The Season 7 finale was packed with action along with emotional tributes to those lost this season. Here are my highlights from episode 16 “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life.” 

***CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS. YOU ARE READING THIS AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION***

Fighting Till the End

After word gets out that Rick and Alexandrians are planning to retaliate against The Saviors, Negan does not take the news lightly.  He decides to pay a visit to Alexandria. Before he leaves he makes a stop at Sasha’s cell, confiding in her the plan he has in store for Rick and his group.

The plan is to use Sasha as leverage against Rick and the group. He wants to use her to draw out three Alexandrians to be hand picked to meet the end of lucille. Sasha talks Negan down to one victim for punishment. She is later lead out by Eugene to a casket for her to be transported in. On the walk through the compound, Eugene ask Sasha if she “took her medications.” In which she replies that she has taken them alluding to the lethal toxic pill that Eugene provided her last episode.

While being transported to Alexandria we are treated to flashbacks between Sasha and Abraham. The moments were touching and it was nice to see real human relationships after a gruesome beginning. Abraham explains to Sasha about that fateful journey to Hilltop to save Maggie and the baby. He explains to Sasha that he must go because, “that baby is the future.”

Once at Alexandria, Negan had Eugene order a stand down. When asked by Rick where Negan is, Eugene replies “I am Negan.” Rick and Rosita take the shift of Eugene’s allegiance hard. Rick reluctantly orders Rosita to press the button to set off the bombs that they had rigged outside the walls of Alexandria.

However, the plan goes astray when the bombs don’t detonate. Rosita looks to Rick with a confused expression. That’s when Judis stands up and holds a gun to Rick. The Heapsters quickly turn their guns on the Alexandrians, revealing to Rick that they have chosen to side with Negan and The Saviors claiming that they have accepted a better offer.

Negan is amused that he has one upped Rick once again.  He proudly boasts to the group and reveals the casket that holds Sasha. Rick, before he agrees to Negan’s new terms to bring him a selected individual for Lucille, asks for Negan to show him Sasha and ensure that she is alive. Negan is confident that Sasha is alive as he opens the casket. He is quickly caught off guard when a walker Sasha appears and knocks him off the trailer.

Even in death Sasha continues to fight, her walker form snaps at Negan until she is pushed away by a Savior and takes the man as a snack. This allows Negan to slip away and seek shelter to introduce Plan B. Negan with the help of The Heapsters wrangle Rick and Carl in. Negan plans to kill Carl and smash Rick’s hands as punishment. Negan is once again surprised by Shiva (the tiger) with The Kingdom and Hilltop soliders in tow. Negan is quick to retreat, but not before noticing that Maggie is alive. He quickly pieces all the lies that the communities have told together, and we get the feeling the reveal of an alliance only fueled Negan’s desire for war.

Negan informs The Saviors that they will go to war. They may have the numbers with the alliance of The Heapsters. However, the team up of The Alexandrians, Hilltop and The Kingdom may be more of a threat as The Heapsters have proven to be an unpredictable ally.

Personal Thoughts 

I love the ending dialogue by Maggie, explaining how vital the dynamic between Rick and Glenn has played in the apocalyptic world. “It started with the both of you. Glenn made the decision (to save Rick) and I just followed his lead.” The tribute to the fallen hero and fan favorite was touching, and it left me teary eyed as we got some closure and peace in the death of Glenn and Abraham.

I am not sure what is going on with Dwight. I am certain he was the one that the “I didn’t know” inscription on the back of the figure. I still have the feeling that Dwight is playing the game of “right hand man” to Negan until the time comes where the tables will be turned and Dwight will instill trust with Rick and Daryl.