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Rick Has Revenge on the Brain in The Walking Dead

The showdown we've been waiting for happens, while Maggie and the Hilltop team make new friends in "The Key."

by | March 18, 2018 | Comments

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Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 12 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Still reeling from Carl’s (Chandler Riggs) death, the Hilltop crew take a lesson from his example in Sunday’s episode of The Walking Dead. Meanwhile, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) goes rogue to settle his score with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).

SPOILER ALERT: THIS ARTICLE REVEALS DETAILS OF EPISODE 12 OF SEASON 8 OF THE WALKING DEAD.

Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 12 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Maggie (Lauren Cohan), Rosita (Christian Serratos, pictured above), Enid (Katelyn Nacon), and Michonne (Danai Gurira) met with new faces, as a mysterious deal comes their way in “The Key.” Low on rations, and with the Saviors on their way, Maggie was left with some major decisions to make. Are there good people left in this waking nightmare? Moral ambiguity is always the name of the game in The Walking Dead.

The episode found Rick returning to the Hilltop a changed man, with his mind focused on one thing only: killing Negan at any cost. With vengeance on the brain, Rick may find his leadership is in its death throes. His erratic behavior, no matter how badass, isn’t helping anyone.

While Negan is off playing defense, the Saviors are dealt a major shakeup of their own. Unlikely partnerships are forged and trust is tested like never before. Will Rick’s attack give the Hilltop a leg up on the Saviors or will this rash move come back to bite them in the end?

Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the biggest moments from Sunday’s episode.

1. RICK AND NEGAN’S CAR CHASE

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 12 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

In Sunday’s episode, the action came in one surprising wave after another. As Negan and crew set out to infiltrate the Hilltop with their gored-up weapons, Rick saw them coming. Instead of sending out a warning signal to the camp, though, he took matters into his own hands. Seeing Negan’s car included in this Mad Max–style clunker parade set Rick on the warpath. As Simon (Steven Ogg) and Dwight (Austin Amelio) discussed Negan’s leadership, Rick’s SUV barreled down a side alley and knocked Negan out of formation, leading to an epic car chase between the two — which is something you don’t see much of in the zombie apocalypse, to be honest.

2. SIMON’S POWER GRAB

Simon’s been questioning Negan’s leadership for some time. As he and Dwight discussed the strategy of another attack on the Hilltop, Rick took Negan out of the equation. The two head henchmen went searching for him and found his overturned car instead.

Simon used some tricky diplomatic skills to get Dwight on his side. Instead of continuing the search, Dwight followed Simon back to the Saviors only to discover an insidious truth: Simon’s out to not only take over as leader, he wants to “expunge” every opponent who stands in their way. Dwight didn’t sign up for this.

3. MAGGIE MEETS GEORGIE

Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 12 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Whenever a new face shows up on The Walking Dead, it’s hard not to question their motives. Georgie (Jayne Atkinson), along with her guards Hilda (Kim Ormiston), and Midge (Misty Ormiston), offer Maggie’s people a deal: their vinyl collection and food for knowledge. After some heated words among the women of Hilltop, Michonne convinces Maggie to make the deal — instead of jacking these strangers for their goods.

In the exchange, Georgie not only gives them all sorts of schematics to build windmills, grain silos, and whatnot, she hands off some crates of food after all. Georgie, who may be based on Pamela Milton from the comics, seems trustworthy and all. Then again, so did the Governor at one point in time.

4. THE RICK VS. NEGAN FIGHT WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Holy moly! That car chase was only the beginning. Once Negan’s car was flipped, Rick used a semi-automatic weapon on the man. Not once hitting him, they soon took the fight in an abandoned building where it looked like Rick had the upper hand the entire time. Not only did he chuck a hatchet at Negan, Rick ended up finding Lucille and lit it on fire, leading to a fight amid a pack of flaming zombies.

And yet, Negan got out alive. How many more lives does the man have?

5. JADIS IS ALSO OUT FOR REVENGE

Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 6 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

While wandering through the dark bowels of that building looking for Lucille and trying to strike a deal with Rick, Negan gets hit with a huge bombshell: Simon massacred the Scavengers. You could see the wheels turning in Negan’s head over the betrayal.

And as soon as he escaped Rick, he fell into Jadis’ (Pollyanna McIntosh) clutches. It was a surprise ending, but is it possible that Negan and Jadis will forge a partnership to take down Simon and Rick? It wouldn’t be out of character for either character, that’s for sure.

Was the showdown between Rick and Negan everything you wanted it to be? Do you think there’s more where that came from? Tell us in the comments.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8C on AMC.

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