The Weekly Dead: The post-apocalyptic infection plagues the prison

by Dana J. Hortman, contributor

On this week’s episode of “The Walking Dead,” the prison’s security is questioned as the fence begins to be tested by the number of zombies gathering around the perimeter. Meanwhile, Rick and the “Grimes Gang” brace for the possible outbreak of a mysterious new disease.

Spoiler Alert:

In the opening scene, an unknown character is seen shining a flashlight on the walkers at the fence, and then proceeds to feed one of them a live rat. Who’s fueling the zombies’ appetite? In the meantime, after collapsing dead in the shower and “turning,” zombie Patrick roams into the room of a sleeping Woodbury survivor, where he feeds on the man’s intestines, both passing on his influenza-like illness and turning the man into a zombie. The two of them continue the chain of infection, ultimately claiming the lives of 15 survivors in cellblock D. Worried that the infection is contagious, the community starts a quarantine for those exposed. Another enigmatic moment arrives at the end of the episode, when Tyrese discovers the corpse of Sacha, who was quarantined. Her corpse has been dragged outside and set on fire. Who charred the bodies and why? ls a future rebellion growing within the prison command?

My three obsessions:

1. Carol is becoming the post-apocalyptic version of G.I. Jane. Since the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, Carol has battled with an abusive marriage and Sophia’s death. Up until season four, she was a gentle, kind-hearted soul, struggling to not appear weak in her survival-focused community. In season four, Carol’s attitude has turned rather dark. First, she’s denying the children their innocence by teaching them how to kill zombies with knives. Then she’s scolding young Lizzie, whose father was infected and “turning,” for her hesitation to kill her own father with a knife. Come on, Carol. Don’t let the zombie apocalypse make you hard.

2. Michonne is harboring a mind boggling secret. The intimate moment between her and baby Judith raises a lot of unanswered questions. At first, Michonne wants nothing to do with the infant, but then slowly embraces her, and is overwhelmed with emotion. Did Michonne lose a baby prior to the apocalypse? Or is it the fact that baby Judith still possesses innocence that others lost long ago? I’m thinking it’s the latter.

3. No more bacon for me for a while. Is it sadistic that I was more upset about Rick feeding the pigs to the walkers than the cellblock D attack?

Did you know?

The season four premiere of “The Walking Dead” attracted 16.1 million viewers, overshadowing the series finale of AMC’s other hit show “Breaking Bad,” which drew 10.3 million viewers.