18 Miles Out

Had heard nothing but great things about 'The Walking Dead' from friends and IMDb reviewers. It took a while to get round to watching, both from being busy and also not being sure whether it would be my cup of tea. Finally getting round to it a few years ago and slowly working my way through it, having had a very long to watch and review list, 'The Walking Dead' turned out to be very much my cup of tea and as good as the hype made it out to be, have found it extremely addictive.

All the previous episodes of Season 2 were very good to great, but the season once again has a high point in "18 Miles Out". And a strong reminder of how Seasons 1-5 of 'The Walking Dead' to me were absolutely brilliant and seeing the show in its full glory days (Season 6 was uneven, Season 7 was a huge disappointment and am still debating whether to watch Season 8). It is as emotional, complex and as tense as one would expect , at the same time it has adrenaline and guts.

It still shocks me at how an intelligent, well-made (so much so that it is easy to mistake it for a film) show about zombies could be made when so many films have tried and failed abysmally to do so.

"18 Miles Out" is one of the tightest, most exciting and most emotionally investable episode of Season 2 for me and one of all of the above for the show. It doesn't feel as heavy in talk as a few other episodes of the season.

Like all the episodes of the show, "18 Miles Out" is incredibly well made in the production values, with gritty and audacious production design, photography of almost cinematic quality, effects that look good, have soul and are not overused or abused and pretty frightening make-up that make the zombies even more terrifying. The music is haunting and affecting, having presence but never being too intrusive.

The writing generally is intelligent and thought-provoking, with lots of tension and emotional resonance and already showing signs of character complexity and multiple layer storytelling. The more eventful scenes are thrilling and terrifying as well as uncompromising.

Appreciated the ever strong and still progressing story and character building (the character development is some of the best of the show up to this point), which the episode has a bigger emphasis on, and that the pace is never dull or rushed. There is a lot of tension and Beth's story really touched me and was handled poignantly.

Everything is tautly paced without rushing through the more important parts and emotionally complex. The world building is stunningly immersive and effective. Direction is smart and atmospheric while the show throughout has been strongly acted. Emily Kinney really knocks it out of the park with her meatiest material by far yet, the first time actually she has properly shone because she has something to do.

Overall, amazing. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Rick and Shane clash on the road, whilst thoughts of suicide are contemplated back at the farm.

This is a dramatic and fairly thrilling episode with good character moments.

The story focuses on two threads of plot that are equally good in very different ways. The power struggles in both situations are interesting, with Lori, Andrea, Rick, and Shane clashing over their fundamental differences in attitude towards life and survival.

The zombie horror scenes are strong and quite inventive. We see some desperate survival situations for Rick and Shane that include some clever visual ideas. Generally the cinematography and editing are as strong as ever.

All performances are great.

Now things are really going somewhere! After all the build up and tension around Rick and Shane, it seems that Rick has had enough woth Shane, and gives him an ultimatum!

Their conversation in the beginning of the episode was great! It really shows how they are both not the same as they were before all this! You can feel the frustration.. that it has come this far!

At this point Shane seems out of control! He is becoming more and more unpredictable and every scene with him is filled with tension as you never know when he might snap! The scenes with him and Rick were overall amazing!!

Beth finally gets something to do in this episode as she becomes the face of courent themes in this season! Hope.. and the will to live! Having Andrea be such a large part of it made perfect sense as she herself has been ok the crossroad of whether to give up or not!

Plot In A Paragraph: Rick and Shane drive eighteen miles away from the farm (The eighteen miles of the episode title) so then can drop Randall far enough away from the farm. Whilst there, they have a violent confrontation which results in them getting swarmed with Walkers. Whilst back at the farm Lori and Maggie try and cope with a suicidal Beth.

The episode starts with a great scene between Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Shane (Jon Bernthall) as Rick lays down the law to him about his family. Their fight scene later in the episode is very well choreographed and is well acted.

This is really the first time Emily Kinney has anything to do as Beth. And she proves to be a very talented young actress.

Once again Andrea is very annoying as is Lori played by Sarah Wayne Callies. When the had a scene together I was in agony and was itching to run it forward. I was dying to slap Andrea. What an idiot. Lori and Andrea can both be Walker fodder for me!! I dislike them both immensely.

Rick and Shane drive 18 miles out far from Hershel's farm to seek a safe place to leave the outsider Randall, who has recovered from the injury in his leg, and to find supplies for the winter that is coming. Rick stops the car in a crossroad and has a serious conversation with Shane about Lori and Carl.

When they reach a small town, they leave Randall with his hand and legs tied and a knife. However Randall tells that he knows Maggie and Shane decides to kill him. Rick saves Randall and fights against Shane that shoots and throws a tool on Rick. The noise attracts a great quantity of walkers that trap Shane in a school bus.

Meanwhile in the farm, Beth wants to commit suicide but she is dissuaded by Lori and Maggie. When Andrea offers to take care of Beth, she gives the opportunity to Beth to come up to a decision.

The tenth episode of The Walking Dead presents a confrontation between Rick and Shane, and Rick gives the choice to Shane to stay with the group of survivors. Rick shows that he is a natural leader. Andrea also gives a choice to Beth that chooses to live and not to die. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "The Walking Dead: 18 Miles Out"

Note: On 10 April 2016, I saw this show again.