WARNING SPOILERS!
Sunday’s episode of ‘The Walking Dead’ (Episode 4 “Service”) was filled with highs and lows, well mostly lows. A lot happened during the episode. so, let’s get started.
Negan and the Saviors arrived in Alexandria and quickly went to work taking every gun, mattress and just being dicks in general. Two guns were missing, so of course Negan had to threaten to kill someone, in this case it was Olivia, who is in charge of keeping an account of every gun. Luckily, Rick found them hidden in Spencer’s house. Negan and his gang made it clear to folks in Alexandria that if anyone makes one step out of line and someone will die.
While Rick is giving Negan a tour of Alexandria they hear a gun shot. It turned out to be Carl. He was trying to keep one of the Saviors from taking all of the medicine. Carl told Negan that he said “half” and half was all they were going to take. Rick got Carl to stand down and to hand over his pistol. Negan, while amused with Carl’s “man sized balls”, he couldn’t let it happen again. Negan also told Carl that half is what he says it is. It seems that even if Rick doesn’t have the balls to stand up to Negan and the Saviors, Carl does. Luckily, the stand-off didn’t cost Carl or Rick their lives.
I have to say this, Negan is a major psycho-dick, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan does an amazing job with the character. He’s so good that it’s almost hard for me to hate Negan. I said “almost”.
When the Saviors were about to leave Negan gave Daryl the chance to try to convince him to let him to stay, but Daryl remained silent. The look Daryl shared with Rick was about as spirit crushing as it gets. I’m worried about Daryl, he seems completely broken. I don’t know if he is punishing himself for Glenn’s death or if Negan and Dwight’s torture has gotten to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘The Walking Dead’ is setting the stage for his death. But, I hope not.
The other major revelation in the episode was when Rick admitted to Michonne that he knows Judith isn’t his. Of course, we all knew that, but to hear him finally admit it was a bit heart-breaking. Imagine what Rick has had to endure, raising a baby that wasn’t his, one that belonged to his wife and his best friend, and suffering in silence. Ouch. Rick did the noble thing by stepping up and claiming her as his own. Then again, Rick is always trying to do the noble thing.
In an interview with EW, Andrew Lincoln (Rick) spoke about the moment in the episode when he and Michonne were talking and admitted that Judith isn’t his biological child.
It’s one of those watershed moments that happens, certainly between two lovers, between Michonne and Rick, that brings them together. It’s a very important moment in understand his psyhche and going, “This is what I’ve been doing for the last two years. I’ve accepted the situation and I will accept the situation if it’s going to save lives and it’s going to protect the people I love. I will take it.” It’s another perfect kind of quiet heroism. You know, he’s a stepdad and it doesn’t stop him loving his child, but he kind of has accepted that it’s not his.”
One thing was made clear in the episode, the people of Alexandria aren’t happy with the situation, especially Carl, Michonne and Spencer. In fact, I think they are going to cause problems in episodes to come, possibly getting people killed. It’s also clear that Negan has no intention of letting up on Rick. A lot of things took place, I could be here all night talking about them, but at least you know the major points.
In the promo for episode 5, titled “Go Getters”, it appears that the Hill Top is in a bit of trouble. The good news is, Maggie’s awake and she looks a lot better than how we last time we saw her. In episode 5, we will get to see Jesus for the first time this season.
If you are unable to watch ‘The Walking Dead’ on AMC, don’t panic. You can watch episodes on YouTube (HERE).