Season 3, episode 11

I Ain't A Judas

As the group debates their next move, Andrea returns only to find herself less than welcome.

Following The Governor's attack on the prison in the previous episode, Rick and the others meet in the cell and discuss their next steps. Hershel wants to leave the prison, while Rick and Glenn want to try and hold out against The Governor if he attacks again. Merle, who has been locked up, tells the group that The Governor has enough firepower to kill all of them, and no doubt already has scouts keeping watch on not just the prison, but any way in or out. Rick then walks away from the group, prompting Hershel to yell at him to do something.

Outside the prison, Rick looks on at the yard near the front gate, which has once again been infested with walkers. Carl joins him, and they have a discussion about their current circumstances. Carl tells his father that he should stop being the leader for a while, take a rest and let Daryl and Hershel do the work. Rick just glares at him.

In Woodbury, The Governor orders everyone who is thirteen and older to be conscripted to fight for Woodbury. Andrea, who has learned about the prison attack, goes to him and asks why he did it. When The Governor says that Rick made the first move, Andrea offers to go to the prison group and make a truce with them.

In the prison, Hershel and Merle talk about their experiences so far, and how they've both lost a body part over the last few months. Merle warns Hershel that The Governor will not spare anyone at the prison, and will only leave Rick alive long enough so he can watch his friends and family die. Carol also visits Daryl and says she's glad that he's returned, but also warns him to make sure Merle doesn't drag him down.

Back in Woodbury, a resident named Karen is bothered that The Governor is forcing her asthmatic teenage son to fight. When she approaches Martinez and asks him why, he tells her raising an army is the only way to defend the town. Later, she tries to convince The Governor to excuse the boy, but he ignores her request.

Andrea goes to Milton's lab and asks for his help to leave Woodbury so she can travel to the prison. Milton is shocked at the idea, and goes to The Governor's apartment for advice. There, he finds The Governor placing an eyepatch over his wounded eye, and asks what to do. The Governor tells him to help her.

Milton and Andrea head through the forest, where they encounter a lone walker. Andrea asks Milton to help her, and he holds the walker down as she removes its arms and teeth like Michonne's pet walkers. They move through the forest with the armless walker in tow, and discover Tyreese's group, who have been living there since leaving the prison. Andrea tells Milton to take Tyreese and the others back while she continues to the prison.

Carl is keeping a lookout when he spots Andrea and the walker moving towards the prison. Rick and the others mobilize a defensive formation as they approach the fence, and as they bring Andrea inside, they frisk her weapons and coldly welcome her back. Andrea enters the prison and greets the others, and learns of the deaths of Lori, Shane, and T-Dog. Andrea tries to negotiate a truce, but Rick and Hershel are doubtful that The Governor will do anything besides attempt to kill them again. Andrea says that the Governor claimed Rick drew first blood, and the group tells her he's lying and that he killed one of their own. Frustrated at the group's coldness, Andrea later goes outside and looks around the prison. Michonne also comes out, and Andrea accuses her of turning Rick and the others against her. Michonne delivers a harsh speech to Andrea, accusing her of turning her back on her friends and being under The Governor's influence, while also revealing that Merle tried to kill her after she left Woodbury.

In Woodbury, Tyreese and his group are at the infirmary when The Governor comes to visit them. Tyreese tells him of their experience at the prison and their desire to work, and The Governor asks to hear more.

Back at the prison, Carol and Andrea talk about everything that's happened. Carol reveals Shane's last lie about Randall and how Rick was forced to kill him, shocking Andrea. Carol urges Andrea to kill The Governor by sleeping with him and stabbing him when he falls asleep. Soon after, Rick gives Andrea a car to drive back to Woodbury with, and tells her to be careful. That night, the group sits in the cell block as Beth sings to them. Rick tells Hershel and Daryl that he's going to make a supply run for more weapons the following morning, and warns Daryl not to let Merle cause a problem.

Andrea goes to The Governor and tells him about her experience at the prison, then says she wanted to come back. The Governor insists she belongs with Woodbury, and kisses her. Later, as The Governor sleeps, Andrea stands up and produces her knife, but can't bring herself to kill him. She stands near the window and stares outside, still holding the knife.

Tropes:

• As the Good Book Says...: Merle and Hershel have a discussion about the Bible, in reference to Merle's missing hand.
• Badass Boast: Glenn and Daryl each give one to Andrea, who's trying to plead for peace and is blissfully unaware of The Governor's true nature.
  Glenn: We've taken enough shit from him. If he wants a war, he's got one.
  Daryl: Next time you see Phillip, tell him I'm gonna put an arrow through his other eye.
• Becoming the Mask: Although she maintains her true identity, Andrea is torn between supporting The Governor and the townspeople in Woodbury, and trying to be The Atoner with Rick's group. In the end, she goes back to Woodbury and decides not to kill The Governor.
• Call-Back: Hershel references Rick's "this is not a democracy speech" from "Beside The Dying Fire" while imploring him to do something.
• The Cast Showoff: Emily Kinney (Beth) sings for the rest of the group before Rick tells everyone about his planned scouting run.
• Chekhov's Skill: Andrea uses her knowledge of Michonne's pet walkers (from earlier in the season) to capture one, cut off its arms and jaw and use it as camouflage to get to the prison.
• Chilly Reception: Andrea assumes the prison group will welcome her back after being gone for 9 months. Instead, they come out with guns drawn, roughly bring her inside and frisk her before doing anything else. They're pretty damn hostile to her the majority of her time in the prison, thanks to her ignorance of The Governor's true nature.
• Continuity Nod: Carol finally tells Andrea about Shane's actions (and eventual death) during "Better Angels" and "Beside the Dying Fire", which she didn't know about because she was separated from the group.
• Death Glare: Andrea gets these from the prison group the majority of the time she tries to paint the Governor in a positive light. In particular, Maggie's is extremely chilling and comes with a Badass Arm-Fold.
• Go Seduce My Archnemesis: Carol tells Andrea that it's her duty to go back to the Governor, give him the night of his life, and then kill him in his sleep. Andrea almost goes through with the last step, standing over the Governor, naked, with a knife in her hand.
  • Freudian Excuse: You really get the feeling Carol was inspired by Ed.
• Hidden Depths: Merle surprises just about everyone in the world when he finishes Herschel's Bible quote and mentions Woodbury's "damn fine library".
• Infinite Supplies: Averted. Rick realizes that the group doesn't have nearly enough weapons and ammunition to hold out against the Governor, and tells Daryl and Hershel that he's going to make a supply run the next day.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Michonne delivers one to Andrea after the latter tries to accuse her of turning Rick's group against her.
• Shut Up, Hannibal!: Though it's delivered to a protagonist, the group has no trouble when it comes to coming up with badass retorts to Andrea's pleas for the supposed good nature of The Governor, even Hershel and Carol.
• Just Following Orders: Merle tells Michonne this is why he was hunting her after she left Woodbury.
• Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Having been gone from Rick's group for nine months means Andrea wasn't there to witness them Taking A Level In Badass. Thus, she's unaware of a great number of things.
  • Rick becoming a much colder person, as well as the start of his Ricktatorship.
  • Carol becoming the empowered woman she is.
  • Daryl going from the rough loner to a major member of the group and Rick's very dependable Number Two.
  • Carl maturing and becoming basically a Child Soldier.
  • The group in general becoming much more cynical towards threats, particularly Glenn and Maggie. Even Hershel knows there's no chance of peace with The Governor.
• The Unmasking: Michonne says to Andrea that she went back to Woodbury just to do this, by revealing The Governor's undead daughter and true intentions.
• What the Hell, Hero?: At the beginning of the episode, the group discusses their options. Rick starts to walk away without saying anything, and Herschel yells at him:
  Herschel: GET BACK HERE! You're slipping, Rick, we've all seen it. We understand why, but now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy? Now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear. And do something.
  • Shortly afterward, Carl suggests, alone, that maybe Rick shouldn't be in charge any more.