Group 2 is definitely stronger. It's a survival of the fittest, right? (Aside from a few, aka Beth and maybe Carol)

Hershel has shown he's good with a gun. So has Carl. So has Maggie. They're all stronger. Especially as they decide not to search for Andrea when they searched for Sophia.

 

Group 2 has more experience and better strategy to deal with walkers. However, they've lost a large shear of capable fighters such as Shane, T-Dog, Lori,and Dale. They have however, picked up a competent medic/farmer by the name of Herschel Green whose able to treat them if they ever got wounded in battle, and provide food for them which will be beneficial long term, and of course Maggie while still not as skilled as Andrea or Shane can hold her own in battle as well, and Carol has now become useful secondary medic. Group 1 has more capable fighters for zombie attacks, but less experience in forming strategies to deal with large walker groups, and due to Rick and Shane's pissing contest at this time their overall cohesion as a group is less stable than the ones in season 3. In addition the skill set for members in group 1 are lacking, with most of them taking the roles of either scouts or fighters, while others are completely useless at this time (Carol) Overall while group 1 has better fighters, Group 2 has overall more experience, leadership skill, and a better skill set in their members when it comes to survival.

 

Group two have Axel now as well? Or has he not proved himself enough to the group yet for people to call him part of it?

 

Here's my analysis from a zombie killing point of view.

Rick from group 2 is approximately the same, maybe a little stronger than group 1 Rick. a little more experience and no more bitches (Lori and Andrea) to annoy him every episode.

Group 2 Glenn is stronger than group 1 Glenn. More experience and more of a badass.

Both groups daryl is pretty much the same.

Group 2 Carol > Group 1 Carol (whiny bitch). She's not as whiny as anymore and can actually kill zombies now.

Group 2 Carl > Group 1 Carl. Older, braver, stronger, more experienced, can shoot a gun, etc...

T-dog=T-dog

Missing Andrea>>>>>>Andrea

Dead Lori>>>>>>>>Alive Lori

hershel=Dale

In terms of zombie killing, Shane>>>>>>Maggie

 

This was in season 2 finale, when the group re-grouped at the highway. Axel was still locked away in the cafeteria at this time.

 

Dude Herschel>>Dale.

 

Why? Because he's on dat dere infinite ammo time?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P224BTri7RQ


0 reloads were spotted/heard that day.

 

Herschel brings medical training, farming, and is a good shot. What does Dale bring to the table you ask.... well he's a good morale compass for the group,has transportation, and is somewhat a good at looking out for walkers when on top of his RV. Now, if we compare both, Herschel has more useful skills to survive a zombie apocalypse, while Dale has his insistent bitching whenever the group does something morally grey for survival. I'm sure If Herschel had died and Dale had lived, he would be bitching to Rick for a couple episodes about killing Tomas in cold blood, and state Rick is getting more like Shane.

 

Based on their skills and experience now, I'd have to say the group is stronger now than it was in the earlier seasons. They are stronger, they've built a trust and strategy for how to survive, and I think that gives them the edge.

 

So T-Dog hasn't improved at all from season 2 in your opinion ?

 

Well in my opinion he seems more calm and collective when it comes to the undead horde. Remember in season 2 when Daryl had to save him from a walker, or in season 1 where he left Merle at the sign of walkers. Yet in season 3 we see him fighting side by side, with Glenn,Rick,and Maggie when they first got the prison.

 

I never asked for an explanation. I answered my own question.

 

I think Group 1 was stronger, thought they both have ups and downs (no medic before g2).

In group one we have Shane, Andrea, and Dale, who are later replaced with Maggie, Beth, and Hershel at point 2.

Hershel is slightly better in terms of contributing to the group than Dale but we also loose Andrea and Shane, who are much better contributions to the group than Maggie and Beth. Sure Maggie gets a backbone later on and starts contributing, but she and Beth weren't that great in the beginning. Compare toShane and Andrea, who definitely could have contributed in some way (I say this because Andrea was sick for the first 8 months or so). Beth is really just a deadweight; Lori is too but it wasn't like she wasn't in the group before.

Of course Carl has his setback too but that can easily be remedied by more training and stuff so I wouldn't make a big deal over it.

Rick didn't change much except for his mindset but I think he'd get used to it and change (albeit probably slower than he did). And we have Shane. So that's a plus.

G1 Lori > G2 Lori. At least she wasn't whining because

G1 still have to go through change and stuff, so it's not like Shane's death propelled the group to do awesome things. They would have changed or died. So I choose G1 over G2.