Season 4 of “The Walking Dead” ended with our favorite group of survivors trapped in a make-shift railcar prison cell in the compound of the Terminus folk. Fans were left wondering about the fate of Rick, Carol, Daryl, Glenn, and the rest of the group. Thankfully, season 5 of the hit AMC series kicked off more or less from the same spot, so viewers didn’t have to wait too long to find out what happened to our heroes. And what a premiere it was.
The episode opens with a flashback that provides some insight into how Terminus came to be. We see the survivors running the place, killing and butchering other humans. It’s a brutal and disturbing scene, but it’s also an effective way to introduce the season’s new villains.
Most of the episode occurs inside Terminus, where our heroes are held captive. The tension is palpable as they try to escape, facing off against the cannibals and using their wits to outsmart them. The action is well-choreographed and intense, and the episode does a great job of keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
One of the standout moments of the episode is when Carol reappears, having been separated from the group earlier in the season. She’s now a total badass, taking out a group of Terminus guards on her own. It’s a satisfying moment that shows just how far Carol has come since the early days of the series.
Meanwhile, Tyreese is left to watch over Baby Judith and a captive Martin, one of Terminus’ citizens who’s tied up in a nearby cabin. Martin plays on Tyreese’s sympathies and eventually gets his hands on Baby Judith, leading to a tense and violent confrontation between the two.
Back at Terminus, Rick and the others are fighting for their lives, taking out their captors one by one. The action is well-choreographed and suspenseful, and there are plenty of satisfying moments when our heroes get their revenge. The violence is graphic and intense, as is to be expected from the show, but it never feels gratuitous.
What really sets this episode apart is the emotional payoff at the end. When Rick and Carl are reunited with Baby Judith, it’s a truly heartwarming moment, and it’s clear that the group is more substantial together than they are apart. The episode ends with the group making their escape from Terminus, picking up their weapons and supplies along the way.
Overall, “No Sanctuary” is a perfect start to season 5 of “The Walking Dead.” The episode is well-written, well-acted, and full of action, suspense, and emotion. It’s a reminder of why this show has such a dedicated fanbase, and it leaves us eager to see what’s next for Rick and his group of survivors. The premiere sets a high bar for the rest of the season, and we can’t wait to see what other challenges the group will face in the post-apocalyptic world.
