It’s impossible to discuss this episode without starting with the most obvious item, and why it has upset so many fans.  Yes, Glenn is alive, and yes, everything about that scene in “Thank You” was ridiculously manipulative.  Just as manipulative as the episodes that followed, as the writers waited as long as possible to resolve the “mystery”.  That said, considering that many fans have been speculating on when Glenn would die, why wouldn’t they capitalize on that sentiment?  

With the confirmation that Negan is coming later this season (in the season finale, no less), speculation about Glenn is at a fever pitch.  Frankly, way too much information has been leaked about Glenn’s fate in the source material, and that puts the writers in a compromised position.  Follow the source material exactly, and there’s an utter lack of surprise.  Change things up, and there will be accusations of favoritism or “not having the courage to do it”.


Whatever the case, the series has already deviated mightily from the source material when it comes to the fate of certain characters or the timing of their demise, so I think the writers would be best served changing the script.  They’ve managed to handle the arrival of the herd and the adaptation of this storyline from the source material with plenty of changes and adjustments, and it’s been one of the best runs of the show in quite some time.  Keeping the audience on its toes seems like the obvious choice.  

Meanwhile, Rick and Morgan had that talk that we all knew was coming, and sure enough, it was left unresolved.  Why?  Because Morgan’s little reclamation project in the basement is going to be the factor that brings it to a head, I guarantee.  Rick’s behavior in the rest of the episode was his way of working through his internal struggles with the concept, but nothing is going to test everyone’s philosophical resolve like the herd coming through a hole in the wall.  Things are about to get very, very ugly.


And this is where I hope the writers do adhere to the source material a bit more closely, because the culmination of the herd’s invasion of Alexandria is some nasty business.  A lot of characters are fundamentally altered as a result of the crisis.  Ron’s bit with the gun and Carl foreshadows nastiness on that front, and despite all the big words, Jessie doesn’t seem nearly as ready as she thinks she is.  Spencer is a slaughter waiting to happen, and something tells me that “cheat sheet” is going to come in real handy very soon.  





Ironically, there was a lot of talk about what the community might be like “after”, though none of them knew just what it was going to mean.  I tend to doubt Deanna is going to live long enough to see those plans come to fruition, because why else pass them on to Michonne and Rick?  But it does foreshadow the other interesting aspect of this: one way or another, it’s very likely Alexandria will continue on in some form or another.  This is not just another example of finding a seemingly safe haven and being forced to run.