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‘The Walking Dead’ recap: Season 4, Episode 3, ‘Isolation’ – Metro US

‘The Walking Dead’ recap: Season 4, Episode 3, ‘Isolation’

Walking Dead, episode 3, season 4 Daryl and Michonne on the lam from walkers in “Isolation.” Credit: AMC Network

The flu — and walkers — are spreading fast in “Isolation,” episode 3, season 4, of “The Walking Dead.”

Tension mounts at the start of the episode as the plucky band of survivors discovers that someone has killed and burned the bodies of the first two of the group to come down with the mysterious flu-like sickness that has infiltrated the camp.

Sheriff Rick (Andrew Lincoln) attempts to be console Tyresse (Chad Coleman), who is mourning the loss of his girlfriend Karen, one of the murdered and burned — that is, until Tyresse punches him in the mouth and Rick snaps, straddling the edge of sanity he has walked since his wife died last season.

Problems stack up fast after that. The new arrivals in Cell Block A have to be quarantined, including Tyresse’s sister Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green), but even long-time members aren’t immune from the illness. Glen (Steven Yeun) comes down with the shakes and after a tender moment with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) has to be locked up with them. On top of that, the pump where the group draws water is blocked and the camp is down to their last drops. Of course, the only way to fix that is to journey beyond the fence where walkers are waiting.

While that’s going on, Daryl (Norman Reedus), Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Tyresse prep to find antibiotics for the sick group and Carl (Chandler Riggs) and Herschel (Scott Wilson), sneak to the woods in search of elderberry, a homeopathic remedy to help treat the flu (supposedly good as a tea).

As the sickness intensifies, and the water trickles to nothing, Carol (Melissa McBride), decides to unclog the hose feeding water to the camp and is almost eaten by zombies in the process. And Herschel goes to tend the sick in Cell Block A, even if it means exposing himself to the life-threatening disease.

On the road, Daryl, Michonne, Tyresse and one of the other new arrivals, pick up voices coming over the car radio. Before they can sort out where it is coming from, they run into a swarm of walkers. They try to escape but the vehicle gets stuck on a pile of walker bodies and they have to flee into the woods.

Over the episode, Rick has been investigating who killed and burned the two survivors. He finally confronts Carol, who has taken on the role of protector of the group over the course of this season. He asks if she would do anything to protect the group and she says yes and then he asks if she murdered the two survivors. “Yes,” she replies as the credit rolls.

Notable quotables

“The only thing you can choose is what you are risking your life for.” — Herschel

“When we are out there, sooner or later, we always run.” — Daryl
Grade: B