The Walking Dead: Sick

     Stuff went down between the time last season ended and this one began.  We saw hints of it's effects in last episodes opening scene, the desperation and cold hearted calculation.  But the point was driven even further home this week with the downward spiral of one of the characters the group has come to rely on.  A change has occurred in Rick and it is equal parts chilling and depressing.  The total bleakness of the world has seemed to final break Rick and brought him to a point that seems impossible to come back from.  His cold hearted killing of the inmates when pushed to far, the canyon wide distance between him and Lori in the final scene, this isn't the same Rick that we have come to love over the last two seasons.  This is a man who has been pushed to the limits of humanity to keep himself and his family alive and the depiction of the toll that has taken is impressive to see.
     Even with this wonderfully depressing painting of a hero spiraling out of control the writers were able to give something that they have kept from us for two seasons, hope.  For the first time in the shows history we were given a small gleam of hope as Hershel awoke after getting bit.  If you can separate the bite from the body, maybe you prevent the zombie virus from spreading.  I not sure the Hershel is in the clear, but just the fact that he has beaten it thus far is more hope then we have been given.  If the virus can be beat the question can become have these people descended to far to come back instead of what's the point of even trying to go on.  I've said before, for this show to be effective we have to feel that there is something for these people to be living for, and this is the first time we have been giving the feeling that it may all be worth it.
     Aside from the major story lines, my favorite scene was the inmates first attempts at attacking the zombies.  Yes, it was gallows humor, but all the prisoners trying to shiv the zombies in the gut made me laugh.  Add the other looking on in disbelief and disapproval and you have a great bit of story telling and an entertaining moment in a morbid setting.