Each week, we’ll give every episode at least 24 hours to breathe…and for you to get caught up. After that, you’re clicking at your own risk. Spoilers ahead.
So…that took a dark turn.
A few observations from last weekend’s Walking Dead:
- Negan’s men are really heavy sleepers
- Rick’s group are mostly all cold blooded killers now.
- Potential foreshadowing is being cranked to the max.
- No way all these couples survive the rest of the season.
- DID YOU SEE JOHNNY DEPP’S HEAD?!
Yep, here’s Johnny…on the right. Director Greg Nicotero confirmed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that it was indeed Depp’s head saying “I think we had sculpted an emaciated version of a dummy head for something and we used Johnny Depp’s head as a basis just for a clay sculpt.”
The “Gregory” head was actually a cast of Nicotero’s head, and apparently Norman Reedus (Daryl) has asked if he could keep all the sculpted heads. *Not* creepy at all.
It was a big episode for most of the characters who went on the raid of Negan’s camp. Jesus continues to remind the group that “this is the world now”, while others, like Aaron, Glenn, and Heath have to justify their actions with “it’s either us or them”…All while they stabbed unsuspecting “Saviors” in the head while they slept.
There weren’t any real losses to the group we’ve all grown to love, but I do have to ask one quesiont…
WHERE DO ALL THESE ALEXANDRIANS KEEP COMING FROM?
These extras and “new” community members in Alexandria are more persistent than the walkers themselves. By the way, the man circled above is Sonequa Martin-Green’s (Sasha) husband in real life. According to IMDB, he’s been in 5 episodes and his name is Scott. I’m not sure whether or not it’s worth me including him or the randos that Carol handed cookies to in the open, but scroll down to find out…
1. Rick Grimes (Previously 2nd)
Rick quarterbacked the mostly successful raid on Negan’s camp and that elevates him to 1st in the Power Rankings finally. He also made the Ricktatorship a little more democratic by allowing the Alexandrians to decide if they would move forward with their deal with the Hilltop, while garnering a majority of their support for it.
2. Daryl Dixon (Previously 1st)
Going from 1st to 2nd isn’t a knock on Daryl. It was just the first time he was taking a bit of a backseat role in a longtime. On the plus side, he did get his motorcycle back at the end of the episode…
3. Glenn Rhee (Previously 7th)
Big episode for Glenn. It’s amazing that up until now, Glenn was the only one to go this long since the very beginning to NOT kill a living person. He rose the occasion though, and it made him a lot less innocent than we had always viewed him.
The foreshadowing I was eluding to earlier was Glenn getting a good look at a number of Negan’s victims, as he stared at polaroids of people with their heads bashed in. A lot of fans with knowledge of what happens in the comics had their hearts drop a little as they saw that.
4. Jesus (Previously 5th)
“This is the next world.”
That’s the 3rd episode in a row that Jesus has said that, and it’s an ominous justification for the group’s actions since they found him. This particular scene, where he saves Heath and Glenn from a Savior trying to get one shot off, was an interesting one that featured characters from 3 different groups…Glenn (Rick’s original group), Heath (Alexandria) and Jesus (The Hilltop). We learned more about all 3 in this episode.
5. Michonne (Previously 4th)
Michonne remained steady and reliable, as always. Using an assault rifle more than her katana was nice changeup though.
6. Carol Peletier (Previously 14th)
We waited a few weeks to see how Carol would bounce back from the events of the standoff against the horde. Pretty impressive, if you ask me…
She was back to baking cookies for everyone in town, but this time meaning it. She has new love interest in Tobin, #Carbin for those who care about TV ‘ships. And she was the one to suggest Morgan move on from their conflict. That’s a big step for the always suspicious Carol and I feel the group can trust her more. Keeping the incident to herself and not telling Rick also seems more helpful than harmful, as opposed to her behavior in past episodes.
Unfortunately, not following Maggie’s lead to go help everyone in the raid might have costed them being captured. Her intentions were in the right place though.
7. Maggie Greene (Previously 3rd)
Maggie dropping in rankings is much less on her as it is other characters stepping up. It’s very admirable that she wanted to be accountable for the deal she struck with Gregory and to make sure the plan goes through without a hitch. By going though, she was more of a liability than asset as she and Carol were taken hostage.
8. Aaron (Previously 10th)
“If it wasn’t us, it was going to be you.”
Great episode for Aaron. He spoke on behalf of the Alexandrians to have Rick’s back for the raid. When held his own against multiple Saviors. He also wasn’t wrong with his mindset of “it’s us vs. you” when you can tell he wasn’t comfortable killing the man.
9. Father Gabriel (Previously 20th)
Father Gabriel had a sweet combo of Boondock Saints and Machete as he executed the savior trying to flee the compound.
His training has paid off and he’s come the farthest from being more of a coward than the leader that his collar suggests he should be. Gabriel still identifying himself as a priest shows that he hasn’t given up on his spiritual commitment, especially in a world that doesn’t seem to need it.
10. Negan (Previously 6th)
Two things from this episode made Negan’s presence even scarier than we already knew.
- The photos just casually hanging up of victims with their brains bashed in.
- His backup that was able to kidnap Carol and Maggie.
His debut is getting closer and closer, and it’s going to suck for quite a people people, I’m sure.
11. Tara Chambers
Tara makes the most out of her screen time. Quick on her feet, she suggested the Hilltoppers get Craig back to complete their deal. She’s also as dependable as anyone in the group when needed.
12. Heath (Previously 17th)
We know he was conflicted a little about having to kill living people, but he grew with Glenn when he had to finally do it. He hesitated when he had a knife to a sleeping Savior’s head, but blew quite a few away with a rifle when instinct took over. Continuing on his mission to go on a run with Tara seemed like the best decision after it was all said and done too…although, I’m nervous for the both of them if they run into Negan’s people.
13. Rosita Espinosa (Previously 16th)
What do you do after someone dumps you? Light some jerks up with bullets. Rosita proved to be way more on top of her game than Abraham while they were taking out Negan’s henchmen. Also don’t blame her for taking out a little frustration to Carol on Morgan questioning Rick’s presentation of the plan.
14. Andy (Previously 27th)
For a pretty new dude who was fighting Rick and Daryl a week ago, Andy held his own in probably the most crucial part to getting into Negan’s facility. We’ve seen characters in the past pretty much wet themselves in these scenarios, so Andy got a ton of bonus points from me…although I still don’t think he is long for this world.
15. Eugene Porter (Previously 19th)
Best moment of the entire episode, hands down. Eugene is ALWAYS watching!
16. Sasha (Previously 9th)
Sasha drops a little because she acted like a football player who tackles an offensive player INTO the end zone. Really nothing else wrong, but c’mon…You’re gonna let a dude get to the alarm like that?
17. Abraham (Previously 11th)
The unraveling continues for Abraham. I get why he broke up with Rosita, but the reasoning he gave her sucked and he really wasn’t all that helpful against the Saviors. It feels like a slow death march for him, literally.
18. Carl Grimes (Previously 8th)
Carl had nothing to do with this episode, but he hasn’t done anything to fall out of the Top 20.
19. Lady Savior (Newbie)
Just from hearing her on the walkie, this chick seems dangerous as hell. And she currently has the upper hand by taking Maggie and Carol hostage.
20. Denise Cloyd (Previously 12th)
I appreciated Denise being realistic about her role in Alexandria. She IS the only doctor in town and running away with Tara would really leave them at a disadvantage.
21. Morgan Jones (Previously 15th)
Morgan’s sticking to his figurative guns on Not Killing people, but I think that’s going to change soon if Negan retaliates. He really has to stop being so wishy-washy though. If Carol can move on, so can you.
22. Enid (Previously 13th)
Every episode we don’t see Enid after her outburst on Carl, the less it helps her case in these rankings. Whatever happens with Glenn or Maggie in the next few episodes is really going to influence her down the road too.
23. Tobin (Previously 24th)
If you’ve followed these rankings, then you know I’m a BIG Tobin fan…for really no reason. Tobin is like the love child of Craig T. Nelson and Bill Fagerbakke from Coach. And look! He’s getting busy with Carol these days. Good for you, Tobin.
24. Spencer Monroe (Previously 21st)
Spencer’s sat out the last couple plays after putting down his Zombie mom. I feel better about him being backup in Alexandria than I did before though.
25. Doctor Harlan (Previously 22nd)
Well if Denise was to ever runoff with Tara, at least Doctor Harlan is around.
26. Eric Raleigh (Previously 23rd)
Still alive.
27. Baby Judith (Previously 25th)
Still adorable.
28. Gregory (Previously 26th)
Wouldn’t have minded if they used this guy’s real head to get into Negan’s camp.
29. Cal (Previously 28th)
Still a douche with a spear.
30. Olivia (Previously 29th)
She really hopes Carol comes back to bake more cookies.
31. Dwight (Previously 30th)
Seeing that we know Negan had Daryl’s motorcycle, does that mean he has Dwight too?
32. Freddie (Previously 31st)
Freddie’s just waiting to join his wife in heaven. We know.
33. Craig (Newbie)
Hey Craig! How about a “Thanks!”, jerk? Impressive that he was left alive with a group people who keep polaroids hung up of people with their brains bashed in.
Anyone too high or too low in this week’s rankings? Let me know on Facebook or Twitter!
michaelpiff 