Season 10 (TV Series)

**Season 10** of AMC's *The Walking Dead* consists of sixteen episodes. On January 12, 2022, AMC announced the show was renewed for a tenth season.[1] It premiered on October 6, 2023. Angela Kang continued as showrunner for the second consecutive season.

This season adapts material from Issue #145 onward of the Comic Series.

## Plot

### "Lines We Cross"

At Oceanside, the Coalition trains to fight in case the Whisperers return. They are alerted when R.J. discovers a Whisperer mask, and radios Alexandria. While Michonne tells them to simply stay on alert, Aaron decides to go on lock-down after Negan advises him to do so.

Meanwhile, Michonne and Aaron lead a scouting mission and debate on how to best proceed, when they discover more evidence of Whisperer activity. Back on the beach, reece and Henry welcome Carol and Ezekiel from months on at the sea and the four have a heart-to-heart conversation. When a Soviet satellite crash-lands in the nearby woods, the survivors are forced to cross into Whisperer territory in order to put out the fire. Later, reece and Henry investigate the location of the Whisperers' herd. While the herd is now gone, Alpha emerges from the trees and stares down reece.

### "We Are the End of the World"

In a flashback to 7 years ago, an injured woman wakes up in a crashed car as several walkers start approaching her. She tries to escape but is surrounded and devoured. Among the herd, Alpha walks with a younger Lydia, covered in blood to blend in. When a walker bumps into Lydia, she drops her ear muffs and screams. They are forced to run and seek shelter inside an abandoned hospital, where they find a man wearing a ski mask.

In the present, Alpha and Beta talk about their enemies and the fear they possess on them. He says they should return so they won't forget about them, but Alpha questions his loyalty towards her decisions. Beta says he would never question her and is sent to collect walkers for their herd with the help of two sisters.

Back in the past, Alpha explains to the masked man that she and her daughter don't mean harm. He allows them to stay for the night. In the present, Beta lures walkers from a gallery. As he and the sisters lead the herd, Frances looks at the sun and starts acting odd. Her sister declares that she needs to focus, claiming she should have left her behind.

In the past, Alpha cleans Lydia in a bathtub. Lydia is scared by the sound of walkers but Alpha insists she just listens to it. They look through supplies and eat. The masked man explains to Alpha that he doesn't want to hear her singing and that the sound of the dead is the only sound he never wants to end.

In the present, Frances starts crying in the middle of a herd and causes some walkers to try to attack her. Beta kills them and says she will pay for this. At their camp, Beta throws Frances to the ground and orders a Whisperer to kill her. As she starts screaming that her son is in a better place, Alpha demands they leave her alone. Beta follows her and says she needs to punish Frances. Alpha angrily tells him to not question her and claims he would never understand what it feels to lose a child. She then orders him to send Frances to a tent where she will be waiting.

In the past, Lydia tells Alpha that she wants to be like her. Alpha is thrilled by this but tells her to stop calling her mama. Back in the present, Alpha meets with Frances in a tent. She orders her to remove her mask and kneel. Alpha grabs Frances' head and prompts a scream heard throughout the camp, but ultimately pardons her. As Frances goes to talk to her sister, another Whisperer questions whether they should go back to the other communities.

In the past, Alpha walks around the hallways of the hospital and encounters some walkers. She starts killing them and is joined by the masked man. Afterward, he helps Alpha open the walkers' carcasses so she can use the blood later on. She jokingly decides to call him "B" and claims that makes her the "A". When she tries to see his face under the mask, he demands she leave at sunrise and not come back. In the present, Frances tells her sister about Alpha showing mercy and how it felt to talk with her. Frances' sister says she should forget about her son like how Alpha sacrificed her daughter for the pack. She also hopes Frances starts behaving better.

The next day, Alpha leads a group of Whisperers to a field to gather more walkers. Suddenly, the satellite crashes through the sky and the herd starts to scatter. Frances witnesses a walker with a strapped baby carrier and starts having flashbacks to when she abandoned her son. She runs towards Alpha and jumps on her causing the herd to get riled up. The herd closes in and Frances is pulled off Alpha by her sister and thrown to the middle of the herd to be devoured.

Back at their camp, Alpha questions Frances' sister on whether or not she regrets letting her sister die. She confesses she will always be loyal to Alpha. Beta approaches and questions Alpha about why she is calm after losing three of their people and their herd. Alpha, however, claims she is proud of the woman. That night, Alpha anoints the woman a "Gamma" and the group praises her. Beta watches with jealousy from behind. The next day, Gamma questions Beta's feelings about her. They both claim to be empty as Alpha wants. Beta then heads off to look for Alpha at their old camp.

In the past, Lydia wanders around the hospital on her own. Alpha wakes up and looks for her. She enters a room and finds photos of Beta with his face scratched out of all of them. Beta finds her and is mad that she wandered there. She then kills a walker wearing a smiley face t-shirt after it comes out another room. Beta loses it and starts wrecking the place. Lydia arrives and ultimately stops him from killing Alpha. He kneels by his friend's side as Alpha approaches him and declares "We are the end of the world." She lifts his mask to look at his face and chuckles, seemingly recognizing him. Beta doesn't want to leave his friend behind and she declares he won't have to, giving him a knife. Beta then proceeds to peel his friend's face off.

In the present, Beta discovers Alpha has made a shrine to Lydia and lied about killing her. Alpha breaks down and says she couldn't kill her daughter. She then destroys the shrine and pleads with him to keep Lydia's life a secret. He promises he will and informs her that the enemy has crossed the border. Alpha smiles and says they will return to teach them a lesson. Later, the Whisperers move around the woods with their herd as Alpha notices something in the distance. She wanders off and looks at reece watching her from a distant cliff.

### "Ghosts"

Over the next 49 hours, the Alexandria residents face against waves of walkers pouring onto the community gates. The group is exhausted but they manage to kill all the walkers. After prevailing from the exhausting battle, Michonne checks on her children even though Judith reminds her it's not safe to go to sleep. She gets a call on her radio and discovers that a new herd of walkers is approaching from multiple directions.

In the morning, the residents clean up the community from the corpses while Eugene warns that it will be an hour until the next wave hits. Michonne is tired and Carol feels her frustration. Suddenly, Gamma arrives at the gate to tell them to go to the north border, lay down their weapons, and wait. Michonne asks her to call off her walkers but she swears they're not theirs. She instructs them again to go wait for Alpha at the border.

At an emergency council meeting, Lydia backs up the claim that her mother isn't behind the attacks because she would've sent the whole herd. Margo speaks for the Highwaymen and demands justice, while Gage wants to put the Whisperer's heads on spikes. Siddiq has a panic attack and exits. reece reaffirms he saw tens of thousands of walkers in Alpha's herd. Michonne tells everyone instead of retaliating, she and a small group will meet with Alpha at the border to work things out.

Michonne then divides a plan: Scott will lead a group against the northern wave, Aaron will handle the southern wave, and she will take a group to the border. While Aaron screws a mace onto his arm, Michonne decides Negan's going to fight alongside him due to a lack of soldiers at the moment. Meanwhile, reece hides a revolver in his pants. Carol readies herself to leave and talks to Zeke saying they will be alright, he says he hopes so. She takes some pills before heading with the rest to the border. In the woods, Negan and Aaron kill some walkers. When Negan finds a crowbar, Aaron demands him to put it down. Negan says he's not the guy he thinks he is but Aaron makes him continue to use the broomstick to kill the incoming walkers.

Back in Alexandria that night, Eugene and Rosita fend off a small herd of walkers at the gates. He claims he can keep killing them despite her suggestion that he could go back inside and rest for the rest of the night. Meanwhile, reece, Michonne, Carol, Ezekiel and a few others arrive at the border and lay down their weapons. Alpha arrives with some Whisperers and reminds them to stay off her land. Michonne explains the fire would have wiped out Oceanside and they only crossed one time, but Alpha reminds her of two other times they trespassed. Alpha declares that there will be no bloodshed, and instead announces she's moving the border up as punishment. reece says they don't have to listen to her bullshit.

Carol tries to get him to leave but Alpha says not until reece lowers his eyes to her feet. Alpha tells reece he should fear her but reece says he feels nothing at all. Alpha reminds him how Tara feared her before she beheaded her, causing reece to pull out her gun and shoot. Carol manages to hit his arm so she misses as the Whisperers draw their weapons. reece charges for Alpha and begins to choke her, a Whisperer goes for him but he slices their throat, he swings for Alpha but Michonne grabs him and drags him off while Jerry and Kal hold him down. Michonne apologizes to Alpha for reece' behavior and Alpha says they'll need further punishment before signalling to Beta who throws a knife into Ezekiel's heart, he dies quickly in Carol's arms. Back in their camp, reece tells Michonne, *"Bitch has to die."* He notices Carol glaring at him. Laura tells Michonne he hasn't been the same since the border, to which Michonne agrees. Suddenly, Carol spots some Whisperers nearby and takes a shot, but misses. Michonne orders the group to capture, not kill them.

Elsewhere, Negan takes out a walker with the crowbar which prompts Aaron to demand he heads back. When Negan tries to dismiss him, Aaron pushes him to the ground. *"I did what I had to do back then,"* Negan claims about his past actions. Aaron asks why Eric had to die and Negan tells him if he doesn't protect what belongs to him then it belongs to someone else. Aaron shoots back that if he failed Eric then Negan failed his wife and she died hating him. Suddenly, Aaron gets attacked by walkers as Negan escapes. He kills them, but the blood causes his eyes to go blurry.

Meanwhile, Michonne is dubious over Carol's claims and suggests the pills she is taking is affecting her, but Carol brushes it off. The group then arrives at an abandoned school to rest. While inspecting the place, Carol finds a textbook where she hallucinates seeing herself at the head of the table with Sophia, Lizzie, Mika, Sam, and Henry sitting at the table, she suddenly breaks down worrying Henry is dead which Michonne and reece assures her has not happened. She decides to keep watch while the group sleeps. reece accompanies her and tells a story about how his dad (David Chambler) was a trucker and he once hallucinated seeing a girl on the road. He says that being awake for several hours can make someone see things, but Carol brushes him off and asks him to leave, not wanting to be around him. Suddenly, her alarm goes off and she takes her pills despite his pleas.

Back in the woods, Aaron searches for Negan but he is struggling to see. He stumbles into a cabin where Negan is patiently waiting and hiding behind him. Aaron's blurry vision causes him to bang around the cabin as walkers storm in. Negan saves him with the crowbar and tells him the flowers growing out of the walkers are called hogweed and can lead to blindness. He hands him water and tells him they'll leave in the morning.

At the school, Carol continues looking around. In a dark hallway, she hears Henry before turning around and getting stabbed by a mysterious figure. She wakes up to realize it was a dream. reece finds her and she claims to be fine. Carol insists that this isn't like the story of his trucker dad but a confused reece says he never told her anything. Her alarm goes off and she is surprised to see her pills in her pocket, thinking she had thrown them away earlier. She tells reece she wants to keep watch one more hour. As he leaves, Carol sees a Whisperer walking by the hallway and follows them.

Carol enters the gymnasium and falls into a trap that catches her upside down from the ceiling. The Whisperer leads a group of walkers towards her and she takes them out while freeing herself. After killing all the walkers, Carol cuts herself down and rises up as her alarm goes off and everyone enters the room. In Alexandria, Siddiq and Dante tend to Carol's wounds. Siddiq's vision blurs again as he struggles to grab the equipment to stitch her up. Dante tells him he’ll do it instead. Afterward, they tell reece and Michonne she's doing well, so they take her home so she can sleep.

reece sits outside with Taron and Rosita when Henry arrives with tears in his eyes. Henry tells reece he would hurt him if he wasn't holding a baby. reece with tears in his eyes apologizes saying that he wasn't thinking. Henry tells him that he will never forgive him before giving reece the finger and leaving.

At dawn, Aaron regains his vision and tells Negan he can finally see. Meanwhile, Eugene and Rosita argue about him trying to protect her. She yells that he isn't Coco's father and they will never be together. Eugene confesses he thinks their whole friendship was based on his beliefs that he could've changed her mind one day and leaves heartbroken. Outside, Siddiq sees him leave the house upset before Michonne approaches him. He claims he's just tired, so she leaves. Dante brings Siddiq a drink and explains that he was a field medic during combat in Iraq. He says he understands what he is going through since he also suffered from PTSD.

In an idyllic dream, Carol wakes up to the sound of music and finds Ezekiel, cooking in the kitchen. She then sees Henry at the kitchen table asking her where she's going. In reality, Carol wakes up and holds up her now empty pills bottle as a tear rolls from her eye. She comes downstairs to find Michonne waiting for her. She swears she saw those Whisperers, but Michonne says no one else saw them.

Michonne returns to her house to rest alongside her children. Judith is looking after R.J. as Michonne lays in bed with them. She explains that it is safe for now. Later, Carol dryly asks reece if he believes her about the Whisperers and he says he does. Back at the school, one of the Whisperers is among the corpses and wakes up reanimated.

### "Silence the Whisperers"

In Alexandria, the Grimes family dine together. Henry arrives in the room to collect food for himself and Carol since their staying with them right now, reece asks him to sit for dinner but he shoots him a dirty look before leaving. Meanwhile, Lydia walks outside the streets passing by Rosita and reece as they stroll Coco and Taron. She smiles at a shaking Siddiq from afar, but he runs back into his house upsetting her.

At Hilltop, Magna and Yumiko make love when, suddenly, a giant tree falls through the wall over the fence onto one of the trailers, injuring nine residents. As the Hilltop residents help the injured, Connie suggests the Whisperers are to blame as the others figure out where to put the injured. Yumiko orders to put them in Maggie's office, ignoring Magna's suggestions. The group then realizes that a small herd has arrived at the community and are banging outside the walls. Yumiko proceeds to lead a group outside to fight them off.

The next morning, Aaron gives the Alexandrians combat training while Gage, Margo, and Alfred taunt Lydia and angrily order her to leave. On the road, Michonne leads a convoy towards Hilltop. She advises Judith never to take enemies by their word. Judith suggests the Whisperers are probably trying to tire them out like R.J. does before he goes to sleep, impressing Michonne.

In Alexandria, Lydia visits Negan and tell him about her bullies, with Negan advising her not to react and that all she needs is Henry anyway. reece suddenly arrives and orders her to leave. *"She's just trying to fit in,"* Negan says. reece tells him that won't happen with him around her. He then catches up with Lydia to scold her for talking to him, when they notice a "Silence the Whispers" message graffitied on their house door.

At the Alexandria dining hall, Lydia sits at the table of Gage, Margo, and Alfred. She skins a squirrel in front of them to their disgust and mocks the shushing motion. Henry laughs in the distance. Later, reece tells her to not do that again but she defends herself and storms out. That night, Lydia walks around and is ambushed by her bullies. Margo blames her for putting her friends' heads on spikes but Lydia reminds them she wasn't involved and says she's one of them. They throw Lydia into the ground and start violently punching her. Suddenly, Negan arrives at her rescue and throws Margo into a wall. As he protects Lydia, a frightened Gage claims they were just trying to scare her. Brandon arrives and they realize Margo dead.

reece, Henry and the residents arrive to assess the situation. Alfred blames Negan for Margo's death but Lydia screams it wasn't his fault. reece and Henry believe her but reece orders Negan back to his cell. Siddiq starts hallucinating again and runs to the infirmary to wash his face in a bowl of cold water. At the infirmary, Dante finishes up bandaging Lydia and Henry checks on her. He tells her he's sorry this happened, and she claims that her father would've protected her. Henry hugs her and she tells him Negan saved her.

A while later, reece visits Negan at this cell to talk with him. He tells Negan people want him dead but Negan claims it was an accident and Margo was an asshole anyway for beating on a kid. reece asks why he helped her and Negan says he believes in their way of life. reece promises he'll get a chance to tell his side and leaves. As he leaves, Negan tries to be apologetic but reece shove him off.

Back at Hilltop, the group kills as many walkers as they can to protect the walls. Suddenly, Michonne, Judith, and the others arrive to join the battle. While fighting, Michonne takes notice of Judith taking out walkers by herself and smiles at the tough her daughter following her steps. In Alexandria, the council holds an emergency meeting with Gage and Alfred, who lie and say they were attacked. Scott asks why Lydia's the one in the infirmary. They claim to them how their friends got beheaded by the Whisperers and now Margo is dead.

Meanwhile, reece radios Michonne at Hilltop to update her on the situation. Michonne asks if she should come home but reece tells her to stay as long as Hilltop needs her. Michonne tells him Lydia has to be protected regardless of the outcome because she believes Alpha will be harsher with them if Lydia's gone, reminding Alexandria was chosen by Alpha to be Lydia's protector. She also asks reece to be her proxy on the council's vote regarding Negan. Before signing off, she receives an emergency call from Oceanside. While the council discusses their different opinions, reece arrives and says he believes Lydia, which ties the vote. Aaron announces he'll take the night to make his decision by tomorrow.

The following morning at Hilltop, Michonne announces in a meeting she will head to Oceanside to help out due to Whisperer activity while Eugene chooses to stay and help fix the wall. She also decides to take Judith with her after she proved herself in the battle. As Yumiko checks on Magna, she angrily claims Yumiko has to stop making the decisions for everyone and reminds her she isn't her lawyer anymore. Later that day, a group prepares their convoy to head out towards Oceanside and Luke says goodbye to his close friends as he decides to go check on Jules.

Back in Alexandria, Laura finds Negan is gone from his cell and runs to inform reece, who cannot help but feel slightly satisfied. Later, Laura and Aaron discuss Negan's escape when Lydia walks by and tells them she is responsible. reece rushes over and finds Lydia has locked herself in the cell. He says he knows she didn't do it as she didn't leave the house that night. However, Lydia chooses to stay in the cell because she feels safer. reece leaves and starts to wash off the graffiti off the walls.

### "What It Always Is"

Kelly hunts a wild boar in the woods while struggling with her hearing. She hits her target and puts the boar out of its misery when a walker approaches her. Kelly kills it as more arrive and devour the boar. She sprints away through the woods until she trips and falls down a hill injuring herself. A walker silently creeps up behind her as Kelly starts passing out.

Elsewhere, Negan washes his face in the river as Brandon pretends to hold a knife to him. He reveals he is joking and tosses Negan a canteen. Negan drinks from it and then flashes a smile. At Hilltop, Eugene has people salvaging every inch of the tree as Alden tells Yumiko they need to build up their defenses. She says this is not the time as Earl complains about their lack of retaliation against the Whisperers. Suddenly, Brianna tells Yumiko that someone stole the crate of fish from Oceanside.

Inside the Barrington house, Magna is pouting as Yumiko arrives to tell her to be better at watching the food, but she only turns up her music and ignores her. reece and Siddiq arrive at Hilltop to tell Ezekiel they couldn't find Negan. Alden approaches them coldly and asks Siddiq to help in the infirmary. The Hilltop hunting team also returns and Connie expresses concern about Kelly's whereabouts. Oscar informs her that she volunteered to stay back and she would return later. Connie looks concerned as reece listens nearby.

Back in the woods, Negan gets annoyed at Brandon as he mimics the Saviors' whistling. Brandon starts fantasizing about the Sanctuary and reveals he is mad that Rick Grimes killed his parents. He then claims he heard that Negan shot Carl Grimes. Negan gets angry and corrects him, showing respect to Carl, and saying he would never kill a kid. *"We're both Negan",* Brandon says seemingly understanding him.

They continue their journey and find a Whisperer border. Before they can investigate, a walker attacks Negan. He uses the wire around its neck to rip its head off and stomps its head. He sarcastically thanks Brandon, who reveals he was making him another Lucille and he had also snuck his leather jacket from the community. Negan smiles but asks him to put it all back in the bag because he doesn't want to be recognized.

Meanwhile, Aaron is swinging a sword around on a bridge when he hears footsteps. He hides and watches as Gamma cuts open a walker and spill its guts on the river to contaminate the water. Elsewhere, Brandon asks Negan to rate female walkers on hotness when they suddenly hear screams from inside a bus. Negan runs inside and stabs several walkers to save the woman and her son. Brandon arrives and complements Negan on his brutal walker killings, comparing him to his old self. While searching for Kelly in the woods, reece confesses to Connie, the guilt he is feeling for Ezekiel's death combined with the thought of Tara's death is almost too much for him, she comforts him explaining that he is the strongest person in the coalition, losing more than most. Suddenly, Dog finds the remains of the boar. They hear a noise behind them and find Magna.

Back at Hilltop, Yumiko is worried about the group still being out in the woods as Alden helps to make her feel better. When she leaves, Earl tells Alden the Whisperers will eventually return. Alden claims he hasn't forgotten about what they had lost.

On the bus, Amelia shares her story with Negan and Brandon. She then takes her son Milo for a walk as Brandon suggests they rob them. Negan stops him and orders him to go back to Alexandria. Brandon says he can't go back, so Negan tells him to go wherever the hell he wants, as long as he doesn't see his creepy face again. *"You're just like all the others,"* Brandon says before leaving. At the Whisperer camp, Gamma reports to Alpha that she needs another guardian. A Whisperer then demands that instead of using more walkers for slower strategies, they should release their herd on the communities. Alpha allows the group to vote but nobody agrees with the Whisperer. She suddenly cuts his leg and he collapses. When he tries to strike, she slices his arm and then hands the knife to Beta to finish the job.

Meanwhile, Negan talks with Milo who is playing with a toy airplane. He realizes Milo has never been on a plane and explains the joys of it. He also teaches him the joys of nut-tapping and promises to take him and his mom to Hilltop where they will be safe. Back in the woods, Gamma walks with the reanimated Whisperer. She starts having flashbacks to when she killed her sister and starts to stab repeatedly the Whisperer on its head. She ends up cutting herself and dropping her knife in the water. Aaron appears and throws some bandages. He introduces himself and tries to get her to do the same, but she picks up the bandage and runs off.

Elsewhere, reece, Connie, and Magna find an exhausted Kelly lying under a tree. As they give her water, Kelly insists to Magna they tell reece and Connie about the supplies they've been taking. reece is mad about them hiding the supplies and Connie suggests they lie and say they found it in the woods. Meanwhile, Negan returns with wood for a fire when he hears Brandon whistling. He investigates and discovers Brandon has killed Amelia and Milo. Brandon smiles and asks if he passed the test, believing that's what Negan wanted him to do. Enraged, Negan picks up a stone and angrily beats Brandon in the head. He then grabs his bat and leather jacket and leaves on his own.

Later that day, reece and the others return to Hilltop with Kelly. Siddiq radios Dante, who tells him Rosita caught a bug. He says he'll return to Alexandria tonight. In their room, Yumiko questions Magna about the stolen supplies. They start arguing and Magna admits she did kill the man who hurt her cousin despite Yumiko believing her to be innocent all those years. Yumiko is hurt by the revelation and asks her to sleep somewhere else.

At their camp, Gamma confesses to Alpha that Aaron gave her gauze for her wound. Alpha shushes her and instructs her to sit, before removing Gamma's mask. They discuss sacrifices and Gamma tells her that her sacrifice was much greater, in reference to Lydia. Alpha says Aaron might be useful for her plans and they might have to wear a new mask. Back at Hilltop, reece prepares to leave when Connie apologizes for involving him with Kelly and Magna's lie. He understands because they are her family. She then confesses she considers him her family too.

Meanwhile, Negan is trotting around the woods and arrives at one of the borders. He yells to get the Whisperers' attention and starts to get surrounded by a group of walkers. As he starts smashing their heads, he is suddenly thrown to the ground by Beta. *"Alright, you big ass freak, let's do this,"* Negan tells defiantly to Beta as he smiles.

### "Bonds"

reece wakes up in his room. He rinses his face, gets dressed, makes some tea, packs a bag, and heads out. Before leaving, he ponders his gun in a drawer. Henry sees reece leaving and catches up, inquiring where he is going. reece claims she wants to do another sweep looking for Negan, and Henry asks to tag along, saying they need to talk. He reluctantly accepts. While traveling, the two discuss the possibility of Negan crossing the border and joining the Whisperers. reece stops short of a clearing near the Whisperer border and pulls out a pair of binoculars. When Henry presses him for the real reason they came there, he reveals that he wants to find Alpha's horde and destroy it.

In Alexandria, Dante does a check-up on Cheryl in the infirmary and jokes with her about acting sick so that she can spend more time with him. Siddiq arrives and Dante informs him that more residents have come down with the sickness but he believes it to be nothing serious. He then tells Siddiq to take the day off with and spend it with Coco, after which he makes an inappropriate joke about checking in on Rosita. Siddiq then reminds him about boundaries.

Back in the woods, reece tells Henry that he's been tracking walker movements along the border, and that they all arrive at the area where they're currently at. He wants to observe the clearing for Whisperer activity, and see where they're taking the walkers. Henry cautions that they won't be able to follow them without starting a war, but reece claims they will only watch them and report to the Alexandria council before doing anything. Henry then asks why he lied to him about their mission earlier; reece tells him he didn't want anything to happen to him after what he did to Ezekiel, and apologizes for what happened at the border. Henry tells him that he doesn't want to blame reece but he does and that he's sorry for it. The two hug, finally making amends.

Elsewhere, Beta and the Whisperers escort a blindfolded Negan through the woods. He jokes about their lifestyle and says he wants to join them. Beta puts his knives to Negan's throat and says that he is too loud. Negan apologizes and introduces himself, before explaining he has been a prisoner of Alexandria for eight years and is willing to reveal their secrets. Beta relents and gags Negan as they continue their walk. At Hilltop, Eugene finishes improving the radio set up with parts of the fallen satellite while Nabila brings him supplies. He then tests it and is contacted by Rosita from Alexandria. They catch up and she admits to missing talking to him. Suddenly, a part of the radio malfunctions and they agree to talk later.

In the woods, reece and Henry pass the time by throwing acorns at a can. reece hits it, but Henry says he has to knock it over. reece finds a double-capped acorn and gives it to Henry, telling him it's good luck and might improve his aim. He puts in his pocket. Henry then asks how things were at Hilltop. reece confirms they were doing ok and that Jerry sends his best. The two share a meal before spotting a group of walkers roaming around in circles, quickly concluding there is a Whisperer among them.

At the Whisperer camp, Alpha and Beta argue over what to do with Negan. Alpha wants to test him, while Beta wants to kill him. Alpha notes that Beta has been questioning her rather often lately and asks if he is finally challenging her. Beta kneels in submission and vows that he will never challenge her. Alpha forgives him as Negan smiles nearby. Later, Negan mocks Beta's relationship with Alpha and jokes that he is attracted to her baldness. Back in Alexandria, Siddiq arrives at Rosita's house and finds her sick lying on the couch. He decides to take her to the infirmary despite her objections. In Hilltop, Eugene decides to radio open channels to find somebody.

Later that day, reece and Henry debate how they're going to handle Alpha's horde. He walks off to use the bathroom and Henry looks through his bag. He returns and asks if he found what he was looking for. He questions him about his gun but he insists that he didn't bring it. In the woods, Beta forces Negan to do a series of tasks, like digging graves, skinning walkers, and help hunt a boar to prove his worth. Back in Alexandria, Siddiq arrives at the infirmary to find it full of sick people and berates Dante for letting things get out of hand. He is calmed down by Rosita and rushes to prepare more herbal medication.

That night, reece and Henry approach the border to observe the herd. Back in their camp, Beta tells Negan that he has not earned the right to eat with them and throws him to the ground. Negan collects himself and sits with another Whisperer who shares some food with him. At Hilltop, Eugene keeps calling out over the radio and after a while, a woman responds. He is left speechless. In the woods, reece and Henry observe the herd from some shrubbery. When reece signals Henry to retreat, he accidentally steps on a twig and attracts the walkers to their location.

Meanwhile, Eugene asks the woman about her community, but she says she's not comfortable sharing that information yet; instead, they agree on talking about their pasts. Eugene says he grew up in Dallas, Texas while she grew up in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. He admits to having visited the town for a train fair and to have gone to an ice cream shop. She joyfully reveals to be a big fan of the shop, too. Back in the woods, Henry holds a walker, slices its guts open, and rubs its blood on his face to blend in and avoid being detected.

Back at the infirmary, Siddiq comforts a bedridden Cheryl and apologizes to Dante for his outburst earlier. He says he understands his concerns and they laugh off the incident. A while later, Siddiq holds Coco and falls asleep. He starts to dream of the harrowing night at the barn and wakes up to find himself holding Coco on the windmill, much to his confusion. Elsewhere, Beta and Negan walk among one of their herds in the woods as his final task. When Negan starts making jokes again, Beta tells him he'll never be one of them because he's too loud and egotistical. *"I'm not here for you, I'm here for Alpha,"* Negan says. Beta kills a Whisperer in response and walks away, leaving Negan to fend for himself with a pocket knife.

In the woods, Henry finds reece holding a Whisperer hostage. reece claims that he didn't have a choice as the Whisperer spotted him, and suggests interrogating him. Henry becomes skeptical of reece' intentions and asks if he planned this, but he denies the accusation. When he pulls the Whisperer up, Henry notices that his hands are zip-tied together and wonders where reece got the zip-ties since they weren't in his bag. reece claims that Henry must have missed them. They then leave towards Alexandria.

Back at Hilltop, the woman admits to Eugene that she doesn't know if they should keep talking because they could be a threat to each other. Eugene says he trusts her enough to share his full name and suggests they continue their conversations. She agrees but wants to keep them a secret between them and if she hears anyone else she will stop answering. Eugene accepts her conditions and they sign off.

The next morning, Beta returns to the camp and tells Alpha that Negan died because he was weak. Suddenly, a blood-covered Negan arrives demanding a skinsuit for himself with an extra measure because of his humongous balls. He kneels and introduces himself to Alpha. *"I'm all in, whatever you want, whatever I got, it's yours",* Negan tells her. Alpha leans down to sniff him and shushes him to signal she approves.

### "Open Your Eyes"

Siddiq wakes up after experiencing horrific flashbacks of Alpha killing his friends at the barn, while remembering the phrase "Open your eyes" being said to him. He finds Cheryl shaking from her fever, so he gives her a glass of water and covers her body with another blanket. He then checks up on Rosita and brings water to the other sick residents. While looking at his patients, he hallucinates seeing Alpha outside the window wearing her outfit from the fair. At night, Siddiq reads some medical books and takes notes until he falls asleep. He then imagines himself waking up to several hands grabbing him from under the couch and covering his mouth.

The next day, Lydia is trying to read a book in her cell when reece, Henry, Rosita and Carol arrive and signal her to get out while reece escorts the captured Whisperer inside. Outside, reece questions Lydia about their new prisoner and she reveals he is one of the Whisperers in charge of herding the walkers. Carol asks if he knows where Alpha's horde is and Lydia reckons that he does. Rosita pushes in and scolds reece for risking the safety of the community with the hostage. She then orders that the Whisperer's wounds be treated first and demands to be present during the interrogation.

At his house, Henry sets the double acorn down and takes off his shirt. He then cuddles with Lydia on the couch. On a balcony, reece and Rosita talk, reece doubts the man will betray Alpha because he is loyal, but if they show him that a place like Alexandria can survive, there's nothing Alpha can do to stop the idea from spreading among the group. Back in the cell, Siddiq and Dante arrive to tend to the Whisperer's wounds. After he is ordered by Dante not to try anything, the Whisperer tells Siddiq he remembers him from the barn and starts to taunt him. Siddiq becomes nervous so Dante suggests him to head outside. As leaves, Siddiq looks at the pointed spikes on the stairs and has a flashback to Alpha brutally decapitating D.J. in front of him.

Meanwhile, Aaron and Gamma meet on one of the borders at a bridge. She questions how his community is full of supplies like bread. He offers her some but she turns him down. Gamma then notices a drawing by Gracie in his bag and he reveals he has a daughter. She is surprised to hear that they have children in the community and explains that children hold you back. When Aaron asks about siblings, Gamma lies and tells him she's an only child. Back in Alexandria, Carol, who is interrogating the Whisperer with reece and Rosita, brings the Whisperer a tray with a sandwich and offers him any flavor he wants as well as having salted fish for lunch. When she says she just wants to talk, the Whisperer refuses so she just hands him the bread. He slowly starts to eat it before being overcome with emotion. Suddenly, he spits it all out onto Carol's face. reece slashes the man's arm with a knife as punishment, Rosita scolds him for it. Before storming out.

In the infirmary, Rosita bursts in, annoyed at reece. She sits with Siddiq and two of them reflect on them being parents in the new world. He nearly kisses her until she has a coughing fit so he gives her more water before leaving to check on his other patients. Back in the cell, Carol presses her finger in the Whisperer's wound, demanding to know where the horde is. When the Whisperer implies that he would rape her if they were out in the wild, Carol puts on her ring and punches him repeatedly in the face. *"You're all weak,"* he tells them in response. reece pulls out another knife and threatens to cut off his fingers, ears, and teeth. The Whisperer says they are lying to themselves and he wouldn't betray Alpha because she loves her people so much she sacrificed her own daughter. Carol and reece look at each other.

Carol sprints out of the cell towards their house, Henry catches her outside and when she asks where Lydia is, he asks why. She explains but he begins to beg her not to involve Lydia because she has been trough enough. *"This is the only way and you know it,"* she says in response. Meanwhile, Siddiq checks in on Cheryl again in her own bedroom. She beckons Siddiq over and they chat about how he needs to remain strong for the others. At the bridge, Aaron tells Gamma she can keep the drawing and tries to ask about her past. When she doesn't answer, he calls her out for digging for intel and thinks he should be doing the same. He then opens up about his younger brother and tries for her to the same. Before she can give in, Gamma leaves while repeating the Whisperer motto to herself.

Back in the cell, the Whisperer is shaking and talking to himself. As the group enters the cell to help him, he starts convulsing and spits up blood onto Dante's shoulder before succumbing to the poison and dying on the floor. Carol and Lydia enter the room but Henry tries to shield the view and has them leave. Siddiq then finds a jar of hemlock in the medical backpack and accuses Dante of killing him. However, Dante lies and says he was responsible for packing it. reece demands answers from both of them, enraged that their hostage is dead.

Elsewhere, Gamma weeps to herself when a walker suddenly attacks her and she manages to kill it. She is then shocked to see Alpha standing nearby waiting. Alpha questions her about Aaron and Gamma says she learned his name and that he has a daughter. Alpha wonders if she asked about her sister's child but Gamma swears she didn't. Alpha then tells her to remove her mask and proceeds to whip her arm so she can remain strong. She goes on to tell Gamma that Aaron is tempting her with lies and she shouldn't be seduced.

In the cell, Henry prevents the Whisperer from reanimating and reece asks him to help him hide the body. Outside of Alexandria, Carol rides a horse with Lydia after asking for her help in something. Meanwhile, Siddiq finds Cheryl's room empty and encounters Dante digging a grave as her covered body lays nearby. He walks away upset and then experiences more flashbacks from the pikes. Unable to stop them, Siddiq jumps into the lake. He remembers being told to open his eyes as Enid is decapitated. Rosita then jumps into the water and pulls him out.

Shortly after, Rosita questions Siddiq about what's really going on in his mind. He breaks down and explains he can't escape his memories about the night their friends were killed by the Whisperers. She assures him that he is doing everything he can but he says he feels he failed Enid and that he misses her. Rosita demands he pull through and fight it for her and Coco and everyone else. While talking about the sickness, Siddiq realizes that the water is what is making people sick. He heads to inspect the water pumps and after discovering they are broken, he starts throwing things.

That night, Gamma meets with Aaron again. She hands him back Gracie's drawing and when he reaches for it, she grabs him from behind and puts a knife to his neck to question him. Suddenly, Carol emerges from the woods with her arrow pointed as Lydia also arrives. Gamma panics to see Lydia alive and runs off into the woods. Carol tries to explain to Lydia that Alpha lied to the Whisperers about killing her but Lydia compares her to Alpha. She then says she chooses her own side and hits Carol with her staff before crossing into the border as well. Nearby, Gamma has a breakdown and cries.

Back in Alexandria, Siddiq gazes out the window in his house. Dante arrives to comfort him. He explains that everything is going to be okay because Alexandria is a special place, before declaring that Siddiq is his friend. He then starts clicking his tongue, which triggers Siddiq back to the beheadings and makes him realize that Dante was the Whisperer forcing him to watch as his friends were killed. They soon start fighting in the room as Siddiq tries to reach for a machete. Dante tackles him to the ground and puts him in a chokehold. *"I didn't want this! Not you! Not like this. Close your eyes... Close your eyes,"* Dante tells Siddiq in sorrow as he chokes him harder until he falls dead.

### "The World Before"

In a flashback, Alpha and Dante are standing at the pike border. She assures him that nothing from his past or his short time with the Whisperers matters. After commending his actions in the barn, Alpha gives him the mission to spy on Alexandria in return for a special place among the Whisperers once their enemies are destroyed. Dante follows her instructions and wanders the wilderness until he finds a group of survivors. He pretends to need help from walkers and joins them. A short time later, they arrive at Alexandria. He then spends the next four months leaving hidden notes with intel on a tree for Alpha to find and sabotaging the community by painting the "Silence the Whispers" graffiti, bending the lever of the water valve, and suffocating Cheryl to death.

In the present, Dante sits with Siddiq's dead body and thinks about what he has done. He grabs a knife to put him down but is interrupted by a knock on the door. Rosita enters with Coco and Taron to check on Siddiq. A suspicious Dante lies about his whereabouts as Siddiq starts to reanimate. When Dante reveals his knife, Rosita slowly backs away and gives Coco to Taron who hides in the bathroom. He tackles her to the ground and starts choking her as a reanimated Siddiq walks over to the children, crying in the toilet. Before he can harm them, Rosita stabs Dante but he puts her in the same chokehold he did to Siddiq, reece bursts in and kicks Dante in the head knocking him out, he then puts down Siddiq, saving his son and Siddiq's daughter. Rosita picks up Coco and cries in reece' arms as she looks at Siddiq's dead body.

The next day, Gamma meets Aaron at the border on the bridge again and asks if the baby that was left to die outside Hilltop is still alive. When she reveals he is her nephew, Aaron says he was rescued by a family and is named Adam. She offers him information in exchange for seeing Adam. Before accepting any type of deal, Aaron makes her take off her mask and to tell the truth. She obeys and reveals her real name to be Mary.

In Alexandria, Henry punches Dante in the infirmary where he is interrogated. When Carol demands to know why he killed Siddiq, Dante insists that he had no choice since it wasn't part of the plan. reece asks what his plan was and Dante confesses he was sent there to stir paranoia and force them into bad decisions. When he says he's looking forward to them arguing over what to do with him as they did with Negan, Rosita kicks him in the back and leaves as Aaron arrives.

Upon being informed about the recent events, Aaron reveals that he has been talking with a Whisperer and she has told him the location of Alpha's horde, explaining she just wants to see her nephew Adam. Despite his skepticism, reece orders him to summon a group from Hilltop to help them with the mission. Henry then reminds Carol that Lydia is still missing, but she says she can help him look for her afterwards even though she doesn't want to be found. *"Are we talking about her or we talking about you?",* Henry asks as she leaves.

On the journey towards Oceanside, Scott stops the convoy when he comes across recent prints. Michonne tells the group to stay alert and remain quiet to avoid encountering Whisperers scouts. When Judith asks Luke what he was whistling before, he explains he was whistling one of his favorite songs and writes it down for her in a book where she is documenting everything that happens to them for the future. Shortly after, Luke convinces Michonne to stop at a nearby library along the way to look for more books.

When the group heads inside, Judith finds a Russian-English dictionary she gives to Luke for Eugene to understand the satellite parts before he heads to the music section. Michonne is called over the radio by Magna as Luke is attacked by two walkers. While struggling, a man saves his life before fleeing. The group arrives after hearing his screams and Luke tells them about the man who saved him. Michonne informs him about Siddiq's death and says they should hurry.

Back in Alexandria, Aaron delivers a moving eulogy at Siddiq's funeral as the residents mourn and Rosita falls to the ground alone in sadness before reece comforts her. When the ceremony ends, Yumiko talks with Carol and says that Siddiq was one of those people he thought would live forever, she then says that she misses Ezekiel before glaring at reece in anger. She then volunteers to help her finding Alpha's horde but Carol declines saying that Hilltop need her, Yumiko insists that Magna go then. Carol thanks her.

Later that day, Rosita hears walkers banging on the walls and goes outside to kill them using brass knuckles to release her anger out. Before a walker with a helmet almost bites her, she comes to her senses as Eugene arrives to help kill it. He then offers his deepest condolences to her and wishes he could offer more, but says he is unable to at the moment because he is relocating. They say goodbye to each other and he leaves.

Meanwhile, reece is at his house rewatching Dante's interview with Michonne from he arrived where he claims he had a son. When Rosita arrives, she tells him she almost died fighting walkers recklessly and laments how vulnerable she feels because she doesn't want Coco to be left an orphan. reece says that feeling will pass and his main concern at the moment is to deal with Dante, she scolds him saying that he is irresponsible and doesn't take enough care of Taron, he apoligises saying that if the Whisperer threat isn't dealt with then there won't be a chance to raise Taron. She appears to understand but claims that maybe Dante was right about them not being as strong as they thought.

At their home, Aaron and Gracie play a game where she has to guess the capitals of each state. She wins and asks for a story as her prize. Aaron tells her he once went hiking with a man he loved in Eureka, California. They stood in ancient ruins and listened to the sound of the ocean waves which were far away and wondered what life was like for the old civilization. She asks for the villagers' whereabouts but Aaron doesn't know what happened to them.

In Oceanside, Michonne demands to Cyndie and Rachel they use a new system to vet newcomers. When the man who saved Luke is brought into the community, he begs he simply wants to get back to his family as the residents accuse him of trying to steal one of the boats. Michonne draws her sword and demands he answers her questions. Several walkers suddenly invade and the group prepares to defend the community.

In Alexandria, reece visits a prisoned Dante at the cell and asks if he even had a son like he said in his videotape interview. When Dante says it doesn't matter, reece walks into the cell and admits to being deeply saddened by the loss of Siddiq who his brother died for and because of his death Coco won't ever meet her father, knowing what it is like to lose a father, reece pulls out a knife and brutally stabs him to death. He then screams in a rage and cries into his blood-covered hands. Back at Oceanside, the man tries to escape but is slashed in the leg by Judith and falls. She calls out to her mother and Michonne proudly congratulates her. In Alexandria, Rosita carries Coco and Taron to a window and spots reece leaving the cell covered in blood.

Elsewhere, reece parks his bike in the woods as Carol and Aaron follow him. They meet up with Magna, Jerry, Connie, and Kelly for assistance in their mission. That night, the group crosses one of the borders in the woods when Carol nearly steps on a bear trap before reece stops her. He chastises her for acting recklessly and says they can't let Alpha take away their future too. They hug and then cross the border, finally having made up. Meanwhile, Henry burns Dante's body when Rosita approaches and asks where reece is, Henry tells him that he's already gone. They watch the fire, a tear rolls down Rosita's face.

In Oceanside, the man wakes up and attempts to stop Judith from reading a book he is bringing for his daughter before Michonne arrives to question him. He claims he was only looking for supplies and now wants to return home. When she asks why he saved Luke, he says that mercy is in short supply these days. She gets emotional after remembering a similar phrase said by Rick and Siddiq years before. He then reveals to live with his family on a fortified island that is hard to find and suggests they can make a deal. Shortly after, Michonne tells Judith her plan of helping the man get back to his family on a naval base in exchange for weapons to destroy Alpha's horde but says she needs to go alone. Judith understands her mother's decision and they hug.

The next morning, the group arrives at the location of the horde in a clearing only to find it's empty. Carol tells Aaron it was a waste of time and now they will go search for Lydia. As they leave, someone watches them from the bushes. At Oceanside, Michonne gives the man his backpack and tells him that the weapons will pay off his debt to Oceanside. He accepts the offer and introduces himself as Virgil. Michonne then informs the group of her mission and that she has a radio if they need her. She tells Judith that she can contact her at any time and reminds her to be good with her reece until she returns. Michonne and Virgil then sail away on a boat towards the island.

In the woods, Carol spots Alpha across a clearing and chases after her, Aaron meets eyes with reece who considers his options, Aaron tells reece it's not worth it, reece tells him not to follow him as he rushes off too. The two chase Alpha into a dark building as the rest follow far behind. When walkers cut off the rest of the group, Aaron kills them and enters last. He then falls below a cave with the rest of the group into a trap where they find themselves surrounded by most of the horde with no escape.

### "Squeeze"

reece, Carol, Aaron, Jerry, Connie, Kelly, and Magna recover from the fall in the cave where they are trapped by an enormous horde. Alpha, with a torch in her hand, looks at them from the top and Carol shouts at her in anger. Alpha leaves the cave, ordering the Whisperers to not let them escape. She drops the torch and walks away, putting her mask on.

In an effort to escape, Magna attempts to climb a wall, but fails. Aaron tells her it's too high to reach, so the group starts seeking other avenues of escape. Kelly points her flashlight on a boulder and Aaron suggests they move forward by jumping on the rocks. They make it to the other side. A walker grabs Kelly's foot and Jerry cuts its arm off, giving it to reece.

As the group moves through the cave, Kelly points out that they don't have enough food to stay there forever. Jerry assures her there has to be an exit since walkers managed to get inside. Connie asks Carol if she's fine, to which she agrees. reece notices that she has claustrophobia. Magna confronts Carol and reece about them pursuing Alpha and getting all of them trapped. Aaron responds that they don't have time for quarrels.

Back in the Whisperers' camp, Alpha informs Beta and Gamma that their enemy has crossed the border and they were heading to the National Park where the horde was located. Beta says they've underestimated them so Alpha assumes that they've sent spies beyond the border and assigns more guards, before sending Gamma to carry a message to their spy in Alexandria. Negan watches the exchange silently.

In the cave, the survivors rest and try to get together. Aaron tells reece and Carol he's tired of their reckless actions and wants them to stop seeking revenge. reece agrees and apologizes for how he's acted. However, Carol answers that she wants Alpha to suffer for all she's done, but reece reminds her that they're not fighting for vengeance, but for their future. Carol considers this then promises she won't fool them anymore. Meanwhile, Magna investigates the stone maze with a lit match and is ambushed by a Whisperer. The group engages in a fight and kills several Whisperers, before deciding to follow the ones who escaped to find the exit.

Elsewhere the next day, Negan encounters Alpha at the camp's latrine where he tells her about a possible traitor among them, and suggests that it may be Gamma. Alpha holds a knife to his crotch and tells him not to sow paranoia in the camp, warning if he’s wrong she’ll cut his balls off. She then tosses him into her bathroom ditch and leaves.

Back in the cave, Connie consoles Carol and the group starts to squeeze through narrow tunnels. Carol suffers from claustrophobic attacks, but overcomes them. Some walkers appear from the holes, forcing survivors to speed up. Jerry gets stuck in a hole and two walkers try to chew on his feet. reece tells him to remove his armor, and he successfully squeezes through. Kelly checks on his shoes and assures him he wasn't bitten. Magna spots sunlight and nearly falls into a massive hole. reece lights the walker's arm and drops it on the bed of the cave, displaying part of the horde.

At Whisperers' camp, Alpha asks Beta about Gamma's whereabouts. He notices she didn't make it to the border, so he's sent four scouts to help her in case she gets caught by the traitor. Alpha implies that Gamma is the traitor and wants Beta to track her down and bring her to the camp alive so she can kill her in front of the whole pack. In the cave, the group enters into an old mine station where they find a blockade and possible exit. Kelly finds a box of dynamite and Jerry asks her to lay it down carefully. Magna shares with Aaron her feelings about fighting with Yumiko.

Back in the Whisperers' camp, Alpha takes Negan deep in the forest. When they stop, she orders him to undress. Negan, thinking Alpha's about to kill him, admits the power he had over the Saviors turned him into a monster. Surprisingly, he turns around to find Alpha fully naked. She says he deserves a crass reward for detecting the spy. Negan's amused because she will keep her mask on and wonders if she'll decapitate him like a female praying mantis afterwards, but doesn't receive any answers. He says he'll take his chances and the two kiss.

In the cave, the group keeps digging for a way out through the mine ceiling when reece notices that both Carol and one dynamite stick are gone. He finds her all the way back, trying to climb a wall and find a good place for the stick to explode and destroy the horde. reece says she'll kill herself in the process and eventually convinces her to stop. He then tries to pull her up but the dynamite falls and explodes underneath them.

The cave begins collapsing while Jerry holds a beam to allow the others to escape. Kelly and Aaron make it to the surface and kill some Whisperers. Connie runs back to find reece and Carol, forcing Magna to follow her. They find them and help them escape but encounter more Whisperers coming from behind. Magna and Connie stay back and kill several Whisperers to protect Jerry, but he cannot hold the log anymore and leaves through the hole. The rest of the dynamite immediately explodes and the cave implodes, trapping Magna and Connie inside.

Aaron tries to excavate through the debris as Kelly falls to the ground in agony. reece tells Aaron it could take weeks to reach them as he starts to sob. Kelly states that the explosion will attract walkers and Whisperers in the vicinity and they should leave because they won't be able to help Connie and Magna if they die. Carol rants to reece, blaming herself for all their troubles and pleads him to admit that it's all her fault. He ignores her request and tells the group to head home and inform everyone they found the horde, while he'll find the other entrance to the cave.

### "Stalker"

Beta walks through a field in the forest and enters a moldy RV where two other Whisperers open a latch, revealing a deep pathway entrance to a tunnel. He jumps down, lights a lantern and starts to move forward, deeper into the cave. Meanwhile in Alexandria, Rosita wakes up after having a nightmare where she freezes and is forced to watch as a Whisperer kills Coco and Taron. A moment later, she receives a call from the radio and leaves.

Over the gates, Gamma arrives and is immediately surrounded at spear-point by the guards. She removes her mask and explains that the Coalition group is trapped in a cave surrounded by Alpha's horde and that they may be still alive and needing help. Laura questions her intentions, pointing out the horde wasn't where she told Aaron it would be. Gamma argues that Alpha had moved it and insists that she wants to help, explaining that the baby left at Hilltop is her nephew and she is willing to show them the location of the cave to see him again. Laura seems to believe Gamma's story, but Rosita knocks her unconscious and orders for her to be put in a cell.

In the woods, reece secretly observes a Whisperer walking around another entrance to the cave. He prepares to attack, but retreats after Alpha walks out and starts to lead the horde. Back in Alexandria, Mary wakes up in the cell. Laura and Rosita confront her about Dante's actions, but Mary claims she wasn't involved in that. They say she has to prove she's different from the other Whisperers or be killed. When Henry insists she is hiding something and calls for a sincere confession, Mary tearfully reveals she killed her sister for Alpha, which makes Laura accept her help. Elsewhere, Henry prepares to venture out to help his mom. He sneaks out over the wall, the same way Carl and Enid once did.

Meanwhile, Alpha and some Whisperers continue to lead walkers through a river. Suddenly, a Whisperer is hit in the leg by a knife and is devoured after he screams in pain. Alpha orders her group to spread out when reece appears from behind and kills the remaining Whisperers before facing Alpha. They engage in a brutal fight where Alpha slices his face under the eyes, worsening his vision. Daryl thrusts a tree branch in her shoulder and yells for Magna and Connie's whereabouts. The fight draws nearby walkers' attention and reece is forced to take them out while dealing with his clouded vision. Alpha grabs a knife on the floor and stabs him in the leg as they flee the scene.

In the meeting hall, Mary stands before the map and tells everything she knows about the cave and its entrances. She explains that most of Alpha's forces are situated around the cave, so the borders are defenseless. When Mary's once again taken away, Laura proposes to Nora and Scott to send two rescue teams just before Rosita again doubts the authenticity of her words. She insists Mary is telling the truth because they broke her and encourages them to capture any Whisperer and pull their teeth or take their fingers if necessary in order to get them to drop the act.

Elsewhere, a weakened Alpha stumbles into an abandoned gas station where reece is hiding and is struggling to pull out the knife from his leg. She looks for him in the workshop inside the station for a short time, but after getting exhausted takes a seat and bangs her shotgun on the wall to attract walkers in the vicinity which will protect her and attack reece. Back in Alexandria, Rosita and Laura prepare for the outing. She suggests she'd better stay at home but she refuses, adding that she is acting erratic and is itching for a fight. Laura doesn't understand her point, and Rosita claims she can feel that Coco is wondering where Siddiq is and she doesn't want her daughter to be left an orphan, and potentially her son, to be left orphans.

On the streets, Judith starts a conversation with Mary by asking her name and wondering about her life before meeting the Whisperers. Mary recalls that she was born in Santa Monica and that her parents' names were John and Alice, but fails to recover more memories, blaming Alpha for brainwashing her. Judith supposes that had Mary stumbled across Rick and Michonne first, she would have turned out better, further implying that she doesn't look like a monster. Back at the gas station, three walkers are lured inside so reece is forced to kick off a fire extinguisher and use it as a weapon. He kills two but has to rip the knife from his leg to kill the third, thus opening his wound and losing a lot of blood.

Sometime later that day, Scott is informed by echo-post about a hundred-walker herd incoming. He wants to double-check the message, but receives no response. He wonders why the Whisperers would send forces to the gates and Laura explains they try to not let them use the traitor's information. While people are being drafted for the scout team, Laura changes the plan last minute and orders for Scott to lead the mission while she and Rosita will stay back with a skeleton crew while he and others head out on the recon mission. They all agree.

That night, Beta crawls out from Cheryl's grave and unsheathes his double blades before walking stealthily through the community. He slaughters several survivors in their homes and then sits down to meditate as he waits for his victims to reanimate. On the road, Scott and his scout team find the soldiers from Echo Post murdered and realize the Whisperers forced them to give false information about the herd so they would leave Alexandria and weaken the inner defense. Back in Alexandria, all the residents killed by Beta turn into walkers and roam the streets.

While Rosita and the other soldiers deal with the undead, Beta enters the basement and opens the cell as Mary claims that Alpha lied about Alexandria. He ignores her and tells her to go with him without hesitation, ensuring her death will be painless. She moves forward and states she's not afraid of him as Laura appears from behind and threatens Beta with an axe, telling Mary to get help. Outside, Judith tells Mary to come inside her house for safety. In the cell, Laura jumps on Beta to prevent him from leaving but he overpowers her and slams her back against the cell door twice, killing her.

Beta comes out on the street and enters the Grimes' residence to investigate. He tries to enter the children's room, only to get shot in the chest by Judith. Mary tells her and R.J. to run to another room as she checks on Beta. When she tries to follow them, Beta grabs her foot and knocks her down. He then checks his bulletproof vest before Rosita draws his attention. They battle with their weapons until Beta slashes both of her arms and gets her on the ground. Before he can kill her, Mary tells him to stop or she'll kill herself, saying she knows Alpha wants her alive. Shortly after, Beta escorts Mary back to the camp when they are ambushed by the Alexandrians, forcing him to flee into the woods. She falls to her knees and tries to convince Scott she hasn't betrayed them. He hesitates but ultimately believes her.

Back at the gas station, Alpha and reece lie injured and bleeding out. She takes off her mask and starts a speech about light and darkness, stating that she's grateful for everyone who's made her strong. Daryl tells her she drove Lydia away because she didn't love her. Alpha gets angry and tries to approach him, but faints due to the exhaustion. She briefly awakes and sees Lydia standing over her. Alpha wonders if she's real and starts to sing a lullaby while placing her daughter's hands on the knife above her heart, saying she's ready to lead the Whisperers after her death. Lydia tearfully declines to kill her mother and says she blames her for not letting her live a normal life like she always wanted.

The following morning, Alpha wakes up alone and sees the words "Your way is not the only way" carved into a workbench with her knife. She stares at the inscription in frustration, before starting to laugh evilly. In Alexandria, Scott reports to Rosita that Beta infiltrated Alexandria through Cheryl's grave which connected to a tunnel system when Aaron arrives to tell them not everyone escaped from the cave. Shortly after, Rosita leaves Coco and Taron under Nora's care as she prepares to leave towards Hilltop to be checked by the doctor alongside a group. Mary also hops in the wagon to see her nephew, and she and Rosita introduce themselves and shake hands.

Elsewhere in the forest, Lydia tends to reece' wounds when he wakes up. She says she stayed with him all day long while deciding what to do. When he asks about Alpha, Lydia responds she couldn't kill her mother. He is disappointed but ultimately understands why she couldn't do it. Just then Henry finds them much to reece' pleasure and Lydia's joy. Henry and Lydia kiss and he asks her to come back with them. Back at the gas station, Alpha is surrounded and has her wounds tended to by some Whisperers. She stands up and promises to get revenge on the communities with their horde while pronouncing the Whisperers' anthem, officially declaring the war.

### "Fire in the Night Sky"

In the woods, Beta uses his knives to remove the bark from the nearby trees in order to extract sap, which is being harvested by the Whisperers. Meanwhile, Alpha hands Negan a branch and orders him to whip her arm, before she does the same to him. Later, the Whisperers march with their horde. Beta chants "We are the end of the world", and the other Whisperers follow. Alpha continues the chant by saying "We take them all", as Negan marches beside her, now equipped with his very own Whisperer mask.

At the Hilltop, Eugene is searching for a music record while Stephanie discusses comets, noting that she spotted three last night. Eugene is frustrated that he cannot find the record, so Stephanie encourages him to sing the song himself. Eugene doesn't believe himself capable of the feat. Stephanie then asks how many comets Eugene spotted, to which he replies four. Stephanie is slightly peeved that Eugene is in the lead, and warns that he "better not be counting satellites", revealing that she saw one falling recently. Eugene realizes that the satellite she observed is the same one that crashed near Oceanside at roughly the same time, leading Stephanie conclude that their groups are located relatively close to each other. Excited to learn this fact, Eugene reveals that his group is located in Virginia and proposes a face-to-face meeting, allowing Stephanie to choose the time and location. Stephanie reluctantly agrees to talk to her people, but asks Eugene not to do the same. Eugene promises to keep quiet.

While walking towards Hilltop, reece recognises the area and tells Henry and Lydia to go ahead. He finds his old camp and sits down, suddenly remembering his bag which he had hidden. He finds it as well as a photograph taken of himself, Rick, Michonne and Judith. He looks at it tearfully.

Outside, Alden and Earl are constructing defenses on the Hilltop's walls, when they spot a group of Alexandrians approaching, although neither recognize Mary. When Earl asks Aaron about this, the latter reveals Mary to be a former Whisperer that has defected, and that she wishes to see her nephew, Adam. Earl promptly shoots down this notion, not trusting Mary. Alden agrees with Earl, and assures him that they will only allow the Alexandrians to see Adam.

Rosita finds reece brooding at his former camp, and offers to comfort him, even though he claims she doesn't need to be. Back at the Hilltop, Kelly wishes to join Luke's search party in an attempt to rescue her sister, while Luke cautions her against it, as her ankle is injured. Yumiko asks Kelly about Magna's last words to her, but the latter thinks them unimportant, since she believes they will rescue their friends. Annoyed at Yumiko's questioning, Kelly asks why she is coming with them if she thinks Magna and Connie are dead. They are interrupted by Henry and Lydia's arrival. The pair reveal that Alpha is coming and reece isn't far behind.

Searching for Eugene, Judith climbs up to the attic, where she hears Stephanie on the radio attempting to contact Eugene. Puzzled by the mysterious voice, Judith answers the call and asks for Stephanie's identity as Eugene scrambles to climb down from the upper floor and stop Judith from replying. Furious that Judith made him break his promise to Stephanie, Eugene tells her to leave.

Out in the woods, Negan approaches Alpha and proposes that she gets Alexandria and Hilltop to surrender instead of destroying them, thus adding their populations to the Whisperers' ranks. Alpha asks him to elaborate. Back at the Hilltop, Yumiko instructs Felix and Penny to radio them as soon as they see the Whisperers approaching. She then joins the discussion about what should be done. Lydia thinks they should run, explaining that even if the explosion at the cave took out half the horde, Alpha would still have thousands of walkers left. Earl thinks the Whisperers might bypass them and go for Alexandria first, but Lydia negates this. Jerry wishes to stay and fight instead, while Dianne agrees with Lydia, believing that they can rebuild in another location. Earl is skeptical, however, and reckons that they will never find a place as good as Hilltop. While Yumiko points out they're heavily outnumbered, Earl insists that fighting is the best course of action, and even if they die, they will die for a place that means something. Aaron points out that there are children at Hilltop, too. Henry agrees that they should get the kids out first, and instructs the others to pack up and regroup at Oceanside.

As the children climb into the wagon, Judith expresses a desire to stay and fight, but Aaron is quick to rebuff her. He then spots reece and Rosita arriving, but doesn't go to greet them. The caravan doesn't make it far before they hit a roadblock and discover Felix and Penny (the scouts they sent earlier) dead. Aaron identifies this as one of Negan's tactics and concludes that all the other roads will be blocked, too, making a retreat impossible.

The caravan returns to the Hilltop, with Aaron informing the others of the situation. Luke suggests calling Alexandria for reinforcements, but Dianne doesn't think that neither Alexandria nor Oceanside can get to them in time. Earl is confident that Hilltop is prepared, and tries to rally everyone for the upcoming conflict.

Later on, Rosita prepares her armor, when reece knocks on her door and enters. reece tells her he is scared of what will happen today because if they both die Coco and Taron will become orphans, she hugs him tells him, "I guess we aren't allowed to die then". reece suddenly kisses her. Downstairs, Mary spots Adam and attempts to talk to him, but is intercepted by Alden, who prevents her from doing so. Despite Mary's pleas and Aaron's attempts to reason with him, Alden remains adamant about keeping Adam separate from Mary.

After having sex, reece jokes about being at least fondly remembered for something, and notes that Rosita has lost her sense of humor when the latter doesn't laugh. Rosita claims she simply left it in Alexandria. Ezekiel says that he left a part of him up at the border too, she promises him that once this is over, they'll help each other find what they lost, reece claims he'll never get back what he lost. He then asks Rosita if their encounter would have happened if they didn't think they were going to die tonight, to which Rosita jokingly says "Wait... we're gonna die tonight?". The pair share a laugh.

Outside the Hilltop, Eugene is calibrating the electric fence when he is greeted by Rosita. She informs him that she talked to Nora and that Coco is fine. Eugene asks if she told him about the horde, but she reveals that she didn't. Rosita says that she thought Eugene would be working on the radio and reveals Judith told her what happened, but he reveals that there have been no new transmissions. Rosita supposes that Eugene likes the girl on the radio, but he believes that she won't talk to him again after the earlier debacle with Jude. Rosita assures him that the girl likes him from the sounds of things, before suddenly inviting Eugene to kiss her. He leans in, but is ultimately unable to go through with it. Eugene notes how peculiar it is to want to kiss someone he has never met, while Rosita finds this endearing. She encourages him to attempt to win Stephanie back.

Back at the Hilltop, Lydia tearfully inspects the engraving Henry made for her, when he sits next to her. Henry asks if she hates reece due to his lust to kill her mom, to which the latter replies that it's hard for her to do so, since reece already seems to hate himself so much. Henry informs her of reece' vow to kill Alpha, but Lydia points out that it won't save them. Henry replies that it will make reece feel good, and asks if Lydia will hate him then. Lydia coldly states that she wont be thinking about reece at all. reece, who is listening in, chuckles and thanks her for telling the truth before leaving. Lydia observes that people don't know how to do that anymore, so they simply stay away from both of them. reece stops and mournfully says that he had a life, to which Lydia simply replies "I know and my Mom took it away from you".

Outside, Luke and Kelly are rigging the defenses when Yumiko joins them and apologizes to Kelly for being "an asshole". Kelly quickly forgives her with a hug, and is confident they will get Connie and Magna back "cause assholes get shit done". They are suddenly interrupted by dozens of rats fleeing from the bushes. Yumiko quickly realizes that the horde is coming, and orders everyone to prepare.

As everyone equips their weapons and armor, Eugene tries to get Stephanie to respond by singing "When The Wild Wind Blows" by Iron Maiden over the radio. After a while, Stephanie joins in, much to Eugene's joy. Stephanie apologizes for disappearing, explaining that she got spooked when she heard someone else respond, although Eugene claims it was his fault. Stephanie asks who the girl who responded was, and concludes that Eugene must be fond of her when the latter explains. Eugene describes Judith as "a good friend" and says that he hopes Stephanie gets to meet her some day. He goes on to say that the last few days of talking with Stephanie have been incredible. Stephanie abruptly blurts out the location of her group (Charleston, West Virginia), and sets up the location and time of their future meeting, which Eugene accepts. Right after this, Rosita comes to fetch him for the battle, and Eugene confidently follows her, stating that he has a "date". She smiles stating "go get 'em cowboy".

Downstairs, Aaron is fastening his armor when reece approaches him. reece says that he's truly sorry for the way he's been acting for the past few weeks. Aaron tells him that he felt the same way when Eric died, they hug. The two proceed to arrange for the other to get the children out in case one of them falls in battle. When Aaron leaves, reece notices Judith sitting on the sofa and wonders why she isn't with the other kids. Judith insists that she can fight. reece says that he knows she can, and apologizes for Judith seeing the bodies of Felix and Penny earlier that day. Judith dismisses them as "just walkers", which she has killed plenty of. Judith claims that she isn't scared, but when reece says that he might be, she says that she might be scared for R.J., her mom, and reece. reece assures her that there is no shame in that, since she knows what she's fighting for. Judith reveals that she brought Rick's revolver for him, reece stares at it before accepting it and thanks her for the gift, before making her promise that if Aaron comes looking for her, she goes with him, regardless of whether she knows where he is. Judith promises after some hesitation, and the two hug each other goodbye. Outside, Carol approaches Aaron and asks him to not hate her. Aaron assures her that he is never going to hate her, before taking his leave. He grabs his arm replacement and prepares for battle.

As everyone is gathered on the front lines, Kelly puts her palms on the ground and confirms that the horde is close. Indeed, the horde soon emerges from the bushes and approaches the Hilltop. While they are momentarily halted by the electric fence, the walkers soon break through it and approach the second line of defense. Aaron orders the survivors to split ranks. The shield-wielding survivors reinforce the makeshift barbed wire fence, while the melee weapon-wielding survivors start taking out the walkers. The archers, meanwhile, stay in the back and rain arrows on the herd. Behind the herd, Beta commands the Whisperers to launch the sap they collected earlier using makeshift catapults into the front lines, drenching most of the defenders as well as the Hilltop's walls. This is followed by the Whisperers launching fire-arrows into the front lines, setting one unfortunate Hilltop resident ablaze. Behind the Whisperer lines, Negan is puzzled, since he thought Alpha wanted the survivors to join them. Alpha assures Negan that they will, as part of her horde, much to his bemusement. With no choice, the defenders begin to retreat towards the Hilltop, but are trapped when the Whisperers launch another volley of fire-arrows into the Hilltop's walls, setting the community ablaze. Rosita looks around for her lover but he is no where to be seen, as the Hilltop defenders prepare to make a final stand.

### "Amid the Ruins"

* The group put up a good fight; deaths -

- Kal

- Nabilla

- Ezra

- Bertie

- Numerous Unnamed Hilltoppers

* During the fight reece sneaks behind the lines and attacks Beta slashing his back with the sword causing him to duck and roll. He then charges for Alpha who avoids him as he is still fairly slow, however he fires at her foot nipping her foot. He then swings for her but Negan blocks his sword with Lucille. reece is shocked which gives Beta enough time to recover. reece knowing his attack has failed grabs the Whisperer mask he used to sneak through and rejoins the main force.

* The group is forced to flee hilltop. Mary who tries to help Aaron with the children goes to find Judith and saves her from a walker. She then finds Lydia and convinces her to leave before the horde kills her. She attempts to follow but trips and sprains her ankle on a rock she couldn't see. She stumbles off into the woods.
* The next morning; Rosita and Aaron lead the group to Alexandria, Rosita who believes reece is dead, cries over her lost lover. Aaron attempts to console her and a pair of arms wrap around her which are revealed to be reece', she breaks down in his arms telling him she loves him and never to leave him again. He hugs her telling her he loves her too. Jerry watches with his two daughters, visibly distraught that he lost his and Nabila. Kelly hugs them and apologizes for their losses. Suddenly, reece notices that Judith is missing he pledges to find her, however, Carol steps in saying that she'll go back for her and that reece needs to stay for Rosita. reece asks her if she can do it to which she confirms, he thanks her. After he leaves, she instructs Henry to find Judith while she has something else to do.
* Mary, who has collapsed in the bushes, watches the Whisperers collect their new guardians. She sees Negan, Alpha and Beta talking, she tries to spot any survivors and sees one who is playing dead, he sees her and she waves to him to come with her. He begins to crawl but Alpha and Negan spot him. Alpha kills him while Negan spots Mary, he tells Alpha he has to check something out as he runs into the woods. Mary flees with Negan pursuing her. He eventually captures her and she begs for his life but he laughs and says he won't kill as her has other plans for her.
* Henry looks in the woods for Judith and circles back to the battlefield entering Hilltop the secret way, he finds it crawling with Whisperer guards which he takes out silently. He enters the manor which is mainly intact, he goes upstairs to Maggie's office and looks around noticing the paintings have been moved, he eventually finds Judith in the cupboard packing them into her bag. He tells her they need to go to which she agrees, as they walk down the stairs the board breaks and she slips, he catches her and begins to pull her up but a whisperer attacks him and he drops her breaking her arm. He kills the whisperer while also receiving a slash across the face. He helps Judith to her feet while they escape.
* Carol walks through the woods towards Hilltop, suddenly she hears a familiar voice. Negan stands behind her bag in hand.
* Negan returns to Alpha claiming he has a surprise for her, Gamma, he leads her into the woods to which she says he'll be getting another reward for this. He leads her to a hut where she expects Mary. Inside she finds nothing but a sack and a large hunting knife. She is confused, Negan locks the door while knocking her head off the wall, she falls to the ground while he picks up the knife, she kicks his leg and he stumbles back as she heads for the door, she realises it's locked, she turns around, finally showing terror as Negan cuts through her neck with the knife taking her head clean off her shoulders. He laughs as Mary reveals herself. "Let's go show this to the guys" Negan exclaims.
* As Judith and Henry arrive back with the slowly moving group, reece questions why he has Judith and not Carol. Henry tells him he thought his mom had other instructions. reece curses before running to go and find her. Suddenly, he sees three figures walking along the road. reece holds his sword up and everyone else draws their weapons at the sight of Negan, however, Carol explains that he was only with them because she gave him orders after releasing him, she then explains reece will want to see the bag.
* reece orders everyone but Henry, Carol, Rosita, Aaron and Negan away. He tells Lydia she can stay if she wants to see what he thinks it is. She tells him she has to. reece opens the bag and lifts out a bald head. "Holy Fuck" he says. Lydia stares at it conflicted.

### "What We Deserve"

Michonne travels with Virgil meets his family and then learns of Rick's new community, she decides to travel back to Alexandria where she leaves a note for reece, Judith and R.J. she also leaves her sword in hope that one day one of her children will take it up. She says her goodbyes before leaving in the helicopter, the same group that took Rick all those years before.

### "A Certain Doom"

The Hilltop survivors arrive at the gates of Alexandria, everyone enters apart from reece, Negan and Carol. Negan apologizes to both of them for what they lost and that he hopes this will help bring them closer to peace. reece claims that he's not there yet. He shouts to Henry and asks if he can have his staff, he throws him it. He pulls over a potted plant from the gate and slams the staff in, he then places Alpha's head on top and says now he can have peace. Carol agrees before heading inside, Negan stops reece before asking what the plan of action is. reece replies saying he doesn't have one. Negan tells him he better have one because he's not watching his son die tonight. reece asks why he tries so hard to pretend he's his father. Negan corrects him saying that no matter what, he is reece' father and he loves him. The Aegan boys need to stick together. reece scoffs, "The what boys" he asks. Negan explains his real name is Neil Aegan but that's a crappy name so he joined it to Negan, a bit like Beyonce. reece shakes his head in amusement, "ah yes, Negan, the Beyonce of the apocalypse". "Damn right" Negan replies. They head inside.

A Whisperer approaches Beta while they walk and asks where Alpha is, Beta replies that he doesn't know and he will search while they continue. After searching, he finds the hut and finds Alpha's decapitated body as well as Negan's bat. Furious, Beta charges out. He returns to the horde and Whispers, "Kill them All".

In Alexandria, everyone catches everyone else up. The council which still contains reece, attempt to come up with a plan, just then reece has the idea to lead a large portion of the horde towards Oceanside, then into the sea. Thus cutting it in half. The rest shall be taken out in Alexandria. They've done this sort of thing before he reminds them. They all discuss the plan and agree that it should work. reece divides everyone into groups. He, Rosita and Carol shall lead the horde away towards Oceanside, while Aaron and Scott lead the defense of Alexandria. He then also orders Jerry and Kelly to evacuate all the children as quick as possible.

In Oceanside, Cyndie receives a call over the radio from an Alexandria, she seems uncertain about the plan but agrees to it promising to create a makeshift path into the ocean from the road. Upon heading outside, she finds that they are under attack from a horde already. Oceanside fights hard but they are quickly slaughtered, Cyndie attempts to help Beatrice but fails. She and the few survivors are forced to flee on the road to Alexandria, they cross Rick's bridge which is still only half rebuilt after the communities started again a year before.

In Alexandria, reece meets Judith and R.J. at home where they find letters from Michonne as well as her sword. She explains that Rick is alive and she needs to find him. She promises reece that she will come back one day and that she loves all three of them very much, but this is something she needs to do. reece starts to cry. He then reads Judith and R.J's letters to them. Later, he heads to Rosita's to see Taron and Coco, upon getting there he explains everything to Rosita who comforts him. He says they need to win, so that his mom and dad have a home to come back to. She agrees.

At the demolition site, Magna breaks through a weak spot in the cave and helps Connie through, they hug glad to be safe. But Magna ducks back in to retrieve the last dynamite stick believing they may need it. They decide to head home.

While on watch duty, Henry and Lydia chat but she seems off, he asks if it's because of Alpha. She says she should feel happy but she finds it hard to, even though she hated her mother after the abuse she gave her, she knew deep down, she just wanted Lydia to be strong. Henry tells her she is strong and that Alpha's abuse did nothing but break her. Henry notes that the horde should be here now, she remarks he sounds disappointed, he comments saying that he wants this to be over a done with.

As Cyndie and Oceanside continue along the road, Cyndie reveals she is worried that reece is still going to think the plan will go ahead, Rachel tells her that the group is making good pace and they will get their on time if they keep it up. To their horror they see a horde moving forward on the road in front of them, realising that they weren't attacked by the full horde and they are now trapped in between both, they retreat into the bushes not realising a tall figure in the horde has spotted them.

reece and Rosita prep the horses and their group to leave while Aaron and Scott prep the defenses. Mary watches on looking at her new friends preparing to fight for their lives. Suddenly, Earl appears behind her and asks her if she really wants to meet Adam. She says yes and he leads her inside but she cannot see Adam anywhere. Suddenly, Earl knocks her out. Alden appears and says that they'll do what needs to be done.

Cyndie and the others attempt to find a way to sneak around but out of no where a shadow towers of them. Rachel darts out of the way as the knife swings down onto where she was. The rest spring into action while Beta smashes two unfortunate survivors heads together killing them instantly. Jules tackles him from behind and stabs his back with a knife he elbows her, winding her and then slams her into the ground before breaking her back with his foot. Cyndie and Rachel continue to fight but he grabs Rachel and begins to choke her Cyndie leaps up and pushes Jule's dagger in further and further suddenly he screams out in agony. Rachel tears at his mask revealing a large part of his face. He throws her down and she rolls to avoid his foot, he throws Cyndie over his shoulder and yanks the dagger from his back before plunging it into her heart heart. Rachel screams but decides instead to run, leaving the slaughter behind. She continues to run through the woods until she bumps into two figures.

### "Look at the Flowers"

The episode opens with Rachel getting into a defensive position but it is revealed to be Magna and Connie, she is happy to see them but warns them they need to get to Alexandria. They ask why and she says Beta slaughtered everyone and he's going there next, so they'll need to be warned. Rachel explains that reece and the others will be charging up the road to lead the horde soon and they'll expect everyone to be at Oceanside when in reality it's been overrun. Magna comes up with the idea to camp out at the bridge and wait for them. They agree to the plan.

Dianne, who is on a lookout post, notices the horde incoming, she radios Aaron and he tells her to come back as she is climbing down, she slips and her ankle gets caught in the ladder as she falls, breaking it. She dangles.

Aaron has his guards line up on the road, he continues to prepare them for battle. He asks Alden if he knows where Mary is but Alden says he doesn't know.

Beta urges the other whisperers to push forward with the horde, noticing something, he moves quickly up ahead. Dianne sees him approaching and attempts to load her bow and fire but the pain slows her and is too quick, he tears it from her hands and he slices her guts upon leaving her dying on the rail.

Henry spots the horde incoming as everyone prepares for battle. reece, Rosita, Carol, Henry and several others get on horses with torches and air-horns, Rosita also brings a bag of fireworks. Eugene, Scott, Aaron, Judith, Yumiko, Alden, Lydia and Negan prepare for battle within the walls. Before everyone sets out, reece steps off his horse and on to a platform, he gives a speech about how he is proud to be serving with such a great group of people and that they should not be afraid, "they may want us to walk with the dead, but what they don't understand is that we, are the walking dead, and we have no fear". He climbs onto his horse and leads the group out the back exit.

The horde arrives and engages the defense team who are quickly annihilated, however, the wall defense strikes back with Molotovs. However, the waves and waves of walkers continue to push and push against the walls, eventually a hand slips through the gate and unhooks it allowing walkers to burst into the community. The defense force begin their attack against it.

Meanwhile, reece and the others charge on either side of the horde with noise and lights trying to draw as much away as they can. A large amount, especially from the rear, follows as they charge ahead.

They continue up the road and stop while they wait for the horde to catch up, he smiles to Rosita, stating that this could actually work. She nods in glee. They set off a firework to ensure maximum walkers follow them. They jump back on the horses and continue to ride.

In Alexandria, the fight continues, Beta slices through many soldiers as Negan spots him he charges for him and swings Lucille at him, however, upon contact she shatters. Angered, he tears the rest of Beta's mask off recognizing him as a famous singer from before the apocalypse. Enraged, Beta attacks back and pins Negan down, choking him. Both Aaron and Scott attack Beta pulling him off, the four fight viciously before Beta accepts he will not win before stealing a horse and fleeing the battle. Meanwhile, Judith helps an injured Nora to a safe place, inside she finds a tied up Mary. Judith unties her and asks what happened, Mary says she'll explain later but Judith notices she is hurt. Judith makes Mary stay with Nora and keep her safe, anyone else that needs help, she will send here. Mary agrees and asks if Judith can send any medical supplies if she can find them.

Upon reaching the bridge, the group decide they will split the horde again, with one group taking the bridge road and the other taking the highway road in order to make it easier to control. However, Magna, Connie and Rachel reveal themselves. They explain what happened which panics them, reece urges everyone to remain calm saying they can just lead them all down the highway as far as possible and hope they keep walking that way, at least if they return it'll be half of what it was. Carol panics and leaves on her horse which angers reece and Henry, however, determined they light another firework and head off towards the Highway. Magna and Connie set off after Carol.

reece successfully leads a massive amount of the horde to the highway, not realising a small chunk has trailed off thanks to the few remaining Whisperers. They head back towards the bridge while the group continues to round off the horde.

Magna and Connie catch Carol who they find panicking, they calm her down and get her agree to come help before heading back towards the bridge. In the distance as they head back, Carol suggest they use the bridge to get rid of them, she says she noticed the dynamite that Magna has. Magna agrees and gives it to her.

In Alexandria, the horde is quickly being disassembled however, many soldiers fall in the process. Jerry and Kelly with the children are still revealed to be inside when suddenly one of the children playing with an alarm sets it off attracting outside walkers which begin to smash at the door.

Carol, Magna, Connie as well as the horde cross paths at the bridge at the same time and they all begin to fight. Carol notices a horse coming up the road and looks closer before realising who it is, she gets her bow out and fires on the horse killing it which sends Beta flying, he gets to his feet quickly and charges for her while shes on the bridge. The two scrap and take slashes at each other, Carol plants a knife in his cheek but it is not a fatal wound and he smashes her face off the ledge. Meanwhile, Magna and Connie cannot get to them because of the horde.

Jerry and Kelly lead the children away when their shelter is breached, however, Jerry sees a zombified Ezra and breaks down. He orders Kelly to go ahead and slams the door on them. He begins to fight the horde pushing them back and taking out many. However, he is bitten but keeps fighting. He receives many bights but flees after the group. Outside, Kelly struggles to fight off the walkers, Jerry appears and helps her defend the children, receiving many more bites but never falling, eventually as he kills the last walker surrounding them, he falls, dying from his wounds.

reece and the others are on their way back when they see the horde at the bridge, they rush to help when reece sees Carol and Beta fighting. He screams to her to run but she does not listen, he and Henry watch as he pulls the knife from his face and plunges it into her beaten down body. They scream in agony watching her fall to the ground. However, Beta also falls to his knees, finally feeling beaten down. She stares at him, dying, while he stares at her, dying. She starts to laugh while he looks confused. She pulls out a match and lights the dynamite, Beta cannot get to his feet in-time and she blows both herself and the menacing giant up.

As the others finish off the walkers, they watch in horror. Even the remaining Whisperers stop, realising the demon which haunted them is now dead. Everyone is unsure what to do but a whisperer helps Connie to her feet. They all help each other up and remove their masks, apart from reece and Henry who look at each other. They turn to the Whisperers, Rosita raises an arm and looks at reece asking him if he's sure, he nods and she allows him to step forward and do what has to be done. reece and Henry execute the Whisperers before looking back at the bridge. Everyone looks defeated.

### "Always"

It is the next morning. Aaron has taken charge, ordering everyone about. All bodies are to be burned. Everyone looks on in sadness. The funeral does not begin. They are waiting. Suddenly, a shout is overhead, the gates open. Aaron and several others run to the gate. They look to reece, Connie, Magna and Rosita ride in on their horses. Henry trots in last. Aaron looks up the line as they demount, reece shakes his head tearfully. Everyone is without words. Alden watches Mary from a distance, she stands near Nora who appears to know something. They burn everyone's bodies without any words. No one can find anything to say, so the silence says it all.

A Week later, Mary leaves the church late at night with Lydia, they laugh at something Mary said. A figure watches them in the distance. As they walk home, the person follows them. Once Lydia has gone inside to her and Henry's house, Mary departs from her own home, the figure continues to follow. As Mary unlocks the door the figure turns the corner and prepares to unsheathe a knife from their belt, Nora suddenly appears behind him and tells him he's under arrest, the figure knocks her out with a swing to the head. They then enter Mary's house.

reece lies awake, both Rosita and Taron are in the bed with him, he keeps his arms around both of them. All he can think about is, Tara, Ezekiel, Siddiq, Dante, Alpha, Laura, Jerry and Carol. He blinks and a tear runs down his face. He gets up and begins to pack his bags. He kisses both of them on the foreheads and then Coco then leaves.

Henry sits up, hearing Lydia come in. When she comes into his room she kisses him. He looks distant before he asks her what the point is in living. She looks at him and tells him she's here because she couldn't leave the people, person, she loves which is him. He looks at her and says he is still young and doesn't really understand what loving someone that isn't his parents is yet. She is taken aback by that, "loving someone is thinking of them and knowing you have something in this world you can go home to after a long day and find comfort in during darkest moments, or laughing with in your best moments." She tells him that it's up for interpretation. He wishes her goodnight and goes upstairs to bed.

reece stalks through the street carefully, heading towards the gate, he stops and stares at something but is frightened when a voice calls him. Eugene calls him into a garage where he is setting up his radio again. Eugene asks him where he is going, reece replies he hates this. He can't go back to a peaceful life, all he does is lie awake at night thinking about the people he's killed or those he's watched die, or worse. He asks Eugene to tell Rosita he loves her but he can't drag her on like this and make her take care of him when he's so unhinged. Eugene lectures him and why he's lucky to have Rosita, his son and Coco. But shouting from the church cuts him off. Many people gather round, several Alexandrians lead by Earl and Alden gather round outside the church with Mary on a makeshift gallows, many watch on. Rosita arrives as does Henry and Lydia followed by reece and Eugene. Rosita asks what the hell they are doing but Alden dismisses her and says that they can't rest till he's made sure they are safe. And they aren't safe till the Whisperers are gone. reece replies that they are gone which Alden laughs at before pointing to Mary. reece asks Alden if they can talk inside. Alden agrees.

Inside, reece asks Alden why he cannot accept Mary is now with them. Alden says that they can't trust any Whisperers, not after what happened. When Alpha was allowed to walk around inside the Kingdom she killed many including Enid and Tara. reece stares at him. "Back down Alden" he says approaching the wall to grab his sword just incase, Alden notices this and charges for reece. Alden says he didn't want anyone else to get hurt but if reece is so broken, and blind to the threat then he is a threat to everyone's safety. They both get up and reece kicks him back, he falls back and snaps his neck on a chair. reece looks down in horror, another face he has killed. He grabs the sword and puts Alden down. As he exits, everyone notices the blood. reece tells Earl to stop this and they can all be forgiven, he slashes the gallows and moves Mary behind him. Earl moves closer into the circle as his followers disappear. He says he just wants justice, so did Alden before he murdered him for not listening to him. Earl turns and asks the crowd if that's the leader they want, he takes their moment of judgement to grab a knife and slash Lydia, she moves quick enough so it is only a flesh wound. Scott pins him down, while she struggles. reece looks on before telling them to take Earl to the jail where they once had Mary. He then orders someone to take Lydia to hospital before leaving to go back to bed.

As he walks to get his stuff, Rosita stops him and asks for him to explain himself. He explains it and she begins to cry saying she thought he had changed, he says hes sorry but he can't be a burden on her anymore. Eugene interrupts saying that reece doesn't have to leave the community, he has an idea. The Next morning, Eugene, Yumiko, Negan, reece, Mary, Judith and Henry prepare to depart for Stephanie. Everyone says their goodbyes. As everyone gets the call to leave, Rosita tells reece to come back to him, he replies "always" before jumping back in the cart and being taken to their next adventure.

## Cast

* Starring
* Also Starring
* Co-Starring

## Deaths

* Injured Woman *(Flashback)*
* Frances
* Beta's Best Friend *(Zombified, Flashback)*
* Dante's entire military squad *(Confirmed Fate, Pre-Apocalypse)*
* Ezekiel
* Margo
* Brandon's Mother *(Confirmed Fate)*
* Brandon's Father *(Confirmed Fate)*
* Amelia
* Milo
* Brandon
* Magna's Cousin's Rapist *(Confirmed Fate, Pre-Apocalypse)*
* Cheryl
* Aaron's Brother *(Confirmed Fate)*
* Siddiq *(Alive and Zombified)*
* Dante
* Alfred
* Laura
* Felix
* Penny
* Nabilla (*Alive*)
* Kal (*Alive*)
* Ezra (*Alive*)
* Bertie (*Alive*)
* Alpha (*Alive*)
* Beatrice (*Alive*)
* Jules (*Alive*)
* Cyndie (*Alive*)
* Dianne (*Alive*)
* Jerry (*Alive*)
* Carol Peltier
* Beta
* Alden
* Many Unnamed Alexandrians
* Many Unnamed Hilltoppers
* Many Unnamed Highwaymen
* Many Unnamed Oceansiders
* Many Unnamed Whisperers
* 4 unnamed campers *(Confirmed Fate)*
* 1 deer
* 2 boars

## Trivia

* This season is mainly based on "Volume 25: No Turning Back", "Volume 26: Call To Arms" and "Volume 27: The Whisperer War" from the Comic Series.
* Calum Kelmer (reece) and Melissa McBride (Carol) have signed on for a further 3 years, indicating that both will appear in this season.
	+ Despite Melissa McBride's new contract, Carol was killed off in "*Look at the Flowers"* and McBride never appeared again on the show.
		- Melissa McBride confirmed that she requested Carol be killed off this season and that there was initially other plans for her character.
			* She also confirmed that Carol was meant to kill Beta by shooting the dynamite from a far.
			* Finally, McBride confirmed that Alden was meant to be killed off in this episode instead of her and that Carol was meant to be the shows final death in "Rest in Peace" taking Rick Grimes death from the comics.
* This will be Danai Gurira's final season portraying Michonne.
	+ She will appear only in a "limited capacity", described as a "handful of episodes that will be interspersed throughout Season 10".
	+ On July 19, 2019, during San Diego Comic-Con, Danai confirmed that she would not be returning after Season 10.
* Several things were confirmed at Comic-Con 2022 which never actually happened in this season, such as:
	+ Lauren Cohan (Maggie Rhee) was confirmed to be returning to the series, however, this was moved to episode two of Season 11.
	+ The character 'Princess' was confirmed to be appearing in this season, this was moved to episode one of Season 11.
	+ Andrew Lincoln was confirmed to be directing an episode of this season, however, this never happened until the sequel show 'Grimes' which Lincoln became a regular director on.
* On April 4, 2019, Angela Kang confirmed that there will be another time jump this season.
* Filming began on Monday, May 6, as confirmed by Calum Kelmer on his Instagram page.
* Below are the changes made to the main cast in this season:
	+ Following their characters' deaths in the previous season, Alanna Masterson (Tara Chambler), Seth Gilliam (Gabriel Stokes) and Katelyn Nacon (Enid) have been removed from the opening credits.
	+ Callan McAuliffe (Alden) is still listed under "Also Starring", despite being credited as series regulars in the previous season.
	+ Matt Lintz (Henry Peltier), Ryan Hurst (Beta), Eleanor Matsuura (Yumiko), Cooper Andrews (Jerry), Nadia Hilker (Magna), Cailey Fleming (Judith Grimes), Cassady McClincy (Lydia), and Lauren Ridloff (Connie) have been upgraded to series regulars after recurring appearances.
		- Despite their status as series regulars, Matt Lintz, Eleanor Matsuura, Cooper Andrews, Nadia Hilker, Cassady McClincy, and Lauren Ridloff are listed under "Also Starring".
	+ Ryan Hurst, Cailey Fleming and Avi Nash (Siddiq) have been added to the opening credits.
* This season has the most amount of Series Regular deaths with nine Series Regulars dying.
* As of this season,
	+ there are no characters introduced in season one still confirmed to be alive.
	+ reece is the only character introduced in season two to still appear.
* Michael Cudlitz, who portrayed Abraham Ford, directed two episodes this season.
* Negan's real name is revealed to be Neil Aegan, this is revealed when reece asks him what his surname is in '*Amid the Ruins*".
* This is the final season developed by AMC as the rights to the series were picked up by HBO in 2023 following the end of this season's filming.
* Calum Kelmer (reece) is the only cast member to appear in all 16 episodes of this season.
	+ This is the second time Kelmer has appeared in all 16 episodes of a season as he appeared in all of season 8.
	+ This is the fourth time Kelmer has had the most appearances in a single season as he appeared in fifteen episodes of season 6 and season 9.
	+ This season leaves Kelmer with 112 appearances during the AMC run of the show, the most of any character.