For a full recap of the episode, visit The Walking Dead Wiki here. This article is a review of the episode in which specific details and events are discussed. SPOILERS may occur, so read at your own risk.
Here it is. The big reveal fans have been waiting for. Who did Negan kill? This cliffhanger has been the focal point of this entire season and now it’s out in the open.
Lucille took a fatal beating to…
Abraham Ford. Wait! Looks like the show decided to double down on its violence and kill another member of Rick’s group? And this one ties into the comic storyline. Yes, they also killed Glenn.
With that big question out of the way, how was the rest of this premiere? Honestly, it’s a fairly straightforward episode that changed things up by presenting itself in a non-linear fashion. Rick and Negan’s little trip out into a bunch of walkers wasn’t terribly eventful, but it allowed Negan to establish himself as a powerful villain. His attempt to break Rick seems to have worked. His demand that Rick chops Carl‘s arm off hearkens back to Abraham being told to sacrifice his son. Of course, Negan stops it from happening in order to show Rick how much control he now has.
The premiere acted as a big setup for Negan and it works on that level. Otherwise, there hasn’t been big forward momentum from the season finale. However, Negan taking Daryl could lead to some great interactions between the two in the upcoming weeks. That should be fun. This season has a lot to live up to thanks to its big cliffhanger. Can it deliver on that promise? If the big draw of the show is going to gimmicky bits like, “Who died?”, it may be running out of steam.
Well, now that the big reveal is over, what has The Walking Dead got planned in terms of actual story? Looks like we’re going to find out together.
Best Moments of the Episode:
- Jeffrey Dean Morgan. His casting is so perfect. Every scene with Negan is a dark delight. The show better use him well and often. He’s a villainous treasure.
- The Walking Dead is always good when it comes to gore gags. This week’s standout was the hanging zombie decapitation.
- Glenn’s final words. “Maggie. I’ll find you.” Heartbreaking.
- Gotta give it to Andrew Lincoln. That guy acts his butt off in this show, even if the material doesn’t always match the work he’s putting into it.
