Ep 6. TS-19
- TV-14
- December 5, 2010
- 45 min
-
8.6 (18,610)
The Walking Dead season 1 episode 6, titled TS-19, takes place entirely within the confines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) building in Atlanta. Rick and the group have been taken in by the CDC's lone remaining survivor, a scientist named Dr. Edwin Jenner. The episode opens with the group enjoying a hot shower and clean clothes for the first time in weeks, and for a brief moment it seems like things might finally be looking up.
However, it quickly becomes apparent that the situation at the CDC is not as rosy as it appears. Dr. Jenner reveals that he has been monitoring the group's progress since they arrived, and that every person is infected with the virus that causes zombification. He also informs the group that there is no cure, and that the only way to truly escape the outbreak is to die.
This revelation sends the group into a tailspin, with each member grappling in their own way with the idea that their death is inevitable. Andrea and Jacqui attempt to leave the building in the hopes of finding a cure, but are ultimately thwarted by the locked doors and impenetrable security systems. Meanwhile, Shane becomes increasingly unhinged, both from the realization that he and everyone he cares about will eventually turn into walkers, and from the fact that his relationship with Lori is effectively over.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Jenner provides a glimpse into his own descent into madness as he recounts the events leading up to the collapse of civilization. It becomes clear that he has lost all hope, and that he views the group's presence in the CDC as little more than a way to ease his own loneliness.
As the hours tick down to the CDC's self-destruction, the group must decide whether to accept their inevitable fate or to fight for survival. Ultimately, they choose the latter, but not without paying a heavy price.
The Walking Dead season 1 episode 6 is a tense and emotional exploration of the human condition in the face of despair. It asks difficult questions about what it means to be alive, and what is worth fighting for in a world that has already crumbled. It is a turning point for the series, and sets the stage for the challenges that lie ahead for Rick and his group.
