Rick Vs. The Governor

I will begin by saying that The Walking Dead is one of the most addicting shows on television. It hooks its evil claws into you and doesn’t let go, being the highest rated show amongst the sought after eighteen to forty-nine age demographic. It’s fitting right in with its other AMC counterparts Breaking Bad and Mad Men as some of the best drama on the small screen. And like Game of Thrones, no character is ever safe. Of course you already know all of this if you watch the show.

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes
tv.yahoo.com

This season has been slowly building up to this upcoming Sunday’s climatic showdown between Rick Grimes and his group of zombie apocalypse survivors and the Governor, the head of the Woodbury community. After asserting himself as their leader at the end of last season, we’ve seen Rick go to the brink of crazy and back again after his wife died while giving birth to what might not be his daughter, leaving his leadership to be questioned by some of the members of the group. On the opposite side is the Governor, a sociopath hell-bent on bringing down Rick and his crew. At first the Governor comes across as compassionate, bringing outsiders into his community to give them a life of normalcy in a world where there’s none left. But we all know something is not right, and we eventually come to learn the truth.

In an existence where the few surviving humans have to fend themselves from flesh eating zombies, you would think that both men could come to an understanding. So far most of the series has been man against the forces that threaten its existence. This season has seen the shift to man against fellow man. There should be one common goal in a zombie apocalypse: eliminating zombies.

In this world where the means of survival is the main objective, both men have different motives. They are both looking out for their respected people, but where Rick copes with the struggles that are thrown at him, the Governor almost welcomes them. While he’s concerned for the safety of Woodbury, the Governor wants to maintain his leadership and power, taking out any threat that might stand in his way. Rick only wants the group to live in peace, with his decisions always being in their best interest, even if it means banishing any innocent outcasts or newcomers that come across their path.

In their one and only face-to-face meeting, Rick’s compromise is simple: leave us alone and we’ll leave you alone. The Governor doesn’t see it that way. He of course wants Rick to turn over Michonne, the sword-wielding stranger that killed the Governor’s zombie daughter and left him with one eye. It is either that or war.

This leaves Rick with a moral dilemma, considering sacrificing Michonne for once again what would be best for the group. After much contemplation, he can’t do it and bring himself down to the Governor’s level. As Rick’s loyal ally Daryl put it to him earlier, “It just ain’t us.” In the end Rick confesses to the group the Governor’s offer, and that he was even considering it. We finally see Rick conquer his demons and assert himself again to the group as he lays it on the line for them. "I couldn't sacrifice one of us for the greater good because we are the greater good," he says. "I'm not your governor. We choose to go. We choose to stay. We stick together."

So will this lead to all-out assault from the Governor on Sunday’s season finale? It would appear so. Will characters die? More than likely. Will zombies be killed? That’s a definite. Whatever does happen, it should not disappoint.