Neil Sedaka famously sang, “Waking up is hard to do.” Indeed it is during Negan’s new world order. Rosita and Spencer prepare to head out on a supply run when Negan’s truck thunders towards their gate. Spencer asks who he is and Negan scoffs. Rick arrives, allows him in, and reminds him he’s early. Unfazed, Negan makes Rick hold Lucille as he makes his grand arrival into Alexandria.
Dwight sends Spencer and Rosita out to fetch Daryl’s bike while Michonne tries and fails with sniper target practice outside the walls. Meanwhile, Negan and Rick find Carl holding the Saviors at gunpoint for stealing their medicine. “Really, kid?” Negan asks, amused. Carl eventually surrenders the gun and Negan decides their gun inventory needs to be taken, too. The Saviors raid the armory and Negan reassures Rick at least they won’t be stealing their food.
The Saviors inform Negan two guns are missing from the armory and Negan tells Rick, “This shows someone’s not on board, and I can’t have that,” Negan says. He threatens to kill Olivia but Rick promises he’ll find the guns. He calls an emergency town hall and makes a desperate plea for his people to turn over the guns. Eric asks Rick how they’re going to get out of this hell and Rick reminds them he’s no longer in charge.
Rosita and Spencer locate Daryl’s bike as Spencer speculates that if Rick was a better leader they wouldn’t be stuck in this situation. Rosita goes on a walker killer rampage to get out her frustration. Back in Alexandria Rick miraculously stumbles upon a hidden compartment in the floor of Spencer’s house, discovers the missing guns, and hands them over to Negan. Michonne returns and Rick demands she gives up the rifle so they don’t get in trouble with Negan again. Rick hands it to Negan and asks if Daryl can stay. Negan gives Daryl a chance to make his case but he remains obediently silent.
Negan warns Rick to do better next time he comes or someone will die. He forces Rick to thank him for invading and takes Lucille back. He utters those grotesque words from the comics and Rick watches as he, The Saviors, and Daryl drive away. Afterwards, Rick confronts Spencer about hiding the guns and labels him weak for also hiding the liquor. “You’re lucky you have the walls,” Rick warns. Spencer shoots back they should have made a deal with The Saviors and asks if Abe and Glenn were lucky. Rick stops in his tracks and threatens to break his jaw if he says something like that again. Rosita then furiously confronts Spencer about the guns and he confesses he did it because he doesn’t trust Rick. He leaves and Rosita grabs a gun she hid in a car (damn it, Rosita).
Michonne reminds Rick he didn’t have to surrender her rifle and challenges him on his recent decisions. Rick tells Michonne about Shane for the first time and ADMITS JUDITH ISN’T HIS BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER!!! “I had to accept that so I could keep her alive,” he admits. He asks Michonne to accept THIS situation and she promises to try. Later, Michonne hits the road and discovers all their mattresses were burned by The Saviors. That night Rosita asks Eugene to make her a bullet.
How did YOU feel about the episode? Tell us in the comments!
I fucking LOVE JDM!!!
Negan. Women want to be dominated by him. Men want to be him. His character is both equally likeable and hateable. If hateable is even a word. What people don’t think or realize about Negan is that he may be this way because of the apocalypse and, more importantly, that he’s without his wife. Could he be lashing out at the world as a way to let go of his anger over losing her? Doesn’t make it ok, but doesn’t that make him more human? On the flip side, how people can say Rick is weak and useless is beyond me. Did you not see Negan pulverize Abraham and Glenn??? Did you not see Rick almost have to cut off his own sons arm? Did you not see Daryl get thrown in the back of a truck and hauled away? Etc. Etc. Etc. Those of you who would have fought right back would not only be dead, but stupid. Negan has control over an entire army of people. Rick has also lost his wife. Rick still has Carl and Judith to care for. (Let’s put aside Shane being the baby daddy for now.) Rick isn’t only thinking of himself. Rick doesn’t want to be responsible for anyone’s death and/OR he knows an attack on Negan must be well thought out and carefully planned. Look what they went through with the Governor. Never underestimate the enemy. What about Terminus? Trust no one. No one! In times like people will turn on you and only look out for themselves. Things WILL get worse. More people WILL die. Rick IS going to get bent over a few more times before he gets his shit together. Daryl MIGHT succumb to Negan. Even if it’s just part of a master plan.
Speaking specifically about this episode, Spencer needs a reality check, Enid needs to let go of the balloons, Michonne needs to stand by her man, someone else needs to be in charge of supplies and everyone else needs to get on board, for now, and fall into place. Let Negan get comfortable. Let Negan feel accomplished. Let Negan get completely full of himself. Then … when he least expects it … he should … EXPECT IT.
Ha. Ha. Ha. Enough of this bantanosh. Enough of this persivwa. Enough of this saying enough.
Prayers on the Hilltop. Prayers for Alexandria. Prayers for the Kingdom. Why can’t we all just get along?
Negan is incredible! No way I am watching this show if he dies.
Me too!!!!!! I’ve been hearing too much criticism of his portrayal of Negan. JDM needs to keep doing what he’s doing!
I understand why Negan would take the guns back because it was originally theirs and their deal was to take half of their stuff but why would they take the beds and then burn them on the side of the road? I questioned that a bit cause it seems to me that Negan just wants to keep them from having a safe environment, I wouldn’t be surprised if he continues to take more and more stuff that he doesn’t need and destroy it until Rick and the entire Alexandria Community has nothing else to keep them safe and help them live, but the way Rick was thinking of hitting Negan with Lucile shows that he is 100% killing Negan very soon and even though I like Negan cause of how badass he is i still hate him for how he treats them, but I can’t wait till Rick snaps and takes action physically!
Do not get your hopes up, Negan won’t be going anywhere 😉
Before Negan arrived The Alexandria people had their own guns Rick and Survivors added to the collection
That “dick” comment by Negan was brutal, but I’m glad they gave Rick back his balls when he chastised Spencer.
Father Gabriel is messed in the head
The guy messing with Edin, would have lost his nuts
The writing for Negans part is great…great job writers!!!
I do believe someone is going to take out Aaron he is the biggest wuss,liar and is gonna get someone killed
Do you mean wissie Spencer? The gutless wonder?
Rick is still a badass mothaf’ka. No way Rick is broken. Just buying time, but he has to make it look as if he is. Negan is such an evil asshole and has all the makings of his true self… a coward!
To be honest, I love Negan. But tonight’s episode made it very hard to. Seriously, they couldn’t find 2 measly guns and they almost killed Olivia. Like really? That’s a little TOO ridiculous, don’t you think?
It’s not about the guns. It’s about the control.
It’s about accountability
Each villain and or community has there rules they each follow Negan backstory for the show (hopefully they do it) show how he became the bully, the control freak
Spencer is such a whim. He has no guts!
IDK, I get Negan pushing buttons and testing them, but it feels like he doesn’t want them working for him as much as he wants them to fight back. lol The comic felt way more balanced in this aspect.
I think they’re doing great with showing a process of a strong, willful group being broken down to servitude. He’s not gonna just stroll in there & ask nicely. He’s pure evil & that’s translating right off the page, onto the show, even if they put a slight spin on it.
Looks like Michonne might become the Sharpshooter in Andrea’s place.
I can’t see it, lol! Maybe Sasha goes on a stroll, runs up on her, & says, “Move it! You’re wasting ammo!”
What can’t you see She has taken Andrea place by Rick side .. practice makes perfect Having other skills helps
Andrea in the comic has a natural born skill. Michonne does not (with a gun). Even with practice, people’s skills don’t always match. And being Rick’s love interest doesn’t automatically mean that the woman takes on the role of a sniper.
Oh & Michonne will always be The Samurai, not The Sniper. Any other way & that would be a major foul.
I agree with that but someone’s gonna have to teach her how to shoot (assuming they get more guns). Remember, Andrea couldn’t shoot until Rick introduced her to handling guns and Shane worked with her. I think Michonne will be able to shoot in time, but I don’t think her gun skills will ever out match her skills w the sword.
Loved the show tonight.
Unfortunately this season….the commercials take up more time than the show.
I have to DVR it to watch it now.
Just a bummer.
Anyone else noticed this?
Negative, all 60 minute episodes have been approximately the same length since season 1.
The past 3 – 4 seasons
It’s getting hard for me to watch this, because they are butchering Negan’s character so much. I waited years to see him on TV, to watch his complex and amazing character come to life. What I get is a nasty bully who is, aside from some crude dialogue, nothing like his comic counterpart. And it pains me to know that most of the world will think this is who Negan is. He’s so much better than this.
It’s not that hard at all It’s based off the books but not page for page. To give the stories more life you have to add things, change direction and characters get an upgrade … It’s amazing watching Negan character come to life To show you the world still has mean bad ass humans, even in a zombie apocalyptic world. Daryl is a gift to this show.. not even in the books
The relationship s are not same
They are showing us how each character of the Survivors react after being broken down to slaves to a new master type
I don’t have a problem with changing small things. But Negan’s character didn’t get an upgrade, he got a downgrade. He’s not likeable, he’s not charismatic, he’s overacting every line instead of being a friendly, overly chatty and laid-back guy like in the comics. Constantly having to ‘prove’ how ‘tough he is’ – comic Negan already knew he was.. He didn’t have to rub it in everyone’s face constantly. Once he established dominance, he was casual and calm. His comments towards women are beyond his slightly ‘bad boy’ vibe in the comic – they are just gross and borderline rapist. His treatment of the Saviors is horrible. His leadership seems non existent – why was he not around to break up the fight in Sanctuary’s marketplace and why did Dwight not feel the need to do it in Negan’s place? He doesn’t give a lick about his people – comic Negan seemed to care that they were well-kept even for his own ego, ie: A suffering people means a shitty leader. his waste of resources by burning the mattresses goes against the Saviors whole agenda in the comic – survival. Survival by extortion. Comic Negan didn’t torture or commit violence beyond what he thought was necessary – so the entire plot line of taking Daryl prisoner and force converting him feels so OOC for Negan. Coercing women into marriage rather than just having some golddiggers shacking up with him like comic Sherry. Mentioning that he was going to take Maggie home with him – yuck. In the books, Negan was a flawed, brutal human who was lost in his own vision of how the world should be – but this vision was that people stayed alive – all people. TV Negan is just a sadist who gets off on humiliation and domination. His vision is only ‘who can I hurt today?’
This is just a thought because I don’t know the comic version of Negan but this change in him may have a lot to do with Glenn. Negan has taken away the MOST beloved character on the show. And he did it I the most brutal and cruel way possible leaving the audience traumatized. So maybe they wanted to make him a bit more likeable so we’d accept his presence. Although I can’t stand what he’s been doing to the group, I like him (but I admit it may be because I loved him on Supernatural). On the other hand I do agree with you that maybe JDM plays him as a little too jovial and is having too much fun with the role.This makes him somewhat of a one dimensional character.
How different is he in the comics? Because from the looks of it, the comic book him just looks and feels like the general run-of-the-mill bully/thug comic book archetype.
We all know that Rick is gonna kill Negan. That’s a foregone conclusion. The question is “when?” So, this is just me, but I’m getting impatient. I’m tired of seeing Negan harm these good people — I mean we get it already. He’s a bad dude and needs to be taken out. But I’m getting tired of waiting. Let’s get on with it and continue to move the series forward.
Wait… what?! We’re just getting started with Negan! Appearance in 4 eps!!
I feel it’s the calm before the storm. And I absolutely love the way they use Negan on the show.. Rick is no saint We’ve seen him morphing into a villain type but with a different way of doing things. Recall Eugene taking Abe on a run to show him a machine shop that can manufacture bullets Which leads to why Rosita ends up at Eugene door to ask him to make her some bullets for the gun she took off walkers. They have changed the story of Negan character to make him more threatening and scary than in the comics. Love it! One thing didn’t happen yet, Carl didn’t hitch a ride with Negan and Saviors
To see where they live. Each community bullied by Negan plays by different rules. Kingdom they aren’t allowed in. They meet Saviors away from home
Hilltops leader is soft and we about to see why, next week. Except for Jesus, deceptively the best weapon is his body is the weapon.. Has not taken the hilltop for himself .. His backstory would be very interesting and although, Rick finally opened up but not to Daryl, Carol, his son especially, he tells Michonne about his past relationships and Michonne didn’t get to tell her story.. Just a little bit to Carl. lastly, I feel the women are becoming more defiant. Ready and willing to battle the physical and domestic abuse they’ve been through and witnessed
First hand. Michonne goes out to attempt target practice refusing to submit defeat And Sasha preparing as well sharping a blade… Maggie about to see her take over the hilltopas it looks like one is about to pay for his betrayed Negan .. Rules is you break we kill someone. You lose something and taking the furniture, beds ( well can’t go to mall anymore and get new furniture) left burnt on the road.. A showing them don’t get too comfortable
“Something to Fear”
There’s a scene in which Negan is talking to Rick and Daryl ( Rick is standing 6 ft in front of Daryl and they both look broken,) I think they are both reading each other’s minds. Thinking/plotting. I don’t think they are broken at all. Remember the governor?? All of their PEOPLE obstacles thus far?? It’s what makes them the warriors they are!!! If Rick told everyone his plans it wouldn’t work. Daryl’s the guy on the inside. And you cannot think that Carol isn’t going to have something to do with their victory??!!??
(note: I do not follow the comics.) you see glimmers of Rick, he grips Lucile, and it flashes thru his mind to take him out. But, it’s not the time, yet. And all these side run-ins, Rosita is going to take out Dwight and Enid the “green balloon guy.” and as much as Rick wants to be the one who takes out Negan, it has to be Maggie.
Agh! I guess I’m just too impatient. Y’all make good points about developing each of the player’s situations more and how they can all feed into the plot. If there were more of that and a bit less of Negan’s preying upon the helpless, I’d like it more. See, I see his predations as distractions, when I’d rather see those in opposition to him putting their plans into action. What we’ve had ever since Nagen’s introduction is a steady stream of his depredations and little, if any, attempts at resistance, or even scenes where resistance is being planned..Things are just lopsided right now. Good point about Maggie being the one to take out Negan. I like it. I just hope they don’t take the entire season getting rid of Negan and his gang of baddies doing it. But if they do, then the second half of the season must show the good folks begin to have victories and/or establish inroads against Negan and his crew. They’re so pervasive, they can’t be taken down quickly. I guess I see this confrontation between Rick and Negan as more of a war than a skirmish. It will take time and planning and a fair amount of bloodshed, I suspect, before Rick and his folks can claim victory.
Yeah, it will be outright war…this season will be a slow, simmering building up. Who knows, the writers may totally throw us. I like how the priest had the fake burial plots. Interesting how there was this assumption that Negan would want Maggie somehow. Or am I missing something else?
I think that Maggie may have been so enraged that they thought it best to play that out to prevent a confrontation that could only have led to more brutal death.
Maybe Negan was just fishing. He knew Maggie was sick and he probably knows the Hilltop has a doctor so he might be wondering if our group has had any contact with them. I don’t think he knows that Gregory is still alive and that he bargained with the group to kill him and his people. Maybe you comic readers know the answer to that?
Somebody’s gonna pay for Gregory being alive!
Hey there, first time poster. I’m just throwing my .02 cents out there regarding JDM’s approach on last night’s episode. I was getting a bit of a “Tarantino-style villain” vibe from him. The sort of “crazy cool” way he throws himself in to the character, literally. The swagger, the body language, the physical way he emphasizes words, etc. I don’t know. Just me, I guess. The camera zoom in/out…just reminded me of some of the “Kill Bill” films. Anyone have a comment? Agree or disagree….all good.
Also, someone mentioned Negan taking and taking from the group. I agree. I think it’s to slowly kill them for their past “transgressions”. Teen wolf, Carl…he’s ready to snap. He’s had that thing going for awhile, kind of second guessing his dad and all. When they brought out the video cam, I was thinking “crap…now they know about Judith!” That’s my personal verisimilitude coming in to play. I mean, as if Rick has the time to film his “daughter”. And….he admitted he doesn’t think Judith is his kid. Interesting.
Not sure about that reveal about Judith. The probability was that she is Shane’s, BUT… both Lori and Shane had brown eyes. Judith has blue eyes like Rick. Carl has blue eyes like Rick. So, who knows for sure?
Here’s another thought connected to this reveal: Rick used this to illustrate why he has decided to suck it up and accept their new life now. But if he finds out that Judith could be his, (they could accomplish that by having her get sick, needing a transfusion, find Carl’s not a match so test Rick just to be sure) then maybe he’ll realize that he doesn’t need to accept it anymore and gives him hope that he doesn’t need to accept this new life either.
Ok, here’s my thing: I think the walker Michonne kills has a knife on its right hand. I’m doubtful, because I only see the knife in the final minutes of the episode, not when Michonne kills it. IDK, it might be the clothes folding or something else. Not a conspiracy, maybe it’s just me, maybe I want it to be so badly that I’m seeing it though it isn’t there. What are your thoughts? Could you please check it and tell me? ‘Cause I don’t wanna say de magic W word before it’s time to…
Omg that would be epic!
Psychological warfare abounds between Negan and Rick and Daryl. Outstanding episode as the previous ones. #Negan is using psychological torture methods in an attempt to destroy the Rick?Daryl normal self-images by removing them from any kind of control over their environment, creating a state of learned helplessness, psychological regression and depersonalization. Negan is out to break and destroy Rick because of his previous kills of Negans. In a way I think Negan fears Rick thus he must break and humiliate him in front of his son, Michonne and others. Destroying the mattresses is a statement I can take whatever I want even though I don’t want it but I will not permit you to have the basic comforts without my permission.
Negan is classic methods of mental torture the various threats Negan operates on the same fear-inducing principle. Another method Negan uses throughout the espsiodes are indirect torture, in which Rick are others are forced to witness the torture of another person, often a loved one. This preys on the victim’s affection for and loyalty to a partner, relative, friend, comrade-in-arms.
Not counting Rick out just yet. I think Rick is buying his time as offering the extra gun…Rick played a reserve psychological move on Negan. I think Rosita, Michonne and others want to fight due to Glenn and Abraham demised. But this group has always put up a fight the others just refuse to lay down as they believe Rick is doing.
I think Negan and D are overplayed, let’s get on with the story.
I hate to see Daryl such a broken man.
I hate to see Rick and Daryl this way, but poor Daryl is worse. At least Rick still wishes he could strike back.Hope they both get back to themselves before too long.
I’m loving this season and will love it even more on blu-ray.
I’m assuming that Carl is not going to get his story with Negan, because they have given it to Daryl. Honestly, if Carl doesn’t get that storyline I’m going to be pissed. I get it… Daryl is the fan favorite, but jeez, they can’t just keep putting off other character’s development for him.
They killed off Merle to break down Daryl. They finally gave Beth a storyline… but her storyline was all about building up Daryl, then they killed her and had it affect Daryl more than Maggie (her sister!). Then, they killed Denise while she was trying to get Rosita and Daryl to stop moping around, directly damaging Tara’s development. And now… Glenn has died and literally no one is talking about it except Spencer (he needs to die now), and guess what… they made Glenn’s death Daryl’s fault so that they could tell a “heartwarming” tale of a broken soldier (Daryl) fighting toward redemption. Just great…
Michonne: “WHY DONT YOU WANT TO FIGHT THE SAVIORS ANYMORE?”
Rick: “I don’t know, maybe because I just watched two of my friends get beaten to death, I got thrown into a pile of walkers to fend for myself, and Negan was a breath away from making me cut my own son’s arm off in front of everyone?”
Morse code sign in Rick’s the living room? Interesting choice of decor and useful too! For Darryl and Rick especially when times get tough. Good thing the whole crew lived together in the same house for a time. It also pays to have long stringy hair camoflauging your eyes, if you want to blink a message or two on the down low.
Who the heck cares about who Judith’s real dad is anymore? Hardly anyone is with their real family now. You make your own during the zombie apocalypse.
I think JDW is doing a great job in helping us forget that Negan either said fuck or talked about his big dick 99 percent of the time.
Looking forward to seeingTara and Heath again….someday..
I am Negan. I am 100% on board the Negan ship. I love this character! I love how Jeffrey Dean Morgan is playing him! When he told Rick just how Rick had just thanked him for slipping his dick down his throat I lost my shit!
Negan is brutal and insane in the most zombie fucking apocalypse sane way. The irony of him using Easy Street to break the resistive is genius. That was the mindset of our heroes. Like it or not, Negan showed them how glib they had become. People have enough to fear, without another group popping up and trying to kill them for how they’re surviving. It is a very complex matter.
I don’t read the comics, so I don’t know what is going on, or how things will play out. But, I feel Negan is inferring that some women will make his next stop “interesting”. I want to see more! And, I don’t want any breaks! I want TWD every week.
I think the “Easy Street” thing is kind of like how they supposedly tormented terrorists with the “Barney” the Dinosaur theme song. Who knows?