Sick

It's sick what rick is willing to do at this point.

Had heard nothing but great things about 'The Walking Dead' from friends and IMDb reviewers. It took a while to get round to watching, both from being busy and also not being sure whether it would be my cup of tea. Finally getting round to it a few years ago and slowly working my way through it, having had a very long to watch and review list, 'The Walking Dead' turned out to be very much my cup of tea and as good as the hype made it out to be, have found it extremely addictive.

Actually really liked Season 2, where the weakest episode ("Cherokee Rose") was very good still, but do share others' feelings about many episodes being on the talky side and moments of slowness. Season 3 however got off to a brilliant start with "Sick" and the brilliant quality is there too in "Sick". And a strong reminder of how Seasons 1-5 of 'The Walking Dead' to me were absolutely brilliant and seeing the show in its full glory days (Season 6 was uneven, Season 7 was a huge disappointment and am still debating whether to watch Season 8). It is as emotional, complex and as tense as one would expect , at the same time it has adrenaline and guts.

It still shocks me at how an intelligent, well-made (so much so that it is easy to mistake it for a film) show about zombies could be made when so many films have tried and failed abysmally to do so.

"Sick" is one of the tightest, most exciting, most action-packed, most suspenseful and most emotionally investable episodes of the show in general. One of the season's best and a show high-point.

Like all the episodes of the show, "Sick" is incredibly well made in the production values, with gritty and audacious production design, photography of almost cinematic quality, effects that look good, have soul and are not overused or abused and pretty frightening make-up that make the zombies even more terrifying. The music is haunting and affecting, having presence but never being too intrusive.

The writing generally is intelligent and thought-provoking, with lots of tension and emotional resonance and already showing signs of character complexity and multiple layer storytelling. The more eventful scenes are thrilling and terrifying as well as uncompromising.

Appreciated the ever strong and still progressing story and character building, with great development for Rick, Beth having more to do and the Rick and Lori relationship having intensity and heart. The human drama is balanced well with the action, which the episode wastes no time in getting to. Also that the pace is never dull or rushed, being taut but with room to breathe. There is a lot of tension in the action and the more emotional elements are genuinely moving (like with Maggie and Beth, and with Hershal) and Rick's decisions are conflicted and not illogical.

Everything is tautly paced without rushing through the more important parts and emotionally complex. The world building is stunningly immersive and effective. Direction is smart and atmospheric while the show throughout has been strongly acted. Andrew Lincoln is an excellent lead and it is wonderful for Emily Kinney starting to have much more to do.

Overall, brilliant once again. 10/10 Bethany Cox

"Sick" delves into the immediate repercussions of the group's discovery of other survivors within the prison, setting the stage for a tense exploration of trust, territory, and leadership. The episode adeptly navigates the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by Rick and the group as they encounter the prison's remaining inmates. This situation presents a complex web of challenges, highlighting the precarious balance between survival and humanity that defines the series.

The negotiation and eventual conflict with the inmates serve as a microcosm for the broader themes of governance, justice, and the social contracts that underpin human society. Rick's leadership is put to the test, showcasing a darker, more pragmatic approach to decision-making. This evolution is a poignant reflection of the toll the apocalypse has taken on him, blurring the lines between hero and anti-hero in the pursuit of safety for his group.

"Sick" also continues to build on the internal dynamics of the group, particularly focusing on the strains and bonds that have formed. The episode does not forget the personal stakes involved, especially with Lori's pregnancy advancing and the group's realization that safety is an illusion, even within the walls of the prison. These personal narratives enrich the larger survival story, offering a multifaceted look at the characters' struggles to maintain their humanity.

The resolution of the conflict with the inmates, while offering a temporary sense of security, also raises unsettling questions about the future. The episode's conclusion, marked by a sense of unease and moral ambiguity, sets a compelling precedent for the season. "Sick" is a testament to the series' ability to intertwine action-packed sequences with deep, character-driven storytelling, further solidifying its place as a nuanced exploration of the human condition in extremis.

Plot In A Paragraph: As Hershel's health deteriorates, Rick is convinced the prison is their new salvation, but they have already encountered surviving prisoners and walkers.

Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is confronted with decisions he doesn't really want to make. Mainly what to do with some surviving (and quite clearly dangerous) prisoners still in the prison. That is one of the great things I love about The Walking Dead. It doesn't present a clear answer to these questions.

The diplomatic Rick tries striking a bargain with surviving prisoners. It's obvious from the start this is a mistake. We know as viewers it's not going to work out.

This episode has loads of action but it offered some real emotional moments too as Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Beth (Emily Kinney) deal with the possible death of their father. It goes back and forth between the near-death Hershel (Scott Wilson) and Rick, Daryl (Norman Reedus), and T-Dog (IronE Singleton) dealing with walkers and prisoners.

We didn't see any of Andrea (Laurie Holden) or Michonne (Danai Gurira) in this episode. It never leaves the prison, which is a shame as I was looking forward to seeing more of Michonne.

Rick, Daryl, and Theodore help some prison inmates clear the walkers out of a cell block.

In the same vain as the previous episode this is an action packed, bloody episode that also has some touching character moments.

The plot follows two threads. One is full of gory action and zombie thrills, whilst the other has some suspense of its own, but also some quite touching scenes. It all unfolds well with a good balance of spectacle and character moments.

There are some interesting moments of human behaviour in its primal state that 'The Walking Dead' always portrays well. We have two groups of people unknown to each other who potentially need to share resources and one leader in Rick who has much to protect. How Rick handles this not only shows a brutally realist response, but also how much he has changed since the first two series. Andrew Lincoln gives another strong lead performance.

All other performances are strong yet again, particularly Lauren Cohan who is brilliant in one very emotional scene between Maggie and her father.

Similar to the previous episodes the horror scenes are incredibly well made, full of great art design, sickening effects, creepy lighting, great cinematography, and strong editing.