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'The Walking Dead' Mid-Season Finale: What Went Down and What Is Left up in the Air

Is this really 'How It's Gotta Be?' Say it ain't so, TWD...

By Joby BongcoPublished 6 years ago 7 min read
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Worst Father-Son scavenger hunt...EVER!

WARNING! SPOILERS OF THE WALKING DEAD SERIES AND COMIC BOOKS WILL FOLLOW! PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Last week, we were promised an episode that everyone will be talking about. Well...the mid-season finale, "How It's Gotta Be," has come and gone and my mind can be summed up in 2 words: HOLY S***! This season really has been full of surprises, and mid-season finale was no different. There is a lot to process from the 90-minute episode and a lot that has left us with plenty of questions, with possibly the biggest shock coming in the last couple minutes of an already explosive episode. Here's what went down and what is left up in the air.

Aaron and Enid Captured by Oceanside

So... is there a plan B?

What went down:

Relations with Oceanside have never been ideal. From the first episode where they tried to kill Tara to their next appearance where Rick and company took all their guns, it seems like one more misstep will completely destroy any possibility of an alliance for good. And that is exactly what happened in this last episode. In what was supposed to be a recruitment mission, Enid makes a critical mistake and kills the leader of Oceanside, Natania, trying to save Aaron from danger.

What is left up in the air:

Now, this might seem like a cut and dry conclusion: Aaron and Enid are not making it out of Oceanside alive. With a spotty track record, the death of Natania could very well be the third strike against Alexandria. However, most of the orders to not trust outsiders formerly came from Natania herself. With her out of the picture, the leadership position is now up for grabs, and this could be the opportunity for Alexandria to score some brownie points with the estranged group. Better Oceanside than the Scavengers, in my opinion...

Eugene helps Dr. Carson and Gabriel.

Gabriel: Hey.... that light is right in my eyes. Can you turn a little to the right?

What went down:

Where we last left Eugene, it truly appeared that he flipped the switch and became a full-on Savior. Ignoring the advice of Dwight, rejecting the chance to help Gabriel extract Dr. Carson, it looked like we lost the man with the mullet for good. But apparently in the span of the an afternoon, Eugene has yet again changed his colors. In a series of unfortunate events concocted by the big brain himself, Eugene managed to devise an escape plan to get Dr. Carson and Gabriel out of the Sanctuary.

What is left up in the air:

The power of faith can be an amazing force, but Gabriel does not look like he's in the best of shape. Carson and Gabriel now have a way out, but is Gabriel healthy enough to see this through? Not only that, but with a decent amount of the Saviors forces out on the road, can they escape without being seen?

Also, what does this mean for Eugene? The only thing we know for certain is that he will do whatever is best for himself at the moment. But his most recent actions have put him in a bad spot with both sides of the war. Dwight told Daryl, Rosita, Tara, and Michonne of what Dwight has done to help the Saviors escape. On the other side, if word gets back that he helped free the priest and doctor, he will most certainly be in hot water with Negan. For a smart guy who is only looking out for himself, he has really put his back into a corner.

Ezekiel Captured, Morgan in the Shadows

At least one is still smiling, I guess...

What went down:

With the Kingdom essentially defenseless, it didn't take much for the Saviors to infiltrate the once great stronghold. Miraculously, Ezekiel managed to regain his vigor and save his remaining people from being harmed by Gavin and his men. With a well-placed distraction, they were able to escape while Ezekiel kept the Saviors at bay, locking them and himself within the walls. While Gavin mulled over his next course of action, Morgan is seen just beyond the walls doing the same.

What is left up in the air:

The last glimpse we get of Ezekiel, he is back to his trademark "and yet I smile" reaction. Obviously he is very content in knowing he has saved what is left of his people, but could he also have another plan cooking underneath his dreads? Or is that grin a defiant "kill me if you must" look, as if he is ready to be the martyr of this war?

We also need to consider what condition Morgan is in and if he is able to help Ezekiel. Last we saw him, he was keeping an eye on the Sanctuary with a group of snipers, but it is unclear what has happened to them. Did he just up and leave thinking the job was done like Daryl and Tara? Or was he able to escape some horrible attack and is now looking for revenge? With Gavin on the other side of the wall and the mention of Benjamin's death again, I have a feeling bloodlust Morgan will make an appearance really soon.

Alexandria and Kingdom Fall; Hilltop Remains

Maggie Rhee for President! #ImWithHer

What went down:

With the escape of the Saviors, they wasted no time in reestablishing their power over the three other communities. The Kingdom has been invaded to house the Saviors while repairs are made to their stronghold. Alexandria was virtually destroyed by Negan and his crew, forcing the Alexandrians to retreat to the sewers. The Hilltop survivors lucked out (sort of) and were ambushed on the road, resulting in only one casualty (insert Red-shirt here) and allowing Maggie and company to return home to their walls, farms, and POW's.

What is left up in the air:

For those familiar with the comics, this is a big foreshadowing to the comics. With both Alexandria and the Kingdom being brought down (and the lovely foreshadowing Maggie supplies), it is safe to assume they will all seek refuge in the one location they can: The Hilltop. And with everyone converging into one location, we are going to be heading into the second part of the "All Out War" saga, which involves a massive battle at the Hilltop.

But how will this battle play out in comparison to the comics? Will it be a virtual retelling of the story or will there be more surprises on the horizon? Will the captured Saviors play a role in the looming battle? And will we lose any more of our bigger characters?

Biggest Surprise: Carl

And queue the sad Paul Walker song....

What went down:

I think the GIF speaks volumes of what happened. We don't get to see the actual bite occur, but you can guess when it could (and probably did) happen. In episode six, "The King, The Widow, and Rick," Carl is pinned down by two walkers and while wrestling with one, you can clearly see the second tilt its head towards the area in question (similar to Deanna's bite in season six).

Even for the sharpest eagle-eyed viewer, this one came as a big shock! Every scene Carl was part of dropped subtle hints that something was not right: writing a note to his dad, the lingering stare at Enid's JSS note, offering to be killed by Negan because "[his death] is going to happen anyway," just to name a few. Now with the big reveal that he has, in fact, been bit, the clock is ticking on the one-eyed wonder teen.

What is left up in the air:

As Scott Gimple said on Talking Dead following the finale, the bite will play out like how all bites normally do. But seeing as this is Carl, a season one original cast member, a decent portion of the premiere episode will most likely be devoted to him saying goodbye. Sure we will have some conversations about "what should we do now?" or "when can we kill Negan?" But the way I see it, if Tyreese gets an entire fever dream episode when he was bit, Carl would get just as big of a send off. Should be interesting to see what his final thoughts will be. Will he use this time to appeal to his fellow survivor's better nature? Or will he spend it cursing the fact he is dying and he wants to just survive somehow?

What other stories need closure?

Like I said in the beginning, there is A LOT to process from this last episode. I scraped the surface of what has and could still happen this season. We still have so many unanswered questions that need to be resolved. What happened to Jerry after the Hilltop caravan drove away? Where will the Scavengers (a.k.a. Jadis and the Heapsters) stand after yet another blunder from Rick? How will the Saviors react to Maggie's coffin message? Where has Heath been for the past season?!

February cannot come any sooner.

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About the Creator

Joby Bongco

Martial arts instructor, walker stalker, movie lover, Disney fanatic, pop culture junkie, MMA enthusiast and all around nerd

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