'THE WALKING DEAD' (S08E01) SPOILERS & PREDICTIONS!
It’s been a long six months for fans of ‘The Walking Dead’, who have waited with baited breath for Rick and the gang to avenge Sasha’s surprise death (and ultimately clever attack on The Saviours). But now the heroes are back, and with three leaders in command and the communities standing in solidarity, we’re beginning to think the once all-powerful Negan no longer stands a chance.
Season 8, Episode 1 sees Rick, Ezekiel and Maggie at the helm, leading their communities as one; this is a relief for viewers who, after two solid seasons of hopelessness and despair (reinforced by the brutal deaths of Glen and Abraham), appreciate the hope and near-jubilance injected into the new season.
The premiere episode sees the return of fearlessness - something fans have seen fade over time: Daryl is back in form, blowing up cleverly located bombs which lead a massive hoard of walkers towards the enemies’ HQ; Rick is taking no chances with Negan, becoming a mockery of the trusting leader he once was and keeping both eyes on his target; Morgan is stealthy, killing with a vengeance; and even Gabriel is gallant… though we’re worried this could lead to his downfall in later episodes.
Despite it being an episode full of action and explosions, certain scenes left many fans wondering, “what is Rick’s fate?” Well, we have a theory.
‘The Walking Dead’ is often applauded for its ability to infer through symbolism and foreshadowing. Eight seasons in, and fans have learned to deconstruct even the finest details of each episode in preparation for that “I told you so!” moment come the finale.
In S08E01, Michonne and Carl are left behind while Rick, Maggie and a number of familiar faces make their way to Negan. Disappointed and scared of what the near future is to bring, Michonne whispers, “Everything hurts… I will help you defend this place… it’s your show.” Could this be the writers hinting at a possible protagonist-change in Season 9?
There’s more evidence to support this theory. Carl has worn his father’s Deputy Sheriff hat since Season 2 – a symbol of his dedication to finding justice and demonstrating good leadership. He has survived all physical harm since his childhood (being shot in the chest and the eye on two separate occasions), learned from major mistakes (Dale’s walker death, anyone?), and his bold choices have proved Rick wrong on occasion. Could the showrunners be leading us to prepare for Carl’s uprising as next-gen leader? And if so, what will happen to Rick?
This episode features some crazy time jumps and filmic nods to former events: an older Rick waking up in a bed, turning over to look at the flower vase; Carl pausing at a car window, staring at a corpse in the driver seat as Rick once did; the birds eye view of the mass of biters surrounding the shack Gabriel is holed up in, much like the military tank – all nods to S01E01. But why? It seems it’s time for Carl to truly step up, and the show has been leaning towards this for several seasons.
Then there’s Maggie. Her character is truly developing into a martyr, but fans can’t imagine she would be written off any time soon; it would be cruel to say goodbye to the entire Greene/Rhee family following both Hershel’s and Glenn’s horrific murders in previous seasons, and with the theme of hope in Season 8, surely a healthy mother and baby would be a nice way to end the season? Unfortunately, it’s Maggie’s warm, meaningful interaction with Rick in this episode that has left us questioning her ultimate fate.
In one time jump, Rick stands over two graves, crying. Before the communities put their ‘Negan takedown’ plan into action, Rick admits to Maggie that he’s been thinking about ‘what tomorrow looks like’. He says “I don’t know if I can wait for it.” Maggie responds, “Just one more fight, and I’m gonna be there.” One more fight? Until the battle with The Saviours is over? Or until Lauren Cohen and Andrew Lincoln attend their infamous ‘funeral dinners’?
What Rick says next sends a chill up our spines. When Maggie gives gratitude to Rick for his powerful leadership, he replies “After this, I’m following you.” Does one of the graves in the time jump belong to Maggie, and the other to her unborn child? If so, does Rick follow her into death, leaving Carl to pick up where he left off?
These are the questions we’re dying to have answered in the coming episodes.
‘The Walking Dead’ airs weekly on Foxtel (Australia).
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