The war with the Saviors has taken a turn on The Walking Dead. Alexandria is destroyed. The Kingdom is occupied by the Saviors. Even Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) lost her whole community. Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is cleaning house and preparing for more mayhem. The Alexandrians were able to escape the Savior attack and are head to the Hilltop. Dwight (Austin Amelio) told them it was a bad idea. Yet, no one trusts Dwight. He promises that he wants to see Negan die. And then there’s Gabriel (Seth Gilliam). Gabriel has an infection and under the care of Dr. Carson (R. Keith Harris). Eugene (Josh McDermitt) helped them escape the Sanctuary. Will they make it to the Hilltop?
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In “Dead or Alive Or” Daryl (Norman Reedus) leads the Alexandrians to the Hilltop and Gabriel believes God is leading him.
Into the Woods
Negan has all of the Saviors looking for the Alexandrians, Dr. Carson and Father Gabriel. The Alexandrians are hiding right under their noses. They head into the woods to avoid being seen. There a few walkers to take care of, but they can manage. During a break, Tara (Alanna Masterson) asks why Dwight is still alive. Daryl doesn’t want to deal with it right now. Rosita (Christian Serratos) reminds Tara that Carl just died. They need a break until they get to the Hilltop.
Daryl, Rosita, and Tara try to find away around the woods, but Dwight tells them that Negan would have posted his people on the main roads. He tells them about a swamp nearby. Negan thought it was too dangerous to put his people there. Tara says it’s too dangerous for their people too. Tobin (Jason Douglas) and Scott (Kendrick Green) question why they are listening to Dwight, reminding everyone that he turned on his own people.
Dwight agrees. He turned on the Savior and killed some of them. He wants to see Negan die…regardless of what happens to him after the war. Daryl says they will go through the swamp. Tara stares in disbelief that he listened to Dwight.
As they walk along, Dwight tries to talk to Daryl. He says everything he did was for Sherry. She is the one who helped Daryl escape the Sanctuary and ran. They believe that Sherry is out there somewhere. They come to the swamp. Daryl sees a walker in the water and shoots it. He says they are going to clear a path. Rosita, Tobin, and Siddiq (Avi Nash) volunteer to go with them. Dwight says he will go to and asks for the crossbow! Daryl yells at him to stay behind. Tara stays behind…”to protect the group’. Rosita looks back at Tara, who has her eye fixed on Dwight.
Blind Leading the Blind
R. Keith Harris as Dr. Carson, Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel Stokes – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 11 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Father Gabriel and Dr. Carson are lost. Gabriel is having a hard time reading the map so they are not sure where the Hilltop is. His infection is getting worse. Dr. Carson checks Gabriel’s eyes because he can’t see far. They hear something, a bell maybe. They go to investigate and find an abandoned house. Gabriel says this may be their salvation, but Dr. Carson disagrees.
They go inside and look around. Dr. Carson says the house is empty. He tells Gabriel to rest, but the priest finds a notebook. He says it belong to a radio operator. Gabriel thinks the radio operator was able to find people. This may be the work of God. He’s leading them in the right direction. Dr. Carson disagrees and proves his point by finding the radio operator, dead and reanimated in the bedroom.
Gabriel continues to search the house, even with Dr. Carson ordering him to rest. He finds pill bottles. The pills are antibiotics. Gabriel gets his miracle.
The Widow’s Rules
Morgan (Lennie James) and Henry (Macsen Linz) keep an eye on the prisoners at the Hilltop. Carol (Melissa McBride) tells them to take a break. Henry doesn’t want to go. He stares down the Saviors asking who killed his brother. Carol suggests that Henry get some food. Morgan makes him leave. Morgan asks Carol why they don’t tell Henry who killed his brother. Carols says Henry is just a child and has been through too much already. She says neither of them are fine and orders Morgan to take a break too. Maggie (Lauren Cohan) watches from afar.
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 11 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Dianne (Kerry Cahill) tells Maggie that their rations are running low. She did not count the prisoners in the distribution. Jesus (Tom Payne) went on a run, so they are hoping he will bring something back.
Gregory (Xander Berkeley) requests to talk to Maggie. He promises to be on his best behavior if she will let him out. Maggie wants him to stay in the pen. Alden (Callan McAuliffe) tries to reason with Maggie too. He doesn’t want to be her enemy. He asks for time outside the pen for those who behave well. She doesn’t have the resources to keep an eye on them. She’s also cutting their rations for a few days. Her people come first.
Who Did It?
Negan tells Eugene that he’s disappointed that someone let the priest and the doctor escape. He promises that they will be caught and he will get the real story. Eugene changes the subject and asks about Alexandria. Negan asks if he really cares. Eugene says no, so on to other business.
Negan is giving Eugene his own outpost. The purpose of this outpost is to make more bullets. Eugene asks if people are still resources. Negan says bullets are a last resort. Lucille always gets first dibs. Negan believes Rick will make a move soon. So if they have to shoot anyone, it’s on Rick, not them.
Negan says he will give Eugene everything he needs at the outpost. He’s even sending his wife, Frankie (Elyse Nicole Dufour) to cook for him and take care of his needs. Eugene just needs wine. Negan doesn’t have a problem with that.
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Run!
Austin Amelio as Dwight, Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 11 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Tara tells Dwight to help her clear the woods behind them. Dwight only gets a knife, while Tara holds the gun. He apologizes to Tara for killing Denise. She doesn’t care. Tara points the gun at Dwight saying he should have stayed with the Saviors. Dwight reminds her that he wants her people to win. He hates the Saviors, especially Negan. Tara says switching sides doesn’t make up for what he did. She shoots at him and he runs. Tara chases him through the woods. They run into a clearing and Tara points the gun at him again. He says he knew it would happen. He just wanted to see them win first.
A group of Saviors show up, looking for the Alexandrians. Dwight and Tara hide. Tara puts the gun on Dwight’s face as the Saviors pass. The Saviors turn toward where Tara and Dwight are hiding. Dwight steps out. He tells the Saviors that he got away from the ambush outside of Alexandria. He asks if Laura made it out. They reveal that no one has heard from Laura. That means no one knows about his treachery.
The Saviors are headed for the swamp to look for the Alexandrians. Dwight tells them he didn’t see anyone at the swamp. He leads them away so Tara can go back to the group. She runs into Rosita. Rosita doesn’t question Tara…she just makes sure Tara is okay. Daryl on the other hand is livid with Tara. He blames her for Dwight’s escape, saying Dwight will tell Negan everything. He yells at Tara for a minute, but stops when he sees Judith looking at him. Daryl tells the group to move out.
He is Leading You
Father Gabriel’s fever breaks, but his eyesight hasn’t improved. Dr. Carson asks if that scares him. Gabriels says God will lead his way. As he explains how he hears and feels God, Gabriel knocks over a piggy bank. Inside the bank are car keys and a map. Dr. Carson looks at the map and says they are only a couple miles off.
Gabriel and Dr. Carson go to find the car. There is a sign warning people of traps in the yard. Gabriel yells at Dr. Carson to stop, but it’s too late. Dr. Carson steps into a bear trap and walkers come out of the woods. Gabriel makes his way to Dr. Carson and is able to avoid the traps. The walkers are caught in the traps too, but a few of them get to Dr. Carson. He is able to shoot a couple of them, but then drops the gun. Gabriel picks up the gun and using his faith, shoots a walker on top of Dr. Carson.
They find the car and prepare to leave. A group of Saviors find them before they can start the car. The Saviors take them back to a truck. Dr. Carson gets brave and tries to take one of their guns. They shoot him. Father Gabriel starts to cry and they take him to Eugene’s outpost.
Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter, Elyse Dufour as Frankie – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 11 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Eugene is settling in. Frankie tries to flirt with him, but he tells her to get work. Negan comes in with Father Gabriel. He says it was Dr. Carson’s idea to escape. Now Eugene has another pair of hands. Negan is anxious to get his bullets. Eugene says it will take longer than he thought, but in the meantime, Negan should be a catapult. Then he can launch blood and guts at Rick and his people. Negan smiles and says Eugene gave him an idea.
After Negan leaves, Father Gabriel tells Eugene that he thought he had found his purpose. Eugene says he has and tells him to get to work.
Reunion
The Hilltop gates open and the Alexandrians pour in. Carol is happy to see Daryl until she see the sadness in his face. He mouths one word. Carl. Maggie arrives. They tell them how Carl died. Enid (Katelyn Nacon) breaks down. Maggie holds her as everyone walks past them.
Carol tells Henry that Carl died trying to help someone. Henry is sad by the story. Morgan stands up and tells Henry that Gavin killed his brother. Henry has already killed Gavin, so he got his revenge.
Siddiq thanks Maggie for her hospitality and asks if there are medical quarters. He tells her that he has medical training. He can help with sick and the wounded. Maggie thanks him. She looks around at all of the people in her community.
Maggie goes to the Savior pen. She tells Alden and Gregory that they can leave the pen two at a time for work, exercise or medical attention. She’s also reinstating their rations. Gregory says it would be best if they evacuate the community. They can’t win. Maggie tells him to look around and asks how can they lose. Someone yells to open the gate. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is here.
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Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 11 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Negan gathers his people, including Dwight, at the fences of the Sanctuary. He goes over what happens when someone is bit. People are infected and they turn. He wants to use that process to their advantage. Negan hits a walker, making him bleed. He covers Lucille in walker blood and guts. Negan says they are going to use this resource to turn Hilltop.
Thoughts
The swamp walkers looked cool. Why were there so many just hanging out in the swamp? Did they get trapped in the mud? That was just weird.
I’m really shocked that they took Father Gabriel’s sight. How did he get sick? Did he get walker blood in his eye. They did make a point to ask if Gabriel got sick from covering himself in walker blood.
I am a little disappointed. I know Carl died a couple episodes ago, but for these people, that was yesterday. It’s like, the writers just brushed it off, like Carl didn’t mean anything. We knew Enid would be broken up, but everyone just walked past her. Except Maggie who held her. That was touching.
Whew! Five more episodes. If you look at the timeline, only like 3 or 4 days have passed. This war is exhausting. Looks like things will pick up next week. It’s time to end this war once and for all.
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