As big a gamble as it was to steal TNT from the Saviors, our heroes had to - they were gonna need it. were headed home listening over the walkie-talkie to Negan’s “eulogy” for Fat Joey (whose demise had tragically made Skinny Joey pointless) when they came upon not just a roadblock of cars but also a steel cable lined with explosives. ‘WE’RE THE ONES WHO’LL LIVE’ | Rick & Co. And besides, if he remained in the Kingdom, he could talk to Ezekiel - “or stare him into submission, whatever it takes.” That doesn’t make us friends.” (Snap.) Before reluctantly parting with Daryl, Rick reminded him that hiding out was the smart play.
“What the hell you telling me for?” Rosita shot back. On the group’s way out, Sasha told Rosita that she’d predicted Ezekiel would say no.
He did at least offer Daryl sanctuary, since the Saviors never set foot within the community’s walls. Unfortunately for Rick, the king - remembering the high price that was paid for the Kingdom - refused to take the risk. That evening, Benjamin told Ezekiel that that was the same reason the Kingdom should join forces with Alexandria. The reason? There aren’t many people left, so they should help each other. Maybe if they just captured Negan? Undecided - but let’s be real, decided - Ezekiel promised to “deliver my decree in the morn.” Later that afternoon, Benjamin - stealthy as a falling tree - ran into Carol in the woods and offered her some of the spare food and water that he always carried in case he met anyone. ‘IF YOU’RE ASKED TO BE THE HERO, BE A HERO’ | Though Morgan had killed to save Carol, he crushed Rick by arguing that, if at all possible, a war with the Saviors should be avoided. (Of note: He didn’t admit that, when she’d departed, she’d resettled within walking distance.) During the Alexandrians’ subsequent audience with His Highness, Ezekiel was ticked off that Jesus had blabbed about the secret Kingdom/Saviors pact and asked Morgan what he thought about teaming up to defeat Negan. (“I had to.”) But, Morgan added, after Carol had recovered from her injuries, she’d departed once again. (“King?” Rick couldn’t help but ask.) At the Kingdom, Tara spotted Morgan, who revealed to Rick that yes, he had found Carol - and had shot a man to save her life. In the meantime, he’d take his pals to meet King Ezekiel. He’d swiped a long-distance walkie-talkie, so they could listen in and find out exactly when the jig was up. ‘LET’S CHANGE THE WORLD, YOUR MAJESTY’ | Off that little bit of good news - emphasis on the little, but hey, it was a start - Rick was anxious to get back to Alexandria before the Saviors realized that Daryl was missing and came looking for him.
(So that’s what was going on in that mysterious photo that AMC released ahead of the episode.) ‘I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR NOT BEING HERE TODAY’ | After a prologue in which Gabriel cleaned out Alexandria’s cupboards, gassed up a car and left the community in his rear-view mirror (with a secret passenger in tow), “Rock in the Road” really got underway at the Hilltop, where Gregory informed Rick not only that their previous secret agreement was “null and void” but also that “you owe me for taking in refugees.” (Never mind that those same “refugees” - Maggie and Sasha - had only recently saved the community!) In rare form - I’d have sworn he was afraid we forgot over the break what a d-bag he is - the Hilltop’s spineless leader called Rick Ricky and Maggie Margaret, and scoffed at the notion that the Saviors would be toppled by “a platoon of sorghum farmers.” However, after Gregory declared the matter “outside of my purview” and dismissed the gang, Enid revealed that she’d recruited about a dozen Hilltop denizens to join Rick’s army.