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Wow, so many things so many feelings I’m walking away with after this episode. First off, this is the first time in a long time that I can remember walking away from a season finale thinking well that could have gone much worse. Sure, there were a few tears, some nostalgia and a little confusion but man did everyone really step it up in this episode. When all is said and done even when the group is miles away they still know when they need each other the most and boy do they come together in a big way.
Sasha will not be used as a weapon
Well, at least not be a weapon against her family that’s for sure. In one final decision on how to best suit the cause, her family and I guess kind of the world she actually fooled Negan and took that pill from Eugene. Did he know what she was planning? He sure had a good answer for why she turned to a Walker after being locked in that coffin for how many hours. So now I’m left with the conflicting thought… did Eugene know or was he just as surprised, is Eugene that far gone already or is he just one sneaky bastard?
But like, what a sweet and sad moment for Sasha to be living out her final moments listening to a song about freedom and living out the life she could of had with Abraham. I almost forgot how much I missed all of those beautiful Abraham-isms. And to start the season off loosing him and then end it seeing him in a better place, even if it was only in Sasha’s head it was kind of comforting to see him happy and to see her so happy after everything she’s gone through.
There was a few moments, not in this episode, when I conflicted on if Sasha was going to make it through all this but I really didn’t think that if she was going to go it was going to be her choice and making herself a Walker. But could there be a better way for her to take a shot at Negan and have it not affect any of her family with the backlash of Negan. She really became the ultimate weapon and boy did loosing her upset Negan. Not only cause he thought she was beautiful but because he knew that she was beyond valuable. She was ‘strong, dignified and smart’ and now she’s gone.
Whether or not Eugene knew what Sasha was up to he better watch his step cause I have this feeling that Negan is going to make him pay whether he believes him or not. Perhaps Eugene’s ‘Easy Street’ living is over now.
Let’s take a moment for a weird side note here. The moment between Negan and Sasha, from the time he’s talking to her in her cell and negotiating how many of her people are going to be punished to having that moment on the back of the truck bed where he dropped all his Negan act to tell her how much he appreciated what she was about to do for him, there’s this almost humanizing quality in Negan. Which seems like a weird thought after all the awful things Negan has said and done but he just seemed so honest in this moment. In all fairness Sasha was honest too, she said only one person had to die and she was the only one in her family that did die.
But now Sasha is gone, Negan is upset and war is about to break out. While what Sasha did for her family was such an amazing selfless act was it good thing in the long run?
Never trust someone with that haircut
Besides the bad haircut, the strange language, the monotone wardrobe and living in a garbage heap I really stick strongly with Rick should really have thought better than trusting the Junkyard hooligans from the beginning. What happened to the Rick that was all no strikes and your out, the Rick who without a second thought ran over that cop how many seasons ago. Like, Rick is your need to take out Negan blinding you to the awful people of the world. Use better judgement buddy.
There was no Carol or Morgan vouching for the Junkyard gang, Maggie and Sasha hadn’t been taken in and kept healthy. I just want to jump into the TV and point in Rick’s face and tell him ‘I tried to warn you but you just wouldn’t listen!’
What can you do, Rick get’s a plan in his head and he will go to any lengths to try and make that happen. Even if that means letting Michonne take him to this kind of fantasy land where everything works out. Yea… it really doesn’t work that way Rick, you should know that.
Speaking of Michonne, like when did she become so trusting. Haven’t they learned their lesson by now that you have to be a little more careful with who you trust? I think it was pretty clear with that cryptic sniper was all ‘we win’ that something for sure up. I felt so strongly that those words really solidified the fact that those people couldn’t be trusted and they were going to betray Rick. That and Jandis being all I get to lay with Rick after you. Strangest polygamist request ever.
Dwight, the man with a plan
So even if Dwight was only a Negan because Cheri was there I remember how many episodes ago when he was so happily walking around the Sanctuary gathering supplies to make an awesome sandwich and he was all happy and stuff. Like did really loosing Cheri change him that much? That couldn’t have been the only thing that flipped the switch because I’ve seen a steady decline in Dwight’s smile since that happy sandwich making segment.
I feel like in the Dead universe I’m a pretty good judge of character and yes Dwight has done a lot of awful things but this plan to take down Negan seems legit. I trust him but… there’s a lot of pain behind those eyes. I think Daryl’s plan to let him in the group temporarily is a good choice. Dwight clearly didn’t give up their plans to Negan and even left a little note explaining he didn’t know what was happening. They have to realize what a leg up that gives them to have an inside man who Negan trust and doesn’t suspect that he would ‘cheat’ on him.
I guess it’s silly to be like don’t trust those crazy hair people but trust the guy with half a face but really Dwight has been broken and torn down till there is nothing left except what Negan wants to be left. With Cheri gone and nothing to tether him to the Sanctuary he can see how truly terrible Negan is and how terrible life at the Sanctuary really was. He wants redemption, he wants to prove that he’s more than what Negan has left of him. He looks at Daryl and sees the man he should have been, a man that refused to give up his self and identity to Negan and Dwight wants to try and get that part of him back. Maybe by the end of all this Dwight will get that chance for redemption.
Come on Rick, get a new line
We know, we know already Rick. “Not today, not tomorrow. But one day I’ll kill you. You’re already dead.” I mean… Rick. Come one, is this really a threat at this point. All you keep doing is making a false promise because every time you say that you are on your knees and either loosing someone or about to.
And can we take a second. You didn’t seem concerned in the least that Negan was about to bash poor little defiant Carl’s brains in. What’s that all about. The last time that was threatened you were all a blubbering mess with snot running down your face. Now you’re basically egging Negan on.
And when is Rick going to loose his hand already. Talk about another empty threat. I don’t believe anymore Negan, you keep saying it and it never happens. I guess in a kind of gratifying way Negan threatening Carl and Rick’s hands was kind of what I predicted to happen. Sure I thought more along the lines of Michonne, but I guess if Negan doesn’t have a way of knowing how close Richonne was then he would have to go with choice number 2 and the next important people to Rick are his kids.
But I don’t think so Negan cause Shiva to the rescue just in time!
MVP of this episode
Who do you pick. So many people showed up to the rescue. Is it Maggie and the Hilltoppers, the King and his guard, Michonne, Carl, Dwight….
I think I’m going to have to go with a double MVP here. First off let’s address the tiger in the room.
Shiva to the rescue. Not only is she like the coolest pet ever but she is so well trained that she knows exactly who to attack and who is on her King’s side. Really without her would Alexandria still been saved, would Sasha’s element of surprise had been enough to get the Hilltop and Kingdom people there and take out some Saviors?
Which leads us to our other MVP, let’s face it probably the real MVP in this episode.
SASHA. Was she giving Eugene hints as to what she was planning. I mean she told him that she wouldn’t be used against her friends, he knew she still had those pills and she told him that there was always time for redemption. So if Eugene is really all about being a Negan, which I still believe he’s just doing it to survive and keep his friends safe and get some intel, will her words and sacrifice be enough to make him see the error of his ways and really step it up to save his family. (It’s clear Rosita thinks he’s just a little bitch now.)
I knew this episode wouldn’t end everyone going all guns blazing into the Sanctuary to take out Negan. But now the gang have 2 enemies to focus on. At the very least we can say Negan is up front about his rules and his promises and if you give him your all he wont double cross you and fool you the way Jandis and her minions did. I am surprised that there was really only 1 true causality and despite all my theories I was off on that. I guess Sasha’s had really come to an end of what her character needed for growth, she saw the bigger picture and she saw what needed to be done to help protect her friends. Unfortunately that means a loss in a real amazing character. But Oceanside is still out there in secrecy, although they wont be getting those guns back anytime soon I bet, but how is Rick going to convince them to join forces now after the fail in the last battle?
So really I have to wonder
Where was Gregory and why wasn’t there a little more Simon in the episode. For Simon being one of his right hand men you really expect him to be like right there but I guess it was a good thing he wasn’t or Shiva would have bitten his face off too. And where is Gregory hiding and what is he up too, has he switched sides or is he doing intel… Gregory, I just don’t get you, you crazy little psycho.
The War Has Begun
I can’t even begin to think of the massacre that is going to follow in the upcoming season. With the Junkyard kids way out of the question in this Negan coo Rick really has to get Oceanside on his side and they really have to work on all those unhappy Saviors. Think of all the damage that could be done on the inside with Dwight and possibly Eugene leading the way.
But with such an exciting and not so sad season finale does that mean we’re in store for a kind of lack luster season 8 premier?
“And That’s a Wrap” for season 7 of The Walking Dead. I can’t believe the long wait that lies ahead and all the different theories that are going to be running through my head between now and then. At least I don’t have to sit here and go over all the footage till I see who Negan killed. Till next time.
