by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
Rick and the gang continue their adventures through the zombie apocalypse with tonight’s highly anticipated return of The Walking Dead. When we last saw our intrepid survivors, they had finally made their way to the mysterious place called “Terminus”. Fans were left to wonder the true intention of the Terminites (Terminators would have been a copyright violation…so we will stick with calling them Terminites), as they forced Rick, Carl, Daryl, and Michonne into a boxcar. Reunited (and now trapped) with the rest of their group, the season finale cliffhanger kicked in after the following statement:
Rick: “They’re gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out.”
Abraham: “Find out what?”
Rick: “They’re screwin’ with the wrong people.”
Spoilers begin now. You have been warned!
The Season Five premiere, “No Sanctuary”, picks up shortly after the events of last season. Rick and the survivors are trying to ready themselves for whatever the Terminites have in store for them, but they will quickly find that their motivations are truly as twisted as possible. As Rick, Glenn, Daryl, and Gary are taken for “processing”, we learn that the previous promise of “those who arrive, survive” is shown to be a complete lie…As many have suspected, the Terminites are actually cannibals! So with that being said, how can our heroes make it out of this trap alive?
For months the creative team and talent from the show have mentioned that the first 6 minutes of the premiere are the darkest and most gutwrenching to date, and I will say it is pretty damn intense. The premiere definitely plays with our emotions, and you really don’t know if everyone will survive this episode (and by everyone, I really mean poor Glenn). Glenn was teased as potential casualty in the Season Five Trailer, as a specific scene in this episode was a little too close to the comics. “No Sanctuary” does a great job with establishing the newest threat to our heroes, and goes to show how dangerous Rick and his survivors can be when they are reunited.
Aside from the events at Terminus, we are treated to more time with Tyreese, Carol, and Judith. After finding one of the Terminites away from home (and learning the fate of the others), Carol decides to take it upon herself to rescue her friends. Tyresse is still overwhelmed by the deaths of Lizzie and Mika, and can’t bring himself to kill. Carol manages to save the day, and helps to cause enough of a distraction to allow Rick and the others escape. Disgusted by the actions and the true motivations of the Terminites, Rick wants these people dead. The Terminites better run, because no one is safe.
The highlight of the episode however comes after the escape from Terminus. Not only do we get to see a Carol and Daryl reunion, we get to see a glimmer of hope from Rick and Carl as they learn that Judith made it out of the prison alive! If you aren’t moved by this final scene, you might be a zombie…
On the road again, all signs point to a trip to Washington, DC in the near future. We know from the trailers that the Terminites aren’t gone for good, so now it truly is a matter of “hunt or be hunted” for the rest of the season.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives The Walking Dead – “No Sanctuary” 4.5 out of 5 reunions.
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