The Walking Dead – Go Getters

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

The writers finally decided to grant us an episode showcasing Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green). After Negan destroyed their futures with Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz), how are they faring at Hilltop? Luckily for Maggie, we find her safe and sound at Hilltop with Dr. Carson (R. Keith Harris) advising her that she did not lose her baby. Unfortunately, Maggie should remain at Hilltop for the duration of her pregnancy.

Meeting up with Sasha after her appointment, both women decide to visit the graves dug for Glenn and Abraham. To mark Glenn’s grave, Maggie pulls the pocket-watch that her father Hershel (Scott Wilson) had given to Glenn and lays it in the dirt; Sasha’s only reminder of Abraham is a cigar. Their moment is first interrupted by Jesus (Tom Payne), who comes to lay flowers upon the graves in a symbolic gesture of release, followed by the ire and lack of respect from Gregory (Xander Berkeley) and his insistence that Maggie and Sasha cannot stay.

Back in Alexandria, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) prepare to go on a run to ensure that Negan continues to be satisfied with their offerings. On his way out, Michonne (Danai Gurira) shows Rick some major smooch time as a symbol of the strength of their relationship. Confronted by Carl (Chandler Riggs), Michonne admits that she needs to work through things as the situation with Negan has changed the dynamic of the group. Later, Carl finds himself in a journey of his own when Enid (Katelyn Nacon) takes off on foot to Hilltop without him. Procuring a vehicle, despite his lack of experience behind the wheel, he unintentionally catches up and joins her.

Meanwhile, Jesus and Sasha begin to discuss Gregory’s real lack of leadership in the community. Sasha asks Jesus why he’s not the leader, but instead he turns around wondering what Sasha envisions for the community. He then presents her with the necklace that Rosita (Christian Serratos) had made for Abraham when they were still together. Gregory’s cowardice and refusal to properly lead come to a head in the middle of the night when the Saviors launch a walker attack on Hilltop using music through car speakers to lure them in. Maggie, Sasha and Jesus lead the attack against the walkers, effectively snuffing out the threat as Maggie commandeers a tractor to destroy the car.

The next morning, Jesus has a verbal battle over the lack of leadership from Gregory, calling him out for his ineffectiveness in snuffing out the walker threat last night. Gregory won’t budge on his insistence of Maggie and Sasha leaving, but the conversation is quickly shelved as Simon (Steven Ogg) and the Saviors invade Hilltop to collect their bounty for Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Jesus hides Maggie and Sasha away in a closet, as the Saviors believe them to be dead.

Convening in Gregory’s residence, Simon introduces himself as the prior Saviors in charge had been dispatched by Rick’s group, better known as “go getters.” Simon is now the Negan for Hilltop and intended the walker attack to provide an example to Gregory. Baffled by how the Hilltop had managed the attack on their own, Simon tries to pry information out of Gregory as to any possible information he is withholding from Negan. At first, he intends to out Maggie and Sasha and hand them over to the Saviors, but instead hands over his liquor stash before kneeling before Simon. Jesus looks on at the exchange in disgust.

On their adventure, Carl explains to Enid about watching Glenn and Abraham’s death unfold at the hands of Negan. He watched both exchanges so that he wouldn’t forget what happened. Later, Carl finds two pairs of rollerskates for him and Enid to speed up their journey to Hilltop. Upon arrival, they hide in the forest as they watch the Saviors loading up their trucks. Enid knows that Carl didn’t mean to run into her on the road, but rather to head to Negan’s compound. She wishes she could dissuade him, but instead they share their first kiss and Enid resigns herself to the possibility that this might be goodbye for them.

Once the Saviors completely vacate Gregory’s residence, Jesus brings Maggie and Sasha out of hiding. He is angered by Gregory’s quasi-traitorous actions and challenges his leadership. Where Jesus is more calm and collected, Maggie goes straight for the jugular and punches Gregory in the face after seeing that he took Glenn’s pocket watch. She asserts herself and reminds him to correctly address her as “Maggie Rhee.” Later, Maggie asks Jesus to go on a mission to find out the location of Negan’s compound.

With the Hilltop calm, Maggie plans to put the pocket watch back at Glenn’s grave when she sees Enid and her tell-tale green balloons on Abraham’s grave. Joining Maggie and Sasha for lunch, Enid is gifted with the pocket watch and a funny story of Maggie’s high school escapades. The women come together in this moment, knowing that they have each other and that they are willing to fight together. Sasha is later seen sharpening her knife, Abraham’s cigar protruding from her mouth.

Jesus manages to land himself on one of Negan’s trucks. His first priority: grabbing one of the bottles of liquor meant for Negan and taking a swig before dumping the rest off the back of the truck. But he is not alone, as Carl makes himself known.

Join me next week for an all-new episode of The Walking Dead!