This is the fifteenth episode of the third season of the Walking Dead and it's clear that as we get near the end, crazy things are going to happen. I like this episode for a number of reasons, but I really like how this episode centers on Merle as he reflects on the things he have done. The ending is really sad, but you can't say Merle had it coming from the day we met him. At least he went out in a glorious way. As said by Greg Nicotero during his and Laurie Holden's Q&A at Walker Stalker Con Chicago 2014, Merle's death was not planned during the initial writing of the season. Merle's death came up on the last seconds before the initial shooting for the episode began. Merle was supposed to be a recurring character in Season 4. Nicotero also said there was a version of the episode which depicts Milton and Andrea tried to kill the Governor by putting a bomb that Milton made inside the Governor's apartment. But the writers decided to scrap it out because they felt it doesn't feel like The Walking Dead.

Meanwhile, Merle tells Michonne that this is his chance to save Daryl and the others. Michonne notes that Merle has a conscience, but Merle disagrees, saying he’s killed 16 people since the apocalypse began. While I can’t say I was sad about Merle’s death, it certainly played out as the strong, “going out on his own terms” scenario it was meant to and certainly a great send off for a character whose presence I once loathed. And man, Norman Reedus then actually had me legitimately emotional. Reedus was excellent conveying Daryl’s absolute despair at seeing Merle now a zombie, as he broke down in tears and initially couldn’t bring himself to do anything more than shove Merle away. The juxtaposition between this and how he then absolutely destroyed Merle was an excellent way of showing the extremes going through Daryl in that moment. Production [ edit ] Michael Rooker ( pictured in 2013) made his final appearance as a series regular in "This Sorrowful Life". Critics applauded Norman Reedus' performance in the episode.This Sorrowful Life" may be more focused on the character development and interaction, though the action is hardly neglected. The good news is that this aspect is done exceptionally, the character interaction makes for some brilliant scenes that are suspenseful and emotional.

Sorry for the lateness this week, but AMC chose not to provide screeners. I’m assuming this will be true for the finale as well, so… look out for that. This episode featured the death of Merle, who is killed when trying to redeem himself. Critics praised the performance of Michael Rooker in the episode and Norman Reedus' performance at the end, upon confronting a zombified Merle. Daryl, inconsolable and confused, simply did not know what to do. In killing his big brother, Daryl had closed the last remaining door to the past, to the world that once was but is no more, and he had opened a door to the future. For three seasons, Merle has been the subject of Daryl's mind. Finding his brother and then protecting his brother. Now, with Merle gone, exactly what will Daryl's purpose be? This episode is the best episode of the season 3 because Merle finally done a good thing in his life. Too bad that he failed. It'd be better if he succeeded.

This is the third episode to share the same title of a Comic Series volume, after " Days Gone Bye" and " Made to Suffer". The sequence where Merle accidentally set off the car alarm was very well done, as we all realized what that alarm was going to bring forward. And Michonne curb stomping that one zombie to death, followed by decapitating the other, all while her hands were bound and she was tied to a post, was seriously bad ass -- I almost wished it was a more humorous scene where she killed all the zombies without Merle realizing they were ever there -- though that would be a bit off tonally for this show, I realize. Glenn and Maggie officially become a married couple in this episode, with Maggie unspokenly changing her surname to Rhee. Merle’s last stand was another terrific sequence. The slow reveal of what his plan was played perfectly – as it first looked like he was being suicidal drawing those zombies near his car, until we realized he was luring them all towards the Governor’s men. And using the gunfire of those men fighting off those zombies to mask his own gunfire taking them out was ingenious! This mixture of man vs. zombie vs. man was really one of the best we’ve seen on this show. The portrayal of Merle, Daryl, and Michonne is the best aspect of it and the scenes involving these characters are great. Especially Merle, who is the main focus of the episode. I cannot say much without spoiling, but Michael Rooker gives another excellent performance and everything the character does is very memorable. His scenes with Danai Gurira and Norman Reedus are the highlights of the episode.