The deaths of Lizzie and Mika were a gruesome reminder of how dark The Walking Dead is. In case anyone had forgotten, the show depicts violence and gore on a regular basis. On this week’s cold open, the audience gets a shorter glimpse of what’s to come rather than featuring an extended establishing sequence or flashback. We only get to see the portrait of a copper kettle rising to a boil on a gas stove while outside, a child giggles and plays tag with a nice zombie.

After the opening credits, Carol and Lizzie keep the night’s first watch as Tyreese and Lizzie sleep on the tracks. Carol opens up about Sophia. After Lizzie kills her own sister, Carol returns the act and kills Lizzie. Carol’s true demons are demonstrated in this instance and the intense nature of the show is completely exposed.