In part seven of the eleven part Walking Dead series I go over Season seven. In this season we get introduced to a bunch of over the top characters and even a CGI tiger. Yes, a Tiger. This and much more on the Walking Dead Special.
Part seven of the walking dead picks up right where Six left off with the group on their knees, overtaken by Negan and his saviors.
There is no escape this time, no way Rick will save his group. He is entirely at the mercy of Negan.
This entire episode is important, much like the last as it shows how powerful Negan is.
But this one gives us more of an insight into his brain. Negan is smart, arrogant, and confident. He’s also, much like the governor was. Charming.
Ya I know how you can get that in this episode. But I am speaking in terms of the future too. Negan has a swagger about him, one that would attract people to follow him.
You don't get to that level of power simply through force, he had to develop that much like Rick did.
Much like the eyes of rick and others in previous seasons showed how they were mentally losing it. The show doest a good job of portraying Negan as a strong and confident person almost entirely through his body language.
Notice that he stands upright, almost more than normal causing him to lean back a little and look down his nose to anyone he talks to. Which is easy because he is taller than most.
He also never takes his eyes off of yours. Whenever he talks to anyone he looks them dead in the eye and never looks away. This is a sign of confidence but also him sizing that person up. You can always see the truth in anyone through their eyes. And often prolonged eye contact can reveal quite a bit about another person.
Generally speaking people who tend to do this all the time and everytime are usually psychopaths or at the very least manipulative and controlling narcissists. A Box that negan checks with ease.
Negan is the Malevolent tyrant, ruling with an iron first. His philosophy is much of that like a mob boss. I will take from you, you will work with me, yes you will be safe, but you will never be free.
Jeffery Dean Morgan plays probably one of the best villains in television with this character. He perfectly portrays the charming Psychopath. This is a guy the Governor wishes he could have become.
Negan up to this point will be the hardest villain for Rick and his group to deal with. He has the numbers, the resources, and wherewithal to take Rick out at any moment.
And this first episode shows us all of that.
It plays with the psych of Rick but also the audience. As it shows us flashes of each character and previous moments in their lives. As if Rick and The audience is seeing their lives flash before their eyes.
We soon find out that the first person Negan takes out is Abraham. Which sucked! Because Abraham had developed into a really nice and likable character.
I hated that the show took him but felt it was a powerful scene and made you think that none of Rick's group was safe. I felt like any one of them would be taken out next.
Sadly Daryl snaps and punches Negan, pissing Negan off and because he leads by power and can not have someone attacking him without consequence he must now take another group member out.
Without hesitation he hits Glenn over the head. I remember when I first saw this scene and how shocking it was.
First of all its Glenn, one of the most beloved characters of the series who's been with the show since episode one of the first season.
Glenn has had a massive character arch. Going from a scrawny, wimpy kind of guy who's good at getting in out of places and scavenging. To a strong husband, capable of holding his own and going fisty cuffs with any man.
He was a kind soul, willing to take the fight when necessary but also willing to show mercy and forgiveness.
I never would have expected that the show would have taken Glenn out especially with the history in the last season, and that he has a baby on the way.
Now at this point the viewer really believes any of the group could be next, maybe even Rick.
The show kind of makes us believe that Negan took out all of the group and left Rick to himself. As Rick is being tormented and messed with by Negan outside the camper.
But we later find out that was just Rick thinking the worst possible situation if he did not listen to Negan at that moment.
The entire episode was so well done that it's probably one of the best episodes in my opinion of all the series. Certainly top five.
It perfectly captures just how powerful of a psychopath Negan is.
It portrays the raw emotions of the characters and how absolutely terrified they all are and then how broken they become when Negan takes two of their own.
Not to mention the entire episode really is an emotional rollercoaster for the audience as we wonder who's gonna get the bat, and then seeing Abraham and especially Glenn get it. It never lets up either, constantly pulling the audience in one way or another and not letting up.
And to top it off it hits you right in the feels with a vision of how life could have been as the entire group sit around a dinner table and Glenn is holding his son.
Man if that doesn't make you choke up a little then check your pulse.
At that moment you can feel and relate to the characters.
You feel their anger, their sadness, and anxiety all in one.
Very few shows can do this to an audience but The Walking Dead nails it here.
I only wish I could keep carrying the praise for this episode on through the season.
But unfortunately we get smacked over the head with episode two.
Right when the show was gaining great momentum and riding on the emotional high of Negan and Rick. They do what they do best.
Break away and show you something you don't care about. Ruining the pace of the show, and ultimately taking away from the impact of episode one.
Episode two cuts over to Morgan and Carol, who are now in another community that we find out is called “The Kingdom” That's now the third community they have run into. As Jesus said, the world is about to get a lot bigger.
Now on the surface the Kingdom seems like a normal community. WIth gardens, people working and surrounded by walls and buildings.
But Morgan tells Carol there's more and takes her into a theater.
This is where we meet Ezekial and his, well, pet tiger.
What, the, fuck….
I can remember the reactions on the faces of my Wife and Brother in law when they saw this scene. They just laughed and commented on how stupid it was.
That's putting it lightly. I was in a state of delusion at that time and trying to make excuses for it all.
But now I am seeing with fresh eyes for a second time and nope, there's no excuse for this load of garbage.
I sit here and think to myself. How did we get here?
How did we go from real characters, who are relatable, believable and so well written?
How did we go from a world that was terrifying and also believable to now a world of ridiculous over the top scenes and characters such as this one?
It's bad enough that Ezekiel's character and his kingdom act like a bunch of Knights from the 8th century. Which is laughable in and of itself
But he has a freaking Tiger?..
What bothers me the most is the writer of this show actually thought this was a good idea. In his interview he said ya I played around with it and said to myself “Yup there's a freaking tiger”.
This makes me feel like they don't actually take this show seriously or for that matter understand where it came from.
Ezekiel’s character is laughable at best which is sad because Kary Paton is a great actor and in my opinion would have benefited without the whole “King” personna.
The show would later try to explain why he does it but it just doesn't land.
I'm sorry but it's not believable that anyone would take you seriously and follow you if you were acting like some ridiculous medieval king stereotype in the apocalypse…. That just would not happen and things are frankly too serious to be playing pretend.
And the Tiger? Ya sure a Tiger is just chilling on a chain and minding his own and not trying to kill and eat anyone.
The Idea that you could befriend and have a Tiger as a pet is very unbelievable in a normal world, the real world for that matter. And worse because it's in a time where food is scarce and eats the equivalent of four grown men.
How does he feed the giant animal? He cant… and thus the Tiger would either eat him or his people.
That would have been a great way to show how nuts he is if he secretly fed people to his tiger…Much more believable if the tiger is caged up and fed Ezekials enemies.
Anyway…
It's so over the top and such a huge diversion from what the show has been that it really just ruins what the Kingdom could have been.
Surprisingly, they made probably one of the best episodes in episode one, and then equally the absolute worst episode in episode two.
Im Sorry but it's hard not to laugh and just wonder what the hell the writers were thinking. We are a long way from the expert, master class in writing from the first two seasons that's for sure.
Ugh, Why do people make such bad decisions? Especially when they have time to actually think about them? How the hell does this make it into the story? Where was the executive to tell them that this entire idea of a kingdom, tigers, and people acting like their from the medieval times was awful and would degrade the show?
Anyway after all that stupidity Carol eventually gets what she wants and ends up at a nearby house alone. Apparently she just cant take it anymore, and has suppressed her inner monster and is willfully alienating herself from the ones she loves so as not to have to kill to protect them or lose them.
A path that is extremely unhealthy and will only lead a person into further insanity. This is true for real life too. Become a hermit and see how fast you decline mentally and lose your ability to communicate to others.
We are social beings, and we are meant to love and to take care of one another and have fellowship. Without it our brains fall apart.
And so after that just atrocious episode we move on to Daryl and his situation which gives us a first look at the Saviors main compound.
From the first glance we can already tell the Saviors are well established. They live in what looks like an old industrial plant. With high fortified walls and no real easy way in and out. The entire perimeter is set up with walkers on chains and stakes to make it hard for the living to get in.
Daryl is basically thrown in a utility closet with no light, food, or water. Dwight the guy he tried to save and now turned on him and killed Denise and has shown us that he's a real grade a Douchebag is in charge of watching over him.
The episode does a great job of showing us that the men and women who work for Negan do pretty well, they can take what they want and live in nice little apartment-like rooms.
Negan is messing with Daryl and trying to break him in order to get him to join his crew but Daryl resists the entire time.
Meanwhile the group is back at Alexandria licking their wounds when Negan and his group show up.
Negan comes to collect half, but really is taking anything everything he wants. Including all of the weapons from their armory.
Now I am not the smartest man in the world. But Rick knew the Saviors would come, and they were gonna take things.
Rick knew that they had a lady doing inventory of everything, including the weapons.
The first thing I would have done when I got back was hide weapons, ammo, and some food. Essentially I would have created bug out bags for my group. And I would have the lady doing inventory to destroy her list, and ditch it. So they could lose records of what weapons and food were taken.
These bug out bags would serve the purpose in the event they can't provide and knowing Negan will kill one of them they can either take the weapons and fight them or in the case of the name. Bug out and leave.
Rick was pretty caught off guard by Negan's arrival. And this episode further pours salt on the wounds of Rick's group and the viewer. As Negan continues to mess with everyone, harassing the locals and taking everything they want.
Part of me was just hoping Rick would say screw it and just take Negan out, even if it meant losing his life.
Negan continues to show his power and lack of fear of Rick, by letting Rick hold Lucile his bat. He does this often with his enemies, and there's no bigger slap in the face to hold the weapon that killed your friends and know you can't use it against Negan.
So the Saviors take all that they want including all the mattresses and much of the furniture. And head out.
Now with all this said I will say that Rick and his group got off pretty easy. After all, they killed a massive amount of Negan's people. They should have been all taken out for this.
But this is one of the major flaws with Negan and his saviors. They rely on imports. As much as we can tell the Saviors are not producing much for themselves. Maybe no nearly enough to sustain that large community.
And So Negan must keep Alexandria going so they can provide, at least for a little while until they cant anymore. Then well, its lights out for Alexandria.
Rick had the fear of God put in him by Negan and immediately became submissive to the Saviors. But it is interesting to note that the group is divided on what to do with this situation.
Rick is ready to completely submit and live the best life they can under the rule of the Saviors. But others are not so sure that will work, and a few individuals are starting to plot and kill Negan themselves.
The reality is Rick is wrong and so are the individuals. This is a precept to war, and one that can't be fought irrationally or alone. It will be a team effort that requires thoughtful planning.
And any rogue attempts to execute Negan could further weaken the group. Or prevent a real war to stop him.
From here we get insight on Maggie and Sasha who are hiding out at the hilltop. Maggie is recovering but told by the doctor she should stay there until she gives birth so that way if there are further complications he can be nearby to help.
The leader of Hilltop is further being exposed as an incompetent coward not fit to lead. And the show seems to be hinting at a leadership change as Jesus and Maggie push back against them. This is especially made clear after he tries to give them up to the saviors like the coward and weasel he is.
They did a good job of making him out to be just a horrible leader first and foremost because he knows no one by name and always calls them the wrong one. How this guy managed to survive and be a leader to this point is beyond me.
He must have a camp full of the most agreeable people ever.
Gregory as a character is a bit over the top and too incompetent. Rick is a natural leader, who attracts those around him to follow and listen. He does this through knowledge and stepping up. Negan rules with an iron fist, he's the malevolent tyrant. People follow him out of fear.
But Gregory, he's just an incompetent boob. With absolutely no leadership skills or backbone for that matter.
Why anyone would keep him in charge is beyond me. But I think as the show progresses we will see how people like him end up.
So Carl and Enid show up to the hilltop just as the saviors do. Carl told Enid that he was not out to save her but to go after Negan. So he hops on a truck and hides in the cargo waiting to get back to Negan and kill him.
We don't find this out until Jesus hops in the back in order to track where they are going and find the main compound.
This was a great ending to that episode as it was suspenseful and interesting. But unfortunately as always The Walking Dead cuts away and gives us something else.
I won’t say it's something we didn't want, but let's be honest the Tara on the beach thing was just boring and silly. But again with sixteen episode seasons you gotta fill the space.
And there we are, with Tara past out on the beach and two people, a woman and psychopathic little girl find her.
The little girl is just all too eager to put a spear through her head. Which is troubling. But for some reason the adult decides to break protocol and leave her alone.
How lucky for Tara.
She eventually comes to and finds some food and water left for her and the woman who left them walking away.
She follows her to the community where she is quickly discovered and shot.
Again lucky for her that none of these women could hit a broad side of a barn with fully automatic rifles.
Eventually the little psycho kid stops here with a gun pointed right at her. And then the rest of the group surrounds her.
This is where we are introduced to the fourth community. I call them the Beach side community but they may have another name.
We find out that the reason it's all women is because Negan and the saviors killed all the men and boys over ten.
Which is why the group trusts no outsiders and shoots on site. Makes sense considering what happened.
The Beach side community is pretty believable, and their actions seem to be as well. They're just a group of women trying to hold it together after they lost everything.
Unfortunately for Tara it seems like they wont grant her the request to leave and go home. They make it seem like they will meet Rick and the group but soon after being in the woods they try to kill her.
She manages to break away when the girl who saved her comes out of nowhere and knocks one of the women out briefly.
From here Tara heads home to find a very broken Alexandria, and her girlfriend Denise is dead.
The show continues with a lot of good filler that builds up the tension between Rick and Negan.
Rosita hatches a plan to kill Negan and demands the services of Eugine, so they set off to make a bullet. Rick and Aaron are also searching for supplies.
And Jesus and Carl are headed to the compound.
Jesus jumps out and gets left behind by Carl.
Carl eventually shows himself to the saviors and shoots and kills two of them, only before being stopped by Negan.
Even though he really wasn't stopped.
This scene is interesting in that if Carl really only cared about killing Negan at any cost he could have. But he doesn’t. He could have easily pointed the rifle at him and bam, he's dead. There's nothing stopping him from doing it.
Other than being shot up by the saviors after he does that…
But in theory he's a dead man walking at this point anyway so just pull the trigger!
This is just one of many instances where Negan could easily be dispatched but for some reason the characters like Carl just lock up and say screw it I will just die for nothing.
So Carl doesnt pull the trigger, however he earns some respect from Negan and he shows Carl around.
We get further insight into Negan and how he runs things.
The Malevolent Tyrant ruling with an iron fist, punishing anyone who breaks the rules with nothing other than a death sentence.
Carl witnesses this when Negan burns a man's face for sleeping with one of his wives.
Eventually Negan Piles everyone into a convoy and heads to Alexandria with Carl in Tow.
Rick is not there and so Negan makes himself at home while he waits. Making Carl spaghetti and forcing him and Olivia, the clerk who handles the inventory at Alexandria, to sit and eat with them.
Negan also seems to shower and shave while he's there and takes special notice of Judith, Rick's Baby.
This is where some things get interesting as Spencer gets a wild hair to appeal to Negan and take over Alexandria.
Negan has his crew move a pool table out into the yard so they could shoot pool and discuss Spencer's concerns more.
The Pool table is symbolic in that in order to be a good pool player you should always be one to two plays ahead, and have a plan to sink as many balls as possible in a single turn. This is Negan, always two steps ahead of everyone and overlooking his kingdom like a pool table. He can see every ball just like he can see every colony.
This scene is where Spencer goes rogue and decides to throw Rick under the bus and take over. Claiming Rick cant be trusted and will try to lash out, getting everyone killed. Spencer tries to play politics with Negan but It doesn't work.
Negan, being two steps ahead, reads right through his bullshit, Calls him out for not taking care of Rick himself since he's a hotshot and then proceeds to cut his insides out with his knife, killing Spencer.
Everything from here escalates as Rick comes on the scene to find Spencer dead.
Rosetta takes matters into her own hands, shooting the one round she had at Negan.
Wow Negan is a lucky SOB.
Of all the places she hits his bat Lucile. Not his arm, not leg, or chest… much larger targets. She hits a bat.
Now to be fair the bat is near his head.. So fair enough.
Obviously this does not fly.. And why would it. Any person would be pissed after that.
But Negan is smart, and he notices that the bullet is custom made and demands to know who made it. Rosetta won't tell but Eugine confesses to it.
Negan is pleased and informs Eugene and Rick that Eugene will be going back with him.
However Negan must punish Alexandria for his attempted assassination and orders one of his soldiers to kill one of them. She stands up off Rosetta and shoots Olivia in the face.
Negan once again leaves Rick and Alexandria Terrorized and at this point everyone has had enough.
From here Rick and Jesus begin to go off and attempt to convince the other communities to fight Negan. Hilltop seems ready but the Kingdom isn't.
During all this in the dead of night Gabriel is seen taking all the food from the pantry and loading it in a car. As he is driving off someone appears from the back of the car.
This scene will later be contradicted by gabriel. I am not sure if it was a mistake in the writing or just poorly written.
Time goes on and again more filler to move the story along with the Kingdom and the King's reluctance to join the war.
Naturally the abuse of the saviors seems to kick in just in time to push the King and his people over the top.
Two of the King's soldiers end up dying.
This season shows the vastly different paths people will take when desperate. Everyone in this season is desperate for hope, some are willing to submit and others are willing to fight. And each side is convincing each other they are right.
But as with any group under the boot of a tyrant, everyone reaches a breaking point. And Finally the Kingdom agrees to join Rick.
RIck returns to Alexandria to find Gabriel missing along with the food. They get a clue and then set off to find him.
They end up tracking some footprints back to a salvage yard and are quickly surrounded by people with guns.
This is where we are introduced to our fifth Community and probably one of the worst of them all in terms of character design and writing.
First off, none of them speak properly. They all talk like tribes people with broken english. And yet all these people were alive before the outbreak. So somehow they are dumber now?
Once again we are introduced to over the top characters that don’t help the story but actually hurt it in that they are cringeworthy, badly written and make you want to laugh at the ridiculousness of them.
They don’t speak well, and it isn't just the leader they all talk this way. They live in a landfill, are all pasty and sickly looking and walk around in weird patterns that make little to no sense.
Do they choreograph these movements beforehand?
The entire time Rick has a stupid smile on his face.. Like dude you got weird people with guns pointed at you. I would not be happy.
But he thinks he's gonna convince the garbage pale kids to join him in their war.
Jadis seems to want to test Rick, I really don't know why. And Frankly this should have been a massive red flag for all of them. Rick gets pushed into a pit to fight a spiked zombie.
Now I actually think the spiked zombie was cool looking. Like a weaponized Zombie. But A lot of people thought it was just cheesy and dumb. I don't think either point is wrong.
But this entire episode is full of over the top and cheesy writing.
Rick fights him off and kills the metal beast. At the expense of his hand and side. Which by the way a metal spike through the hand in the apocalypse could easily be a death sentence with infection not to mention Tetinise.
Either way people get cut, scrapes, and even all the prior mentioned wounds in really dirty places. And they seem to do fine.
Rick makes a deal with Jadis to get them guns for them to fight and so Rick and Michonne set off to do that.
We get a nice intimate look into their relationship as they hunt for the weapons.
From here we see Eugine is taken in by the saviors and quickly assimilates and becomes one of them. He is now the Chief engineer for Negan. All Bullshitting with them just like he did with Abraham.
This move is right on par for his character and it gives us again more information on the sanctuary, the details and how there are a large group of oppressed people living inside that community. It is nothing like Alexandria or The Kingdom.
Negan does show a bit of arrogance and possibly a weak minded moment when he kills his doctor who he suspected aided and in the escape of one of his wives.
Dwight set up the doctor and is a bit of foreshadowing for Dwight's character.
All this to say that I don't believe Negan will benefit from how he runs his ship. A tyrant can only stay in power for so long.
Eventually someone stronger comes around to knock you off your throne or worse you get weaker and your generals just take you out.
It will be interesting to see how things play out for the sanctuary when the going gets tough and the people have had enough of Negan's tyranny.
It may have been a lapse in judgment but maybe not, as Negan knew that the Hilltop had a doctor so he sent off to bring him back to the Sanctuary full time.
This created even more drama and tension at the Hilltop as well.
Rosetta and Sasha having been hatching a plan to go after Negan, Rosetta finds a nice rifle to take Negan out and gives it to Sasha since she's a good shot.
They end up sneaking out when the Saviors come looking for the doctor.
They make their way just outside of the sanctuary, Negan's stronghold.
They wait, keeping watch in a second story window waiting for their moment.
Now I like this scene because it shows a bit of tactics.
This is the smart play, there is no need for war or to risk your people so far as you know or we as the viewers know.
The idea is if you cut off the head of the snake the body dies. And Negan is the head of that snake.
Negan is the ruler, take him out and everyone will scatter like ants. In theory. And it's a probable one considering Carl, and Daryl both have seen how he treats his people. His death could usher in a revolutionary coup inside that compound.
At best ending the saviors, or at worst weakening them significantly.
But no, Negan isn't taken out. Sasha cant get a clear shot and while yes I know she only has two rounds, that doesn't matter.
You get one shot, that's it. You miss it and it's over.
Eugine comes over the coms saying they need more walkers for the wall, and to go out nearby and search the buildings.
Sasha and Rositta are in one of those buildings.
So you would expect that they would temporarily fall back or hide until the crews leave and then go back to waiting for their chance.
But they don't.. Instead they do something incredibly stupid which is leave the perfect location to snipe Negan and go inside the compound after him.
The odds of this being successful are at best a hundred to one. And those odds are significantly decreased when Sasha blocks Rositta from coming in with her.
Sasha was never a favorite character of mine, she was always a little annoying and these last two episodes drive it home for me. She makes absolutely awful decisions that make little to no sense from the time she leaves that building and on.
You are not helping, you are not trying to help, you either want to die or are just that stupid of a character.
There's no way in hell you are gonna get Negan alone in a building that large that you have never been in.
You realize how hard it is for a trained group of Marines to clear a building half that size with a fire team? And here you are one person, no formal training, and zero knowledge of the layout.
And what happens, she gets caught and thrown into a cell.
Negan loves her boldness and wants her to work for him. Now at first I thought no way man, you can't possibly believe that she would want to.
But he’s managed to get people to cross over before so why not again.
For starters Sasha had the brass balls to come into your compound alone.. She is dangerous and too risky to keep around.
We also get to see a side of Negan we don't usually see. A side of Morality. Negan walks in on one of his saviors attempting to rape Sasha and he shuts that down quick. Telling the guy rape is not allowed and Negan kills him.
Why is this scene important? Well one it shows Negan has a bit of morality left in him and yes his final solution kind of guy. There's no prison, just a death sentence.
Now we can scorn the idea of throwing the doctor in the furnace, and for good reason. He was accused of a crime that he didn't commit.
But a man who would rape a woman? Seems like we can let it pass that he gets the knife.
The issue may be for Negan is, he doesn't have the infrastructure or wherewithal to place people in a prison, or to have a trial… If everyone that broke the rules got locked up that would take away from resources elsewhere.
Or maybe he's just psycho. Or maybe both are true. Time will shed some light on this.
So Negan shows a bit of morality, and trust toward Sasha by leaving her a knife to either kill herself, or the soon to be “Rapie Dave” Zombie.
She of course kills the zombie and plays Negan's game.
She also tries to play Eugine by saying she cant handle hurting anyone at Alexandria so she wants to take her life, now we clearly see that she just wants a sharp object to take out Negan.
Why if that is the case she did not just use the knife he left her? Hide to the side of the door and once he comes in BAM!
But no… she tries to convince Eugine for a piece of glass or something.
He brings her a pill that he made for Negan's wives.
Well that did not work out..
To be fair she couldn't have known he would bring that. But again you HAD A KNIFE!!
The writers have made Sasha seem very dumb. Even though they probably think they are making her look like a hero and smart. But she isn't.
So what does Sasha do? Live to fight another day? Maybe find another opportunity to get close to Negan?
No, she kills herself.
The show in its over the top stupidity puts her in a coffin for her trip back to Alexandria where Negan I guess is gonna use her to send yet another message.
For the record. This is now that third time that Rick and members of his group have tried to kill Negan?
So Why doesn't Negan just take out Alexandria and turn it into a work site and have his workers tend to it and farm it out?
It's not like Negan has to have them looking for stuff? Just take it over and use it as a satellite compound. Heck make it a vacation area Negan, They have real homes, hot water, electricity.
But no, Negan wants to send another message.
This sort of thing kind of makes me question what I said previously. But I have to think too that Negan is also that Arrogant to think he can toy with people and not face repercussions.
Prior to Negan's Arrival to Alexandria, Rick and The garbage pail kids all set up and get ready for a fight.
Negan arrives and allows Eugine to try and stop them from attacking. But it doesn't work.
They go to detonate the explosives hidden in a truck, but they don't go off. And Rick realizes quickly they have been compromised.
Oh wouldn't you know it! The Garbage pail kids turned on you… There was never any reason to trust these weirdos and yet you gave them the arms they needed and invited them into Alexandria…. Silly.
STUPID!
Well Negan opens that Coffin up and sure enough Sasha took the pill and wouldn't you know it she turned just in time!
Causing Negan to fall and a firefight to break out.
The entire episode is about Sasha, and all leading up to this one moment where its an absolute nothing burger.
She doesn't get Negan, she doesn't get any one. She literally committed suicide for nothing.
Again She is made to look stupid.
The show focuses on her and it feels like they are trying to evoke emotion from the audience toward Sasha, like hey you are about to lose a beloved character, isn't it sad how she sacrifices herself, but she is so brave! And that should make you like her.
No… it doesn't
She comes across as angry all the time even before Abraham died, and yes she had good reason to be. But she was always making rash decisions and doing things that could compromise herself or the group.
Her actions to leave the sniper's nest was irrational, stupid, and ineffective.
Her actions to commit suicide, also, irrational, stupid, and ineffective.
She was a wasted character, and the show never developed her to have such an emphasized exit from the story.
I honestly felt myself not caring about it all and wanting the show to move on to something more interesting like the overall war between Rick and Negan.
This is just poor writing, period.
Sasha could have been a great character with an amazing exit but she did not get that. Not even close.
So war has finally broken out and all that this season has been building up to has come to fruition.
Alexandria turns into a warzone. But as Negan and the Garbage pail kids take out Alexandria Rick and Carl are captured.
Negan is about to take out Carl when out of nowhere that ridiculous tiger takes one of the soldiers out.
And Negan actually says something funny which was like “A freakin tiger?”
Then the hilltop and Kingdom arrive just in time to save the day. Rick and Carl escape and begin to fight back.
Somehow Negan and his saviors escape, again a funny moment where Negan is flipping them the bird as he drives away. Another sign of his cocky Arrogance. But funny nonetheless.
Sorry But Negan is a likable character for sure. He is a damn good Villain. And honestly I would rather see his back story than watch this show progress on…
I know I am not alone on this as a few people told me that they kind of wished the entire group was taken out at the beginning and the show just focused on Negan.
And fair enough, he's a well written and interesting character. Probably one of the best since season two.
What we get now is just over the top stereotypes or just bland characters that are not at all interesting. Sasha comes to mind, but she had gotten very annoying and unlikeable since the Group got to Alexandria.
So the season ends with a small Victory, All three communities have allied to go to war with Negan and fought him off this time.
This season overall was not bad, I thought it was entertaining and better watched when you can binge it. Having to wait weekly for this season would have made it worse, and I remember it being that way.
Mainly because this season does not have any strong plots or story lines other than the group being terrorized by Negan and eventually going to war.
It allowed us to meet new characters and communities for better or worse. And set up the relationships between them.
How they are all tired of Negan and ready to fight.
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Intro/ Outro
Big Rock License
Big Rock by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3436-big-rock
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Intro
Theme from The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead soundtrack
By Bear McCreary