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.