There was a bit more in earlier episodes, and it makes sense that the camera would focus more on the emotional stuff and less on the technical stuff.
I think taking a few minutes to discuss the technical stuff - particularly breathing,
squeezing the trigger, and leading your target - would have been appropriate, especially with Carl, because it did look like the writers had no clue what would make someone a good firearms instructor. The whole "I'm going to yell at you, make you angry, and then you'll suddenly be an expert marksman" thing played way too Hollywood movie cliche. It's a tiny quibble, but it still bothered me a little.
On a character level, I'm wondering why Herschel decided to keep his 'prisoners' a secret. If it's not wrong/stupid to keep them in the barn why hide them? Always more questions...
I was satisfied with his explanation to Dale, that not everyone is going to be reasonable or respectful of his beliefs/feelings. The world has gone to hell and mob rule is the new law of the land; all it would take is for one person to get the group riled up, playing to their fear or hatred or sense of loss, and next thing you know they're burning Herschel's barn to the ground. Even though Daryl's now the only likable character, I can still imagine him leading a charge to put those walkers down, regardless of what Herschel,
their host, wants. Or I can imagine T-Dogg wanting to prove what a big, tough guy he is, or Andrea (especially in her current state of mind) letting her sorrow and rage for her dead sister drive her toward siding with the barn burners. Or Rick's b*tch of a wife, shrieking that they need to destroy the walkers, probably using the safety of Carl as her reasoning/manipulation tactic - even though she was half-praying for him to die not that long ago. Yep. I perfectly understand why Herschel would keep it a secret, especially now that he somewhat knows the personalities he's dealing with.
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I am a bit puzzled by Rick's need to stay on Herschel's farm. I mean, if everyone in that group wants to settle down, if they're tired of being on the road and given up all hope for reaching a fort or safe haven, there
have to be other abandoned farms/ranches in the area with similar wells and whatnot. Find a home, clear it out and clean it up, secure the land with fences, and maybe barter a few chickens and a cow or two from Herschel. They could have everything they have now without needing to impose on Herschel and his family and, therefore, not have to live by his rules or beliefs. If it's a matter of wanting to be near someone with medical skills, then just take the next farm over. The idea that they
have to stay on Herschel's land is just ridiculous.
Still, I'm glad to see they're starting to ratchet up the tension and turmoil within the main group, because the show was starting to get dull. The essence of drama is conflict, and if they don't have regular, intense zombies attacks then they really need the tension and conflict of human nature and high emotions. Whenever they aren't unified against the zombies, they really need to be fractured and fighting amongst themselves, or there's no conflict, no tension, and no reason to keep watching.
