WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
If you are like me and 17.03 million other people, you watched the season 7 premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead.
The season seven premiere of The Walking Dead, titled "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be", was an emotional roller coaster. The finale of season six had left fans on the edge with that one question that virtually exploded the internet.
Who did Negan kill?
For months we waited. Theories were spit out left and right with people just wanting to know if their beloved character had been the one to get hit. If you are a fan of the comic book, you already knew that Glenn would be the one to be killed. Even then, we all hoped we would be wrong.
The day came, and the question had been answered.
"And you, are, it."
Abraham. Abraham had been the one who was chosen by Negan's bat, Lucile. If you were sitting next to me as I was watching the episode, you could hear the audible gasp that left my mouth. You see, I've been a fan of actor Michael Cudlitz since the days of the ever so powerful Band of Brothers, and Abraham is and will forever be one of my favorite characters on the show. However...
"Suck. My. Nuts."
THESE WILL FOREVER BE THE BEST LAST WORDS OF ANY CHARACTER ON THIS TV SHOW.
To you, Mr. Cudlitz, you and Abraham will forever be missed. Abraham brought a strong presence that, in my opinion, the show really needed. I'm truly upset to see it leave.
But, that has to be it right? Abraham was the one to meet the end. Negan had chosen him. We can all emotionally recover as we continue to watch the show, right?
Ha.
Wrong.
In a moment to defend the group, his family, Daryl jumps up and attempts to tackle Negan, resulting in Glenn paying the price. (If you listen closely, you can hear the screams of everyone of those 17.03 million people.)
Glenn, our beloved Glenn had to be killed, everyone's favorite pizza boy. Glenn, in my opinion, was that underdog character in the beginning that everybody could relate to. His character arch is one of my favorite character arches of all time. He's been there since day one and the show will truly never be the same without him.
"Maggie, I will find you."
Those last words. Just when you're already sitting on your couch crying, AMC finds a way to make it worse. Glenn and Maggie have been a big constant throughout the show since Maggie's appearance in the second episode of season 2, and I'm curious on where the show is going to take her after the death of Glenn. She's already lost her father, her sister, and has had to deal with the loss of members of the group. With the death of her husband and the future of her unborn child in jeopardy, Maggie has to be broken.
Steven Yeun, we will miss you. It really does suck to see you leave. Thank you for giving us your performance as Glenn.
I can't forget to mention Andrew Lincoln, now can I? Put this man on a damn pedestal and let us respect his acting abilities. His performance in the season premiere was absolutely perfect. Perfect. You can see the raw emotion pouring out of him as he delivers Rick. Negan says in the episode that he wants Rick to look at him a certain way before he can believe that Rick will work for him, and you can distinctively see the headstrong, powerful, and confident Rick Grimes fall apart right in front of your eyes.
(Don't even get me started on the look on Rick/Andrew's face when he thinks he has to cut his own son's arm off.)
Andrew Lincoln is a phenomenal actor, and he really got a chance to show it in the episode. His performance truly is fantastic.
However, throughout the heartbreak of the season premiere, there is one aspect that I'm really excited about.
Negan
As a well invested member of The Supernatural Family, as well as a fan of The Good Wife, I have been a fan of Jeffery Dean Morgan for YEARS. I was ecstatic when I had first heard of the casting, and I couldn't be happier with the man's performance as this diabolical character.
With an appearance in only two episodes so far, Negan is already the biggest, baddest, and the best villain TWD has ever had. Mr. Morgan, who I have learned from fans is one of the nicest men you'll meet, is doing a scary good job bringing this comic book character to life. Props to him, seriously.
I have high hopes for season seven of The Walking Dead, high hopes indeed. Will Rick give up control of Alexandria completely? Is the group going to just let him? How's Carl going to handle the emotional destruction of his father? What about Maggie and Sasha? How are they going to handle loosing their significant other? (Especially since Sasha and Abraham's relationship had just started). What's Negan's reaction going to be when he discovers Judith? Will the show follow the direction of the comics?
Well, I guess we'll find out.