Dwight

1 Comment Posted on April 5, 2016October 18, 2016 TV

The Walking Dead Power Rankings: N.W.O. (Negan’s World Order)

Each week, we 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.

The biggest theme for The Walking Dead was how much bigger the world actually was than Rick and the Alexandrians knew. As far as we know, there are at least 3 more factions who will have a direct impact on the group we’ve grown to know and love: The Hilltop, the horse people (very likely “The Kingdom” led by Ezekiel, for those who read the comics and I don’t think that’s much of a spoiler), and The Saviors. Right now though, this current world is run by Negan.

There is a lot of angst regarding the Season 6 finale. Fans were prepared to say goodbye to one of their favorite characters and now they have to wait till October to find out who it is. To an extent, I agree that Scott Gimple and the show’s writers are taking liberties with the audience’s patience but at the same time…I like it.

We’ve heard so much about Negan since the mid-season finale, how everything you own belongs to him, how all the Saviors are HIM. The Season 6 finale was a 90 minute introduction to just how powerful this man is and goddammit, he’s powerful. It was slow, it was painful, but the point got across. Then when everyone watching braced themselves and thought they knew who would get their brains bashed in at the end, Negan (representing the writers) took that away from you. It’s sick, twisted, and probably dumb, but now you’re going to have to tune in for the Season 7 premiere to find out what happened. It’s the 2nd time this season they “Jon Snow’d” you (for Game of Thrones fans, it’s the mystery of whether or not an important character died).

Now for the last Walking Dead Power Rankings…until Season 7.

1. Negan (Previously 2nd)

“Pissing our pants yet…It’s gonna be pee pee pants city here real soon?”

As you now know, this is Negan’s World Order. He has a James Bond villain’s amount of henchmen. He’s methodical in getting his message across and having his followers call themselves by his name. Negan’s this weird mix of mafia don, pirate captain, feudal king and cult leader. He takes control by force, he plunders those he conquers, everything you work for makes it up to him, and his followers seem to believe in him. He would also prefer people work for them than kill them, which is sensible. The crazy thing about it all is that I think…I love him? That’s probably thanks to Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s performance after he climbed out of the camper. He’s a bad dude, for sure, but he was charming, funny, and had this swagger about him that makes some villains too cool to hate entirely.

2. Morgan Jones (Previously 4th)

Out of everyone among the Alexandrians right now, Morgan is the most in control. Morgan also broke his own rules to save Carol, blasting away Roman with the gun Rick gave him in the previous episode. Morgan gave the man a chance to drop his gun, but didn’t hesitate a second when he saw that look in his eyes. He also might be the key to saving the group from Negan, as he and Carol ride with a pair of equestrian enthusiasts with body armor to wherever they come from (confident it’s The Kingdom). If anyone can be diplomatic for an alliance, Morgan probably has the capacity to broker that kind of deal. He also has a chance to go full Eastman with Carol, who needs to find purpose again.

3. Rick Grimes (Previously 1st)

I don’t fault Rick at all for falling into Negan’s trap. It was going to happen, sooner or later. The goal was to get Maggie to the Hilltop to Dr. Harlan, and Rick doesn’t send his people into harm’s way without going with. He was getting cocky though and he didn’t truly know how big the world was or how dangerous Negan, is until it was too late. You live and you learn though, right? Keyword: Live. But Rick’s now facing the consequences for killing so many Saviors.

Negan kill scale: 0/10 – Negan threatened to feed Carl’s remaining eyeball to Rick, so that cancels them both out

4. Lead Savior (Newbie)

“Welcome to where you’re going.”

We don’t know his name, yet, but we have seen this the lead savior before. You may recall him in the forest with Daryl and Dwight, before they hated each other, and he cut off another savior’s limb to save him. We didn’t see his face then, but Steve Ogg’s is pretty memorable. He orchestrated the whole elaborate path for Rick to

5. Dwight (Previously 3rd)

Dwight hauled in 4 of the 9 captives, and they are some of the more dangerous from the group. He’s going to be an interesting variable going forward, considering he tried fleeing from Negan before. Will someone get through to Dwight to help them get out of this mess? The little bit of hope is in his hands, if so.

6. Eugene (Previously 16th)

This is the highest Eugene has ever been ranked and likely ever will. As much as it was probably a fool’s errand, Eugene gave himself up as a decoy to drive the winnebago into the Saviors’ next trap. That says a lot for a character who started out only caring about himself and survival. During his goodbyes to Abraham, Rick, and Maggie, he also passed his instructions for making bullets on. That should come in handy eventually.

Negan kill scale: 9/10 – Eugene had his nice moment to say goodbye and passed on his last bit of usefulness in the bullet instructions. The only thing that makes me hesitate on Eugene’s fate is the lack of heartbreak he garners from dying for effect.

7. Jesus (Previously 9th)

If there’s going to be an uprising against Negan, Jesus is more than likely the man who can bring the other factions together to make it happen. Whatever alliances the Hilltop has, they have them because of him. He also knows better than most what it’s like to deal with Negan, so Rick will need to lean on him for that information.

8. Maggie Greene (Previously 4th)

Physically in the worst place possible, with hers and Glenn’s baby at risk, Maggie stayed cool. She’s not really giving up, she’s trying to keep Rick even keeled by saying she believes in him, and when she shouldn’t even be walking…she says she will. It’s likely that she’s going to lose one or two more important people in her life (Glenn and the baby). After losing the most already on the show (her whole family), I’m more confident in her to handle that than most of the characters on the show.

Negan kill scale: 2/10 – There’s a lot of Daenerys Targaryen in Maggie, and there’s too much of her story left to go. It also seems like Negan has a soft spot for women…until someone like Dwight tries running off with them.

9. Carol (Previously 14th)

I want to rank Carol higher, but her willingness to give up made that tough for me to do. What puts her back in the Top 10 was how badass she was when Roman had her dead to rights. “This world doesn’t choose for you, you do.” After being shot multiple times, she laughed at Roman. I do and don’t get her resistance from Morgan. Ironically, Morgan took the “choice” to die away from Carol. Like he said though, she “can come back from this”. She’ll have to when she finds out her friends are under Negan’s control.

10. Father Gabriel (Previously 12th)

Two characters made the biggest leaps in development this past season, Eugene and Father Gabriel. Gabriel’s may be the most significant though, since he was at one point against Rick and those closest to him. Now he’s Judith’s personal bodyguard and more ready to defend Alexandria than anyone currently there.

11. Carl Grimes (Previously 15th)

I think there’s a lot to be said about Carl wanting to go on the mission to help Maggie. As Enid pointed out, he is looking for a fight…but so is everyone on the winnebago. Justifying Carl’s decision is Rick not putting up a fight. Rick also calls him “Son” before they are surrounded, as if the Walking Dead writers are conscious of the “CORAL” joke. I put Carl ahead of the others remaining at Lucille’s mercy because he stayed tough in front of Negan. “Cry a little”, Negan said…Nope. The “future serial killer” made a savvy move locking Enid in the closet to keep her safe. She is definitely his motivation these days.

Negan kill scale: 1/10 – As noted before, Negan’s ready to feed Carl’s other eye to Rick. That suggests he’s keeping Carl alive, but doesn’t necessarily have to grab his eyeball. Just saying.

12. Glenn Rhee (Previously 6th)

Things aren’t looking great for Glenn, but at least he tried to defend his wife’s honor. His innocence is gone after having to kill for the first time and he may be paying for that soon. The foreshadowing has been there too, shown holding a bat before and seeing photos of Negan’s victims. Losing him would still be especially painful as he had been the group’s moral compass up until this point.

Negan kill scale: 8/10 – As many of you know by now, the comics suggest Glenn is the one at the end of Negan’s bat. Losing him would shake the group to its core. However, he’s cheated death twice already this season. Can he and the writers surprise us again?

13. Abraham (Previously 10th)

Abraham gave Negan a glare that was just begging to be smacked by Lucille. Part of it is “take me, not them” and another is “do your worst, asshole.” Abraham is ready to have something real with Sasha and he wants to have what Glenn and Maggie have. I don’t think he’s totally willing to lose that, but he’d rather sacrifice himself for any of those 3 first so they have a chance going forward.

Negan Kill Scale: 8/10 – Negan saw Abraham’s fu manchu and his only response was, “I need to shave this.” That could very well mean getting rid of Abraham, but I also think he’d find Abraham to be useful in his militant world.

14. Michonne (Previously 7th)

Michonne’s got her whole family kneeling next to her, Rick and Carl. I think people are confident because Rick’s fallen for her, she’s doomed (like Lori and Jessie). I think Rick has suffered enough and that would be too redundant, at least at this point. She’s also way more of a capable killer once shit hits the fan…which it just did.

Negan Kill Scale: 5/10 – all the things listed above, and Negan may find Michonne useful.

15. Sasha (Previously 12th)

I thought the “packaged deal” thing was pretty sweet, however I think Sasha’s skill set would have been best used for defending Alexandria. That may be more on Rick for not having her stay behind, but none of their warriors are back protecting to their home. That’s not to say she isn’t reliable in either scenario.

Negan Kill Scale: 4/10 – If anyone’s getting killed first between “Sabraham”(is that their ship name?), it’s old Abe. He’s the one who appeared done not too long ago.

16. Horse Guy (Newbie)

Here’s your window into the next faction (possibly Kingdom). You get a feeling these guys will get along well with Morgan, because they carry spears. They also may be the key to helping Rick’s group out of this jam.

17. Aaron (Previously 13th)

Original Alexandria alum Aaron needed to come on this mission. He grew a bond with Maggie and he probably feels that he owes a lot to Rick for making the community stronger. He’s the strongest of his group and it would knock the hell out the other Alexandrians if they lost him.

Negan Kill Scale: 6/10 – I have to think there’s still more for Aaron’s role and offing him now wouldn’t effect the audience as much as others.

18. Enid (Previously 17th)

Props to Enid for trying to get Carl to focus on what was immediately important, Maggie’s health. You can tell she believes more in the community and she echoes Glenn’s overall point that they are stronger together than apart. Who’s going to let her out of the closet though?

19. Daryl Dixon (Previously 8th)

I hate having Daryl drop this far but let’s be honest, most of these characters wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for him. Yes, Maggie would still have been sick regardless, so likely Glenn, Rick and probably Daryl would have gone to take her to the Hilltop. Probably Aaron too. Who knows about Eugene…

Negan Kill Scale: 7/10 – Killing Daryl would be the biggest blow to the audience (outside of Rick, maybe). I think he and Dwight have serious unfinished business though. My hope is that Daryl letting Dwight live before pays off in the long run. Daryl deserves to go out fighting too, not like Opie from Sons of Anarchy.

20. Rosita (Oversight last week, Previously 8th before then)

I apologize for forgetting about Rosita last week, but she was sliding then with Daryl too. Daryl would not have put the other members of the group in this position if he didn’t leave. That could have been prevented if Rosita stopped him, or at least tried to get through to him as someone who was grieving the same way. Now she’s stuck on a chopping block with her ex and his new fling. Ouch.

Negan Kill Scale: 5/10 – There’s something about Denise telling Rosita “I don’t think you’ve ever known what it’s like to be alone” and Negan likes his “company” from what it sounds. She was already in a downward spiral. Why not go the way of Andrea with the enemy too?

21. Doctor Harlan (Previously 18th)

Somebody’s gotta help Maggie, right?

22. Heath (Previously 19th)

So did Heath and Tara get picked up by The Saviors too? Apparently not…

23. Tara Chambers (Previously 20th)

…and if Heath and Tara are still out there, they can either help Rick or team with the horse people and Hilltop.

24. Tobin (Previously 21st)

Tobes is just Tobin.

25. Spencer Monroe (Previously 22nd)

Spencer suggesting that Alexandria could make a deal makes me nervous, or maybe what was left of Rick’s swagger rubbed off on him. Still a big question mark.

26. Olivia (Previously 24th)

Ready your jars, Olivia.

27. Andy (Previously 25th)

Saviors probably STILL want to get some revenge on this dude, right?

28. Eric Raleigh (Previously 26th)

Your boyfriend’s in danger, Eric. What will you do?

29. Baby Judith (Previously 27th)

Keep doing you, Judith.

30. Gregory (Previously 28th)

I still don’t trust Gregory helping the Alexandrians against Negan.

31. Cal (Previously 29th)

I like the spear guys on horses better than this one.

32. Freddie (Previously 30th)

What would you say, you do here?

33. Craig (Previously 31st)

I seriously thought Craig was the guy hanging from chain with an X painted on him, but that was “just a guy.”

Anyone too high or too low in this week’s rankings? Let me know on Facebook or Twitter. Power Rankings will be back sooner than you think…Game of Thrones returns April 24th and we have the Pre-Season 6 Rankings already done.

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1 Comment Posted on March 29, 2016 TV

The Walking Dead Power Rankings: “It’s All Over”

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.

In “East”, the penultimate episode of The Walking Dead’s 6th season, things go awry in a hurry. Johnny Cash’s song playing during the montage following the opening credits told you everything. The relationships, the security, the confidence…”It’s All Over.” It setup some powerful symbolism to Rick and Michonne biting the apple in bed.

Like Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit. They thought they had the world to themselves, and it all changed quickly after

It’s a difficult episode to watch as we see some of the strongest characters we’ve come to love make some very foolish choices that put everyone else in danger. You know a fight is coming. You know the vengeful Saviors are knocking at your door. Yet, well..

A quick, “we hardly knew ye” goodbye to Jiro and his Savior posse.

Funny how Jiro’s voice sounded very similar to Paula’s when confronting Carol. He knows the community is called “Alexandria” and he knows how close they are to it. Obviously Negan’s men have been doing their homework.

Now for this week’s Power Rankings:

1. Rick Grimes (Previously 2nd)

What I appreciate about Rick’s leadership is his willingness to go head first on missions. It was smart of him to go with Morgan to find Carol and get intel along the way of how close the Saviors are and what they’re carrying. It was even smarter of him to take Morgan’s advice to head back to Alexandria as soon as possible.

We also see another side to Rick. He’s out looking for Carol because she’s family. Rather than react badly to Morgan’s “Wolf” admission, he wants him back at Alexandria. You wonder how much more Rick can grow, and here’s more evidence.

“Michonne did steal that protein bar” was Rick awesomely trading a confession for Morgan’s. Hopefully it isn’t the last thing he gets to tell him.

2. Negan (Previously 3rd)

“Hi…I’m Negan.”

I understand that’s from the finale’s teaser, but Negan is holding all the cards right now. He has at least 4 of Rick’s people in his captivity, an infinite number of henchmen (apparently), and a barbedwire bat named Lucille.

Right now, this man holds to keys to your heart as a viewer. There is going to be blood, but who among your favorite characters will be shedding it?

3. Dwight (Previously 18th)

NOBODY MAKES DARYL BLEED HIS OWN BLOOD!

Oh, Dwight did. The rivalry between these two is one of the most compelling aspects of this story. Dwight is in Daryl’s head, has the group reeling after taking out Denise, and has captured 4 of their best warriors. It’s too impressive not to give credit to.

4. Maggie Greene (Previously 4th)

Michonne mentions at the start of the episode that Maggie has her and Rick on a tight schedule. That suggests Maggie is as much in command of Alexandria as anyone, even as much as Rick. Although she’s in a bad spot toward the end of the episode with her baby, there’s an obvious arc change for her as she asks Enid to cut her hair.

“I don’t want anything to get in my way.” This harkens back to when Shane shaved his head after killing Otis, who pulled on his hair and was weighing him down as they fought off walkers. I don’t think Maggie is turning into a complete asshole like Shane, because she has endured even more than he had to this point and remained strong. With Glenn in danger and apparently her child as well, how does she stay poised?

5. Morgan Jones (Previously 14th)

We’ve been waiting a few episodes now to see what Morgan will do in the next time of crisis. It’s huge that he springs into action to chase after Carol. The woman wanted to kill him not long ago, and here he is chasing after her when there’s apparent danger EVERYWHERE.

There was a lot of references to Morgan’s “standalone” episode with Eastman. Literally, he and Rick were traveling east and the episode was called “East”. Then Morgan explains the “circle of life” process of him saving the Wolf, who kidnapped Denise, then saved Denise, who eventually saved Carl. It was interesting justification of his decision making. Now he’s helped bring back some humanity in Rick in this episode alone, and Carol has all of a sudden found hers again too…just like he did.

6. Glenn Rhee (Previously 7th)

The group’s moral compass is currently in trouble. Glenn knows that the group is significantly stronger when it’s together rather than separated. That’s been proven MULTIPLE times like at Terminus, fighting the horde, and raiding the Saviors camp. It’s amazing that he still has to be the voice of reason to convince characters like Daryl and Rosita in the toughest of times.

7. Michonne (Previously 6th)

Michonne is right there with Glenn, having to play babysitter to other members going rogue but also tied up among Saviors. If there’s anyone you can feel better about getting out of this pickle, it’s Michonne.

There’s also something that Jesus said a few episodes ago that I think motivates Michonne, “You have to know what you’re fighting for.” She’s fighting for Rick, Judith, Carl and their community now. She even says so after taking a bite of the apple in bed toward the beginning.

8. Daryl Dixon (Previously 1st)

I’m sorry, friends, but Daryl was acting a fool in this episode. He’s been regularly at the top of our rankings since we began keeping them, but right now he has put at least 3 other characters and himself in harm’s way.

As Dwight said after shooting Daryl, “You’ll be fine.” Will he be by the end of the season finale?

(He’s booked to be on Talking Dead that night. That makes everyone nervous but I think Daryl has more of a score to settle with Dwight to go out anytime soon)

9. Jesus (Previously 5th)

Jesus doesn’t get any face time, which was why he slips here, but his abilities and intelligence on the Saviors are going to be crucial in the inevitable fight with Negan. He and his Hilltop community are referenced twice in the episode, which leads me to think they have to be a variable in the finale.

10. Abraham (Previously 11th)

I love Abraham’s “Ready to tear the world a brand new asshole” attitude right now. It’s huge considering how he was spiraling not too long ago and things looked bleak for his arc. That isn’t to say we’re being set up for tragedy with him, but Abraham is much more on his game when he’s happy and has something he is invested in…that being Sasha.

11. Sasha (Previously 12th)

I know…where Abraham gets ranked, Sasha isn’t far away. They are a team right now and a pretty good one when they are on point. If we’re talking defense, Sasha is key as a sniper. She has also come a long way since losing Bob and Tyreese. It’s hard not to feel happy for her. It’s also interesting that she maintains her chill when having to stand her post right next to Rosita. I loved the glare she gave after Abraham climbed up to take her place. It silently screamed “Don’t mess with this.”

12. Father Gabriel (Previously 10th)

Speaking of defense, Father Gabriel is definitely someone we can trust more. In a sneak peak to the finale, Gabriel pledges his service to keeping Judith safe when the war comes to them. I think his development has been critical to the narrative that “People can come back.” As someone who tried to sell out Rick and his people not long ago, after giving them shelter a season before, Gabriel is proof of what Morgan has preached this season.

13. Aaron (Previously 13th)

Aaron will be a character Rick needs in the confrontation with the Saviors in the Finale, and probably after. Someone we love is likely going to die, and I would like for Aaron to take on that role that fills their place. He is the most proven out of the original Alexandrians and trusts Rick more than most.

14. Carol Peletier (Previously 26th)

Welp, Carol’s “no kill” policy lasted all but 1 episode.

She’s out of my doghouse though because her leaving didn’t result in Alexandrian loss…yet. This was the first time she seemed really upset about having to kill Saviors, so she’s obviously still very conflicted. Rick and Morgan tracking her reminded me a lot of the group’s search for Sophia in season 2. I’m a little worried that Morgan will find a similar result because of that.

But she still pulled off a ridiculously impressive standoff against Jiro and the Saviors.

15. Carl Grimes (Previously 15th)

Some serious foreshadowing as Carl checked out the Savior gun with the “Lucille” carving in it. I think we currently have the strongest version of Carl to handle what is to come. His experiences and learning from #Richonne have him more than prepared for a Savior attack.

Also, if we’re keeping score…

Carl – 2

Daryl – 1

…when it comes to being shot.

16. Eugene Porter (Previously 9th)

“Phase 2” Eugene is also prepared for the worst case scenario. You wonder if his bullet making plan will be beneficial more in the short term or the longterm though.

17. Enid (Previously 20th)

Hey look!…It’s Enid!

And she’s not being a brat! That’s so awesome. Seriously, I was worried for quite a while since her and Carl had their momentary spat in the woods.

What I hoped sort of came true. You could tell that she and Maggie were growing closer, and it’s nice to see her step in to fill in for duties when possible. Right now, she’s most responsible for keeping Maggie safe while she deals with something going wrong in her belly too.

18. Doctor Harlan (Previously 19th)

Only doctor between Alexandria and The Hilltop. Yeah, he’s kinda important while Maggie has pregnancy problems.

19. Heath (Previously 16th)

In a 90 minute finale, there could be time for a look-in on Heath and Tara on their run. Maybe the come back in time or show up while the 6 characters (Carol, Morgan, Glenn, Michonne, Rosita and Daryl) are on the outside. His presence would certainly be helpful.

20. Tara Chambers (Previously 17th)

Oh Tara…Like Carol, I have no idea how she’s going to react when she finds out about Denise. Maybe she’ll get some revenge. Maybe she’ll join her lover. I guess we’ll see, but it seems like something that should be resolved by the end of the season.

21. Tobin (Previously 21st)

Heavy sleeper, that Tobin.

I still think he looks like the love child of Craig T. Nelson and Bill Fagerbakke from the TV show Coach. He’s going to get a moment to fight, but I still don’t think it’s going to end well for him. PROVE ME WRONG, TOBIN. Your fling with Carol was already shocking enough. Do it again!

22. Spencer Monroe (Previously 22nd)

So which Spencer are we going to get when shit hits the fan again?

The one who nuts up or the one who shuts up?

23. Roman (Newbie)

The lone survivor of Jiro’s Savior crew that was blown away by Carol, and he’s on the hunt. I think he’s going to represent a crossroads moment for Morgan and Carol. Will one of them kill him? Will he kill one of them? Now I’m nervous…

24. Olivia (Previously 23rd)

Ready your jars, Olivia.

25. Andy (Previously 24th)

Saviors probably want to get some revenge on this dude, right?

26. Eric Raleigh (Previously 25th)

Similar to Spencer, nut up or shut up time is coming for Eric.

27. Baby Judith (Previously 27th)

Keep doing you, Judith.

28. Gregory (Previously 28th)

You wonder if Gregory will stand in Jesus’s way to help the Alexandrians against Negan. He seems shifty like that.

29. Cal (Previously 29th)

Sit on it, Potsy.

30. Freddie (Previously 30th)

What would you say, you do here?

31. Craig (Previously 31st)

…and you too.

Anyone too high or too low in this week’s rankings? Let me know on Facebook or Twitter.

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1 Comment Posted on March 22, 2016March 22, 2016 TV

The Walking Dead Power Rankings: Dick Move, Eugene

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.

It would appear we picked a good time to start these power rankings because it’s been a heck of a ride since the midseason premiere. After successfully completing their attack on Negan’s satellite camp and “safe house”, we saw the Alexandrians in a state of calm. We saw residents in their routines, Carol smoking, new relationships forming…Of course everything couldn’t stay hunky dory for long.

Besides the obvious climax of action toward the end, there was also an interesting parallel of development and focus between two characters specifically, Eugene and Denise. Unfortunately it all came to a halt for one of them…

Goodbye Denise

This felt inevitable throughout the episode, didn’t it?

The things Denise was doing seemed admirable. She led Daryl and Rosita to a pharmacy to replenish on meds, killed a zombie, and found her orange soda. However, she didn’t have to go on the run. Her selling point was that she could identify all the meds, but Daryl and Rosita ended up taking everything anyway. She’s the community’s only doctor (outside of Dr. Harlan all the way at the Hilltop) and had a responsibility to stay safe for the rest of her people.

We learned a lot about what makes Denise tick in her final episode like her bad relationship with her parents, how Daryl reminds her of her twin brother, and how she cares about Rosita. Some of that counteracts how reckless she was in the episode, but ultimately Alexandria takes a serious hit with her loss.

Now for this week’s Power Rankings:

1. Daryl Dixon (Previously 1st)

Yay! Daryl got his crossbow back! Unfortunately, it came at the expense of someone he was growing closer too. Even with the toughest losses though, Daryl doesn’t seem to waiver in the toughest spots. Always dependable with whatever weapon he can access. The fact he can handle his bow way better than Dwight could says a lot as well.

You can also vote for Daryl in our TV Madness tournament here, as he’s made the Elite 8 and is facing off with ANOTHER Dwight (how about that for irony?).

2. Rick Grimes (Previously 2nd)

Continued lack of activity from Rick keeps him in second to Daryl, but nobody did anything to unseat him either. There was something to his exchange with Morgan though. First, it was a symbolic to see Morgan in the jail cell he was building while Rick feels free with his philosophy on the outside. He simply asks Morgan “why”, but doesn’t argue with him when the purpose is to have options when captives are taken. With Negan’s group seemingly knocking on the door, Rick’s leadership and decision making are going to be as valuable as ever.

3. Negan (Previously 5th)

It might be weird that someone who hasn’t even shown his face on the show yet is ranked so high, but let’s face it…every episode shows us how much more powerful Negan is. He has a Bond-villain amount of infinite henchmen apparently and Dwight acknowledges that The Saviors know where Alexandria is and have an idea of how nice it is inside. The writing is also on the wall that Denise is just the start for casualties Negan wants to make up for all the Saviors that were killed in the last 2 episodes.

4. Maggie Greene (Previously 3rd)

No face time for Maggie this week, but we know how important she is to the community. While Rick is clearly in charge of defense (and offense), Maggie is the glue and handles all diplomacy outside of Alexandria. Her hands are bloodier now after breaking out of Savior captivity and she seems to have picked up the torch that Carol has left behind.

5. Jesus (Previously 7th)

Alexandria is preparing for battle and that means they will have to rely heavily on their one ally community for help. Like Maggie, Jesus is the glue for The Hilltop and much handier in battle. If it’s all hands on deck, as things appear to be, they’ll need Jesus’s particular set of skills (Liam Neeson voice).

6. Michonne (Previously 8th)

In preparation for what seems to be a serious battle coming up, Alexandria needs it’s best warriors to shine and Michonne is as dangerous as anyone. Being as close as ever to Rick, she’ll have some influence on his decision making too.

7. Glenn Rhee (Previously 6th)

Well, Glenn’s a killer now…so that makes him a little more valuable in the heightened situations. He is also motivated by Maggie having his unborn child and won’t be held back to protect them both. We’ve seen a lot of potential foreshadowing though, and thing’s are going to get scary when Negan comes knocking.

8. Rosita Espinosa (Previously 13th)

Nice jump for Rosita, as she continues to show how capable she is with her scoped out assault rifle. She also saved Abraham’s ass in the latest Savior encounter, even when she has a reason not to. Denise’s speech before her demise may have sparked something in Rosita as well, to take a big step as the badass she can be.

9. Eugene Porter (Previously 15th)

“Welcome to Phase 2” and the Top 10, Eugene.

I like the mullet ponytail. It’s a nice look. I like his idea to mass produce bullets even more. His spat with Abraham was pretty lame and considering his past transgressions, he doesn’t have much of a right to talk down to the ginger-haired beefcake. Taking a chomp out of Dwight’s nether regions and “taking his moment” to distract the saviors was the most capable we’ve ever seen him in any of his skirmishes.

If he gets the bullet idea up and running, his value is going to be huge going forward.

10. Father Gabriel (Previously 10th)

I like this version of Father Gabriel a lot. Rather than hide behind his church doors, he’s protecting his people with a rifle. Sticks to his convictions and he’s ready to fight. Very interested to see how he steps up when trouble rolls in.

11. Abraham (Previously 17th)

There was a sigh of relief for TV and comic fans alike, as Abraham made it out of the episode unscathed. Eugene echoed some of my feelings about Abraham, saying he’s completed his mission and his arc should soon be over. Abraham showed up when it counted though, as the Saviors seemed to have Daryl, Rosita and Eugene dead to rights…Giving Eugene some respect was a big step, and making his move on Sasha was something we waited for as well.

12. Sasha (Previously 16th)

The image above was a powerful one to me, showing that Alexandria was preparing for what’s to come. Sasha also has the demeanor that simply says”Bring it”. By inviting Abraham in after he professes his feeling for her, she avoids conflict with him…but that may amplify it with Rosita in the near future.

13. Aaron (Previously 9th)

Aaron’s had the last couple weeks off, but he’s someone you can count on when stuff hits the fan. He proved that in the raid on the Saviors. Right now, you’re going to want to depend on people who are willing to get their hands dirty rather than the alternative. He’s also in lockstep with Rick.

14. Morgan Jones (Previously 20th)

For a while, it didn’t seem like Alexandria was big enough to keep both Morgan and Carol in it. Apparently we got our answer to that this week, but roles seem to have changed between the two. Morgan has been training for a fight and readying a cell for potential prisoners. Carol can’t kill, and we’ll get into that further down the list…

15. Carl Grimes (Previously 18th)

Carl’s played protecter without much airtime during the last month, seemingly, and now the fight is coming to him. I continue to hear animosity for the kid and I don’t think it’s warranted anymore. He’s on Rick’s side, he’s suffered enough, and he’s matured more than most on the show. When The Saviors inevitably show up at the door, I trust him more than anyone ranked after him.

16. Heath (Previously 12th)

I’m not totally sure if Heath will be back from his run in time to help anyone, but he’s better help than most if he does return. Participating in the raid and being forced to kill some of the Saviors helped him grow to be better prepared for those circumstances too.

17. Tara Chambers (Previously 11th)

Similar to Heath, I don’t know when she’s coming back because they are both on a run. I also don’t know how she is going to react to the death of her girlfriend. Will it be a catalyst for her to get some serious revenge, or will she turtle and lose her dependability that she’s been relied on for as of late?

18. Dwight (Previously 30th)

Biggest of jumps in the power rankings goes to Dwight for making his return and his presence known. After Daryl found his motorcycle, we had a feeling Dwight had been picked up by Negan. The “Two-Face” look makes me think he was punished for running off, and it’s interesting to see him have some authority among the Saviors after.

“D” still killed someone he wasn’t aiming for, and he failed to take anyone else in after having Daryl, Rosita, Eugene and Abraham completely outnumbered.

19. Doctor Harlan (Previously 24th)

Considering he’s now the only doctor between Alexandria and The Hilltop, I’d say he’s pretty valuable.

20. Enid (Previously 21st)

I may be in the minority, but I’ve been waiting for Enid’s return to the screen for a long time. How is her relationship with Carl now? Are she, Maggie and Glenn a “unit”? What happens when Negan attacks? I do know she’s a survivor, she’s proven that in this season and the last. You’ll also trust her abilities more than anyone else ranked after her at this point.

21. Tobin (Previously 22nd)

RIP #Carbin (The ship hashtag I made up for these not-so-lovebirds)

At least Tobin is around and has something to contribute by alerting everyone that one of their most valuable pieces has just up and left.

22. Spencer Monroe (Previously 23rd)

Look at Spencer, offering to cook dinner for Rosita and stuff. She really doesn’t seem cool with that, but I’d be down if he’s making something good.

Spencer is a question mark still. We haven’t seen him in action since putting down his zombie-mom. Is he going to step up when things get scary or is he going to fall apart? We’ll also see if this weird thing with Rosita effects him when it matters most.

23. Olivia (Previously 29th)

Olivia gets a boost after hanging around the bottom for most of these rankings. Mostly for just getting some face time, but also showing she’s still responsible of inventory and seemingly doing a good job of it.

24. Andy (Previously 14th)

Andy slides for inactivity, but I feel better about him for holding his own against the Saviors.

25. Eric Raleigh (Previously 25th)

Are Eric and Aaron still together? I don’t even know and if anyone’s going to go, it’s probably Eric, but at least he has stuck around…

26. Carol Peletier (Previously 4th)

Biggest slide of the rankings goes to Carol…

Why? Well, having an existential crisis at the worst possible time certainly doesn’t help. She fought Morgan (also at the worst possible time) over this debate to kill or not. She’s also bailing on her people when they will likely need her most…

People in Alexandria care about her, Rick and Daryl especially. If either choose to chase after her (the teaser for next week suggests Daryl does), that cripples Alexandria’s defenses and the community becomes vulnerable. If disaster strikes because of Carol, she’ll probably drop to last in these rankings. Negan’s forces are everywhere too. One can guess she’ll get caught by a troop and made an example of for it.

Sorry, Carol fans, but it’s hard to argue for her right now.

27. Baby Judith (Previously 26th)

Keep doing you, Judith.

28. Gregory (Previously 27th)

Gregory seems like the type to sellout Alexandria if given the opportunity

29. Cal (Previously 28th)

Still wielding a spear somewhere.

30. Freddie (Previously 32nd)

Still being just a guy who misses his wife.

31. Craig (Previously 33rd)

Does Craig have any value after Rick’s group killed dozens to save him? We’ll see but I doubt it.