The Walking Dead has been increasingly shocking with the introduction of the Whisperers. However, Sunday’s episode proved to be one of the most brutal episodes in the show’s history.
The leaders of the four communities, Ezekiel (Khary Payton), Carol (Melissa McBride), Michonne (Danai Gurira), Tara (Alanna Masterson) and Rachel from Oceanside came together to sign a treaty. The treaty presented them as united in the fight against the Whisperers and swore their allegiance to one another.
Once signed, Michonne, Daryl (Norman Reedus), Carol and a few others left the Kingdom to find some of their missing members. The group was quickly ambushed by the Whisperers and taken captive.
In a quick flashback, Alpha (Samantha Morton) disguised herself at the Kingdom and investigated the area, eavesdropping everywhere she went. She bumped into Ezekiel and warned him of a “hard winter” ahead.
In the present, Daryl was led by Alpha to a cliff. Below were hordes of walkers that she threatened could be used as an army if anyone from their communities crossed into her territory again. She also said that they would see the consequences of their actions on the way back.
In one of the most shocking scenes in the series history, the group stumbled back toward the Kingdom and found 10 of their friends dead. Alpha had decapitated them all and stuck their head on stakes. Among the dead were some of the highwaymen introduced in the last episode and a few community members. The biggest surprise for audiences was seeing that Enid (Katelyn Nacon), Tara and Henry (Matt Lintz) had all been killed.
In the final scene, Siddiq (Avi Nash) told everyone he had been kidnapped with the others and had seen them all fight back before their death, saying that’s how they should be remembered.
This is the first time such major characters have been killed back to back since Negan killed Glenn and Abraham in season seven. As the characters deal with the aftermath of the gruesome deaths, it will only mean certain war with the Whisperers and result in horrific violence.
Here’s how fans reacted to the shocking episode on Twitter:
