"Secrets" Review
Regardless, I want to write about “Secrets” because it has some issues. There are fundamental problems entering this series that I hope get addressed in the mid-season finale. Chiefly, this episode feels incredibly padded and there’s not much development on a broad scale. Previously introduced material gets rehashed and there’s a lot of characters just standing around the farm doing nothing.
Lori’s pregnancy continues to be a focal point and this episode does little to cement any closure either way. She opts for an abortion and then changes her mind, finally telling Rick about the pregnancy. The material just isn’t too interesting, and we’ve seen Lori deal with this for weeks now.
Likewise, we’re given no closure on the Sophia story arc (this really needs to be wrapped up in “Pretty Much Dead Already”), and the whole barn-full-of zombies is barely addressed. The only real development in “Secrets” is the relationship between Andrea and Shane, which doesn’t seem to be heading anywhere, either.
“Secrets” marks the first time I worry about the future of The Walking Dead. As much as I raved about the scenery and aesthetics of the Hershel Farm, the story is begging for some kind of change. That doesn’t mean the gang has to leave the farm forever, but something needs to happen to keep the story from stagnating.
Unfortunately, at this point, “Secrets” is one of the weaker episodes of The Walking Dead. Let’s hope that things change in “Pretty Much Dead Already.” I’ll put up a longer, more in-depth review of the mid-season finale later tonight.
-MP