User reviews

This was another refreshimg episode that develops the Guvernnor further as hebstands at a crossroad where he can either choose to become Brian... or The Guvernnor aka Phillip Blake!

I really enjoyed the inner conflict that you could see! I liked the subbtle way it was told, as it was more his actions that defiened him rather than his words! He was affraid of who he would become.. affraid that he liked the things he did, and affraid that he would once again loose what he had gained!

There were a couple of memorable scenes, like the one with Martinez! You can see the darkness.. slowly taking over, and I love that he seems affraid of it!

The end promises something big!

Another episode of AMC's "The Walking Dead" where we don't see Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the rest of our core cast.

Plot In A Paragraph: The Governor and Megan are rescued from the pit by Martinez, who is now in charge of a small camp of survivors. Martinez has made it clear that he's in charge, not the Governor. As time goes by, the Governor decides that the leadership of the group is very weak. He's tries to leave, but he realises they will all have to relocate and he knows exactly where they should resettle.

I'm not a fan of these epiosdes, any sympathy dredged up for The Governor in the last episode is gone, as he is clearly back to his murdering dangerous best. Or worst depending what way you look at it!!

This episode brings things back up to the end of episode 5, so the mid season finale, should feature our core group of survivors again.

The things are kept interesting, after a refreshing pair episode to clear our minds from the prison, now bring us a different side with the same formula of chronic suppressed a mass murderer, Philp is slowly taking control of the situation in a pretty cool way , we get in the skin of the governor and demonstrating what can be a cold person misjudged step earning the respect of tough guys .

Another chapter refreshing as I said the same formula and new environment, another point is the cruelty and evil needed to be the leader, of course not before enjoy it and that is a very focused chapter shows the true sadistic feelings to fight for something.

An episode with some inconsistencies as the death of Martinez without taking advantage of it ... (but it was great and very cruel) .

Good points :

1) is entertaining 2) new scenarios 3) more cruelty 4) The final

Bad points:

1) inconsistencies in the story

Total: 9.4

The Governor, Alisha, Tara and Meghan are welcomed by Martinez's group of survivors. After a patrol of Martinez, Pete, Mitch and the Governor, Martinez plays golf on the roof of a RV. Out of the blue, the Governor kills him and Pete takes the provisional leadership of the group. The Governor also kills him and then he threatens Mitch to assume the leadership of the survivors.

"Dead Weight" is another episode where the writers continue to stall the fans. The last episode was a waste of time, but many viewers have written the clichés that it would be "a great character development" of The Governor. Now the psychopath is back with the leadership of a group; therefore, back to the end of the Season Three, except that it is a different group. The interesting part of the series, the group in the prison, is again forgotten. Now there is only one episode before the break in December and the writers will certainly interrupt the show in its climax. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Dead Weight"

Note: On 15 April 2016, I saw this show again.

Every week I look forward to the Walking Dead despite it's flaws. I see people write reviews bashing the show as if their experts. There are complaints about pointless things that most people would disagree with. But lets not dwell on that. Despite being another Governor-centric episode, this weeks episode was really well done. The pace quickened and the background music was really well placed and done. From the opening scene, the light music set a dark theme. This episode has it share of frights, action, suspense, and just utter awesomeness. Lots of things are tied up quite nicely and the cliff hanger is one of best we have seen in awhile. It sets up all out war for the mid season finale. From the promo, it shouldn't disappoint. "Slow" scenes were for the most part pretty scarce this episode and the characters were usually always doing something. But when there was a slower scene, it made sense and was interesting..considering the suspense and dread that was nicely draped over the majority of the episode. This season has by no stretch been bad. Stop hating and enjoy the show. Learn to enjoy slower scenes because lets face it..action all the time isn't always a good thing. This episode currently has 8.2 rating but it defiantly should be somewhere in the 8.4-8.5 range. After last weeks slower paced episode..this one was thrill ride. Next weeks mid season finale should raise the bar higher.

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.

""Dead Weight", more eventful and gutsy than the previous episode "Live Bait" if not the adrenaline rush of other episodes before and since, does lack other episodes's tautness but it is still a very well done episode. It is yet again 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 a thought-provoking episode with some tension and emotion, though these two are stronger in previous and later episodes.

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.

Maybe "Dead Weight" has spots where it is too coincidence reliant and there definitely could have been more subtlety, failed redemption is a heavy theme but there were times where it could have been dealt with a little more sympathetically.

Like all the episodes of the show, "Dead Weight" 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. The music is haunting and affecting, having presence but never being too intrusive.

The writing is intelligent and thought-provoking, a bit heavy on the talk at times but intrigues still, with lots of slow-burning tension and emotional resonance and shows signs of character complexity and multiple layer storytelling. The more eventful parts are suitably uncompromising.

Appreciated the ever strong and still progressing story, where there is never the mistake of being confused or over-stuffed, and character building, which the episode has a bigger emphasis on, and that the pace is rarely dull or rushed with a mix of alertness and breathing, with some intensity in the more tense parts. The character writing and the character interactions are what is particularly great here, the further development for the Governor was appreciated and it fascinated as well as resonated.

Everything is nicely paced without rushing through the more important parts, not exactly taut all the time but not dull. The world building is already stunningly immersive and effective. Direction is smart and atmospheric while the show throughout has been strongly acted, David Morrissey here is terrific yet again, very commanding with a foreboding edge.

On the whole, very good but it is understandable if it doesn't work for some. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The Governor's return to leadership is explored further as he takes control of a new group and sets his sights on the prison. The episode delves into the Governor's manipulation and deception, showing his willingness to do whatever it takes to protect his new "family." The tension builds as the Governor's plan to take over the prison begins to take shape, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation. The episode also explores themes of power and control, as the Governor seeks to assert his dominance over those around him.

The major flaw of this two-parter is that, as told, there really isn't enough story to justify spending two episodes on it. It's not hard to understand why the writers wanted to: by giving Brian a full hour in "Live Bait" to get to know Lily, Megan, and Tara, they had a chance to get inside his head in a way that made his actions in the following episode more powerful. And even "Dead Weight" had sluggish spots. In particular, Brian's sudden decision to try and get his family out of the camp after he kills Martinez and realizes the new leaders might not be so friendly (and that he might have to kill again) is a pointless plot cul-de-sac; it's arguably there to reinforce Brian's feeling that he's trapped, but it's not necessary, and even the neat visual of a muddy road full of zombies doesn't really redeem it.

Still, this was one of the highlights of the season so far, and goes a good distance towards helping to shore up some of the questionable aspects of the Governor's character. By forcing us to piece together his motives, the writers have succeeded in making the man more than just a vague collection of potential threats. He now has a very clear purpose, and woe betide anyone he decides is in his way. Early in the episode, Martinez tells him and the others that he won't allow any "dead weight" in his group. It sounds like a threat, but turns out to be hollow; Martinez is a decent enough, and it's hard to imagine him stabbing anyone in the back who failed to live up to standards. The Governor, though? To the Governor, everyone is weight. It's just that some of them aren't dead yet.

Not only do they find a horrible prison to horribly survive in, but there is a deadly pig flu rampant, and with all the other things that cause death, this was overkill. The Governor's story in the previous season was the only worthwhile part. Andrea as a stranger in a strange land, Woodbury had its own beginning, middle and end, unlike the prison which is just long, and boring with Rick, who is a likeable actor but he drawls and hams like William Shatner gets legendary crap for. And here again is a beginning, middle and end for The Governor, starting out with nothing, we see him continue his rise from the last episode.

Something new unfolds at a camp outside the prison; the addition of new members may threaten peace. The mortal threat of the living has been a disturbing, central theme throughout the series of "The Walking Dead."

Never was that theme more pronounced as in Season 3, when the Governor, who presented himself as an attentive, protective leader of Woodbury, ultimately killed several members of that town and destroyed it.

Caesar Martinez, one of his cohorts, witnessed the Governor's apparent emotional breakdown and abandoned him in the beginning of this past week's episode.

And now Caesar has returned for the upcoming episode titled "Dead Weight," leading his own group with his own approach toward survival.

The episode's title is bloated with possibilities as to how Caesar perceives his role as leader, especially since his group is exposed to walkers and possibly other survivors in the woods, a scene reminiscent of survivors in Season 1.

As the clear leader of this new group, Caesar even states that "dead weight" won't be tolerated.

Could the dead weight be Tara, Melody and Megan, the group the Governor has adopted to protect?

Could the dead weight be the headless body tied to a tree with the sign "liar" attached to his chest?

Or could the dead weight be the Governor and his proved instability?

In Season 3, the Governor's dominance overshadowed Caesar's persona, in many ways. He was mainly depicted as an accomplice to the Governor's biddings, particularly when the Governor and he killed living soldiers and stole their weapons.

But this season should expose more about Caesar's character and whether the Governor will participate in his regime.

With the Governor standing outside the prison alone in episode 5, fans know he survived more than six months after the fall of Woodbury.

Serving as flashbacks, episodes 6 and 7 present new challenges and new people the Governor, the protagonist, must adapt to. But whether these people survive the walkers and the arrogance of Caesar and the Governor will be seen.

Below are two previews of Sunday's episode. The long clip is an actual scene from the episode; the short one provides an overview.