Beyond the Veil (The Veil Series #1) by Pippa DaCosta

Muse has spent the last 5 years playing human, hiding her true nature as a half-demon. Reviled and enslaved by her own card, she clings to the façade of humanity as long as she can

Then a half-demon assassin visits her shop which promptly explodes. Apparently on someone’s hit list she has only one choice – to turn to her previous saviour, Akil, the Prince of Greed.

I liked this story – it had an interesting world setting of demons in the human world, demons hiding and semi-known to humanity but not quite to the full extent. We have Muse, the half demon, reviled and enslaved in demonic society and trying to find her own place in a world when she doesn’t fit among humanity or demons but needs both.

Muse’s story wonderfully reflects this conflict. She needs to be sheltered from the demons which can only happen with demonic protection. There are humans who will oppose the demons – but they so utterly revile demons that they hate her as well. She needs to control her demonic half which is so capable of destruction but at the same time cannot live without it. So many conflicts make for a good character despite the romance that I am not a fan of. No, really, I can’t stress how much the insta-love zomg-he’s-so-hot-this-overrules-everything is completely unneeded for this book

And there’s Stefan and Akil – both love interests and both with very shadowy and twisty motives. But Muse simply cannot refuse to trust them because she cannot survive alone

I do like the way the story examines ownership, slavery and freedom. Muse has been “rescued” from a master – a cruel and abusive master. But if your new master, no matter how kind and benevolent, still demands your attention and obedience then how free are you? A benevolent master is still a master, a kind owner still an owner. Especially if that “kindness” only extends as far as that obedience.

Unfortunately this book is fairly lacking when it comes to marginalised characters. Muse herself is quite a strong character – she has special powers (but not special enough to be a Mary Sue), she’s powerful (but not so much more powerful than the rest of her species to make her a special snowflake) and while she has anger issues like many Urban fantasy protagonists (who mistake poor anger management for strength) she is largely in control and her anger is always presented in a reasonable format drawing upon her actual experiences and history of abuse. And, yes, like so many Urban Fantast protagonists she does have a terrible, abusive history. But it isn’t tacked on or forced or convoluted or used for random characterisation without purpose (as is so often the case). Her terrible history is an integral part of both her story and her world setting: it carries a lot of the same clichés but there’s an effort to make these clichés work and be real parts of these characters and this world setting. Cliched but reasoned clichés. Cliches with some effort behind them.

The Last Man on Earth, Season Two, Episode Three: Dead Man Walking

Phil, or rather Tandy, watches from a distance as the group participates in a funeral for Gordon. Carol, who only knew Gordon long enough to scare him to death interrupts the funeral to wish Gordon a smooth journey to heaven or to hell.  Carol adds that by now they are so used to death but Gordon will be missed.  Todd starts to sing, "Time in a Bottle" but barely gets through the first few lines before tearing up. With the group distracted, Carol shoots a thumbs up sign at Tandy.

Tandy is dealing with his boredom by doing batting practice in the RV when Carol shows up to check up on him. Carol explains that she has to get back for Gordon's wake.  Phil asks if Carol brought him up and Carol explains that with Gordon's death, there's been a lot to think about.  Phil naturally denies that he cares about the group and assures Carol that she should take her time.

Melissa takes Carol on a short tour of Gordon's mansion. The two women express how much they've missed each other and Melissa asks what happened to make Carol leave with Tandy.  Carol fakes spilling a hot drink on herself and excuses herself to get cleaned up.  Phil approaches Carol, who is cleaning up in the bathroom and reminds her that the last time they were together, they were making love.  Carol apologises for leaving Tuscon without saying goodbye to him.  Their brief reunion is interrupted by Erica, who takes the opportunity to stake her claim on Phil.  It seems that in Carol's absence, Phil and Erica became a couple. Erica leaves the room shooting Carol a nasty look.

In the solarium, the group is gathered to remember Gordon.  Gail and Gordon were lovers and so she begins to list Gordon's many faults which include: sexism, racism and body odor.  Wow, Gordon was a real winner eh? Melissa changes the topic by asking the group to welcome Carol back.  Todd, asks Carol what happened to her because the last time he saw her, she was headed out to the desert to give Tandy some supplies.  Carol admits that she chose to stay with Tandy and the entire group expresses thanks that Tandy didn't return with Carol.  When they ask where Tandy is now, Carol decides to tell the group that Tandy is dead.

Back in the RV, Tandy is not impressed that Carol told the group that Tandy is dead.  Carol assures Phil that it's going to be fine because people always remember the dead fondly. Carol assures Tandy with a little bit of time and the right PR,  Tandy will be the next Michael Jackson.  Carol is surprised that the first thing that Phil remembers about Michael Jackson is molestation charge. Tandy wonders whether Phil is over Carol now and she tells him about Phil's relationship with Erica.  Tandy then asks about Todd and Melissa, and Carol tells Tandy that Todd is gay.  Tandy's response is to say, "I knew it," excitedly.  Carol points out that for someone who claims to have no interest in the group, he has  a lot of curiosity. Phil claims that he is fine in the RV alone but Carol says that has come up with the perfect noble death for Phil.

Carol shows Melissa and Todd the pictures she has drawn to illustrate Tandy's death.  Carol tells them that she decided to a hand stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon and just as she was about to plummet to her death, Tandy apparently grabbed her but in the process fell over the cliff himself.  Tandy's fake last words were, "no regrets".  She highlights her tale by showing them drawings of a dead Tandy.  Todd starts to cry and Carol assumes that Todd is sad about Tandy but it seems that he is still mourning Gordon. When the group look out at the beach, they see Gail in a black mourning dress repeatedly writing Gordon's name in the sand and allowing the waves to wash it away. For Gail, it's a form of spiritual healing.

The Leftovers, Season 2, Episode 2: A Matter of Geography

Flashback time to the end of the last season and Nora and Kevin and Jill taking in Lilly and Nora moving in in the aftermath of the burning of the Guilty Remnant. For added amusement, Nora seemed to invite herself into moving in. Kevin decides that they simply can’t have a future together before he tells Nora and Jill all about the kidnapping of Patti and the totally-not-murdering-her followed by disposing of the body. With the help of Nora’s brother Matt

Rather than running for the hills screaming, Nora takes this in her stride and tells Kevin that she hires prostitutes to shoot her.

Jill must now score them on who is the least ready to make major changes and commitments in their lives before they seek appropriate support and help. Nope, she’s in full acceptance mode as well. It’s all ok and they laugh and are all happy together.

To the present and the family life is kind of fraying a lot more with screaming babies and domestic commitments before they actually try to officially adopt Lily because “finding babies on the doorstep” lacks officialdom. Originally they seem to do pretty terribly in the interview (and, really, shouldn’t there have been a “hey did you report an abandoned child to anyone?” question) they do officially adopt Lily, after a clear tactic to see if they would adopt a white child rather than Lily who is Black and Asian – and them rightly saying, no, they love this girl.

Time for more of Kevin being domestic, moping, having temper tantrums and flashbacks to some of the terribad things he’s done, mentioned at the beginning. I told you he needed to work through his issues first. He digs up Patti’s body… and then deliberately getting himself arrested.

He is interviewed by a policewoman who just doesn’t care. She doesn’t care about Patti, what happened to her or any of the Guilty Remnant. Like many, she loathes them and wasn’t impressed by what she sees as their incitement of violence and rioting back in his town when he was police chief.

She sends him home. Only to be haunted by hallucination!Patti because why not.

He goes home to find his dad – released from the institution and holding Lily (much to Kevin’s suspicion and wariness. They don’t exactly have a non-antagonistic relationship). He does have good advice about not driving his partner into a cult. His dad still hears voices, and he has started doing what they tell him. This is not the conventional definition of “cured”.

The Source (Witching Savannah #2) by J.D. Horn

Mercy is now the family’s Anchor and technically in charge of the magic of her family and one of the most powerful witches in the world. If the other Anchors would let her be. Hemmed in, limited, constantly spied on to say nothing of her struggle for control, Mercy isn’t finding power particularly easy to live with – especially since all that power cannot be used to find her lost sister

Her fragile world is further thrown into disarray with the return of her mother – who she thought dead in child birth. Her mother has an entirely different story not just of her death and her family but of the origins of magic herself. Mercy, who knows all too well that her family can and does lie to her, now has to try and find the truth between the competing sides and the reality of magic itself – knowing whichever side she chooses will mean losing family.

Throughout a lot of this book we’re left very much in doubt about who to trust, who to support and what the truth is.

A lot of books trey to create this – and usually fail pretty badly. Usually it’s very clear which person is actually the bad guy and while the protagonist may trust them, it’s usually while the reader yells “noooo what are you doing?!”

But both the first book and this book has done an excellent job of continuing that uncertainty and leaving us never sure which character can be trusted. Not because they’re all evil – but because they’re all very human and very flawed. They have their own foibles, they have their own weaknesses, they have their own problems, their own agendas their own values. From Oliver’s light, often self-centredness and casual manipulation to Iris and Ellen with their own tumultuous love lives all overshadowed by loyalty to the Line that permeates the families and makes them make rather extreme decisions if they begin to think the line is under threat.

And the Line itself adds a whole new level of complexity and uncertainty. We have the “official” version of what the line is – of the barrier that keeps the demons at bay that would enslave them all as they have in the past. But that is the official version, the Anchor’s version – a version that suits them well and empowers them. A version pushed by Ginny who we know was deceptive and dangerous and manipulative and certainly didn’t have Mercy’s best interests at heart.  But there are rebel families – it seems rather unlikely that the rebel families aren’t fighting for the eager chance to be slaves – so an alternate narrative seems likely, especially since those Anchors love their secrecy.

This is even more complicated by the witches even acting in the best of faith simply not understanding the true nature of the line or the world they’re in – which, in turn, makes them potential antagonists towards Mercy.

Once Upon a Time, Season 5, Episode 3: Siege Perilous

Flashback to Camelot (‘tis a silly place) and brainstorming how to de-tree Merlin. Regina’s stll playing Saviour while everyone is warning Emma against using magic. They decide that one solution may be to find a magic toadstool to allow them to communicate with the tree-Merlin. So David and Arthur are out on a quest

They arm up and we have some nice exposition about the Round Table and how everyone gets a normal seat even the king because the whole point of the Round Table is that no-one is at its head, all are equal. Except for one special seat for special pure knights – Lancelot who is, alas, dead which is the news they have to pass on to Arthur who is super sad despite the whole betrayal thing.

Along the way of the quest David gently pokes Arthur for being a bit of an arse to his squire especially since they both come from humble beginnings (seriously, Arthur as well? I think the writers have misunderstood how nobility and royal lineages work). I do like the nice poking at Arthur’s arrogant competitiveness.

They finally find their magic mushrooms and Charming is nearly defeated by a bridge. And the Green Knight I guess. He nearly drowns, alas Arthur saves him. Damn it Arthur. And they lost the toadstool. YOU HAD ONE JOB David. Arthur tries to make them feel better about their utter waste of time.

Which causes some musing about their legacies – David would rather not be remembered as the guy who kissed a sleeping woman so she couldn’t slap him and Arthur would rather not be known as the king who inherited his throne because of the ability to remove sharp things from masonry.

Regina does take a chance to tell Zelena who she totally isn’t the victim and how Regina can totally make her life hell if she wishes. The conflict is she doesn’t want Zelena to run off with Robin’s baby and also reminding us both that Zelena is still around and Regina can still be scary when necessary.

Anyway, Arthur decides to knight David as Sir David of the Enchanted Forest (ok it wasn’t unheard of for a monarch to own titles in other monarch’s court but this is a whole lot of vassal swearing here for a visiting monarch. And “Sir David of the Enhanted Forest” uh, Arthur he’s already Prince Consort of the Enchanted Forest – a land you don’t rule or have the rights to grant titles to. Mary Margaret should be slapping you for this and him. This would be like Liz knighting Sir Felipe of Spain). Anyway, he’s now the Knight of the Round Table for failing at a quest

Doctor Who, Season Nine, Episode Four: Before the Flood

In the Tardis, the Doctor tells a story about a man who has a time machine and a passion for the works of Beethoven.  One day, the man thinks to himself, what is the point of having a time machine if you don't get to meet your heroes.  The man travels to 18th century Europe, but cannot find Beethoven anywhere. Not even Beethoven's family has heard of him.  The Doctor breaks the 4th wall and says, "this didn't happen btw."  Holding a statue of Beethoven now, the Doctor says google the bootstrap paradox.  It seems that the man brought all of Beethoven's sheet music to be signed and being enterprising, Ludwig copied all of the concertos and symphonies and git them published which means history continues without a ruffled feather. The Doctor asks who really composed Beethoven's fifth, picking up his guitar and playing the opening notes. Yes, they are really pushing the Doctor as a musician and taking advantage of Capaldi's ability to play the guitar.

Lunn, O'Donnell and The Doctor have landed in the past.  The Doctor, notes that O'Donnell knows a lot about him and she explains that she used to be military intelligence.  The Doctor informs her that they are in 1980. O'Donnell fakes having something in her boot and then excitedly jumps up and down because the Tardis is bigger on the inside.  When O'Donnell and Lunn catch up with the Doctor, The Doctor explains that they are in Scotland at the height of the cold war.   It seems that at this location, the military was training for attacking the Soviets.

The Doctor, Lunn, and O'Donnell enter the ship and the Doctor realises that the ship is actually a hearse. O'Donnell notices that there are no markings on the wall.  The undertaker, who is from the most invaded planet in the universe (Tivoli) appears. The funeral director explains that the chamber contains the body of the Fisher King, who along with his armies enslaved Tivoli for "ten glorious years".  Lunn is not at all pleased that his first alien is an "idiot".  I suppose that Lunn doesn't realise that the Doctor isn't human. The funeral director is there to bury the Fisher King on a barren planet (read: earth) and he suggests that the Doctor can enslave and oppress him.  Clearly disgusted, the Doctor simply asks about the technology which causes the soul to be wrenched out of the body.  The funeral director responds that he doesn't have any such technology and if it exists, it must belong to the Fisher King's people. The Doctor says that it's time to return to the Tardis because he needs to talk to Clara.

A nervous Clara waits and Bennett says that Clara must be used to dealing with people who are scared and asks what she would say to them.  Clara responds that she would tell the scared person that the Doctor is going to save them.  Cass gets their attention.  It seems that while Bennett and Clara were talking, Cass was reading the ghost Doctor's lips.  The ghost Doctor is listing the names of all of the crew repeatedly. The phone rings and it's the Doctor calling from the past.  The Doctor tells them that the spaceship is a hearse and asks Clara what's wrong when he realises that she sounds upset.  Clara informs The Doctor that another ghost has appeared and it's him.  The Doctor is momentarily silent, realising that the appearance of his ghost means that he has died.  The Doctor tells Clara that this isn't a potential future and that it's already happened.  When The Doctor says that he has to die, Clara suggests that The Doctor can change things.  The Doctor however does not want to cause carnage in the universe by changing time.  Clara starts to scream that the Doctor can die with whoever comes after her but not with her.  The Doctor asks to speak to Clara alone and then tells her that they all have to face death at some point, either their own, or someone else's.  Clara responds that she is not ready yet and the Doctor says that he cannot change what has already happened. Clara argues that the Doctor owes her now and that he's given her someone else to be.  Clara tells the Doctor that she doesn't care about the rules or his survivor's guilt and that if he loves her in any way, he will come back.  The Doctor pauses and says that he cannot save Moran or Pritchard but will do what he can, even though the future has already happened.

The undertaker goes back to the ship to find that the Fisher King's body is missing.  When the undertaker  looks up, he sees the words written on the walls.  We hear a heavy stomping sound, and shadow overtakes the undertaker.

Clara asks about his ghost version looking for clues and Clara says that the Doctor's coat is torn on the right shoulder and is saying a list of everyone's names.  The ghost Doctor suddenly enters the ship but simply continues to say the names for a moment.  The ghost Doctor moves to the computer and opens the Faraday Cage where the other ghosts were locked up.  The Doctor asks to speak to the ghost version of himself.  The Doctor asks himself why he is here and the Ghost Doctor says, "the chamber will open tonight" The living Doctor orders Clara to go to the Faraday Cage, put the phone outside and watch it through the porthole.  The Doctor tells Clara to only answer the phone if it's safe but warns that she cannot let the phone out of her sight because he needs to know everything his ghost does. The Doctor then promises Clara that he will come back for her.

The Doctor prepares to leave the Tardis and tries to tell O'Donnell to stay behind in case Clara calls. O'Donnell clearly believes that she is being excluded because of her gender and makes it clear that she is coming with them.  They return to the ship to find the undertaker dead and the writing on the wall.  The Doctor says that the Fisher King must have done the markings himself and that the future is still coming.  When the Fisher King roars, the Doctor yells that they need to return to the Tardis. They all start running and are forced to split up when the Fisher King blocks them off.  O'Donnell hides on her own and Lunn hides with the Doctor. Unfortunately for O'Donnell, she is found and attacked by the Fisher King.  When Lunnfinds O'Donnell, she says that she had to come to keep an eye on him.  O'Donnell then dies in Lunn's arms as the Doctor watches.  Lunn asks who is next on the list because the list the ghost Doctor is repeating, is clearly a list of the order of which they are going to die.  Lunn accuses the Doctor of knowing all along because he tried to get O'Donnell to stay on the Tardis.  The Doctor claims that because Clara didn't see O'Donnell's ghost in the future, he thought that O'Donnell still had a chance.  Lunn is not impressed, noting that the Doctor didn't try very hard to stop her and that it was almost like he wanted to test his theory.  Lunn asks who is next and when the Doctor responds, "Clara", Lunn says that the Doctor will change history and actually do something because now it's getting closer to him. The Doctor makes it clear that it's not about saving himself because he is a dead man walking. The Doctor admits that he is changing history to save Clara and Lunn walks away.

In the Faraday Cage, Clara is forced to back away from the door when a ghost O'Donnell appears. O'Donnell sees the cell phone, picks it up and walks away.

Back on the Tardis, The Doctor explains that he is going back to save Clara and that there isn't anyone here who is going to stop him.  When the Doctor and Lunn leave the Tardis, the first thing the Doctor sees is another Tardis, causing him to realise that he has gone back in his own time stream because the Tardis won't let him leave.  The Doctor tells Lunn that they have to stay out of sight until time catches up.  Lunn notices that the funeral director is still alive and heads in his direction, only to be told that the funeral director cannot be saved.  The Doctor says that they don't have the right to tell the funeral director that he is about to die.  Lunn and The Doctor crouch down and watch as their former selves interact with the funeral director. When Lunn sees O'Donnell, he tries to stand up but is pulled down by the Doctor.

In the Faraday Cage, Clara realises that Bennett was the only one who was surprised by the message when Cass finally told them what it was and this is because Bennett never entered the ship.  Bennett is surprised that Clara was able to deduce that and adds that Cass wouldn't let him on the ship because she thought it was too dangerous.  Clara suggests that Bennett can get the phone back. When Bennett signs what Clara said, Cass is not impressed.  Clara argues that they need to be able to contact the Doctor and that Bennett is the only one who can do this.  Cass asks Bennett to ask Clara, if travelling with the Doctor changed her, or if she was always happy to put people's lives at risk.  Clara responds that the Doctor taught her to do what has to be done.

In the past, the Doctor notices that he ripped his jacket in his struggle with Lunn.  The Doctor says that he is running out of time and has no choice but to face the Fisher King in order to save Clara. The Doctor then orders Lunn back to the Tardis.

On board ship, Bennett leaves the Faraday Cage and Clara promises Cass that Bennett will be fine. Cass storms off, giving Clara what looks to be the finger.

The Doctor enters the church where the Fisher King is hiding.  The Doctor approaches the stasis chamber slowly and tells the Fisher King that he has seen ghosts wrenched from the dead repeating the same message over and over. The Fisher King responds that his ghosts will make enough ghosts to bring an armada and wake him from his sleep.

Doctor Who Season Nine, Episode Three: Under the Lake

Location: The Drum Underwater Mining Facility in Scotland.

The captain reports that they have located a craft and after visual scans revealed nothing, they have decided to bring the vessel aboard for further investigation.  Pritchard immediately wants to label the craft a spaceship and argues that the company he works for owns the rights to it.  Moran notices markings on the ship and asks Lunn to bring him a flashlight.  The crew begin to speculate on how long the ship has been in the ocean.  Moran suggests that it's something which got left behind when the military pulled out.  Pritchard is inside the ship checking out what look like controls, when something which appears to be a ghost comes through the wall, forcing him to back up in alarm and in the process, he sets off a fire which shoots out the rear of the ship.  Moran moves quickly to push Cass out of the way and gets incinerated for his trouble.  The team rushes out of the room as the computer announces that safety procedures have been started.  Moran then appears to the group in ghost form.

Three days later, who should arrive but The Doctor and Clara.  The Doctor stands outside of the Tardis talking to her.  He asks what's wrong and why she isn't happy. (yep the Tardis is officially female, remember the episode The Doctor's Wife?) Clara is impatient because she wants to head off for an adventure.  The Doctor however is more concerned about why the Tardis brought them to some sort of underwater base in the 22nd century.  The Doctor sets off to look for the crew, as Clara continues to whine about another adventure and pointing out that The Doctor must be itching to save another planet.  I guess with Danny gone, Clara has given up the pretense of a normal life.

In the galley area, The Doctor and Clara find that provisions are missing, a knife is in the wall and the food has been cold for about 7-8 hours.  This perks Clara up because now she has her mystery and adventure.  They come across two of the ghosts and the Doctor initially mistakes the intent of the ghosts as simple curiosity. The ghosts stand nose to nose with Clara and the Doctor before walking away.  The Doctor decides to follow them and tells Clara though he has no idea who or what they are,  and that he finds it all exciting.  They enter the room with unidentified vehicle and the Doctor is surprised when he cannot instantly understand the markings on the wall.  The Doctor tries to communicate with the ghosts again under the mistaken belief that they wanted to show him the ship. The ghosts grab weapons off the shelf and so The Doctor and Clara are forced to make a run for it.  In their attempt to escape, The Doctor and Clara learn pretty quickly that the ghosts can make it through walls.

Fortunately for the Doctor and Clara, they manage to make it to the place where the crew is hiding. The moment the Doctor introduces himself, the crew immediately get excited and reference the Doctor's connection to Unit.  It seems by this time at least, the Doctor has developed a human following. The Doctor asks about the specters and is told that they are ghosts. Cass starts to speak to the Doctor in sign language and when Bennet trist to be Cass's voice, the Doctor quickly dismisses Bennet saying that he can understand sign language. Cass only has time to sign a few words before the Doctor admits that he cannot in fact understand her. The Doctor learns that the ghosts first appeared after the ship came aboard.  The Doctor asks who is in charge, so that he knows who to ignore.  Cass indicates herself but Pritchard, who represents a petroleum mining company, says that it's actually him.  The Doctor tosses Pritchard's card on the ground with disdain.

The ship goes into day cycle and the crew leaves the safety room.  The Doctor heads back to see the ship and questions why the crew hasn't abandoned the base.  Pritchard informs that Doctor that there's too much money invested in mining equipment to consider leaving the base.  The Doctor calls Pritchard an idiot and is doubly not impressed when he learns that the base is essentially a nuclear reactor. The Doctor notes that there are items missing from the alien ship, including a power cell and naturally, the missing power cell is what get's Pritchard's attention.  After some thinking about the timing of the appearance of the specters, the Doctor finally concedes that they are dealing with ghosts. He is the only one who is excited about this.  One of the crew members points out that Moran was their friend and Clara nudges the Doctor, and tells him to use the cards.  The Doctor pulls the cards out of his jacket and gives his condolences for the loss of their crew mate and promises to do what he can to solve the death of their friend.

The Walking Dead, Season Six, Episode One: First Time Again

Rick and the group  are facing down a gigantic horde of zombies which are held at bay by tractor trailers.  The plan is to practice what they want to do tomorrow but all that is tossed out of the window when two of the trucks they are using as barriers crumble.  The group scrambles to put the plan into action immediately, with each person taking on their responsibility.  Only Carter is in doubt about what to do and if they can actually pull off their plan   Rick orders the firing of flares into the horde. Zombies manage to push their way through another barrier.

The film now turns to black and white.  Father Gabriel approaches Deanna, and she looks up at Gabriel with tears in her eyes and tells him that he was wrong.

Abraham carries the body of Deanna's husband wrapped up in a sack to prepare for burial.  He puts down the body and takes a stiff drink and then pours some alcohol over the body.  It's really a touching scene.

Jessie sits on the couch holding Sam with Ron by her side.  Ron gets up suddenly and leaves the room despite his mother calling out for him.

In the medical area, Tara is awake when a bloodied Glenn and Nicholas stumble in.  Glenn is pleased to see Tara alive.  Eugene enters, clearly delighted to see Tara awake and comments that it's a good thing he didn't cut his hair. When Eugene continues to stare, Tara asks for Noah to protect her jokingly, not aware that Noah is dead.

Carl is sits next to Enid and she puts her hand on Carl's hand.

Morgan tells Rick that he was right that the threat wasn't over.  Rick suggests that they talk more tomorrow.  Rick explains that he doesn't take chances anymore and Morgan agrees that he shouldn't.

Sasha checks in on a drunk Abraham.

A walker stumbles down the road and gets the drive by treatment.  Rick is still organizing his people as they continue to lead the walkers away from their small settlement.  Rick reminds everyone to keep their heads in the game.

Back in black and white, Darryl is fixing his bike when Rick approaches.  They talk about the guys Morgan met with W's on their head.  Rick says that they need more watch points and that they don't need to go looking for new people anymore.  Darryl is clearly conflicted about Rick's decision and admits that he doesn't agree.  Rick believes that people out there have to take care of themselves just like them and heads to go and release Morgan.

Sasha and Abraham are driving together.  Abraham checks in on how Sasha is doing and she questions if he was so worried, why he got into the car with her. Abraham doesn't answer, so Tara explains that doing something as big as this is living.  Sasha stops her car when they reach the designated spot.

Back to black and white.  Rick finds Morgan going through the paces with his fighting stick.  Rick questions where Morgan learned this and Morgan explains that he learned it after everything.  Rick apologises for having to do this but Morgan says that sometimes you are safer when there is no way out. Morgan adds that they need to get to know each other again.

Eugene is standing by the gate when Heath arrives with a group of people.  Eugene is not anxious to let Heath in because he cannot confirm that Heath actually lives there. Heath doesn't have more patience and explains that the longer Eugene waits to open the gate, the more motivated he is to beat Eugene's ass.  Eugene finally consents and opens the gate. Eugene explains that he just relieving Holly at the gate for now.  Scott and Annie get out of the vehicle and introduce themselves.  Heath asks if anything big happened while they were gone on patrol and Eugene suggests that Heath talk to Deanna to get it from the horses mouth.  Heath starts to walk away and Eugene calls out that it's good to see someone like him and that he fully respects the hair game.

Rick is showing Morgan the community and explains that Reg built the gate.  He tells Morgan that the community people didn't have to survive and have been behind the walls from the start.  Rick is concerned that it's too late for the group to come around and suggests that Morgan talk to Deanna. Rick then notices that two graves are being dug - one for Reg and the other for Porch Dick.  Gabriel tells Rick that he just wanted to help and Rick makes it clear that they are not going to bury killers inside the walls.  Gabriel tells Rick that it's not his decision and Deanna intervenes to support Rick, adding that the trees should have the body. Ron watches the incident from a distance.

Porch dick is now loaded into a trunk by Rick and Morgan.  Rick explains that he shot Porch Dick because Porch Dick killed Reg. Rick makes it clear that he has no sympathy for killers.  It's Morgan who points out that Rick is a killer and so is he. Rick simply closes the lid to the truck.

Back in colour, Rick continues to talk with the group, checking their positions.  There's an RV and a car in front of the gate and Morgan assures Michonne and Rick that it will hold.  Morgan brings up the time that Michonne, Rick and Carl came to see him and asks if Michonne took one of his protein bars.  Really?  They're worried about zombies getting through the gate and Morgan is worried about the protein bar.  Michonne lies and says no, but she did take the bar.

Ron walks under an underpass and climbs up a ravine.  Morgan and Rick are walking and Rick suggests that they just leave Porch Dick there.  Morgan tells Rick that this is not who he is but Rick tells Morgan that he doesn't know him.  Morgan takes a few steps, drops his things and starts digging. The sound of walkers can be heard in the distance.  Rick tells Morgan to stop and listen.  They make their way to a cliff and when they look over it, they see a giant horde of zombies.  Ron is running through the woods and is being chased by zombies.  Fortunately for Ron, he runs into Rick and Morgan, who make quick work of the zombies.

Back in colour, Darryl rides his motorcycle down the street and is followed by the giant horde of zombies.  Tara pulls out in front of Darryl and joins the grim procession.

In black and white, Rick, Morgan and Ron stare at the horde.  Rick questions what Ron was doing out here and Ron explains that he wanted to know where his father was buried.  Rick realises that the community still exists because the walkers which would have threatened it have been blocked into the area that they are facing. When Rick looks over his shoulder, he sees Ron walking away.  Rick tries to tell Ron that he shouldn't be out here because he cannot protect himself, adding that if Ron comes out here he will die and turn into a walker.  Rick demands that Ron return with them now, adding that Ron better not make it hard. Rick walks back with Morgan on his heels and he stops at the place where they dropped Porch Dick's body.  While Ron watches, Morgan and Rick pick up shovels and start digging.

Back in colour, Glenn gets set up for his part of the massive zombie project they are undertaking. Glenn tells Nicholas to let one or two zombies out of the factory at a time so they can kill them. Heath expresses doubt but Nicholas tells Heath that Glenn knows what he is doing.  Nicholas and Glenn manage to pry the door open to the factory but no zombies exit.

Back in black and white, Heath is talking about the zombie blockade and how he has never gone back to the area. Michonne realises that the walkers keep getting drawn in because of the noise.  Rick then talks about the precarious position that they are in because the barricade will fall.  Carol speaks out in support of Rick (note: Carol is still playing meek and mild) and Carter asks about building up the weak spots and offers to try and make it safe. Rick points out that building up the weak spots won't work because the sound the walkers make is drawing more and more walkers everyday. Deanna tells the group that they are going to do what Rick said. Rick starts laying out his plans and Sasha and Abraham offer to help.  Rick says that they are going to have more people on watch from now on and asks for more volunteers.  Michonne is the first to volunteer and Glenn whispers to Maggie that someone needs to watch Michonne because she is important and that people need to see her come back.  Glenn then volunteers and when Gabriel offers to help, Rick immediately says no. Carter again expresses his doubts and asks if they should just fall in line behind Rick, after Rick waved a gun around screaming.  Carter brings up the fact that Rick shot and killed Porch Dick but Deanna calls out enough.  More volunteers start speaking up.  When Nicholas starts to waver, Glenn shakes his head no at him but Nicholas volunteers anyway. Rick questions if Nicholas can handle this and Nicholas explains that they need people.  Rick promises to keep this place safe.  Carter asks to go through the plan again.

In colour, Rick, Morgan and Michonne fire off flares, as Darryl and Sasha continue to lead the zombies.

In black and white, Rick stands over a map and explains to Deanna, Michonne and Carter his plans. Carter however does not believe that the walkers can be drawn away.  Eugene comes up with a suggestion to block the walkers in so that they don't get any strays.  Carter again points out what he perceives to be a hole in Rick's plan.

In colour, Darryl and Tara continue to herd the zombies past the gate as flares go off.  Morgan vigilantly watches the wall for any weakness as the herd begins to brush against the barrier. In the pressure of so many dead bodies, some zombies get crushed against the wall and others get trampled.

In black and white, everyone is working on shoring up the walls.  Darryl approaches Rick and tells him that going out and finding more people is taking care of themselves before walking away.  Carol approaches Rick next and offers him some water.  Carol volunteers to help out saying that Darryl has been teaching her how to shoot.  Rick tells Carol to stay back and get a feel for how people feel now because they have a long way to go with them.  Carol says that they will get there because even though they think Deanna is in charge, Rick is now.

Glenn has come up with a plan to take on the zombies with Heath, while Nicholas stays back.  I don't blame Glenn, I wouldn't entrust my safety to Nicholas.  Glenn tells Nicholas that if things go south, his job is to draw the walkers away and then warn Rick.

Maggie approaches Tara and tells her that Nicholas lured Glenn into the woods and tried to kill him. Maggie then explains that Nicholas is the cause of Noah's death. Maggie brings up what happened at the prison and adds that now Tara is one of the most important people in the world to her. Tara promises to follow Maggie's lead and the two women hug, as Glenn watches with a smile.

In colour, a window in the factory is broken and as the walkers exit, Glenn and Heath start shooting. A walkers get his hands on Heath and Nicholas intervenes.  The men manage to finish off the last of the walkers before moving on.