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Walking Dead s8, ep 3: 11 HUGE questions and theories

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

From Digital Spy

Short-lived reunions, the death of a major(-ish) character and a random kung-fu scuffle, 'Monsters' was a wild ride - but like always, the latest edition of The Walking Dead left us pondering a few points.

Here are our 11 biggest takeaways from season 8, episode 3 - from a possible traitor in the ranks to the fate of a little girl's breakfast.

1. What happened to Morales?

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

Clearly, Rick's former pal has been through a lot since we last saw him in 2010's 'Wildfire' - his wife, son and daughter never made it to their intended destination of Birmingham, Alabama.

"I lost my family, I lost my mind," Morales explains, insisting that the Saviours... erm... saved him, when he was at his lowest.

From amiable ally to Negan's newest follower, it's quite the transformation. But then again, the Rick of season 1 and the Rick of now are also substantially different. "Soon as I saw you, I knew you'd made the same trip as me, " Morales says. "I guess we aren't the same guys we used to be."

Yes, Morales is - like the Governor, and Negan, and a few others before him - a mirror image of Rick. He's the man he could've been - or worse, perhaps the man Rick is and doesn't want to admit to being.

Who's the real monsters here? Huh? Etc etc etc.

2. Was that the most underwhelming TV comeback of all time?

After his short exchange with Rick, Morales is shot by Daryl and dies instantly. "I know who it was," Daryl growls. "Don't matter. Not one little bit."

Pity poor Juan Gabriel Pareja - he waits 7 years to return to The Walking Dead, then gets abruptly killed off after about 10 mins of screentime. So cruel it's almost comical.

3. Why do Rick, Maggie and Ezekiel get a pass?

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

Before he dies, Morales tells Rick,"We don't kill you, the widow or the king... not if we don't have to."

Rick, Maggie and Ezekiel, it seems, are "a prize" - worth more to Negan alive than dead. Does the sadistic villain want to torture his three biggest opponents? Does he simply want to make sure he gets to deliver the killer blow himself? Or does he have a larger plan in place for the trio?

Side note: if the Saviours are supposed to spare Rick, why are they all firing at him wildly? And why do they gun down Ezekiel's party at episode's end?

Which brings us to...

4. Will the good guys ever learn not to get cocky?

"We will lose not one of our ranks - not one!"

His ability to strike back against the Saviours without losing a single man is point of pride for Ezekiel throughout 'Monsters' - that is until his entire force is decimated by gunfire.

It's been a recurring theme in the past few episodes - characters thinking they're invincible, only to learn that the reverse is very much true. "I don't die!" boasted Morgan, before being shot down by Negan's soldiers.

As Rick's gang discovered to their horror at the close of season 6, pride always comes before a fall.

5. Is Ezekiel dead?

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

'Monsters' closes with a Saviour outpost opening fire on Ezekiel and his troops. They leap to protect him - willing to take a bullet (or several bullets) for their King - but will it be enough?

And what happened to Carol? Last we saw, she was heading off to sweep the compound. Could she have been captured, or worse?

6. Is Aaron going to turn psycho?

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

Having taken a bullet to the gut, Eric urges his boyfriend to return to the fight, where he's needed - which an emotional Aaron does, after much hand-wringing.

He returns once the battle is done, but it's already too late. Eric has joined the undead hordes. Aaron actor Ross Marquand had previously hinted at this twist, saying, "There's a really pivotal thing that happens in the comics, and after that, he really goes to this dark place and becomes sort of this kind of berserker-mode warrior, and that's what I want for him."

So is nice guy Aaron about to go dark? Perhaps not. 'Monsters' also offers up a different path for the character as he takes on daddy duties for baby Gracie - the infant daughter of a Saviour slaughtered by Rick.

One life ends. Another begins. It's the C-IIIIIR-CLE OF L-IIIII-FE.

7. Is Jesus going to end up ousted?

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

Morgan, Tara, and even Gregory now want to execute the captured Saviours - and Maggie takes some convincing from Jesus to lock them away at Hilltop instead.

Daryl is also particularly trigger-happy at the moment, offing first old pal Morales and later an unarmed Saviour without a second thought.

Right now, Jesus - preaching peace and forgiveness like his namesake - is in a party of one. How long will the anti-Negan task force tolerate his totally unfashionable qualities of compassion and mercy?

8. What the hell is going on with Morgan?

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

Morgan was already unhappy at having to drag the captured Saviours all the way back to Hilltop, but when they make a break for it - all rather comically tied together, like that one Charlie's Angels episode - it's the final straw.

Morgan gives chase through the woods, kills one of the Saviours and Jesus has to step in to stop him from slaughtering more.

Jesus is right that killing people is wrong. But Morgan is right that the Saviours will never change. Whose way is better? There's only one way to find out...

Yes, Jesus's kung-fu skills are pitted against Morgan's pointy stick, in a bout that teaches us a couple of things. 1) Jesus has apparently rediscovered his physical prowess after allowing himself to be taken hostage last week, and 2) Morgan is now totally nutso.

After his bout with Jesus, Morgan appears to come to his senses, almost as if he'd been sleep-walking. Well, sleep-fighting. Where is this all heading? We're guessing nowhere good.

9. Is Dwight still working for Negan?

Photo credit: Gene Page / AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page / AMC

"I did zero harm to your cause," Gregory tells Maggie while trying to beg his way back into Hilltop. "Negan already knew everything."

Is Gregory just lying to cover himself, or did Negan really know that Rick and company were coming? Perhaps Dwight, who's now apparently working for the good guys and feeding them info from the inside, is actually a double-double agent?

(Though, if Negan did know about the planned assault, he didn't appear all that prepared - was ending up trapped in a trailer with Gabriel, besieged by zombies, part of his masterplan?)

10. Seriously, where are Negan and Gabriel?

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC

If Gabriel hadn't already defecated out of pure fear, he's likely done it by now anyways - he and Negan must've been locked in that trailer for hours.

It's a little odd that their fate isn't resolved even after the battle is over. Why isn't tracking Negan down Rick's first priority?

11. Did Gregory eat that little girl's pancakes?

"I did NOT eat those pancakes!" - Gregory's a slippery snake and we don't buy it for a second.


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