The Walking Dead (TV Series) Save the Last One (2011) User Reviews

Great Episode!

[g-bodyl · 9/10 · 1 June 2014]

This is the third episode of the second season of Walking Dead, and does this ever pick up the intensity. It's action-packed and dramatic at times, especially towards the end. In this episode, you can truly see what it takes and what people will do to survive, no matter how unpleasant. The zombie action is excellent, especially since we have more action this episode.

In this episode, "Save the Last One," Shane and Otis desperately tries to flee from the school. Meanwhile, Carl's condition is rapidly declining and unless Shane arrives back soon, they must begin surgery. Also, Glenn and T-Bone arrive at Hershel's house and Daryl continues the search for Sophia.

Overall, this is another fascinating episode. It's tense and the last 10 minutes will shock you because of one unexpected event. I rate this episode 9/10.

A great episode with an unforgettable ending.

[kkoller0693 · 9/10 · 5 November 2011]

First off I loved the ending at the beginning type of storytelling from this episode. I reminded me of what "Breaking Bad" does with great episodes and it works very strong for "The Walking Dead" as well. Well obviously this was Shane's episode and his descent into darkness. Rick and Lori talk as we see Shane and the guy who shot Carl (forgive me - I don't recall his name) run away from a pack zombies in a hallway. Then the episode splits into two stories. We see Glen and T-Dog arrive at the farm to see Carl on a bed dying. We see a lot from Rick and Lori as well as a little dialogue from Carl that soon turns into a vicious seizure. That scene was very suspenseful and I almost thought Carl would have to be in surgery without the respirator. T This leads to the other storyline. Shane is trying to get out of the town that is full of zombies. Whomever was getting tired of not enough zombies will be very happy this episode. Throughout the episode Shane pops off rounds and he literally leaves with no ammo left. At the very end we see only Shane return to the farm with the respirator. He is shaken up by what just happened and tells the group that the guy was unable to get back.

But when he gets into the shower, we see a bald spot in Shane's hairline that brings us to where Shane shoots the guy in the leg and leaves him for bait for the group of zombies behind them. And you see them eat into this guy as his screams become less and less loud. It was one of the most powerful scenes I have seen in this series (the last time was in Episode 1 where Rick gives a "mercy" kill to the zombie in the park).

The ending was so powerful that it truly shows that Shane is beginning to do anything to survive while trying to get back on Lori's good side. This descent into darkness will be a key plot point later in the season and I am desperate to see how it all plays out in the end. A fantastic episode. 9/10

The will to live!

[and_mikkelsen · 9/10 · 6 January 2024]

This episode will always be remembered for the moment between Otis and Shane that kicks off one of the best storylines/arcs this season! That is Shanes decent into madness and gradual loss of humanity!

The way this episode begins with the scene that also concludes it was great! I loved the theme of life in this episode! Our characters are faced with the cruel reality of this mercyless world, and are debating whether its a world worth living in!

Is there a future worth fighting for? Something positive to latch on to? Is there a reason to live? And how far can you go to save someone? Are there any limits? This are the questions our characters ask themselves in this apocalyptic world!

A must save

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 27 May 2018]

Had heard nothing but great things about 'The Walking Dead' from friends and IMDb reviewers. It took a while to get round to watching, both from being busy and also not being sure whether it would be my cup of tea. Finally getting round to it a few years ago and slowly working my way through it, having had a very long to watch and review list, 'The Walking Dead' turned out to be very much my cup of tea and as good as the hype made it out to be, have found it extremely addictive.

"Save the Last One" is another terrific episode to Season 2, after a hugely promising start to the season, it's even better than the previous two episodes due to things starting to properly advance. And a strong reminder of how Seasons 1-5 of 'The Walking Dead' to me were absolutely brilliant and seeing the show in its full glory days (Season 6 was uneven, Season 7 was a huge disappointment and am still debating whether to watch Season 8). It is as emotional, complex and as tense as one would expect, at the same time it has adrenaline and guts.

It still shocks me at how an intelligent, well-made (so much so that it is easy to mistake it for a film) show about zombies could be made when so many films have tried and failed abysmally to do so.

My only complaint of "Save the Last One" is that at times it is a little too heavy on the talk and it's a little rambling.

Like all the episodes of the show, "Save the Last One" is incredibly well made in the production values, with gritty and audacious production design, photography of almost cinematic quality, effects that look good, have soul and are not overused or abused and pretty frightening make-up that make the zombies even more terrifying. The music is haunting and affecting, having presence but never being too intrusive.

The writing generally is intelligent and thought-provoking, with lots of tension and emotional resonance and already showing signs of character complexity and multiple layer storytelling. The more eventful scenes at the end, where the action kicks in, are thrilling and terrifying as well as uncompromising.

Appreciated the ever strong and still progressing story and character building, which the episode has a bigger emphasis on, and that the pace is never dull or rushed and the ending is unexpected and unbearably tense. The character writing, especially for Shane (his development here is for me a Season 2 highlight), and the character interactions are what is particularly great here, Shane and Otis, Rick and Lori, Glenn and Maggie and Andrea and Daryl and their individual situations are so well defined and it doesn't feel like soap-opera.

Everything is tautly paced without rushing through the more important or action-oriented parts. The world building is already stunningly immersive and effective. Direction is smart and atmospheric while the show throughout has been strongly acted. Andrew Lincoln is an excellent lead though the entire cast are on fine form.

Overall, terrific. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Surviving at Any Cost

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 1 November 2011]

Carl is near death and with an internal bleeding, He is surviving due to the successive blood transfusions, but Rick is getting weaker and weaker. Daryl can not sleep during the night since Carol is weeping all the time. He decides to take a walk with Andrea to seek out Sophia. Meanwhile Shane and Otis are short of ammunition and surrounded by a large number of walkers. They decide to split to take a chance against the zombies. Glenn and T-Dog arrive in the farm and the infection of T- Dog is disinfected and treated. When Herchel Greene is ready to operate Carl, Shane arrives completely shaken with the necessary medical supplies. Then he recalls how he was able to survive.

"Save the Last One" is a very dramatic episode about survival. Carl is saved due to an extreme and surprising action of those that bring the necessary medical supply. Carol is desperate since her twelve year-old daughter Sophia is still missing. T-Dog's wound was cleaned and he will make. The conclusion is totally unexpected and I do not know how Shane will be affected by this tragic event. But the greatest question in this moment is: where is Sophia? My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Save the Last One"

Note: On 09 April 2016, I saw this how again.

A Punching Character Study

[bucketlax · 9/10 · 24 March 2019]

This episode has some edge-of-your-seat danger and suspense, but it shines in its human moments. These characters are being fleshed out deeper than a lot of shows are able to manage, and they're being developed in a world where death is relentlessly pursuing them.

Shane is the MVP of this episode, and he pushes the questions about this world to the next level.

The Shane Revelation

[Deadlyknights · 9/10 · 3 November 2022]

Save the Last One serves as a revelation and a backstory to how Shane saved Rick, and what he did the make it out of the school. People have always been very conflicted about Shane and this episode is what created that.

Starting with Carl still being in and out, Rick and Lori have a conversation on whether Carl surviving would really be the best thing for him. Panning back to Shane and Otis still trying to make it out, their down to their last rounds and are running out of options, they decide to make a limp for it. Maggie and Glenn get some really sweet screen time together. And when it's looking like Hershal is going to need to make the emergency surgery he didn't want to do, Shane makes it back with the supplies but Otis didn't make it. With Carl saved, Patricia is left to morn the loss of her husband. We then pan over to the second scene of the episode where Shane is cutting his hair and we see a wound, almost like it was pulled out. This is when the reveal happens that Shane sacrificed Otis to make it out of there.

Save the Last One is a tear jerking episode that really questions the humanity of Shane. He's clearly slipping and it's show brilliantly with the hair cut scene of him looking into the mirror in a bloodlust gaze. All the actor's played a brilliant roll in showing the urgency of the situation. The set pieces at the farm are shown as warm and cozy, to contrast the deep isolation and dark cold atmosphere of the school where Shane and Otis are at. It's a well done episode and a solid showing of talent from everyone on the team.

One of the best episodes

[mattgambotti · 10/10 · 10 February 2022]

The suspense is unbearable throughout the episode.

And what about Jon Bernthal's acting... This is surely one of the best performances in the series.

The staging is successful and the end scene is excellent.

The trauma of parenthood - part 2

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 21 August 2021]

Shane and Otis try to escape a siege of zombies as the others look after Carl and continue the search for Sophia.

This is a dramatic and exciting episode with some decent character moments.

The plot picks up immediately after the end of the previous episode with events at the farmhouse, on the highway, and following Shane through his mission to retrieve medical supplies. Each segment is written well with the two main plot lines relating strongly to each other.

Much like the previous episode the premise of Carl's gunshot has no real suspense because it's obvious that he is going to be okay and this makes me feel more like a fly on the wall watching what his parents are going through. Andrew Lincoln and Sarah Wayne Callies portray these characters realistically with great performances, but the concept feels a bit dragged out given the lack of uncertainty.

The character development is easily the best part of the plot, with Shane in particular having a very eventful and interesting contribution to the outcome. Daryl is also becoming a more rounded character, seemingly a lot more than the redneck caricature first introduced in series 1.

All visuals are excellent with the story being told by the cinematography, editing as much as the dialogue. The zombie effects are as strong as ever. Little things like the high visibility vest worn by one of the zombies gives them great character.

The Price Of Survival

[slightlymad22 · 7/10 · 23 October 2014]

The third episode of season two of "The Walking Dead" starts with Shane shaving his hair off, then it takes us back to where the second episode left us.

Plot In A Paragraph: With Shane and Otis trapped in the school Shane shows just how far he is willing to go, to do what needs to be done. Daryl keeps looking for Beth while Rick and Lori stay by Carls bedside.

All of the new cast members are good, especially Scott Wilson as Hershal, Lauren Cohen as Maggie and Pruitt Taylor Vince as Otis. Of the regular cast Lincoln, Reedus and McBride are the strongest. For the first time this season, Sarah Wayne Callies is back to irritating the living hell out of me too.

A Fantastic Episode.

[mikeamber-36157 · 9/10 · 28 September 2020]

Action-packed, intense, dramatic and mysterious, Save the Last One manages to pull off all of these things spectacularly. With Carl's condition worsening, Shane and Otis have to get needed medical supplies to save him. However, Shane makes a sacrifice that changes him forever. At the same time, Glenn brings an injured T-Dog to the Greene farmhouse and Daryl continues the search for Sophia. Overall excellent third episode for season 2.

Exciting format, boring dialogs, questionable acting, John Bernthal on fire, disturbing Shane, dumb behavior, unbalanced production, Glenn bless you

[igoatabase · 31 October 2011]

The ending at the beginning. It's a formula that often makes a story more exciting. This time it was mostly about Shane and I liked how his dangerous and action-driven quest in the night was mirrored by the more psychological and emotional arc featuring Rick and the others. However I thought his dialogs with Lori would never end as they seemed rehashed. Moreover I'm not really convinced by Andrew Lincoln and Sarah Wayne Callies as leads. Their couple lacks the chemistry required to make us really care for them. It's not the first time I point out the issue but this time it was magnified by Jon Bernthal impressive skills. Shane just had a new layer to his wicked persona and after almost shooting his best friend in the woods I was really wondering what the writers would come up with. They didn't disappoint and his arc was almost shocking. As for his sidekick I wonder how it's possible to be fat in a world infested by walkers.

For once Deryl and his gang disappointed me. Their dumb behavior didn't make sense and was reminiscent of scream or bad horror movies. Moreover it wasn't scary and overall felt like an awkward way to feature them when the episode should have only focused on Carl. As for the production I didn't like the night scenes visual because it wasn't as polished as the sequences shot in the house. They could have used a better or creative lighting and probably some post processing. The image was just too cold and lacked the immersion factor the show is known for. Applying a film grain overlay and twisting the editing would have made things way more entertaining. Hopefully more Glenn couldn't be more welcome because to tell the truth I have missed him since Guts. He's such an under exploited character ! His obvious connection with the girl could also lead to some empathic romance and intense moments.

Note : This review was first posted on Kritikenstein, my weblog.

Shane is evil!

[deanna-31663 · 7/10 · 26 February 2021]

I see a lot of inconsistencies with just little things so far in this series. However, in this episode, why the heck didn't Shane just shoot Otis in the head instead of the leg? The walkers would still eat Otis. He was like a fresh buffet! I understand character arcs and development, but that made no sense. Unless Shane wanted Otis' dying screams to keep the Walkers in distracted and busy.

For the love of Coral move on!!!

[TheFearmakers · 5/10 · 29 October 2019]

Rewatching The Walking Dead isn't as fun as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul or Mad Men because of the searing melodrama that occurs to people that all wind up dead in the long run. Carl, Carl, Carl, boo hoo, too much of it. Too much meandering on one note per episode. It's a shame the first season, that's actually more of an open-ended miniseries, is so short. Because it's the only one that really moved forward.

This is a pivotal episode in the second season of "The Walking Dead," showcasing the series' ability to blend intense action with deep, character-driven storytelling

[fernandoschiavi · 8/10 · 28 February 2024]

"Save the Last One" is a haunting episode that dives deep into the psychological toll of survival in "The Walking Dead's" post-apocalyptic nightmare. The episode intertwines Shane and Otis's desperate mission to retrieve medical supplies to save Carl's life with the growing despair back at the Greene farm. This episode stands out for its intense focus on character development, particularly Shane's, whose moral compass begins to show significant cracks under the pressure of his decisions.

The narrative structure of "Save the Last One" is particularly effective, using a non-linear approach that builds suspense and deepens the emotional impact of Shane's ultimate decision. The episode opens with a glimpse of a shaven-headed Shane, limping and distressed, before revealing the harrowing events that led to this moment. This technique not only keeps viewers on the edge of their seats but also emphasizes the episode's theme of sacrifice and what it takes to survive.

Shane's transformation is the centerpiece of this episode. His harrowing choice to sacrifice Otis not only saves Carl but also marks a turning point for his character, illustrating the brutal calculus of survival in their new world. This act, and his subsequent lie to the group, sets up future conflicts and further explores the moral ambiguity that pervades the series.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, the emotional struggles of the other characters, particularly Rick and Lori, are portrayed with nuance and depth. Their conversation about whether a world filled with such horror is worth living in for their son adds a philosophical layer to the episode, questioning the very nature of survival and hope in a world overrun by the dead.

"Save the Last One" is a pivotal episode in the second season of "The Walking Dead," showcasing the series' ability to blend intense action with deep, character-driven storytelling. It challenges viewers to consider the cost of survival and the ethical dilemmas faced by the characters, making it one of the season's most memorable and impactful episodes.

9.1/10

[CillianMurphyEnthusiast · 9/10 · 13 August 2023]

"Hell, I was younger than her and I got lost. Nine days in the woods, eating berries, wiping my ass with poison oak" -Daryl Dixon. So far, all three episodes of season 2 are 9.1's for me and they all get better each episode. It starts off with a great opening shot of Shane with his hair cut and then it goes to the intro. Daryl starts caring about Carol in this episode and goes out looking for Sophia because Carol was crying. I now remember why Andrea is the most annoying character. She made Daryl waste and arrow while they were looking for Sophia. Rick and Lori seeing Coral go through the seizure is such an emotional moment. I didn't like Glenn as much after he met Maggie. He was one of my favourite characters and now he's just a character. Where is Jimmy? Bro showed up once with a baseball bat when Rick came to the farm and we haven't seen him since. He should be helping Hershel. Bro's in his bedroom practicing holding his gun sideways. The ending of this episode was amazing. Finding out that Shane killed/sacrificed Otis to the walkers, in order to save Coral.

Wow,Shane is itself of action and drama

[byramfurkanefe · 10/10 · 1 September 2021]

Shane's to leave alone Otis was so good explained. Carl's war of survival was exticed and enjoyed. Also we saw Shane's preparing for this world and he is one of most dark character in show.my favourite part is "how many bullets do you have left" .It is amazing.

It's good, but I don't know how to judge whether what Shane did was right or wrong.

[XueHuaBingYu · 6/10 · 29 June 2019]

This episode is all about Shane and Otis are trying to get medical apparatuses from the school which is surrounded by a lot of zombies. Meanwhile, Rick and Lori are worrying about Carl. Carl's condition is so bad and needs a lot of blood. And so, his father, Rick is giving him how much he needs. I feel sad for Carl because he's just a little kid and has to go through all of that.

While I watching this episode, I thought they wouldn't show what happened while Shane and Otis were trying to get out of that place. But at the end of the episode, they showed. I thank them for that. Otherwise, it would be another question again.

It's so sad that Shane left behind Otis to draw attention of zombies to Otis, so that he can be free. But because of what he did, Carl survived. Furthermore, the reason why Carl has to go through all of that was Otis' fault. So, I don't know how to judge whether what he did was wrong or right. But it's so good to see Carl's in a good condition.

All in all, although this episode seems to be so drama, but it's not that much boring and while I was watching it, I was so eager to see how they are going to escape. It really kind of gave me a heart attack because they were in terribly large number of zombies. Basically, there's no way to escape. When Shane got home and saw what he did, I don't even know the words to say. Anyway, the walking dead always make me surprised and that's why I love it so much.

At times a bit of a stumble.

[devinpbuffington · 7/10 · 29 June 2023]

The reason a lot of people look back on season 2 with distaste is because they say it's "boring", and there is a lot of talk of few zombies and lots of melodrama.

This episode is a hard one to use as a defense against that point. There is a lot of melodrama here. Carol is still upset over Sophia, Lori and Rick seem to never stop bickering over what to do with Carl, Glenn is obviously lovestruck by Maggie, and Shane is clearly going through some stuff at the start of the episode.

There are two plot lines that do keep me interested in this episode for future rewatches though:

• Shane sacrificing Otis to get the supplies back. At the time it seemed incredibly cruel and depraved, but on a survival sense it was a really good idea to get himself away from the horde. This is what people mean when they say Shane was ahead of the curb for survival in this world.

• Daryl and Andrea. This plotline is great because we get more insight into who Daryl is and some of the abuses he took as a kid, but we also get needed levity from all the tragedies through Daryl and Andrea taking pot shots at one another through the form of making fun of one another.

Not a terrible episode by any means, but not up to par with episodes 1&2.