The Walking Dead Haiku Recap: All boxed up

The Season 4 finale in which Rick bites off more than he can chew and we learn more about Terminus
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Editor’s Note: Don’t get us wrong, we are as obsessive as any TWD fans. But let others pontificate at length. In our view, the show’s narrative conflict is so essential—living vs. undead, civility vs. anarchy, prey vs. predator—that it demands to be distilled in the purest form possible. What better serves that purpose than haiku?

And yes, they may be a little cryptic, but there are a few seventeen-syllable spoilers in this recap.

Season 4, Episode 16: “A”

Rick, Michonne, and Carl
are walking toward Terminus.
A close-knit trio.

“Who are we?” asks Carl.
He has existential angst
running from zombies.

Flashbacks to prison
abound in this episode.
We all miss Hershel.

Hershel gave wisdom,
tips on farming, fatherhood;
urged Rick to nurture.

But now, Rick is caught
by Daryl’s loathsome new pals.
Things really look bleak.

“This man killed our friend!”
Joe wants to execute Rick.
But Daryl steps up.

Rick goes all zombie.
Bites Joe in the jugular.
Most gruesome kill yet.

Bad bikers all dead.
Daryl back with the others.
Things are looking up.

Rick tells his best bro,
“You being back with us here.
Now. That’s everything.”

Michonne bonds with Carl,
talks about her zombie “pets.”
Tells him to trust Rick.

Too good to be true?
Terminus greets: open arms
—and a weapons check.

Rick gets suspicious.
That guy has Hershel’s old watch!
Now things get real tense.

(One final flashback:
Carl prefers guns to Legos;
Rick wants him to farm.)

They dodge some bullets,
dash through candlelit warehouse,
like Sting video.

Terminus shoot out.
Out-gunned and out-maneuvered,
Our heroes captured.

Put in a boxcar.
Look! Their friends are inside, too.
All here. (Except Beth?)

Rick is unbroken.
“They’re screwing with wrong people.”
Season-ending vow.

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