Tavern Cellar

The Walking Dead: Infected – Sickness, Sacrifice, and Suspicious Deaths (Season 4, Episode 2)

Originally aired: October 20, 2013. 13.95 million viewers tuned in – the tension was thicker than a walker’s skull! Written by Angela Kang and directed by Guy Ferland.

The Prison: From Paradise to Plague-ville:

“Infected” picks up right where “30 Days Without an Accident” left off, with the prison community facing a new and terrifying enemy – a deadly flu. Just when they thought they had a handle on things, the apocalypse throws them another curveball.

Key Plot Points:

• Patrick’s Party (of the Undead Kind): Remember Patrick, the sweet little kid from the prison? Yeah, he’s not so sweet anymore. He reanimates as a walker and starts munching on his fellow survivors in Cell Block D. It’s a bloodbath, and the group is understandably freaked out. Talk about a rude awakening!
• Quarantine Time: Separating the Sick from the Still-Kicking: The survivors realize they have a serious problem on their hands. They quarantine those who are showing symptoms of the flu, including Karen and David. Dr. S, the prison’s resident medical expert, suspects that the illness is spreading through contaminated food or water. Carol, ever the pragmatist, helps those who are sick while also preparing the others to defend themselves. It’s like a zombie apocalypse version of “The Crazies”!
• Rick’s Sacrifice: Bye-Bye, Bacon: Rick and Daryl discover that walkers are piling up at the fence, attracted by someone who’s been feeding them rats. Seriously, who does that?! The weight of the walkers is threatening to breach the fence, and Rick is forced to make a tough decision. He sacrifices the group’s pigs to lure the walkers away. It’s a heartbreaking moment, but it shows Rick’s willingness to do whatever it takes to protect his people. Sorry, pigs, but you’re bacon for the greater good!
• Carol’s Tough Love: Lizzie, Honey, Walkers Ain’t Pets: Carol, who’s become a master of tough love, tries to teach Lizzie, a young survivor, how to deal with the harsh realities of the apocalypse. Lizzie is still struggling to understand the difference between the living and the dead, and she’s formed an attachment to a walker. Carol, bless her pragmatic heart, tries to set her straight. Someone needs to give this girl a copy of “The Zombie Survival Guide”!
• Karen and David: The Mystery of the Burning Bodies: Tyreese discovers the charred remains of Karen and David, who were quarantined with the flu. It’s clear that someone killed them and burned their bodies to prevent them from reanimating. But who? The mystery of the burning bodies adds a new layer of tension and suspicion to the prison community. Dun dun dun!

Themes and Meanings:

• Community: Stronger Together (Until They’re Not): The flu outbreak and the walker threat show how fragile the prison community is. Even with their organized systems and defenses, they’re still vulnerable to both internal and external dangers. It’s like a house of cards, just waiting for the wind to blow.
• Sacrifice: The Price of Leadership: Rick’s decision to kill the pigs is a reminder that leadership often requires making difficult choices. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice something precious to protect the greater good. It’s not easy being the boss, especially when you have to kill pigs.
• Innocence: Lost and Found (and Lost Again): Lizzie’s struggle to understand the walkers and her attachment to one of them highlights the challenges of maintaining innocence in the apocalypse. It’s a world where children are forced to grow up fast, and sometimes, they lose their way. The apocalypse is no place for a tea party.

Little Details You Might Have Missed:

• The rats at the fence suggest that someone is deliberately trying to sabotage the prison. Who’s the rat in the ranks? The suspense is killing me!
• Carol’s increasingly pragmatic approach to survival foreshadows her willingness to make tough decisions, even if they’re morally ambiguous. Carol’s not messing around anymore. She’s gone full-on Mama Bear.
• Rick’s actions in this episode, including his decision to sacrifice the pigs, show that he’s slowly returning to his leadership role, even though he’s still struggling with his grief and trauma. Rick’s back in the saddle, and he’s ready to ride this apocalypse out!

Stats and Stuff:

• Walker Kills: 20+ (it’s a zombie-slaying bonanza!).
• Human Deaths: 4+ (the flu is taking its toll).
• Survivor Count: Dwindling, and the tension is rising.

My Final Verdict:

“Infected” is a tense and emotional episode that throws the prison community into chaos. The flu outbreak, the walker attacks, and the mysterious deaths of Karen and David create a sense of paranoia and mistrust. This episode is a reminder that the apocalypse is a constant battle for survival, and even the most organized communities are vulnerable to collapse. What did you think of the episode? Who do you think killed Karen and David? Let’s discuss in the comments!