No Sanctuary (The Walking Dead)

"No Sanctuary"
The Walking Dead episode
Rick modifies a sign leading to Terminus with dirt to read "NO SANCTUARY".
Episode no.	Season 5 Episode 1
Directed by	Greg Nicotero
Written by	Scott M. Gimple
Original air date	October 12, 2014 (2014-10-12)
Guest appearance(s)
Denise Crosby as Mary Tate Ellington as Alex Chris Coy as Martin Robin Lord Taylor as Sam Justice Leak as Knife Smock Man Adam Boyer as Bat Smock Man Owen Harn as Crazed Man Anissa Matlock as Woman Nelson Bonilla as Terminus Guard
Episode chronology
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The Walking Dead (season 5) List of The Walking Dead episodes

"No Sanctuary" is the first episode of the fifth season and 52nd episode overall of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on October 12, 2014. It was written by showrunner Scott M. Gimple and directed by Greg Nicotero. In the episode, Rick Grimes' (Andrew Lincoln) group struggles to figure out a way to escape Terminus, whose inhabitants have resorted to cannibalism to survive. Concurrently, Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) devises a plan to rescue Rick's group after learning they are in danger.

The episode featured several recurring guest stars, including Lennie James, who makes a brief uncredited post-end credits appearance as Morgan Jones, in his third overall appearance in the show. This episode was critically praised; most applauded its action, story progression, emotional aspect, and Morgan's return, although several viewers were disturbed by the graphic nature of the episode. Upon airing, the episode hit series-high ratings, with 17.29 million viewers; the episode also garnered an 18-49 age bracket rating of 8.7. The show achieved its previous series-high ratings during the fourth season premiere, "30 Days Without an Accident", which garnered 16.11 million viewers.

In separate flashbacks at the start and end of the episode, Gareth (Andrew J. West), his brother Alex (Tate Ellington), and his mother Mary (Denise Crosby), among other Terminus train yard residents, are being held captive by unknown marauders, and lamenting that they had put up signs of sanctuary leading the marauders to them. As they witness the marauders rape and kill their friends, Gareth asserts that they must become the butchers and not the cattle.