The Walking Dead 3.11 Review, “I Ain't a Judas”

By Felix Vasquez jr. / February 25, 2013

rating: 3

Here's my problem with this episode. Not only do the writers seem to be changing the role of Tyreese, but they seem to be propping him up for a death. Since it seems impossible for the writers to place more than one African American on the show, Tyreese seems to be getting propped up to become a Governor lackey dying in a blaze of glory, or perhaps is going to bait and die like a chump for people he barely knows, or perhaps--perhaps, the writers are building on Tyreese and planning to give him as much importance as Daryl Dixon. I'm going to go with number one. Andrea and The Governor's lackey are in the woods trapping a walker and plan to use it as a lure from the other zombies like Michonne did, and when they're greeted by more walkers, Tyreese and co. come to the rescue. So, Andrea was conveniently in the same area as Tyreese and his group? Where were Tyreese and his group hiding, sleeping, and eating? And Tyreese and his group come to the rescue of two people being approached by a couple of walkers, but a prison housing a baby and a young boy being attacked and they're curiously out of ear shot? I just don't get it. I just don't get it. I'm still confused as to what they're planning on doing with Tyreese, if anything. And I'm still confused as to what they're doing about Andrea. Her conflict just seems written in the show to just add conflict. What is it that's making it so hard to cut the governor's throat in his sleep? Is it his propensity for storing dead kids in his room? Is it his admiration for collecting custom walker heads for his aquarium? Or perhaps it's his knack for murdering soldiers without their knowledge. Even after learning everything about him and his underhanded practices after leaving the prison, she still finds it difficult to murder him. Why are you such a moron, Andrea? Why does the show in general seem to have a poor opinion of women? Andrea is under the spell of the governor's sexing of her, Lori was a shrew, Tyreese's wife seems to be next on the plate for the Governor, Michonne is mopey as hell. In either case "I Ain't a Judas" seems to be making some headway in the story arc, especially now that Hershel gave Rick his much needed screaming at. Rick's wounded kitten act is tired, and Hershel needed to call him on his nonsense. You declared a Ricktatorship, become the man to lead these people to safety and civilization. Hell, I love Rick, but even I wanted to smack him and scream "Suck it up you whiny little pansy!" With Andrea's confrontation with her group once and for all, the writers pretty much felt like they were getting over the hump with this episode. Andrea has to eventually meet her group and eventually catch up with what she's missed. And she did and talk about the under reaction of the century. Shane was her Obi-Wan who diddled her and she barely cracked a whimper when she discovered he'd been murdered. And does anyone remember T-Dog? His valiant sacrifice to help Carol survive? No? Okay, just asking. And Michonne's confrontation with Andrea felt an awful lot like a lover's spat. Many viewers and blogger have noted the more erotic undertones of their relationship, and it almost comes full circle in this episode where Michonne feels immensely slighted by Andrea. Who can blame her, even without the more romantic elements? Andrea was saved from being mauled by Michonne, and dropped her like a bad habit the moment the Governor flashed a smile and wang at her. Andrea drops every allegiance she has toward her people at the sight of a good looking man, and she's shocked when the group treats her like an outcast? Sorry Rick, but I'm team Shane now, but thanks for getting me out of Atlanta! Sorry Michonne, I'm working for the Governor now, but thanks for helping me survive a year! One of the more interesting character dynamics is the presence of Milton, who seems to be following the orders of the Governor to a subservient tee almost because he seems too horrified to ender in to the zombie wasteland. He talks to the Governor like a dutiful dog throughout this episode, and I think should the Governor ever banish him to the outside, he knows as well as we do he'd barely last a day. The group is insistent that Andrea could murder the Governor in his sleep or when he least expects it. Now that Andrea has pretty much been tainted and written off as a member of the Grimes team, the only logical step is for Andrea to die a noble death either murdering the Governor or attempting to murder the Governor. Perhaps the season will eventually redeem itself by bringing Tyreese back as an official part of the cast and allowing--gasp!--two African American cast members on the show! Another new aspect of the series I'm enjoying is Merle's burgeoning relationship with Hershel. Both are men of God, both have lost a limb, and both have family in the warzone they care for. I wonder if they'll build on that mutual respect that they were supposed to with Axel and Hershel in the comics. Merle may not be the most adored character in the group right now, but whether they want to admit it or not, they need him badly. He knows the Governor. He's gotten in to his head. He knows his tactics. And now that Tyreese and the group have decided to ally with the Governor and Woodbury and are about to provide him with a map inside the prison and to Rick and his group, I think Merle may be the only hope they have at this point. I can only hope for some amazing story at this point. Let's get it back on track, people.