"Cherokee Rose" | |
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The Walking Dead episode | |
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Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 4 |
Directed by | Billy Gierhart |
Written by | Evan Reilly |
Original air date | November 6, 2011 |
Guest appearances | |
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"Cherokee Rose" is the fourth episode of the second season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, and the 10th overall episode of the series. Written by Evan Reilly and directed by Billy Gierhart, this episode, named after the Georgia state flower and a legendary symbol of the Trail of Tears, aired on AMC in the United States on November 6, 2011. The survivors are given a temporary sanctuary at the farm of Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson) While the group contemplates what to do, Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) continues to search for Sophia Peletier (Madison Lintz).
Major themes in "Cherokee Rose" include Daryl Dixon's gradual change into a lighter character and the beginning of his close relationship with Carol Peletier and the developing romantic relationship between Maggie and Glenn. Principal photography for the episode commenced in Coweta County, Georgia, where filming locations were set up in an abandoned late nineteenth century Gothic revival home in Senoia, Georgia and in downtown Sharpsburg, Georgia.
During a sequence in the episode, the survivors pull a bloated zombie—commonly referred to by the group as a "walker"—out of a water well, ultimately leading to the walker splitting apart. Greg Melton, the series' production designer, collaborated with KNB Efx Group in producing the scene. Filming for the sequence arose over an approximate period of two days.
"Cherokee Rose" was well received by television critics, who praised the episode's storylines and character development. Upon initial airing, it garnered 6.29 million viewers and attained a 3.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic, according to Nielsen ratings. "Cherokee Rose" became the highest-rated cable program of the day, as well as the second highest-rated cable program of the week.