I agree the book is a minor thing that won't be brought up again. But it does give us more insight into Daryl, even if we never do find out why he picked it up. When we consider what Daryl was like at the beginning of the series, that Daryl would never have picked up a book, period. It shows his growth, part of what they revealed in that episode, that he's grown up and/or grown into himself. Its also important because its something "useless" in terms of survival. Its not food, weapon or ammo. I thought it was a great illustration of everything they were talking about in the episode.

I don't generally like characters getting killed off, even when I don't like the character, but in this case, I must admit there was some satisfaction.

I am just really glad it was Beth and not Carol that was shot. Even though it was kind of ridiculous and totally meaningless. It’s like the writers decided the mid-season finale needed a death and they simply shoved one in at the end. “I get it,” said Beth, in her final words. Oh, well. That’s good, then. Could you have stayed alive long enough to explain it to the rest of us? Because we don’t get it at all. Beth essentially gave up her own life and risked the lives of every other person in that hallway. Is it so wrong of us to want an answer as to why? We suppose the whole drawn-out thing with Dawn and her slavemaster ways was meant to come across like some sort of psycho-mind game-power play kind of thing and Beth simply broke at the end when Dawn demanded Noah’s return, but it never really came across that way. Dawn, for all her nastiness, was pretty minor-league as villainous psychos go in this world (no heads in fish tanks or feet on the barbecue), and Beth never seemed to have any reaction to her other than mild disgust. We would have to believe that Beth was broken and pushed past her limits in order to willingly surrender her own life that way. It was just … pointless. All that buildup and it came down to Beth acting stupidly and impulsively. Even the actors had a hard time selling this one. Everyone except for Maggie looked totally confused in the last few seconds, like they had no idea how they were supposed to play the scene.

But I think the most disappointing thing about this episode, after the truly fantastic pacing and plotting of this season, was just how deadly dull it was. WAY too many “Let’s talk about our feelings” scenes which were, in the grand TWD tradition, so stiffly written and lethargically performed that I’d swear someone literally said “Let’s talk about our feelings” at one point.

I must say I'm sick to death of the preacher. Should have killed him off instead of Beth. Beth was just beginning to turn into a competent survivor. Somewhat hardened, but still believing in the possibility of goodness. The group, getting darker and darker would definitely have benefited from her point of view. Especially since she was learning to speak out. And maybe that's part of why she was killed off - the writers wouldn't be able to fit her back into the group. Also, she's always been a minor character, and this arc, I think, would have given her a bigger, more important role in the group and its always possible they didn't think the actor could do a good job playing that role. It may be the reverse of the Carol role - that was supposed to be a minor role and the character was intended to be killed off in season 3, but as the producers realized what the actor could do they changed their minds.

I actually disagree with you about Dawn. I think she was, in a great many ways, worse than other villains. She gave the appearance of sanity and civility - may have actually believed herself justified in all she did. But she was insidious, not only creating a scheme of slavery, but pretty much allowing systematic physical abuse of the slaves and condoning rape. She was a manipulative user, who, as Beth accused, wouldn't do her own dirty work, instead conned others into doing it for her. The thing is with people like the Governor, the termites, even Shane and Merle, they can only hide their character for a short time span and it quickly becomes apparent that they need to be dealt with. Someone like Dawn can hide for years, dragging good people down with her. The very fact that she seems minor-league evil is what makes her so dangerous.

I do agree, the writers don't seem to be too sure where they're going and a lot that's happened seems to be forced for "dramatic" reasons. Characters not acting in character, people (the preacher in particular, but others too) doing stupid things so the whole group ends in peril. Like Carol getting hit by the car, Rick murdering his hostage, Rick giving in to the whole hostage plan in the first place, Daryl arguing for the hostage plan, Maggie seemingly unconcerned about Beth, not mentioning or asking about her since the prison, and other stuff I don't remember off the top of my head.