I hate Michonne.
I love Tyrese.
Shane nearly made me poo my pants.
That was one hell of a cliff hanger.
WTF Rick and a 17 year old?
A few comments on all of your points.
Michonne is SLOWLY getting better. She's breaking the hardass act. When Rick had her at gunpoint and she was saying they need her, what she was REALLY saying is that she needs them. The look in her eyes when Rick first saw her there, you could tell she was glad to see them. I think she will eventually become distant again, but that is her thing. She's definitely becoming a bit more versatile in her emotions though.
Tyreese is amazing. When I saw the hammer, I screamed like a school girl. So excited about him being on the show. And I think, based on what Carl says to Rick in the preview for the second half of the season, that we're going to see something happen between Rick and Tyreese in the comics, and if so, it will be epic.
Shane's return was great. I read an interview with Andrew Lincoln where he said that during that day of shooting, he saw Bernthal just hanging out, watching filming and being out of the way. He couldn't resist it anymore and told him to come over to him and help him with lines. Great bro moment there, I'm sure. It was good seeing Shane back. He'd be SO perfect for this situation. This new Rick and Shane would get along JUST fine.
Great cliffhanger. A lot of possibilities for where they go from here. I'm way too excited about February 10th now.
Rick and a 17 year old? You mean Axel? Or Carl, since he was obviously pissed at the way Axel was talking to Beth?
Also, short hair =/= lesbian. Life lessons brought to you by The Walking Dead.