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The Greene Farm, The CDC, Woodbury, the prison, Terminus, Alexandria-Safe Zone ... we've been to quite a few locales during the past six seasons of "The Walking Dead" -- but now, we're starting to see the bigger picture.
This week, we learn a lot about newcomer Jesus and his people, who live in a nearby community called The Hilltop. With an old history museum transformed into a residence, a blacksmith, collection of mobile homes and some serious farming, it's a dream -- but it comes with strings attached.
While at Alexandria, Jesus scopes out the survivors' situation, telling Rick and Co. that their provisions are mighty low and he may have a solution: a trade.
The group is surprised to hear of another functioning community nearby. "Your world's about to get a whole lot bigger," Jesus remarks, echoing his "Boy, your world is certainly about to change" comment from the comics. With that, Rick, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, Abraham and Daryl all decide to make a trip to the Hilltop with Jesus, to see what they have to work with.
It's here we meet Gregory. Right off the bat, it's clear this guy is a douche.
"I'm the boss, why don't you go get cleaned up," he tells the grime-covered gang when they enter his pristine home. "It's hard to keep this place clean." He only gets more smarmy from there, as he begins to hit on Maggie while having a private 1:1 with her about a potential trade arrangement.
"You don't have s--t. I'm happy to help, but we can't just give things away for free. How's this, since you can't offer much, I'll let your people work here for your share. I could tell you, I could make it worth your while," he tells her. Making the move on a pregnant woman whose husband is downstairs? Not cool.
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The meeting doesn't exactly end on good terms, but Jesus says he'll try to smooth things over.
Before that can happen though, a few Hilltop residents return from a trip to see "Negan." Not all of them made it back alive. One man, Ethan, explains that Negan is keeping his brother, Craig, hostage. Ethan was asked to deliver a message to Gregory -- a blade in his gut!
Things escalate quickly. Rick tackles Ethan, who then pulls a knife on Sheriff Grimes. As Michonne distracts him momentarily, Rick then stabs Ethan in the neck, killing him. The Hilltop community looks shocked. Rick's response: "What?"
It's here that we get the full info dump on Negan.
"Negan's the head of a group of people he calls the Saviors," Jesus explains. "As soon as the wall was built, the Saviors showed up. They met with Gregory on behalf of their boss, they made a lot of demands, even more threats, then they killed one of us, Rory. He was 16 years old, beat him to death right in front of us. Said they needed to understand right off the bat."
The Saviors demanded half of everything they had -- including livestock, supplies and crops -- in exchange for not being killed. The deal is ongoing. Jesus also explains that while he's clearly a skilled fighter, the other Hilltop residents aren't.
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A new deal starts to form, as Maggie once again meets with Gregory to come up with terms.
"We've handled people like Negan, they're dead," she says, clearly referencing the man who killed her father, The Governor. While Gregory tries to play like he's still the one in control of negotiations, Maggie goes in for the kill.
"Half of what you have. Without ammo, without fighters, you'd be a dead man. So half of everything you have, right now, or the deal's off," she says. "You see, I have leverage." Yaaaas, Maggie!
Rick then talks one of the scouts who made runs to Negan's place into coming with them, as Jesus demands to come with too. "You're talking about rewriting the world here," he says, before they all load into the RV. As they're driving back to Alexandria, the gang takes an optimistic look at something Maggie and Glenn obtained while at The Hilltop: their ultrasound.
They all smile, the episode ends ... the group having no idea the horror that likely awaits them in the coming weeks. There's no way they're all making it out of this season alive, especially when they come face-to-face with the Big Bad Negan himself, right?
No, this wasn't the most action-packed episode, but it really set the scene for some big moments coming up. Not only will the survivors try and take on a new group of baddies, but we're starting to get a really good idea at what kind of man their leader is. In the comics, he's absolutely brutal -- and it sounds like it's the same situation here, too.
While Gregory is one unsavory fellow, it also seems like the Alexandrians might have some serious allies now, as the two groups can unite over a common enemy. We can't wait to see where this goes!
Other assorted musings:
Abraham's lady problems
The episode kicks off with our giant ginger strolling around town with Sasha, the chemistry between them very apparent. While his flirt game is strong, it seems she doesn't want to come between Abe and Rosita -- and tells the mustachioed muscleman that she won't be doing security detail with him anymore.
We then see him after getting down with Rosita and she clearly cares about him. She gives him a necklace she made from a busted taillight. "Rosita Espinosa, you are damn near perfection, you know that," he asks her. But for Abraham, is that enough?
On the road to Hilltop, he then questions Glenn about why he wants to have a kid while the world's going to hell. "I am damn near floored you'd have the cojones to make a call like that," he tells him. "For the record, I see rain coming, I wear galoshes. I doubled up!" Hey, at least he's safe.
Later, when he's nearly strangled to death, it's Sasha's voice he hears. Think that means she's the one he really wants to be with?
Rick & Michonne, Going Strong
No, last week's hookup wasn't just a one time thang.
After Jesus spills the beans to Carl about what he walked in on, Rick explains the situation to his son. "I was going to tell you about me and Michonne, but it just happened last night," he explains. "This is different," he adds, after getting a look from Carl. His son's response: "It's cool."
Everyone else learns of this new coupling this week too, as the two are shown sharing some serious PDA in front of their friends, holding hands and sharing sweet glances.
Think these two will make it for the long haul -- or are we getting set up for yet another devastating blow later this season? If Michonne dies, we riot, right? After Lori and Jessie, it's about time Rick is happy for a bit.
What do you make of the new locale and its residents? Think they can be trusted? Sound off below!
