"Aliens that swoop down,pluck Timmy from the well,eat Lassie and go back to Omega-3."
I like it.
That said, I liked the first half of this season. A LOT.
I was rather shocked that the Terminus angle played out as quickly as it did, but then again, if it had dragged on for several weeks or longer, woudln't it just be another Woodbury? Beth in the hospital was this half-season's recurrent storyline. I like that it was wrapped up, even though I hate how it was done.
As for Father Gabriel, I can't really see him being anything more than a minor character. He reached his epiphany regarding the nature of the Terminus crowd when he saw the leftover Bob-B-Que, but I'm not so sure that he's made the leap to full-fledged zombie killer. You could see that when he tossed the female zombie off, picked up a rock to crush her skull, and then couldn't finish the deed when he was the cross around her neck.
Rick is acting like Shane....
No.
Rick has become more ruthless, some of the Ricktator is back, but other than that he's nothing like Shane.
Shane wanted to lead the group not because he felt he was the better leader, but because he wanted Lori, and he was willing to kill Rick AND endanger the entire group to get her.
Rick is focused on leading and protecting his people. A good example is how they approached getting Beth and Carol back.
Shane would have gone in, guns blazing. Rick also wanted to take that approach.
Shane never would have moved away from that position. Trade even up? Hell no, go in and kill them. Rick's willingness to try a different method, one with less possible potential of bloodshed and which would be mutually beneficial, shows that he's not a Shane.
I think in a lot of ways Shane was a lot more like the Governor. Relentless, vicious, and once he decides on a path, nothing will change his mind.