Merle is hand-down one of the least likeable characters on The Walking Dead. “This Sorrowful Life” shows him reaching beyond his virulently racist junkie persona and discovering a sense of something bordering on compassion. Of course, that would be a lot more interesting if seeing someone undergo some small level of character development wasn't a death sentence this season.
Rick, Daryl and Hershel secretly discuss handing Michonne off to The Governor. They decide such a job will take one more man. Once Rick discovers Merle tearing apart prison mattresses hunting for heroin, he's like “I like your dedication and detail oriented nature. You're hired, sir!” Because Merle's a team player, he suggests Michonne could chew through rope so they should use wire restraints. Hey, it's not like this prison would be full of handcuffs or anything.
At least Merle still has his winning smile.
One good secret meeting deserves another, so the brothers Dixon clandestinely discuss this plan. Merle sagely deduces Rick won't follow through with delivering Michonne. This group needs someone stepping up to do its dirty work. Someone like Merle. He's not the hero this prison needs, but the one it deserves.
All it takes is one Lori hallucination and Rick's against using people as a bargaining chips. Too bad at this point Merle and Michonne are halfway to Woodbury.
It's when these two are on the road that “This Sorrowful Life” really comes into its own. Michael Rooker gives a stellar performance as Merle. He and Michonne calmly discuss the pros and cons of this (stupid, stupid) plan, and what comes through isn't his character's baser tendencies. Instead, an earnest desire to mend the rift between him and his brother. It's actually pretty touching stuff.
This episode isn't just the Merle and Michonne show. Glenn decides he'll make an honest woman out of Maggie, because marriage is still a sacred institution post-apocalypse... or some crap like that. It's kinda corny, but saved by one scene where Glenn snaps off a Walker's finger for its wedding ring. Romance is alive and well.
Hope you disinfect that thing, man.
On the way to Woodbury, Merle experiences a “Road to Damascus” type moment and finally lets Michonne go free. I still don't fully understand why he made this decision. On one hand, Merle hunts for drugs all episode without success. Maybe not having chemicals helped him find his conscience. It probably boils down to him realizing handing Michonne to the Governor wouldn't help Daryl.
A bullet in the Governor's brain would be a benefit to his bruh-bruh though, so that's Merle's new course of action. His final moments are spent drinking whiskey and blasting Motorhead in an old jalopy, which is basically the redneck equivalent of Valhalla. After that, he lures a bunch of Walkers to Woodbury and starts playing sniper in the confusion. Eventually The Governor catches on to Merle and bites two of his fingers off before killing him, because The Governor is a very bad man.
This leads to the scene where Daryl tracks down his kin and tearfully learns his fate. Norman Reedus gives some of his strongest acting yet, convincingly showing a broken man. I'll admit not feeling particularly sad watching Merle meet his maker by The Governor's hand, but when Daryl cries and starts pushing zombie-Merle away it feels soooo saaaad.
Finally Rick lets everyone know “guess what? We're a democracy again!” Ummm, cool Rick. Cool. I'm sure you all can just vote The Governor out of office or something.
Well, next week's the finale for season three. While some of the most recent episodes have fallen a bit flat, The Walking Dead has definitely picked up some momentum for a satisfying climax. Well, unless Rick's group votes to run away, in which case I'll be just so mad.
