Tavern Cellar

The Walking Dead: Hounded – Phone Calls from Beyond, Prison Breaks, and Merle’s Back (Season 3, Episode 6)

Originally aired: November 18, 2012. 9.21 million viewers tuned in – the drama was heating up! Written by Scott M. Gimple and directed by Dan Attias.

Michonne on the Run, Rick on the Phone:

“Hounded” splits its focus between Michonne, who’s trying to escape Woodbury’s weirdness, and Rick, who’s dealing with some serious grief-induced hallucinations. It’s a wild ride, folks.

Key Plot Points:

• Michonne: The Escape Artist: Michonne, being the badass she is, decides she’s had enough of Woodbury and its creepy gladiator games. She makes a run for it, but Merle and The Governor’s goons are hot on her trail. Michonne, however, is not one to be trifled with. She uses her ninja skills (and her trusty katana) to take out a couple of the bad guys and disappear into the woods. But just when she thinks she’s safe, she stumbles upon Glenn and Maggie, who are on a supply run. And guess who shows up to ruin their day? Merle. He captures them and plans to take them back to Woodbury as prisoners. Uh oh.
• Rick’s Phantom Phone Calls: Back at the prison, Rick is having a full-on mental breakdown. He’s hearing phone calls from people who are… well, let’s just say they’re not exactly alive. He talks to Lori, Amy, Jacqui, and even Jim. It’s a surreal and heartbreaking sequence, and it shows just how deeply Lori’s death has affected him. But eventually, Rick realizes that the calls are all in his head, and he starts to come back to reality.
• Andrea: Falling for the Wrong Guy: Andrea, meanwhile, is getting cozy with The Governor. She’s starting to see him as a strong leader and a potential romantic partner. Michonne’s warnings about The Governor’s true nature seem to have fallen on deaf ears. This is not going to end well.
• Daryl and Carol: Reunited and it Feels So Good: Daryl, who thought Carol had died during the walker attack on the farm, is overjoyed to find her alive and (relatively) well. Their reunion is a touching moment, and it shows the depth of their bond. Daryl is becoming more and more integrated into the group, and he’s clearly a valuable member of the team.

Themes and Meanings:

• Survival: The Art of Adaptation: Michonne’s escape from Woodbury and her ability to evade Merle’s men show the importance of resourcefulness and adaptability in the apocalypse. You have to be able to think on your feet and make quick decisions to survive.
• Grief: The Long Road to Healing: Rick’s hallucinations highlight the psychological toll of grief and the challenges of moving on after a devastating loss. It’s a reminder that even the strongest survivors can be broken by emotional trauma.
• Loyalty: The Ties That Bind (and Break): Merle’s capture of Glenn and Maggie shows the complexities of loyalty in the apocalypse. He’s chosen to side with The Governor, even though it means betraying his brother and the people he once knew. Andrea’s growing attachment to The Governor also raises questions about loyalty and the choices people make in desperate times.

Little Details You Might Have Missed:

• Michonne covering herself in walker guts to mask her scent is a clever tactic that harkens back to earlier seasons. It shows her resourcefulness and her willingness to do whatever it takes to survive.
• The voices on the phone in Rick’s hallucinations represent the people he’s lost, each offering a different perspective on his grief and his leadership.
• Andrea’s occasional hesitation around The Governor suggests that she’s not completely convinced of his trustworthiness.

Stats and Stuff :

• Walker Kills (Michonne): 5 (she’s a walker-killing machine).
• Human Deaths: 2 (sorry, Merle’s buddies).
• Survivor Count: Stable at the prison, but Glenn and Maggie are in trouble.

My Final Verdict:

“Hounded” is a suspenseful and emotional episode that deepens the conflict between Woodbury and the prison group. Michonne’s escape is thrilling, Rick’s hallucinations are haunting, and Merle’s return adds a new layer of tension. What did you think of the episode? Were you worried about Glenn and Maggie? Let’s discuss in the comments!