The 100th episode of The Walking Dead is upon us. Before the season 8 premiere, find out where Rick, Negan, Daryl, Maggie, Michonne, and more left off last season with Rotten Tomatoes’ handy refresher course.
Have thoughts on what’s to come in season 8? Tell us in the comments.
The Walking Deadseason 8 premieres Sunday, October 22 at 9/8 p.m. ET/CT on AMC.
Rick
(Andrew Lincoln)
Who he is: As the stalwart (if sometimes reluctant) leader, Rick has been at times idealistic, hardened, and beaten down by his responsibilities. In season 7, however, Rick hit his lowest point. Witnessing the brutal deaths of his friends at the hands of arch-villain Negan, he acquiesced to Negan’s demands so that no more of his people had to die. He finally realized he had to step up when he saw everyone else ready to fight — with or without him.
Where he left off: Rick mobilized the rest of the Alexandrians and tried to recruit the other communities in joining in the fight. Some were reluctant and others he made deals with, but Rick was going to stand up to Negan no matter what. Then, when Jadis (Pollyana McIntosh) and the Scavengers betrayed him, giving Negan the upper hand, it seemed all might be lost – but those Rick trusts the most arrived in time to show their strength in numbers.
Daryl
(Norman Reedus)
Who he is: The once-impulsive redneck is now one of the show’s most fearless heroes. Though Daryl was definitely knocked down a few pegs in season 7 after being captured by Negan and tortured into supposed submission, he escaped and met up with Rick and the others, seeking temporary shelter at the Kingdom, where he discovered Carol was nearby. Their reunion was sweet.
Where he left off: Daryl couldn’t bring himself to tell Carol the truth about what the Saviors had done (she later found out from Morgan). Daryl really only wants revenge, however, and even though he’ll fight with his friends, expect him to go rogue and do his own damage in season 8.
Maggie
(Lauren Cohan)
Who she is: Maggie has gone from trusting farm girl to the warrior she is now. Of course, this inner strength of hers has been brought out by some devastating losses in her life, including watching her beloved Glenn bludgeoned to death. In season 7, Maggie hid out at Hilltop so she could heal and better monitor her pregnancy. Through her resilience and smarts, however, she endeared herself to the residents there.
Where she left off: After Hilltop leader Gregory split, Maggie decides she and the Hilltoppers were going to join Rick’s fight. Hilltop’s cavalry entrance into the fray made us cheer, but it was Maggie’s speech at the end, giving Glenn all the credit for their moment of unity, that was truly heartbreaking and proved she was a true leader.
Carol
(Melissa McBride)
Who she is: Carol started out as a meek, downtrodden woman with an abusive husband and eventually turned into the badass we now know and love. This badassery, however, has taken a toll on Carol. In season 7, after bolting from Alexandria, she ended up at the Kingdom with Morgan. While it was nice, she decided she had seen and participated in too much murder and mayhem and left to live a solitary existence. But she was really happy to see Daryl when he showed up.
Where she left off: Thankfully, Carol came to her senses, especially after she found out the truth about what Negan and the Saviors had done. She returned to the Kingdom with a restored sense of justice and convinced Ezekiel they must join Rick’s fight against Negan, but first, they needed to train everyone. And train they did, enough so that when they showed up in Alexandria to support Rick, they kicked ass.
Michonne
(Danai Gurira)
Who is it: Michonne was such a broken, stoic warrior when we first met her, but now, with the strong bonds she’s forged, including her romantic relationship with Rick, Michonne has rediscovered what it is to be human again. Of course, the events of season 7 set her (and everyone) back, but she is still determined to stand straight and fight for what she sees as potential for a somewhat peaceful life. It’s really her and Carl’s conviction to rid the world of Negan that turned Rick around.
Where she left off: Michonne was positioned on a balcony as a sniper, along with a Scavenger named Farron, when Negan arrived. Once things went south, Michonne and Farron began to fight until she threw Farron off the balcony. For an agonizing second, we (and Rick and Carl) thought Michonne was the one killed. No, she was badly beaten, but is ready for the next battle.
Negan
(Jeffrey Dean Morgan)
Who he is: Negan stands as one of The Walking Dead’s most dastardly villains, a charming sociopath who rules with an iron fist — or, in his case, a barbed bat named “Lucille.” When we first met him, he maliciously taunted our favorites before smashing in Glenn and Abraham’s heads for their defiance. He spent the rest the season chewing the scenery with aplomb, cocksure he could easily squash any rebellion.
Where he left off: While Negan thought he was one step ahead of Rick, it turns out he underestimated the power of the other communities that have had enough of his tyranny. Just as he was about to cave in Carl’s skull after Rick’s seemingly failed coup attempt, the Kingdom and Hilltop charged in, tiger attackin’ and guns blazin’, to beat the Saviors back. Be very, very afraid for how Negan will retaliate in season 8.
Carl
(Chandler Riggs)
Who he is: This kid caught a raw deal growing up during a zombie apocalypse, but Carl has turned out to be quite the warrior. He is also fiercely protective of his friends and family when they are being threatened, and in season 7, he felt Rick was dropping the ball by not standing up to Negan. If his father wouldn’t do it, then Carl would do it himself. He tried and failed, but Negan admired Carl’s spunk and let him live.
Where he left off: Carl’s luck with Negan ran out in Alexandria. When Sasha’s reanimated corpse came tumbling out of the coffin to cause the perfect distraction, Carl started shooting first and put himself right in Lucille’s path. Shiva the tiger saved the day this time, but this probably won’t be the last time Carl squares off against Negan.
Eugene
(Josh McDermitt)
Who he is: Eugene has been a royal pain in the ass from the beginning. Every lie he has told or cowardly act he has perpetrated has been to ensure his survival. After witnessing the Negan’s brutality in season 7, Eugene was scared silly of the man, so it was unsurprising that he switched alliances to Negan when he was taken to Sanctuary.
Where he left off: Eugene really disappointed everyone when he showed up for the big battle, fully on board the “I am Negan” wagon. The thing is, Eugene isn’t necessarily safe with Negan. If the big guy finds out Eugene is the one who gave Sasha the poison with which she killed herself, thus ruining Negan’s “surprise” for Rick, it could get bad for Eugene. Also, the Saviors probably won’t win this war. What will Eugene do then (if he doesn’t get killed in the melee)?
Rosita
(Christian Serratos)
Who is it: Rosita is always acting like a tough cookie, but she really isn’t. When Abraham dumped her to start a new relationship with Sasha, it broke her heart, and she became more reckless and aloof. Still, when Abraham was killed at the beginning of season 7, Rosita grieved – and wanted revenge – just as much as Sasha. Like Carl, Rosita tried and failed to kill Negan once (resulting in Olivia’s death as retribution).
Where she left off: After Sasha and Rosita’s plan to infiltrate the Sanctuary went awry and Sasha was taken prisoner by Negan, Rosita finally realized she’s better off sticking with the people who care about her and fight the good fight. In the battle at Alexandria, Rosita was wounded and at season end, she was recuperating in the infirmary.
Tara
(Alanna Masterson)
Who she is: Tara’s wry sense of humor and faith in humanity as a whole makes her a bright light. She’s also a fighter and won’t hesitate to defend the ones she loves. On a supply run in season 7, Tara discovered Oceanside, a community of women survivors with a large armory who did not want to be found. Tara vowed to keep their secret, but when she returned to Alexandria and found out what Negan and the Saviors had done, including killing her girlfriend Denise, she knew she was going to break her promise.
Where she left off: Sure enough, the time came when the group realized they didn’t have enough guns and ammo to properly start a war with Negan. Tara spilled the beans and off they went to raid Oceanside’s armory. While he was stealing their guns, Rick tried to recruit the women to join the fight, but their leader was dead-set against it. Tara could eventually talk them into it, though.
Morgan
(Lennie James)
Who he is: Morgan has seen his fair share of sorrows and has had his hand in too many deaths, so he, too, vowed never to kill humans again. This turned out to be very inconvenient (and even kind of annoying), but he didn’t waver – until season 7 when a Savior killed Benjamin, a teen with whom Morgan grew close while he trained him in the Kingdom. Morgan saw red then and immediately fell off the wagon. Finally.
Where he left off: Morgan wanted to attack the Saviors on his own, but Carol convinced him to stay and fight with the Kingdom. They needed him since they would have better results in stronger numbers. After the battle at Alexandria, Morgan and Carol had a moment together, each realizing they were doing what they were meant to do.
Aaron
(Ross Marquand)
Who he is: Introduced in season 5, the steadfast and reliable Alexandrian started out as a tracker and recruiter, and is now a trusted part of Rick’s inner circle.
Where he left off: Took part in the season 7 finale battle against Negan, wiring explosives with Daryl and Rosita. He and his partner Eric were on hand to hear Rick, Maggie, and Ezekiel address the survivors.
Father Gabriel Stokes
(Seth Gilliam)
Who he is: First appearing in season 5, the priest has come a long way since the cowardice of his early days with the group.
Where he left off: Father Gabriel took part in the season 7 battle against Negan, and then presided over Sasha’s funeral. He later stood with Rick as he addressed the survivors.
Dwight
(Austin Amelio)
Who he is: Dwight has been somewhat of an enigmatic character since his brief introduction in season 6. In season 7, we saw him as the dutiful Savior foot soldier, but it was clear the burn scars on his face and the fact his wife, Sherry, is Negan’s concubine weighed on Dwight’s soul. When Sherry escaped and he covered it up, the cracks began to show.
Where he left off: When he showed up to Alexandria saying he wanted to help the team bring Negan down, we wanted to believe him. Daryl and Tara weren’t on board (remember, it was Dwight who killed Denise), but Rick decided to go with Dwight’s plan to be their inside guy. Daryl might come around, though, because Dwight left him a message after the battle in Alexandria, indicating he didn’t know about the Negan-Jadis double cross.
Jesus
(Tom Payne)
Who he is: This guy really lives up to his name – not only does Jesus look the part, with the long hair, beard, and soulful eyes, but the Hilltop recruiter also just exudes kindness and warmth and is pretty much beloved by all. In season 7, Jesus consoled Maggie and Sasha in their grief, but realized they were going to have to stand up to Negan. Since Gregory was of no use, Jesus guided Maggie and pushed her to understand she’s more of a leader than she thought she was.
Where he left off: Jesus and Enid (Katelyn Nacon) also helped Maggie decide that Hilltop would join forces with Rick, but it was after the battle that Jesus really stepped up. He and Maggie tracked down zombie Sasha in the woods, and he assisted Maggie in putting her friend to rest. Jesus is a great right-hand man.
Gregory
(Xander Berkeley)
Who he is: The former leader of the peaceful Hilltop community first appeared in season 6, introduced to Rick and the gang by Jesus. Gregory never wanted to challenge the parasitic Saviors, however, causing a split in his community.
Where he left off: After noticing how Maggie was gaining favor, he was last seen leaving Hilltop with his assistant, Kal, along with a note from Simon saying he could enter the Sanctuary at any time.
Ezekiel
(Khary Payton)
Who he is: We met King Ezekiel, ruler of the Kingdom, in season 7. He fancies himself an Arthurian leader (even though he used to be a zookeeper) and believes his theatrics – and pet tiger – help give the community a sense of stability. He worked hard to form an agreement with the Saviors, supplying them with goods in exchange for being left alone.
Where he left off: When Rick came to the Kingdom seeking an alliance, Ezekiel declined because he felt it was too dangerous to rock the boat. But after the incident with Benjamin, Ezekiel began to see the writing on the wall. When Carol told him they had to join the fight, he finally agreed. Shiva the tiger should come in very handy in the days and weeks to come, so long as she survives — and she better!
Simon
(Steven Ogg)
Who he is: Negan’s right hand has been the enforcer when it came to extorting tributes from Hilltop.
Where he left off: Simon may get a promotion. He took part in the season 7 finale battle, running off with Negan and then later standing with him when Negan addressed the Saviors.
Enid
(Katelyn Nacon)
Who she is: The ultimate babysitter — that is, after Beth, may she R.I.P. — Enid was first introduced to Team Rick in season 5. After the loss of her family, she kind of had nowhere else to go except Alexandria, where she grew close to Carl.
Where she left off: She was instrumental in helping Maggie decide Hilltop needed to join the fight against Negan by giving her Glenn’s pocket watch. Enid took part in the season 7 finale battle against Negan and then later searched for zombie Sasha in the woods.
Jadis
(Pollyanna McIntosh)
Who she is: Leader of the Scavengers, who were introduced in season 7, Jadis is always looking out for No. 1.
Where she left off: She took part in the season 7 finale battle, double-crossing Rick and his collective for a better deal with Negan. When things went south for Negan, she escaped with some of her people. She’s a wild-card – one that Rick surely won’t give a second chance.
