Thirty days after Alexandra enters the Commonwealth, it’s Halloween. The Alexandrians struggle to adapt to their various new roles but they all soon learn that the Commonwealth isn’t a fair state, it’s just a large one

This is a pretty major gear shift for the show and not just because it’s functionally a comedy episode. The Alexandrians really are all in the Commonwealth now, at least, notionally, until Alexandria is repaired. But the nature of the group means that even though they don’t look for trouble, they know it when they see it.

The best plotline here sees Daryl and Rosita adjust to life as grunts in the Commonwealth Army. Rosita is, instantly, very good at it. She’s fast, tough, cares about people and welcomes the sense of belonging. Daryl struggles, badly, and one of the best moments sees the two of them take part in a Kill House exercise. Partnered with other recruits, and with one weapon between them, they have to make their way through a Walker infested house safely and as fast as possible. Rosita and her partner ace it. Daryl almost gets his killed and has to be saved by Mercer.

A lesser show would set up antagonism here but The Walking Dead is too smart for that. Instead, it sets up the pair of them as very similar. Mercer, it’s revealed, knows full well how the Commonwealth runs and suffers it so he can do some good from the inside. He isn’t hard on Daryl because he doesn’t like him, he’s hard on Daryl because he recognizes him. They’re similar people, in a terrible situation, and the ending of the episode speaks to that. Not only do we get an impossibly cute, and also very significant, moment where Mercer hacks the class system to get Princess inside a gala, we also get a very unexpected return. Tyler Davis, the trooper that Princess beat up to escape weeks ago has been demoted to wait staff, and when Governor Milton, the Commonwealth head arrives, takes a hostage. The ensuing panic sees Daryl track the trooper down and… hand him over to Milton’s idiot son to take the credit for the catch. And also, to keep Davis alive. It’s a wickedly smart move, one Mercer sees and recognizes, and it sets up a very different power dynamic.

It’s also not the only thing going on this episode. As well as the start of a very promising political subplot where Connie and Kelly dig into the power structures, we also get Carol’s best work in a while. Hearing that Ezekiel is both doing badly and too low on the surgery list to have a chance, Carol goes full Carol. She retrieves a case of wine for the gala from a Walker infested business and attracts Hornsby’s attention, as well as moving Ezekiel up the queue. Like so much here, it’s a small beat but a vital one.

The Alexandrians aren’t just on the board. Now, they’re playing the game too in this fun, crammed, grim, pacy episode. 10/10

Alasdair Stuart