Season 3, Episode 2 – Sick

If the second installment of The Walking Dead, Season Three is anything to go by, we have some very good episodes coming our way. I don’t know if a new writing team was hired to do this season, or this is simply the evolution of the characters, but there is a marked difference between the characters of Season Two and those of Season Three.

At the risk of once again comparing the show to the graphic novels, the characters much more closely resemble their comic counterparts. Carl is a calm, calculating zombie hunter. Rick is…well…Rick (read quick thinking badass), and everybody else seems to have gotten on board with the idea that survival requires a somewhat ruthless mentality.

This episode centers around the prisoners discovered in episode one. Right from the jump things go badly. Citing the timeless principle of finders vs. keepers, the prisoners decide they want Rick and company to leave the prison or at least the newly empty cell block (courtesy of Rick and company). Rick’s counter offer is simple: the prisoners can move to a different cell block, leave the prison, or be gunned down in cold blood by Rick’s group. The prisoners do not have the advantage here. Only one of them has a gun (the hot headed, self-appointed leader Tomas), and while they may be hardened killers so is Rick’s numerically superior and better armed group. Suffice it to say they quickly realize there is no choice but to accept the offer.

Again, things do not go well. This is not surprising. People in prison are not known for either their teamwork or impulse control. Tomas, an obvious veteran of prison power plays, tries to turn the situation to his advantage by tossing zombies at Rick and otherwise nearly “accidentally” hitting him with his zombie killing implement, all-the-while chanting the mantra “Shit happens” by way of apology, disdain, and condescension. Rick agrees with Tomas that shit does indeed happen, right before he buries a hatchet in Tomas’ head.

After spending a few minutes deciding who should live and who should die, they manage to whittle the original group of six prisoners down to two. “Looks like you’re the lucky ones,” Rick informs them. True enough I suppose, in a relative sort of way. The prisoners are left with a cell block of their own and a maxim to never come within range of Rick’s group, on penalty of death.

Herschel survives his zombie bite/leg amputation after some touch and go near death experiences, with his friends and family on hand to see him off.

Carol, justly concerned about the future of their medical care (Herschel is the only one with any medical experience), procures a zombie corpse to practice C-sections on, so that she’ll be ready when Laurie eventually gives birth.

Oh, there is also somebody ominously watching Carol while she plays Operation. One of the Governor’s people? Who knows? See you next week.