'The Walking Dead' Recap: 'Go Getters'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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

When it comes to losing someone that we love, we all need proper time to grieve. We have to have those precious moments where we remember the joy they brought into our lives, and we have to take some time to purge the pain from our soul as well in order to heal and move on without that person at our side. But sometimes, that task is easier said than done...especially when it comes to the world of The Walking Dead. 

Because when you think about it, after that horrific moment when Negan unleashed his fury with Lucille, the audience found time to process the pain and anguish that came with that moment, but our characters have not. They have to push forward, keep going with the pain hanging over their shoulders and last night's episode, 'Go Getters', finally allowed for us to see what kind of problems are arising for the characters by being robbed of their opportunity to grieve. But it wasn't all gloom and doom and struggle, there were some moments of levity and healing in this episode as well, but before we get into that...let's talk about the conflicts that came about from not being able to properly heal.

Because back in Alexandria, the fear of Negan and of losing others is starting to drive a wedge between Rick, Michonne and even his son Carl. Our once fearless leader has made pleasing Negan his new life goal, forcing him to make the decision to head out on the road to gather supplies by any means necessary for the next pickup from the Saviors and Michonne refuses to join him in the hopes of trying to figure out how to reach Rick and make him see that this will only get worse before it gets better and oddly enough, Rick's behavior is harkening back to darker days on the show when Carl was more or less left to his own devices, because his father wasn't there to be his father and this time...that's a dangerous thing.

That's largely in part due to the fact that within Carl's heart, he only wants one thing...revenge. He firmly believes Negan needs to pay for what he has done and he hatches quite the plan to make that happen, following Enid out into the wild after she makes the choice to go and see Maggie at Hilltop, and oddly enough, their journey to the tiny colony featured perhaps some of the best moments on the show in weeks. It was simple, it was lighthearted, it was kids being kids for a change and there was even a little burgeoning teenage romance between the two of them since they shared a precious first kiss...but alas, all of that was wiped away by the fire in Carl's heart when he enacted his plan at Hilltop, something we'll come back to in a moment. 

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Because while some used anger and fear to heal at least one person was able to take care of their pain in a more traditional manner...Maggie. As it turns out, she thankfully didn't lose the baby, and was asked by the good Doctor at Hilltop to stay there for the duration of her pregnancy for safety's sake. It was an idea she completely agreed with. Obviously for the health of the baby, but also because...Hilltop is now her late husband's final resting place and the fact that he is properly buried, allowed for the healing to begin. 

But of course, this is The Walking Dead and nothing ever quite comes that easy and well...the peace that Maggie was beginning to find internally was rudely interrupted by the always inept and annoying Gregory who feared that if she and Sasha stayed at Hilltop, they would jeopardize everything so he asked them to leave. But before they could pack up and roll, the Saviors sent a message to Gregory and the residents of Hilltop. letting the dead into the compound, forcing Maggie and company to repel them before coming in outright to remind Gregory who is in charge around here and of course...taking their usual half.  

That darkness led to a magnificent moment where Maggie finally slugged the cowardly Gregory for not only stealing Glenn's watch, but for not having a back bone in the slightest, and it's clear that Maggie's strength this episode came from her time with Glenn. Everything she did last night was to help people, to make their lives better and keep them safe and by adopting her late husband's mantra, she somehow found the peace she so desperately needed and was able to heal at last. But alas, she was the only one to find closure since the desire for vendetta burned bright in Sasha's heart as well and she made a special request of Jesus...to find out where Negan lives. It's a request he was happy to oblige and after hopping into the back of a truck headed for the Saviors' compound he ran into a surprise traveling buddy in Carl Grimes...who hitched a ride as well to exact his own special brand of revenge on the man who asked his father to slice his arm off...

Either way, what an awesome episode this turned out to be. In many ways it felt as though this episode was going to serve as filler, giving us a moment to catch our breath before another intense story came along but instead...this tale turned out to be a powerful character study for Maggie. Her journey this episode was simply beautiful and truly, it was amazing to see her become a leader and drive the people of Hilltop to do more than stand idly by for a change and it's clear that Jesus is hoping she will eventually take over the reins of this tiny community from the weasel that is Gregory. But more importantly, once more the seeds of insurrection were planted, this time at Hilltop. Minute by minute, day by day, people are having quite enough of Negan and the Saviors and it is only matter of time now...before people begin to rise up, and we can only hope that Rick Grimes will be among them when they decide to stand up to Negan's madness. Until next time.

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