“The Walking Dead:” Episode 704 “Service”

The fear that was instilled in the season premiere of “The Walking Dead” was fleshed out to the fullest in last night’s episode. Negan comes to Alexandria to collect his payment, which really means he is going to intimidate everyone and take whatever he wants. Throughout the episode, Rick’s authority is subdued more and more until it is clear to everyone that Negan is the one in charge. Personally, I felt sad to see Rick handing over his leadership to such an evil man.

When Negan arrives to the gate of Alexandria with his gang of thugs, Daryl is seen, and he looks terrible. Rick attempts to speak with him and Negan shuts him down immediately. There is a clear change in Daryl that everyone notices and it further instills fear into Rick’s group.

Negan has Rick show him around the community and throughout the tour, Negan demonstrates his dominance by having his men pillage the houses, while Rick’s group cannot do anything but watch. Carl foolishly gets into a gun-draw with one of Negan’s men and it almost gets him killed. Negan respects Carl’s brashness, but also realizes that he needs to take away the communities’ armory. While confiscating the guns, the armory is two guns short of the listed amount. Negan threatens to kill the woman who works the accounting of the guns, unless they can find both of them. Rick eventually finds them, and the woman is saved, but Rick’s group is left without any weapons.

By the end of the episode, Rick’s group is threatened to meet the quota by the next time Negan comes. Out of fear, Rick gives up one last gun to Negan that wasn’t in the inventory, and Negan recognizes that he’s got Rick under his thumb now. During Negan’s departure, he makes Rick say “thank you” and rolls out. Rick’s group is left in shambles, feeling demoralized, fearful for the next time Negan shows his face in Alexandria. It was hard to watch the main group, who fans once saw as extremely strong and battle-tested, be dominated and treated like slaves by Negan’s new rule.

We will see what hope is left in store for Rick’s group in next Sunday’s episode of “The Walking Dead.” Be sure to tune into AMC at 9 p.m. to catch it!