No Sanctuary: A Walking Dead Recap

This week we welcome back, “Rick’s Man hood” to the walking dead, just in time for the season finale that was both full of action and exposition.  The beginning of this episode was deceptively slow as they jumped from the beginnings of “farmer Rick” to present day man on the edge of collapse.  I think the intension of this episode was to show that although he had faith, like Hershel, that they could bring back a life that didn’t involve a kind of savagery, that kind of life isn’t out there to find any more.

It was good to see Hershel again, as I kind of miss his humanity, but it is short lived as the group is captured by Joe and his group of “claiming” marauders.  Now, it is true that Daryl has been traveling with them, but Rick killed a member of their group and that means he has to pay the price.  The harsh reality is that Daryl must also pay a price for standing up for Rick, and that price is “all the way.”  Joe makes it clear that he will be extracting way more than a pound of flesh from Rick’s family.  He intends to beat Daryl to death, Shot Rick in the head, Rape Mishonne, and then make Carl squeal like a pig.  None of which really appeal to Rick, but the large gentleman holding Carl down seems okay with it.

Rick is above all things resourceful this week, using his biting skills he kills Joe in a fit of savage glory.  I honestly don’t think they could have done that any better, unless of course you added a shot of an “Adam’s Apple” hanging from Rick’s mouth while he holds a beating heart in his closing fist.  Blegh!  Still this is huge as we know now; Rick cannot go back to being the peaceful farmer of days gone by.  It’s almost sad how it seems to almost crush him, and yet there is a look in his eye the next morning of quiet acceptance. 

As the reformed group heads for Terminus there is a feeling of uneasiness that hangs over them like a storm rolling in, a thick grey feeling of change in identity.  Mishonne takes the motherly approach to try to keep Carl and Rick together, but Carl is still afraid of who he might be.  It’s a terrifying thing to realize you may have stronger demons than you feared.

At Terminus, the group decides to come in through the back, but to first prep the surrounding area’s with artillery.  A great plan if Terminus was what we hoped it would be, and at first it seemed like it just might be.  However, the grill is going strong and the meat is a little too plentiful, which kept my mind from being able to relax.  Seriously, I got a headache from trying to focus on all the minor details that screamed evil place.  Rick must have been too, because right away he picked up on the riot gear and Hershel’s watch which caused him to snap and attempt an escape.

Terminus is not the sanctuary it appears to be, and the response was to heard the group with a hail of bullets through the train station.  Bonus points if you saw the collection of stripped carcasses.  The first room is a creepy collection of candles that screams unholy ritual and the words “We first, We Always” or something equally as ominous.  See I’m so right; see these people are nutty freaking cannibals!  I kept looking for the Kuru shakes, I mean technically these people should have them for days as well as bad balance and a wealth of other issues.

For now our heroes have been stored in an empty train car to await their fate.  It is Rick that takes the cake for lines this season, as he completely dusts off his farmer persona.  “they are going to feel pretty stupid when they figure it out.”  Figure what out?  “That they screwed with the wrong people.”