Recap / The Walking Dead S05 E08 "Coda"

Season 5, Episode 8

Coda

Rick negotiates a peaceful exchange with Dawn while Gabriel puts the church in danger.

Lamson is on the run after knocking out Sasha, with Rick following closely behind. As Lamson tries to cut his wire restraints on his hands on the grill of a police car, he's startled by the appearance of several walkers and keeps running as they follow him. Seeing this, Rick jumps into one of the officers' squad cars outside the warehouse and drives after him, ordering him to stop over the vehicle's comm system. When Lamson refuses, Rick crashes the car into him, breaking Lamson's back. Rick exits the car and informs the crippled Lamson that it wouldn't have come to this if he had just stopped as ordered. Lamson calls Rick crazy, just as the latter puts down the former.

Near the church, Gabriel continues on his apparent desertion of Michonne, Carl and Judith... when it's revealed that he's gone to the school where the Hunters camped out two nights before. Inside, he finds the remnants of their camp — including Bob's half-eaten, rotted leg and a Bible that belonged to Mary. Realizing that the Hunters were worse than he thought possible, Gabriel sets off back to the church, but triggers a horde of walkers to be alerted to his presence. Panicking, he runs back to the church with the walkers in pursuit and begs for Michonne to open the front door, the same way his own followers did many months ago. Having already barricaded the front door, it appears that Gabriel will be Devoured by the Horde, but Michonne gets the barricade out of the way just in time and pulls him inside. They are unable to hold the door, and are pushed back by a tide of walkers that slowly makes its way into the church. Barricading themselves in the church's back office, Gabriel tells them that he needed to see for himself what the Hunters had done, and leads them through the same escape tunnel he accessed outside again. The group barricades the front door, trapping the horde within.

At Grady Memorial, Beth continues to monitor Dawn, who is getting worried that Lipari and Shepard aren't answering her calls. The two women have a conversation about some of the officers, with Dawn stating that she figured out that Beth killed Gorman. O'Donnell arrives and begins berating Beth for her behavior over the past few days, intending on beating her up. When Dawn intervenes, O'Donnell grows belligerent and beats up another patient before going after Beth, causing Dawn to pull a gun on her officer. Beth and Dawn get so fed up that they team up to knock O'Donnell down the elevator shaft after he tries to attack both women. Later, in Carol's room, Beth tells Dawn that she understands that Grady is a place where people use each other to get what they want, inadvertedly revealing Edwards' deception that killed Gavin. Beth repeats her desire to get out, but Dawn claims she doesn't want to leave, and neither did Noah.

Rick returns to the warehouse, and confers with Daryl on whether the loss of Lamson would change anything in the proposed trade with Dawn. Daryl thinks so, but Licari and Shepherd disagree, and decide to make up a story that Lamson was eaten by walkers. Outside, on top of a nearby roof, Tyreese and Sasha take up overwatch before the hostage exchange begins. After discussing how Tyreese couldn't kill Martin, Sasha tells him it's good that he's retained his pacifist tendencies, but then says that isn't the same woman and needs to change...

Back at the church, the walkers begin to break through the barricade the quartet set up outside the front doors. With nowhere to run and no vehicles, it appears that the group is done for — until Abraham's group arrives, smashing into the front door with the firetruck just as they break free. Now reunited with the majority of the group, Glenn tells the group about Eugene not being a scientist and the herds they encountered on the way to Washington. Conversely, Michonne reveals that Beth is still alive and in Atlanta, and that Rick and the others have gone to rescue her and Carol. The excited groups pull together their resources and set off towards the city to rendezvous with the rest of the group.

The hostage exchange in Atlanta kicks off with Rick revealing himself to two cops on patrol, and tells them that he has captured Licari and Shepherd and wishes to trade them for Beth and Carol. When asked if Rick's "people" are close, Sasha, wielding the sniper rifle, takes out a walker approaching the group. Rick tells them "they're close," and orders them to set up the exchange.

Rick, Daryl and Noah are led into the hospital with their prisoners by the other officers, while the recovering Carol is placed in a wheelchair and Beth puts her regular travel clothes. Near the lobby, Rick reveals Lamson's death, much to Dawn's sadness, while the cops fulfill their bargain by claiming Lamson was eaten by walkers. One at a time, Carol and Beth are exchanged for Lipari and Shepard, but just as Rick's group turns to leave... Dawn orders Noah to remain with her, reasoning that she needs an assistant if Beth leaves. Clearly reluctant to do so, Rick tries to bargain for Noah, but Dawn threatens that the officers will open fire if they don't agree.

Faced with no other option, Noah surrenders himself to Dawn, but before he can walk over, Beth gives him a hug and Dawn taunts him, claiming she always knew he'd be back. Angered over this treatment, Beth uses the medical scissors she's swiped right before learning of Carol's presence in the hospital to stab Dawn in the shoulder. In response, Dawn reflexively points her gun up and shoots Beth in the head, killing her instantly.

Rick and the others stand in shock, while Dawn blurts out that it was an accident before she sees an enraged Daryl move towards her, gun aimed at her head. Daryl shoots and kills Dawn with a single bullet.

In the aftermath, none of the other officers speak up in Dawn's defense, and collectively stand down. Shepherd takes command of the remaining forces, and claims that the conflict is over. She offers Rick and the others the opportunity to stay, but they refuse to do so. After Rick gives the officers and staff the option to join the group, no one steps up, but Noah agrees to continue traveling with the group.

Outside the hospital, Michonne and the rest of the group arrive... just as Rick and the others exit the hospital, with Daryl cradling Beth's body. Maggie collapses in grief upon seeing her sister, and the group is left wondering what to do...

Some time later, Morgan continues his walk through the forest after discovering the Hunters' tree markings. Following them to the church, he stops and prays for a moment before bursting out laughing. Scavenging for supplies, he discovers Abraham's map to Washington, and is shocked when he turns over the map to find a note reading that "The world needs Rick Grimes"...

Tropes:

• 0% Approval Rating: While it was said before that Dawn was hardly a well-liked leader, here it becomes clear that nobody cares enough about her to stay loyal to the end. One of her officers threatens to mutiny, the ones Rick captures (aside from Lamsen) are cooperative enough to divulge her fears about appearing weak, and another briefly attempts to vocalize a dissenting opinion when Dawn orders that Rick surrender Noah back to her. To cap it all off, the guards do nothing to avenge her after Dawn is killed by Daryl, instead offering Rick's group the chance to stay with them in the hospital.
• Accidental Murder: Dawn seems to have pulled the trigger accidentally in reflex to being stabbed; she seems as shocked and horrified as everyone else that Beth is dead. Rick says in the next episode that he could tell she didn't mean to do it.
• Actor Allusion: The scene where Rick and Daryl aim their guns, there is a sign behind them that says "5th floor". This is a reference to The Boondock Saints, where Norman Reedus' character Connor MacManus lived in a studio apartment on the 5th floor. Their stance is also similar to the MacManus brothers in scenes from the film.
• Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Lamson begs for Rick to take him to Grady so he can get medical help (having been crippled by the car), but Rick calmly informs him that he "Can't go back, Bob."
• Big Damn Heroes: Abraham returns to the church in the fire engine, blocking the walkers trying to escape and saving Carl, Michonne, Judith and Gabriel.
• Bittersweet Ending: The group is all back together, and rescues Carol from Grady… only Beth died trying to kill Dawn.
• Book Ends: It's the episode title, in fact. Also, both the season premiere and this mid-season finale end with a Stinger featuring Morgan traveling.
• Boom, Headshot!: Dawn's death, delivered by Daryl, after she did the same to Beth.
• Call-Back: Tyrese tells Sasha about his fight with Martin in the season premiere, and how he couldn't kill him, despite coming close to it.
• Car Fu: How Rick catches the escaping Lamson.
• Character Death:
  • Lamson gets knocked out when Rick runs him over with a police car while Lamson attempts to run away. He tries to beg Rick to take him back to Grady but Rick shoots him in the head.
  • Dawn pushes O'Donnell down an elevator shaft to his death with Beth's help.
  • Beth is accidentally shot in the head by Dawn during the prisoner exchange at Grady.
  • Daryl shoots Dawn in the head after Beth got killed by Dawn (albeit accidentally).
• Chekhov's Gun:
  • The surgical scissors Beth stole at the end of "Slabtown" are used to stab Dawn during the climactic hostage trade.
  • The map Abraham marked out for Rick (with a circle around Washington) is found by Morgan at some point after the events of the episode.
• Continuity Nod:
  • Rick uses Gareth's taunt to Bob Stookey against Bob Lamson.
  • Gabriel went to the school and found the fire left behind by the Hunters, as well as Bob's half-eaten, rotting leg. In The Stinger, Morgan finds Abraham's letter to Rick.
• Deadpan Snarker: When the cops ask Rick where his group is, their question is answered by Sasha sniping a nearby walker. Rick goes a step further and answers that they're close.
• Enemy Mine: Upon seeing that she's being threatened by O'Donnell, Dawn and Beth team up to dispatch him. The peace doesn't last long afterwards, though.
• Four Lines, All Waiting: The various pockets of Rick's group continue on their own missions until the midway point of the episode, when all the plot threads begin to converge. By the end of the episode, all of the surviving members of Rick's group have reunited outside Grady Memorial.
• Heroic Sacrifice: Noah tries to pull one so Beth can return to the group. However, Dawn taunts him as he hugs Beth one last time, setting off Beth, who tries to kill her, but is shot.
  • This is also a possible interpretation of Beth's last act. Stabbing Dawn, knowing she will kill her in retaliation to get Dawn shot.
• Hope Spot: Michonne tells Maggie that Beth is alive and that the group has gone to rescue her, only for them to find the group minus Beth.
• Ironic Echo: Rick tells Lamson, "You can't go back, Bob," right before killing him. The line was used a few episodes earlier by The Hunters to Bob, as he tried to sway them to ally with Rick's group to find a cure.
• Justified Title/Terminology Title: "Coda" has several definitions, all of which perfectly describe Beth;
  • "An ending part of a piece of music or a work of literature or drama that is separate from the earlier parts" (Beth is the only one separated from the group since the season starts. She's also last seen with Daryl, who in turn the one who brings her back to the group).
  • "Something that ends and completes something else" (Beth's death reunited the group again and gave Noah a new family).
  • "A concluding musical section that is formally distinct from the main structure" (Beth died as a very different person than she was the last time she's with the group)
  • "A concluding part of a literary or dramatic work" (the episode is the end of the Rescue Arc, Dawn's reign and both Beth and Dawn's life/story in general)
  • "Something that serves to round out, conclude, or summarize and usually has its own interest" (Beth died knowing she might, so she technically does went out on her own terms).
  • "Coda" (as stated several times above) is generally associated with music, which itself was strongly associated with Beth throughout the series.
  • In ballet, "Coda" is also the word for "last big/grand step", as in The Last Dance, which how Beth dies.
• Karmic Death: It looks like Gabriel will end up suffering one of these, being devoured by walkers while pleading entry into his church, but Carl and Michonne save him just in time.
• Kick the Dog: O'Donnell kicks around the elderly Percy. Dawn notes that he, Gorman, and others were fond of this.
• Kill the Cutie: The depressing outcome of this episode.
• Kingpin in His Gym: Dawn is seen using the stationary bicycle at the beginning of the episode.
• Manly Tears: Every male member of Rick's group has them when Beth is killed.
• Moving the Goalposts: Having captured two hospital officers, Rick succeeds in getting Dawn to exchange Carol and Beth for them. Everything runs smoothly, and it seems like the group will be able to leave in peace. Then Dawn, noting that she needs a ward to replace Beth, demands that Rick hand over Noah...
• Mythology Gag:
  • Rick using the Car Fu against Lamson is directly taken on how Rick killed Martinez in the comics.
  • When the cops ask Rick where his group is, Sasha responds with a shot from her sniping position. This is based on the confrontation with the Hunters in the comics where Rick, who appeared to be alone, ordered Andrea (who Sasha assumed the role of during the arc) to snipe one of their ears off.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Gabriel's decision to visit the school where the Hunters were camped results in a horde of walkers being freed and chasing him back to the church, which compromises their safety and forces them to try and shut the horde in the church to prevent their escape.
• Oh, Crap!: Dawn's reaction shortly after killing Beth, once she realizes what happened and sees that Daryl is about to kill her in retaliation.
• Pietà Plagiarism: How Daryl carries Beth's lifeless body out of Grady.
• Sherlock Scan: Dawn was able to figure out that Beth personally knows Carol just by looking at them.
• Ship Sinking:
  • For Beth/Daryl. Though at the very least, it's Daryl who gets revenge on Dawn with a quick bullet to the head. Later, he's seen carrying her body out of the hospital, crying all the way.
  • Beth/Carl, which was briefly teased a few times in earlier seasons, will never happen either now.
  • Beth/Noah, as well.
• Sole Survivor: Tragically, Maggie is now the last surviving member of the Greene family.
• The Starscream: O'Donnell tries to threaten Dawn, and then tries to kill her, but ends up being killed by both Dawn and Beth.
• Wham Episode: The season-long Rescue Arc seems to end well, but Beth made a fatal decision...
• Wham Shot:
  • Beth stabbing Dawn, which the latter then quickly counteracts by shooting Beth in the head.
  • Morgan finding Abraham's note addressed to Rick in The Stinger.

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