HOLLYWOOD—I’ve always known that the AMC hit show “The Walking Dead” was bloody violent, but I never realized how violent until the season five premiere. The first few minutes of the episode “No Sanctuary” proved that humans are more brutal to their kind than we ever expected. The fourth season wrapped with the gang being held captive by some not so nice humans at Terminus, and they proved to be bloody evil.
Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Glenn (Steven Yeun), Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Bob (Lawrence Gilliard, Jr.) have to sit and watch as members of their crew one by one are viciously struck with a bat before having their throats slit. As Rick becomes the next target, an explosion erupts temporarily halting the mass execution. The episode was a bit tricky as it went back and forth to chronicle the story of those at Terminus. They were once hunted, but have now become the hunters.
Carol (Melissa McBride) and Tyrese (Chad Coleman), continued to search for sanctuary as they oversaw Judith’s safety. They stumbled upon a member of Terminus who was definitive that his crew would come to his rescue. As Tyrese, stayed to oversee their new prisoner, Carol implemented her plan to rescue Rick and the others by camouflaging herself in zombie blood and drab as she set off an explosion at Terminus. Rick managed to escape and turn the tables on his captors, as he and his crew went on a bloodbath for redemption.
It was absolutely disturbing to see the brutality that one human can inflict onto another human. This was no longer a fight of humans against zombies it was humans against humans, but who will come out on top? Gareth (Andrew J. West) and the rest of his followers were cannibalistic survivors to say the least and had very little shame in apologizing for their actions. Carol proved to be one hell of a badass, but almost found herself at the mercy of a Terminus fighter, but of course Carol got the upper hand. When it came time to finish off her attacker, she chose to allow the flesh eating zombies to do their work. Classic!
In perhaps one of the most disturbing moments in the shows history, Tyrese finds himself at the mercy of his captor as he turns the tables. That scene where he literally wraps his arms around baby Judith’s head threatening to snap had me on the edge of my seat. The writers really would go there would they? We know when it comes to “The Walking Dead” no one is safe, but this was too much. He forced Tyrese out the cabin as the walkers had invaded. When things grew silent, Tyrese made his move beating his captor to a pulp to protect Judith. This guy is indeed a softie, but don’t push him otherwise, you’ll wish you hadn’t.
As Carol, Rick, Tyrese and the rest of the gang reunited, they soon discovered that they can trust no one, except for their elite trope. This later parlayed to the group being weary of a preacher they rescued in “Strangers.” Father Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) is a man of God, but all is not as it appears, as its apparent Father Stokes is keeping a major secret from Rick and the rest of the crew. He provides them with brief sanctuary in his church and provides them with food. Unfortunately, the gang allows the common motif in a horror movie to surface as they decide to ‘split up.’ This leads to both Beth and Bob vanishing.
I will acknowledge the final moments of episode two left me gagging, as Gareth and his crew were responsible for abducting Bob. His vision is a bit blurry and we soon discover Bob learns first hand the brutality of this crew as they chopped off his leg. What’s worse? Gareth boasts about how tasty he is, as they indulge in eating him. Yuck! It looks like the first half of season five will be a battle between Rick and his crew, versus Gareth. One tries to survive, the other kills humans to survive. “The Walking Dead” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.
By LaDale Anderson
