Some prisoners stage an escape, Gabriel takes a confession of sorts and Outpost 22 is revealed.

Lots to do here so let’s jump right in. First off Maggie, Rosita and Gabriel staging their escape is nicely handled and does a good job of showing the difference between the Commonwealth and the Alexandrians. The show’s leads are dangerous, opportunistic scavenger soldiers who care desperately about each other and almost nothing else. We get that in bucketloads in the first scenes as Maggie escapes with ruthless competency and almost dies because she can’t bring herself to end a Walker who used to be a child. Lauren Cohan has always been one of the best elements of this show and this week we’re reminded of just why. She, along with Seth Gilliam and Christian Serratos carries a good chunk of the episode and does all of it with the exhausted, terrified competency the show has always excelled at. Serratos and Gilliam get their moments later as Gabriel extracts a confession of sorts from a dying trooper and Rosita impersonates another just long enough to get the information they need. Serratos is the performer you remember this episode, Rosita’s voice cracking with grief and rage as she gets the information they need and the last thing we expected:

Outpost 22, where the prisoners are being delivered, is Alexandria. The Commonwealth is so arrogant they’re imprisoning their worst enemies at home.

Even with that knowledge, this episode feels like a war between an elephant and a gnat. Daryl’s fear of the incoming train is visceral and real; before they know where the train is going it represents a black hole their families are about to fall into. The ambush that wins them what they need is a tense little exchange too, one that manages to feel dangerous even though we know which of these characters live for sure.

The prisoners also get some excellent dramatic material. There’s an exchange between Negan and Ezekiel that absolutely hums with rage, desperation and power and is, amazingly, the first time the two men have talked. Even more amazing is the fact that Negan… kind of… has more personal growth than Ezekiel. The latter is still understandably locked into the worldview of seeing Negan as a monstrous foe. Negan, five years in a cell, multiple years out of it and with a wife and child on the way, is all too aware of what he is. He’s also all too aware that he may have to die to make up for it and the fact we know he doesn’t and the scene still lands is testament to both men’s skill.

Verdict: This really is setting the stage for the end, and it’s impressive stuff. The last battle is coming and the Alexandrians are far better prepared than their opponents think. It still might not be enough. 8/10

Alasdair Stuart