The Walking Dead: Internment

When we last saw our friends on The Walking Dead, they were dealing with a prison divided. We had the sick, the exposed, and the healthy. We had a rescue group heading to a veterinary clinic for medical supplies, and we also had a scavenger duo searching through nearby neighborhoods for anything that could help the troubled prison community. Unfortunately, we also witnessed Carol's banishment and an uncertain future as Rick headed home solo. Here's where we are after "Internment."

 

 

Where's Carol?

Rick enters the prison gates and Maggie immediately asks about Carol. I figured he would make up a story, at least for a little while, but Rick tells Maggie the truth. He also asks her to keep mum and Maggie says Rick was right to banish Carol. Maggie admits though that she probably would not have had the strength to send Carol away herself. The very brief Carol conversation ends there.  Rick tells Hershel the story as well, but this happens off-screen so we do not get to hear Hershel's reaction. I would LOVE his thoughts on this.  

 

You Shall Not Pass!

The hoard of Walkers at the fences has multiplied. Maggie and Rick use logs and thick tree branches to strengthen the fences, which seems to work...but only for a little while. When Maggie takes off to see what's going down in the sick ward, Rick has no choice but to summon Carl from the quarantined zone to help with the fences. Carl is soooo happy to help and the two share a genuine father/son moment...and I do mean moment. The Walkers completely break through the fence just then and Rick and Carl barely make it to safety. It's up to the two of them now to arm themselves and take out the Walkers. Carl handles the entire situation without missing a beat. There goes the "Carl is reading comic books and having some normal teenager time" idea that we got in the season premiere.

 

Take Your Medicine

Hershel is working his ass off in the sick ward. With the help of Glenn and Sasha (who are nearing the point of exhaustion), he makes the rounds and takes care of the infected people the best that he can. Hershel also takes great care to make sure the dead are moved to a back room...so the other sick folks won't see the whole knife through the head thing. "A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ" he says.

 

Unfortunately, Hershel's calm treatment system goes sour quickly. Sasha passes out, Henry dies but Glenn collapses in a coughing fit before he can stop Henry's transition, a female patient in a neighboring cell becomes a Walker while Hershel cares for Sasha...and then it seems all hell breaks loose in the sick ward. The female Walker attacks Hershel. One of the sick guys comes to Hershel's rescue only to be eaten himself by yet another Walker. Walker Henry attacks a very surprised Lizzie (because you know, Lizzie thinks she can train Walker Henry like a pet), but Hershel saves her before she is bitten. Side note: she's getting on my nerves. Hershel then seeks out Dr. Caleb for help, but surprise! Caleb is a Walker too!

 

Hershel disposes of Caleb and now has to go to extremes to keep the remaining infected patients safe. Taking the gun Caleb had under his bed, Hershel takes out the growing number of Walkers in the sick ward. Maggie blasts her way in as well just as Glenn looks like he's about 30 seconds away from death. Using one of the airbags though, Maggie and Hershel help Glenn to hold on. As much as Hershel had been trying to keep Maggie away...it's a damn good thing she showed up when she did. Soon after, the rescue group returns from the veterinary clinic with medical supplies and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel for Hershel and the sick ward.  

 

Groan. Really?

The episode ends with farmer Rick and Carl peacefully checking on their crop of peas. I'm incredibly relieved that they survived the Walker attack and the sick people are now getting better. We could have just rolled the credits here...but no. The camera pans out to The Governor, who is watching from afar. Ugh.

 

 

This was a VERY intense episode. I lost count of the number of times I said "holy shit!" as something was happening. However, I am not looking forward any future storyline with The Governor...unless he has a pretty quick demise. Then I'm good. I do look forward to seeing how the Carol banishment plays out. Is Daryl going to flip? Is he going to go after her? Will they tell Tyreese that Carol killed Karen and David? There's definitely some drama on the way there and I'm ready for it!