Synopsis: “The group learns that someone dangerous may be on the loose near the farm. As night falls, Rick, Shane, Daryl and Glenn comb the woods to handle the situation and keep the group safe.”
If you have not seen this episode yet and do not wish to be spoiled, do not continue reading!
“Better Angels” opened up with a nice eulogy for Dale spoken by Rick. The words were great and inspiring. The visuals of his funeral, however, were intercut with T-Dog, Andrea, Daryl and Shane hunting down loose zombies on Hershel’s land and finally bashing one’s head in with a shovel. I love this show!
The story quickly picked up with Rick delegating orders and jobs for the people on the farm. The group was preparing to move into the Hershel home. Rick decided to let Randall go and Shane did not hide the distaste for his ex-friend’s judgment. This episode is about Rick and Shane and is rightfully so. Their relationship has been at a boiling point for the majority of the series. I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did.
Throughout the episode we witness Shane’s madness rise at a swift pace. The second sign of Shane reaching the “last straw” was Carl telling him, instead of his own father, that he was responsible for the zombie tearing Dale apart and that he stole Daryl’s pistol. Then, Lori approached him to let him know that she was thankful for all that he has done for her and Carl. She also let slip that there was something between them and she was sorry for hurting him.
Finally, Shane mentioned to Rick what Carl said to him. He offered to escort Randall off of the premises so Rick could be a dad to his son. Rick instead planned to have Lori talk to him and Shane got upset, claiming that Randall was more important to him than Carl. Rick really just did not want Shane anywhere near Randall.
Rick, feeling guilty from Shane’s confrontation, approached Carl in the barn. He proceeded to tell him that Dale’s death was not his fault. This really frustrated me because it really was. I understand not fully blaming him, but Rick should have made Carl understand that his decisions will always have consequences. Instead, Rick gave an incredibly real lecture about death. Rick’s words were extremely chilling but not what he needed to say to Carl.
There was one particularly powerful, heartfelt scene regarding Dale outside of the funeral. Andrea and Glenn attempted to get his RV running. They looked to what he had taught them and reminisced about the man. This was one of my favorite scenes of the episode and it really made me realize that Dale was gone.
Shane’s boiling point was finally reached. Shane did not just fly off the handle right then and there. He chose to act in the background by killing Randall himself. As he was about to end his life, his madness whispered a brighter idea that would result in him killing Rick… Shane proceeded to untie Randall and convince him that he wished to join the outside group. He told Randall to lead the way and snapped his neck in the woods before running into a tree to make it seem like he was overpowered.
As the gang nervously looked for Randall at the farm , Shane came stumbling out of the woods yelling that Randall took his gun. Rick, Shane, Glenn and Daryl entered the woods and split up under Shane’s recommendation to cover more ground. Shane, of course, had Rick go with him and you could tell that Rick seemed hesitant.
Eventually, Daryl and Glenn came upon a zombie Randall around the spot that Shane snapped his neck. After fighting with and killing him for the second time, Daryl made the connection that he had his neck broken which caused his death. They realized what must have happened and took off back the way that they came in search of Rick.
The climactic scene we have been building toward the entire episode, and season, did not disappoint. In the field just outside of the woods, Rick understood that Shane led him away to take his life and become the father in his family. A very distraught Rick pleaded with Shane to change his mind and put the gun he had drawn down. Rick dropped his own gun and told Shane he would have to shoot an unarmed man.
Shane basically looked like one of the dead himself. He was tired and out of his mind. Rick slowly crept toward Shane, calmly talking him into lowering his guard. Rick plunged his knife into Shane’s chest and then screamed at his dying friend for forcing him to act. The suspense of this entire scene was unmatched by anything in this series so far. It did not stop there.
Carl came walking toward his dad sitting over Shane’s dead body as Shane’s mind began to warp in a series of scary flashes as he became one of the walking dead. Rick, crying and upset, walked toward Carl with no good explanation in mind. Carl drew Daryl’s pistol, scaring Rick into uncertainty for he was unaware that Shane had risen again. Then, we see a zombie Shane approaching them and Carl shoots him right in the head. The episode ended with a large group of the undead heading toward them and the farm.
This episode was so emotional and powerful. Bravo to the writers and performances. Shane’s death was very bittersweet as far as the story is concerned and I’m sure it will have a huge impact on Rick and the direction of the show. We learned in this episode that people do not have to be bitten or scratched in order to become zombies. This has been hinted at throughout the season, but this episode confirmed it for us. I cannot wait until the season finale on Sunday!
