‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: Season 5, Episode 8 – ‘Coda’

“The Walking Dead” gang was reunited in the show’s mid-season finale.

But, the episode was filled with loss, followed by a little spark of hope in Father Gabriel’s church.

Here’s our blow by blow recap of “The Walking Dead” Season 5, Episode 8, “Coda”:

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The Trade With Grady Memorial Derailed?

Rick & Bob Lamson, An Abandoned Warehouse Lot In Atlanta: The escape of Bob Lamson hasn’t gone unnoticed and it’s Rick who chases him down, first on foot, then, in the man’s own car. Using the car’s speaker system, Rick’s insists Lamson stop. He doesn’t so Rick hits him with the car. “It didn’t have to be like this. You just had to stop,” Rick tells Lamson, who protests. “I couldn’t. I don’t know you, but…. I think I’m getting the idea,” he replies. He begs to be taken back. “I did it, for your friend,” Lamson says of his escape. “Can’t go back, Bob,” Rick replies (something Gareth said to Bob Stookey!). Lamson continues to try to sway Rick, but it’s no use. Rick shoots him dead, gets in the car and drives off.

Father Gabriel Learns A New Lesson

Father Gabriel, The School Where The Terminans Ate Bob’s Leg: Walkers pound at the doors of the school house, as Fr. Gabriel rummages through scattered belongings in the grass. After putting down a Bible belonging to “Mary,” he sees it – the remains of Bob Stookey’s leg, right where the Terminans left it. In a fit of rage, Gabriel throws the book and collapses on the ground. But, he has to get up immediately and run on his injured foot as walkers break out of the school they were housed in (Gareth predicted that). “Please! Let me in,” Gabriel screams back at the church. Inside, Carl and Michonne (who is holding baby Judith) are surprised to hear his cries. Grabbing an axe, Michonne chops open the barricade, letting the priest inside just in time. Or is it? Walkers file in one after the other, filling the doorway, and forcing the quartet (Judith is in a pouch on Michonne’s back) to run for Fr. Gabriel’s office. He directs them through the crawl space. Knowing he caused the trouble, it’s Fr. Gabriel who goes last. “I can’t run anymore,” he says as he makes it through to the other side. After taking care of a few walkers, they trap the rest inside the church.

Time For A New Plan To Save Carol & Beth

Sasha, Daryl, Tyreese, Noah, Bob & Two Grady Officers, Inside An Abandoned Warehouse: Rick quietly reveals to Daryl what happened outside with Lamson. “This change things?” Daryl asks. “It has to,” Rick replies. But Daryl has another view – maybe Rick’s done Dawn a favor by killing the cop she wasn’t a fan of (Lamson). They walk over to the remaining Grady officers for their take. Shepherd, the female cop and the big guy (Officer Licari), suggest they all claim Lamson was taken down by “rotters.” Dawn will “see this trade as a rip off if she thinks you took out one of our guys,” Licari says, “so it’s a good thing Lamson got aced by rotters.”

Beth & Dawn, Inside Grady Memorial: While on an exercise bike, Dawn uses her walkie talkie to reach out to her officers, who don’t radio back. The two women chit chat and Dawn opens up about her former Captain – Hanson — who was her friend and mentor. But, there is gossip around the hospital regarding that situation. “Hanson lost his way. That’s what happened,” Dawn tells Beth, offering just a hint at what happened.

Reunited!

Carl, Judith, Michonne & Fr. Gabriel, Outside The Church: Gabriel reveals he snuck out to go to the school. “I had to see. I had to know,” he tells them. As they watch the walkers get closer to breaking through the church’s rotting doors, Carl looks nervous. There’s nowhere to run. But, there is help! Abraham Ford arrives, blocking the door with the fire truck. After brief greetings between the reunited parties, Glenn tells Michonne the truth about Eugene and Michonne tells Maggie that Beth is alive and the others have gone to get her back. It’s a happy moment for Maggie. “Let’s blow this joint. Go save your sister,” Tara says, with a laugh.

Beth, Grady Memorial: Beth walks around a corner to see the elderly orderly who helped her get to the medicine cabinet unnoticed (in last week’s episode) being harassed by one of Dawn’s officers – O’Donnell. When he spots Beth, he asks for her help, but Dawn comes along and says she needs Beth. Later, as Beth and Dawn are talking, O’Donnell walks in, overhearing that Dawn covered up Beth killing Officer Gorman. “It’s time to make a change,” he says. They fight. Beth jumps on his back, but is thrown off. Just when he recomposes himself, Beth shoves O’Donnell down the elevator shaft. “Thank you,” Dawn tells her.

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Carol’s still out, and Beth is on the floor of her room sometime later to keep her company, when Dawn walks in carrying a flask. She offers Beth a drink, setting it on a sink when Beth turns it down. “I’m gonna get out, just like Noah,” Beth says. He’ll be back, Dawn notes.

Rick Grimes & His Gang Take On Grady Memorial

Sasha, Tyreese, Rick, Daryl & The Prisoners, On A Rooftop Opposite Grady Memorial: “I was stupid,” Sasha says of turning her back on Bob Lamson. Tyreese reveals he did something equally stupid with the guy who threatened baby Judith outside of Terminus – the one who later went on to capture (and eat part of) Bob.

Through the scope on Daryl’s gun, Daryl sees a Grady car drive up. They radio Rick with details and he turns around to greet the vehicle, his hands raised. “Officer Franco, Officer McGinley, I’m Rick Grimes. … I’m here to make a proposal,” he says. He’s ordered to put his weapon down and he does. It’s okay. Daryl and Sasha have him covered from above. Rick reveals his proposal – he wants to do an exchange: Officer Shepherd and Licari for Beth and Carol. “Where are your people?” McGinley asks. “They’re close,” Rick says as Sasha takes out a walker right behind them. “Radio your Lieutenant. I’ll wait,” he says.

Officers Shepherd and Licari are taken by gunpoint inside Grady Memorial. Beth wheels out Carol (who is awake now), for the exchange. “Holster your weapons,” Dawn says. “You too,” Rick tells his group, as they walk forward. After Shepherd and Licari claim Lamson was taken by rotters, it’s time for the exchange.

Carol is wheeled over to Rick’s side in exchange for Licari. Then, Dawn walks Beth over for Shepherd. Rick gives Beth a quick hug. “Glad we could work things out,” Dawn says. “Now, I just need Noah, and then you can leave.” Shepherd protests, but Dawn shuts her up. “The boy wants to go home, so you have no claim on him,” Rick says. But Noah gives in. “It’s not okay,” Beth says. She runs forward and hugs Noah. “I knew you’d be back,” Dawn says of Noah, angering Beth, who moves forward and stabs her with a pair of scissors she had hidden in her cast. And just then, Dawn shoots Beth in the head. Dead. Whipping out his gun, Daryl kills Dawn.

“Hold your fire, it’s over,” Shepherd tells the Grady side. “It was just about her. Stand down,” she adds. Daryl still has his weapon out, as Carol reaches for his shoulder to comfort him. Daryl’s tears come down. Rick’s eyes well up too. Sasha, Tyreese, Noah – everyone is shaken.

Shepherd tells them they can stay. “No,” Rick states. “And I’m taking anyone back there that wants to leave. If you want to come with us, step forward now.”

Outside of the hospital Abraham and the gang arrive with guns, but it’s too late. Our two groups become one again in the parking lot. Maggie smiles, and then, she breaks down, falling on the ground, screaming as she watches Daryl carrying Beth’s lifeless body outside.

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Noah is the only one who from Grady who is joining them.

Bonus Scene! Morgan arrives at the school yard. He puts down a walker and heads to the church. After setting his food on the altar, Morgan looks around and laughs. And then, he sees a discarded map with Rick Grimes’ name on it.

“The Walking Dead” returns February 8, 2015 on AMC.

— Jolie Lash