'The Walking Dead' Recap: 'The Cell'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Something incredibly fascinating is starting to happen on The Walking Dead this season, in addition to it clearly being the darkest year on record for the show; we get to slowly but surely see the world put it self back together and we are starting to find out what life is like in communities outside of the Alexandria Safe Zone.

Last week, we were privy to the happy go lucky fantasy world of The Kingdom, where if you're in need of a smile a gum drop should brighten your day and everything is absolutely hunky dory. But last night it was time to take a look at a contrasting world, one where people survive, are fed and have shelter and safety surrounding them...but they remain miserable. This my friends is Negan's world, a dreary place known as The Sanctuary where the baseball bat toting despot has built his own kingdom where only one thing matters...fear. 

Truly, 'The Cell' taught us everything we ever wanted to know about what it's like under Negan's rule, but we will get to those specifics in a moment, because in addition to showing us life with the bad guy, this episode also answered the only question remaining on our minds after that brutal season premiere...what the heck happened to Daryl after they dragged him off? Well the answer to that came quickly, the Saviors are doing anything and everything they can to break the man. For some time now his day and life consists of sitting in his cell naked, listening to awful campy pop music while being fed dog food sandwiches for his daily meals.  

It's a dreary existence, one designed to make Daryl yearn for creature comforts...at a price. Because Daryl was given a choice and essentially if he ever wants to live a normal life again, he has to surrender his soul to Negan, and become the man in a philosophical sense. In return for doing so he would receive a tiny apartment, complete with a cushy bed and anything he could want if he accepts the role of Negan's enforcer. Or...if he can't handle that, he can live amongst the 'common folk' doing dangerous jobs and working for points, or return to his cell, to enjoy that 'fine' music' and 'fine' food for the rest of his days. The decision was a difficult one to say the least, and one we will circle back to in a moment...but his final choice mattered plenty and tied in to something special that is clearly beginning to brew at the Sanctuary...

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Because what we learned last night is what Negan is truly all about. It's not enough for him to just rule over a network of communities that feed their leather clad King by way of fear and suffering, Negan expects every last person under his thumb to be completely and utterly shattered. They are to endure the worst psychological and physical torture available to shatter every ounce of their spirit. He is building a world of servants and slaves, that act exactly as he sees fit and well...it makes him the most terrifying villain we have seen on the show to date.

He is filled with desire to mold humans into whatever image or subservience he sees fit and it means he is rebuilding the world into his own twisted vision community by community and well, what made this sneak peek into the Sanctuary so fascinating is that it is...so bleak. At one point Negan tells Daryl that he could 'live like a King' but it's clear that no one is living that life outside of him. These people are still forced to steal from one another, fight to survive in a place that is supposed to provide comfort and all they do is try their best to make it to tomorrow and well, while that should bring about a sense of revolution for a better life...the true method to Negan's madness is the power of fear. Because he has figured out one important thing about people...while they will come to a breaking point where they believe that death is a release so that men like Negan no longer have power over them...he and his lieutenants vow to go after those they love after their death, harming them to no end so that a sacrifice becomes meaningless...and a catalyst for more pain and suffering and no one will allow that horror to come to those they love.

It is that particular power that drove Dwight back to him, and allowed him to surrender his own wife to become Negan's. To endure physical torture all in the name of saving another life and it's what makes Daryl's decision so incredibly important. Because in the end, he told Negan no to a life of 'comfort' and was returned to his cell, and well...that decision matters simply because he did the impossible. He gave Negan the answer he and Lucille hate to hear and Daryl can get away with that because in his eyes...he has nothing left to lose. But his decision is also a dangerous one, because it will likely inspire. Others will hear about the man who told Negan to shove it and wonder...if he can do it, why can't I, and judging from the man that Dwight was asked to hunt down last night...insurrection is quietly brewing amongst Negan's people and there are others looking for inspiration and direction to rise up against him.

Either way, for being an episode that was light on action and adventure, this is one that glued me to my seat for so many reasons. For starters, the Sanctuary is just an intriguing place to be, it's so strange to see such a clean and sterile place be filled with such sadness and despair. It's a stark contrast to every other community we've been introduced to thus far and a welcome change of pace to see that the worst parts of the world survived the apocalypse as well. In addition to that, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is simply brilliant as Negan. He steals every scene he is in and Jeffrey's acting is absolutely incredible here because it's amazing to watch Negan go from logical and calm to outright psychopath in a matter of seconds. In the end, I have to admit I am thoroughly impressed with season seven thus far, these three episodes have been unique and fascinating and I'm glad we are returning to Alexandria next week to see Rick and Negan interact once again and to see what life is like in this proud little town after Negan has spread his special brand of fear. Until then. 

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