The Walking Dead 2.13: "Beside the Dying Fire"... Ashes and Blood

Banding together in the end...(credit AMC)

Did you have to pick your jaw up off the floor? Did you find yourself yelling at your TV, cheering the survivors on; completely out of breath by the end because you literally ran the entire way with each of them? If so, you were just treated to the full onslaught of win that was the season 2 finale of The Walking Dead.

More lives were lost, new people were introduced and a big question that has plagued (no pun intended) fans since Season 1 was answered with finality. The question now is, where does our battered little group go from here?

SPOILERS!!!!

The Walking Dead 2.12 - Last Man Standing

Time to put aside childish things... (credit AMC)

After having my heart ripped out at the end of last week's episode, it seems only fitting this this week's installment of The Walking Dead should make my brain explode. So many implications, so little time to sort them all out.

It also makes me take a good, hard look at the title of this entire show and wonder... are they all a little bit dead already?

The Walking Dead 2x11: The Moral Compass is Broken

Dale fights an uphill battle for humanity's sake...for the last time...

There are some episodes that split the action and the exposition, like the last couple we've seen this season. Then there are the episodes that deliver an emotional one-two wallop that leaves us reeling.

It's safe to say that Jeffery DeMunn (Dale) OWNED this episode, from start to spectacularly shocking finish, and he actually brought me to tears with the strength of his convictions and words.

He forces us to ask, "what would you do in this situation" and I'm sure some of us came up with not-so-appealing answers. This show has always fought to show the balance between humanity and survival's necessity, but I think this episode really drove the nail home that for this group, there is no clear line. At least, not for everyone.

And as Dale struggles to keep the moral compass of the group pointed right, Daryl steps up and into the limelight again, taking on the mantle of his new role in the group: the one who does what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, for the good of others.

The Walking Dead 2x10 "18 Miles Out" Catharsis Is a Bloody Affair

Hand cutting and Walker blood should not mix, guys

I think any Walking Dead fan will agree that the climactic showdown between Rick and Shane has been a long time coming. And my, but wasn't it a lovely spectacle of emotions and bloody fists? Not to mention two of the *best* zombie dispatching scenes of this season, this episode had action to spare. But it also asked some pretty deep emotional questions about doing the moral thing vs being driven by guilt or fear.

Or more pointedly: when do you give up your humanity to simply survive? The Walking Dead is a master at creating this visceral expectations in the viewer and then the payoff is profound.

The Walking Dead 2.09 "Triggerfinger" Click - Click - BOOM!

It never ends well, does it? (Credit AMC)

(Still waiting on Popstar.com to add Walking Dead into the cue. It might be S3 before that happens)

Ever see those commercials talking about all the elements in innovation, but it's the "Human" element that matters most? I think that's very appropriate for this episode. But while all these roiling human emotions are bubbling and frothing over the surface, there's a hellova lot of great action too. I'd really like to know WHAT exactly the Walker-actors are chowing down on when they are seen eating bits of flesh, too. Some sort of fake-blood covered rubber? Chicken bits? Polycarbinate silicate?

The Walking Dead 2.08 "Nebraska" The Quiet Before the Storm?

Make mine a double...

(Until Popstar.com is updated with The Walking Dead, I'll be covering it here.) 

I admit... I'm a late bloomer when it comes to The Walking Dead. I came in at S2 premiere and had to mainline S1 to catch up. But damn, was I hooked. Because here was a zombie show that wasn't really about zombies. It's about the human element. Now, I love a good blood and guts brawl with the undead as much as the next girl, but I love character development and storytelling more.

After nearly three months of waiting, rewatching the first 7 episodes a ridiculous amount of times, dissecting the characters down to their bare bones and reading any and all interviews I could find, I got to say, I was both impressed and disappointed in this mid-season premiere.

Person of Interest - 1x4 Is there a Doctor in the House?

A deadly and handsome man is following you... (Credit: CBS)

I gotta say, Caviezel is KILLING this role. And I love it. But it does beg the question: is there a situation Reese can find himself in where he can't get out?