Crossed (The Walking Dead)

"Crossed" is the eighth episode of the fifth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on November 30, 2014. The episode was directed by Bill Gierhart and written by Seth Hoffman.

The episode focuses on two separate groups of survivors from Rick Grimes' group: one venturing into Atlanta to rescue Beth Greene and Carol Peletier, who are being held captive at Grady Memorial Hospital, and the other remaining at the church, struggling to fortify their defenses and manage the threat of an impending walker horde.

The Atlanta group, consisting of Rick, Daryl Dixon, Tyreese, Sasha, and Noah, formulates a plan to apprehend police officers from the hospital in order to negotiate a peaceful prisoner exchange for Beth and Carol. Their initial plan involves kidnapping two officers, but it goes awry when one is killed in the process.

Meanwhile, at the church, Father Gabriel Stokes grapples with his past sins and feelings of guilt, while Carl Grimes, Michonne, and Rosita Espinosa work diligently to reinforce the church's defenses against the ever-growing number of walkers. They struggle to balance the need for security with their dwindling resources.

"Crossed" explores themes of morality, negotiation, and the lengths people will go to protect those they care about. The episode builds tension as the two storylines converge, setting the stage for a potentially violent confrontation at Grady Memorial Hospital. The title refers to the moral lines that the characters cross in their attempts to achieve their objectives, highlighting the increasingly gray areas of survival in a post-apocalyptic world.