4.03 "Isolation" - Spoilers

From en.wikipedia.org

[i]In the inner courtyard, Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) explains to Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) how he found Karen and David’s burnt corpses. Tyreese demands Rick to find who did it and bring the killer to him; when Rick tries to calm him down, he turns violent and attacks Rick, punching him in the face. Daryl holds him up, and Carol tries to stop Rick from retaliating, but it’s too late. Rick charges at Tyreese, knocking him down and brutally beating his face. Daryl eventually pulls Rick off Tyreese before it goes any further. Rick looks at his severely injured hand, horrified with what he just did. Dr. S (Sunkrish Bala) and Hershel (Scott Wilson) are looking over a bite victim who got his arm amputated. Unluckily, the victim dies of blood-loss. Dr. S mournfully prepares to put him down. Later, Hershel is bandaging Rick’s hand. He comments on the group’s situation, and that “everything they worked so hard to keep out just found its way in” and briefs Rick of The Flu situation; it is spreading and that another council meeting is being held the next day to decide what they should do. Tyreese is seen digging graves for Karen and David. Bob (Lawrence Gilliard, Jr.) approaches him, telling Tyreese to go see Hershel and make sure he’s alright. Tyreese firmly says that he will only after they are buried. Bob tries to change his mind, but Tyreese glares at him and repeats “once they’re in the ground.” Bob starts to help him dig.

Glenn (Steven Yeun) suggests to Hershel that with Karen and David dead, the infection may have been curbed. Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) suddenly leaves C-Block, coughing violently. She assures Hershel that she’ll go to A-Block, where all the sick people are being isolated, to see Dr. S, who is revealed to be sick as well. At the meeting the following morning, the council eventually reach the consensus that they need medical supplies for treatment. As Hershel mentions that there is an animal hospital facility nearby that could help, Glenn starts to show symptoms of The Flu.

The sick are led into Cell Block A while Carol watches them, wearing a mask for protection. Suddenly, Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino) comes over and tells Carol that she isn’t feeling well. She asks if Carol can tuck her in, but Carol realizes that she might get infected. Heartbroken, Carol gives her a hug and sends her inside the cell block to Glenn before tearing off her mask and sobbing.

Outside, Carol is pumping the water, pointing out to Rick that they are running low. They agree that the next day they will go out to clean the cistern. She suggests to Rick that he should talk to Tyreese, before leaving back to the Prison. Rick cautiously approaches Tyreese who is finishing the graves. He says he’s sorry for hitting Tyreese, and then proceeds to ask him if Karen and David had any enemies or anyone who had a problem with them. Tyreese fiercely denies this then walks off, mocking Rick for spending the day “looking at water pumps” instead of trying to find the murderer.

In the cell block, Rick briefly talks to Carl (Chandler Riggs) to look over the office block, where the most vulnerable survivors are being kept at; the kids and the elderly. Bob and Daryl fuel up a car, and Bob is disturbed when Daryl reveals that it was Zach’s car. Back in A-Block Tyreese, who’s there watching the sick (making sure no one will try to kill them), is asked to join the supply run for medical supplies with Daryl, Michonne and Bob. He refuses at first, but Daryl is able to convince him otherwise, saying he’ll help them more in the run, looking for medicine than there, watching. He bids farewell to a sick Sasha, and leaves with the team.

In the office block, Hershel decides to go into the woods, hoping to find herbs to treat the patients. After a tense moment with Carl saying he can’t leave, they reach an agreement where Carl goes out with him. Outside, Hershel comments that he’d be good without him, and remarks how peaceful it is out there. How safe is out there compared to the Prison. Carl denies, pointing out to a nearby, severely-decomposed walker, and soon one more shows up. Carl prepares to shoot it, but Hershel stops him and tells him that he doesn’t need to. They leave the place with the herbs, with Carl remarking how peaceful it was.

Rick goes to the Tombs and investigates the courtyard. He examines the bloodtrail and takes a closer look at the door. There is a blood pattern on the door with a distinct indentation. Rick sighs and glances away.

Arriving back at the prison, Maggie (Lauren Cohan) sees Hershel entering A-Block and warns him of the sick. Rick overhears the arguing and sides with Maggie. Hershel then proceeds to remind them how they risk their life everyday and every hour, no matter what they do. He says that it isn’t their choice; the only choice being what they are risking it for. Stating he can help the sick, Hershel pulls his bandana over his face and goes into the cell block. He gives Dr. S the herb tea. Suffering heavily from the symptoms, he coughs blood which sprays Hershel’s face. Aware that he’s most likely infected already, Hershel takes off the bandana and wipes his face. He also treats Glenn, giving him encouragement to keep pushing through.

While driving towards the hospital for the supply run, the group hears a voice over the car radio repeating the word “Sanctuary… Sanctuary…survive…” Daryl is distracted by it and hits a few walkers on the road. He stops the car, shocked at the massive herd of thousands of walkers between them and their destination. Daryl drives in reverse and runs over several more walkers but the car eventually gets stuck, forcing them to ditch it while the walkers are still few in numbers. Daryl, Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Bob make it out, but Tyreese stays behind, seemingly in a stupor. Bob eventually snaps him out of it and Tyreese storms out of the car and in a rage, ferociously begins to kill the walkers that are quickly surrounding him, yelling at the others to go as he is swarmed. After running in the woods for a while, the group stops to rest, and notices movement in the bushes. Tyreese comes out, covered in walker guts and blood, but alive and unscathed. They keep moving as the walkers chase after them.

Outside, Carol rigged a distraction for the walkers and is beyond the fences cleaning the cistern. Rick notices this and runs towards her. At the same time, several walkers emerge from the forest behind Carol at the same time a few of the walkers at the fence turn their attention towards her. After a few seconds, Carol finishes cleaning the hose and Rick is able to save her. They both run back towards the fences and make it back inside. Rick tells her that what she did was stupid and careless. As she walks away, Rick tells Carol that he’s noticed how far she’d go to protect the group of survivors. He then asks her if she killed Karen and David: after a moment, she responds to him “yes.”[/i]

Discuss

Ty is a very angry man. I don’t blame him. He doesn’t like the violent part of himself either. I probably wouldn’t either. This is a VERY powerful Ty episode.

Ty does DEMAND that Rick find who the killer is and the cop in Rick can’t not do it. Just like Hershel can’t stop himself from going in the sick ward or Carol can’t stop herself from trying to protect their group from the sick.

I enjoyed Hershel mentoring young Carl out in the woods for not having to shoot the camper walkers. Normally I’m all for killing walkers, but Carl needs to learn he doesn’t have to shoot everything. It’s a minor redemption for their previous woods encounter. I sure hope Carl gets it right. Soon he’s going to be the one having to lead.

It unfortunate that no one has survived the flu yet. Sasha, Hershel, Glenn. I have a feeling one if not all won’t make it. Each one will be missed.

Daryl and Michonne kept the Gouvernor story arc alive. It’s not gone yet.

And OMG. 7,500 Veterinary student walkers? Ew. Those four don’t have much of a chance, but if anyone can pull it off Daryl and Michonne can. I’m surprised Ty didn’t get bit during his ax stalling action.

I have a suspicion that Carol’s body burn won’t come up for a while. I’m not sure it will matter when it does. But if it does she will have to pay for her actions. And we will have lost a great woman in the zombieapocalypse.

Thanks to those 7,500 walkers at the veterinary school I completely forgot the radio. It appears that someone is still broadcasting which means they have sustained power. So even if the broadcast was automated something is continuing to power it which means it is highly likely that someone else is still alive out there with a society. My guess is that whatever it is, it is where the group is headed next.