I finally got around to watching this week's episode tonight. Count me among those who really liked this one. Were there a few potential plot pitfalls? Sure. But I didn't think any of it was so far fetched that it bothered me.
Intro with Michone and Andrea was cool to see, and nice that they are willing to show flashbacks here and there. I think that bodes well for someday seeing some of the characters' history. I couldn't quite hear Michone though - anyone catch what she was saying?
Woodbury exits: I don't think "Woodbury" is a full town the way people are imagining it. I think they maybe have 4-8 blocks cornered off and just like we saw in this episode, there are probably walls and cars set up with guards at each roadway. They have what, 70 people? 8 blocks (4x2) would mean 8 entrances to cover, which is just 16 people (less if they can get away with just one person stationed or safely close a few of these off. Do people need to see all 8 to enjoy the show more? If the Governor goes to the outhouse, are people not satisfied without knowing if it was a piss or a ****? Come on peeps, lighten up.
I would also assume that most of the Governor's people are willing to let Milton out for the burn, since he's something of a #2 or #3 to the Governor. Who's to say that he snuck out with a truck on his own? If there was an order to keep everyone at Woodbury, I think Milton is one of the few who could talk someone into letting him through.
Lots of complaints about tracking skills. By this point, both Andrea and Phillip should be pretty well versed on how to get to the prison. Andrea avoided the first truck, but got caught in the open field. That moment where she thinks she's okay then you see the truck coming at her is classic old school horror. I find that sense of dread way more scary than the blood splatters and gore. The governor knows the stops along the way. He's directed to the warehouse by the sound, so no supernatural tracking skills there. I loved the matchup in the warehouse with Andrea getting the upper hand, though I don't like it when they seem to show someone overwhelmed and then they get away. The Walkers should have just chased Phillip out to the truck, which would have explained why Andrea continued on foot.
As for the prison, there appears to be only a couple of safe, known ways in. If Phillip has the truck and Andrea is moving through the woods, he could easily pass her and get to the footpath where she's likely to come in. She's not coming by the roadway (or he would have run into her) and his hiding spot off the road, but near the front could have been intended to shoot Andrea if he couldn't reach her.
The only far fetched moments for me were that Andrea didn't take the ******* truck, which I believe Phillip left running, and that she couldn't make some kind of noise to draw attention between where she was pinned near the prison and getting to the truck. Maybe Phillip knocked her out, but then how does he drag or carry her away without being seen from where he is? I think he could have moved her from the truck to the torture chamber in the middle of the night or maybe even used a few trusted guys.
I'm probably in the minority on this as well, but I was also not a fan of the burnt zombies. I've never burned a person or animal, but wouldn't their flesh continue to burn to the bone and kill them? Seems odd that it just burnt out and they were still moving. Not nearly enough to ruin the moment for me though.
As for plot advancement, we now have Tyreese questioning the Governor, the torture chamber assembled and occupied, and Andrea & Milton finally showing their true colors. We even got a little backstory on Tyreese's crazy "buddy" and his son. All with lots of Walker fighting and suspense - I thought this was a great episode with lots to like.