The Walking Dead - Terminus "The Church"

There has been many questions about "The Church" located deeply within the maze of Terminus. It looks like a spooky altar, but it's their way to honor the fallen residents of Terminus.

At the Church, you can see the proverbial writing on the wall. These cryptic messages are  cautions from the residents to the newcomers: NEVER AGAIN, NEVER TRUST and WE FIRST, ALWAYS. 

I believe one time Terminus was probably a very nice place to reside. An actual sanctuary of sorts, but something obviously went awry. Somebody deceived them and the survivors want a constant reminder by the messages on the wall along with the memorial on the Church floor. 

I think it's safe to say the names on the floor are loved ones who have perished during an insurgence at Terminus. I’m sure you noticed belongings carefully placed by each name obviously left by the residents in memorial for their dead. Which is the complete opposite of the flagrant pillaging of the living, Glenn’s pocket watch given by Hershel, Dr "Mullet" Eugene's borrowed riot gear and Maggie’s poncho. 

“There’s a big story to Terminus,” series creator Robert Kirkman explained in the finale’s postmortem. “There’s a very long and involved way that Terminus came about, and that memorial is a big part of it. It’s what these people have lived through and what’s happened to them and what’s built them into what they are, which will be revealed in Season 5.” 

Many viewers are wondering if Rick's group understands why they are being held in train car. Are they aware it's a cannibalistic community? Kirkman suggests watching the finale again because there are some hints of next season. I took his advice and watched the episode again. This time I noticed when Rick and the group ran through the trap and came along this scene. Rick and Carl stared directly at the strewed carcases as they ran passed. The following scene we watched the group still scrambling for an exit. As they run passed a couple of train cars, Darryl says "What the hell?" in response to hearing calls for help from people trapped within those train cars. Check it out for yourself. Click Here

The Walking Dead - Terminus Come for Sanctuary - Stay as a Meal

Walking Dead comic book fans and Telltale game series players suspected that Terminus had human ribs on the menu. But seeing decaying carcass of human remains tossed aside, like a turkey the day after Thanksgiving was shocking. Note: These remains look like something a butcher would throw out, cut with proficiency.
I believe Terminus is a remix of the two groups found in both the game and comic book. A group known as The Hunters were a roving band of cannibals. They appeared in Fear the Hunters storyline in the comics. They stalked, trapped and slowly killed other survivors for meat. Keep in mind, in this world you can't just kill people for food without them turning into Walkers. The Hunters would cut limbs off, tourniquet the wound and use the meat immediately. They always had fresh meat.

The second cannibalistic group resided on a Dairy Farm, led by Brenda St John. Her character appeared in Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead: Season One episode, Starved For Help. Like
Mary, Brenda appears to be a kindly older woman who is very welcoming to strangers. Her family lured survivors to their farm, similar to all the signage leading survivors to the welcoming doors of Terminus. Where Mary stands grilling slabs of meat.

Do you remember this guy?

Tryesse tried to help him on the railroad tracks. His dying words to Carol and Tyresse was "There's a safe place to bring the children. Trust me please ...follow the tracks." He sounded like a commercial for the place. Why was the man so infatic for them to go there? Could it be those men were scouts to lead unsuspecting people to the grill? 

I think we'll find that Terminus is probably a little bit like both groups. But they all have one thing in common ... a belief that everything taste the same with ketchup. If you are interested - I wrote an article on a news story about cannibalism in South Africa entitled Human Meat Burger. Fiction is not as far away off reality as you may think.

Rick the Fearless Leader is Back

Watching the season finale of The Walking Dead was a bittersweet experience. After my thirst to find out how the season was going to end was quenched, the reality of the seven month hiatus became quite real.

This season Rick struggled with the lost of his daughter, the group and mostly the prison. I say mostly the prison because it offered a security that pales to anything else since the onset of the zombie apocalypse. The group became comfortable at the prison and let their guard down from the Governor. This one act set the course of the events of season 4. 

When Rick and Carl fled the burning Walker overrun prison, he was batter and weak. Carl had lost respect and trust in his father's judgement. He blamed Rick for the lost of his entire world. I think it's safe to say Rick doubted his leadership abilities as well.

Rick's only focus is keeping Carl safe. Because of that, he taps into a part of himself that I don't think he knew he possessed. This entire season all the characters were pushed to the brink and only the strong survived.

When you have nothing to lose ...you will do anything. 

Rick morphed into a true gladiator when he unleashed the warrior within and ripped Joe's jugular open with a single bite. In the face of unavoidable brutality, Rick has not lost his humanity, it's just been altered. In fact, he found the necessary drive within to motivate himself Daryl, Michonne and I'm sure the rest of the captured group (who seem discouraged by their situation).

Despite Carl's traumatic encounter with the attempted rape, he was still frighten by his father's actions in order to keep him safe. We forget sometimes that Carl is a boy and he has deep felt fears as all children possess. But the loving

relationship with Michonne (his mother figure and best friend) allowed him to cling to her for the emotional support and nurturing needed for him to feel safe again. Through her loving and insightful words, Carl gained understanding and reignited his respect and devotion for his father. 

For Rick, reconnecting with part of the group brings inspiration and propels him with the drive to be the great leader they need. He has never been stronger and more willing to do anything to keep his group alive. Season 5 promises to show us Rick at his very best.

Check out this video released by AMC behind the scene of episode 16