Rick leads the Army into a trap. Negan leads his men into another. The war ends.

It’s been a rough ride hasn’t it? These last eight episodes especially have felt like exactly what they are: a show in transition, aware of the changes it needs to make but not quite able to make them. The fact that Jesus suddenly pops up for the first time for about a month tonight shows you just how badly the show has handled a lot of its cast this year. Worse still is poor Aaron, reduced to hunger striking his way through the forests around Oceanside and about two minutes of screen time across the last two episodes. Remember when the show killed his boyfriend? Remember how that terrible tropey idea looked like it might at least give him something to do? Good times.

But I’m being needlessly mopey (aside from how angry Kill Your Gays always makes me). Wrath does a lot of things extremely right and does so in a manner that suggests the season and a half long slump the show has trudged through may, at long last, be over.

First off, the war is over and Negan is heading for that cell from the comics. Of course he won’t have Carl to talk to but this is Negan at his most interesting and the simple fact he’s alive, and de-powered, bodes well for the next few seasons. The Saviors have stuck around far too long, been far too one note and, at last, this is a chance to do something different with them.

Then there’s the parade of character moments we get here, all of which are great. Daryl sparing Dwight is heart-breaking, as is Dwight finding the note. Tara and Alden (Nice Savior has a name!) get some great scenes as do Alden and Maggie in a manner that suggests ‘The Widow’ may be moving on next season.

Best of all though are the grace notes. The little exchange between Jerry and Ezekiel at the start is adorable and tells you everything about their friendship. Carol smiling as they ride home is a moment that’s been seasons in the making. Best of all, Jesus’ compassionate, gentle assistance of Morgan is exactly what he should have been doing on camera for weeks now.

Even Rick, who honours his dead son’s wishes by cutting a man’s throat this week, is redeemed somewhat. Honestly I’m pretty burnt on Mr Grimes at this point and have severe doubts it will stick but we live in hope. Andrew Lincoln is good as ever and he’s given something to work with this week that suggests a different Rick next season. God knows we need one.

But the most interesting moment is saved for the very end: Maggie, Jesus and Daryl, in a secret meeting, all agreeing that Rick was wrong to let Negan live and they will show him that. Lauren Cohan, who is amazing this season, is electric here and there’s been a lot of speculation that these three will be the bad guys next season. I doubt that, but I do know there’s a lot of drama to be gleaned from a fracturing of the original group. As well as that colossal herd and the new friends Maggie made a few weeks ago…

Verdict: All in all, Wrath is a better ending than the lumpen early episodes of this half season led us to believe we were getting. Heartfelt, compassionate and mostly earned it sets up a very different status quo for next year. One that, under new showrunner Angela Kang, the series desperately needs. The world of the show is changing and now, at last, so is the show. 8/10

Alasdair Stuart