The Walking Dead: Indifference

When we last left our friends at the prison, the inhabitants were dropping like flies from a mysterious flu, a determined foursome had set out on a quest for anti-biotics, and Rick discovered that Carol had killed Karen and David. How will all of this play out? Here’s where we are after the “Indifference” episode…

I Love To Go A Wonderin’

Bob, Tyreese, Daryl and Michonne seem to be surviving their medicine mission okay even though they are making the trek on foot. They finally come across a gas station with a broken down car. Daryl thinks he can fix it and hopes he can find a battery inside the station’s garage. As they clear away the fallen trees and branches though several Walkers jump out, and all four of our scavengers have a close call. Tyreese, still reckless, nearly gets himself killed by holding on to the arms of a Walker stuck in the branches instead of letting it go to be killed.  He’s starting to grate on my nerves a bit.

Daryl and Bob have some male bonding time where Bob reveals that he has been the last man standing from the previous two groups he had been with. He feels that he is cursed…which is why he is always on the prowl for alcohol. Bob also feels responsible for Zach’s death because if he hadn’t been messing with the alcohol shelf, the shelf wouldn’t have fallen and the Walkers would not have attacked the store. Daryl pretty much tells Bob to shut the hell up and help start the car.

 

The group finally makes it to the veterinary clinic and they find pretty much everything they are looking for. Their exit is (of course) made complicated by the presence of Walkers just about everywhere. They finally make an escape through a window but they almost lose Bob and Bob’s bag of supplies…which includes alcohol and not medical provisions. Daryl is pissssssssssed. The four of them drive home in silence.

The Trouble With Carol

Visiting Lizzie in the sick zone, Carol informs her that the group lost much of their food during the Cell Block D disaster, so she needs to go on a run with Rick. Lizzie tells Carol that she thinks several people will die soon…but at least they will get to come back. Carol explains pretty much what Carl has already told Lizzie – the Walkers aren’t people. Lizzie thinks becoming a Walker still makes you “someone.” I still think she was the one feeding the Walkers outside. She then calls Carol “mom” by accident and Carol stiffens and tells Lizzie not to do that. Man it feels like such a long time since we lost Sophia.

As Rick prepares for their run, he visits the cells that once held Karen and David. He envisions Carol stabbing them in the head and dragging their bodies out to the prison yard to burn. Damn. I’m uneasy about this…why is it just the two of them going on this run? What’s going to happen to Carol? She feels uneasy too. She immediately tells Rick that she was trying to save lives by killing Karen and David. Carol thinks they were a threat, that they were choking in their own blood anyway, and she helped them as well as the group by making it quick. Rick doesn’t really respond.

Carol and Rick come to a neighborhood and begin searching the houses for food and anything that might help the sick folks at the prison. In one house they kill a Walker who falls down the stairs. When the bathroom door opens shortly thereafter…they meet Sam and Ana who have been constantly moving from place to place, searching for a safe home. Dude’s shoulder is dislocated and without missing a beat, Carol lays him down on the kitchen table and fixes him.  Rick considers bringing them back to the prison with them and asks the duo his three questions. Sam and Ana pass the test (off-screen) and offer to help Rick and Carol search the neighborhood for supplies. They agree to meet up in 2 hours.

While searching through the next house Rick and Carol finally have a real discussion about Karen and David. She calls Rick out on his sudden transition from leader to farmer and says that what she did was no different than what Rick did to Shane. Rick claims Shane would have killed him and Carol says Karen and David would have killed him too. She asks Rick to just accept what she did. Carol realizes now that she can be strong and she and Rick reminisce about Sophia and Lori. I’m hoping their bonding experience heals whatever animosity there is regarding David and Karen’s demise, but the discussion is cut short when Carol and Rick come across Ana’s leg. Same doesn’t make it back to the meeting spot within the 2 hours and I assume he’s a goner too. Bummer.

Rick and Carol pack up the car to go home, but Rick has some final words regarding David and Karen. He says it wasn’t Carol’s decision to make…and for all we know the anti-biotics from the veterinary clinic might have helped them to live. He says Tyreese will kill her if he finds out and the rest of the group would want her gone. Carol is surprised Rick is suddenly making decisions again and tells him no one else has to go. Carol cries and doesn’t want to leave without Lizzie and Mika. Rick promises to take care of the girls and assures Carol that she can survive on her own. Carol gets into a car parked on the street and drives off. I yell “nnnnnnnooooooooooooooo!” very loudly and throw a pillow.  

  

I have to say that I am very unhappy with this situation. Carol has really grown as a character and I’ve really started to love her. I understand Rick’s rationale, but she’s not the only person who has ever made a tough or costly decision. If Andrea had not been bit by Zombie Milton last season, would Rick have welcomed her back even though her relationship with the Governor put everyone in jeopardy? I’m pretty sure he would have. Granted, I’m sure Carol will be back at some point…but for now I’m a disgruntled viewer.