So if you're like me, you spent over half of the season 7 premier of The Walking Dead crying like a baby. The producers really went above and beyond with this episode and gave fans probably the most gut-wrenching episode yet. So get out the tissues again, because here are 7 thoughts that we all had during the season premier:
1. "Just show us already!"
As if a six month wait wasn't long enough, we were forced to wait a good twenty minutes into the episode to even find out who Negan's first victim was. Just another way to keep us on our toes, and that they did.
2. "What is he going to do with that axe?..."
If you've kept up with the comics, you know that Negan does chop off Rick's right hand during this confrontation, so of course fans begin to think that they're gonna stick with the comics this time, only to find out that Negan actually uses it to try and force Rick to chop off his own son's (Carl's) hand. The suspense was real.
3. "This can't be happening!..."
And finally, we see who Negan kills... Abraham. There had been a lot of theories that I had heard surrounding Abraham, so this one wasn't too surprising. And as if Abraham wasn't enough, Daryl goes crazy and tries to attack Negan, and then he gets furious, says that that kind of thing doesn't fly, and thus brings the death of Glenn. I personally was horror-stricken at both of these deaths. Every whack of that bat made me cringe. Especially for Glenn. After all, this is the first major character death since Season 3.
4. "Rick is officially whipped..."
The one thing fans never want to see happen. Rick is a fighter and he never lets anyone take over him or his group. But at this point, he has no choice but to surrender to the power of Negan. Hopelessness and loss are real things in this episode. The group is completely and wholly broken at this point.
5. "Not Daryl!"
So close, but so far. Just when we thought Daryl was safe, Negan captures him because he thinks he will be of "good use." This made me really uncomfortable because he could make Daryl do anything he wants, but at the same time it doesn't seem like he'll kill him because he sees him as having value. Don't give up hope yet Daryl fans, he's still alive!
6. "Why?"
The thing that really struck us all I think was the amount of hurt on everyone's face. As Negan's group leaves we can truly see how the group is so broken, especially Maggie and Rosita, yet they're still trying to be positive and help each other. They refuse to let Maggie go to the Hilltop on her own and Rick refuses to let her pick up Glenn by herself because, as Rick puts it, "he's our family too." When it comes down to it, nothing can actually tear the group and their love for one another apart.
7. "Where in the world is the season going to take us?"
I think anyone would say that this episode was the most truly gut-wrenching episode of them all. At this point there are so many broken pieces that have to be picked up and put back together. This season will truly test the groups strength and endurance like never before and with Daryl gone, the group has lost one of It's best fighters. What will happen next? How are these relations with Negan going to work? We really have no way to tell. One thing is for sure though; there will never be a dull moment this entire season.
I think this episode is going to take a lot of us a lot of time to get over. Glenn and Abraham will be truly missed. But I am so proud to be a fan of this show, and I know that this season will be unforgettable. Look out Negan, because even though you have numbers and power, "remember what can still happen."