Long story short: This was a wasted season so far.
Basically, everything is more or less in alignment with the comic now. That is, everyone who is alive or dead -- except for one character
-- is consistent with the comic, and they sort of kind of resolved some big differences between comic and show (e.g., Rick's baby being dead -- that kid better not show up on the bus...).
Except for the guy with the crossbow. He's a good addition, but not in the comic. And a few other random characters, but they aren't critical to the story anyway...
Buuuuuut... there was no reason to drag out the actual showdown with the Gov. beyond the fall of Woodbury. None. It added zilch to the story. So far the whole season has been about a bad flu and otherwise we are right where we should have been at the end of last season.
Nothing that happened mattered this whole season, EXCEPT for this latest episode. Nothing. Pure filler.
Hershel should have been dead from waaaaaay back. He basically just filled in for whatshisface with the hat, right down to the lost leg.
Also, losing Andrea was a stupid thing for AMC to do. I Predict they'll reintroduce her -- or another sharpshooter chick (I notice they're kind of grooming that one little girl who saved Tyrell for that) when they come to the next big storyline, which should be...
.
Oh and...