Rick’s team and the Saviors shoot at each other a lot (a lot). You could argue that Rick didn’t want to risk getting shot by the Saviors, but since neither side appears to take a single casualty after emptying their guns at each other, it’s a pretty weak excuse.Īll of the action is pretty ho-hum. Remember how Negan had like 10 million chances to kill Rick last season, but didn’t because he’s the main character? The “I should kill you now but then the show would be over” shoe is on the other foot now. There’s even a point where Negan is alone and pinned down and all Rick has to do is jog over and finish him, but Gabriel convinces him to leave, although Rick does snap a quick Polaroid to commemorate the occasion. Regardless, when Rick’s team arrives, Negan just walks out in front of them with no cover, where literally anyone could shoot him, and when Rick finally does take a shot, he misses.
This raises the question: If the Saviors did surrender, was there a plan to evacuate them before the zombie horde arrived? Or was it all just a feint to wipe out the Saviors completely? Does Rick even know that the Saviors have a big indentured servant population? None of those questions reflect particularly well on Rick and his “only one man has to die” speech. Rick’s plan is twofold: take a team to Negan’s compound and demand their unconditional surrender, and have a second team drive a huge herd of zombies into that same compound, presumably to kill every living thing there. So yes, things happen this episode, it’s just the way they happen range from “by the numbers” to “pretty dumb.” There’s no brooding, no dawdling - the team fortifies their battle wagons and then heads off to confront Negan. The horrifically Photoshop-ed ads for this season promise “all out war,” and to its credit, “Mercy” delivers on that promise. Later, Carl returns to the same spot and leaves some cans of food along with a note reading “sorry.” It’s basically unheard of for “Walking Dead” to comment on current politics, but there’s really no other way to read the scene, particularly when the man says “Helping a person without a home? That’s everything!” It’s all pretty rich, considering that the show’s overarching ethical ethos up to this point has been “get them before they get you.” (You’ll recall that just two episodes ago Rick and his buddies robbed a community of their weapons in the name of their righteous war.) “Walking Dead” could definitely stand to have greater moral clarity, but this all seems a bit too little, too late. A Shred of HumanityĮarly in the episode, Carl encounters a starving Muslim man who pleads for mercy until Rick chases him away, claiming he could be a Savior spy. Nothing really comes of this during “Mercy,” but it’s sure to come up again further down the line.
Far Future Rick has grown a big beard, walks with a cane, and is enjoying a seemingly conflict-free life in Alexandria. Near Future Rick seems to be in a bad way and mutters “May my mercy prevail over my wrath,” while under a stained glass window. “Walking Dead” premiere episodes tend to be more action-focused, so it’s not a big character development episode, but there is an odd framing sequence that involves what appears to be a Near Future Rick and a Far Future Rick (or possibly Dream Sequence Rick). If you let someone else take a shot you’ll probably achieve your goals faster, Rick. Rick claims that only one man has to die in this conflict, and Rick will kill him himself. With their forces united, Rick, Maggie, and Ezekiel deliver a big speech about how they will be triumphant, and once the Saviors are vanquished they can begin to build a new world. Whew! Whose Episode Is It?Įveryone’s accounted for in the premiere, with Rick naturally getting the biggest focus.
Finally, Sasha killed herself in a convoluted attempt on Negan’s life, because she had to go trek to the stars.
THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 8 EPISODE 1 SUBSECENE FULL
Eugene went full heel, becoming a higher-up in the Saviors, while Savior lieutenant Dwight agreed to be a mole for the resistance. Both communities wound up rallying to Rick’s side, presumably because they were tried of Negan’s endless speechifying. Rick and the others encountered new communities like the Hilltop (led by Gregory, who sucks) and the Kingdom (led by King Ezekiel, who rules). Last season, “ The Walking Dead” had one of its biggest audiences ever for its worst-ever episode, and the show subsequently lost a number of viewers most shows would kill for, while still remaining a ratings powerhouse.