Season 4

S4E1 · 30 Days Without an Accident

Several months have passed, in which the remaining citizens of the nearby overrun town of Woodbury have joined the survivor group at the prison. Rick Grimes, having renounced leadership of the group, has taken to farming to set an example to his son Carl Grimes. While he is walking outside in his garden, he notices several walkers have accumulated outside the prison. Carl approaches him and notices that one of the pigs his father takes care of, "Violet", appears ill. Rick tells Carl to stop naming the pigs since they are food, and admits he does not know why the pig is ill.

Daryl Dixon has increased in popularity among the residents for his role as the group's hunter; Carl's friend, Patrick (Vincent Martella) thanks Daryl for supplying the meat through his hunting. Carol speaks privately with Daryl about the walkers, noting they are not spreading themselves along the fence line as before. Elsewhere, Glenn Rhee tells his wife Maggie that she should not accompany him on the supply run scheduled for later that day. Carl criticizes a group of the prison's children, Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino) and her sister, Mika (Kyla Kenedy), among them, for naming one of the walkers at the fence.

While several survivors kill the accumulated walkers at the fence, Tyreese speaks with Karen, and confides his discomfort with killing walkers along the gate, as it means looking into their faces. Hershel Greene tells Rick that their council – himself, Glenn, Carol, Daryl, and Tyreese's sister, Sasha – prefers that Rick carry a gun when he goes outside the gates, for protection. Rick leaves and encounters Michonne returning to the prison after hunting for an old nemesis known as the Governor, the former leader of Woodbury, and she shares her intention to travel to Macon County to continue her search. She volunteers to check the hunting traps for animals, but Rick decides to go himself. Carol meanwhile secretly uses a storytime session with the prison's children to teach them about the use of weaponry. Patrick, feeling ill, leaves early.

Before leaving on the supply run, Zach (Kyle Gallner) says goodbye to Hershel's younger daughter, Beth, with whom he has formed a relationship. Bob Stookey (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.), a former army medic and a new addition to the group, volunteers to go along to earn his keep; after some hesitation, Sasha allows him to come. The group reaches an abandoned army camp around a grocery store, where they begin to gather supplies. Bob approaches an alcohol aisle in the store and is tempted to take a bottle of wine. He decides to put it back, causing the entire shelf to fall on him.

This also attracts the attention of walkers on the roof, who begin to fall through the decaying ceiling. Daryl and Zach are able to free Bob, but Zach is bitten and killed in the process. The rest of the group escapes as a wrecked helicopter falls through the roof, destroying the store and the remaining walkers.

Rick is checking the traps when he encounters a woman named Clara (Kerry Condon), whom he initially mistakes for a walker. She asks if he is with a group and begs him to take her and her husband Eddie in. She leads Rick to her small campsite, where she suddenly moves to attack him. He sidesteps her, and she instead chooses to commit suicide, stabbing herself in the stomach. Clara tells Rick she could not stand living without Eddie, who it is revealed has died and become a walker, and so she took his head with her. She pleads with Rick not to kill her, so she may remain with Eddie as a walker. Rick honors her dying wish and departs, and upon returning to the prison he discovers that Violet, the pig, has died of her illness.

The supply run group returns to the prison. Maggie tells Glenn that she is not pregnant, as they had feared. Daryl informs Beth of Zach's death. She then resets the tally she was keeping of days without accidents. Seeing that Daryl is surprised by her apparent coldness, she tells him that she does not cry anymore, but is glad to have spent time with Zach. Later that night, Patrick rises and stumbles to the showers, where he collapses, dies, and soon reanimates.

S4E2 · Infected

The reanimated Patrick manages to attack other survivors in a cell block, and the group is forced to kill off those bitten and relocate the others to a different block. They discover a deadly flu strain, brought by pigs that Rick tried to raise, affecting some of the survivors and which killed Patrick. Those infected are isolated, fearing they will reanimate when they die. Tyreese discovers his girlfriend Karen and her friend David, both considered infected, were killed and burnt by someone unknown.

S4E3 · Isolation

In the inner courtyard, Tyreese explains to Rick Grimes, Carol Peletier, and Daryl Dixon how he found the burned corpses of his girlfriend Karen and friend David. An enraged Tyreese demands that Rick find the killer; when Rick and Daryl try to calm him down, he turns violent and begins to attack them. During this, Rick flies into a rage and badly beats Tyreese before Daryl pulls Rick off.

After bandaging Rick's hand, Hershel Greene and the rest of the prison's council decide to quarantine those who are sick in Cell Block A and separate the elderly and the children. Tyreese's sister Sasha, Lizzie, Dr. Caleb Subramanian, and Glenn Rhee are among those who contract the virus and are forced to enter quarantine. Hershel suggests that they could search a veterinary college for medical supplies, and Daryl, Michonne, and Bob Stookey volunteer to retrieve the medicine.

Carol notices that they are low on water and informs Rick about it, with the two agreeing to clean the intake strainer the next day. Rick cautiously approaches Tyreese to comfort him and apologize for his actions, but Tyreese is still frustrated with Rick's inaction and walks off. Maggie Greene tearfully reports Glenn's illness to her sister Beth, who assures her sister that they have jobs to do, as their father always says. Hershel, with the help of Carl Grimes, retrieves elderberries to make tea to act as a remedy for the sick.

The two encounter two harmless walkers; Hershel advises Carl not to kill them, as it is unnecessary. Tyreese, after guarding the infected survivors from Karen's killer, bids farewell to a sick Sasha and leaves with Daryl's group to get the medicine. He tells Carol, who offers him condolences, to watch over Sasha for him, but after he leaves, Carol breaks down in tears.

Maggie sees her father approaching the quarantined zone, and chastises him about possible exposure, with support from Rick. Hershel counters by saying that they always risk their lives every day: the only thing they can do now is decide what they are risking it for, with his being his ability to save the lives of the infected. Rick investigates the murder scene, and notices a bloody hand print that is smaller than his own hand. While driving to the college, Daryl talks to Michonne about hunting for The Governor when they suddenly hear a voice over the car radio repeating the words "Sanctuary... those who arrive...survive..." A distracted Daryl drives into a horde of walkers, forcing the group to leave their vehicle, except for a morose Tyreese. Tyreese eventually snaps out of it, but is overwhelmed by the walkers, forcing the remaining three to leave him. However, he miraculously survives the swarm and regroups with the others.

Carol has recklessly gone outside the prison fence alone to clear the water pump intake, and Rick saves her from walkers. Rick tells Carol that he has noticed how far she is willing to go to protect the group of survivors. He then asks her if she killed Karen and David. After a brief pause, she responds with a simple "yes," and then walks away silently.

S4E4 · Indifference

After saying goodbye to Lizzie, Carol joins Rick on a supply run, since Daryl ’s group has not yet returned. Along the way, Carol defends her actions in killing Karen and David. Arriving in a residential neighborhood, the two discover a surviving couple, Sam (Robin Lord Taylor) and Ana (Brina Palencia), who have been constantly moving to survive. Ana limps from a poorly healed leg injury, and Sam has some slight wounds and a dislocated shoulder. After Carol treats Sam's injuries, Rick asks them the three questions needed to enter the prison.

Realizing that they are good people, he accepts them into his group, but warns them about the flu at the prison. He then tells them to stay put until he and Carol return, but Carol urges them to look for supplies against his wishes. Rick relents after the two insist that they want to help, and tells them to meet back at the house in two hours.

Meanwhile, Daryl, Michonne, Bob, and Tyreese find a new car at an auto shop, but the battery is dead. The group encounters a few walkers, but a bitter Tyreese intentionally lets a walker overtake him and pin him to the ground, before being saved by Daryl and Bob. Michonne scolds him about his actions, saying that his anger might get him killed. Tyreese responds by bringing up her continued attempts to find and kill The Governor. While Daryl is hooking up a new battery, Bob confides in him the reasons for his alcoholism. He also confesses that he only joined the team scouting the retail store to find some liquor, and that his actions led to the walker attack that killed Zach. Daryl tells Bob not to be so hard on himself, finishes the repairs on the car, and the group continues on toward the college.

Daryl's group finally arrives at the veterinary college and find the medicine they need. In the process, however, they alert numerous walkers and are forced to flee the building via a ledge. Bob stumbles and his bag is grabbed by some walkers. He refuses to let go and the group manages to pull him and his bag free, only to discover that the bag only contains a bottle of liquor. Daryl picks it up and tells Bob that he will beat him senseless if he catches him taking a drink before their people get the medicine. On the drive back to the prison, Michonne tells Daryl that she will stop looking for The Governor.

While searching the neighborhood, Rick and Carol continue to debate her actions, with Carol still acting indifferent. Later, they see Ana's dead body being eaten by some walkers. They return to the house, but Sam has not returned. As they prepare to leave, Rick tells Carol that she cannot return to the prison because Tyreese would kill her when he finds out. When Carol objects, Rick also says that he does not want her around his family. Rick reassures Carol that she is now more than capable of surviving on her own. He gives her supplies, and the two go their separate ways on tense terms.

S4E5 · Internment

The infected survivors begin to succumb to the illness and reanimate as walkers, forcing the survivors to start to kill their friends. At the same time, Rick and Carl have to deal with a big group of walkers who breached the fence. Daryl's group returns in time for Hershel and Bob to help administer the medicine and cure the remaining infected. Carol's absence from the group is noticed but Rick only confides in his choice to a select few. As the survivors recover and try to return to a regular routine, they are unaware they are being watched from afar by The Governor.

S4E6 · Live Bait

In a flashback episode, The Governor is abandoned by Martinez and Shumpert following his attack on the prison. He sets Woodbury ablaze and later encounters the Chamblers, Lilly, Tara, Lilly's daughter Meghan and their dying father. He hides his identity while helping them to deal with their father and the three opt to leave with him when he moves on. They come across another group of survivors - this being led by Martinez.

S4E7 · Dead Weight

While still in flashback, Martinez recognizes The Governor has taken a new identity and privately explains how he found this new group and their arsenal of weapons. The Governor senses the group is weak and with the power of their arsenal, believes he can secure the prison for a haven for the Chamblers. He kills Martinez and his right-hand man, taking charge of the group and organizes the group to head to the prison. The Governor, observing the prison, sees Michonne and Hershel outside its fence, burning the corpses of the infected.

S4E8 · Too Far Gone

The Governor captures Michonne and Hershel and challenges Rick and the others to abandon the prison. Though Rick offers co-existence, The Governor refuses, decapitates Hershel and gunfire breaks out. In the midst of battle, Lilly rushes up to The Governor with the body of Meghan, who was bitten by a walker while playing. The Governor shoots Meghan to prevent her from reanimating and then orders a full-out assault of the prison, tearing through its fences and allowing a horde of walkers in. The survivors in the prison are forced to scatter when they no longer can hold their defenses. At the same time, Rick and The Governor engage in a one-on-one brawl in which the latter gains the upper hand, only to be mortally stabbed by Michonne just before he can kill Rick. Rick escapes with Carl, while the near-death Governor is approached and executed by Lilly.

S4E9 · After

Carl helps his injured father Rick as they flee the prison and fearful they have lost Lori's child. They take shelter in a suburban home and Rick collapses from exhaustion. Carl scavenges nearby homes for supplies. Michonne, finding the prison overrun and no sign of the survivors, sets off on her own but comes to an epiphany about her purpose and follows Carl and Rick's trail, rejoining them at the home where they are sheltering.

S4E10 · Inmates

Daryl helps to protect Beth as they flee and search for survivors. Tyreese, having saved Lori's child Judith, escorts young sisters Lizzie and Mika and is soon joined by Carol. Maggie, Sasha and Bob find the bus from the prison, the survivors inside dead and reanimated as walkers, though Maggie is relieved that Glenn is not among them. Glenn, having been knocked unconscious at the prison, finds a frightened Tara and helps to lead her to safety, coming across Abraham, Eugene and Rosita in their travels.

S4E11 · Claimed

In wake of their escape from the walker-overrun prison, Tara and Glenn are picked up by Abraham, Rosita, and Eugene in their military vehicle as they drive north.

Meanwhile, Rick, Michonne, and Carl, having regrouped in an abandoned home, are eating breakfast, when Michonne makes a comment about soy milk for their cereal; Carl replies he would rather have baby formula than soy milk, causing him to recall the apparent loss of his newborn sister Judith, and he leaves the table. Rick thanks Michonne for trying to help and being a friend to Carl. Later, Carl and Michonne decide to go on a supply run; Rick tries to come but Michonne orders him to get some rest to recover from his injuries.

Rick goes to bed in an upstairs bedroom as they leave. Michonne and Carl bond more during their run, with Carl learning about Michonne's son Andre that she had lost in the apocalypse. In one house they come across a children's room where the family appeared to have committed suicide together. Recalling her son and her sad memories, Michonne blocks Carl from entering the room. Carl opens up about naming Judith, and offers that Judith and Andre are "somewhere" together.

Recovering in the back of the military vehicle, Glenn insists that Abraham stop so that they can look for Maggie and other survivors from the prison. Abraham refuses, stating that he and Rosita are on a mission to bring Eugene to Washington D.C., as Eugene, a scientist, says he knows how to stop the walkers once there. Glenn and Abraham argue, drawing a small group of walkers toward them. As they begin to fire on the walkers, Eugene fumbles with his weapon and accidentally shoots the truck's gas tank. With the walkers dealt with, they are forced to abandon the truck. Glenn and Tara head south to continue their search for other survivors from the prison; Abraham, Rosita, and Eugene decide to join them heading south until they are able to find a new vehicle.

Back at the house, Rick is woken by noises in the house, discovering a small band of scavengers are inside. He hides under the bed as one, Tony (Davi Jay), takes a nap on it. Another scavenger, Len (Marcus Hester), demands Tony give up the bed, having no claim to it. The two fight, during which Tony spots Rick under the bed. Before Tony can issue a warning, Len chokes him unconscious before getting into bed and falling asleep. Rick sneaks out from under the bed when the other scavengers shout upon discovering signs of Michonne's freshly washed clothes, believing a woman to be nearby.

Rick tries to flee the house but is discovered by another scavenger, Lou, in the bathroom. In order to stay hidden and undetected by the other members of the group, Rick jumps Lou and begins strangling him. Although Lou attempts to grab a pair of scissors on the nearby counter to stab Rick with, Rick ultimately strangles him to death before escaping out the window. Now outside the house, Rick tries to sneak away but his path is blocked by Joe (Jeff Kober), their lookout. As he spots Michonne and Carl returning, Rick is about to make a distraction when shouts are heard from inside, Lou having become a walker. Joe runs back into the house to aid the other scavengers, allowing Rick to escape with Michonne and Carl.

The three continue travelling and encounter a sign near railroad tracks, stating that "sanctuary for all" lies down the way of the tracks.

S4E12 · Still

Beth continues to travel with Daryl and becomes distraught she might die before having a drink of alcohol, something Hershel prevented. After scavenging through a country club and only finding peach schnapps, Daryl takes her to a cabin he had found earlier that was used to make moonshine and tells her that is a proper drink. As they get inebriated, Daryl sadly discusses his past and what Merle meant to him. They decide to burn down the cabin as a way of putting their past behind them.

S4E13 · Alone

While following signs to Terminus, Maggie, Sasha and Bob disagree on what they should do. Maggie, still anxious about Glenn's fate, leaves on her own. Bob leaves to follow her trail, while Sasha decides to remain in a small town and ultimately saves Maggie from a horde of walkers and agrees to continue with her. Daryl and Beth come across a church where they take refuge but when the church is invaded by walkers, Daryl covers for Beth's escape, during which she is captured by someone in a car with a white cross on its back windshield. Daryl is suddenly captured by another group of men.

S4E14 · The Grove

Tyreese, Carol, Lizzie, Mika and Judith follow signs to Terminus and come across a cabin where they plan to take a few days of rest. Tyreese and Carol find Lizzie has an unhealthy fascination with walkers. Later, after coming back with supplies, they find Lizzie has killed Mika and is about to kill Judith, hoping they will come back as walkers. Carol and Tyreese agree Lizzie is too dangerous to keep around and Carol kills her. Carol opens up about having killed Tyreese's friend Karen, which he forgives her for. They leave the cabin and continue to Terminus.

S4E15 · Us

Glenn, Tara, Abraham, Eugene and Rosita continue towards Terminus and they find a sign by a tunnel written by Maggie to Glenn. Abraham fears the tunnel too dangerous but Glenn and Tara proceed. They are surrounded by walkers but saved by Maggie, Sasha, and Bob; the combined group continue to Terminus as a waypoint towards Washington, D.C. They find Terminus and are welcomed with open arms. Daryl is forced to travel with the men that captured him, the same Claimers that Rick encountered and learns that they are on Rick's trail for having killed one of their own.

S4E16 · A

The Claimers catch up to Rick, Carl and Michonne but when they threaten to rape Michonne and Carl, they are slaughtered by Rick and Daryl. The four continue towards Terminus but Rick is wary and leaves their weapons hidden before they enter. Inside they are guided by Gareth, who welcomes them. Rick spots gear belonging to the other survivors and demands to know what is going on. Rick's group is forced into a boxcar at gunpoint where they join up with Glenn, Maggie, Sasha, Bob, Tara, Abraham, Eugene and Rosita, all also captives of the Terminus residents. Rick asserts that they have picked the wrong people to mess with.