see that this particular spectacle degrades and cheapens humanity. Even though the walkers are dead, they are now chained-up cheap stage props to be ridiculed and mocked. What's to stop the Governor from eventually treating other living humans like this? And heck, how is a phone working in an otherwise transmissionless facility? That generator must've been really reliable....

Until next week, STAY OUT OF PRISON! (and closed communities guarded by giant walls.) AJV