I felt like watching the episode again. And here’s the thing about that whole opening sequence, the one that shows what happened in the hospital.

It illustrates the point I’ve been trying to make about Shane. He was in a fucked-up situation and he had to make impossible decisions. Can we just acknowledge how many times that’s happened to him? And can we also acknowledge that, as always, he was trying to do the right thing? He went back for Rick. He tried to get Rick out. He listened to Rick’s chest and he did not hear a heartbeat. He believed Rick was dead. That wasn’t just some bullshit line he recited to Lori, that was the goddamn truth. Shane thought his best friend was dead, and there was nothing he could do. So he put the gurney in front of Rick’s door, and he got Lori and Carl to safety. I fail to see the ‘wrong’ in any of that.

And, okay. His outburst in the CDC facility.

The man was drunk, first of all. How many of you can say that you’re proud of all the shit you’ve done while drunk? ‘Cause I sure as hell can’t. But listen to the desperation in his voice. Look at the pain and the guilt and the regret all over his face. He was trying to make Lori understand. He was looking for validation, too, because yeah, he was up to his eyeballs in doubt. No, it wasn’t the best way to go about it, especially after putting away at least an entire bottle of wine. It was extreme, but that’s what Shane’s like. And did you pay any attention to his expression when Lori pushed him off? He was honestly fucking horrified at what had happened. But he didn’t say a single thing that wasn’t true, or right. His delivery sucked, but again, that’s Shane. He gets it ass-backwards a lot of the time, no matter how good his intentions are.

But I’ll shut up now. Because it’s late, and I’m sick, and when it comes to defending this man I could go all fucking night.

So, yeah, I’m done.

(Again, haters can stay the fuck away from this post, please and thanks. I’m not interested in your opinion - and if you don’t like mine, block me.)